“That bracelet will do nothing to save you from me. Now die!” Astreal yelled before she launched all six blades towards him. Daniel scrambled to his feet and jumped off to the side, with three of the swords striking into the ground with sharp thrusts while the other three spun around in the air past him before flying back at the boy. The witches around the area started laughing and giggling as Daniel rolled onto the ground with the flying blades whipping by over him, the boy then scrambling to his feet and lunging over to the side as the first three blades launched out from the ground and spun around to strike down into the ground where he just was with sharp impacts.
“Daniel!” Kroanette cried out as the human frantically dodged and rolled around to avoid the spinning blades. The metal poles that were still standing were sliced into pieces by Astreal’s magical swords, all the while Daniel kept stumbling around and frantically trying to avoid being cut apart himself. He then looked towards Astreal as the witch laughed while swinging her staff around again and again, throwing her magical blades all around the plaza as the witches around the area were laughing and pointing at the human.
“Alright, enough of this,” Daniel grunted before he made a dash towards Astreal, the witch watching him with a slick smile as the boy glanced back to seeing all six blades spinning around fiercely towards him. Kroanette looked to Astreal then to Daniel with growing concern as the boy raced towards the witch with the blades following closely behind him.
“Oh?” Astreal mocked. “Do you think you can cut me down with my own swords?”
“Let’s find out,” Daniel challenged as he ran towards the girl, only for Apoch to then quickly thrust her staff towards him. Before the two sisters a large shield of glowing yellow light expanded out, the silver and golden armor manifesting with a small metallic whine. Daniel gasped before he slammed into the magical barrier, the shield not budging an inch from the impact while Apoch and Astreal laughed in unison.
“What?” Daniel shouted with surprise before looking back to seeing the spinning crimson blades flying towards him. With only just enough time he quickly dropped down and hugged the ground, the magical blades then striking into the shield above him and bouncing off with loud clanks. Daniel held his hands over his head as the swords spiraled around wildly onto the ground nearby, the blades then being launched up into the air before being sent straight down towards him.
“Daniel, move!” Kroanette cried out.
Daniel gasped then quickly rolled off to the side, with the blades striking into the ground one after another behind him as they all just missed by a hair each. As each sword struck down with a sharp ring the shield before the sisters slowly vanished, with Apoch then returning to her defensive stance while Astreal kept her staff aimed at Daniel with a cold smile. Daniel rolled to a stop as the sixth sword struck down next to him, the boy staring at the magical weapon with wide eyes before scrambling to his feet and looking at the witch sisters with wonder.
“You will never get close to our alpha,” Apoch declared softly with a firm expression. “For I am her shield.”
“And I am her sword,” Astreal stated as she waved her staff around in a circle. “Now then, time to end this.”
The crimson blades in the ground yanked up into the air and spun around wildly as they circled Daniel, the boy watching as the swords twirled around before they turned to aim at him from all sides. Daniel looked from one sword to the other with caution before over to the witch sisters, with Kroanette gasping as she saw Daniel surrounded by the magical blades.
“Any last words?” Apoch and Astreal asked together.
“Yes, let me speak to Charlotte!” Daniel shouted out.
“Those are horrible last words, don’t you have anything better?” Kroanette called out with disbelief.
“You will never bother our alpha with your senseless words,” Astreal scorned.
“Goodbye, Mr. Daniel,” Apoch said coldly as Astreal raised her staff up, with her swords rattling as they all prepared to launch towards Daniel from all around him. Daniel glanced to the magical blades with frustration as he tensed up, bracing to be sliced apart in front of the village of witches, then looked over towards the manor as a door being closed loudly was heard.
“I told you two to deal with him quietly,” Charlotte said dryly, with everyone then looking over to seeing the alpha walking towards the sisters with a dull expression on her face. The alpha had her wand in hand while her hair gently flowed behind her, the witch walking over to Astreal who quickly bowed to her along with all of the witches in the court.
“My grace,” Astreal said elegantly.
“We’re so sorry for the disturbance,” Apoch apologized. “We’ll handle this misguided human for you right away.”
Charlotte stopped next to them then glanced to Daniel with a raised eyebrow, seeing the boy surrounded by floating crimson blades while all around the plaza small stones and broken metal poles were littered about from the scuffle.
“You do realize that I was trying to get off to the memory of my charming Daemon before your little squabble out here became rather irritating, yes?” she mentioned as she glanced to the sisters with annoyance. The two girls jumped a bit then nervously nodded at her.
“Yes, we’re sorry, we’ll handle him right away,” they quickly assured together.
Charlotte rolled her eyes then looked back to Daniel with a dull stare while she tapped her wand on her thigh.
“I know I told you not to come here,” she called out expectantly.
“You did, but I had to speak to you again,” Daniel answered.
“Does it look like I want to talk to you?”
“You don’t have to speak, you can just listen.”
“Let me try this again since you’re not getting the message,” Charlotte retorted with a bitter smirk. “Does it look like I want to listen to you? Honestly, are you just wishing to die? Is that all you really want?”
