Demeus heard that Sheba had already returned last week but did not have the time to return and see her. She called for the rukh once again to aid her. Final touches were given to the item she created to help Solomon. She did not know when he will need it but for now, she will have it ready.
It took weeks before she could get back to the Resistance Base. She put in her pouch the charm she made and hopefully, she could easily give it to him. Well, she came up at the wrong time. There had been an internal discord among the other species, and Sheba and the others were having a hard time helping them out. Most were too stubborn to accept the other species while some were just hostile to them for no reason.
"Drive out the centaurs!"
"Drive out the berserks!"
Various insults flew out of their mouths and Demeus could instantly taste the darkness in their hearts. It was full of hatred and distrust. Solomon expelled some magicians and were put into isolation barriers. To say that they were surprised of his judgment was an understatement. They were outraged by his audacity. In order to turn the tables around, one of the magicians accused Solomon of being a part of David.
"He releases you from the imprisonment he set up himself in order to obtain support from various tribes. Now, after 300 years, he wants to solely rule over you. Isn't that right?" He taunted. Gasps erupted from everybody. Sheba could not help herself but be angry at their accusations. Demeus was saddened by their evil thoughts. They worked hard to form such bonds with every being in the world and yet, they were the one who breaks it.
"Why is this happening? Just when everybody was getting along so well." She whispered. The other species started to doubt Solomon by then. Just then, a harsh wind stopped their chattering. It was Sheba and she was not delighted with their actions.
"The restriction barrier is gone." The leopard species muttered. Sheba looked at them straight in the eye and told them to kill them. They were frozen in their place. Their ears could not believe that Lady Sheba just suggested something so preposterous.
"What's wrong? You don't trust him right?" She uttered with no apparent sympathy in her tone.
"What the hell are you thinking? Has Solomon ever been a cruel king to you!? Didn't he say that we should live equally!? You can't trust the kindness of someone stronger than you because you have a weak heart!" She shouted. The others were enraged by her outburst but it could not be denied that her words hit the core. Demeus flew towards the other species and places her hands in their heads.
"You have to understand that in order to live a peaceful life, you must trust that kindness you all carefully built. You may not know it but your heart and mind are in conflict. If you did what Sheba said awhile ago, then that proves that you have a weak heart because you cannot accept that someone stronger is willing to help you. If that is so, then the world will be full of enemies at this point." She said with a sad smile. Sheba teared up at her words. She knew that Demeus would surely understand her.
"Try to bring out your courage! I'm sure that you will realize that we are not different from each other. I'm not scared of other bigger and stronger species because I know that everyone wants to live together with their families and loved ones without conflict. That's why I believe in him." Sheba beamed. With a smile that rivaled the sun, she told them words that will be forever etched in their hearts and minds.
"If there is somebody here who has forgotten what he has done and is sill suspicious of him, come and stand in front of me!" Solomon's eyes glazed at her words. Sheba was not the girl he knew long ago. She grew up already.
'I'm glad that everything is starting to get brighter than ever before.' Demeus smiled. She flew towards Solomon and gave him a little gift.
"I'm sorry for not returning so soon, Little One. Here is a little gift that I want you to have. Use it wisely, Solomon." She turned her back towards him and walked away from the group. There was still some work she had to accomplish and Solomon must not be involved.
"W-Where will you be going?" She just smiled and left.
Demeus returned to her home, her tribe. The elusive tribe did not welcome her but she already expected such thing. She was about to enter when she felt something shift in the air. There was a barrier that protected them. Right now, Demeus was losing her time. There were cracks already and things must be accomplished. She materialized her staff and pierced through it. Many were aware of her presence and became aggressive as she entered. She paid them no attention.
"Let me talk to Lord Guamenti. This is an urgent matter." She said clearly. Some did not move until a loud elder voice forced them to.
"Insolent child of the Rukh. What brings you here to our humble abode?" He asked. Demeus bowed respectfully and asked them a favor which will be paid by her life and deeds. Guamenti narrowed his eyes at the strange and quite impossible favor she asked them. It will endanger her and the whole tribe.
"I can see that you have a strong resolve, Child. However, you are aware that it will be your life and theirs on the line, yes?" She nodded but assured them that hers alone were enough. A man scoffed at her arrogance but Demeus shut him up.
"Mine is enough because I am blessed by the rukh but I know that I am not strong enough to protect that child. That is why I am asking you. I don't have much time, Lord Guamenti, nor do I have enough of me to share." She whispered the last part to herself. Her heart ached at the thought of them being part of this ridiculous war. However, it was inevitable.
"You sure are still as arrogant as ever, Demeus, but I will lend a hand to save this world. Just don't forget that you owe us." She smiled and brought her palms up and cut it.
"With this blood, I swear, the Demeus will continue its blue blood and will forever be sealed until the ends of time." The rukh erupted from her chest and engulfed the whole tribe. Now, her oath shall continue to be passed down and the power to hold the rukh shall be inherited.
"Begone, Child. We will come when the time calls upon us." She was thrown out of the tribe and Demeus could not be more thankful.
"The first one is done. Now, I have two more to go." She muttered. Suddenly, her vision doubled over and blood spurted out of her mouth. Her eyes were bleeding as well and her heart constricted. She had a hard time catching her breathe.
"N-Not now. I don't want to go without finishing my business with him." She desperately wipes the blood in her eyes and mouth before forcing her body to slow the process of degeneration. She bit her lip in pain but her pain was nothing compared to the pain others will suffer if she failed. Random images of her and David flashed through her eyes and she could not help but tear up at the nostalgia.
