Once they separated, a small silence settled between Luka and Lima. Luka, unsure of what to say after letting his emotions get the better of him, and Lima, oblivious to the subtleties of unspoken emotions, stood in an awkward pause. Luka, deciding to shift the tone and perhaps indulge in a bit of playful payback, broke the silence.
"So... want to visit the village? It's been a while since we tried that. Maybe show these people that not all of you monsters are bad." Luka shamelessly lied, knowing that presenting monsters in a positive light was just a pretext. What he truly desired was to evoke fear and discomfort, a form of twisted payback for the unpleasant memories that resurfaced.
Lima looked unsure about the suggestion. The last time they attempted to visit the village, she found herself in a predicament. The sight of her had terrified the guards to the point where she felt compelled to run away, giving them some peace, albeit unintentionally. Lima could confidently say it was one of the most peculiar and somewhat pathetic experiences she had encountered—not that she would voice that sentiment; it would be kind of rude.
Luka, perhaps sensing Lima's hesitation, offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll make sure it's different this time. Plus, it's been a while, and people might have changed their minds. Let's give it a shot."
"I pass; don't underestimate Lima, boy," Lima declared, shaking her head in disapproval. Luka's occasional suggestions of unheroic ventures often needed correction, and Lima took it upon herself to keep him on a more virtuous path. In her mind, finding Kale could also mean imparting some much-needed manners to him.
Luka chuckled, appreciating Lima's attempts to steer him away from potentially troublesome ideas. "Alright, alright, fishing it is. Let's see if we can catch something impressive today."
Luka followed Lima as she led him to a secluded pond, a hidden gem known only to her. The tranquil surroundings and the gentle sounds of nature created a serene atmosphere. Luka, a bit lost in thought, couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of the scene as they approached the water's edge.
Lima couldn't help but sigh after seeing how tense Luka seemed. "You look like you're ready to battle monsters, not fish. Relax, it's just fishing."
Luka shook his head, breaking free from his contemplation. "I guess I'm used to fights, even if I hadn't fought in a while."
Lima handed him a fishing rod and chuckled. "Well, we can't have any of that. Lima's secret spot, remember? Leave all your troubles behind and just focus on Lima."
As Luka fumbled with the fishing rod, Lima couldn't help but laugh. "Here, let me show you. It's not that hard; even a human can manage it."
Lima demonstrated the art of casting a line with finesse, her formless legs adapting effortlessly to the task. Luka watched, still adjusting to the idea of a jelly-like creature being an expert fisher.
"You just have to feel the rhythm," Lima explained, her movements fluid and surprisingly graceful.
Luka attempted to mimic her actions, and after a few awkward tries, he managed a somewhat decent cast. Lima clapped, her cheer infectious. "See, even you can learn something new!"
The two settled by the pond, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. Lima continued to provide guidance on the art of fishing. Luka was honestly impressed; he always thought she just somehow stumbled upon all the fish she always seemed to carry.
As they waited for a bite, Lima, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, asked, "So, any thoughts on what you'll do once you find your brother?"
Luka, still gazing at the water, sighed. "I don't know. It's been years, and I'm not even sure if he wants to be found."
Lima, unfazed, tossed her line into the pond. "Well, whether he wants it or not, you're going to find him. And then, maybe we can teach him to fish too."
Lima wasn't there to witness the so-called scuffle, but she was fairly sure this must all be just a big misunderstanding, much like the misconceptions surrounding humans and monsters. Casually placing the fish she caught inside her slime, allowing it to swim freely, she turned her attention back to her trusty companion.
"Luka," she addressed him, and he immediately tensed, as Lima rarely used his name. "Do you really think there's no going back from whatever happened back then?" Lima gently guided Luka's gaze toward her, noticing his distraction by the fish swimming within her slime.
"Look at me," she insisted. "What do you think when you see me? Am I a bad slime or a good slime? And your brother? Do you really want to be away from your last family member?" She wasn't the best at expressing herself, but Luka understood what she was getting at.
Luka took a moment to meet Lima's gaze, her blue eyes earnest and sincere. Lima, being Lima, was the embodiment of innocence and kindness, something he really needed to keep the dark thoughts away. The fish continued to swim within her translucent form, and he really wanted to ask her why she always did that.
"I... I don't know," Luka admitted, uncertainty clouding his eyes. "Things were said, and I just don't know if we can ever go back."
Lima's form rippled slightly, a subtle gesture of understanding. "People say things they don't mean, especially in the heat of the moment. Maybe your brother is waiting for you to reach out. It's worth trying, isn't it?"
She extended her hand, offering support and reassurance. Luka, conflicted yet touched by Lima's earnestness, nodded slowly. "Yeah, you're right. I should try."
Luka couldn't help but frown slightly at Lima's unexpected insight. 'When did she get so emotionally intelligent?' he wondered, a bit surprised by her perceptiveness. Lima, blissfully unaware of Luka's inner thoughts, continued her fishing, seemingly unbothered.