“I wish to speak to a grand ruler of a monster race such as yourself,” Daniel requested with a humble bow. “And will not be scared or chased away from doing so by anything. Please, my grace, I traveled all this way to see you, I stand before you unarmed with no intention to start a fight. All I want is a moment of your time.”
Charlotte drummed her fingers on her thigh for a moment before she started walking towards the boy.
“Alright, this bothersome issue is going to end tonight,” she said before she snapped her fingers, the sound being heard like a deafening clap as Astreal’s swords shattered into a sparkly dust. Astreal jumped and watched with surprise at the sight of her magical blades being dissolved as Charlotte waved her wand to the side, causing the broken bits and chunks of the court to slide and roll back into place while the pieces of the metal poles were thrown off to the side and out of the way.
“You are by far the most annoyingly persistent human I have ever seen,” Charlotte ridiculed. “I’m not sure if I respect or despise that about you, I just can’t tell. Still, you at least have the decency to address me properly, although that’s not enough to forgive you for disregarding my orders which were crystal clear. Now then, seeing as how you just won’t shut up and leave me alone, and I’m already standing here along with the entire village, let’s just get this over with, shall we?”
She walked over and stood before Daniel with obvious discontent for the boy. He watched her carefully as she gave a gentle wave of the hand for him to speak.
“So then, Daniel, I’m listening. Go ahead, speak to me. Speak to all my sisters. Speak loudly so those in back can hear you as well, I’d hate for you to have to repeat yourself,” she mocked before resting her hand at her hip with a cold glare at him.
“Speak, and make your words count. Because once you’re done talking, I’m going to kill you right where you stand.”
Chapter 9
Prove It
In the world of Eden, sometimes the odds just weren’t in the favor of those faced with dire and incredibly difficult situations. The will to
stand and fight could be there, the desire to push forward and succeed burning ever brighter, and yet even then it was possible to be faced with failure in the end, if only because realistically the chances of success were almost non-existent. In times such as these, all one can really do is try with all their might to win, to give it their all and pray that it will be just enough. Although often the outcome is to suffer defeat when faced with overwhelming odds, to be pushed aside and ignored when one voice alone wasn’t enough, sometimes an opportunity to seize victory would present itself. If one was fortunate enough, there may just be a path to succeed against all odds, a path that would be laid out right before them in plain sight.
However, that didn’t always mean that it would be an easy path to take.
*****
Silence filled the plaza as Daniel stood before Charlotte, the alpha watching him with a cold look in her eyes while surrounding them the witches of the village kept watch on the human that their alpha was allowing to speak. Kroanette glanced around to seeing all the little monsters keeping a sharp eye on Daniel, knowing that if he did not choose his words carefully there would be no escaping this situation. Charlotte casually glanced to her wand as she flicked it gently at her side before her eyes returned to Daniel with a piercing stare.
“I’m waiting,” she said expectantly.
Daniel nodded slowly as he kept his eyes on the alpha, knowing that whatever he said now would either bring about the end of his journey and his life or possibly allow him to see another day with the girls. After taking a quiet breath he slowly kneeled down on one knee to face the witch, watching as she kept her eyes on him with hardly any interest.
“I realize that you have no reason to think that humans and monsters can live together peacefully,” he admitted. “Let alone humans with witches. Man has killed many witches in the past just as your kind has killed ours. The idea of us living together isn’t something that would have crossed any witch’s mind, let alone yours.” He made sure to speak up to reach those that were listening nearby, while Charlotte merely watched him without moving or saying a word. Noticing that none of the witches were showing any reaction Daniel then continued.
“You are an alpha witch, one of the strongest witches of your kind, and a leader over those in your region, such as them. You want what is best for your people, to lead them, to guide them, to protect them. They respect and look up to you because they know you will do what is right for them, as a fair and just ruler, am I correct?” The alpha witch merely gave a single nod while remaining silent, with Daniel then smiling a little as he saw the witch was at least listening to his words.
“Nobody, not even a Darker One can tell you what to do, my grace, for we both know that your title of being an alpha isn’t misplaced. I saw you ward off a succubus like it was nothing, I’ve felt the raw magical power you possess and seen what you can do with it merely to toy and provoke those around you. I have no delusions in believing anything other than you can handle yourself just fine in this world.” That also got no reaction out of Charlotte, to which Daniel breathed out quietly then slowly gestured around to the witches surrounding them.
“But what about them?”
Charlotte merely glanced around to the witches briefly before looking back to him with a raised eyebrow, with Daniel then shaking his head slowly with a worried smile.
“How many witches live in this village under your watch?”
“68,” Charlotte replied without a care.
“And how many are in this region that recognize you as their alpha?”
“289.”
Daniel nodded then showed a troubled frown.
“How many of them can you protect on your own, on this very night?”
Charlotte just watched him silence, with Daniel then shaking his head a little.
