Gone Astray (2)

"No... it isn't me! The machete moved on its own! I swear!"

A farmer yelled, begging everyone to side with him. But it is too late for that.

***

The Tavern.

A place where people come to celebrate their victories or cry out their woes.

People could melt into this place, feel the vibe, move around as easily as the smoke discharged from the grilling meat that is cooked to serve the patrons. They soak in the laughter and the smiles, dancing upon each octave created with the sounds of drums beating.

A favorite hang-out place. Yet on this night, the usual jovial atmosphere is replaced with a terrible twist.

When Deman the husband of Larra is about to escape paying for his drinks, the owner of the Tavern could not help it anymore. He decided that enough is enough! Deman had always been breaking his promises to pay and so he threatened Deman with a broken glass pointing at Deman's throat asking him to pay his debts.

"Hey, flabby pig! I had enough with you, you can't treat my shop like that! Pay me!"

Deman flared when he heard the word 'Pig.' he stops his tracks and glared at the Tavern's owner.

"How dare you call me a pig! Aren't you a sore pig yourself?! Didn't you cheated on your wife yesternight?! what right do you have to call me a pig!"

Rebuking him using his own words, Deman is unfazed even with the broken glass pointed at him. It turns out that Deman, though always hungered to get drunk, he had eyes and ears everywhere. He might be a scum for beating Larra but at least he never cheated on his wife.

One thing he can not tolerate is when people tried to undermine his name while they themselves are worst than him. Intoxicated by the alcohol, that pushed his slimy tongue as he slurred to put the Tavern owner's misdeeds into the light.

"Ya even said, ya wife ain't young anymore and ya wish to have a son. So you took a young lady that night! Yet you had some balls telling me now am a pig? Aren't you asking for a beating?"

Cold sweat drips from the Tavern owner's forehead. Of course, the Tavern owner would have none of that shit. He denies this accusation in full grit.

"Don't try to get away using that! I love my wife! You ain't going anywhere tonight! You Pig! Pay me or I'll kill you!"

As the Tavern owner said that, his eyes failed him as he shifted his gaze towards his wife who is now frowning at him, obviously suspicious. Their shouts alerted the crowd, especially those who loved gossiping. They all circled the two, waiting for an entertaining show.

"That's it! Ya want me dead? come at me! Ya Pig!"

Deman Provoked the Tavern owner as he slammed his head against him.

*Wham!*

A cut became visible from where Deman headbutted the Tavern owner. Their confrontation is prolonged and got out of hand. It shifted to a brawl instead.

Two round-bellied men, aggressively holding each other. Deman holding the Tavern owner's right hand, afraid that the bottle might pierce him. And the Tavern owner, firmly griping Deman's fists so he won't be able to hit him.

But as they were interlocked and pressed against each other, a machete suddenly flings to Deman's throat.

"You... curse you... Blurgh..."

Deman gargles, unable to speak as blood flowed out from his mouth.

Wide eyes open, aghast at what just happened. In front of the crowd, a man had just died. When they stare at where the machete came from, it came from the scrawny man who noticeably just arrived.

The culprit to the death of Larra's husband!

"No... it isn't me! The machete moved on its own! I swear!"

The farmer yelled, begging everyone to side with him. But it is too late for that. In their eyes, the farmer threw his machete and killed Damon.

Stepping aside, they are keen and wary at him. Although Deman and the Tavern owner threatened to kill each other, it always happened in the past with no side getting killed. They end up resolving the conflict after having their own mud fight. But now, Deman laid helpless on the wooden floor and his eyes are softly shut.

They blamed the farmer for acting impulsively.

"Noo! I didn't kill him!" But his outburst of cry went to their deaf ears, they simply looked at him as if he is a monster.

It is rare for the mortals living in Arcadia to kill their own. The murder they witnessed tonight is something that is hard for them to swallow.

Being shamed and branded as a murderer, the farmer with trembling hands, immediately ran away from the tavern.

After a few moment lapses, people recovered and began clamoring the corpse of Deman while shaking their heads.

But I know for a certain fact, that the farmer is innocent.

When Aziel came inside the Tavern, he easily spotted Deman drinking. How could he forget the face of the man who has hurt the one he adores?

Yes. He openly admits it. Even if it is a sin against certain Heavenly Laws, Aziel liked Larra the moment he saw her. It was an unfamiliar feeling.

That is why, that time Deman had beaten Larra into a pulp, anger rose from his heart. It is the catalyst! He did not know why, but he felt like the seals bounding his powers from the interference of this Forsaken Land loosened up.

The power to deliver justice came in handy. By his right hand, he influenced the Tavern's owner to act and confront Deman. It just so happens that when the owner was asking for Deman's payment, Deman burst like his usual bird brain who only knew violence to settle things.

The farmer and a regular to that place got worried to his best friend—the Tavern's owner and interjected.

Surprisingly, before he could even react, the machete moved on its own!

Aziel's locked eyes concentrated at the thought of hurting Deman that his intense gaze moved the machete.

And if that is not enough, Deman's soul is ripped off from his body. Aziel did the unruly! Another crime is committed against the Heavenly Laws.

[Thou shall not kill a mortal.]

Aziel is only allowed to kill when these mortals escaped the mortal realms or when the Heavenly God ordered him to. And currently, he is inside Arcadia.

The bright glow coating him faintly dimmed and some scaly particles are shredded out from his wings.

"I... forgive me Father for I have sinned."

Murmuring to himself, only now did Aziel woke up from the madness of his own swirling emotions.

"I swear this is the last time I would sin while am here."

But that is just the beginning... Aziel won't have any clue and before he knew it, he had gone astray.