I Was Wrong to Assume

There was silence among the villagers as they watched their village burn down to the ground until nightfall. Some women and children cried while the men remained boldface and strong, holding in their emotions.

I was sitting in the damp grass, hugging my knees while Yuki remained unconscious next to me with Dragonborn on my shoulder.

The sweet smell of pine wood released its earthly aroma into the air, as the bundles of straw atop the houses turned to ash. It was a sad sight to see - Yuki really did a number on this place.

I couldn't believe all of this was because of some Demon Goddess. Was he jealous? Also, why does he hate her so much?

There were so many questions spiraling in my head, I didn't know what to do. Maybe slapping him a few times could wake him back up, but then again, he was hit with his own attack while caught off guard; I knew this guy was gonna be unconscious for a while.

"Psst, Sable," Dragonborn called out my name, but to the villagers, his speech sounded like animalistic grunting coming from a baby dragon.

"Hm, what is it?"

Dragonborn crawled into my lap, placing its scaly paws on my thighs.

"Dragonborn is worried, are the stories really true?"

I lifted my brows, a bit confused by his question.

"Is what stories true?" I whispered back.

"Demon Goddess, Alistoria."

"Ah!" Sitting crisscross, I crossed my arms and looked up into the sky in thought. "I'm unsure, it's hard to really tell." I huffed a sigh, closing my eyes. "This Alistoria goddess sounds made up to me, but what do I know?"

"Dragonborn has never heard of her, she must be a new Goddess!"

I lowered my head, staring him in the eyes with perplexity.

"A new goddess?"

Dragonborn nodded his head, stern in his expression.

"Every year, at least three people ascend to Godhood after obtaining Divine Gifts, this includes Dragons and Demons."

Tilting my head to the side, I looked off to the side in wonder.

"Really?"

I've never heard of that - is Dragonborn making this up or is this new content in the recent volume of Telltale Chronicles?! If that's the case, then I'm completely lost in the dark here.

"Yes! Obtaining a Divine Gift ascends the soul to a higher plane; one where the gods have complete control over this world. Alistoria must be a new goddess who is spreading her religion across Arcana."

"Ehhhh?" Placing my hand on my chin, I slouched over, deep in thought. "It makes more sense putting it that way, but why did Yuki flip out about it? He's gone as far as to kill people who follow this religion."

"Dragonborn is unsure."

I chuckled at his response, patting their head.

"We're both in the same boat here, Dragonborn, but don't worry; we'll get down to the bottom of this, together."

He nodded his head before nuzzling his scaly cheek into my chest.

"Aww, I'm glad to have you by my side."

"The feeling is mutual, Sable!"

He wagged his tail like a dog, giggling at my gentle pats.

"It is time, everyone."

A villager from the crowd stepped forward, taking off his sun hat before many others did the same.

"We shall now begin the summoning ritual."

The Village Head walked forward, tapping his cane against the ground.

"Now that the sun has gone over the horizon, our Demon Goddess can now be manifested in her physical form!"

Woah, what the hell was going on here?

"Are you all ready?" Asked the village head.

"Yes, Village Head, Alastor!" They all shouted in unison as if they were some cult.

I couldn't help but get the heebie jeebies.

"Let us begin."

The Village Head traced his cane along the ground, drawing something in the dirt, but I couldn't exactly see it from where I was sitting.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Sable, what should we do?"

I cringed, trying my best to hide my nervousness.

"Ehh, don't worry about it, I'm sure everything is gonna be fine." Laughing out loud, a nervous sweat trickled down my forehead.

"Alu Dara, Menta Madu! Alu Dara, Menta Madu!"

Everyone in the crowd started chanting in a demonic language.

I was aware of this ancient language, but I never studied it when reading Telltale Chronicles, so I didn't exactly understand what they were saying, nor did Dragonborn.

"Alu Dara, Menta Madu! Alu Dara, Menta Madu!"

"Wait a minute… is that a Magic Circle?"

Something began to glow underneath the Village Head, revealing itself to be a magic formula. It had many demonic runes and many unknown symbols - making this situation even more terrifying.

"Alu Dara, Menta Madu! Alu Dara, Menta Madu! Yuki, Lee tora mandu escala!"

"Oh no, we have to escape here, immediately!"

There was a familiar voice beside me - taking me by surprise.

Turning to my side, I could see Yuki, wide awake.

"What the-?"

"You idiot, why did you have to get involved?!

"Y-Yuki? What the heck are you talking about?"

"Wait… how do you know my name?" He glanced at me, confused before shaking his head and rising to his feet, "That doesn't matter right now, we have to run away!"

I stood up as Dragonborn jumped onto my shoulder.

"Wait a second, you aren't going anywhere! Don't try to act like something bad is about to happen just so you can make a run for it!"

"What?" He widened his eyes, looking at me as if I was crazy. "You dumbass, don't you see what they're doing?!"

I crossed my arms, refusing to look behind me.

"I'm not falling for it. You're just trying to run away from the problems you caused!"

That had to be it. These villagers were nice people who just had everything taken from them, so why would I let the man who was responsible for their losses run away? It didn't feel right, but then again, something did feel off about their incantation.

"Your name is Sable, right?!"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Alright, Sable, how about you open your fucking eyes and look at what they're doing!" Yuki pointed behind me, catching my attention.

