Chapter 167: First Act 36: Elena's failure?

"Hnn... Where am I...?"

Elena wondered, her consciousness gradually returning as she surveyed her surroundings.

Just moments ago, she had been on the battlefield with the Orc Lord alongside her party, and now she found herself in an entirely different place.

It seemed like she had fallen into a deep, dark pit only to land in a field of flowers.

'Flowers?'

Elena's eyes widened as she took in the beautiful and mesmerizing sight of the floral landscape. However, the enchanting scene contrasted starkly with the deep, darkish red sky above.

Her pure white robes, once pristine, were now dampened by the bloody rain that poured down from the ominous heavens.

The flowery field, while visually appealing, was marred by rubble and the grotesque smell of blood, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Elena's surroundings, bathed in the surreal red glow from the sky, created a surreal and otherworldly ambiance.

"It stings..."

Elena grimaced as she felt the discomfort intensify.

Her body instinctively reacted by casting a divine barrier around her, protecting her from the poisonous effects of the blood rain that continued to fall relentlessly from the dark skies.

The divine shield shimmered as it deflected the harmful elements, allowing Elena a moment to gather her thoughts in this strange and unsettling place.

Scanning her surroundings even further, Elena's realization sent a shiver down her spine. The familiarity of the place became hauntingly clear.

Following the traces of large rubble, her eyes landed on what was once Lucian Hall, the very dormitory that had been her home throughout her three years at Estelle Academy.

The once towering figure and intricate design of Lucian Hall were reduced to nothing more than a pile of debris and rubble in her disbelieving eyes.

"What happened here?"

Elena whispered, her voice almost drowned out by the eerie silence that lingered over the destroyed dormitory.

The familiar hall, where camaraderie and laughter once echoed through its halls, was now reduced to a desolate and somber ruin.

However, dwelling on the devastation was a luxury Elena couldn't afford at the moment. As she continued to survey the area, a more pressing concern gnawed at her senses. Multiple presences exuding an energy she reluctantly recognized as demonic surrounded her.

'Demons.'

The demonic energy permeated the academy, a confirmation of what Elena had suspected back when facing the Orc Lord.

As the saintess, Elena possessed the ability to detect energies not of this world, particularly those of demonic or divine origin.

The situation at hand was a testament to the ancient history she had studied, where the arrival of demons heralded a singular and ominous truth.

"The Demon King is coming"

Elena muttered with a mix of dread and fear.

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her shoulders as she comprehended the impending threat that now loomed over Estelle Academy and the world beyond its borders.

Why....?

Elena questioned, her mind filled with a tumult of confusion and concern. Everything was unfolding much earlier than the prophecy had foretold, and there wasn't even a hero in sight.

According to the prophecy, the hero was meant to be born through the nurturing of herself and a certain man she would meet in the future. The current events deviated drastically from her expectations.

"The hero was supposed to be born through me...."

Elena pondered with a heavy heart, her thoughts weaving through the intricate tapestry of fate.

Doubt and guilt crept into her mind as she considered the possibility that the prophecy had broken because of her unwillingness to let go of Adrian.

"Is this all my fault...?" she wondered, her heart sinking at the weight of responsibility she felt for the chaos unfolding around her.

In the distance, the echoes of destruction reached her senses—spells exploding, swords clashing, and the anguished cries of people enveloped in the storm of chaos.

Beneath the canopy of the bloody rain, the world had descended into pure and utter disorder.

As the realization set in, Elena's breath hardened, and a profound sense of remorse washed over her.

If only she had followed the prophecy and let go of Adrian, perhaps none of this would have happened. The consequences of her choices weighed heavily on her conscience,

Shock overtook Elena as she hurriedly approached Louise.

Given the blood on Louise, she initially feared the worst.

Thankfully, upon closer inspection, Elena realized that the blood was mostly from the crimson rain that showered the academy.

'She doesn't seem injured'

Relief flooded Elena as she touched Louise, channeling her divine power to assess her condition. To her relief, Louise seemed uninjured and unaffected by the blood rain's poison.

However, a different issue emerged – extreme exhaustion. Louise's mana, usually vast and capable of handling high-ranking spirit summoning, was now at an all-time low.

Observing the massive signs of battle surrounding them, Elena couldn't help but wonder what had transpired.

Despite her limited spiritual sensitivity, Elena was impressed to see the high-ranking spirits fully manifested beside Louise, even with their master unconscious.

The serpent and the gorilla's forms slowly faded, a sign that they could no longer manifest due to Louise's depleted mana.

With a final hiss, Cecilia communicated something to Elena. Although Elena couldn't comprehend the serpent's words, there was an unspoken understanding between them, and Elena nodded in response.

The spirits vanished, returning to the spirit realm.

Assuring the departed spirits, Elena turned her attention back to the unconscious Louise. With a sense of determination, she spoke softly...

"Don't worry... I'll take care of her."

As the spirits faded away, Elena embraced Louise tightly, tears streaming down her face and purifying the red blood that continued to rain upon them.

In the midst of this emotional moment, a crow with multiple eyes observed the scene with a solemn gaze.

Before flying into the bloody skies.

.....

"It's nice right~?"

"Well, you did pick the right place I'll give you that"

As Elaniel led Siena towards the tea shop for their conversation, the atmosphere was light-hearted.

Except for the hidden tension in their very words.

"Hehe... my subordinates told me they make good tea and coffee here" said Elaniel with excitement.

The grip on she had on the two children dangling in her tentacles loosened for a bit.

"Now sit—"

As they settled into their seats, a sudden sense of unease crept over Elaniel.

The grip on the two children she held in her tentacles tightened involuntarily, and to Siena's horror, one of the kids exploded, filling the room with blood and gore.

"W-what are you doing...!?"

Siena, alarmed and angered, drew her sword, the blade glowing with a white light.

The remaining child, still in Elaniel's grasp, cried for help as they witnessed the gruesome event.

"Ah... I'm sorry~~"

Elaniel, seemingly unfazed, apologized casually, her attention drawn to the source of the disturbance.

She looked up to find a crow perched on a chandelier in the tea shop.

The mischievous glint in her eyes revealed that she knew her prank had been discovered.

'Looks like my prank got found out....'

Elaniel thought, preparing herself for the consequences that might follow her morbid sense of humor.

'Oh well, father will surely punish me right~?'

She thought with a smile....

The tense atmosphere hung in the air as Siena glared at Elaniel, demanding an explanation for the horrifying event that had just unfolded.