Chapter 467 [Dystopian Elven War] [43]
The security around us was increased when the news about an upcoming war began to spread.
Nerissa and Yennefer were close to us almost all the time, fearing the worst.
My younger self asked about it and she told me not to worry about it.
But for better or worse I understood why it was happening.
'…Jones and Ragnar are fighting against each other now.'
To be more precise they are fighting for Liam's power.
The child was extraordinary in his own way… he had the essence of a Primordial God in him.
Even though he was just about six months, he was able to somewhat control his mana.
'….Even Nerissa was horrified by his potential.'
Right now, my younger self was with Nerissa and Nymeria in the night.
Liam was sleeping in the cradle placed on the side while Nerissa was talking with her daughter.
Nerissa sat by the window, she had Nymeria seated on her lap, brushing through her daughter's hair.
Nymeria was clearly uncomfortable by the physical contact but she kept her lips tight.
'I' stood closely by the infant sleeping in the cradle.
"Where is Zenith and Yennefer?" I asked, glancing at Nerissa. "I don't see them."
"They are busy with something." She replied with a gentle smile. "You won't see them for a few days."
My younger self immediately got sad at her words but he nodded nonetheless. "…Okay."
Nerissa smiled as she gestured me to come close.
I hesitated for a long second but quickly rushed closer when she gave him a strict look.
She made me lean on her lap as she ruffled my hair. "How is your training going?" She asked. "Is mana theory to your liking?"
Since a few weeks ago, perhaps because of her competitive nature, Yennefer had also begun teaching me.
She mainly taught me about mana and the world.
My younger self shook his head. "It is good." I replied. "…But I can't use it."
She stretched my cheek in response. "Don't worry." She said. "You might be able to use mana one day."
'I' wasn't really buying that false hope.
Even my younger self knew it was almost impossible for me.
Thinking so, 'I' changed the topic as I glanced at Liam.
"Why do gods choose Avatar?" 'I' asked, glancing up at her.
"Hm, because they want to keep their influence in this world." She replied softly. "If they don't then the world will forget them and if that happens they will die."
My younger self nodded his head in response.
Nymeria tilted her head, clutching her doll tightly. "…Then does that mean Liam is only alive because Adon doesn't want to disappear?"
Nerissa pulled her daughter a little closer, brushing her cheek against Nymeria's hair. "No. He's alive because I gave him life. What Adon gave him is… something else."
I frowned, glancing at Liam's tiny frame rising and falling in the cradle. "…Will that make him suffer?"
"Strength always comes with a price." She replied. "Oh, and there is also another reason why they choose Avatar."
'I' looked up at her with curiosity. "And what is that?"
"It was something my mother used to tell." She replied with a nostalgic smile. "The first Avatar chosen by God Sabaoth was tasked to capture the 'One who stole time.'"
I blinked at her words. "Who?"
"Well, most say he is god of time." She replied. "He was disturbing what gods call order in the mortal world. He is also the one that Seer elves worshipped."
My younger self looked even more interested. "Who was the first Avatar?"
"No one knows." She replied, placing us down. "But they do say he became an angel."
Before I could ask even more questions, she clapped her hand. "Now, time to sleep." She said. "Nymeria, do you want to sleep with us?"
Nymeria shook her head. "I will sleep alone."
Nerissa sighed but didn't argue while my younger self looked out of the window.
"Nerissa." 'I' said, pointing at the sky. "What is that?"
Nerissa also looked at the sky where I was pointing.
In the faraway area, sparks were flowing all around the place.
Nerissa quickly pulled me back and closed the window.
Her eyes serious as she looked at us. "Stay quiet and stay here."
She then moved towards the door and a soldier was rushing towards the room as well.
When he stopped she quickly asked. "What is happening?"
He straightened his back. "There are some assassins trying to breach in." He replied. "But don't worry, they are dealt with."
Nerissa's jaw tightened, though she nodded at the soldier's words. "Double the guards around this wing."
"Yes, Lady Nerissa." The soldier bowed before rushing back down the corridor.
She turned around and closed the door behind.
As she looked at us, she gave a tired smile. "Let's sleep together."
---
The next few days were gone by quietly after the assassin attempt.
Nerissa was on high alert after that as she was always there around us.
It was just another day from my childhood as we were playing in the garden.
Yennefer had also come back from her work but she looked far more depressed now.
Something definitely happened but she wasn't telling anyone, not even Nerissa.
The garden was usually a place of peace for us.
Zenith was running in circles, holding a wooden stick and pretending it was a sword.