"I'm an idiot for still loving him despite the pain he caused everybody. I... I would at least want to know who he truly is. If he really is the person whom I knew or not." She held her staff and transported back to her house in the Forbidden Forest. Countless papers and manuscripts hang by the crevices of the tree house she lived in. She knew that her project should be finished soon.
"Just a little more touch and then, I could possibly do that. Ugo will know how to execute it eventually." She rested by her chair and dreamed of a distant future.
Back at the resistance, there had been a lot of things that happened. You could say that everyday was eventful for each and every member. Sheba missed her friend but she was reminded that Demeus will return. The others were also saddened by her leaving but Solomon assured them that she promised.
After weeks, Sheba announced that she was pregnant and Solomon was the father. Many rejoiced at the thought of finally having another kid in the base. Falan was the most delighted knowing that her dear Tess would finally have somebody to play with. However, every good thing must come to an end. After Solomon was forced to become king in order to unite all the species, the last battle was to be commenced soon.
"Ugo, how are you doing with your research about the rukh?" Solomon inquired. Ugo perked up at the mention of the peculiar topic.
"Rukh?" Many were also interested and so, Ugo gladly discusses the subject. At that time, only a few knew of the rukh and after that, they were heading towards the final battle with Elder David.
Thanks to Solomon taking the lead, the morale of the other species were quite high now. All the towers have already been destroyed. Only 50,000 magicians remained in the Orthodox's Cathedral District and the plan of the resistance consisted of surrounding the entire headquarters with an isolation barrier.
Tear struck the faces of every resistance member. The fear of losing their loved ones enveloped their hearts but they knew that this was their only chance. They could not back out, not now. After taking a deep breath, Solomon raised his voice.
"God is with us! Troops...advance!" He ordered.
Demeus watched the sky as she tied her satchel and skirt tightly. Her hands trembled in fear of facing him but it was now or never. She gave her farewell to the Arjwani before flying back to the base. Instead of finding a peaceful place, there was a battle on-going. Solomon and the others were nowhere in sight. Her heart clenched in fear and she dove down to see Setta battling David.
"Setta! Get out of the way! Sharrar Muzqa!" The dark skinned magician just got out in the nick of time. David was not that fortunate though considering that his arm had a huge gash. He gritted his teeth in pain while Demeus stood protectively in front of the people. The Orthodox magicians stopped their attacks as well.
"What the hell are you doing here!? You dare enter this place. Sharrar Laeib!" Water erupted from behind and bounded each believer. After that, she forced the rukh to kill them. Instead of killing them, they were replaced by dolls. She was enraged by their cowardice and willed the rukh to find them. Just before she could do so, David kicked her in the back. She skidded far from them and hit a wall. Setta called out for her but he was attacked by David who cut off his arm. Setta screamed in pain and the barrier he put up slowly diminished. Demeus forced her powers to protect the people.
"You will not hurt them! Not on my watch." She panted. Blood seeped from her clothes and her body felt very heavy. Now was not the time to complain though so she called out for her magic and attacked a lot of the believers.
"Hah! Get. Away. From. My. Family!" She cut them in half, incinerate some and buried the others. David stood awed at her power while entertaining Setta. He knew that the black-skinned magician was nothing compared to his lover.
"Don't look away from your opponent!" Setta froze half of David's body and burned him with ice. Impossible? No, there were actually ice burns in his body. David clicked his tongue in anger. He was annoying and David found him infuriating.
"It's a shame that you don't want to be a part of the future that awaits us. Rest in piece." Before Demeus could do anything to protect him, David had already tore him to pieces. Setta's staff clattered on the ground and she felt her heart clench in pain.
"S-S-Setta. No. No. No. Setta!!" She desperately gathered his pieces but nothing could ever put him back. She fell on her knees and the barriers dimmed down. The believers took this chance to kill them.
"Setta..." Tears ran down her cheeks and her head were filled with dreadful thoughts. Setta was killed in front of her. Her dear friend was forever gone. Never to be seen. Ithnan will be devastated. He will be broken beyond repair.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!" Her screams followed those of whom they killed. She was woken from her state by Tess' cries. She desperately searched for her but he, too, was burned to ashes. All of her hard work could not even protect them.
"Why!? Why, David!? They never did anything wrong. They only wanted to live peacefully! How could you not see it!?" She begged for an answer. David stared at her before landing beside her to hold her flushed body against him.
"They were necessary for today's sacrifice, Demeus. If I say so myself, Ilah would have been pleased. Right now, I ask of you, come back to me. Let us see the Father and rejoice for he has come down." Demeus watched his deranged eyes with fear. She knew that he finally lost it. Ever since that day.
She was about to say something when she felt pain in her heart. It was her beloved's hand. David smiled at her maniacally. She slowly lost her consciousness but not before sending one final rukh to Ugo and Solomon. An apology to be exact.
'I'm sorry.' She fell dead on his arms to which David gladly kept close to himself. She was still his treasure and he takes back everything he owns.
"You will welcome Father with us, Demeus. Come, let them burn and be offered to thy Father." Blood seeped from the wound he inflicted but a healing magician quickly fixed her up and even changed her clothes to that of her original ones. A plain white dress with accessories fitting for a priestess.
"Demeus." David and the others vanished as they await for the Resistance's return.
=END=