#what are the chances that apophis will also learn from the fight and change his own strategy?

[reallyghostlypost]

Do you guys think Apophis is the same being every time you fight him?

Or do you fight a different giant monster every time?

(And does Qi just corrupts a new serpent every day, or is there a whole species of this things deeper in the Badlands waiting to be discovered?)

Mythological Apophis does get reborn every day to fight Ra and so does SVE Apophis, but then again, it's a giant scary serpent, maybe it was named Apophis simply because it's an evil snake associated with darkness.

[moonlightfiction]

Chapter 16 - Part 2

If there is a fight we need to fight, we’re gonna do it!

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The power that could be felt when a god stepped on these lands, made everyone in the conference room jump to their feet.

Thanks to Zesa’s quick thinking, he had been able to warn the stronghold before the soldiers could arrive.

The citizens barricaded the gate to the city, making it a safe place for everyone within. They doubted that the soldiers would have any ships to attack them from the seaside.

Shijira had told him over and over again that he did the right thing and that many people were saved by this decision.

Yet Zesa couldn’t help but to feel bad, knowing that he left someone behind. The moment Constance had heard that the soldiers had Filian, she had rushed out of the room to the walls to see if she could get any information.

Ever since then, they had simply been waiting.

Being in the presence of a goddess was far more normal than Zesa had expected. Selena was very humble; hence, it was easy to get along with her.

But now, as she felt someone else from her family arriving, she turned pale.

She fidgeted her dress to the right places after having sat for so long, while mumbling, “Oh no. Oh no, no, no, this is my fault … that’s Apophis. He must be here to find me …”

Hearing her words, Zesa tensed up. Apophis, the god of war. If he was here, it was no good sign for Gladisu. There was no way these people here would win against such a god. They were … just simple citizens after all. Even if there was no way to anticipate how much their domination over alchemy could change the tides.

Just when Selena was thinking about turning herself over, Apophis started his speech.

Everyone in the room froze.

Selena grasped the hand of Endymio who was nearest to her, while Guarin leaned back, crossed his arms while his face turned grimmer with each word. Shijira stood next to Zesa and bit her lower lip.

The priest could understand her feelings. There was no way to help these people if it turned into a political problem. It was not their place to do so. If they did, it would only make the war between humans and gods worse.

Zesa mustn’t forget that he was a priest. As much as he loved the people, he was sworn to a god – and the people here in Gladisu had turned away from the gods.

“He isn’t here because of you. Please stay assured that we won’t disclose your whereabouts,” Duke Voldenna promised in a low voice as he heard the words. He had gotten very quiet while Apophis was talking. Before he had been running up and down the conference hall, since he couldn’t decide whether to follow Constance or to hold his position in this room.

As Zesa and Shijira had been told, Duchess Ravenka had left for a meeting in a smaller laboratory a while ago.

All the other retainers of Selena were in the city to sightsee. But they surely were also hearing what was going on.

Thus, Zesa shouldn’t worry too much. It wasn’t his place to do so anyway … Apophis’ menacing words of anyone who was resisting would meet the same end sent a shiver down the priest’s spine.

During his time as a cleric he had learned that some gods weren’t as benevolent as some others. Hence, there was even discord between the gods themselves, even if not many mortals knew about it.

Zesa also crossed his arms and pressed his lips onto each other, while his cat tail swung back and forth. It surely only was a threat to make the humans here compliant. There was no way …

The screams and shouts could be heard up to the tower.

“Shijira!”

Without a second thought, Zesa stormed out of the room the source of the commotion. That definitely was Falenyo’s voice.

So, the group was back? Maybe even with the Grand Duke? But that scream didn’t mean anything good. He had to bring her out of here. She was a fearful rabbit after all, and – even more – a priestess of light.

Nothing should touch the neutrality of the goddess of light. Hence, her priestess shouldn’t be caught up in any fight, either.

Shijira’s footsteps were behind him but also some others. Zesa turned around and saw that Guarin was also with them.

