188 Embrace what is coming for you

"She is not in this world," Nell Solomon tells her. "The soul guardian sent her away with her friends. If there's a famine, it's caused by the people of this world -- not by some supernatural creature."

"..." Shannon is speechless. This is too mind-boggling. She hasn't expected to hear this shit. 

"Moon Guardian, please tell us who caused the apocalypse." Sung Nami clasps her hands together. "We can enlighten people about Famine later."

"Well, I am the cause behind it," Nell reveals.

And a cold silence follows. Nobody has expected her to say that.

"Aren't you being overly dramatic?" Devil Cat snaps at her. "How is this your fault? The apocalypse was planned for hundreds of years."

Sung Nami massages her forehead. She has to keep calm. "Can you explain, Nell Solomon?"

"I released something a long time ago." Nell continues, "And it is not present in this world. We have foiled its plan. Now, I have to leave because the fae gate is finally open. I leave this world to you, Sun Guardian. May you take it toward the light while remembering that shadows also need a place."

"What?" Sung Nami opens her mouth wide. "You can't leave me alone to handle this. Soul Guardian isn't here either. Blood Guardian is too young. How can I handle this all alone?"

"So, are you going to come with me to chase that thing while leaving this world in shatters?" Nell Solomon raises her brow. "I told you that those culprits aren't in this world. The vampire king will take care of the blood guardian. There are enough people to help you -- and I have done my part for now. That thing is my enemy. From now on, all the members -- new or old -- should focus on rebuilding this world and protecting it from the new threats that will appear in time. Let me handle the enemies from the past. I have a long feud with them."

Shannon can't tell what is going on, but it doesn't look good. Sung Nami seems baffled. And the faces of the people on the other side aren't good either. 

Why is nobody happy about this woman leaving this world? 

"Teacher!" Fu Mian stands up. "Take me with you."

"You are too young." Devil Cat glares at her. "Stay with your parents until we return. And make sure to look after your uncle and mother."

"But…" Fu Mian's lips tremble. "I want to stay with you, Devil."

"I am not that into you." Devil huffs at her. "My person is Little Marshmallow."

Fu Mian starts crying. She turns toward her father. "Daddy, I want that cat. Please get me that cat."

Taking her into his arms, Fu Sheng pinches his lips together. He glances at the moon guardian who shakes her head at him. He sighs and pats his daughter's back who resorts to crying louder. 

"There's no cat who can take my place," Devil Cat smirks at the vampire king. "Guard your woman well. She will be famous."

Fu Sheng is used to Devil Cat's cryptic words. He places his hand behind his daughter's head and whispers in her ear, "Your Uncle Dan will be jealous if you take that cat in our family."

She stops crying. "He doesn't even talk."

"He will talk someday." Fu Sheng wipes the tears from her face. "We don't need another pet. Dan is enough."

Fu Mian frowns. Uncle Dan will be angry if he hears that her father thinks of him as a pet. But she doesn't say anything to her father. She turns her head toward Devil Cat and takes her tongue out, trying her best to irritate him before he leaves.

"Moon Guardian." The Phoenix begins, "Can you not stay here for a while? I am afraid that we might make decisions that you might not like after you return to the world."

"I trust the Sun Guardian." Nell grins at Nami. "Don't worry. There might be another catastrophe, but you will find a way if you follow your heart."

Sung Nami resists the urge to jump off the podium and grab Nell Solomon by her shoulders. If she can, she wants to keep her at a locked place. Honestly, she's been relieved that there's another 'adult' guardian in the world. 

But she has no choice but to accept Nell Solomon's decision. Sung Nami sits down in her seat and gives her a nod. "Fine, but you have to return as soon as you take care of your enemy who caused the apocalypse. Remember that it's you who don't want our help."

"I am not alone." Nell Solomon steps toward the door. "I must leave now. If I stay here for one more moment, my ghoul will come inside and make a scene. I am sure that nobody wants to hear how much he misses making love to me."

Shannon holds her head. Is this a meeting? Even animals will do a better job.

Suddenly, Nell stops and looks at Shannon again. "I hope that you can forget the hate and embrace what is coming for you."

Shannon makes a face at her. She's done with it. "If you have something to say, say it clearly. I don't appreciate these indirect comments. And I certainly don't want to hear it from someone who is leaving her jobs on her colleagues. In my eyes, you are running away from your responsibilities." 

"I guess I can stay for a few more minutes." Nell tilts her head. "You have many things that you want to say. How about you say it now? I am listening." 

"I want a different nation for humans." Shannon raises her voice. "All human survivors will stay in that nation. We don't want any involvement from the council. We don't even want your help. Let us have our separate country where no supernatural, including the angels or the gods, can enter." 

Sung Nami and others stare at Shannon.

[You are doing well. Don't stop.]

"Send away the supernatural creatures back to their world." Shannon continues, "They don't belong here. The demons should be in hell. The angels should be in heaven. This world should belong to the creatures who are born here -- who belong to this place. Angels, demons, faes, or anything that is not normal shouldn't be here."

"I think that you have a wrong idea about a few things, Shannon." Sung Nami says calmly, "The world that you see now… that's not the only world that is here. The 'seen' world is part of the bigger 'invisible' world. There is a fae realm, but it balances our seen world. The free fae belongs to planet earth as much as humans belong here. Some creatures are even older than humans. They have been living here since the beginning of time. There are many types of demons. There are those that belong to Hell -- and yes, we send them back to Hell if they cause problems. There are those who are born from the darkness of this world. If there's light, there will be darkness and vice versa. This world doesn't long belong to humans. Even I am a human."

"You aren't a human." Shanno grimaces at her. "Your mother is a demoness and your father is some great saint. Your brothers are demons too. Is there any human in this hall who doesn't have a supernatural lover, mate, husband, friend, or family member? If that person says that she or he isn't threatened by the idea of cohabiting with supernatural creatures, I might think about it."

Nell lets out a low laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" Shanno scowls at her. "You don't qualify either. Your lover is a ghoul. I can understand that people have a thing for vampires or demons. What is special about ghouls? They are disgusting."

Devil Cat hisses at her, "Don't call my Little Marshmallow disgusting."

"Ha!" Shannon scoffs at Devil Cat. "He is despicable."

"Don't be angry, Devil." Nell picks up the cat before it can attack Shannon. "Let's wait."

Devil Cat becomes quiet. 

[If we can't make everyone leave,] System's voice rings in Shannon's head. [We should do our best to make some of them leave. There are immigrants from other worlds. They shouldn't live here anymore.]

"If it is like that," Shannon turns toward Sung Nami and says, "then I want anyone who isn't born here to leave this planet. Let's call them immigrants. I don't care whether they have a family member here. If they aren't born in this world, they shouldn't live here and make use of our resources."

"..." Nami is speechless. There are many people who aren't born here. This human is creating more problems than she has expected.

[Divide the vampires. Shannon, say that Fu Sheng isn't born here. Make him leave. The noble vampire will be weakened without him. I will gather the votes from all the humans.]

"The vampire king isn't born here," Shannon points at Fu Sheng and yells. "There are many creatures like him. They shouldn't be living here. I want anyone who isn't born to be gone. And I represent my people. I can show you the votes --"

She isn't able to finish her words. A figure enters the hall and leaps toward her. Shannon reaches for her sword, only to realise that she doesn't have one. She has left hers outside because someone told her that no weapons were allowed in the hall.

In the next instant, she is pinned down on the floor. Teeth sink into her throat in the next instant.