***
A day after arriving at the Donima household, the older siblings invited Xero, along with Meldie, to visit the town and enjoy the sights.
The four married brothers and their wives pulled them along in a big ‘date’, much to Meldie’s dismay but even so she dressed up for the event.
One thing should be noted and that is that the two eldest brother’s wives were pregnant but their belly wasn’t as pronounced as their mother in law.
After the women were finished getting ready, a carriage was prepared and they all boarded and went to Blue Light city.
At the city, they allowed the women to lead while the men just casually talked. Xero was surprised that almost all of the Donima were Everlight academy students. Most of them were quite good at magic and their familiars were almost all beasts with exception to the last brother who had a spirit but it had the shape of an animal.
Halflings are known for having beast familiars all of which are used as battle mounts depending on the breed and how it evolves.
“Don’t you all want to rank above level 30?” Xero asked.
The four just smiled it off as they follow the women to go eat some pastries.
After eating and enjoying the sun as they walk around just enjoying the small talk. Suddenly the entire town shook as a huge barrier appeared in the sky and a ripple appeared as a figure burst through.
They flew in a chaotic manner as they broke through the barrier but soon two large holy lights shined mixing with a blue color before the figure fixed itself.
Then it turned and suddenly shot through the sky causing a burst of wind and finally he almost crashed into the ground in front of the group.
The group of men suddenly pulled their wives behind them, Xero unconsciously took a step forward and drew his sword while getting in front of Meldie. His aura started to surge before a strong wind blew from the cloud of dust and revealed the figures.
Laying on the ground was Ernest, badly hurt in the leg while Night was sweating from the almost breaking his limit when he crashed through the barrier and kept flying to land in front of Xero. “You're really here.” He huffed as his eyes blurred, “Save… Ernest.” He said before he coughed while the Dark Cherub collapsed and black blood dripped out. His figure dulled before it turned into blue light and flashed back into Ernest’s familiar seal.
“What’s going on?!” One of the older brothers asked.
“Xero, it’s Ernest! He’s hurt!” Meldie said holding Xero’s shirt while looking from the side.
Swish! Swish! Swoosh!
She quickly sidestepped him and called out Pou but as she reached him several people appeared in the air dressed in pure white robes with angelic familiars.
Meldie crouched down beside him while Xero stepped forward and looked up. He then saw Silvia.
“We finally have you heathen!” She said hissing in anger.
“What did you do to Ernest!?” Xero suddenly said.
Her eyes moved to Xero and her pupils suddenly shrank, “You! You’re another demon worshipper! You’re another demon spawn!” She shouted slightly crazed. “Brothers, this… thing possesses demon spawn for a familiar! He must be executed as well!” She said.
The several other men pulled out white spears and swords without even explaining and were ready to attack when suddenly the Donima brothers stepped up. “Who are you people to so brazenly murder in this city!?” the eldest brother said.
“We are followers from the most righteous order of the Holy Light. That demon spawn must die in the name of the Holy light!” She pointed at Ernest with raging killing intent.
The Donima brothers and their wives sneered, “It is not the place of ‘children’ who are not even properly entered into their order and are ‘just’ students in the Holy Academy.” The eldest brother said.
“You! DARE! Obstruct the followers of the order of the Holy Light in their mission to cleanse the world of demons! You are a demon worshipper as well then for protecting them!” She shouted.
“You have no power in this city, go back before you get hurt, girl.” he said.
To these words the girl sneered, “I have just surpassed level 30, you commoners without backing, you dare order me around. Who are you to command me!?” She shouted.
The eyes of the eldest Donima brother narrowed, “I am Vincent Donima, next heir to the Donima Merchant Firm.” He said.
“A tiny merchant family dare obstruct our order.” She said in a cold voice.
To this retort Vincent grinned and raised his hand. Suddenly on the rooftops and streets, the city guard and the knights order of the city suddenly rushed out. “No, this ‘tiny’ merchant does not care about the working of the Holy Light church but you aren’t members of the Holy Light church and you are acting out of order in this city and attempting to murder the friend of my friend.” He said.
She looked around and narrowed her eyes, “How do you command the city guard and Knight’s order as a rankless noble?”
Vincent grinned, “Are we rankless? I wonder, has it ever passed through your mind why our Donima Merchant Firm can so brazenly own a large manor so close to the city and can command 70% of the economy of the Radiance empire. Do you really believe that rankless nobles can possess so much power?” He narrowed his eyes while his grin widened.
Silvia’s eyes widened while Xero was in shock and horror as he heard something scary. “The firm owns 70% of a nation's business! This is already beyond power, they clearly have their hands in the top ranks of the nation itself!” Xero though. He swallowed hard when he found this out.
It should be known that Radiance empire was extremely prosperous. The size of the land was several times that of Lurian empire and unlike the mountainous nation, this one had a lot of fertile land so they have a large amount of farmland that is exploited.
“So your filthy family secretly infiltrated the nation.” one of the men said.
SWOOSH!