"Hmm, right, your baptism is today, isn't it?" Lima remarked casually, her lack of interest evident in her tone. "You should go then; Lima will be waiting for you here."
Luka sighed, appreciating Lima's simplicity. "Yeah, I should head back. Thanks for this, Lima. It's been... nice."
As he prepared to leave, Lima gave him a playful wave. "Remember, even heroes need a break sometimes. And who knows, maybe you'll catch something big today!"
Luka couldn't help but smile at Lima's optimism. "Yeah, maybe. See you later, Lima."
With that, he made his way back, leaving Lima by the tranquil pond. Her attention once again focused on the dancing fish and the peaceful surroundings.
Lima idly contemplated whether she should reveal the fruits of her adventures to Luka. Twisting her boomerang, she gave it a few expert swings before launching it into the sky. The action created a gust of wind, and with precision, the boomerang cut a tree branch clean.
"Nah! That would make his face less funny when Lima shows it," she chuckled to herself, seemingly satisfied with the idea of surprising Luka with her amazing power.
Far away on Sentora, there was a stand-off. one being a young man similar to Luka in appearance. the other being a woman with snake features, a snake in place of legs, silver hair, and purple skin with dark tattoos covering it, and the last one being a woman with angel features, whose soft face was currently going between glaring and utter confusion.
These were Ilias, the goddess of creation; Alipheese, the current monster lord; and then there was Kale, who, unlike popular belief, was enjoying himself, even if the stories said otherwise. The three of them were flying thousands of feet in the sky.
"So... fancy seeing you here, huh?" Kale was the first to break the silence, much to Alice's growing confusion. It was common knowledge that the only humans who knew magic were old people who had wasted their whole lives learning it, and that it wasn't anything like what the man, or child, since he looked so young, was demonstrating.
"What do you think you are doing?" Alipheese crossed her arms and gave him an accusatory glare. She wasn't going to let herself look weak or confused, so she decided to start off by telling that infurating guy off.
What she was referring to was Kale's intervention; her original plan was to punch the lights out of Ilias, and she would go from there, but that flew out the window the moment this man, who she has never seen before, decided to not only be extremely atypical for his kind but also meddle with her own business.
Kale, still wearing that mischievous smile, tilted his head slightly. "Oh, just enjoying the view, you know? Thought I'd drop in and see what the big fuss was about. Looks like I walked into pretty important shit."
Ilias decided to settle her curiosity and started to appraise the young man in front of her while letting her anger go for the moment. This was Kale; of course she knew that. She appraised him with an intrigued gaze, recognizing him as a significant outlier in her divine plans. This young man, standing confidently amidst the confrontation, was not someone she could easily manipulate or convince. Ilias had learned that the hard way, having tried such tactics with lower-rank angels in the past only to face spectacular failure. However, Kale's indifference to both her and monsters made him a unique wildcard in her grand design.
Giving him an appreciative look, Ilias spoke with a touch of gratitude. "Kale, you have my thanks. If it weren't for you, that thing would have marred my delicate face." Alipheese, referred to as "that thing," resisted the urge to voice her discontent at the condescending tone. She bit her tongue, recognizing the pivotal detail that shifted the balance of power in this standoff.
There was an unspoken understanding that, in a one-on-one scenario, Alipheese felt confident she could hold her ground, even if the outcome leaned toward a loss. However, the prospect of Ilias and Kale joining forces was a dangerous variable that rang alarm bells in her strategic mind. The goddess's amicable and accommodating demeanor heightened the tension, transforming the situation into a precarious game to see whose side would successfully win over that man.
Kale, sensing the probing gazes directed at him, dropped his composed demeanor and let out a scoff. This scenario felt eerily reminiscent of a past encounter at a royal banquet where two kings from small countries had desperately vied for his favor, using every available tactic. However, amid the déjà vu, something piqued Kale's interest.
Ilias's face seemed strangely familiar, and it set off a cascade of memories in Kale's mind. There was a distinct sense of eeriness as he struggled to piece together where he had seen that face before. The familiarity lingered, just out of reach, like a puzzle missing a crucial piece.
"Have I seen you before?" Kale questioned, breaking the silence with a direct inquiry. "I'm not talking about the statues at the churches or your temple. Those have no color." His words carried a hint of frustration and curiosity. As he posed the question, Kale's mind churned with a mixture of recognition and bewilderment. It felt like there was an encounter etched in his memory, yet the details eluded him.
Ilias, maintaining an air of composure, responded to Kale's inquiry. "I'm afraid you're mistaken, dear Kale. I have not crossed paths with you in any form prior to this moment. Perhaps your memories are playing tricks on you." Kale noticed Ilias bringing out his name and decided to take notice of it at a later date.
Alipheese, however, rolled her eyes at Ilias's denial. "Don't be fooled by her pretty words, Kale. She's the master of manipulation. She might have some divine charm to make you believe her, but I know better. Ilias can't be trusted; she's the reason monsters are oppressed and misunderstood."
Ilias shot Alipheese a cold look, her celestial aura bristling. "I don't need to defend myself against baseless accusations from the Monster Lord."
