Chapter 42
This is a fictional story by realTensai
"Alvis!"
The beautiful voice of an even more beautiful girl entered Alvis' ears, making him turn around to face her. With a heartbeat so loud it drowned every other festival sound, he saw the girl he had been waiting for.
"Lia."
Her emerald eyes stood out even within the colorful tapestry of the festival. She wore her long blond hair in a bun, a few curly strands hanging down before her face. Alvis had never seen her with this hairstyle before, but by the way his heart was bouncing, he figured it would be too much for him to handle, anyway. Her yellow dress and golden necklace added to her natural beauty, making her shine more than the sun. But it was her smile that had him melting.
"You look wonderful."
Alvis' mouth moved faster than he could think. No words of praise could fully describe her stunning appearance.
Lia's face immediately turned red, her pointy ears steaming.
"Thank you," she said, not able to look him in his eyes. "You look amazing too."
Now, Alvis was the one blushing.
When their eyes met again, and they saw how red the other was, they both laughed.
"Haha, let's go enjoy the festival."
With Lia taking the initiative, the pair started their date.
"Oh, Alvis, look!" she said, her eyes wide open, pointing at a booth. "You can get candy apples from there."
"Then let's get some."
Lia's radiant face the moment she saw the booth had been so priceless that Alvis had wanted to capture it in a picture. Just like a kid, she ran toward it, and all Alvis could do was follow her, the sweet smell enchanting them both.
"Two candy apples, please."
"That makes three Unis."
Lia grabbed for her purse, but Alvis just stretched his hand out.
"Let me be the cool gentleman today."
"It's just three Unis, haha."
"Don't say it like that. It's a matter of principle to me."
Alvis took out his purse and handed the money to the man. In return, they got their two candy apples.
"Thank you, Al," Lia said, grinning. "What a reliable man I got on my side."
She's toying with me.
"L-Let's go."
Lia chuckled and Alvis tried his best not to let his embarrassment show. But with Lia being an empath, he fought an unwinnable battle.
"There are so many people and everyone is so lively and happy," Lia said, feeling the immersive festive atmosphere ten times more than any other person.
"Yeah, it's amazing."
"There is going to be fireworks later, I guess everyone is looking forward to it."
"Really? I didn't even know that."
"Yes, Maya told me, and she heard it from Victor."
"If Victor says it, it has to be true."
"I'm happy I can watch the fireworks together with you," Lia said, looking at the ground. "Just we two."
Alvis' heart exploded, but Lia hadn't finished her attack yet.
"This entire week, all I could think of was our date. It's like a dream come true to spend time in this heavenly city with the person I truly love."
Stop, your cuteness is gonna kill me!
But it was when she looked up again, and Alvis saw her genuine smile, that his adrenaline got the best of him.
He held her hand.
"I love you too."
Lia's head began steaming, and she was at least as red as Alvis. However, she didn't reject Alvis' hand and just smiled warmly.
They were now holding hands.
This is the perfect opportunity to give her the ring!
Alvis' inner voice reminded him of his mission. The atmosphere was perfect, and they were even holding hands. His gift now would immortalize their love. All he had to do was give it to her.
But he hesitated.
Giving it to her under the fireworks would be even more romantic!
It wasn't because he was too afraid, but because he was a perfectionist. His love for Lia was so great that he wanted to do his best.
"What are you thinking about?" Lia said, a curious look in her eyes.
Shit, I had been lost in my thoughts.
"O-Oh nothing."
"I can sense that you are lying."
Alvis nervously scratched his head, realizing that he was in a deadlock. He couldn't lie to her, but he didn't want to ruin his surprise, either. The fireworks hadn't started yet.
What now?
"Ehm, actually I really have to go to the toilet."
Alvis chose his third option: retreat.
Lia furrowed her eyebrows, obviously seeing through his lie. However, she didn't inquire any further, trusting Alvis to have his reasons.
I love her!
"You can just wait here. I will hurry."
"Make sure to come back before the fireworks start."
"Yeah."
Alvis sprinted off, leaving Lia behind. It was a drastic measure, and his heart bled, knowing that he had just reduced the time he could spend with her, but what had to be done had to be done. If Lia had found out what he had planned, everything would have been for naught.
He wandered around, not even knowing where the next toilet was. It didn't matter to him anyway, because all he wanted was some time away from Lia, so her empathetic abilities wouldn't ruin his plan. He would still go to the toilet, though, so he wouldn't have lied to her.
