by Michael Sisa
Marco made a satisfied nod at the conclusion he had come up with. With eager eyes, he awaited Jiablu’s response — but received none.
Without another word, Jiablu followed the group inside the bathhouse.
***
The bathhouse was a bit smaller than expected, just barely enough to accommodate a few dozen kids at once.
All of those inside were male kids, and they immediately removed their clothes and stood underneath the shower.
Above, Jiablu saw a large magic circle engraved on a canopy. He read the runes engraved on it, and he realized that it was the one responsible for the downpour.
“A device that gathers the moisture in the air and converts it into water,” thought Jiablu. “Impressive.”
Whoever engraved it must have been an exceptional individual – for a human.
As he had thought, the Human Race excelled in the most mundane of things.
Jiablu glanced left and right. Water splattered everywhere, as the kids vigorously scrubbed their bodies using soap.
“What are you standing there for?” said a familiar voice. “There’s a time limit for the bath.”
Upon looking, he once again saw the kid that talked to him before. He removed his clothes and joined the other kids in the bath.
What was his name again? Jiablu could not remember.
Finally, Jiablu’s curiosity reached its peak. He had never cleaned himself by taking a bath before. Usually, his magic would do the trick.
“Let’s try… this so called taking a bath,” he mumbled.
Slowly, and with a bit of effort, he took off his clothes. He glanced left and right as he tried to find an empty spot.
The bathhouse was a bit overcrowded, and if not for the perpetual downpour, the stench of human filth would have strongly filled the air.
“Over there,” he said, after finally finding an empty spot.
He rigidly stood underneath the shower, as the innumerable droplets struck his body.
A pleasant sensation. It was a far cry from the so called sleep, but it felt euphoric regardless.
He could feel the trickling water as they flowed from his head, down to his feet. The sensation as the heat of his body dissipated along with the water.
Jiablu knew that he had once again found one of the pleasures in life. He inwardly smiled at this discovery.
He noticed the kid beside him staring at the thing between his legs.
“Woah… You’re huge!” the kid said, his eyes transfixed on the thing between Jiablu’s legs.
For some reason, there was pity within that voice. Jiablu was sure of it. And that fact greatly displeased him.
“Priest Rolgar once told me that girls prefer smaller ones,” the kid said wisely. “He said that the smaller, the better.”
Jiablu looked at his body. Not long ago, he had come to realize that his shell was weak and fragile, even when compared to other humans. And now, this.
Jiablu furrowed his brows.
The kid beside him sighed. He shook his head thrice. “That’s alright, man. You’re quite… good-looking anyway. I’m sure the girls will forgive you for being… big.” He shrugged. “I guess it’s true. You can’t have everything in life.”
Jiablu somehow felt insulted, but he did not know the reason why.
At the back of his mind, he thought, ‘I should have chosen a better shell after all.’
***
After they had cleaned themselves, everyone immediately went to the Dining Hall. A piece of small bread and a glass of milk were served as their breakfast. Jiablu quickly finished his share in a matter of seconds. He made a small burp after gulping down his milk.
He was unsatisfied with this one. He wanted more.
Just like before, the Madam gave instructions to those assigned to clean the table and wash the dishes. The kids slowly went out of the Dining Hall as they once again resumed their daily tasks.
The Madam approached Jiablu. She scrutinized him from head to toe, before saying, “I need you to deliver a package to the Cathedral.”
Jiablu thought that this might have something to do with the smelly old man they called Cardinal. “A package?”
“That’s right. Here,” said the Madam, as she handed him a small box covered in a purple cloth. “I was going to ask one of the Acolytes to deliver it to Roschal, but he insisted that it has to be you.”
He could see that the Madam was somehow troubled by this request, and even her stern voice failed to conceal it. What was inside the box? Jiablu was curious.
“You’ve been to the Cathedral before, right?” said Madam Agwen. “It’s not far from here. It should be impossible to get lost… but just in case.” She glanced left and right, and after she had found her target, she hollered, “Kirsten! Come here!”
The young girl flinched and jumped in fright the moment her name was called. With a slightly quivering body, she approached the two. Though unable to speak, her eyes were clearly asking what was going on.
“Accompany this one to the Cathedral,” she said. “You can do that, no?”
Kirsten glanced at Jiablu, to the box he was holding, then back.
She bobbed her head.
“Good,” said the Madam. “Now, go. Roschal is waiting.”
After those words, Madam Agwen left the two, her voice echoing as she reprimanded a kid that had broken one of their precious plates.
Kirsten tilted her head, her eyes wide as she silently gazed at Jiablu.
“Ah, I forgot that you can’t speak,” said Jiablu.
And a voice once again spoke through Kirsten’s head. “Here. This is a lot better, no?”
Immediately, Kirsten’s lips curled into a broad grin. She merrily nodded her head. “Yes! It’s a lot better!”
There was no mistaking the jubilance within that voice, and it was something that took Jiablu by surprise. But somehow, it was not a bad feeling at all. Contrary, it was a pleasant sensation. The voice of this human was somehow mellifluous, definitely soothing to the ears.
Was he becoming soft to these insects? Jiablu was not sure.
