Demoness 2 - Chapter 52 - Respite (Finale) (Patreon)

Elania stepped onto the half-sized elevator beside Yolani and then got a good hold on the handlebar. The Celestial Engine pulsed and spun in the background as they descended towards the control room.

She closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses to gauge the engine’s power. A frown creased her brow as she realized the levels had dropped… or at least that was the impression she felt compared to their previous visits.

The strain on the divine machinery was probably due to the shield used to protect against the seraph.

If one attack had made such a noticeable effect, it meant that even with her assistance, the tower wouldn’t resist many more of those.

The elevator came to a stop; the doors opening to reveal the control node. Magister Keswick stood before the intricate console. She turned to greet them, her eyes flickering to Elania.

“Thank you for coming,” she said, his voice tight with tension. “The engine is ready for the infusion.”

Elania nodded, stepping forward to the console. She wasn’t sure how to read the gauges, but as she neared the recharging pedestal, she felt a distant calling.

The engine was hungry.

Yolani put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “You got this.”

Elania nodded back at her. It sure didn’t feel that way.

When she placed her hand on the device, it felt like an angry hand reached out and pulled her in.

A quick mental thought pushed her [Soul Management] perk into the forefront, halting the sudden theft of her essence and allowing her to moderate the flow herself.

The white void felt familiar, except for the massive sphere of gold. Beside it were two tiny pebbles that represented her other essence stores.

She realized that her interface's portrayal of them as ratios was not entirely precise. She still had the same amount of human and darkwalker essence… they were just dwarfed by the massive ball of [Divinity] that she had amassed by consuming the monks.

Letting it all go into the engine wasn’t going to hurt her… probably.

It’d restore the balance.

The thin hose that represented the Celestial Engine’s drain on her expanded rapidly with her will until the golden light was draining away through it like a raging river.

The engine latched onto the offered essence, gorging on it with a speed that took Elania’s breath away. She could feel the shifts in her own essence, the proportions of human and darkwalker increasing as the divinity was siphoned away.

As the transfer continued, Elania could sense the engine’s power growing, the ancient machinery thrumming with renewed vigor.

It left her feeling breathless, though.

She pushed through the discomfort.

The engine’s consumption rate suddenly spiked as her [Divinity] sphere reached half of its original size, causing a reverberation that shook the control room.

Keswick’s voice echoed in the strange visualization world all around her. “Elania, slow down the transfer!”

Suddenly, she was back in the control room, her hand stuck to the pedestal like they were two powerful magnets.

“The engine is gaining power too quickly!” The Magister urged, her voice rising above the thrumming machinery.

Elania blinked, surprised by the Magister’s warning. She focused her will, attempting to throttle the flow of essence into the hungry maw of the Celestial Engine. It was like trying to hold back a raging river with her bare hands.

She glanced at Yolani, who was studying the console with a furrowed brow. The gauges on the control panel were moving rapidly, some of them spinning out of control.

“This is different from last time,” Elania said, her voice strained. “My essence seems to have a much bigger impact.”

Yolani nodded, her eyes still on the gauges. “It could be that the density of your essence is higher now, due to all the monks you consumed. More concentrated power, more impact.”

That matched what she had put together and Elania nodded, but she couldn’t help but grimace at the reminder of the lives she had taken.

The engine continued to pull at her essence, the golden light of her divinity pouring into it like a waterfall. Her seraph wings suddenly appeared on her back, providing a visual indicator as well: they weren’t glowing nearly as strongly.

Elania could feel the strain on her soul, the pressure building as the engine demanded more and more.

She closed her eyes, focusing all her will on controlling the transfer. She had to find the right balance, to give the engine what it needed without letting it consume her entirely.

When she felt like she was empty, she began to wrestle for control of the flow. A pulse of [Power]into her [Soul Management] perk forced the issue.

It was like slamming a dam in place of the river, and there was a sudden reverberating impact inside both her soul and the Celestial Engine.

The entire tower shook slightly for a moment.

She felt weakened, like she had just run a marathon.

Magister Keswick turned to Elania, a mix of relief and disappointment on her face. “You did well, Elania. The engine’s power has increased by nearly twenty percent. We’re out of the danger zone of celestial instability.”

Elania nodded, trying to catch her breath. “That’s good.”

But Keswick wasn’t finished. “However, if we want to use the engine as a weapon against the Conclave, we’ll need even more power. You should prepare to consume more monks. I can prepare the prisoners.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Elania said. “I think it would be better if I went back out to help the Guard.”

Keswick frowned, then conceded. “That is an option. It will leave the prisoners stored for an emergency later, as well.”

Elania squeezed her hand into a fist and then released it. She hated hearing the prisoners referred to as items to be stored. Even if they were stupid, radical monks… they were still people.

