Struggling as a Villain

"Is he okay now?" Outside one of the rooms, the blond elf asked the violette as she held a tray of cotton pads and cold water.

Eleanor shook her head with a sigh, "James is beyond terrified. He is...barely holding himself together after what he faced." Eleanor uttered with evident weariness on her face.

"I can understand his situation given he faced the God of Death-"

"No, James isn't horrified because of him," Eleanor's words made Tia frown as the elf wordlessly urged the former to continue.

Looking at nothing constant, Eleanor added, "He was .....petrified by Richard's presence. Amidst the ongoing battle, Richard summoned two sentinel weapons that bowed to his command and held enough chaos to make James kneel before him."

"James...knelt? Before Richard?" Tia knew the status of the young kid as a demi-god, and among the apostles, he held the most superior ego. The only person James respects is his mother, and only because Goddess Atheris told him so, James follows Eleanor's command.

And for him to kneel before Richard..."Was he that strong?"

Eleanor nodded, "He has ascended to the truest form of an element. While he remains enshrouded in flames, he is practically immortal."

Heaving a sigh with her brows drawn closer, the girl added, "And God knows where he received those weapons?"

"There is a mention of that trident in the book. But that Bo Staff is probably more mysterious than the Space Magic." Tia added—having seen what destruction that particular piece of weapon could bestow.

Eleanor shook her head, "Doesn't matter; we have forces to rival him now. And with Ethan on our side, we don't have to worry about the Demonic God."

"But is he?" Tia's question made Eleanor frown before the violet-haired regressor urged the elf to continue.

Tia looked unsure as she uttered, "He has abruptly decided to become a part of us...are you sure he isn't deceiving us?" Tia respects Ethan; however, unlike Eleanor, who blindly loves and trusts Ethan, Tia can see things from a different angle.

"Are you suggesting that Ethan isn't on our side but rather still belongs to the Darkness?"

Tia shook her head, "Sir Ethan was never on the side of Darkness. He is the purest being and someone who stands by the side of life and peace." With a sigh, to relax her tense shoulders—she always remains slightly worked up around Eleanor—the elf added,

"I just think Sir Ethan is here to...assess us. Based on what we do or what we plan on doing, he might..stay or-"

"Abandon me? Is that what you are trying to say?" Eleanor's voice suggested seething frustration. Now, whether it was because Tia spoke those words or because she already was aware of it but didn't want to accept it, remained a mystery.

Tia crossed her arms and said, "Look, I am not saying that Sir Ethan is still the same as he was before...considering what he has seen today and how we have made him see things, I am certain that his hatred for Ambrobates has risen significantly. And it helps that his mother was also killed by a demon."

Eleanor looked at the sky from the window as she uttered, "If you are right, Tia...if Ethan really is undecided about where he should be standing then..." Eleanor hesitated—a sign that she was scared of something, urging Tia to press,

"Then?"

Eleanor directed her shaky eyes toward the elf, before adding, "Then the deities might snatch him off his status as an Emissary....and abandon him."

Tia's lips parted slightly in shock, "Can they do that?"

"Of course they can. It was them who provided Ethan with that power...and if he ends up standing against us, then they will take back their blessings."

Tia looked horrified, "His blood and divine essence have become one...you know that, right? And if they tear the essence away-"

"No, no, no! Please don't even say something like that!" Eleanor covered her ears and refused to hear the end of that.

She could face any situation, despite how dire and unfavourable it becomes for her, however, the very possibility of losing Ethan horrified her.

Eleanor couldn't let that happen.

Then what is the way to make sure that Ethan never leaves her side?

Turning towards Tia, Eleanor asked, "I need...it. The aphrodisiac."

Tia's eyes widened, "Are you sure?"

Eleanor nodded, "Can't be any more sure."

Tia inched closer to the girl before asking again, "Think again, Eleanor. You would be facing Sir Ethan's disgust and contempt for the rest of your life."

A single droplet of tear rolled down as she said, "He already hates me...but if I carry his baby, he at least would care about me. And that would be hefty enough for me...and for us."

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"You picked the right side, Rose." Inside the room only two people were present. One of them had long flowing red hair that reached the centre of her back and a pair of red eyes.

She is the wife of the second in command of the Emberclad empire—Sasha Emberclad.

There was not a speck of regret or guilt in her eyes even though she lost her husband today, and the reason why he decided to attack Richard was because she provoked him.

She knew that Rose would need a backup, and the people from the Emberclad were already getting brainwashed by Ethan's look-a-like. So she pushed a few buttons here and there and her husband rode the carriage with the intention to demolish the demon called Scarlette Richard.

Rose was staring at the wall opposite her mindlessly; unable to process everything that happened today.

She was so conflicted about everything that happened that she just stopped thinking altogether and allowed her mind to reach a state of serenity first.

"Hey, what happened?" Sitting on the bed, Sasha held her hand softly and asked, "Still thinking about today?"

Rose nodded, "I am....trying to discern...the necessity of sacrificing those many lives. The people who died today had nothing to do with this war. They were students just like me who had so many dreams and so many things to do. Their parents...how hurt they must be right now....devastated to hear their child was dead."

With tears welling up in her eyes, Rose added, "They were innocent and didn't deserve to die. What kind of Light do we possess which pushes others to darkness? Then why do we call ourselves the good people?"

Rose's emotions could be felt through her words as she asked the lady for an answer.

Sasha calmly told her, "I accept that it was wrong to let them die however, if we hadn't pulled Ethan on our side, one day, everyone would die."

Rose strongly gulped, "So, in your eyes, it was a necessary sacrifice?"

Sasha slowly nodded, "Yes, Rose, they needed to be sacrificed or our champion would have never understood the role he must play."

Rose's free hand balled in a fist under the sheet as her gaze turned cold. After that, Rose didn't say anything for a long time before Sasha said 'Good night, rest early' and left the room.

Rose remained seated at her place for a few more minutes when suddenly someone entered the room—urging Rose to say,

"I am fine now-" However, her words came to a pause when she saw the person entering inside,

"President?"

-----------**----------

Richard was currently resting inside his room after he was fed some potions and medicine for recovery. He has exhausted himself during the battle against James, and more so while withstanding the wrath of the Goddess.

Inside the room, only two people remained, one was naturally Richard and the other one was Emily.

Bellarine, Lilia and Bella were involved in a discussion and Amelia went to prepare some soup along with Violet. Jasmine was involved in maintaining the security.

While Emily wrapped a bandage around his arm, Richard asked, "How do you feel now? Did you get a hang of your new origin?"

Emily smiled, "It feels great...I feel close to you. I don't know why but this warm sensation makes me feel you are always right beside me."

Richard raised his brows, "Anything warm means Richard?"

Emily chuckled, "Not like that...this warmth is different. I can't explain it, but yeah, I feel great and my skills have developed exponentially after I started training with Jasmine."

"What did she teach you?" Richard asked casually.

With a smile, the blond responded, "Combat, skill enhancement, Aembr absorption, and..."

Richard turned towards her with inquiring eyes, only to find himself looking at a mischievously smiling Emily.

"...and things which I cannot tell you as of now."

Richard was curious to know but he didn't say anything.

Just as he was about to say something about a different topic, he heard a familiar voice,

[Richard? Can you hear me? It's me, Rose.]

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A/N:- What she might have learned? Well, thanks for reading.