The young man caught his eye and simply told him, “My people are also on their way. If there’s a fight, we’re going to help. We have to protect Lady Selena after all.”

Zesa gave a short nod. The way Guarin, Endymio, and everyone else who travelled with Selena were just like priests. At least they swore to protect and help her. That was enough reason to trust them.

While they were on their way upstairs to the wall, that went outside along the bricks, Zesa could see that Falenyo wanted to get on a griffon, while Frecker tried to hold her back.

Just what was going on?

“Geet, bring the prince to Megan’s Tower,” Filian shouted, and immediately the demon took flight. In her arms, she had the screaming and kicking Ronald, but the little boy could do nothing against Geet.

During that, Frecker’s voice was stressed with a ting of sadness, “Don’t be stupid! You’re up against a god!”

“But I can still save him! It’s not too late!” In contrast to that, Falenyo’s shriek was hysteric with no restraint.

Whatever it was, if it was against another god, Zesa had to keep her from doing it. He hastened his steps.

As if Shijira had read his thoughts, she ran up next to him. Her eyes told him to prepare himself. Then she gave him a light push. Just enough to make him faster, but not too much to make him stumble.

Zesa arrived at the group and immediately started, “Falenyo, you cannot …” But as his gaze went out to the plain, he fell silent.

There was the Grand Duke amidst soldiers, who had their weapons drawn. Blood dripped onto the puddle that had already formed beneath him. More couldn’t be seen from the wall.

“The priestess is right; you can still save him.”

Guarin’s voice made everyone turned to him. His dark eyes were focused on the scenery before him, while his voice remained calm – nothing like a man who just ran half a mile to get here and then even up the wall.

“See?! Then let me go!”

Falenyo yanked Frecker’s hand away. Without any hesitation, she bade the griffon to fly onwards.

The moment the priestess left the safe stronghold, the soldiers charged towards her. “You just …!” Frecker roared. He turned around. His eyes shone with fury. He took a step towards Guarin and grabbed the hilt of his sword.

But he couldn’t finish his sentence. Instead, Guarin kept his eyes on the scene before him and shouted, “Acha, Stacia, go!”

“On it!”

Two voices replied from below the wall.

“Open the gates!”

On Guarin’s command, Zesa could see how two people charged outside. One was with a bow and … was he a demon? The other one was a beautiful lady with deep red hair. She was really tall. At least from here it looked like she was at least one head taller than the demon next to her. Flames danced around her as she threw herself at the soldiers.

“Tch!”

Frecker hissed at the commander but he didn’t hesitate for a moment. Instead, he hurled himself off the wall and joined the other two.

Ina chuckled and with a “This is just my style!”, she followed, too.

Meanwhile, Guarin turned to Filian and looked straight at him. “You’re good at tactics, right? Then stay here with me.” The man’s voice sounded strained. He seemed to be concentrating on something.

Zesa didn’t care about that. Instead he had understood. They should be keeping the way free for Falenyo. A little skirmish to get the Grand Duke back. Nothing more. They wouldn’t be clashing with Apophis.

With that, he could help. Letting a priestess of light die here would be even worse.

He turned over to Shijira. His guardian didn’t even wait for him to say anything. Growing up with each other had helped them understand each other so well. Guarin and Falenyo had said that. There was still a chance. They could save the Grand Duke. Each thought made Zesa take another step even faster. It would restore the balance and prevent a big war at this point.

Zesa pulled his bow and arrow. “I bow before the house of the titan of nature, directing my pleas to her second son, the god of sea called Aruna. To the grand prince who is able to hide even the greatest light in the depth of his powers …” As he recited his prayers, his arrows began to glow, infused with the power of water.

They had two guardians, a stealth fighter, a mage, and two archers of which one was blessed by a god. On the other side, there were about thirty soldiers …

Zesa began to smirk as he felt his blood rush, just like how Ina must have felt. “Bring it on.”

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