My depiction of what Gwyneth will look like when she grows up. ( © Original art is by Pitzmaker from Amino Apps).
Granger closed his eyes. Eyes opened, the only thing he can see was her. Eyes closed, he can see her still. His blood red demon eyes reflected the inferno around him as he stood in a fiery ring of fire. An hour has passed since he and the others split up. The other three Chevaliers went ahead for Granger decided to rescue a few village folks entrapped inside a tavern. They were held hostage by a couple of Abyssal demons.
Though the demons were twice his size, the Death Chanter managed to take them all out in a minute.
Large beads of sweat were pouring down his body like he was being cooked alive. The whole wooden structure was going to collapse and he was going down with it. Regardless, he didn't have a care. All he can think about was how he has lost Gwen. And without her, he's but a soulless vessel again.
Unconsciously, his hand lifted his gun, aiming it at his own head. He has done this multiple times, though he's never really pulled the trigger, nor done it out of love. Throughout his demon hunting career, Granger has always been wanting to kill himself. He'll never let a demon go their way but this time, he might just listen to his own demons.
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After what seemed like hours, Harith emerged from an underground stairway.
"Have... we reached the surface yet?" Harith asked, heaving out heavy breaths. Gwyneth hummed, somewhat in response.
Harith looked around what seemed to be the edge of a forest and beside it was a village. The residents were in a panic. Men were carrying pails of water. Curious, Harith decided to follow them.
"What happened here, dear sir?" He asked an old man who was clearly on edge.
"Demons came and a Hunter came for our rescue but he's become trapped inside! We are trying to save him."
Hunter? Harith thought. All of a sudden, Gwyneth whimpered.
"There he is!" The man pointed towards the burning building's window. The Leonin tensed once he saw Granger inside.
"Sir, please hold my baby for a second."
"What? But I've never held a baby before, not even my own children!"
"Just hold her!"
Granger began coughing up, inhaling the smoke. In his drifting state, he could see his mother and father ready to engulf him with open arms. As the fire gets brighter, he was seeing them clearly.
Harith tore the metallic back door down. He covered half of his face with his hand as he looked around the burning cottage.
Granger's eyes opened as he turned towards Harith. Once realization hit him, he shuffled back up to his feet and flickered out of the ring of fire.
"Hurry, Granger!" Harith yelled.
The building then came into a fall, bringing down with whatever was left behind.
"What... were you doing just... sitting there?!" Harith shouted angrily, coughing. "Were you... Planning to commit-"
"No, I wasn't!" He strongly said in denial, making the Leonin frown. "I was just... I got carried away. I got... stuck."
"Thank you for slaying those demons and saving my people!" The old man carrying Gwyneth-who was crying non-stop- said, grinning widely as he walked over.
Granger creased his brows when he saw his daughter in tears, realizing he didn't lose everything after all. He took his gloves off and wiped away the dirt and soot on from his face. He removed his layers of fine uniform next until all he has left was an almost see-through blouse, revealing his linear bandages. He beckoned for the man to give him Gwyneth and he does so, moving the little one with gentle care to his own arms.
"Is this your daughter, my liege? I mean it would be impossible if she belongs to that feline comrade of yours, no offense."
Harith glared at him. "At least I didn't have children but never cared about holding them before..."
The old man scowled. "What was that, boy?"
"She is my daughter." Granger cut in before another word could be said from the two. "Harith, thank you for bringing her back to me."
"You're welcome! You see, I stumbled upon her when I got separated from you and fell into this seemingly never-ending labyrinth. It was a silent walk, her and I, but we managed to find our way out."
"Hmm." Granger hummed in response, returning his focus on his daughter. "We better get going then. Get your people and get to the Sanctuary if you wanna survive this war." He told the old man.
The man nodded curtly and ran away to inform the others.
"Here, as a token of appreciation for saving my people." The old man returned with two fine horses.
Harith climbed on his horse. Granger was about to do the same just as Guinevere flashed before his eyes, making him turn towards the direction of the Baroque Palace.
"What is it?" Asked Harith. He waited for Granger to reply as he continued staring out in the distance. A string of silence soon came in between them, fading in the crackling of remnants from the late fire and the soft mumblings of dear Gwyneth.
Slowly, Granger turned around with a sudden optimistic smile, almost frightening the Leonin. "Let's get going."
"What're... you smiling for?" Harith could only gawked as Granger drove his horse to the direction of the Sanctuary.
Geez, has he gone mad or what? Apparently, I should be happy for he is, but I've never seen the Death Chanter in such a positive mood before. So there must be something wrong here. Harith contemplated.
