Inhuman – Part 05
“What?”
Thud. It kept pounding away. Thud. Thud.
“Wait. Wait a second!”
It was hacking away at the dirt, trying to widen the hole.
“No way.” Lisa went pale. The crevice was deep, offering some safety, but at this rate, it was only a matter of time before the creature broke through. “S-Stop, please! This is impossible!”
There was no way out. Did they have to fight?
“You’re kidding. I can’t do that!”
The wind-shrouded rapier trembled, urging her to pick it up.
Lisa shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. This wasn’t like when she’d saved Cecily from the flame demon. There was no jewel steel to blind the enemy this time, and above all, Luke wasn’t here. She had always been by his side, watching him fight. Alone, she couldn’t even use her demonic powers properly.
Luke had always protected her. These small hands were too weak to fight.
“Lisa,” came a faint voice.
Lisa turned to see Cecily, her eyes half-open.
“Cecily! You’re awake.”
“Looks like things couldn’t get any worse,” Cecily muttered, glancing at the Inhuman still noisily tearing at the earth. The ash had cleared enough to make breathing easier, but she still lay limp.
“It’s bad, but… there’s still hope.”
“What?”
There were craftsmen known as ash merchants. They collected volcanic ash infused with Aetheria, processing it into dyes, fertilizers, and other materials. This cliff was a prime location for gathering ash, and rope ladders had been installed for climbing up and down.
“I’m sure the captain or Luke will come for us using one of the ladders. We just need to hold out as long as possible.”
“Wh-What if they don’t come? What if they’re too late?”
“Talk to me.” Cecily ignored the question. Her eyes were closing again, her voice heavy with exhaustion. “Share something to distract me. To cheer me up.”
“What?”
Right now? In this situation?
A deafening roar thundered through the crevice. Lisa clamped her hands over her ears and glanced at the creature. It was growling impatiently, still digging, inching closer.
Lisa swallowed hard. She’d do anything to alleviate the fear, even if just a little.
“D-Do you know why this place is called Clawmark?” Lisa asked.
“Yeah. Because of the shape of the ravine, right?”
Lisa kept her eyes fixed on the Inhuman as she spoke, her back to Cecily.
“There’s a more literal reason for it.”
“There is?”
“This ravine is actually the scar left by Valbanill’s claws.”
There was a brief pause before Cecily responded.
“No way. You’re joking.”
“Think about it. Valbanill, the most horrible Inhuman in the continent’s history. You’ve heard the stories.”
A beast sealed away by a Sacred Sword, it drained entire seas to quench its thirst, flattened mountains it found an eyesore, and split the earth beneath its feet.
“That’s absurd. It’s simply impossible.”
“It’s true. Luke found it in the documents left by the first mayor.”
The founder of the Independent Trade City, the first Housman, had conducted his own research into contracts, faith, and the history of the continent. His classified documents, products of that study, had been verified by third parties.
“That is insane. It’s not making me feel any better. If anything, it’s doing the opposite.”
“Here’s the important part. This ravine was created by Valbanill’s claw. That’s why the Aetherial concentration is so high here.”
Also known as Valbanill’s curse, Aetheria, invisible particles essential to Demon Pacts and Prayer Pacts, helped sustain a demon’s physical form over a long period.
“In other words, Aria—being a demon—should be more powerful in this ravine. Uh, not that it really helps us or anything.”
“No, it’s something. Maybe not much of a comfort, but it’s a sliver of hope.”
Cecily’s voice, dulled by her foggy consciousness, was very calm. The Inhuman, meanwhile, kept tearing away at the earth. Dust fell in steady clouds. The Infernal Blade was all that stood between them and the creature’s snout, which was now dangerously close. Lisa didn’t dare look away, fearing it would lunge at any moment. No help came just yet, and doubt was creeping in. Was anyone coming? Her body trembled uncontrollably, her mind clouding with panic.
Just as she shrank back from the suffocating pressure, a hand grasped hers from behind. Gently, but firmly.
“Anything else?”
“Y-You want more?”
Without turning, Lisa squeezed Cecily’s hand back. She needed another topic, something to lift her spirits. A recent memory surfaced, one she would cherish for the rest of her life. Her voice wavered, thick with emotion.
“Luke apologized to me.”
“For what?”
“For the past three years.”
For not facing her. For neglecting her. For giving her this name.
He had reflected, apologized, and—most importantly—he had let her choose. He gave her the choice to continue staying by his side.
Gave her the choice. She still couldn’t rid herself of the tendency to belittle herself.
“Luke taught me so much, gave me so much. How to forge, how to cook, how to speak, how to live in this world. The name Lisa… even this left eye.”
Her body, built on Liza Oakwood’s flesh, actually carried Luke’s left eye. He got caught up in her Demon Pact ritual, which meant her left eye had originally belonged to him. It was the first gift she’d received when she came into this world.
He had given her so much. More than she could ever hold in her small arms, enough to make her feel truly blessed.
“That’s why I…”
She was drowning in happiness. She felt so happy, she wouldn’t even mind dying tomorrow. Oh, who was she kidding?
“I don’t want to die!”
Of course, she would mind.
Her tears finally spilled over, streaming down uncontrollably. Fear constricted her lungs. She didn’t want to die. She had only just begun to truly understand Luke. She wanted more time with him, to get closer to his heart. She wanted more. She craved for it, hungered.
The Inhuman stretched its forelegs. The spear nearly reached the Infernal Blade.
“I want to live!”
“Of course. I won’t let you die.”
Cecily pulled hard on Lisa’s arm, and she fell on her backside. Lisa watched as Cecily stepped forward.
“You’re a citizen of the Independent Trade City and my friend,” she said, drawing the rapier from the ground. “You’re irreplaceable to Luke. So, I’ll protect you, no matter what.”
The Inhuman howled. Cecily thrust forward, sending a surge of wind toward its face. Having lost more than half its swords during the fall, the creature couldn’t withstand the force and was hurled out of the hole.
As Cecily stepped forward to pursue it, Lisa called out, “No! You’re gonna die!”
“I won’t die. No one will die. We’ll all make it back alive.”
Cecily looked over her shoulder and flashed a grin.
“That’s what it means to save all.”
Her cheeks were sunken, sweat glistened on her forehead, her face was pale, and her legs were shaky.
She was still hurt from the fall. The volcanic ash gnawed at her body, and she must still be disoriented from Aetherial sickness. Just moments ago, Lisa and Aria had to drag her along because she was barely able to walk.
Yet Cecily Campbell smiled defiantly and leaped out of the hole. As Lisa watched her go, she realized something.
“We have Cecily to thank for this.”
“Why are you bringing her up now?”
“Because this new side of yours is all thanks to her.”
That was never just a random guess. But now, in this moment, Lisa was more certain than ever.
Of course Cecily would have an effect on him. She was blinding. Lisa, who had lived a subservient life so far, wanted to be like her. And it was frustrating.
The fear that had been festering in Lisa’s mind vanished, replaced instead by a boiling rage. She was mad at herself for cowering, shaking, for not stepping forward. Cecily Campbell, on the other hand, was fearless and unshakable.
“What am I doing?”
Was she going to remain silent, like she always did, and hide behind others? Live quietly in the shadows? Would she keep entrusting her fate in another’s hands?
A feeling tugged at her. Something was telling her that she couldn’t stay rooted to the spot. If she didn’t fight here and now, she would never change.
So Lisa wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. Then, she moved her feet forward.
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