#saliena

When a rose turns black chapter 13

“True south”

Author’s note: pic isn’t mine I found it on pinterest. Also this chapter include gore and blood! You are warned!

It is a peaceful morning, with a gentle breeze carrying enticing aromas from ports and bakeries. It is one of those normal days in Al-Mahmudah City. One of the most beautiful, ancient, and revered cities in Virginia.

Sire Kilam walks around the city to make sure that no evil-doer is lurking there to plan something malicious. As every other superior is walking around the cities to guard it and help anyone in need.

Al-Mahmudah City is a special place in Sire Kilam’s heart; it is his home and everything. As a boy, he always sneaked out of the house to walk for a while and enjoy the magical atmosphere of this beautiful city. The people are happy. The city is colourful and peaceful, as if they are in a paradise or something similar to it.

Al-Mahmudah City has always been a strategic place in times of war; it is one of the most important and ancient cities in Virginia.

Al-Mahmudah City is a unique strategic place; it is near the jungle of Tor’ama and the wells of Varenciya. He remembered when the northern nation attacked the west side of Virginia.

King Guivara Abraham rallied his unstoppable army and took Mahmudah City as his capital in the war to defend the other cities from Ivern and Averitna claims. That was when the two latter took siege of Immortal Mandavora. Guivara’s first achievement was on the north side of Virginia, near the Iverynica Kingdom.

Then they knew that it was their final mistake when they couldn’t lay their hands on Al-Mahumdah City before Guivara’s arrival.

Sire Kilam was but a child back there. He remembered that Aham was defending the other cities when Averitna and Ivern of the Iverynica Kingdom started the war against Virginia.

After the war ended, King Guivara was maddened with bloodlust, so he attacked the Iverynica Kingdom in retaliation and added it to Virginia to become one of many of Virginia’s cities.

Furthermore, He remembered the sky turning ugly colours of grey and scarlet because of the unspeakable violence and bloodshed that occurred on that day.

Sire Kilam breathed heavily to calm his soul from the painful and brutal memories of the past. He stood to look at a monument to a fallen superior. He looked at the statue with saddened eyes. As he remembers him and how he died, His face is graceful and polished gold with reverence. He looked at the statue’s hand as if he were inviting him to come to him and talk to him.

That was Sire Miran, the first winged aspect of justice. The first predecessor of all aspects of justice, the winged-protectors of light, and the counterpart to the dark ones—the aspect of darkness, the patron of darkness.

Light and dark are eternal beings that were destined to fight each other. Everyone knows that the light came first! But is it powerful enough to kill the darkness?

Two aspects are different, like day and night or good and evil. But both are important aspects. Or, superiors.

Sire Kilam had enough of looking at the statue, so he left for a calmer place. Although being near a noble place and a more revered person or statue of the person is kind of calming, To a superior, this is how they pay their respects.

On the left side of the city, there is a similar statue, but this time a dark one. Legends say that this statue is the statue of Sire Derkaām.

The first aspect of darkness is the aspect that turned the tables against the beings of the dark dimension, the beings of the Black dead.

These beings are ruthless killers; they feed on life and its essence. They feed on anything alive. People, animals, and plants.

Sire Derkaām sacrificed himself to stop these beings from devouring Virginia and its people. This was a noble cause that rarely has a dark side. To this day, some people pay their respects to his old, withering statue.

Sire Kilam wasn’t there to witness this whole ordeal, but he trusted Sire Aham's words. Sire Kilam came near the statue. With saddened eyes and a heavy heart, he saluted the statue with the superior salute, putting his arm on his heart and slightly bending his back.

"If it weren’t for you, we would be dead," He muttered.

He gracefully turned his head up and gave a warm smile to the jet-black, withering statue. He doesn’t care what the other aspects say about Sir Derkaām; He is a hero.

He is saddened because Sire Derkaām's legacy is just a myth nowadays. Some day, all will know the truth. He made a sacrifice so others could flourish.

Sire Kilam left to drink a cup of tea. To calm himself from the pain and sad memories. Being a superior is a burden, but he has to do his duties dutifully. He knows that someday his time will come and he will fall. For the cycle to continue, there must be fallen ones and new ones.