“Those that are before you are safe from harm, after all you are certainly not to be angered let alone challenged in terms of power here in your own village. But those that are further away, those that may be under your watch with magic are still too far to be helped by you personally, who can they turn to in their hour of need?”
“If you have a point you’re building up to, please hurry and get to it now,” Charlotte scoffed while crossing her arms.
Daniel stood up and looked around at all the witches as they were watching the boy with bored or dull stares.
“My point is that witches don’t have anyone to turn to but their alphas in their time of need.”
He started walking towards the crowd, with all eyes following him as he walked up to the witches then started pacing to the side along the edge of the gathering of little monsters.
“Here in Rystone they’re safe,” he reasoned. “After all they have an alpha watching them. But what about when they leave this village, or even still, what about those who are further away from here as we speak? Witches out in the region, all on their own, and not exactly treated kindly by both humans and monsters they come across. What are they to do when they run into trouble and have nowhere to seek help?”
“What makes you think we need anyone’s help?” a witch near him snapped with discontent.
Daniel stopped and glanced to her as the girl stepped forth and tapped her staff on the ground a few times, with strange blue streaks of light twirling up from the impact briefly.
“Do you think we’re helpless or something?” she scoffed. “Ha! I wouldn’t run from anything out in The Outerlands, I would show them what happens when they mess with a witch should they even look at me funny!”
The witches around cheered out in agreement before Daniel nodded and knelt down in front of the girl with a calm smile on his face.
“I take it you’re skilled in your art of magic, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am,” the witch boasted arrogantly.
“A human such as myself would pose no problem to you at all, would he?” Daniel mused with a smirk.
“I don’t know, a human like you likely couldn’t give me very strong children, and that is a problem,” the witch quipped, getting a round of laughter from the crowd while Kroanette just continued to watch Daniel with worried eyes. The boy chuckled and nodded a bit as he looked down and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Yeah, I know, I’m not very intimidating am I?”
“Hardly,” the witch mocked. “I mean you have no muscle, no weapons, nothing at all. What reason would anyone have to fear you?”
Daniel nodded slowly then glanced to seeing the witch having a bright green gemstone adorning a silver necklace over her neck, the trinket being the only piece of jewelry she had on.
“You want to know what reason you would have to fear me?” Daniel asked plainly.
The witch giggled and leaned closer to him with a smug grin.
“What?” she sneered while tilting her head.
Daniel then swiped the girl’s necklace from her neck, the witch gasping and holding a hand to her chest as Daniel stood up and held the relic up in the air.
“What if I do this?” Daniel asked casually.
“You… give that back!” the witch yelled out with anger.
“Make me.”
The witch fumed with rage then swung her staff at him, the boy catching it with one hand and holding it there while watching the girl amusedly.
“What’s wrong?” he mused playfully. “You were so confident a moment ago, what happened?”
“You jerk, give that back! That’s mine!” the girl yelled out.
Daniel shook his head then knelt down to face the witch, the girl watching him with frustration while the witches nearby were glaring at the boy.
“You see?” he asked gently. The witch looked at him curiously as he slowly held the necklace out to her. “What happens if you lose your focuser? Or if somebody takes it? Or even worse, what if your magical reserves are low, too low to cast a spell?”
The witch looked to the necklace then slowly rested a hand on it, with Daniel letting go of her staff before he took the necklace a
nd reattached it around the girl’s neck for her.
“If you lose that, you’re just another little girl in Eden,” he gently reminded her. “Powerless, defenseless, and alone.”
The witch looked down to her gemstone then to him with wonder.
“How did you…”
“If you’re referring to how I knew that was your focuser, it wasn’t hard to guess, it was the only obvious piece of jewelry you had on that could have come from Witch’s Mountain,” Daniel pointed out in jest. He then stood up and smiled gently down at the witch. “If you’re talking about how I knew that was your weak point, everyone in Eden knows that. Humans or monsters, very few don’t know that if you take a witch’s focuser from them they can’t cast magic then.”
The witch looked at her necklace curiously then back to him as he turned and started walking over toward Charlotte again.
“Every witch, even an alpha, needs a focuser to use magic,” he announced to the crowd. “Every witch, even an alpha, has a finite amount of magic they can use without having to rest. And every witch, even an alpha, is considered to be untrustworthy, sneaky, dangerous, lustful, and nothing but a monster in this world.” He then turned to Charlotte who was still watching him with no amusement.
“Every witch, my grace, has nobody to help them when they are hurt, lost, stranded, or in danger. Every witch, in Eden, is alone.”
“What are you getting at?” she inquired.
“You don’t have to be alone,” he implored. “No witch in Eden has to be treated like a nameless monster, to be hunted down and killed in the wild, to be known for being the troublemakers of the world. My grace, we don’t have to be enemies with each other, and there is much we could gain from living together in peace.”
“What in the world is this human talking about?” a witch called out.
“Yeah, who is he, my grace?” another asked with confusion.
Charlotte slowly walked around Daniel while watching him with a cold stare, the boy remaining still as he watched her circling around him.
Chronicles of Eden - Act IV Page 29
