RD 5 Ch 39

Simone and Winnie walked with Sylvie through the sect, and Simone made no secret of using her Inspect on anyone and everyone she could find.

“Are there any groups in the sect that are rather reclusive?” Simone asked.

Both of the older women snorted a laugh. “You’ll find ‘reclusive’ is the default among sects,” Sylvie said.

“The top levels are given very few tasks beyond being a boogieman to stop others from causing trouble.” Winnie added before Simone could take offense.

“Oh, yes, Bran has said things like that in the past.” Simone answered quickly to cover herself.

“Yes, well, Bran would be knowledgeable, wouldn’t he?” Winnie’s compliment was odd coming from her; the prickly woman rarely praised anyone.

Sylvie, clearly interested, looked over, “Tell me more about Bran”

Winnie dismissed the question with a flick of her hand. “No one important, just the leader of the Mul Branova and a man capable of creating potent bloodlines.”

“He’s the source of the bloodline that’s being offered in this tournament.” Sylvie caught on. Winnie was doing a poor job of making him sound unimportant.

“The one and the same,” Winnie added. “I’d put him a couple notches above wherever you’re putting him in your mind.”

“Personally talented?” Sylvie asked, sounding even more curious.

“The brains behind a power that’s risen so sharply in this new world is bound to be anything but ordinary,” Simone said, getting a little angry as this woman judged Bran.

“As you say,” Sylvie replied, seemingly unimpressed, though the fact she’d asked at all made Simone think they’d earned at least some measure of interest. “If he’s so popular within his group, why has he not shown himself before?” Sylvie pressed.

“You misunderstand,” Winnie jumped on the question like she’d been expecting it to be asked. “It’s not that he didn’t show himself. It’s that he only recently became initiated, just prior to the Rapture.”

Sylvie’s head swiveled. “And he’s able to pull out such a high-ranked bloodline and confidently wave it in the faces of those sharks? Does he not fear death? The elders of many sects will rip his heart out in the blink of an eye and just take it for themselves.”

“Perhaps a lack of fear,” Winnie offered, “or, more likely, a different perspective on what needs to be done. He is resolutely against the demons; however, he seems to favor most of humanity and even attempts to support them.”

“Far be it from me to naysay someone trying to be helpful in this god-forsaken world, but I can’t help being a little suspicious. Very rarely do I find people with genuine altruistic motives. Winnie, you should know that better than anyone.” Sylvie threw a glance over her shoulder.

“I would hardly call him an altruist,” Winnie said. “Instead, I’d call him a realist with a heavy fist.”

“High praise,” Sylvie murmured as they came to an open quarter. They’d heard the commotion before they arrived: the sect disciples forming groups, setting out for dungeons, plying their trades or other activities. It was essentially a large marketplace within the sect.

“So each and every person is initiated here?” Simone asked, staying in the corner where they’d arrived.

Sylvie nodded toward a platform where several students spoke loudly to their classmates.

“Fellow members of the Roaring Waves,” one announced, “we ask you to remember the teachings of our instructors. Did they not tell you to learn your opponent before crossing blades or meeting fists? Did they not tell you about trials and tribulations that could have been avoided if you’d only spoken with your opponent first and clarified the situation? The demons have been instantly vilified because they are different from us.” He made a grand gesture towards the largely unmoved crowd.

Another picked up where he left off. “The word ‘demon’ itself brings terror to the masses. Think of the idiots who’ve rolled over and allowed great horrors to wreck their countries. That same single-minded, populist mentality that goes so wrong is here even among us initiated. All you simply have to do is give the demons a chance. When you meet a demon, try talking first.”

Simone snorted. “Does anyone actually believe this?” she asked, turning to Sylvie.

The older woman shrugged. “Not a clue. But every time one of our members doesn’t return from a dungeon or out searching for resources, I can’t help but wonder if they stopped and tried to talk to a demon.”

“Why not shut this down?” Simone asked.

Sylvie’s nostrils flared. “The same principles that’ve allowed this sect to flourish would be trampled if we simply stopped people from speaking their minds.”

 “They are poisoning the well. The longer this goes on, the more students you will lose.” Simone felt for the people.

“If we fight them head-on, we’ll lose more simply because they won’t stay where a sect rules so tightly,” Sylvie continued. “It’s a phase. I’ve seen it a dozen times in my long life. It’s not pretty, but it does eventually pass. I watch young people make stupid decisions and mourn the loss of those who listen to fools, but I can’t take their choice away from them. That would be worse.”