Kirsten grabbed the hem of Jiablu’s clothes.
“I’ve noticed it before… but… is there something wrong?” she asked, brows creased in worry.
Once again, Jiablu was reminded of the events that transpired that morning. He remembered the lack of endurance and physical strength of his shell. Moreover, he had come to know that the body he had taken over was somehow lacking a fundamental thing, physically.
These facts gave him a small headache. If he had known, he would have chosen a far better human.
“Everything is fine,” said Jiablu. He deemed that such handicap should not hinder his goals, after all. “Let’s go, human.”
With another enthusiastic nod from Kirsten, the two of them went towards the Cathedral.
Chapter 29: The Immortal Demon
Underneath the Cathedral, an underground chamber existed. Numerous small particles of light filled the cavern, amply illuminating it with an azure glow. Spikes dripped down the silver-black ceiling, and glowing runes and insignias were engraved on the walls.
Roschal sat cross-legged before a beast shackled at a large pillar. Its body was filled with silver fur, slit-like eyes glaring at the human before it with vehement ferocity. Occasionally, steam would puff out of its snout, as its wrath-filled roar remained suppressed by the magic circle glowing on the ground.
Roschal, despite being blind, knew that the monster was watching his every move, waiting for the time wherein it would be finally released from its shackles. Of course, as the Cardinal of the Order, Roschal would do everything to prevent that.
“It’s been a long time, Agares,” said Roschal. The face of the demon, which resembled an old man and a hawk, grimaced upon the utterance of the name. “You must be happy, no? Look at this old man before you. My life is slowly vanishing away as seconds passed by.”
The sound of metal clanking, as the demon tried to move its body,
reverberated.
Roschal remembered the first time he had met this creature fifteen years ago. That time, he had not expected that such a violent entity could exist. It was beyond logic, and even now, they could not find a way to kill it.
All the Order was left able to do was seal it, as they were without any method to vanquish the monster. Even spells of the highest rank attainable by humans proved useless. Truly, an entity far surpassing mere mortals.
Roschal coughed, and blood dripped down his mouth. He chuckled. “Funny, isn’t it? We’ve sacrificed the lives of more than a hundred elite members of the Order, but we’re still unable to kill you. And now, it seems that this curse you’ve inflicted is going to take away this old man’s life.”
A suppressed groan from the shackled beast was heard. Once again, the metallic chains clanked.
After wiping the thin line of red that dripped down his chin, Roschal stood up.
“I still have many things I wish to do,” said Roschal. “It’s a pity, but I will have to extend my life a little bit. You’ll help me in achieving that, of course. You, damn, immortal monster.”
The last statement was spat with great malice and murderous intent that it sent a cold chill down the demon’s spine. It repeatedly squirmed as it tried to break free of its chains. Its eyes glinted for a moment, and a suppressed roar was heard.
“Afraid? We’ve done this numerous times before,” chuckled Roschal. “I’m sure you’d been used to it by now.”
After the Cardinal raised both his twig-like hands, the magic circle underneath the shackled monster glowed violently. Bright enough to overshadow the small particles of light that filled the cavern.
Vines sprouted from the glowing enchantment and pierced the body of the demon.
The pupils of the demon called Agares dilated as fury boiled through its entire body. Roschal was sure that if it was unshackled, it would have torn him from limb to limb, and bathed with his blood. The spell was without a doubt causing the demon pain, but this amount of magical energy would never be enough to kill it. In a small amount of time, Agares would simply regenerate itself. Bound, but undying.
After a few more moments that felt like eternity, the vines slowly receded, then returned to the ground. The violent glow of the magic circle subsided, and the small shadows within the cavern returned to its glory. A small flower appeared where the vines previously sprouted. At its center, a small orb, the size of a pebble, hovered. Roschal grabbed it then swallowed it whole. Slowly, his pallid face started to regain its previous color.
He could feel the curse within his body recede somewhat.
“It’s funny whenever I think about it,” he said, half-chuckling. “We’ve desperately tried to kill you numerous times before. But who would have thought that the fact that we’re unable to was a blessing in itself. With your absurd regeneration, I can halt the progression of the curse somehow or another.”
The demon clearly understood what the old man had said. It squirmed about in its chains, as its slit-like eyes glared with vehement ferocity.
Roschal broadly smiled. He touched the face of the monster, tracing a line from the cheeks down to its chin. He whispered, “Do not worry. I will make sure that before the life of this old man ends... I’ll kill you.”
And a voice rang out from beyond. It softly resonated within the underground chamber.
“Cardinal, two kids from the orphanage are here to see you,” said the female voice.
Roschal did not bother turning around, his hand still continued to touch the face of the enraged monster.
“Is that so?” he simply replied. “Among them is the kid I’ve told you about, I suppose?”
“Yes.”
“Just in time,” said Roschal.
From the end of the chamber, just before a long winding tunnel, a female acolyte appeared. She stared at the shackled monster for a moment, before making a polite bow to the Cardinal.
With a mischievous smile, Roschal said to Agares, “Then, I’ll see you again.”
And he left the underground chamber.
***
Jiablu’s brows were creased in utter frustration. How long did the old man intend to make them wait? He spouted curses within his mind.
