Watcher of Fate

Elara walked with measured steps, surrounded by a phalanx of demon guards as they escorted her from the arena. The air was thick with tension, a mixture of disbelief, hostility, and grudging respect swirling together in a maelstrom of emotions. The crowd's roar echoed in her ears, but now it had a more menacing edge, the growl of a beast that wasn’t sure whether to attack or retreat.

The guards flanked her on all sides, their tall, imposing figures moving with a practiced precision that left little room for error. Their armor clinked softly with each step, the sound a steady, unnerving rhythm that seemed to heighten the tension in the air. The crowd, spilling out of the arena and into the streets, pressed in around them, a heaving, seething mass of demonic faces, each one filled with mixed emotions.

Hatred was the most common. It was there in the way their eyes narrowed at her. Their lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth and the snarls and hisses that filled the air as she passed. "Mortal scum!" one demon spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You’ll never belong here!" another shouted, his words carrying the weight of the crowd’s disdain. The jeers were like a physical force, pressing down on Elara with every step, a relentless barrage of scorn and contempt.

But it wasn’t just hatred. Beneath the surface was a current of fear, thin and elusive but present nonetheless. The crowd had seen what she was capable of and had witnessed her defeat the Astral Tyrant, a demon who had seemed unbeatable. That fear mingled with their hatred, creating a volatile mix that simmered beneath the surface. It was a dangerous tension that could explode into violence at any moment.

As they moved through the narrow streets, the crowd surged closer, their faces twisted with anger and something darker. Elara could feel their eyes on her, each gaze a needle pricking at her resolve. Some reached out as if to grab her, their hands clawing at the air, but the guards quickly acted. One particularly bold demon shoved his way forward, his clawed hand stretching out to snatch at her arm.

A guard reacted instantly, slamming the demon back with a force that sent him sprawling to the ground. The demon snarled a low, guttural sound that promised violence, but the sight of the guard’s hand resting on the hilt of his weapon made him hesitate. For a moment, it seemed like the tension would snap, that the crowd would surge forward in a wave of violence, but the guards held their ground, their presence a silent but unmistakable warning.

“Stay back!” one of the guards barked, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. The crowd hesitated, a ripple of uncertainty passing through them. But the hatred didn’t dissipate; it merely simmered beneath the surface, waiting for another chance to erupt.

Elara felt the tension like a living thing, coiled and ready to strike. Every step felt heavier than the last, the weight of the crowd’s hatred pressing down on her like a physical burden. But there were other emotions in the mix as well. Scattered among the hostile faces were a few who watched her with something that might have been respect or a grudging acknowledgment of her strength. These demons didn’t jeer or spit; they simply watched, their expressions unreadable, as if trying to decide what to make of her.

The guards tightened their formation around her as they approached the barracks, the crowd's noise becoming a low rumble in the background. The building loomed ahead, a fortress of stone that had served as her refuge during her time in Dis. It felt like a haven now, a barrier between her and the hostile sea of faces that had followed her from the arena.

When they finally reached the entrance, one of the guards stepped forward, his voice gruff as he addressed her. "Stay here, Champion. You will be collected when you are needed." His words were devoid of warmth or respect as if the title of ‘Champion’ was just a formality, a label that meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Quill fluttered down to Elara’s shoulder, his voice a soft murmur in her ear. "Well, that was rude. You’d think they’d show more respect to their new champion."

Elara allowed herself a small, weary smile at Quill’s remark. "I suppose we’ll have to get used to it," she replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion. As the guard turned away, pulling the door shut behind him with a finality that echoed in the quiet room, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being caged, even if the bars were invisible.

The room was as she had left it, simple and functional, with a small bed in the corner and a few personal belongings scattered about. Elara moved toward the bed, her legs heavy with fatigue. The battle had drained her, but the journey back had taken its toll, the weight of the crowd’s hatred and fear pressing down on her like an iron shroud.

Quill perched on the bedpost, his gaze softening with concern. "You should rest, Elara. You’ve earned it."

She nodded slowly, leaning back against the wall as she let out a tired sigh. "I know... but it’s hard to relax with guards outside the door, knowing Malakar has more tasks for me."

"True," Quill agreed, his tone thoughtful. "But you’ll need your strength for whatever comes next. Better to rest now while you can."

