101 False Demigods 3

Lenia and Nelay came running to stand beside Aleks and they both watched in awe while the beast which had seemed so powerful only a short time ago, faded away into ashes. The flames of Aleks's ability continued to burn in a huge conflagration, but they strangely remained in place and did not spread to the surrounding area. The monster was no longer visible, it had completely become ash and blown away.

\"Seems they were lacking in resolve, what fools. They believe themselves safe, but soon they will regret their foolish decision. Lariel, get down here.\"

Lariel complied with Aleks's order immediately and soon landed next to him.

\"There's no need to be so forceful Aleks, I will always come whenever you call me.\"

Lariel smiled playfully and fluttered her wings before making them disappear somewhere into her body. Or at least that was where it seemed they went, but neither Nelay or Lenia could figure out how she did it. They couldn't imagine that those wings fit inside of her body.

Aleks ignored her playful banter and said, \"The cavern entrances were destroyed, create a path for me.\"

\"Of course.\" Lariel replied before using her magic to drill a pathway through the collapsed cavern entrance.

The four soon made their way into the ancestral cavern. The cavern passageway was dark, but Lariel used her magic to light a path for them as they walked. Eventually after traveling for a while they reached a large chamber with several sacrificial altars within. This was the main chamber of the cavern and it was also where the relics were kept. There had been shamans and other barbarians within, but most had died when parts of the caverns collapsed.

The group had passed dozens of corpses while making their way through the cavern. Many passages were blocked off by rubble and debris, but Lariel cleared a path through without difficulty. The main chamber on the other hand had not received any damage. It was protected by the power of the ancestral spirits who didn't want the area to be destroyed. They couldn't save the barbarians within the passages however.

Only a few barbarians were left alive and were nervously guarding the main chamber. When they saw Aleks's group enter the chamber, they immediately drew their weapons and charged their group. They were all Advanced class elites, but these were quickly dispatched by Lenia, Nelay and Lariel. Aleks didn't need to move a finger and just watched patiently while the barbarians were all slain.

\"Master, this is the place?\" asked Lenia after slaying the last of the barbarians.

\"Yes, those relics are what I have come here for.\" Aleks pointed towards one of the shrines which held a relic on it. It was a necklace with the fangs of beasts attached to it.

Lariel walked over to Aleks and wrapped her arm in his which greatly annoyed Lenia and Nelay who were watching. Aleks didn't push her away which only served to annoy them further, but neither did he appear moved by her actions. He continued to look ahead towards the relics while his eyes glowed with a somber light.

\"Master, do you really need to stand so close to her…\" Lenia mumbled under her breath.

She found herself growing increasingly unhappy with the attention that Lariel was giving Aleks and the fact that he never pushed her away. There always seemed to be a certain distance that he had kept with her and she couldn't understand why it was so easy for Lariel to close that distance. Was she somehow inferior? She didn't believe so, and she also had a special connection to her master that Lariel lacked.

Nelay wasn't any better, but she was different from Lenia. She saw Lariel as a serious threat, but at the same time she didn't know how to respond to this threat. Her personality didn't allow for threats to exist and so any threats must be immediately eliminated. However, this was a threat she couldn't handle in the way that was normal to her. This frustrated her to no end. It went against her very instincts and Lariel had now replaced Lenia as someone that she loathed.

In fact, Lenia had become her sister in arms at some point. Originally, there was no one that mattered to her other than her master, so the fact that the way she thought about Lenia had changed was something she hadn't even realized on a conscious level yet. She now had the habit of disappearing whenever Lariel made her uncomfortable, just like at this moment. It was a light that was just too bright for her to exist in and only the shadows could give her solace.

Lariel was aware of all of this of course. She was a being that had already lived an extremely long life. Even she, had no idea how old she was. Time had little meaning to her. Without a doubt, her experiences were not something that these two young women could ever relate to. Their behavior was cute in her eyes, like two little children. Her toying with their emotions was a sport of sorts to her, but that wasn't her only intention. Since they belonged to Aleks, she wanted them to be of the utmost use to him.

On the other hand, while Aleks wasn't oblivious, he didn't pay it much mind. Lariel smiled and coyly winked at Aleks while leaning in even closer. As a fallen angel, she no longer had the same inhibitions she once had.

\"Aleks, with this you will be able to reach the peak of a Demigod but it will not be enough to push you further. You should already know this, but there is still much you do not know about the reality that the gods inhabit. It is not something mortals can comprehend. You will come to understand naturally in time. It isn't the right moment for you to ascend just yet. Once you do, you will be in danger. This is a necessary step and once you acquire enough strength and the timing is right, then it will be your chance to soar.\"

Her words were like a temptress whispering in Aleks's ears. They were pleasant and enticing. Although he didn't reply, Lariel knew he was listening closely.

\"Does it make you uncomfortable little girl?\" Lariel turned her head, which was very close to Aleks ear, to look at Lenia.

\"I told you to stop calling me that!\" replied Lenia in subdued anger.

Lariel giggled, \"Don't blame me. You and the other little girl had plenty of time to get close with him, but you were too hesitant. You can only blame yourselves. Now that I am here, where is there a place for you?\"

\"You!\"

Lenia was so angry but what could she say? What Lariel said was the truth.

\"Enough. We are not here to fool around.\"

\"Hehe, I am only teasing them.\"

Aleks finally looked at her from behind his mask.

\"Hehe, you can act like you don't like me being this close but I know the truth. I can feel your heart beating faster, even if just slightly.\"

Aleks continued to stare at her through the mask and didn't reply before finally walking away from her towards the shrines at the center of the chamber. There were a total of seven shrines, each with an artifact resting on top of them. Aleks's steps weren't hurried, but each step was heavy, as if he wished he could crush the earth.

Lenia continued to glare at Lariel before finally tearing her eyes away reluctantly. She knew Lariel was just playing with her, but she couldn't help herself. Her jealousy was too strong and she knew it was a weakness that Lariel was exploiting.

She could only sigh in frustration.

'I don't really hate her, If anything, I envy her. Her courage and poise, her demeanor and her strength. I want to be able to show these qualities to master too. I need to become someone he can rely on as well. Only then can I hold my head high and look up at him with confidence.'

Lenia firmly gripped the shield and sword in her hands. Her determination began to show through in her eyes as she stared at her master's back.

\"The abomination has come.\"

\"Begone foul creature! You should not be here!\"

\"You may have beaten our vessel, but we are gods! Our vengeance will be swift and merciless!\"

Powerful voices from the shrines called out in turn. They were voices of warning and righteousness, but Aleks only heard fear.