A powerful blade strike came from below and nearly hit the man, “I suggest you hold your tongue if you want to keep it.” A knight commander said narrowing his eye.
The man released an unrelenting killing intent honed and sharpened in deadly combat.
Knights were unlike guards. They swore to the war god to uphold the order and laws it placed down as well as be loyal to their lord. This kind of oath is something engraved in their soul. Besides that they are also Familiar owners, because they are extremely loyal families that had the right to train knights were not stingy when training talented knights.
“You…” The student said pale.
Surrounded by her brothers and completely in control, Meldie seemed more comforted as she summoned Pou, “Pou, use Yin Yang Rebalancing.” She said.
The panda bent its head and nuzzled the forehead of the fallen young man. The body of the panda turned hollow and suddenly it was absorbed into Ernest’s forehead and formed a Yin Yang symbol on the head. It began to spin at a slow pace and from there the strange and mysterious Yin Yang energy flowed through Ernests body. The energy slowly flowed down the body in a particular manner and started to change the manner in mana of the young boy flowed causing it to slowly go from blue to green.
On the outside, from the symbol a green aura slowly spread around his body and soon reached the leg.
Meldie removed the cloth carefully and saw the bloody wound but as the green aura flowed the blood began to solidify and form a cover as the skin began to grow under, on both sides began.
“He is safe now.” Meldie said.
None of the men turned back but the women watched in surprise by the little girl's unexpected healing ability that seemed very profound and strange.
“Are you prepared to go against the church?” Silvia asked in a cold tone.
“That is what I should ask you, are you prepared to go against the Radiance empire and the Light Church?” He asked.
Silvia’s eye shrank as she heard this. The words meant that the Donima family was inside the Light
church as well as the nation.
“You think we fear the Light church?” Silvia said.
“Of course not but let me ask you, can you ensure that you represent the Holy Light church? Will they back you up if you keep this up?” Vincent asked.
Silvia frowned because she knew that if she had succeeded they would have definitely given shelter but not if she failed.
“This doesn’t end here.” She said and turned.
“I think you got something wrong.” An extremely loud voice said.
From the lord's manor a halfling casually flew on the back of a huge bird as he came over.
“The lord is here!” Shouted the commanding knight.
“GREETINGS MY LORD!” all the knights banged their chest in greetings.
“What does his lord Earl need?” Silvia asked.
“You obviously committed the crime of trespassing and attempted murder within my walls. If I just allow you to leave, where would my authority as an Earl go?” He said coldly.
Silvia felt a shiver down her spine as she turned to run.
“Imprison them!” The Earl ordered.
At once all the strongest knights jumped out and their familiars appeared ready to bring down the group.
Before they could a large barrier formed, “STOP!”A roar came from everywhere and slowly a figure appeared glowing and materializing in front of the group. “Earl Roz, you attempt to arrest my students yet the boy who invaded the barrier first was ignored.” The figure said behind the shroud of light.
“I am not a blind man, one can see an injured man escaping his murders. Also he is a guest of the Donima family. They are faithful and respected members of our Radiance Empire so how can their guests be someone evil?” he said in a slow and bored manner.
“I will take my students, do you wish to stand in my way?” The man asked.
The Earl sighed and lifted his hands showing his resignation and the man turned and began to move the barrier but turned back to look at Xero.
He looked for a moment before pushing on ignoring those around him.
“Let’s go, brothers get the young man back to the carriage.” Vincent said.
“Young master, do you require an escort?” The earl asked.
“I thank uncle Roz, I would be most obliged if you could provide an escort.” Vincent said.
The Earl nodded and looked at his commander knight who struck his chest, “I shall personally escort them my lord.” he said.
“Good, take a squadron of 200 knights and reinforce the Donima for the time being.” He ordered.
“Understood my lord.” He said.
He called out towards a large group and with their help, Ernest was put in the carriage while still healing under Meldie’s spell and was escorted to the Donima estate under heavy protection.
Chapter 5
After spending several hours inside Ernest, Pou exited while Ernest remained with the green aura as the mana kept flowing in a peaceful and steady flow following how it had been set. The large hole in the leg had already closed under the effect of the magic, it was clear the spell wasn’t a fast acting spell but from the strange liquid that was coming out of the boy, it had many more effects than just healing.
Several times he coughed up a large ball of black blood and rested again and only after 12 hours did he wake up when the sun was setting.
Being constantly washed, his body was left mostly in his underwear to make it easiest for the servants to constantly change his sheets and remaining clothing.
When he woke up, he got up completely okay though he was limping due to the pain. There was a scar where the wound had entered and it was still sensitive so he was given a crutch so as to not put pressure on his leg for now.
He was brought to the dining hall where the family had gathered after hearing he was awake and had prepared something for him.
Francis asked what happened but because Ernest was hungry, he summoned Night to explain but that was less than helpful.
“THAT BITCH!” he roared upon being summoned then laughed, “I told her that if she doesn’t kill us I would find her.” he said with a mad shine in his eye.
