Chapter 117: SS42 – Ezme – Clash of Wills

After the doors closed behind her when she left Amara’s chambers, Ezme stopped as her wings drooped dejectedly. 

{“THAT DAMN BITCH!” (Amara)}

A shudder went through Ezme’s being. Though it wasn’t because being subjected to the force of Amara’s empowered voice was in any way traumatic. Rather, it was the side of Amara that had just revealed itself. A side she very well knew Amara had, but it had never manifested itself with such intensity. A side that frightened her.

Anger. Hatred. 

Another shudder went through Ezme as she recalled the eyes that had been glaring at her. Ezme wasn’t afraid of what Amara might do, but rather what the desire behind those eyes wanted to do. And Amara had, in that moment, submerged herself in that dark desire.

Everyone hates something…or someone. But allowing it to control you like that is never going to lead to anything good. 

How can she not realize? She’s seen more than enough of what happens when one is controlled by hatred! The demons are like living manifestations of hatred! Does she not realize that she is capable of the same kind of evil that they are, if she doesn’t control herself?!

“You seem distressed, sister.” (Sophelia)

Startled by the gentle voice that came from beside her, Ezme flinched as she turned to stare wide-eyed at the golden-haired angel that had suddenly appeared. Sophelia’s giant wings seemed to fill the corridor they were standing in, making Ezme think she was careless for not noticing her at all. 

“S-sister Sophelia.” Ezme stammered in surprise. 

Sophelia blinked with a soft smile on her face. “Trouble in paradise?”

Ezme hesitated for a moment before nodding. Sophelia might be able to help me. Taking a deep breath, Ezme started explaining how someone posing as Alarice had turned mortals on Teyrin against Amara. 

“Hmm.” Sophelia let out a faint sigh as she smiled at Ezme when she finished. “I doubt Alarice was responsible.”

Emze nodded, feeling a bit relieved that someone agreed with her despite the fact that she already knew that Alarice was innocent. “But who would pretend to be her?”

Sophelia averted her eyes as they grew distant. “The demons have attempted to incite rebellion in our domain in the past…but posing as one of us would be something new. And claiming that she is working with the demons would only work in the champion’s domain. In any other world we can easily prove through our actions that we’re enemies with the demons... which makes the demon lord she is going to face the most likely culprit.”

Feeling a bit relieved to have an answer, Ezme let out a sigh. “That makes sense.” Ezme knit her brow for a moment as she thought before looking up at the tall seraph. “But now, Amara believes it’s Alarice who did it. She’s...furious. She didn’t even consider that it could be an imposter.”

Sophelia smiled as she closed her eyes. “You should not be too hard on the champion. She does not know Alarice like we do. Given how Alarice has treated her thus far, it is not surprising she would assume something of the sort to be the truth.”

Ezme hung with her head dejectedly. “I know, but...how can I make her understand she’s wrong?”

Sophelia replied in a gentle tone. “If you told her she was wrong, she is likely already reconsidering. The champion places more weight on your words than you realize.”

“...Are you sure?” Ezme felt relieved, but also a bit doubtful as she met Sophelia’s warm gaze. “She was really angry. Like really, really, angry.”

Sophelia gave her a sympathetic smile. “I wouldn’t mind it. You can consider it…a survival instinct.”

Ezme frowned in confusion. “A survival instinct?”

“Consider what happened during the last meeting between those two.” Sophelia cocked her head as she studied Ezme’s reaction. “The champion now believes Alarice might come at any time to destroy her without just cause. Anything that Alarice does from now on which the champion could view as a threat to herself, is going to ignite an immediate response for the sake of her own survival. She no longer has the luxury to give Alarice the benefit of the doubt, nor to stop and consider things through like before.”

That…makes sense. Amara did start to practise a lot after their scuffle…probably to prepare for their next confrontation. Ezme lowered her gaze dejectedly. “Then…are they destined to be at odds with each other? To hate each other?”

Sophelia was silent for a moment. “Lest they both choose to reconcile, I suppose they will be.”

Ezme clenched her fists. Can I make them reconcile? Glancing at Sophelia, who held a faint, amused smile as she seemed to be studying her expression in order to figure out what she was thinking, Ezme suddenly felt embarrassed. “Thank you for your wisdom, sister Sophelia.”

“Your gratitude is unwarranted.” Sophelia said with a gentle smile as she tilted her head, making her golden locks sway. “Especially because I have a difficult task I’d like you to accomplish.”

Ezme’s eyes widened in surprise as she pointed at herself. “A task? Me?” 

“Yes.” Sophelia made a slow nod. “You’re aware that Alarice has been in the demonic realms since the last time you saw her, yes?” When Ezme nodded hesitantly, Sophelia continued with a smile. “We need her to come back.”

Going to the demonic realms would be dangerous…maybe not for someone as strong as Alarice, but for me…

If I get caught…death would be a mercy. At the very least, I don’t want to become one of our fallen siblings. Ezme tilted her head as she realized something. “Can’t we simply call sister Alarice and tell her to come back?”

“Alarice is still…upset.” Sophelia replied with a faint smile. “She doesn’t respond to anyone right now. Someone has to fetch her in person, and you have the best chance of success.”

Ezme knit her brow anxiously. So she is still angry over how I chose to walk my own path.

But…I’m not going to change my mind. Though, maybe I can make her understand that mortals aren’t as bad as she believes? That Amara can be trusted?

Ezme nodded as she looked at Sophelia. “I’ll do it, but…why does she need to come back? Did something happen?”

Sophelia's smile dropped faintly as sympathy filled her eyes. “Her twin brother has revived.”