I turned around to see a massive dark portal open up in the sky as demonic howls came from its interior.

"What the hell?"

"They're not just summoning Alistoria… they're about to sacrifice both me and you to the Demon Goddess herself if we don't escape while we have the chance."

Widening my eyes, I could feel my heart sink in my chest.

"No… that's… ridiculous?!"

"It's part of their religion!" Yuki stepped forward, placing his hands against my shoulders. "These people are demons, not humans!!"

"Demons?!"

Yuki nodded his head, frowning at me.

"I nearly had them, but you ruined the objective given to me by the Holy Order of Arcana." Yuki let go of me, glancing at the ground beneath him with regret. "Damnit, just why did you have to get involved?"

"I-I'm sorry… I didn't know that… they were demons!"

Yuki grabbed my wrist, causing Dragonborn to growl.

"There's no time to waste, we have to run. Once Alistoria is summoned, she'll tear us to shreds."

Yuki turned around and pulled me with him, running for the hills.

"Let's move it!"

I could see the panic in his movements which only worsened by anxiety.

"Shit… why did I have to play hero?"

I just wanted to save innocent people from harm, and yet here I am - running from a problem I caused. How stupid can I be?!

"I'm sorry… for everything! I didn't know the true intentions behind your actions, Yuki, so forgive me!"

"There's no time to apologize, just- huh?"

Yuki all of a sudden froze in place as I bumped into him, falling on my butt.

"Ow- hey, are you okay?"

He didn't respond.

"Yuki?!" I asked again, and there was still no response.

"Hey!?" I crawled in front of him, looking up at his face. "Yuki?"

He looked horrified as if he had seen a ghost. But even that was an underestimation of how dreadful his expression looked.

His skin was pale, and his eyes were shot open as if stapled to his forehead.

"What's gotten into you?" I stood up and extended my hand, casting a magic circle. "[Sage]!" My Gift immediately began to analyze his frozen body and gave me everything I needed to know in a few seconds.

I could see everything in my Field of Vision, leaving me speechless.

"Your soul… is paralyzed!? What does that even mean?"

Yuki gritted his teeth, eyeing me with penitence.

"Sable… it's over for me, run while you still can! Alistoria is already here, and she'll kill you if you stay behind!"

My body felt numb from his words as my anxiety spiked even more.

"Already?!"

"Yes, she's already here, and I'm apparently her first sacrifice. Maybe if you run, you can survive…"

I shook my head. "No, I can't do that! All of this is my fault! I did this!" Dragonborn looked at me with saddened eyes. "I won't let someone die from my mistake! Not again!!"

No, I can't let this happen. There's no way I'll let him die! I won't relive my past with my father!

"Just hang on, Yuki, I'll save you!"

"Dumbass…"

Yuki's body swelled in multiple areas until he suddenly exploded. It was far too fast for me to process, but when I did, I couldn't believe my eyes.

His body burst like a balloon, raining guts from the sky as black, acidic goo splattered across the ground.

He was dead.

There was no doubt about it.

"Y-Yuki…?"

Yuki died right before my eyes, and it was my fault.

Everything up to now was my fault!

"Yuki?!!"

I wanted to deny it, but my brain wouldn't let me accept it. This was reality, and I had to face the consequences.

After all, facts didn't care about feelings

"Ah, I see, so one of you managed to survive my Divine Gift, Leviathan."

Up above me was an unfamiliar voice; deep and sultry. This person spoke in a stylish fashion, befitting for a Demon Goddess.

It was her - Alistoria.

"Tell me, child, how did you manage to survive my Divine Gift? Are you perhaps hiding your own?" She descended to the ground, standing a few meters in front of me with medieval gothic attire, and long devilish horns. "Are you perhaps a Goddess yourself?"

"I'll kill you…"

"Hm?"

"I'll… kill you…"

Alistoria grinned at my comment, crossing her arms with amusement.

"You'll kill me? My oh my, what bold words for a mortal. Do you not understand the gap in our strength?"

"Shut up, you fucking bitch! I don't give a damn about levels!"

[Error. Error. Error. Sage System will evolve and obtain Sinful series - activating it will lead to possible death]

I didn't care - I don't care about anything right now! She needed to pay.

Alistoria must pay!

"How impudent, it seems I'll have to put you in your place, little girl." She lifted her hand, casting a magic circle. "Now be a good dog and get on your knees."

[Sinful Series activated.]

"Hraaaahhh!" In a fit of rage, I lunged forward, punching through her magic circle as a reddish aura surrounded my body.

"W-What?! That's not possible!"

My fist soared through the air and socked her in the face, hurtling her backward.

"S-Sable!!" Dragonborn flew off my shoulders and landed on the ground, watching from afar.

"I'll kill you! Die, die die!!"

I was blinded by rage as my movement was animalistic, running on all fours and pouncing on her again - this time punching her in the gut before she could recover.

"Gaaaahh!"

The villagers watched in horror as their goddess was being pummeled into oblivion.

"What in the world are you?! There is no mortal in the world that can challenge a Goddess! Not with your Common level Gift! It's impossible!"

"I'll kill you… I'll kill you! Your dead, fucking dead!!" I stood up, slouching over like a feline animal in rage, "I'm gonna rip out your spine and shatter your fucking bones!!"