The Dark Before The Light

"You handled that like a seasoned connoisseur for a first-timer! Don't even think about finishing it," Kel declared, swiftly snatching the bottle back from a pouting Fafea after she had taken a generous swig. "And now, the visionary behind this delightful occasion shall have the final, glorious draught!" Kel tilted the bottle back and drained the remaining contents, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"You don't drink alcohol," Bella remarked, turning to Edwin with a curious look.

"Correct. Not particularly a fan of the stuff," Edwin replied with a shrug.

Acacia quietly dropped her empty bowl to the ground beneath the bench, her gaze drifting upwards to the sky, where the once-white clouds were now tinged with soft hues of orange and pale pink as the sun began its descent.

"A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for joining us tonight!" Kel announced, his voice ringing with genuine warmth. "I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea," he chuckled, earning a few good-natured groans, "but I truly appreciate you all coming together to make this little celebration a success! And now, for a bit of future planning: next week, we embark on a hunting expedition! Our goals are twofold, to clear the surrounding area to a safer distance, perhaps discover some new culinary delights along the way, and, most importantly, to finally set up those protective crystals. But tonight," he raised his voice, "tonight, we celebrate the dawn of a new era of peace!" A resounding cheer erupted from the crowd, their clapping hands creating a unified rhythm. "And to further cement this newfound unity, I propose we each grab an unsuspecting individual and unleash our inner dancers!"

"How does he possess such an utter lack of self-consciousness?" Jahir muttered, shaking his head in amusement. "He just says whatever pops into his head."

"Well, it's a rather effective way to announce the upcoming hunt," Acacia replied, a small smile playing on her lips.

"We'll be selecting the hunting party tomorrow," Kel continued, his enthusiasm infectious, "and the rest of us will need to stay put in designated buildings until our valiant hunters return. This is uncharted territory, so caution is paramount! Now, enough standing around, don't be shy, let's dance!" The crowd began to rise, moving away from the warmth of the fire as they started to sway and move to the rhythm of improvised hums and chants.

Fafea, her face alight with joy, eagerly grabbed Kel's hand, and the two were soon swept away in a whirlwind of energetic, if slightly chaotic, dancing.

Acacia watched them with a smile, but her gaze soon fell upon Bella, whose expression was downcast as she stared at the ground, her missing leg concealed beneath her dress. Sensing her friend's sadness, Acacia nudged Edwin's shoulder. He turned his head sharply, ready to respond, but his words caught in his throat as he followed Acacia's gaze to Bella. With a soft sigh, he rose to his feet and extended a hand towards her.

"Care to dance?"

"And precisely how do you envision this 'dancing' will transpire?" Bella asked, raising a sceptical eyebrow at his outstretched hand.

"Just get up, I'll figure it out," Edwin replied with an eye roll. Bella pushed herself up, using her crutches for support and taking his hand. "And don't get any ideas," he huffed, gently carrying her up in his arms. "I'm only doing this because Fafea seems to expect it. Don't read too much into it."

He began to move in a slow, slightly awkward dance since he was just carrying her and swaying around. Nearby, Henry and Poppy were dancing with surprising coordination, while Tosic observed them from a distance, a rare hint of amusement in his eyes.

Acacia chuckled at the sight, just as Maximus reached her side and offered his hand. She readily took it, and he led her away from the benches. Their dance was different, Maximus held her hands, spinning her gently a few times. A genuine smile bloomed on Acacia's face as they moved together, punctuated by occasional laughter as she watched Fafea and Kel enthusiastically pull a reluctant Jahir into their chaotic dance.

'I haven't laughed this much in a while.' Acacia thought, her smile widening. 'Even with the constant threat looming, surrounded by these… odd but endearing people, I feel a sense of safety I haven't known before. Perhaps this is what family feels like.' A warmth spread through her chest, mirroring the glow of the fire.

Maximus and Acacia's dance came to an end when Tosic materialized beside them, his gaze fixed on Acacia. He offered a slight bow and requested a dance. After a moment's hesitation, Acacia nodded, allowing him to take her hand and lead.

"Didn't exactly peg you as a dancing man," Acacia remarked, surprised by his smooth movements.

"Don't let these distinguished wrinkles fool you," Tosic replied with a wry smile. "However, my true intention is to inquire about yesterday's… incident and this sudden urgency to set up the barrier crystals."

Acacia glanced around the lively gathering, then subtly steered Tosic towards a quieter corner. Once away from the immediate crowd, she stopped dancing. "It's a rather complex situation, Tosic. But rest assured, we have a plan. For the time being, we just need you to trust us."

Tosic's gaze sharpened. "Judging by your guarded reaction, I gather this isn't something for public consumption. However," his voice gained a serious edge, "please ensure that my brats don't become collateral damage in your schemes."

"That, I can promise you," Acacia said, her voice firm. "The only concrete piece of advice I can offer right now is this: be wary of Jia. Don't let her spend time alone with Poppy." Her words elicited a hardened expression from Tosic, his eyes narrowing before he nodded curtly and walked away, his usual jovial demeanour completely absent.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The barbecue lingered late into the night, the warmth of the fire and camaraderie slowly fading as individuals drifted back to their makeshift homes. A week passed, filled with quiet preparations for the upcoming hunt. Acacia pulled on sturdy boots, the familiar weight of Behemoth resting around her neck. As she reached for the door, it swung inward, revealing Bella standing there, tears streaming down her face. Acacia froze, a knot of concern tightening in her chest.

"Bella? What happened?"

"I… I look so stupid, don't I?" Bella choked out, wiping furiously at her wet cheeks. "I talked to Edwin. I checked on his injury, and we… we talked. He barely even looked at me. And who the hell is Erla? I just feel like such an utter idiot. He said… he said everything I was terrified to hear." More tears spilled. "But I told him exactly what I thought! How dare he use me like that? Doesn't he feel any shame, any remorse after what happened to Zephyra!"

