The group turned right down the road. The receptionist at the Slayer Hall had given them a map that many Slayers used for raids and clearance jobs. Abandoned buildings and villages were marked with red to signify potential Shade habitats. People were advised to avoid those locations unless their job permitted entry. Far west of the city, a small dot of red was marked.
They marched onward through the ruins and overgrowth. While Merianca had an exit, it hardly felt like they had left at all. Crumbling buildings and debris were scattered among the weeds and bushes. Even as they got into the wooded areas, it felt much different than the forests from before. The foundations of old buildings remained, though any valuable material had long since been scavenged. The city that Merianca was hundreds of years ago was unbelievably huge. It was no wonder it had slowly condensed over the centuries. To maintain such a large city would be impossible.
The further they went, the less of the ruins they saw. The forest was strange and patchy; some areas seemed to have been around for centuries, while others were around for maybe a hundred or so. The less dense areas had the remains of roads and pathways, making it easy to traverse.
Lilith held the map up close to her face while grumbling to herself. Damien and Daniel exchanged concerned glances. “You know, if you’re having trouble with the map, maybe someone else could-”
“I’m fine!” She shouted back, her eyes not leaving the paper. Her shoulders tensed up as she brought it even closer and mumbled, “It’s just… this way… I think.”
Charlotte, who had returned to her humanoid form, stopped suddenly. Her face tilted up into the wind as she sniffed the air, “Someone else is here.”
Lilith perked up, “What? Where?” and tossed the map to the ground as she grabbed for her stone, “Is it a Shade?”
Damien’s eyes narrowed ahead as they also reached for their pouch, “I think she means the person ahead of us.”
The group tensed for combat as the bushes rustled up ahead. With their cover blown the person walked out from hiding with hands up in surrender. It was someone they had not seen before. He was a burly man with a gruff face, his form fitting clothing made clear his body was trained well for melee combat. He appeared to be middle aged with greying black hair and faint wrinkles around his eyes. His most striking features were his bright purple eyes and pointed ears; tell-tale signs of a Nephilim.
“It’s alright, I mean you no harm.” His voice was low, rough, but oddly gentle, “Since you got away from Iris, the Doctor sent me to wait for your arrival.” He looked to Lilith and Charlotte, “Though I don’t believe he was expecting others.”
Lilith glared, “I got words with the Demon Doc, I ain’t goin’ nowhere!”
“We’re a team, and Lilith is our leader,” Damien said firmly, “Where we go, they both follow.”
“Demon Doc, eh?” The man chuckled, then turned and began to walk into the trees, “Follow me. Don’t get lost.”
The group hesitated before following. They remained silently vigilant as they did. While they had many questions, they chose to focus on their surroundings. Their guide seemed kind, but they could never be too careful, lest an ambush await them.
After a short walk they made it to a clearing, and their objective. Looming over them was the remains of a church. While it still held its grand height, nature had consumed much of the structure. Red bricks and stone had worn and crumbled, revealing holes and large cracks held together by vines. It was beautiful to look at, but something felt off; a foreboding feeling weighted by a dark and sinister aura.
Charlotte had stopped at the edge of the clearing. Her eyes were wide and filled with fear. She shuddered as she nearly lost her footing stepping backwards, “W-what is in there?”
Daniel looked to her with concern, “Hey, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“I feel it too,” Daniel turned to Damien who spoke softly as they hugged their arms, “I can’t explain it, but something feels wrong.”
Lilith said nothing, but she also had a sickly look on her face.
“Don’t worry, you get used to it,” The man reassured. Daniel had expected him to be smug or cruel, but he spoke with genuine concern.
Charlotte shrunk away, “I-I apologise, but I cannot enter.”
Daniel looked back at her, then to everyone else, “I don’t get it, what’s wrong?”
“Humans can’t feel it,” The man spoke solemnly as he walked through the doors, “Come.”
Damien looked back to Charlotte, “Will you be okay?”
“Yes, if I keep my distance. However, if I sense something wrong, I will rush to your aid.”
“Just don’t push yerself.” Lilith’s voice was comforting.
The three followed their guide carefully through the doors. They were large and stuck open, though seemed to only just hang on to the rotting wooden frame. Inside the building was even more stunning than the outside. The entire building was made of brick and wood. The room was long and spacious, easily meant for a hundred people or more, a balcony protruding from the walls at the end with a pedestal in the front, likely where someone would stand to address visitors. The patterns and integrity of the structure made it apparent that it was built with utmost care. The stained glass windows showed this further. Despite the cracks and missing pieces it was clearly the story of Engel.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” The three jumped at the sound of a familiar voice. On the other side of the room stood none other than Charles. He was dressed far different than usual with his formal clothing replaced with protective, adventurer style gear. Even from a distance it was easy to see he looked tired and worn. His gaze was fixed on the glass windows in the walls, “This is considered to be the first Church of Engel. It’s a shame it was abandoned long ago, but it was attracting far too many Shade.”
“We didn’t come here for a history lesson,” Daniel’s voice was low with anger, “You said you’d have answers.”
“Ah, yes…” Charles spoke disheartedly. He finally looked over to the group before his eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Lilith, “Eve? What a coincidence.”
“Do not call me that!” Lilith practically screamed out, her voice trembling with fear.
“Ah, my apologies, I should have assumed you would have gone and changed your name.” Charles sighed, “I suppose all of you would like to know what’s going on.”
“I just,” Damien started before pausing, unsure of what to say, “I want to know why. Why convert humans into Nephilim? And why me?” Their voice shook as they spoke. The questions that swirled in their head for days had vanished in the moment. The stirring feelings of anger and fear weighed on them again, as they didn’t know they were holding them back.
