The Dark Before The Light

"Why was Lucian visiting your house in the first place?" Bella asked, her gaze sharp and questioning.

"He arrived unexpectedly, not long after I showed him some of my initial research on the collars," Barcello explained, his voice tinged with unease. "He mentioned he'd been 'keeping an eye' on my work and wanted to… make certain observations."

'Ah… so my dear older brother got wind of a potential problem and decided to pluck the budding flower before it could bloom,' Acacia thought, a dry, humourless chuckle escaping her lips. Barcello shot her a concerned look, while Bella's expression remained impassive.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Acacia said, rubbing her temple wearily. "One step at a time. For now, focus on your prosthetic, Barcello." She then turned her attention to Bella. "And what about Elric? What's your plan?"

"...I don't know," Bella admitted, her gaze drifting away, a flicker of pain in her eyes. "Logically… killing him is the best choice. For Zephyra. For revenge."

"There's still something there, isn't there?" Acacia said as she observed gently. Bella bit down hard on her lower lip, her knuckles white as she gripped her crutches.

"No... I don't," Bella insisted, her gaze darting around the dusty library, avoiding Acacia's knowing eyes.

"Hey," Acacia said softly, turning back to face her. "Feelings are messy things. They don't just disappear because we want them to."

"So, how did you end up… reuniting with him anyway?" Bella asked, her tone still tinged with suspicion.

"He allowed me into Flow Society, provided for me, took care of me, and then, well, we simply found our way back to each other," Acacia replied, clasping her hands together with a serene, almost unsettling smile.

"That's not exactly a comforting explanation," Bella said, one eyebrow arching sceptically.

"It's the unvarnished truth, albeit a highly condensed version," Acacia said with a shrug, turning away from the duo and venturing deeper into the labyrinthine aisles of the library. "I think I'll do a bit of exploring."

"Alright!" Barcello called after her.

Acacia wandered through the towering shelves, her fingers trailing along the spines of forgotten stories. She paused occasionally, pulling out a book, flipping through its brittle pages, and then coughing as a cloud of dust billowed around her. Reaching the section dedicated to novels, her eyes scanned the titles until she spotted a collection of romance novels, their covers faded and stained, some bearing patches of mould. She selected two, their titles promising tales of love and longing, and quickly skimmed through a few passages, a small, almost imperceptible nod of approval gracing her lips.

"Maximus might enjoy these," Acacia murmured, a soft smile playing on her lips as she tucked the romance novels under her arm. She continued to browse, a quiet hum accompanying her as she moved towards another aisle, this one lined with the weighty tomes of history. She selected a few volumes, their spines cracked and faded and quickly scanned their indices and opening chapters.

A strange sort of nostalgia, she thought, a faint echo of her past surfacing. 'I used to lose myself in these, whether I grasped the complexities or not, a way to escape.'

She paused before a particularly thick book titled, "The Great Encer War." Her fingers traced the worn gold lettering as she opened its brittle pages. The familiar narrative unfolded: the devastating earthquake that plunged the world into chaos, the sudden emergence of monstrous creatures, and the inexplicable awakening of human abilities attributed to divine favour. It detailed humanity's struggle, their eventual victory that drove most monsters to extinction, and the few who managed to vanish into hiding. And then, the rise of the heroes. Yet, as she skimmed further, she noted the same glaring omission: no explanation for the monsters' arrival. No mention of portals, rifts, or any discernible origin. They had simply... appeared.

'And a certain stubborn entity refuses to give me a straight answer,' Acacia thought with a mental huff.

'I have already informed you that it was the consequence of a goddess's utter foolishness,' Daemonis sighed, the sound echoing only within her mind.

'That's vague,' Acacia retorted internally, her brow furrowing as she flipped through the brittle pages of the history book.

'Then exert more effort if you desire further information. It is already an unbearable indignity to suffer the repercussions of such a stupid deity,' Daemonis grumbled.

'Wait a minute… were you affected by this, too? Aren't you… well, a god yourself?' Acacia's mental brow shot up in surprise.

'So what? Divinity doesn't grant immunity from cosmic screw-ups. If anything, the stakes are higher for us. Which is precisely why preventing blunders is paramount. Otherwise, that sanctimonious windbag of a 'balance' enthusiast will be down our metaphorical throats again,' Daemonis scoffed mentally.

'You don't exactly sound like you have a lot of friends among the gods.' Acacia mused.

'They are a complete and utter drain on my considerable patience, every last one of them,' Daemonis declared flatly.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

She continued to turn the brittle pages, her eyes scanning paragraphs detailing the abrupt emergence of the mysterious crystals and their subsequent integration into everyday life. Soon, she reached a dedicated section honouring those who had played pivotal roles during the Great Encer War. Her finger traced down the long list of names, a quiet reverence in her touch until it stopped abruptly. There, etched amongst the many others, was a name that resonated with a peculiar familiarity: "Angelus Orion Algernon." She closed the heavy history book with a soft thud and returned it to its dusty place on the shelf.

Her gaze swept over the remaining titles before she selected another, this one focused specifically on monsters and their historical presence. Opening it, she found pages filled with detailed diagrams of various creatures, both those that still roamed the ravaged world and those lost to time. Almost instinctively, her hand rose and briefly brushed the smooth scales of Behemoth nestled in her hair before returning to the open pages. She flipped through them, past illustrations of familiar and bizarre beasts, until a detailed diagram of a Slitherwing caught her eye. According to the text, these creatures could grow to an astonishing 300 feet. Their hide was described as an impenetrable fortress, yet they possessed the remarkable ability to increase and decrease their size after their initial few months of life.