Elara nodded absently, her mind still racing with thoughts of what awaited her. But exhaustion crept in despite her best efforts to stay awake and keep her mind sharp and ready. Slowly, her eyelids grew heavy, the tension in her body easing as she sank deeper into the comfort of the bed. Sleep took her in its gentle embrace, pulling her under despite the nagging worry lingering in her mind.

It felt like she had barely slept when a sudden, loud banging at her door jolted her awake. The noise was sharp, and insistent, and before she could fully gather her thoughts, the door swung open with a creak. Standing in the doorway was Malakar, the Devil Lord of Dis himself, his presence immediately filling the small room with an overwhelming aura of power.

Elara sat up quickly, her heart racing as she took in the sight of him. He seemed larger than life, his aura dark and oppressive, yet his demeanor had a strange calmness. She rubbed her eyes, still groggy from sleep, and tried to muster a smile.

"I didn’t know you could walk, Malakar," she said, her voice dry with a hint of humor. "Every time I’ve seen you, you were sitting in a comfy chair."

Malakar threw his head back and laughed, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate through the room. His laughter was rich, almost infectious, and momentarily, the tension in the air eased. "Ah, Elara, you have a sharp wit even in exhaustion. I do enjoy my chairs, but there are times when a personal visit is necessary."

Still chuckling, Malakar stepped further into the room, his presence almost overwhelming in the confined space. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed several medium-sized bags onto the bed next to Elara. The bags landed with a heavy thud, the contents rattling softly as they settled.

"Your reward for winning today," Malakar said with a grin. "And what else did… ah, yes, what was his name again…?"

Elara frowned, blinking in confusion. "Who?"

Malakar’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "The demon you went into business with to make your bets. Surely you remember him?"

Elara’s mind raced as she tried to recall the name of the demon who had been placing her bets. But to her embarrassment, she realized she had never asked for his name. She had been so focused on surviving each fight, on securing her victories, that she hadn’t even thought to inquire who she was trusting with her crystals.

"I… I don’t know his name," she admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Malakar laughed again, this time even louder, his amusement evident. "You gave him many crystals, yet you never asked his name? Elara, you are full of surprises." His tone was light, almost teasing, but an edge of mockery in his words made Elara bristle slightly.

He continued, his smile widening as if enjoying a private joke, "I told Garazul that you sent me to collect your winnings and that you wanted some of them as spirit crystals."

Elara blinked, caught off guard by the revelation. The name Garazul was unfamiliar to her, but what truly unsettled her was how casually Malakar spoke about her preference for spirit crystals. "And he believed you?" she asked, trying to mask the unease in her voice.

Malakar’s grin broadened a glint of dark amusement in his eyes. "How else would I have known if you hadn’t told me yourself?"

Elara’s frown deepened as confusion took hold. "But… I didn’t tell you."

"Exactly," Malakar replied, his tone laden with insinuation, his grin never faltering.

A cold realization crept up Elara’s spine. She knew she hadn’t mentioned her bets or her preference for spirit crystals to Malakar or to anyone, for that matter. And yet, here he was, acting as if she had. The air in the room grew heavy, saturated with the weight of Malakar’s presence and his cryptic words.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Malakar seemed to brush aside her concerns as if they were of no consequence. "You’ve earned 2,057 gems, 71 crystals, and 1,036 spirit crystals."

Elara’s breath caught slightly at the numbers. That was more than she had expected and certainly more than she had ever handled at once. "That’s… quite a bit," she murmured, her mind racing as she tried to comprehend the significance.

"Indeed," Malakar continued, his tone almost casual, as if he were discussing the weather rather than the vast wealth she had amassed. "But there’s something you should know. Spirit crystals of Good quality or better generally represent either a high-level monster or, more likely, a sentient spirit. So, I suggested that Garazul focus on acquiring those, primarily for you."

Elara’s heart sank. She knew all too well what spirit crystals contained, the essence, the very core, of beings who had once lived. And that was precisely why she had been trying to free them, to return them to the cycle of rebirth through the [Spirit Tree]. Possessing over a thousand spirit crystals, each potentially containing a sentient spirit trapped in eternal stasis, made her stomach churn.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, Quill’s voice came softly to her, a whisper of concern."This doesn’t sit right, Elara. You know what’s inside those crystals. He’s playing at something, but I can’t tell what."