…Alaric. Realizing that the burden Alarice had to carry was far greater than she had thought growing up, she couldn’t help but pity her sister. She has to kill her brother, over and over again…and is unable to save him.

I wish I could help her somehow.

Once again, realizing that Sophelia was watching her, Ezme felt embarrassed. “Alarice has been suffering for a long time, hasn’t she?”

Sophelia closed her eyes and nodded. “Indeed.”

Ezme clenched her fists. I’ll find a way to help her.

“Good luck on your mission, sister.” Sophelia said with a gentle smile. 

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Ezme nodded and smiled faintly. “Thank you, sister Sophelia.”

When Ezme left to depart for her mission, Sophelia called out to her. “Do be careful, sister. Alarice is still…on edge.”

Confused by the advice, Ezme turned to ask what it meant. Seeing the corridor behind her empty, she knit her brow anxiously. 

Alarice is on edge? What does it mean?

Well…she’s been fighting non-stop for years on hostile territory. I suppose it would be normal to assume anyone approaching her is an enemy.

 

_______________

 

 

Trying to contact Alarice telepathically turned out to be hopeless, just as Sophelia said. But following the trail made by her calls, she managed to pinpoint Alarice’s location, close to the border between their Father’s and the Devourer's domain. The world didn’t differ much from the worlds under their Father’s rule - with the exception of the blackened areas ravaged by wildfires, that laid out a clear trail for Ezme to follow.

As Ezme flew below the clouds, it didn’t take long before she heard the rumbling of explosions in the distance. Turning her eyes in that direction, she couldn’t see the source despite being several kilometers in the air; the epicenters of the explosions were somewhere below the horizon. 

Is that Alarice? Ezme slowed down her flight worriedly as she realized that she was about to witness her first battle between divine beings in person. As another series of explosions rocked the air, Ezme knit her brow. To create explosions that powerful…I could probably do one or two? Maybe three?

But Alarice always said it's inefficient when you’re fighting few and powerful enemies…

Continuing her flight cautiously, it didn’t take long until she closed in on the battle. Stopping at a safe distance, Ezme beat her wings to hover in the air as she empowered her sight. 

Alarice’s bright, white wings made her easy to spot, as they were only outshined by the occasional explosion. Soaring through the air, she was in an intense dogfight with several demon lords that were hurling spells at her. 

Alarice suddenly broke the pace of her flight with a sharp beat with her wings, leaving two condensation clouds behind that quickly evaporated moments before another explosion rocked the air. The sharp changes in direction combined with the fast pace of the fight made Ezme dizzy as she tried to follow Alarice with her eyes.

Sister Alarice is amazing. 

Watching her sister’s aerobatic performance, she recognized some of the twists and turns Alarice was making as the same ones that Alarice had taught her. Alarice had been strict with teaching Ezme how to fly, making her practise endlessly until she learnt how to correctly tense and empower her body in sharp twists and turns. Ezme had often had difficulty understanding why it was necessary, since none of their other siblings flew that way.

But watching the battle before her, she realized why Alarice had been so strict.

Fighting at supersonic speeds is different…it puts an entirely different kind of strain on one’s body. 

Even though I’m not someone strong enough to fight our fallen siblings…she still wanted to prepare me. So that in the event I’d be forced to face one of them, I’d be able to survive long enough to escape or get support. 

Ezme’s eyes moistened as she continued watching the fight. I should have paid more attention to her lessons. I should have realized there was a purpose behind why she was teaching me those things, rather than calling them unnecessary. 

Alarice suddenly made a sharp turn as she made the blades on her bident ignite with bright, white flames. The demon lords that were following her seemingly realized what she was up to, as they immediately began to scatter. 

A torrent of white flames shot out filled the sky, engulfing the demon lords. It lasted only for a moment, but it was enough to set all but two of the demon lords ablaze. Ezme watched how one by one, the demon lords who had been ignited began to fly erratically, before falling out of the sky. 

Realizing that Alarice hadn’t used any divine power during the fight up to that point from when she had arrived, a proud smile spread on Ezme’s face. She can keep up with them even when she’s recharging her divine power.

Sister Alarice is amazing!

The two remaining demon lords were suddenly on the defensive, and it didn't take long for them to make the decision to flee. Alarice quickly began chasing one of them, while the other seemed more than happy to use its ally as a sacrifice to escape. 

Watching how the demon lord glanced back to see Alarice was chasing her, Ezme couldn’t help but feel a faint degree of pity for her. The demon lord beat her wings in a panic, and seemed to be preparing for dimensional flight.

But before the demon lord could escape, Alarice came crashing into her like a shooting star. Ezme heard the rumbling that shook the ground when they hit the ground, a shiver running down her spine. 

I’m glad sister Alarice is on our side.

With the battle concluded, Ezme made her approach. Spotting Alarice standing on the ground next to the charred remains of the demon lord, Ezme landed on the edge of the small crater that had been added to the landscape. 

Alarice’s platinum hair, that was normally set in a bun without a single strand of hair out of place, was dirty and flowed freely. Her wings and armor both had dirt and blood on them as well, clearly expressing that the years Alarice had spent in the demonic realm hadn’t been peaceful. 

Ezme knit her brow as Alarice hadn’t reacted to her arrival. There is no way she doesn’t know I’m here. Does she think I’m one of the demon lords?

I wonder if she’s still angry at me… 

“Sister Alarice?” Ezme called out hesitantly. “Are you-...”

A paralyzing chill went down Ezme’s spine, stopping her words from coming out as Alarice turned her head and set her glowing, blue eyes on her. Her face, that had always been emotionless, was twisted in anger as she glared at Ezme. 

Realizing that she was shaking, Ezme clenched her fists and took a deep breath.  

[Ding!]