The Slitherwings were notorious for causing widespread death and destruction, their primary advantage being their surprising speed, even at their colossal size. However, the diagram also highlighted a crucial weakness: the connection between their neck and jaw was described as exceptionally soft and vulnerable.

"Well, looks like you might be in line for some new jewellery," Acacia said, her gaze fixed intently on the description of the Slitherwing's vulnerable neck joint.

A knot of apprehension tightened in her chest. 'Can I really handle something with that kind of destructive potential? Wouldn't the most responsible thing be to eliminate such a threat before it truly emerges?' A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she stared at the intricate diagram.

'I'll have to try. But if it comes down to it, if Behemoth becomes an unmanageable danger… I won't hesitate to put him down.' With a resolute air, Acacia flipped through the remaining pages, her attention now drawn to illustrations of other fascinating and perilous creatures.

Her attention was caught by another entry: the Mimicker. The text described a creature with a sinister hunting strategy, perfectly mimicking human voices to lure unsuspecting prey into their lairs, where they would be brutally devoured. Their cruelty was noted, often using the familiar sounds of loved ones to gain trust. The description also mentioned their deceptive appearance: vibrant, colourful feathers used to further entice humans, often clinging to their victims while using the stolen voices.

"I'm sure these are still around, although not common," Acacia murmured, a shiver tracing her spine despite the dry text. She studied the accompanying diagram. It depicted a seemingly innocent creature, a large bird with striking green plumage, far bigger than any ordinary avian. In the illustration, it looked almost beautiful, a stark contrast to the horrifying nature described in the text. The text further detailed the Mimicker's peculiar position in the monster ecosystem: other creatures displayed hostility towards them, perhaps recognizing their deceptive nature. Notably, the Mimickers possessed no significant physical weaknesses. Their primary defence was their cunning mimicry; if one could resist their vocal lures and possessed sufficient strength, they were relatively straightforward to kill.

Acacia snapped the book shut, a thoughtful expression on her face, and stepped out of the aisle. 'Well, looks like I've found a new project to occupy my time,' she mused, shifting the two romance novels from under her arm and holding them alongside the monster encyclopedia. She noticed Bella and Barcello still engrossed in their discussion at the makeshift table as she headed towards the library's exit.

"Take care, you two. I'll be heading back now," Acacia called out, offering a casual wave. They responded with a few mumbled words of farewell, their attention still firmly fixed on the papers spread before them. Stepping out into the fading light, Acacia began her walk back towards the ruined house, a silent anticipation growing at the thought of seeing Maximus again.

Acacia arrived back at their makeshift home and was met with a surprisingly heartwarming scene: Edwin, with an uncharacteristic air of concentration, was meticulously braiding strips of bright red ribbons into Poppy's hair, while across the room, the massive form of Maximus gently adjusted a tiny bow on Jia's head.

"Am I interrupting some sort of high-end salon session?" Acacia asked, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Indeed! This is an exclusive establishment dedicated to the pursuit of aesthetic excellence," Edwin declared with a theatrical smirk. "Isn't that right, my lovely patrons?" The two girls dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"I thought you claimed to despise children," Acacia said, shaking her head in mock disapproval.

"I stand by my principles," Edwin retorted with a shrug. "However, boredom is a powerful motivator, and they do provide a good diversion."

"Do I look pretty?" Poppy asked, her small face beaming as she turned to Acacia for confirmation.

"Absolutely beautiful," Acacia replied warmly, her gaze softening.

"Naturally! My artistic touch is undeniable," Edwin interjected with a flourish and a raised eyebrow.

Acacia chuckled and walked over to Maximus, dropping the two romance novels beside him. "Found these in the library. Thought you might enjoy them."

Maximus's eyes lit up as he saw the books, a wide, genuine smile spreading across his face. He reached out a massive hand and gently, yet unexpectedly, ruffled Acacia's hair. A jolt of surprise went through her at the sensation before his hand was gone. She felt Behemoth stirring restlessly on the top of her head, a low hiss escaping its tiny jaws.

"You're welcome," Acacia murmured, rubbing the back of her neck, a subtle twitch running through her folded wings.

"Your wings are ridiculously long, you know. They're practically sweeping the floor," Edwin said as he observed.

"It's not exactly practical to be airborne every second of the day," Acacia retorted, glancing over her shoulder at the impressive span of her dark appendages. She carefully set the book she was carrying down before reaching back and drawing her wings upwards, draping them artfully over her shoulders like a dramatic, if somewhat unconventional, mantle.

"Now it just looks like a very strange cape," Edwin quipped.

"Sometimes, Edwin," Acacia said, her gaze pointedly fixed on his covered eye, "I truly wish your mouth had been the recipient of that injury instead."

"I shall charitably pretend those words never reached my delicate ears," Edwin declared with an exaggerated sigh, refocusing his attention on the intricate braiding of Poppy's hair. Acacia, meanwhile, settled onto the floor, leaning comfortably against the cool stone wall. She opened the monster encyclopedia, its aged pages whispering secrets of the world's terrifying inhabitants, and immersed herself in its detailed descriptions and illustrations.