"No, to him, we were just a mission," Acacia said quietly, her gaze steady on Bella. "Do you want me to kill him?"

"I'll kill him myself," Bella declared, her voice trembling with anger. "He's mine to deal with." She took a shaky breath. "You should go on your raid."

"It's alright. I'll be gone for a few days. You can cry for as long as you need," Acacia said, offering a brief, comforting pat on Bella's shoulder. Bella sighed heavily. Acacia stepped aside, allowing her to enter the room. She watched Bella for a moment longer before turning and leaving the building, her expression resolute. She found Maximus and Tosic waiting for her near the extended wall.

Tosic had a heavy bag slung over his shoulder, the tell-tale shapes of barrier crystals visible within. Vincent and a small group of five of his followers stood nearby with various bags on their shoulders. Maximus also had a bag slung over his shoulders.

"I was quite surprised when you decided to include us in the hunting party. I'm rather honoured," Vincent said, his smile polite.

"You are part of this community now," Acacia replied evenly. "It would be unjust to exclude you simply because you are new."

"But why the segregation, specifically for my group?" Vincent inquired, his smile faltering slightly. "Everyone else is sheltered in their individual homes, yet my people are all gathered in one location."

"Please don't be concerned," Acacia reassured him, her tone neutral. "It's a temporary safety protocol, allowing us to monitor everyone effectively while we're away. If it causes undue discomfort, we can certainly reassess the arrangement upon our return."

"Oh no, it's perfectly alright," Vincent said quickly, shaking his head with a placating smile. "As long as everyone remains safe, we are content."

"Kel and Edwin are overseeing their well-being, along with a few others. They will be well-protected," Acacia affirmed, then turned to Maximus and gave him a subtle nod.

"Alright, everyone ready to roll out?" Tosic called, his voice carrying. A chorus of nods rippled through the group as they made their way to the far end of the wall connected to a building. They entered the structure, exchanged brief greetings with those guarding the passage, and emerged onto the deserted street outside. The emptiness was expected.

"I'll take a quick survey," Acacia announced, her wings unfurling with a soft rustle. She leapt into the air, ascending swiftly. Circling overhead, she scanned the surrounding area, her keen eyes searching for any signs of danger. Finding nothing amiss, she descended gracefully, landing lightly on her feet. "All clear for now."

"Okay, our initial goal is to travel at least twenty miles from here and embed the crystals deep within the ground," Tosic explained, gesturing with his hands. "From that central point, we'll gradually move outwards, strategically placing more crystals as we make our way back towards our current location. I've already deployed a few internally, but the barrier is weak and fragmented due to the distance between them. Once we plant the main cluster, the protective field should solidify almost instantaneously."

"How will we know when we've covered twenty miles?" Vincent inquired, his brow furrowed slightly.

"I have this rather sensitive step tracker," Tosic replied, raising his left hand to display a wristwatch-like device. "A proper GPS phone would be far more convenient, but this will suffice. It diligently counts my every step." The display showed a reading of 26 steps. "Though, truth be told," he added with a confident smirk, "I know this city like the back of my hand. I'll know when we've reached a suitable distance."

"Alright, let's get moving," Acacia said, and the group began to move, their footsteps echoing in the deserted streets as they put distance between themselves and the safety of the wall. Acacia kept close to Maximus as they walked, the sun climbing higher in the sky, its heat prickling uncomfortably on her scalp. A sheen of sweat began to form on her skin, and a dull ache of boredom settled in.

'So,' Acacia thought, her internal voice directed at Daemonis, 'tell me about Ciflith. Is he dangerous? Terrifying?'

'Dangerous? I suppose one could say so. I don't personally view him as a significant threat, more of an… annoyance to contend with,' Daemonis replied with a hint of disdain. 'But in comparison to your current potential, he is far more perilous.'

'He didn't seem like an annoyance with the way you reacted earlier.' Acacia thought.

'His name just brought up bad memories. He is still an annoyance.' Daemonis replied with a scoff.

'Sure,' Acacia sighed mentally. 'Since you referred to him as a false god, does that imply he was also bonded to a deity, much like I am?'

'Indeed. He was bonded to one. Though, not just him. Him and his… associate,' Daemonis elaborated.

'Is it possible for two individuals to be bonded to a single god?'

'Yes, even more than two. However, it is generally ill-advised, as ultimately, only one of the bonded will fully inherit the god's power,' Daemonis explained.

'Intriguing. So, his associate became a god?' Acacia inquired.

'Yes. She is the current reigning Goddess of Life,' Daemonis clarified.

'So, he lost?' Acacia mused. 'But why is he here, in this world? What business could a fallen god possibly have with monsters?'

'That is a question you will need to find the answer to yourself. There is no conceivable way he could know of my presence here, especially bound to a vessel such as you, so he wouldn't be here because of me. He is probably here for a different reason.' Daemonis stated with certainty.

'Wait a moment… does that mean that eventually, I will… become you?' Acacia asked, a hint of apprehension in her thoughts.

'Over the span of a few years, yes. Not that you will become me exactly, but you will inherit my powers in their entirety,' Daemonis confirmed.

'Were all the gods originally just regular human beings?' Acacia wondered.

'Not all, only a select few. The majority are ancient beings, unwilling to relinquish their powers and status,' Daemonis explained.

'Are you one of those ancient beings?' Acacia asked.

'No. I was once a mortal, thousands of years ago, in a world distinct from your own. However, I suppose I could be considered ancient in my own right, as there has only been two predecessors before me in my role,' Daemonis replied.