Alipheese scoffed. "Baseless? You've been pulling the strings behind the scenes, orchestrating the whole conflict. You're not as benevolent as you pretend to be."
Ilias covered her mouth. "Oh dear, whatever are you talking about? Are you feeling unwell?" Alipheese felt very inclined to try and punch Ilias again at that moment. She was making fun of the pain and misery the monster was feeling under her manipulation of humans. She has no proof, but she knows she was behind the slaughter of Remina. The problem is, how do you convince someone you have never seen before? and more than anything, if he is devoted to Ilias, then it's over.
Kale observed the exchange, his mind swirling with uncertainty. The tension between the two powerful entities was palpable, and Alipheese's accusations left him pondering the true nature of Ilias's intentions. He couldn't ignore the possibility that Ilias had some involvement in the conflicts he had witnessed in his past life.
Alipheese, frustration etched across her features, turned to Kale. "Think about it, Kale. Monsters and humans could live in harmony without her interference. She's the one who fuels the conflict, making humans fear and hate monsters. We're not the monsters she paints us to be."
Ilias, maintaining her divine grace, responded with a raised eyebrow. "I have no need to fuel conflicts. Humans and monsters have their own choices and tendencies. I merely watch over the balance of creation."
Kale, growing increasingly frustrated with the drama unfolding before him, decided to interject. "Enough of this nonsense. I have my own reasons for being here, and I don't intend to be part of your celestial spat. I'm not some pawn for you to manipulate."
Both Ilias and Alipheese turned their attention to Kale, each trying to appeal to him. Ilias maintained her serene expression, attempting to radiate benevolence, while Alipheese took a more direct approach.
"Kale, you've seen the suffering caused by Ilias's machinations. Monsters are treated like abominations, and humans are blinded by their false beliefs. I aim to promote equality and understanding between our races. I can offer you more than she ever could." Alipheese was, of course, shooting in the dark here, but she had to speak up to not let Ilias get ahead of her.
Ilias, not to be outdone, added, "Kale, I've watched over you. You have the potential for greatness. Join me, and I can guide you to fulfill your destiny. I'm sure we can bring peace, true peace, to this world if we work together."
There was one small problem with their words. They are making them increasingly untrustworthy by the second. He had seen places where monsters and humans lived together, so what Ilias said was wrong; humans and monsters can live together. but what the monster lord said is wrong as well. He himself had been attacked before by these monsters; in those instances, he tried to talk them into standing down and letting him be on his way.
As it stands, it didn't work, not even once. Even the very cheerful slime girls, in all their innocence, needed a good punch before understanding that it was wrong to force yourself on others. So... both parties are hypocrites, big deal. In this instance, he just needed to think about which one would bring the most benefits.
meaning that he couldn't just side with anyone for the time being. He only wanted to investigate the concentration of holy and dark magic. Not band with either side.
Kale crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "I have my own mission, and I won't be swayed by either of you. I don't trust either side completely, and I won't become a puppet in your power play."
The tension between Ilias and Alipheese escalated; their gazes locked on each other, but they both shifted their attention back to Kale, realizing that convincing him would require more than just promises.
"I'm investigating an anomaly—a concentration of both holy and dark magic. I've seen enough of your schemes to know that neither of you is entirely trustworthy. If there's information you can provide that helps me in my quest, I'll listen. Otherwise, I suggest you two sort out your issues elsewhere."
Ilias and Alipheese looked at each other before looking at Kale with incredulous looks. Alipheese was the first one to speak. "I'll lay it down in simple terms so you can understand." Seeing as he would join neither side, she threw her caution away and decided to take her frustrations on him. Maybe she gave him a bit too much credit for being able to fly. "Me," she signaled to herself. "Dark magic, that abomination," she motioned at Ilias, whose feathers ruffled upon hearing Alipheese's words. "Holy magic, does the cave man understand?"
Kale sighed, clearly unimpressed by the monster lord's scathing words. "Oh, please, don't think you quite cut it; sure, you are strong, but not that strong." What Kale felt was overwhelming Dark magic, not unlike what he felt the first time he came to this world. "But Ilias does fit that profile," he rubbed his chin. "I'll keep that in mind."
Kale, having had enough of this charade, flew away. "Well, as much as I would love to stick around, I have places to be and a world to save. So long, suckers! Try not to kill each other just yet!" It wasn't a suggestion; if shit hits the fan, those two will be needed.
Alipheese, feeling bitter about the whole ordeal, punched Ilias in the face anyway with a fist full of dark energy. Ilias staggered a little at the rather sudden attack before slowly reaching to touch her face. Righteous anger started to fill her, and, just like Alipheese, she returned the favor, which made her crash on another continent. "Hmph, serves you right, you filthy snake."
And that was the end of the confrontation, ending just as quickly as it started with an overwhelming victory for Ilias. In the aftermath of their brief skirmish, Ilias, nursing the injury on her face, ascended into the heavens, leaving Alipheese unconscious on the distant continent. The clash between the goddess of creation and the monster lord had only intensified their animosity, further complicating the situation.