Chapter 357: Sanctuary (1/2)

Ilea and Colin spent nearly half an hour navigating the tunnels below the forest and soon, Stormbreach itself.

The man had kept her up to date on where exactly they were, finally mentioning that they were now below the center most government buildings of the city. Very far below that was.

Water flowed through parts of the tunnel system, some of it sewage, other streams simply creeks that trickled down through the cracks of the old foundations.

Mushrooms and some vegetation grew in parts, despite the lack of light.

Collin knew his way around, that much was clear. “You just have to go up now. I think with that teleportation of yours, it will not be difficult to scout the city. I wish you good fortune.” The man said, looking to a dark pathway in the room.

A loud sob suddenly echoed through the halls, distant but piercing. Ethereal and ancient.

“What’s that?” Ilea asked, turning towards the origin of the voice.

The healer looked nervous, unsure of what to say as he opened and closed his mouth. Finally, he seemed to find resolve. “Our… Lady. She is grieving the lost.”

“That didn’t sound human.” Ilea said. “A dark one? Or something else?”

“I… this is the most sacred… outsiders are not allowed to meet her.” Collin said, aware that he wasn’t answering her question.

“Why? Because it would turn out some monster or otherworldly being is your patron saint?” She asked and chuckled.

Collin shook his head and glared at her with fury in his eyes. “You would not understand. That is the reason. Our Lady is kind and caring, more human than most of us.”

Ilea turned her head to where the noise came from, glancing at him a moment later. “You misunderstand. If she is crying over the lost souls of her town, she is less of a monster than I am.” She said and smirked. “I think I’ll meet her.”

“Impossible. Outsiders are not to meet the Lady of Benevolence, not ever.” Collin said but didn’t make a move to stop her.

“Might just be the monster that took your town that will meet her then. Or a team of Shadows sent to scout and secure the area. Do you think either will understand?” Ilea asked and walked towards the sobbing.

“She is… easily startled… her grief is overwhelming. It might be dangerous for you.” He followed her in hurried steps.

“Secret order with a monster in their basement, unable to control the demon. What’s new?” She asked and strolled closer, her sphere picking up magical reverberations after the sobs.

“Not a demon. Our city was taken. Can you blame her for getting overwhelmed?” The elder asked.

“I don’t care about blame, Collin.” Ilea said and reached the ripped open door leading into a dark hall.

Lines of blood marred the ancient stone floor. The smell was heavy with iron and rotting flesh.

“Please… please… please.” A young woman’s voice begged, her body covered in cuts and bleeding all over. Her face was in anguish, tears streaming down.

Ilea was about to interfere when she saw her teeth, sharp and long, her eyes shining in a dark red, reflecting the flickering torchlight brought by Collin.

A demon was with her, its claws digging into the woman time and time again.

Her wounds recovered but not fully. Slow and weak was her magic, sobs ripping through the monster in front of her and staggering the beast.

“My Lady… she needs blood.” Collin said and stepped past Ilea, her hand moving in front to stop him. “Please… at this rate… she will die.”

The demon noticed them and turned, screeching and opening the familiar maw at the newcomers.

[Demon – lvl 38]

Ilea looked at the woman in turn, her dress torn to shreds, revealing all of her in the dark room.

[Spirit of Blood – lvl 283]

The beast once more screeched and rushed at Ilea.

An ashen limb was extended and shot out, only to pierce the spirit who appeared in front of the demon.

Claws slashed into her back and blood dripped from the deep wound the ash had produced.

“Leave it be…,” The ethereal voice resounded with more power than before.

Magical pressure made Collin and the demon stumble back.

“Why? It’s a demon spawn, a ravenous beast only driven by hunger and its instincts.” Ilea said, watching the facial muscles on the spirit twitch in pain and anger.

Somewhere in the red serpentine eyes, understanding flickered. “She was my child… a child of Stormbreach.” She moved closer, the ash digging deeper into her body as the demon started slashing into her back.

“Not anymore.” Ilea said and grabbed the demon with four of her ashen limbs, moving it away from the spirit and restraining it. “See for yourself.”

She pushed some healing mana into the wound as she removed her ashen limb from the spirit’s stomach.

The wounds were slowly closing but her condition wasn’t getting much better, the bleeding still continuing.

Collin rushed in again, once more stopped by Ilea. “She needs blood. You cannot heal… what is that? Arcane… unholy, only the blood can-”

He was interrupted by a loud sob of the spirit. “My child.” She hovered a couple centimeters above the floor, blood dripping down as she extended her clawed hand to the restrained demon’s face.

It bit into her fingers but she didn’t react.

“What did they do to you?” She turned and looked at Ilea, her eyes going wide. “What did you do!?” Blood spears formed and crashed into ashen armor, barely penetrating and stopped by the bone below.

Ilea shielded the man behind her, watching as the spirit calmed down once more.

“I… Collin, you are alive.” She said with a wide smile, tears coming to her eyes as she floated towards them, suddenly falling to the floor before she caught herself once more.

“Take my blood.” He said and offered his arm.

Her eyes once more opened wide, her teeth elongating as saliva started rolling down her chin. A spike of blood formed out of her hand and was thrust at the man.

Ilea stepped between them and stored her bone armor’s left arm before receding her ashen shroud. “Don’t kill the man. He just came to help.”

Genuine terror and disgust flashed in the spirit’s eyes as she moved back, tears once more streaming down her face. “I can’t… please… Collin I…,”

Ash cut into Ilea’s shoulder and ripped through her flesh and muscle. Harder than I thought. She noted but finally got through, grabbing the separated limb and stepping up to the spirit.

A new arm formed instantly and was covered by bone armor and then ash. “Here. Ilea supreme, a monster’s favorite.” She said and slammed the arm into the spirit’s open mouth.

“Instant regeneration… arcane healing…,” Collin uttered and walked up to them once more.

The spirit was ripping into her arm, most of the skill bonuses gone after the separation. She bit and slurped, ravenous just like the demon spawn that was still screeching, pushed against a wall.

Red eyes slowly seemed to calm down, the ravenous eating turned into a more collected and calm dinner. She didn’t eat the meat, instead going for the veins and sucking out every last drop of blood.

Ilea watched as the spirit’s wounds closed slowly, the bleeding stopping as well as her serpentine eyes focusing. Less frantic.

When she finally lowered the arm, the spirit looked at Collin and then Ilea before she lowered her gaze and turned a little red.

“Another one?” Ilea asked with a raised eyebrow.

The spirit nodded meekly, holding on to the arm with care.

Ilea chuckled and repeated the violent arm removal before she held it up to the woman.

This time, there was no saliva. Claws retracted and teeth less long and sharp.

“Here you go.” Ilea said and held out the arm.

The Lady fumbled with the drained one and nearly dropped it, taking the one Ilea held out and giving back the previous one. “Th… thank you.” She didn’t make eye contact.

What am I supposed to do with this? Ilea looked at her cold and dead arm, not a drop of blood remaining inside. She shook it and got distracted by the tears she saw flowing down the spirit’s face, her teeth sunken in the second arm she had provided.

“She’s crying again.” Ilea commented, not stopping Collin from going to the lady this time. The spirit seemed calm enough and obviously not a threat anymore.

The Lady wiped at her eyes, still drinking the blood from the gifted limb.

Ilea summoned a cloak and handed it to Collin. “Here, the ripped dress fit more in her blood frenzy.”

“Thank you… truly, thank you.” Collin said and grabbed the cloak, carefully covering up his lady.

She lowered the arm and tugged on the black cloak. “Healer. You have offered me your blood.”