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"Gwyneth has green eyes, like Gwen's." Granger started, after they've left the small settlement.
"Thank God she didn't have your red ones."
Granger gave him a flat glare. "My eyes aren't hereditary, gladly."
"She would've looked aw- Err, not lovely as she is now, hehe." Harith sheepishly smiled as he changed his comment mid-sentence.
Acknowledging Granger wasn't in the mood for jokes, Harith looked around the wet grasslands of rice fields. The rice fields stretched far yet no farm or house could be seen. It was as though the dwellers were either invisible or miniature.
Granger halted his horse. His eyes wandering about and not being able to notice, Harith's horse was on the way to hit the rear of Granger's horse, until the grand shook unnaturally.
"Shoot! Harith, move!"
Harith gasped and flinched at Granger's demand. The horses galloped forward by their riders' command. Not before a second, a snake thrice the size of the Chevaliers dug its way out of the road of rubble. Stone flew to their direction. One could've zoom directly at Gwyneth had Granger wasn't on his guard.
"You reckless humans promised peace and forgiveness! But look what you've let astray now!" The colossal reptile hissed aggressively. "Demons have corrupted my crops. My children and I will have no more to eat for the winter!"
"It's the Rice Snake Spirit," Granger explained, making Harith even the more confused. "The one who's been dwelling here even before the Empire was established." He said.
In the near horizon, the heavens redden and lose light. Silhouettes of trees brightened like lit candles.
"It's the Abyssal Army. They're here!" Harith practically shouted in horror.
The snake spirit seethed loudly before diving back underground. "He'll draw them back for a bit, giving us enough time to escape now move it!"
"All right! Hyah, horse, hyah!"
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Guinevere bowed deeply before Dyrroth upon her mother's request. Dyrroth laughed. "You are so beautiful, Guinevere. I could marry you!"
"I'm afraid you can't." Jane replied, linking her hand with her daughter's. "For you must have heard already. My Guinevere is engaged with Gusion Paxley of the House Paxley, one of the prestigious families of magic in the Land of-"
"Blah blah blah. However prestigious he is, I'm sure he can never be compared to me! I am the prince of the Dark Abyss."
Egotistic brat, Jane thought, forcing herself to display a counterfeit smile.
"She isn't as beautiful, though." Selena, an Abyssal elf witch and Dyrroth's assistant commented in a yawn, implying about Dyrroth exaggerating Guinevere's human yet enchanting looks.
As same as her mother, Guinevere remained looking unoffended, much to Selena's disappointment.
"Selena, haven't I told you to stay outside and be on the look out for the Imperial Army? They will be here in approximately one hour!" Dyrroth roared in his female assistant's face.
Selena childishly whined. "I was bored!"
Both Jane and Guinevere sighed in boredom. Tell me about it, Guinevere thought, accidentally sending a smile on Dyrroth's way, making him return it. Err, Gods...
"Well, I better go find Thamuz and Alice and start a convention for our next strategy." Jane spoke, hastily making her leave without bidding her goodbyes. Guinevere was about to follow just as Dyrroth appeared beside her.
"Say, you don't like this face, don't you? 'Cause I have a feeling you don't." He said. "Would you like to see my other face then? Perhaps it'll change your impression about me." As said, Dyrroth's face morphed. His haunting blood red eyes became angelic blue. His pale violet flesh saturated into a healthy human tone.
Guinevere's eyes lit up in surprise at the reveal of his true human form. Lest, she thinks about it otherwise. "Don't think I am admiring you now that we are equal." Guinevere sassily said, making him turn back into his demonic appearance as his mouth curves widely into a sinister grin. "Is that your true form and age, though? I never thought you were younger than me."
"I'm at least around your age so that doesn't change your considerable exceptions of me, does it?"
"Apologies but I'm not into boys. I am... into men." Guinevere looked at him from up to down. Yep. He's just a boy all right; an immature, narcissistic, pesky, little brat might I add.
My! If only Granger was here and he can read her thoughts, he'd be so proud how much his petty slang humor has influenced her immorally.
After the soul-crushing rejection, Selena was snickering behind her hand, Dyrroth solemnly frozen in the perfect spot.
It's going to take me a long while to give y'all another update since my Christmas break is getting to an end and I'll be busy with school again (GOODBYE LAND OF DAWN, HELLO HELL ON EARTH)....
I'll miss you guys!!!!! Especially SoulStar467 Theresa_Rain RosieLightz_ camzishart
💖 Thank you for all the support! 💖