Nymeria sat on the grass with her doll, carefully brushing its hair the way Nerissa did hers.
I was sitting nearby Liam who slept soundly in a cradle Yennefer had set in the shade.
Yennefer was there too, but she wasn't herself. Normally, she would be smiling, fussing over Zenith's antics.
Now, she sat quietly on the bench, her shoulders hunched, staring at nothing in particular.
My younger self noticed first. "…Yenna?" I called.
Her head lifted slightly, but the smile she gave was faint, forced. "Yes, Az?"
"You look… sad," I said plainly.
Zenith stopped her running to look over, pouting. "Mama, don't be sad! You're supposed to cheer us up!"
Nymeria glanced up too, frowning, though she didn't say anything.
She only hugged her doll tighter.
Yennefer's eyes softened at us, but the sadness never left them.
She reached out and pulled Zenith into her lap when the girl rushed over.
"I'm fine," she said gently, brushing Zenith's hair out of her face. "Just… tired."
'Was this the time she got to know about Zenith's condition?'
I wondered, looking at her as she played with her daughter.
It could be the reason behind her sudden change in attitude.
Nerissa, who had been away for a while, came back towards us.
Yennefer was the first to notice the concerned look on her face.
She frowned as she stood up while placing Zenith down.
"What happened?" She asked, looking at Nerissa.
Nerissa hesitated for a while as she walked towards her child.
"Ragnar called all the members of Segyal Highbloods for a meeting." She said, gently rubbing her child's head. "My father has also gone there."
Yennefer frowned. "…Is that why you are concerned?"
"No… That's not…" she hesitated before she sighed. "It's just that… I feel uneasy… like my heart is being squeezed."
'I' walked towards her as I squeezed her hand gently. "Don't worry." I said, with a smile. "Everything is fine."
Nerissa smiled before her expression changed.
As if she noticed something, she turned to look up.
I followed her gaze as I found a…. bomb?
BOOOOM!!!!
A thunderous explosion happened in the sky as a dome originated from the World Tree covering the place.
The shockwave rattled the garden, knocking loose petals from the trees and sending them spiraling in the air.
Zenith shrieked and clung to Yennefer's leg.
Nerissa's face paled. She pulled Nymeria close with one arm while her gaze never left the sky.
"…A barrier," she whispered. "We are under attack."
"Exactly." A voice echoed within the place.
Everyone flinched as we looked up.
Uncle Jones stood there while he looked down at us.
He wasn't in his best shape as he was covered with bruises.
There were two more people behind him whom I recognized.
The two parts of the God Molech.
"The vampires and Dark Trinity have attacked the city." He said with a warm smile. "The attack that will destroy the World Tree."
Nerissa and Yennefer immediately pulled us back as they glared at him.
"What is the meaning of this Jones?" Nerissa asked.
My younger self was quick-thinking as he picked Liam in his arms.
"It's exactly as you think." Jones replied, stretching his arms. "You all are going to die."
The air grew heavy.
Even as a child, I could feel it—the intent to kill radiating off Jones like a storm pressing down on our chests.
Their gazes never left Jones, nor the two figures flanking him.
"You dare bring them here?" Nerissa's voice was calm but laced with fury. "In the heart of the World Tree?"
Jones chuckled, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
"The heart is exactly what we need to strike, sister. And who better to do it than me?"
My younger self clutched Liam tighter.
Jones stretched his hand with a smile. "We can all stop this, Nerissa." He said. "Just give me the infant."
Nerissa's face twisted with rage as she said softly. "Kids." A sword appeared in her hand. "Run."
'I' didn't wait for anything else, 'I' turned around and began running away holding Liam tightly.
Nymeria and Zenith also ran away in different directions.
"What a sad attempt to save him." Jones said with a click of his tongue. "Poor soul will die anyway—."
His words stopped and so did my steps as someone blocked my path.
I slowly looked up only to find Ragnar… fully covered in blood.
His eyes with golden spirals were dead calm despite blood dripping down his red hair.
"…Ragnar?" I heard Nerissa's voice from behind.
She sounded relieved but my younger self felt differently.
'I' slowly began to walk back.
"Oh, would you look at that." A mocking sound echoed from behind. "The loser is here."
Ragnar didn't respond to that.
His hand moved like lightning as it clutched my neck.
"Urgh."
He lifted me up as Liam fell from my hands.
His other hand moved like lightning as well.
I remained frozen as I saw his fist burst out from the back of my younger self's chest.
"Azariah!!"