“Of all places,” he suppressed a snarl. “He has the nerve to make me wait inside this abhorrent place?!”
His voice echoed, and the girl with thick glasses sitting next to him jumped in fright. Jiablu glared at the large statue at the altar. Frail, wide wings. Rounded cheeks and almond eyes. A hovering divinity worshipped by many. But to Jiablu, it was nothing but a mere Queen Fairy.
It was an insult, and whenever he found himself staring at it, he had this uncontrollable urge to obliterate everything.
By the time the Cardinal had finally arrived, Jiablu was already livid.
“Oh, my,” chuckled Roschal. “Did you wait long?”
Jiablu stared at him in disbelief. The old man knew that he had made them wait for almost half an hour. And he dared ask that question?
“Human, there is a limit to foolishness,” said Jiablu. “I do not know the reason why you specifically asked that I deliver this package, but it would do you no good to test my patience.”
Roschal merely nodded after that threat. He approached the two, placed a hand on Kirsten’s head, and ruffled her curly hair. She closed her eyes like some satisfied cat.
Jiablu stared at Roschal. Now that he had taken a careful look, there was indeed something different from the old man. His previously fragile body had somewhat regained its vigor. And his pallid face had regained its color. More importantly, the colossal amount of miasma that used to surround the Cardinal had diminished somewhat.
“Why did you call me here?” said Jiablu. He handed the box wrapped in purple cloth to Roschal. “Surely, it’s not to deliver some stupid item?”
“It is,” said Roschal. The crease on Jiablu's brows intensified. For some reason, there was a small drool on Roschal's mouth. “Listen, have you eaten chocolates before?”
Jiablu noticed that Kirsten’s eyes almost bulged out of its sockets after she heard it. He could feel her grip tighten as she grabbed the hem of his clothes.
“Chocolates,” repeated Jiablu. “No, I have not.”
The Cardinal chuckled. “I know that you must have found this trip a waste of time, but you’ll surely change your mind once you’ve tasted what’s inside this box.”
Kirsten spoke through Jiablu’s mind. “L-Listen! Chocolates are one of the sweetest foods in the world! One of the tastiest! Our kingdom has no way of producing it… Even high-ranking nobles aren’t able to easily get their hands on it!”
By the time she had finished her explanation, her voice had already escalated into a shriek. Jiablu had never seen her so agitated before, and this fact greatly piqued his curiosity.
Roschal was still broadly smiling when he made the offer, “Then, let’s come to my room, shall we?” He lifted the box for everyone to see. “Just don’t tell Agwen that I’ve shared this with the two of you, okay?”
After a vigorous nod from Kirsten, the two of them went to the Cardinal’s room and indulged themselves with the sweetest food in the world. It had been a long time since Jiablu felt so satisfied in his life.
***
After stuffing themselves full, Jiablu and Kirsten immediately went their way towards the orphanage. The two of them were still broadly grinning as they traversed through cobbled streets, bustling stalls, and busy taverns.
From the distance, Jiablu could see the Central Plaza. Though unlike before, the crowd surrounding the Infernal Sword was gone. The legendary sword remained rooted on the ground, overlooked by the passersby.
Small barouches passed through narrow streets, and from a nearby bakery, smoke swirled up the chimney.
Amidst the buzzes and murmurs in the air, a shout reverberated.
“Hurry up! Damn animals!” snarled a skinny man wearing a turban. The sound of a whip hitting flesh was heard, and th
e three beastmen in front of him squealed in pain.
Chains clanked as the shackled slaves moved with slow, heavy steps. Blood dripped down their cut-ridden skin.
Jiablu stopped and stared in amusement. After all, it was a rare sight. He noticed that Kirsten was trying her best not to look at the emaciated beastmen, her eyes fixated on the ground.
Two of the beastmen were female, with cat ears perked up and quivering. But what interested Jiablu the most was the large beastman at the center. He easily passed the two-meter mark, his entire body covered by a gray-black fur. A Razorwolf.
Jiablu stared at the collars on their necks. He read the runes engraved on it, and was surprised by what he saw.
He furrowed his brows as he turned his gaze to the Razorwolf.
Judging by strength, that beastman could easily escape despite the magic restrictions. The magic imbued to the collars were weak, just enough to bind the female Purshas. But it would hardly do anything to someone like a Razorwolf.
Why was he not escaping? This was the question Jiablu repeatedly asked himself as the skinny human kept lashing the three with his whip.
Jiablu also noticed that the humans in this city were apathetic to this sight. They merely passed by as the slaves were abused and tortured on the streets.
“Ah. It's indeed refreshing to see things like these,” said Jiablu. He grinned as he thought of how foolish the beastmen were. “Slaves to mere insects. Amusing.”
For a moment, Jiablu and the Razorwolf locked eyes with each other. Jiablu clearly saw the boiling hatred within those eyes. He wanted to ask the enslaved beastman why it chose to stay despite its ability to escape. Why it chose to become the plaything of a mere insect.
It was foolish, laughable. And Jiablu could not see the reason behind such choice. Maybe, this was how inferior creatures think? He was not sure.