Charles’ expression softened. “As a parent, one of the most heartbreaking things you can hear is that your newborn child won’t survive more than a week. I had wanted to keep my work and family separate, but I was so desperate.” He walked to the altar under the gaze of Engel’s image and rested his hands upon it, his head hung. “Your mother and I had fallen in love with you with only a single glance.”
“But why jump to Nephilim conversion?” Daniel asked, “Surely there must have been something else you could do!”
“Tairan’s medical technology could only do so much, and magic can’t strengthen the body forever.” There was a long pause, “At least, the magic that the blood stones provide can’t. The Nephilim project is about enhancing humanity to grow more powerful. At the time, I was desperate enough to finally put to practice the testing of creating Nephilim using Seraphim as the base.”
Damien reeled back in horror, “Wait, you-But their survival rate is basically none!”
“Only when you allow the change to progress naturally!” Charles countered, “I monitored you and controlled its effects, I made sure you would survive.”
“Did you not see them suffering all those years? They were in emotional turmoil for so long, and it was your fault!” Daniel yelled.
“It was that or they wouldn’t have lived to see past the hospital doors! My son, do you honestly believe me to be so heartless that I would want to experiment on my own child?” Charles slammed his fist down on the altar. His shoulders shook as he lost his composure.
Lilith laughed darkly, “Oh I get it, so when it’s yer kid yer heart breaks, but pluckin’ kids off the street ta use is fair game?”
Charles turned to face her with saddened eyes, “Using children was not my choice, but in the end it proved to be necessary to further our research.”
She growled, “Don’t you dare act all guilty! You stole me and a bunch of other kids! You took their lives and took my humanity!”
“We didn’t steal the children. Our leader went behind my back and turned to using the black market.” He hesitated, “Child, your parents sold you to us.”
Lilith fell into stunned silence. Her hands trembled and her eyes went hollow as what he said sunk in. Her fangs sank into her lip, drawing blood that she wiped away. “Come, Sharp Shooter!” She aimed for Charles with angry tears running down her cheeks and bared her teeth in rage.
“Lilith don’t!” Damien begged.
“Why the hell not? Are ya really gonna defend him after hearing all that?”
“Eve, there’s more to it than you think, please let me explain,” Charles was trying to keep calm, but he knew things were getting out of hand.
Her vision narrowed at the mention of that name. Her body remained still with her aim fixed on Charles. It was as if she were thinking her options, but her trembling form made it apparent she was overwhelmed.
“Call!-” she opened her mouth to form a chant, but was quickly cut off as an arrow flew from the balcony and hit her in the chest. “Gah!” She stumbled back, her left hand leaving her bow and grabbing at the ice sticking out of her chest.
“Iris!” Charles quickly turned to face up to the balcony where a lone figure kneeled in the shadows.
“Lilith!” Daniel cried out and caught her as she fell back. Her bow reverted back to its stone form as she lost consciousness.
Damien ran over to them in a panic, “Is she okay?”
He quickly looked her over, “I don’t know, she’s not waking up!”
The man had started moving towards them. Damien immediately reacted as they spun around while grabbing their stone, “Come, Falcon’s Edge!” and pointed their blade at him, “Not a step closer!”
He stopped at the threat, but remained calm, “We don’t want to hurt any of you.”
“Tell that to the one that shot her!”
“Please, I don’t want this to turn violent!” Charles called out desperately.
Daniel looked up from Lilith as he tried to stop the bleeding, “Then let us go so we can get her help!”
“I-” he shook his head in defeat, “I can’t allow you to leave. Damien is too important. I won’t let her die, we can heal her.”
His reassurance fell on deaf ears, “You’re not laying a hand on her!”
Damien tried to stay calm as they frantically tried to assess the situation. The man looming over them was ready to fight, and they could feel another spell charging off to the side. It didn’t help that the ever present dark sensation seemed to be throwing off their senses.
The chime of a bell and a guttural roar caught the attention of everyone. It came from outside before something burst through the wall. Dust and bricks flew everywhere, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. Damien peeked over their arm to see what was attacking and was left speechless. It was certainly Charlotte, but in a form they hadn’t yet seen. She looked similar to her cat form, but far larger, and much more threatening. Her fur was ruffled around her powerful legs with large claws digging into the stone floor, creating fresh cracks. Another growl rumbled in her throat, muffled only by the limp Shade held in her jaws. With a flick of her head she hurled the creature at the approaching man. He was caught off guard and the impact sent him to the ground. Another arrow approached quickly, but Charlotte was ready. She roared and summoned a shimmering blue barrier that took the impact. Ice instantly covered the surface like a bubble in winter air.
She turned to her companions, “Climb on, there are too many Shade to escape on foot!” Her mouth hardly moved as she spoke, her voice echoing with magic.
Daniel grabbed Lilith without hesitation and climbed her back. Damien made to follow, but was stopped at the sound of their father’s voice.
“Wait, please! The fate of humanity is at stake! If he returns before we’re ready, everyone will die!”
They looked through the thin ice to where they knew their father stood. He sounded desperate and scared, but…
Shaking their head they followed their brother. Whatever it was would have to wait. Things had grown far too chaotic, and their friend was in serious danger.
Not another word was spoken as Charlotte charged through the hole in the entrance. Her massive body weaved through the forest with ease. Dirt and grass were kicked up with every powerful step as the wind whistled past their ears. It was an exhilarating feeling and would have been enjoyable, if not for the circumstance.
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