Hello Scrolls and Nazarins, bringing another chapter of this arc with Zesshi/Antilene in my fanfic The One Who Came Back.
TW visits old friends and Antilene confronts her former "masters".
With you
The One Who Came Back
Chapter 57: Compensation
Bron swept the tavern floor lazily, as if trying to sweep away his own shame.
The night had been long and tumultuous. Sylvia paid for them, and now she quietly cleaned the last tables when, in the middle of the hall, a swirling portal appeared.
"BY Surshana! What the hell is this?"
Then, a head emerged from the portal.
"Hey! Is the coast clear?"
"TW! - both exclaimed."
The cheerful human stepped out of the portal, but that didn't last long as he saw the state of the half-elf.
"What happened?" - he said somberly.
"W-what, who, TW! Where did you come from? What is this? Sylvia?"
"What happened to her, tell me, Bron."
"Th-they came at night. Soldiers came to drink, saw Sylvia, and complained that her ears weren't cut. There was a fight, then someone called the guard. An inquisitor showed up and ordered the ears cut. We couldn't do anything. What would a bunch of drunks do against armed guards? This place is rotten. Everything should burn."
"Your wish is closer to happening than you think. Sylvia, come here, dear" - said TW, extending his hands. The half-elf approached with tears.
"I'm sorry, sorry for leaving you here, sorry for not being here to help."
"It's not your fault, sniff! Where did you go? Where did you come from?"
"I went looking for a place and found one. Now I'm back to help - he said, taking out bandages and pouring a purple potion" - here, drink the rest, you'll feel better soon.
"TW, you never used to talk about yourself, but now you will. What's happening? What is that? - the innkeeper pointed to the portal."
"Right, I'll tell you everything tonight. I'll be back soon, but I need a favor. Call the people; I need to talk to them."
"With whom?"
"With everyone, all our friends and acquaintances. Anyone who wants to live needs to come here."
The day then passed hectic for Bron and Sylvia. They went to various places to talk to friends, spread the news, a surprise party for someone, almost a code for "come and don't tell anyone." At night, the tavern was fuller than ever before. Despite this, its doors were now locked.
"What's happening, Bron?"
"Why did you call us here?"
"At least free the beer!"
"No, I need you to be sober - said a voice from the top of the stairs."
"TW!" - many shouted.
"You wretch" - others playfully shouted.
"Hello, everyone, it sucks to see your ugly faces again" - he replied playfully, and everyone laughed.
"Why did you call us? If you're here, it must be your idea."
"I bring news, and we need to do something.
"What are you talking about, where have you been?
"Alright, I'll tell you. In short, I traveled until I found a new place to live, a good place, better. And I want you all to come along - TW said, tossing a silver skull, a coin with the effigy of Ainz stamped on one side and the flag of the Sorcerer Kingdom on the other, its official currency, which passed from hand to hand.
"I'm not going anywhere - an old man said. - I was born in this land and will stay in it, even though it's not a good place. We have to stay, show that not everyone accepts what they do here, as they did with Sylvia. Almost everyone agreed."
"I understand, and I figured you'd say something like that. So, let's go to plan B. What will happen in six days?"
"Is it Surshana's day?"
"Yes, and what is always expected on this day?"
No one answered.
"Come on, folks, you've all attended church, you know very well what is expected."
"It's when we pray for the return of our God Surshana, who will come to judge the living equally" - said an older gentleman.
"Exactly, on this day, something like that will answer your prayers; death will come and judge the living, judge this city, and all those who do not pass its judgment will die."
"The whole city, then - someone in the back laughed, but no one joined, and his laughter died."
"Do you swear it's true?" - a serious man said.
"You know I never lied, but yes, I swear by everything holy, Judgment Day has come."
...
Surshana's Day
One of the few sacred dates in the Slane Theocracy is the days in celebration of its gods. On these days, all churches recite long masses in honor of the commemorated god. But, in the last half-century, there has been a break in the ecclesiastical. The religion of the Four gods gained strength, downplaying the importance of the other two. This happened because they were not human, and human supremacy has been exalted in the last century, worsening even more when the war against the elves broke out. Having a non-human god and a undead god didn't help much. This bothered the majority, especially because the latter preached equality, after all, death comes to everyone.
On this date, only the devotees of Surshana attend his church, along with all the children who are still required to participate. Even this was no longer so demanded, and in a few more decades, probably everything related to the two non-human gods would be erased. Today, only in their own churches are the masses in honor of the god of death recited; in others, all the other people are watching sermons conveniently extolling the attributes of the Four human gods. If you are important or powerful enough, you will be in the main cathedral, where the cardinals themselves administer the liturgy.
"...THEN THE POWER OF ALAH ALAF FREED HUMANITY FROM THE CLUTCHES OF BARBARISM, OF THE BEAST-MEN, AND SUB-HUMANS. BLESSED BE THE FOUR."