"Excuse me. Can you tell me where the next toilet is?" Alvis asked an old woman.
"Oh, I think the next one would be at the end of the festival grounds. But don't worry, if you follow this way, you will get there in five minutes. You youngsters are fit, after all."
"Thank you."
Following the granny's advice, Alvis was on his way.
If I hurry, I can be back at Lia's side in ten minutes.
This was what Alvis tried, but the crowd made it hard for him to go fast. In the end, it took him ten minutes to get to the toilet. Just like the granny had said, it was at the end of the festival ground, so only a few people were there. Even the music and laughter barely reached this place. Alvis entered the toilet, ready to relieve himself.
So how do I give her the ring?
Alvis had decided to give it to her while watching the fireworks, but now he had to fine-tune his plan so it would be perfect. He wouldn't leave the toilet before having the best battle plan.
First, I will have to restore the romantic atmosphere. This will go quickly if we watch the fireworks together. Then I will hold her hand again and we'll get closer. Then, when our feelings are at their peak, I will do it. I will hand her the ring and say this is a gift for my beautiful wife. With an epic I love you, I will close the deal. Yes, this is perfect!
A loud bang signaled the start of the fireworks. Alvis, who had just finished creating his plan, left the toilet with a confident smile and a puffed-up chest. But the moment he stepped out, his smile vanished in an instant.
"W-What is that?!"
Instead of colorful fireworks, black matter exploded in the air, falling down on the festival grounds like shooting stars. Darkness devoured every other color, and the laughter was replaced by anguished cries. The pungent smell of iron merged with the sweet smell from before, making for a disgusting combination that terrorized Alvis' nostrils. He instantly pinched his nose, but he knew what that smell was.
"This is blood!"
His brain hadn't connected all the dots yet, but his body moved on its own. His heart raced, fear crawling up his spine. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as a vortex of emotions overcame him.
Even if he didn't know the details, he understood what was happening.
They were under attack!
Lia!
All the alarm bells rang within him, warning him about the worst outcome. He ran as fast as he could back to the festival grounds. However, just after running for a few seconds, he came to a halt. His legs trembled and his head shook on its own, unable to process what lay before him. The painful cries that had been so loud before now were like background music welcoming Alvis to this hellish scene. Alvis already tasted the vomit in his mouth, but he pushed it back down. All he could do was take in this scenery, trying not to lose his mind.
"T….This is insane."
Corpses. Everywhere he looked, corpses.
Babies, kids, teenagers, adults, dads, moms, gramps, grannies, elves, humans, dwarfs, demi-humans.
Everyone was dead.
The lively festival had transformed into a graveyard.
"Lia!"
No coherent thought could form in his head, as all he could think of was the safety of his wife. Darkness and blood everywhere clouded his sight and mind, but he kept running, more than once tripping over corpses. No matter where he looked, there was a corpse. Even if he wanted, he couldn't look away. What if one of those corpses was Lia?
His heart pounded, guilt gnawing at his sanity. Only by punching his own legs could he keep moving through this hell. Every corpse he saw made his heart stop, and the vomit building up threatened to break out. With every corpse he saw, his deepest fear plunged him more and more into despair.
"Lia…! Lia….! Lia….! Lia….! Lia….!"
Alvis collapsed to the ground, his knees giving way beneath the weight of the horrific scene before him.
"Ahhhhh!"
He clutched his head, letting out a guttural scream, as if trying to shield himself from the brutal reality. Yet, his eyes remained fixed on the lifeless forms sprawled out in front of him — their hollow eyes, a stark contrast to the once vibrant souls they held, and their bodies smeared with the grotesque remnants of their demise.
"No… t-this can't be…! No, this isn't real... — No, no, no, no!"
Driven by despair, his hands moved involuntarily. He shook their cold, motionless bodies with an urgency fueled by disbelief.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!"
His desperate shakes grew stronger, but the only response was the eerie silence that enveloped the lifeless figures. His vision blurred with tears, yet he stubbornly wiped them away, determined to focus on reviving his fallen comrades.
"Come on… please wake up. I-I still haven't given her the ring. S-So so… — You can't die on me like that! This isn't fair! … Sekki, Dane!"
However, they were already dead. Alvis' two best friends died miserably.
"NOOOO!"
