The Pillar of Enera

[Book II Chapter 89] DYLAN: Irredeemable

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From high in a tree, Dylan observed Yuena Fengchun teaching the children gathered around her the game of cuju. The Divine Serpent cultivator had given them several balls and had used her earth magic to shape courts for them to play on. She was in the midst of explaining the rules.

Quite a few cultivator teams were in Livra. While inflows from the Twisted Land had ended for today, there were still thousands of refugees waiting to make the trip to Tulvin’s capital. The town’s safety remained of paramount importance.

<> Dowart asked. His spirit mentor sat on a branch besides him.

<> Dylan answered. <>

As far as he could tell, Yuena was diligently playing her part. She’d fought off demonic beasts and had escorted the populations of settlements to Livra. She’d even gone beyond what was demanded of her, entertaining youth displaced by the conflict in her spare time.

I hated this. How dare one of those eight assume the role of a benevolent hero… He knew her true nature.

At the same time, he recognized the dire straights facing the people gathered in Tulvin. In the war against Kaygren’s hordes, every saint was precious. Indulging his revenge would cost the lives Yuena could’ve saved. Wouldn’t I be betraying what we’re all working towards?

Dylan sighed. This mulling was entirely rhetorical. Livra was far too crowded. Finding an opportunity to strike was an impossible task.

Activity below caught his attention. A child was reporting that Jordan Seers had arriving in town, and the others were excited. They’d all heard stories of the young boy who was fighting to defend Tulvin, and it’d captured their imaginations. Seeing that the commotion wasn’t dying down, Yuelan dismissed everyone so they could go take a peek. Her smile as they ran away gave Dylan a bad feeling.

Before he could wonder why, Yuelan startled him by leaping in his direction. Fortunately, she entered the forest a few yards away and kept moving without a glance in his direction.

What is she up to? Dylan trailed her through the trees, realizing that he might have the chance to confront her alone. Not having come to a decision, part of him resented this twist of fate.

He was almost relieved when he lost track of Yuelan. Then his injured pride kicked in, and he circled around frantically trying to pick up her trail. Where did she go? The figure he finally spotted wasn’t Yuelan, but a young boy.

<> Dowart observed. <>

<> Dylan responded. He followed, staying closer this time. Jordan soon vanished into a clump of trees, and, when Dylan attempted to enter, he found himself back outside.

“This is like Xia’s fog.” Dylan stated. “A barrier that turns people away. For some reason, it let Jordan through.”

<> Doward said. <>

“Understood.” Dylan embraced the mystery of mud and dove deep underground. He emerged at the edge of a clearing. This jogged his memory. There was rift here a couple of days ago. Refugees are probably avoiding these woods out of caution. Jordan was approaching Yuelan at the center.

Peering around, he turned to her confused. “Excuse me, but have you seen… hum… anything…” His voice trailed off.

Yuena smiled kindly. “’Livra’s forest is haunted by the ghost of a young girl. Blond hair, one eye blue and one eye brown, she wanders the deepest grove, waiting to spirit away foolish trespassers.’ Were you looking for her?”

“Please don’t tell anyone…” Jordan had turned beat red. “I know coming here was stupid . It’s just that——”

“The ghost matches the description of your younger sister?” Yuelan offered.

Jordan’s mouth dropped open. “How did you know…?

“Because I’m the one who’s been spreading the story everywhere. I was certain it would reach you eventually.” Yuelan glanced to the side with a smirk. “When the rift opened in this clearing, I was worried my efforts were for nothing. Thankfully, it worked out better than I could’ve hoped.”

“I don’t understand…” Jordan muttered.

“I can explain, but I need you to look deep into my eyes.” Yuelan said sweetly. Dylan saw her pupils turn reptilian and quickly averted his gaze.

<> Dowart stated icily. Despite his general indifference to the fate of others, the old spirit had a soft spot for children and had difficulty masking his anger when they were drawn up into the senseless violence of the adult world. These feelings were why he risked revealing himself to me.

Jordan’s figure froze and slowly lost its color. Soon the gray statue of a boy stood on the grass, surprise on its face. Yuena grinned widely.

“What a catch!” She laughed. “Now to shrink him and add him to my collection.” A gnarled wooden wand appeared in her hand.

Dylan had witnessed enough. “So you were the one responsible for the disappearances.” He accused, walking out into open.

“This… I can explain…” Yuena stammered, speechless. She winced recognizing him. “You’re Dylan, the so-called hero…”

Taking a deed breath, she continued awkwardly. “I admit I have been kidnapping children with remarkable talents. It’s such a waste for them to perish in this doomed country. By bringing them back to the Divine Serpent Sect, I can ensure they have a bright future. Please don’t interfere.”

“You want me to look the other way?” Dylan asked incredulously.