He won’t take his status for granted; he will protect, save, and help people. He will have his legacy. Like many other superiors who have fallen, he will be no exception.

as the current aspect of twilight—the aspect of healing and new chances. He will provide other chances for people who have sinned in their lives and make a new life for them, A life dedicated to light and truth only.

He looks proudly at the previous aspect of Twilight, Mistress Saliena; the second aspect of Twilight is the lady of dreams, chance, and beauty.

The one who saved countless lives in the battle of Amara’Dkan With her steadfast determination and unwavering power, she easily drove all the enemies away from Virginia, trapping them at a fixed point in space. Where they can no longer kill or destroy anything.

But alas, she was killed by the aspect of darkness, Amotrapa, who killed her because he wanted her powers.

She was ambushed and slaughtered mercilessly by him. Dark and deadly, she was struck down with remorseless blasts of darkness. Such a fate was cruel for a benevolent, selfless, and merciful woman.

He remembered that the roads in Virginia were crowded due to the number of people who were mourning her death. Her favourite music venue was filled with sad violins and sad piano music.  Even the animals shared their sorrow for her, as the other beings did too. 

The flowers withered, the wind was quiet to give them solace and serenity, and the moon was full for a fortnight. To lighten their darkened nights and give them hope for what’s coming to them.

Saliena was an icon of hope and inspiration; she was named after a Virginian moon.

Her portraits were veiled by a sparkle cloth, as this was the aspect of a twilight wish after they died.

Sire Aham did his mourning ritual for the fallen Saliena, where they snuffed out their candles that were burning when they were alive.

Because of this, Sire Kilam grew distant and cold towards the new dark ones because of what Amotrapa did. As for the latter, he discovered he could not just take any other aspect’s powers away, and he was killed by a man called Anzir.

Who became the next dark one; because the dark one is the only one when killed, their powers are transferred to their killers.

Though Sire Kilam is a bit disgruntled because he didn’t kill Amotrapa personally, He understands that he can’t be driven by vengeance. It isn’t a noble cause.

Sire Kilam entered a beautiful place where they served tea, coffee, and other delights.

"Sire Kilam!" The owner of the place began brightly.

"Hello," Sire Kilam said with a warm smile.

"What can I get you?" The owner asked.

“Tea," uttered Sire Kilam.

The owner began to prepare tea for Sir Kilam. He chose the best tea and herbs for him. With a unique blend of their homeland, Verna, he held the cup and gently offered it to Sire Kilam.

Sire Kilam smiled and said, "Thank you!"

The exquisite smell of the tea had entered Sire Kilam’s nostrils and made him smile bigger.

He knew that this tea was well-made and special. He slowly took a sip of the tea, which made him hum in satisfaction.

He didn’t want it to down the drink. He wants to savour this tea. It is delicious and special.

He sat in the most quiet part of the tea house, although he longed for some people's voices or quiet conversations, To sweeten his mood while drinking the tea. Cherishing the moments before he falls.

In his mind’s eye, he always thinks of Saliena. His idol was Sire Aham, and he always wished he could’ve known more of her. But time wasn’t on his side at all. And that’s where the cursed Amotrapa came and took her life unjustly.

Every time he remembers this, There is a burning feeling that he wishes he had turned back time to kill Amotrapa before getting the chance to kill Saliena. Maybe in another life, he and Saliena know each other—or maybe they are close? Who knows!

Thinking about her shakes his core and makes him feel bad about himself for having her replaced by him, she was the second-best aspect of Twilight.

He can see her, and he can feel her aura around him. Her spirit, as the first aspect of twilight, is there to guide him. The previous aspects can be with the current ones spiritually, only to guide and help them.

Their bodies perished, but they are with him spiritually. He is the only one who can see them. He can hear them telling him that everything is going to be alright and that he is their successor.

"Don’t feel bad," Saliena told him in her soothing voice.

"That’s not helpful," Kilam sobbed quietly, His tears are threatening to fall. But he hastily took a napkin and wiped them.

"I know how you feel, lad," the first aspect of Twilight muttered with his calming tone and smile.

"Again, not helpful," Kilam repeated.

He can’t afford to cry in this situation; the place is filled with people, and he can’t make himself look weak in front of the people. As a superior, he must be stoic, calm, and humble.

The atmosphere became heavy for Kilam, but he continued to drink his tea so it wouldn’t get cold. The tea helped him calm down a bit, as it also helped his dry throat.