Punching the ground with all his might, he unleashed a heart-wrenching cry. His trembling hands scratched the blood-soaked ground as if to tear apart reality. Visions of him and his best friends walking through Awaniko searching through every shop to buy the ring whilst still smiling tormented his head, contrasting his chest, making it impossible for him to breathe. His eyes turned red, guilt now fully controlling him. Yet the alarm bells within him only rang louder, forcing him to stand up again.
"Lia…! I have to find Lia!"
His trembling legs moved on their own, his very existence only having one purpose left.
"Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia! Lia!"
This was the only thing he could think of. No, it was the only thing he wanted to think of. If he didn't occupy his thoughts with it, he would have to face reality. The reality of his best friends' deaths.
This is my fault.
"Who might this Lia be, I wonder?"
A lone man appeared before Alvis, forcing him to a halt. He was clouded in darkness, wearing a black religious robe. But his pale face and his bald head full of scars made him look like a psychopath. His eyes were wide open, staring at Alvis with such genuine interest that the urge to vomit overcame him again. Yet his menacing aura reminded Alvis of someone. Someone who didn't exist in this world.
Alvis immediately activated Assassin's Eye.
Error. The opponent's power is too high for you to estimate.
What?!
Alvis had never seen this notification before, yet instead of fear overtaking him, his rage just got a target.
"Are you responsible for all of this?"
"W-W-W-White hair?! No, no, no, no, no, my eyes can't be trusted! Or are you perhaps really…?"
"I asked if you are responsible for all of this!"
"I? I? For this bloodbath? For this catastrophe? Ohhhhh, how vulgar! How dare you? How? How? How? How? How could I do that? I would never do that! Never! Never! Never! — But wait, I did! I killed them. All of them. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why did I kill so many people? Why do you order me to do something so cruel? Ahhhhhhhhh! This is insane! Insanity!"
The man grabbed his own head and scratched his scalp so hard it started bleeding. His head was shaking and the sound of his teeth shattering made a shiver run down Alvis' spine. Blood dripped down his head and painted his pale face red. However, this disgusting sight enforced Alvis in his belief.
"You are the one who caused this!"
"Am I? Yeeeeessss, I am! I am the Devil Cult's priest of Insanity, Voyzez Knaxius!"
It's not my fault. It's his! He is the one who killed Sekki and Dane!
"Die!"
Alvis gathered his mana, his killing intent fully focused on the man before him. But this made him only flash a smile.
"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! You want to kill someone you just met? This is insane! Insanity! Ohhhh, my heart is filled with love! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are insane! You really are the person I am searching for!"
Not even listening to what the insane person had to say, Alvis activated Mastermind, further boosting his battle strength. By flicking his hand, he started his attack.
"Earth Cannon!"
A colossal earth ball, akin to a cannon's explosive force, hurtled towards the priest's head. He was too close to dodge, so Alvis was sure it would hit. But it didn't.
The darkness surrounding this man swallowed up his attack, leaving the priest unharmed.
"W-What?!"
"Interesting. Truly interesting. A human who can use mana! Insanity! Why? Why? Why? Why are you so loved? Someone like you shouldn't exist. Yes, you shouldn't exist! Yes, I should kill you! No, I have to kill you! I don't want to do this, but I have to. Ahhhh, please forgive me! I am sorry. Sincerely, sorry! Ahhh, whyyyy? This is insane! Insanity!"
It was Alvis' new passive skill Evasion that moved his body away. In a millisecond, countless shadows emerged from the man and hunted Alvis. If he had reacted a bit later, they would have gotten him. However, the rampage didn't stop. Alvis tried his best to dodge all the shadows at once, but their sheer number overwhelmed him.
He got caught.
Shadows gripping his arms and legs held him high in the air. He fired attacks on them, but all of his attacks were devoured by the darkness. No matter how much he resisted, he couldn't free himself from the shadows.
"Let me go! You son of a bitch! I will kill you! Kill you!"
"Ohhh, what passion. Those eyes! Those eyes! I can sense your love! But you… are insane!"
The shadows intensified their pull, tearing at Alvis's fibers and muscles. Agony eclipsed his senses as the pain overwhelmed him.
"Ahhhhhh!"
His health bar plummeted, each muscle and bone succumbing to the relentless assault. Tears welled in Alvis' eyes, the gritty pain blurring his vision. He saw how his legs and arms slowly left his body, and the moment it happened, his life left too.
[YOU DIED!]