Yolani patted Elania on the back supportively. “Magister Keswick, if there’s nothing else, I think it’s best if we retire for now. Elania needs to recover her strength. It’s obvious this took a lot out of her.”

Keswick waved her hand dismissively. “Of course, of course. For now, get some rest, Elania. I’ll notify the other Magisters that you will be assisting them once you’re ready, while preparing for the mana shards you needed.”

Elania nodded gratefully, leaning on Yolani as they turned to leave the control room.

The trip back up the elevator and to their rooms was a blur.

Elania fell back onto their bed, allowing the mattress to engulf her. Her entire body felt heavy, like she was weakened considerably.

Yolani sat down beside her with a worried look. “Are you alright?”

“I’m not sure. I think… I’m not sure my seraph form is going to be as strong as it was. That doesn’t really make sense to me though since my [Power] capacity is still high,” Elania replied.

Yolani was quiet for a minute before speaking. “It might be the same as the Celestial Engine? Keswick said that the more [Divinity] ratio it had, the more effective it could use its [Power]. Maybe the same applies to you when you’re a seraph?”

Elania frowned. “I’ll have to balance how much input to the Engine I provide then, especially if I’m going to be fighting Elders again.”

“This might help you with that, actually,” Yolani said.

Elania blinked and then thought about it.

Actually, maybe Yolani was right.

If she had less [Divinity]the Elders wouldn’t be able to manipulate her as much? Especially for their ‘restraining’ abilities, which seemed to be aimed at her. Or… probably the seraph they had imprisoned. Enslaved?

“I think you might be on to something,” Elania said as she sat back up. “I’m not sure how we can test it though, and if my seraph abilities are weakened… I’ll need another weapon or something to deal with them.”

“I’m sure the armory has some special magic weapons, and I can see about making you a new rifle? I’m not sure how well it will work on the Elders, though,” Yolani replied.

Elania thought back to her fights with Elder Winx, Eidan, and Holt. “It will stress them out at least. I know it was wearing down Winx and forced him to engage. I already explained how the pistol worked on Holt.”

Yolani nodded. “I’ll make it a priority, then. I don’t want you going out with every advantage I can figure out.”

Elania glanced at her. “You won’t be going with me?”

There was a brief shake of her head before Yolani replied. “No. I think it’ll be best if I stay here and work on the equipment full time. If I go fight, I can probably replace a dozen guards, but here I can keep a lot more fighting.”

“At least a hundred,” Elania replied with a grin.

Yolani blinked. “What?”

“You would replace at least a hundred guards in a fight,” Elania said before smiling.

Yolani raised an eyebrow. “Okay. But you’ll replace a thousand. With the mana shards Keswick promised, you’ll easily be able to collect the [Divinity] needed for the engine.”

Elania’s mirth evaporated. That meant she’d be killing a lot more monks or Lightbringers…

A frown appeared on Yolani’s face immediately. “Sorry. That’s not too fun a thought, is it?”

Elania nodded. “I will do it, though. Except the prisoners. I can’t do that. It’s not right.”

Yolani nodded, her expression understanding. “I don’t know how I would feel in your place, but it’s a line I would hesitate to cross as well.”

Elania leaned over and rested her head on Yolani’s shoulder. It felt like the weight of her responsibilities was pressing down just as much as the sudden reduction of [Divinity]. Her seraph form was much less…

Detached.

Elania sunk back into the bed, then looked up at Yolani, who had developed an even more concerned expression than before.

“I think I need a few hours to recover,” Elania said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yolani nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. “Of course. Take all the time you need. I’ll focus on the artifice equipment and supplies in the workshop. I’m not sure that’ll be enough time for the rifle, though.”

She reached out, placing a comforting hand on Elania’s shoulder. “If you need anything, just let me know. I’m here for you.”

Elania managed a weak smile, grateful for Yolani’s unwavering support. “Thank you.”

As Yolani left the room, closing the door softly behind her, Elania felt the last remains of emotional numbness from her [Divinity]wash away, replaced by a tidal wave of pain.

The events of the past few days crashed over her, the weight of her actions and the consequences they had brought bearing down on her like a physical force.

She thought of the lives lost, the destruction wrought, and the uncertain future that lay ahead.

Elania buried her face in a pillow and let the tears flow.

Her shoulders shook with silent sobs as she finally allowed herself to feel the full extent of… everything.

When she had no more tears left to shed, she took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes.

She reached within herself without even bothering to call up her interface.

[Enhanced Mana Sense] was replaced by [Crisis Management]. The cooldowns for her slots immediately began their countdowns.

The skill took effect immediately, a sense of calm washing over her like a cool breeze.

Sleep and merciful unconsciousness claimed her.