He couldn’t give in to sorrow and pain. He is a stoic man, a superior. He can’t let these emotions get the best of him. He breathed deeply to steady his nerves.

Instead, he focused on the good memories, on Saliena, and on the first aspect of Twilight's achievements, their victories and successes.

He can learn from them, and he can let others learn from him. He smiled when he remembered good memories of his past and Saliena.

He downed his tea instead of savouring it as he wanted, but there is no time. Sire Aham needs him, and he must leave at once. He goes to the register and pays for the tea.

"Thank you for the tea!" Sire Kilam beamed.

"You’re welcome!" The owner replied with the same positivity that Kilam radiated.

Despite what happened and what Kilam had been through, He is still positive, no matter what.

He must also believe in himself and others. Friends, Superiors, humans, and reformed people.

In a dark room, a figure stood. He is demonic. a raven-haired man with purple eyes and huge bat wings. This time, he isn’t angry or anything.

It is Raqoul, the demon of desolation. Despite Barhout’s Revenants failure to bring him the desolation he craves, he isn’t mad or anything. He is planning on doing something more sinister and malicious, something fitting his nature.

He is torn between killing Lucifer’s children and killing his siblings. He doesn’t like them at all. He sees them as incompetent idiots. No one is worthy of his time or his rivalry.

Except for Lucifer, who is his enemy and rival, He would be damned if he grew soft towards him. He can’t afford to lose this chance to kill the one who killed Souma.

Raqoul splays his demonic claws on the mirror before him. It is a relic that he stole from a powerful mage in Omenvalley. The mirror is his sole source of power and information. He heavily depends on it, as he can’t trust or depend on the wolves around him.

The mirror shows him what Lucifer has been up to, although, in all honesty, Lucifer has no time to waste on Raqoul. He knows that Raqoul has beef with him. He is the new leader, and he doesn’t give a darn about the other demons or what they think of him.

That alone hit a nerve in Raqoul and made him more hostile to Lucifer than before. Vamonessyia enjoys quarrels between these two. She is waiting patiently to know who will win in the end. Is it Raqoul? or Lucifer?

The mirror flashed three times as a warning sign for Raqoul to see; this caught Raqoul’s attention to look at the mirror. The mirror showed a gathering of mages in Omenvalley. Raqoul knows who they are, but why does the mirror show him such a thing? Is it a warning?

Raqoul focused his eyes on the mirror to see what was happening in the mage gathering. He could hear the magic language they were speaking. until one of the mages spoke.

"This is a special spell to trap the demon of desolation in a void!" one of the mage said.

Raqoul twitched his eyes in shock. They were planning to trap him somewhere else. He isn’t scared; he can’t be scared of a bunch of losers.

"Bunch of imbeciles!" Raqoul commented, "Well, I’ll just have to kill them one by one!"

Raqoul took action immediately; he walked to his balcony and flew to Omenvalley before they had the chance to complete the spell.

Once Raqoul arrived, he saw the mages stop doing the spell for a reason. He exploited this moment to leap on one of the mages, mauling him and killing him in the process. Raqoul took the mage's voice so he wouldn’t scream.

Sometimes, Raqoul fights with his claws, not just his magic. With the main mage gone, Raqoul can easily go freely and kill the others without doubting that they will do the spell with ease.

He has four mages left to kill, Ashure and Bōrem are gone for a while.

Nevertheless, he will enjoy killing these wretched mages The second mage was guarding the spell book when Raqoul easily sneaked behind him and slit his throat. His blood splashed into the walls and Raqoul’s hands.

Raqoul took this moment to savour licking the blood on his hands. He will kill all the mages, a warning to those who want to pick a fight with him.

He found the last two mages in the main room of the mansion. They were talking about Ashure and Bōrem, who left them to grab something "magical".

"Oh yeah, I see," one of them retorted.

Raqoul used his scarlet energy blast and fired it on one of the mages. It left a huge gorey gap on his chest, as he fell on the ground dead.

The other mage squirmed in fear and said, "Please, please spare me!"

"I don’t spare cowards!" Raqoul sneered at him.

Raqoul conjured a scarlet energy ball in his hands and shoved it into the mage's mouth. He held the mage’s mouth closed with his hand until the mage’s head exploded with brain matter and blood.

"Ah! Gorey, as I like it," Raqoul murmured to himself.