Chapter 57
This is a fictional story by realTensai
"Alvis?"
The dark room had vanished, together with all the assassins. However, Alvis' skin still burned. He used his fingernails to scratch his arms, then his neck, and then his face, to tear out the pain wandering under his skin. His nails were already bloody, yet the pain wouldn't vanish.
"Alvis!"
His eyes shot open as he heard Lia's voice, his mind only now arriving in the present.
I've failed. Again.
He raised his arms and saw blood dripping down his wounds. His brain tried to process what had just happened, but in vain. The burning sensation faded away, though his mental scars stayed.
"You idiot!" Lia said as she lifted her hands toward Alvis. "Don't move. I will heal you."
A golden shimmer radiated from her hand, and a comfortable warmth healed Alvis' physical wounds. As he looked into her shaking emerald eyes filled with anxiety, his heart started beating irregularly. Reality shifted from her without her head, to her eyes crying blood, and then back to her right now. This endless cycle made Alvis' sweaty hands shake and stirred up vomit in his stomach. He just shook his head as if possessed, yet he couldn't escape.
I can't fail again!
Alvis' vision darkened, but then he felt his entire body being comforted by a blessing of warmth. His eyes saw the reality again and for the first time, his heart calmed down. Lia had thrown her hands around him and embraced Alvis.
"Everything will be alright."
She didn't know what was going on. She didn't know how much pain Alvis had gone through. Yet at this very moment, she was the only one who understood Alvis. It wasn't because she was an empath, but because she was his wife. Her gentle grasp made Alvis close his eyes, finally able to breathe fully. She held him close, her heartbeat connecting with Alvis', soothing it. Her long hair tingled Alvis' neck, the burning pain under his skin vanishing as if it had never existed.
"Thank you, Lia."
"You can always count on me. So don't bear everything yourself."
Alvis didn't answer. His breathing had calmed down again, and he wasn't shaking anymore. Just this one hug from Lia had helped him so much. He put his arms around her shoulder, wanting to enjoy this peace a bit longer. But this wasn't his only reason. Right now, Lia shouldn't see his face. It would only make her worry more.
He had calmed down, yet his rage and hatred hadn't. His eyes were wide open, staring at something no one else could see. Feeling Lia's warmth right now only added to his conviction, making his gaze turn even colder. Paths of self-destruction, his possible futures appeared before him, but he would walk every single one of them if it meant only he would suffer. No matter what, he would save his loved ones.
I can't fail again!
"I will get some fresh air," Alvis said, breaking the hug.
"I will come with you."
"No, I need some time on my own. Please, Lia."
His sincere eyes convinced Lia, and she let him go. Just like last time, he went straight into the Mana Forest, the chilly evening breeze helping him gather his thoughts. Now alone, he could think about his next steps.
However, with his last plan having failed so miserably, Alvis' options had once again been reduced. But instead of being worried, Alvis' brain delivered him the sole solution to all his problems. His last attempt had failed because he had misjudged the assassins. It was a mistake that cost him his life and he would never make such a mistake again.
From now on, I will do everything myself.
This was the answer Alvis had arrived at after countless failures. He wouldn't waste his time anymore trying to seek help from other people he couldn't control, but instead would work on his abilities until he would become so strong he could take on Voyzez on his own. No matter how many runs it would take, no matter how often he would die an agonizing death, he would become powerful enough to kill Voyzez.
This is just how I did it at my last level.
The Devil had made a grave mistake granting Alvis unlimited respawns. As long as he was the only one who suffered, he didn't care. Alvis was sure he would overcome this trial of insanity.
Even though this was the plan, Alvis wasn't stupid and suicidal. There was still someone he could count on for help and who would help him in his fight against the Devil Cult. He was the only one Alvis could rely on right now.
I've got to talk to Priest Zaini tomorrow.
——
Alvis rushed into the Tekka Temple, his plan being the only thing on his mind. Every second was valuable time he could spend training, so he immediately approached a man and asked for Priest Zaini.