Only after receiving an impact from the commander knight and crushing him into the ground once did he finally relax a bit and began to explain from the start.
“That bitch, Silvia, started it all. Master had accepted several missions to transport several dozen demon weapons that were sealed by the Light Church here in Radiance empire. It was to be taken to the Dark Holy Church because it was purchased by them to be used by some of the high ranking familiars while some would use it as food because of ‘peculiar’ bodies and eating habits.” he sneered and was almost spitting, “When we got this mission, we obviously had to come and had the registration to fly in the nation done beforehand but the border barrier had the ability to identify all passers and so we were obviously identified. From that that bitch probably knew we were here and probably took the chance by using the backing she had here. Her mission was a basic sweep of the monsters near the border and when she saw us she thought up of some self righteous shit calling us demon worshipers because my race originates from Demons.” He said.
Francis sighed, “The Holy Light church is getting more bold. If not for the threat of the Space crack that was finally found and suppressed for now, they might have already erupted into hostilities with the Light church for sole control of the Radiance empire.” he said but he chuckled, “Of course, such a thing wouldn’t happen since the Light church has more followers, are less radical and has the support of my firm that sustains most of the nation.” He said chuckling.
“Young man, I do not suggest for you to continue towards the Light church. It is best to return to the academy and report this.” The commander knight said.
“That is where the problem lay.” Vincent said and pulled out a paper.
“Border closing. Due to several criminals being on the loose, all crossing through the barrier in and out of Radiance empire is strictly controlled. Until all criminals are found and killed the borders shall remain under strict security.”
“They have really gone too far this time.” Francis was furious.
“The church probably thinks that we have not left yet so they probably wanted to lock us in here.” Ernest said after drinking some juice. “I don’t really know why they are after me though.” he said.
“It’s probably because there is a chance for you to become an idol for the Dark Holy Church.” Xero said and explained the history of the church and the demon who merged Holy and demon magic.
“So that is why I had so much prejudice against me by all the Holy Light. It’s against everything they believe. Demon and Holy huh?” He sat pondering.
“You should be careful child, Chaos spells are not to be trifled with. There was a recent incident with a young miss of the Crost Family that tapped into Chaos spells and ended up destroying a chunk of 300 meter of land around where the spell was cast and this was using Ice and Fire. If you use Holy and Demon to merge then it will go against all principles of nature itself and the effect would be so huge that it could whip an entire city clean off the map.” the knight said.
“Until now I have focused only on light magic except for Night’s Holy wings to boost his speed. That came as an Innate spell already with the Holy rune in place so it began adding it to his body.” He said.
“Don’t worry boys, we will resolve this problem.” Francis said.
“If you can get in contact with Everlight academy they will probably come. If you can get a letter specifically to Grunt Crack then he would smash apart the barrier if needed and come pick us up.” Xero said.
Meldie paled, “Xero, please don’t joke, he would literally rampage if he came.” Meldie said serious.
Xero just smiled.
“For now you are guests at our house so please relax, in here we will make sure nothing bad happens to you boys.” Francis said.
With that the family also cheered agreeing.
In the corner Night floated over to Vincent and handed a paper, “Here this is the list I mentioned I needed. Get me these within at least two nights if possible. The cost shouldn’t be to high.” He said.
“It’s not but what do you plan to do with this?” he asked.
The Dark Cherub’s yellow eyes burned with rage as he opened and closed his hands as if preparing to attack something, “Revenge.” He said simply and flew out after Ernest that was limping outside to enjoy the last bit of sunlight of the day.
“To think we would meet again like this.” Ernest said and sat down looking up.
“Yeah, I really didn’t expect the Radiance empire to be so paranoid though? How come the Holy Light church can so casually close the borders like this?” Xero asked.
“They can’t, most likely this will last at most a month before the royal army makes its move. Even if 30% of the court is under their control, there is 25% controlled by the Light church itself and another 15% by the merchant’s alliance headed by the Donima firm while the remaining 30% is under the king’s personal rule. Because the borders are closed, it will affect the merchants and the Light church will not accept the boldness of the Holy Light church pushing the force against the Holy Light Order to be 70% against 30% the border lock would instantly be lifted within a short time.” he said. “So, how is Ashley? Did you progress a lot with your training?” He asked.
Xero nodded and happily raised the sleeve on his shirt to expose the tattoo that did not even reach his shoulder anymore.
“Ashley.” Xero called out and the 1 cm crystal demon core appeared but suddenly her Sword Devil aura burst out and the core vanished.
BANG!
When the two reacted, Ashley was standing with her bare feet on top of the head of the Dark Cherub while grinding it into the ground.
“So I finally get to see you, you bastard. You think I will easily forget the face and smell of the bastard that hurt master so much?!” She said and stomped on his head.
“Ashley what are you doing!?” Xero asked.
“I still remember master, 8 months ago I said that when I see this bastard I would cut off his balls and make him eat it for crushing my core with you unprepared for the impact. It’s time that he pays up!” She said as a long sharp blade appeared with a dangerously keen edge.
The Sword Devil Page 6