"BLESSED BE THE FOUR" - people repeated in the cathedral and everyone on the streets following the mass through magically projected voice.
Suddenly, the large door of the cathedral opened.
"Who dares to interrupt this sacred moment" - growled Cardinal Ivon.
The person didn't answer and silently followed the long path. Everyone looked at their exposed ears and wondered who the hooded child accompanying her was. When she reached the stairs leading to the altar, she knelt on the ground, but the child didn't move.
"Ah! If it isn't Zesshi Zetsumei, you were reported dead in the fight against the elf king, but apparently, you survived, and you have the audacity to come here, with empty hands, after your defeat, or wasn't it like that? Did you kill Decem Hougan? The child behind you might be a gift" - said Cardinal Dominic.
"NO! My defeat was true; I didn't even get to fight the Elf King; another much more powerful than me killed him, more powerful than I. I was defeated by this person."
"So there's a new Elf King, and you're his slave now."
"I'm not a slave, I'm... a servant?" - Antilene wasn't exactly sure what she was, looked at Mare, who just shrugged and shook his head negatively - "...a servant of the new Elf King, I bring this message from my lord."
A novice approached to take the rolled parchment; he shouldn't be more than 13 years old and still looked at the exposed ears of the half-elf with disgust, who had her hair tied behind her head.
"Zesshi, if you want, you can stay here; we'll protect you. You can go back home" - said Cardinal Raymond.
"Yes, we won't even consider your failure" - added Cardinal Ivon.
"I appreciate the kind offer, but I'll decline, even if it weren't for my oath. I can't go back. I am home."
Cardinal Ivon frowned while Cardinal Dominic began to read the letter.
"Blah blah blah! "The Elf King Decem Hougan was killed in a duel"... blah blah... "The new king of the elven people, Mare Bello Fiore, offers peace, a complete cessation of hostilities, and suggests compensation"... I see that the new elf king knows his place. Go back to your new master and tell him that the attacks will cease if he sends as compensation all the children of Decem, hands over control of the northern part of the Great Forest of Evasha, and..."
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Cardinal" - Antilene had never been so polite - "but I believe there is a mistake. If you continue reading, you will see that the Elf King requests your immediate withdrawal, the release of all elven citizens currently in a state of slavery today, and as compensation, the delivery of all magical items that once belonged to the God of Earth..".
"WHAT ABSURDITY! BLASPHEMY! YOU DIRTY ELF, ACCURSED TRAITOR." - Ivon shouted.
"Sorry if such a request is inconvenient. If you don't accept, I have another message in my possession."
"We will never stoop to fulfilling the requests of your sub-race" - declared Dominic.
At this point, Cardinal Raymond looked nervous; he had always been the most measured and saw a missed opportunity for peace.
"Well then, I'll read the second message as I was ordered by the Elf King."
""On this date, without an agreement for the end of hostilities and due to the attack on your kingdom and yourself, the Elven King Mare Bello Fiore declares total war on the Slane Theocracy"..."
"Nonsense, we're already at war, we razed your city, and without Decem, with which army will you attack us?"
Antilene continued from where she was interrupted.
"..."declares total war on the Slane Theocracy, also declares the vassalage of the Elven Kingdom, and seeks the support of his new ally and suzerain, the Sorcerer Kingdom.""
"YOU SURRENDERED TO THE UNDEAD, YOU DAMN WORMS, how dare you threaten us, you and this elven messenger..."
"Again, I apologize for interrupting, but you are mistaken, Cardinal Dominic. I am the messenger; this one accompanying me is the Elf King, Mare Bello Fiore. Didn't I announce my lord?" - she said, looking at Mare, who just gestured negatively with his head.
Consternation was total as Mare removed the hood.
"I'm sorry, I'm new to this; King Mare thought he should be here personally when dealing with war matters."
"Is this thing the new elf king?" - Ivon scoffed, then reached out and cast his most powerful fourth-level spell - "LIGHTNING CHAIN!"
Antilene reacted instinctively, placing herself in front of Mare. One of her weaknesses was electricity. If she had her scythe, she could use it as a lightning rod, but without it, she suffered from the pain that ran through her body and burned her skin. She hadn't recovered even 50% of her strength, and now she could die. Mare just watched as she was electrocuted, and when it was all over, he approached the smoldering and charred body on the ground.
"You know you didn't need to do that, right? I would barely feel it. I'm stronger than you. So, why did you do it?"
"What kind... of servant, would I, be... if I didn't, protect... my, lord... from a... simple breeze?" - she said, using her last strength to smile with her burned lips.
"YOU DIDN'T DIE?! TORNADO OF BLADES"! - now Dominic cast his spell, but before it could hit them, both were engulfed by shadows.
"WHO DARES TO ATTACK MY SERVANTS?" - came a powerful and incredibly loud voice from outside.