"Is Priest Zaini here? I want to talk to him."
"Yes, but what do you want from him?"
Alvis just clicked his tongue, forcing a weak smile.
"I want to talk to him about religious stuff."
The man just stared at Alvis, yet he gave in after a few seconds.
"Okay, I will call him. Wait here."
Alvis took off his shoes and sat down on the green carpet. Whilst waiting, he thought about his next steps and about which spells he had to learn. All his fights against Voyzez played in his mind and he mentally noted down what he had to improve on.
"Sorry to have you wait."
After a few minutes, a deep voice entered Alvis' ears. However, his mana knocked against his mana core, pleading to get out. Alvis clutched his solar plexus, taking deep breaths in and out.
"Oh, please forgive me. It's my blessing that—"
"It's alright," Alvis said, holding up a hand. "I already know about your blessing."
"That makes stuff easier," he said, his eyes focused on Alvis. "I'm Zaini Bidini, the priest of the Tekka Temple. How can I help you out?"
"The Devil Cult's Priest of Insanity will attack on the festival's day!"
Alvis went straight to the point. Zaini's eyes widened as the very air around them grew heavy. His body tensed up, his eyebrows twitching. He naturally took a step back, his face pale.
"How do you know that?"
His voice was calm, yet still threatening. But it was nothing compared to the assassin's leader.
"I can't tell you."
Zaini's golden eyes pierced through Alvis' soul, reading him like an open book.
"I understand."
"So you trust me?"
"I know that you aren't lying."
"Good."
Until now, everything has gone just like last time. Alvis would just carry on and eventually get Priest Zaini on his side. Zaini remained standing, his face serious.
"What do you want from me?"
His tone was harsh, his eyes observing Alvis' every move.
"I need your help."
"Why my help? I am just a priest."
Not this testing again. Alvis suppressed his annoyance, as he would just carry on with this act.
"You aren't just a priest."
"How should you know? If you think my blessing makes me powerful, you couldn't be more wrong."
"You will be more of a help than the entire military."
"What makes you think that? Did you already ask them for help and they rejected you?"
"No, it's because of the priest of insanity's curse. I know that your strong faith makes you immune to it."
"I guess you really are telling the truth. There is no point in testing you any further."
Finally.
"Still, I don't trust you."
"—What?!"
Alvis' eyes widened as Zaini's words caught him off guard. His mana started boiling and his brain did its best to explain what went wrong.
"Why? You just said you know I'm telling the truth."
"Yes, that's right. You couldn't know about the curse and that I'm immune to it if you were just telling a lie. Only someone who is or was in the Devil Cult or had done tons of research about them could know."
Alvis stared Zaini in his eyes, knowing what he was implying.
"You think I'm from the Devil Cult?!"
Alvis raised his voice, his killing intent running wild. The peaceful atmosphere within the temple vanished, Alvis being the aggressor. However, Priest Zaini didn't yield to Alvis' glare and continued.
"I don't know. Normally, no devil worshipper would enter this temple, which is why I'm still not sure, but it's your aura that makes you untrustworthy," he said, looking Alvis deep into his eyes. "You are full of hatred."
"Don't give me this bullshit! Of course, I'm full of hatred. It's the fucking Devil Cult we are talking about! Do you know how much pain they have caused me?!"
"And that is why I don't trust you. You sound like someone who has a personal problem with the Devil Cult and not like someone who wants to save others from them."
"What?! I'm only enduring all this pain because I want to save the people I care about the most!"
"Still, I can't trust you. All I can see in your eyes is hatred," he said, looking at Alvis pitifully. "Your poor soul has gone astray, wandering the paths of insanity. The Devil Cult is probably exploiting your hatred by using you to lay a trap for me without you even knowing about it."
"So, I can't even count on you."
Alvis stood up, clenching his fist and biting his tongue. Without saying one more word, he left the temple. Just like in his last run, he had failed again. Once again, he was rejected. But Alvis didn't care anymore, the path to self-destruction welcoming him.
I don't need anyone. I will do it myself!