~Chapter 16~
~Not Everyone Can Be the Devil~
An explosion went off, sending shards of concrete flying everywhere. From it, Amalee rose from the debris. She looked around, then turned her gaze to me. "Not yet," she said before launching into the sky, flying toward heaven.
"I thought I stopped the ritual," I said, my voice trembling.
"It appears not," Lilith replied calmly.
"She's going to be a problem, isn't she?" I said, running my fingers through Melody's hair.
"Indeed," Lilith replied.
"Well, for now, we should have time," she added, gently ruffling my hair.
"Nyssa," she ordered. As if summoned from thin air, Nyssa appeared. "We have an entire kingdom to rebuild. Make sure to look after my daughter and get her healed," she commanded.
"Understood, madam," Nyssa said, bowing.
Lilith turned to me and carefully lifted Melody from my lap. "My lord," she said with a bow before vanishing.
"What was that?" I asked, surprised.
"You are our new overlord," Lilith said with a smile. "It's her way of showing respect."
I quickly remembered then, I stood quickly and ran toward Ola, Ren, Zen, and Athena.
"Their will to live are gone," Lilith said, placing her hand on Ola and Ren. It felt as if a spike pierced my heart.
"Even with the Murabasa herb, all you would be doing is bringing them back into danger, their at peace now." she sighed.
"I know," I said, my voice cracking. "But you can't ask me to—"
Memories of Eliza surfaced in my mind. I summoned a shadow arm, which shot toward her and lifted her gently, carrying her to Ola and Ren's side.
"My daughter did a number on her. Magnus, too," Lilith added. "Her soul is broken and weakening as we speak."
Bad news on top of bad news.
"She can be saved, I believe," Lilith said suddenly.
"How?" I asked, hope igniting as I turned quickly toward her.
"Your strange abilities allow you to take a soul from a body," she said thoughtfully. "But what if they could also allow you to put one into another?"
"But what souls do I have to offer?" I asked, hopeless.
"I believe you have about a million in your shadow," she replied quickly.
"How long were you watching?" I asked suspiciously.
"Not important," she replied.
I summoned two shadow hands—one surrounded Eliza's fractured soul, the other plunging into my shadow. Closing my eyes, I entered a red wasteland filled with cages. Inside each, countless souls screamed.
"There he is!" one pleaded. "Please, release me at once!"
"I'm a noble—I have money!" another cried desperately.
The souls of Veloria—the ones I had torn from their bodies—filled this realm. Then I saw him, Magnus, locked in a cage larger than the rest. He said nothing, only glaring at me with hate.
Beyond him, the Keeth were locked in their own cages. Ogunt Ki stood within a massive one, bowing deeply.
"My lord," he said. The others followed his lead.
I smiled faintly. "Thanks for the help."
"Anytime. Call on us when in need, and we will come. Keep your resolve strong, for if it weakens, these cages will wither and break, releasing them all," he warned.
An idea formed in my mind. I imagined the cages around the Keeth shattering—and they did. The Keeth looked at me, suprised.
"I put you in charge of my shadow realm," I said. "Watch over my prisoners and ensure none escape."
Ogunt Ki's delight was noticeable as he bowed low, his head touching the ground.
"I understand, master," he said, brimming with joy.
"Now stand, defender of the House of Huels. I name you my first soldier."
As he rose, his form began to transform. He grew taller, his fangs lengthened, and a faint purple aura enveloped him. Massive, razor-sharp horns sprouted from his head.
"I will protect the shadow realm with my life. Nothing will falter here. I give my word."
"Good. Serve the House of Huels well," I commanded.
Turning, I faced the millions of souls of Veloria, still crying and screaming. A massive burst of shadow flowed from my body, enveloping them. Then I closed my eyes and returned to the waking world. Lilith's wide eyes greeted me.
"What happened, son—" she paused, correcting herself. "What happened, my lord?"
I chuckled softly. "No, please, Lilith. You don't need to call me that."
She smiled and nodded.
I placed my hand on Eliza's chest, releasing a black mist into her. One. Two. One hundred. One thousand. Ten thousand. One hundred thousand. Two hundred and fifty thousand souls poured from me, flowing into Eliza's fractured soul, repairing it.
Suddenly, she took a deep breath, her eyes shooting open before she passed out again.
"What? Did it not work?" I asked, panicking.
Lilith shook her head. "You fixed her soul, but her spark pool is still depleted."
"How do I fix that?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.
She gestured to Ola and Ren before lowering her gaze.
"No. No, no. Anything but that," I said, clenching my fists.
"Their wills are broken," Lilith said softly. "Not even you can fix that."
"How will she forgive me?" I muttered. "How can I tell Eliza I used her sisters' lives to bring her back? What kind of person can do that?"
"Not a single person could," Lilith said. "But you're different. You're not a normal person. You need to be stronger than anyone else. That means being able to make the most difficult choices."
Her gaze met mine. "You're the only one who can make this choice."
In that moment, all emotion seemed to drain from me. I shot a shadowy hand into Ola and Ren, pulling out their souls along with their magic essence.
Their spirits appeared, smiling. "See you, Madoxx," they said. "Thanks for being a great friend."
I forced a smile, swallowing the pain, hiding the sadness. With trembling hands, I placed the essence into Eliza.
She let out a huge gasp, rising to her feet. "Madoxx!" she exclaimed, smiling as she threw her arms around me. "You look so much taller. I never thought I'd see you again," she said, laughing and crying as she hugged me tightly.
"It looks like you've been through hell and back. What happened?" she asked, still clinging to me.
"It was hard, Eliza," I said, hugging her back just as tightly. "But that's what I get."
I whispered, "Because not everyone can be the devil."