Simone watched, and it was almost painful to see several people walk by, eyes sparkling at the new idea, ready to ignore the clear warning signs. Simone wanted to act, but she also understood Sylvie’s aged perspective.

History showed that time and time again, most people didn’t learn their lesson until consequences were too hard to ignore. Humanity was resilient enough to go on, though too many individuals would pay a painful price that might’ve been avoided by heeding history.

As Simone contemplated and stared at the crowd, her Lilith’s Gaze caught a glimmer beneath one man’s shirt. That glimmer was enough for her gaze to lock onto it, piercing the fabric and revealing an inscription on the item. It was a vessel containing demon souls.

She recognized it immediately. It was similar enough to the stone that had been dropped in her brothel, the same sort of object Bran had rushed in to save her from when a demon general tried to seize her soul.

Simone grinned and turned to Sylvie. “Well, there is a demon in your sect, after all.”

The older woman went from casually leaning to standing before Simone in a flash. “Which one?” Sylvie’s tone was harsh.

“You said they should all learn their own lessons,” Simone said.

“They can say whatever they want,” Sylvie clarified. “However, one of them has brought a demon into my sect. I will happily make an example of them. And if you’re trying to pull something, I would advise you reconsider. Your spirit stat might be higher than mine, pretty girl. However, I can tell the rest of your stats do not even begin to compare to mine.”

Winnie chuckled when Simone turned to her bewildered. “She doesn’t need to inspect you to get a gauge of your strength. That comes with enough experience.”

Simone shrugged. “I’m more of a lover than a fighter anyway,” and gestured for Sylvie to take the lead. “By all means, go for it. Your target is the one on the left. He has a pendant underneath his shirt that contains demon souls.”

Simone watched the man. “I’ve seen something like it before. It was shattered in a crowd and stunned those around. Then demon souls rushed out to attempt to possess everyone nearby.”

Sylvie’s eyes grew sharp. “Then perhaps we can give my disciples a valuable lesson today. After all, as a teacher, it is my job.” She stepped out while Simone stayed back, not wanting anyone to start pointing fingers at the strangers in the sect moments before disaster struck.

“She’s fun,” Simone said, turning to Winnie. “You said she was your teacher?”

“One of them,” Winnie corrected. “I wouldn’t give her too much credit. My time in the Heavenly Fist was brief but memorable. Many of the senior leadership took an interest in teaching me this or that. Personally, I think they were all looking for a little glory, each trying to instill a bit of their will on someone they think will have a greater impact on the world than themselves.” Winnie’s tone went cold. “But I guess that’s the way of the world, isn’t it?”

Simoen watched as Sylvie moved toward those preaching empathy for demons. More than a few students saw Sylvie and paused, nudging their neighbors. Sylvie was clearly well known among the sect.

“How important is she?” Simone asked.

“Important enough,” Winnie said. “She’s an elder here. Before she was one step from being an elder in the Heavenly Fist sect. Most likely she took an elder position here immediately when she moved. Where she stacks up with the other elders? Not a clue. At least she’s active instead of hiding away and wasting time. I haven’t kept up with the other sects. I really had no intention of leaving my island until Bran forced it to happen.”

“Forced is a little harsh,” Simone offered.

“Forced,” Winnie repeated, then added, “Though I do not regret it. At least, not yet.”

Sylvie finally made her way to the stage. Simone realized Sylvie had moved slowly on purpose, letting attention build and the number of eyes on her increase before she made a move.

“Torrin, pull that pendant out from your shirt right now,” Sylvie called, loud enough for everyone in the square to hear her words.

The man Simone had pointed at earlier went pale and looked panicked. “What pendant?” he lied through his teeth.

“Now. And don't think of trying to hide it. I’ve seen what you have hidden under your shirt already.” She didn’t close the distance, so that she couldn’t be accused of planting anything.

Those who had been preaching next to him skittered away as if they were standing too close to a fire. Torrin reached under his shirt and pulled it free.

When Simone saw the pendant with her own eyes, she noticed the slight differences. It was a haunting jewel, but not red like the one she had seen before. This one was a deep purple with a small white glint, as if something alive hovered beneath the surface.

“Explain to the crowd what you are holding, Torrin. For even now I can see there are enchantments on it hiding its identity.” Slyvie pushed.