Before Elara could respond, Malakar’s voice cut through the air, smooth and almost conversational yet laden with underlying intent. "You know, Elara, I agree with you. Spirit crystals are a vile creation. Trapping sentient beings, reducing their essence to mere tools… it’s abhorrent. They should be eliminated."

Elara blinked, caught off guard by his sudden agreement. She stared at him, trying to discern his true motives. "You… agree?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

Malakar nodded, his expression serene, though the gleam in his eyes suggested there was more to his words. "Indeed. And that’s why I’m giving you your next task, Champion."

He paused, letting the anticipation build. "Your next quest is eliminating Youdu's strategic spirit crystal reserve."

Elara’s heart skipped a beat. Youdu? The name was unfamiliar to her, and the lack of knowledge left her feeling uneasy. She had faced many challenges in Tartarus, but this was different. She didn’t even know what or where Youdu was, let alone what it entailed. Her mind raced, trying to piece together any fragment of information that might help, but she came up empty.

Before she could voice her confusion, a familiar chime echoed in her mind, and a new quest appeared before her:

---

Quest Alert!

Eliminate Youdu’s Strategic Spirit Crystal Reserve

Difficulty: A Rank

Objective: Infiltrate Youdu and destroy its reserve of spirit crystals.

Reward: The satisfaction of doing the right thing, minor experience gained, and Malakar’s next quest unlocked.

Do you want to accept the quest? (yes/no)

---

Elara stared at the quest notification, her mind swirling with questions. Youdu. The name itself carried an ominous weight as if it were a place of great importance, shrouded in secrecy and danger. But she knew nothing about it. Why had Malakar given her this task, and why did it feel like she was being led into the unknown?

She looked up at Malakar, who was watching her with a knowing smile, as if he could read every thought crossing her mind. "What is Youdu?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "I’ve never heard of it."

Malakar’s smile widened, a dark amusement flickering in his eyes. "Youdu is a city-fortress high in the cloud mountains of Tartarus, a place so remote and inaccessible that few even know of its existence. It’s perched on the highest peaks, surrounded by treacherous winds and eternal storms, hidden above the clouds where only the most powerful can reach. And it holds the largest reserves of spirit crystals in existence."

Elara’s unease deepened. A fortress-city high in the cloud mountains, filled with spirit crystals, each one potentially housing a sentient spirit, a life waiting to be freed. The thought of such a place existing and the idea of having to destroy its most prized resource, was overwhelming.

"Youdu sounds impossible to reach," Elara said, her voice edged with concern. "How am I supposed to get there, let alone destroy the spirit crystal reserve?"

Malakar’s eyes glinted with a dark amusement. "Youdu may be remote, but you won’t be making the journey on foot. As the new champion of Dis, you’ll be sent there as our representative for the Tartarus Gladiator Tournament. An airship will take you to Youdu, delivering you directly into the heart of the city. Once there, when the time is right, you’ll strike at the core of their power."

Elara felt a mix of dread and determination welling up inside her. She didn’t fully trust Malakar, how could she? She knew that this mission was something she couldn’t turn away from. The spirits trapped within those crystals needed her help, and if Malakar was offering her a way to free them and if she did she would lose her own spirit, she had to take it.

With a deep breath, Elara steeled herself and selected "yes." The quest was accepted.

Malakar’s grin widened at her decision. "Excellent. I knew you wouldn’t disappoint, Champion. This task won’t be easy, but I believe you’re up to the challenge. And remember, the spirits you free will owe their liberation to you."

Quill fluttered closer, his voice filled with concern. "He’s up to something, Elara. You know that, right?"

Elara nodded, her hand clenching into a fist. "I know, Quill. I know what’s at stake. But I can’t let him manipulate me. No matter what he says."

Quill ruffled his feathers, a gesture of agreement. "Then we’ll have to be careful. Very careful. Whatever comes next, we’ll need to be ready."

Elara sighed, her resolve hardening. "I won’t let him win, Quill. I won’t let those spirits be used for his games."

With that, she pushed the bags of crystals aside and lay back down on the bed, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. She knew Malakar was playing a dangerous game, one that could cost her dearly if she wasn’t careful. But she also knew she had a duty, a duty to those spirits, to herself, and to the [Spirit Tree].