“My methods are extreme, but I’m not killing anyone. This for their sake and the benefit of my sect. Please consider——”

Listening to the deceitful rambling, Dylan loathed himself for believing the thing in front of him might’ve had some redeeming qualities. “Is there anything left of the original owner of that body?” He cut in.

Yuena paused, eyes narrowing. “You know about us…? How?”

“I am someone the lot of you has wronged. Liu Mufei, Mingzhu Su, Teng Ling, and Bao Pan have already fallen at my hand.“ Dylan said flatly. “It’s your turn.”

“You are the one who’s been hunting us down!” Yuena exclaimed, showing fear for the first time.

“You couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Dylan shook his head. “Here I was considering sparing you temporarily for the greater good… But then you pushed your luck and went after Jordan Seers.”

Yuena grimaced. “I had to. Bao just died, and he’s perfect for her.”

Dylan recalled the pride Bao had displayed for her beauty. “I don’t think she’d appreciate finding herself in a male host.”

“Yes, true, she might be upset by that.” Yuena admitted. “However, she’ll be forced to forgive me once she discovers the amazing potential of this boy.”

Again, Dylan felt the dishonesty in her words. “That’s not it, is it?” Appraising the woman’s homely appearance, he spoke the answer which came to him. “You were jealous of her. In looks and talent, the current you couldn’t compare. Sticking her in Jordan Seers is your way of venting your frustration.”

Dylan chuckled. “This also explains your obsession with collecting future ‘vessels’. Your pitiful dissatisfaction with your current self. You are irredeemable trash.”

Dylan drew out his weapon. “Bao gave me some difficulty. You won’t.”

He channeled the Greater Mystery of life, and the weeds under Yuena sprung up to wrap themselves around her. She struggled to rip herself free, but more blades of grass surged towards her. This was a simple technique taught to him by his teammate, Free. However, reinforced by Resplendent Delusion, it was enough. Which is sad.

Panicked, Yuena hurled summoned boulders to keep him away. Dylan dodged these desperate attacks, got close, and drove his sword into her heart. He then twisted the blade for good measure.

“No…” Yuena protested as her vigor faded. “Not again…” Soon the vegetation released its grip, letting her lifeless corpse collapse.

He searched his fallen foe and found what he was looking for. Withdrawing a sheet from his ouroboros ring, he spread it on the ground and emptied the content of an elaborate lavender pouch. Forty small figurines and a gnarled wand fell out.

<> Dowart proclaimed. <>

Dylan nodded, picking up the wand. “This must be a crazy artifact to permanently shrink so many.”

<> Dowart corrected. <>

“What’s going on?” Said a voice behind them. Jordan was sitting on the grass in a daze.

<> Dowart commented.

Dylan put the figurines away and threw the sheet over Yuena’s body. Jordan watched him do it. “Is she dead?” He asked.

Dylan didn’t try to deny it. “Yes, she was trying to hurt you. She’d also hurt many other children. There was no choice.”

“I see…” Jordan said, accepting his words. “So it was all a lie to trick me.” Tears welled in his eyes. “Of course my sister couldn’t be alive. I knew it, yet I hoped…”

Dylan shifted uncomfortably as Jordan sobbed uncontrollably. Eventually, it became too much. “I know you’re young, but you must learn to contain yourself. Everyone loses loved ones. You can’t let the grief rule your life. I was around this time, but next time you might not be so fortunate.”

The boy looked up with venom in his red eyes. “Do you know what it’s like to lose everything? To return home to find your family, your friends, and everyone you care about gone.”

… He’s the same, Dylan understood. For me it was the Sacred Cloud Sect, for him it was Rosaria. This hit harder than expected. He recalled his state of mind eleven years ago, the overwhelming sense of loss. I had Xia Ning and Dowart Fain. Who does he have?

He went over and knelt by the boy. “I apologize for my careless words. I can’t imagine the soul-crushing sorrow you must be feeling, but you can’t give up. For your parents and your sister, for all those that died, You must stay strong. You are their legacy, the proof they existed. Carry their memories onward to honor their passing.”

Dylan reached into the ouroboros ring and withdrew a wondrous sword. The lucid magenta blade glistened in the sunlight. “This is Starlight, a catalyst perfectly suited to you. With its help, you can live up to their hopes and dreams. You can make them proud.”

“You’re giving this to me?” Jordan asked incredulously.

“Under one condition.” Dylan confirmed. He returned Starlight to its scabbard and brought out another sheet to wrap around it. “You must disguise it as a staff, keeping it covered at all times. If anyone sees it, it could create problems for both of us. Can you do this?”

“Yes,” Jordan said. “I promise.”

Dylan handed over the sword. A smile crept on his lips as he watched the boy hug it reverently. He should be fine.

<> Dowart teased softly.

He answered with a mental shrug. <>