Simone wasn’t about to let him hide it and forced Lilith Gaze to punch hard into the enchantment hiding its identity. The ability pushed so hard against the enchantment that it strained and broke under the weight of her spirit.

The disciple noticed the enchantment was gone and raised it high for everyone to see. He either realized he was past the point of hiding it or truly believed that demons could be reasoned with. “Brothers and sisters, I can speak so sure that demons aren’t here to hurt us all, because there is a demon within this pendant, one that has assured me they’re not all bad. They’ve come here actually to help us.”

As he held the demon soul up high, Sylvie pointed a finger, a quick jolt of lightning arcing through the space between her and the pendant before it shattered.

A maelstrom of souls poured out of the gem, swirling in the air and diving for the heads of everyone in the square.

Immediately the whole market flew into a panic and the sky darkened as the souls swallowed the light of the day.

All of the members of the sect were initiated and immediately began using their abilities to attack and defend themselves.

Spells were thrown and they all worked to dodge one or two sweeping passes of souls, but there were simply too many. One after another, the demonic souls slipped into their foreheads.

Winnie stood next to Simone, arms crossed. “Yep. Looks like a classic lesson from Sylvie.”

“You knew this was going to happen?” Simone gasped. “We should hurry. We need to help them.”

“Nah.” Winnie shook her head. “If Sylvie wanted them to get an easy way out of this, she would have at least warned them.”

Simone was stunned, caught between horror and disbelief as people in the square convulsed, fighting for their lives against demons and their souls.

One of them leapt to their feet, eyes filled with malice, Simone knew without a doubt they had been possessed. She immediately began blasting a heartbreaker at the crowd. Sylvie intervened, stepping between Simone and the possessed disciple and batting Simone’s ability away.

“If they are too weak to resist the possession, then so be it.” Sylvie’s face was set hard. “As I said before, people often only learn when they’re confronted with the brutality of the situation themselves. And here we have a perfect opportunity for them to learn.” As she said those words, a small jolt of lightning stunned the demon before it could slaughter those still struggling.

Even as others resisted the invasion of their souls and woke up one after the other, they turned to find several of their fellows no longer wearing familiar expressions.

There was no mercy. Quarter wasn’t something remotely on their minds. Instead, as one, those who’d roused killed anyone possessed.

Simone gasped, watching them die.

“I’m separating the chaff from the wheat, dear,” Sylvie said, strolling back casually. “Those who died early have not grown strong enough, and they would have wasted resources later. By exposing them now and understanding who is and who isn’t worth the sect’s resources, we’re only doing better by the many.”

“I can’t believe you would treat their lives as so disposable,” Simone growled.

Sylvie turned back with hard eyes. “Dear, their lives aren’t disposable. Each and every one of their deaths is unfortunate. However, life is not gentle. Life now is even harder than it was before. Perhaps you lived in a time where survival of the fittest was hidden behind so many layers of human civilization and technological advances. But with those gone, survival of the fittest must return. We don’t live in such a soft age that those who can’t survive a simple possession, or can be convinced to throw their lives away to demons, can be allowed to exist, much less spoil the population with their ideals.”

Sylvie clicked her tongue.

Simone turned to Winnie. “I see how you ended up as much of a bitch as you are, especially if you learned from her.”

Both women had the gall to laugh at her statement.

Simone could only shake her head. She would never be so callous with the Mul Branova. Yes, they went through trials and they were blooded, but all that was done with some level of supervision in case they failed. There was always room in the Mul Branova for people who preferred to create rather than destroy. A thriving society needed both, at least in what Simone wanted to make. And she was certain Bran would agree. He had said as much on multiple occasions, and she didn’t think it was lip service.

“Well, now that you’ve let my people get a valuable lesson, I guess I could serve you both tea,” Sylvie offered.

“Thank you.” Winnie performed a short bow. “It’s been ages since I’ve had good tea.”

“Yes, I guess tea doesn’t grow very well in ice, now does it?” Sylvie chuckled at her own joke as they began walking back the way they had originally come.

Simone felt it was too early to broach the conversation about the tournament and what the demons might do, but somehow she thought this conversation would go better now that Sylvie had been given a reason to be cautious and to weed out the weak. But after seeing Sylvie’s display, Simone was less certain about the path laid out in front of them. These were the people they would be allied with if everything moved forward. She wondered if Winnie was really an anomaly, or perhaps just the standard level of crazy among the sects.