Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos

Earlier....

While Seiya and the last demon, Kiriza fought at the shrine, two Humanity Saviors had entered the village—or dare I say, wandered.

Although the HS Association does send in Humanity Saviors to check in on the village from time to time, they weren't there for that reason—they had simply been out in the night and had simply wandered there to check out the situation.

However, when they got to the village, contrary to what they had expected, they were shocked—because not only had the barrier trapping the villagers been broken, they found some of the demons dead.

As they entered the village and beheld the devastation, they were rendered speechless. Half of the houses lay in ruins, reduced to rubble, with only a few still standing. All around them, the scars of battle marred the landscape.

As they wondered what had happened, trying to get over their own shocks, they noticed the barrier enclosing the villagers within the two houses. They approached, and tried to get into the barrier but couldn't. Then, they tried breaking it but all their attempts were met with futility.

Confused and clueless what to do, they resolved to calling out to the villagers—demanding if any be around, then they should respond to their call. The villagers, however, offered no response. Was it that they couldn't hear through the barrier or they had simply ignored the calls?

As the two Awakeners scrambled here and there, trying to piece things together to understand the situation, Kaeliyus and Seiya arrived. The moment the HS set eyes on them, they leapt back, alarmed.

Kaeliyus' gaze narrowed at them, feeling irritated.

The Awakeners' eyes scanned the both of them, eying them from head to toe—noting their battered form.

"Who are you guys and what are you doing here?!" The female among the two, asked in a stern voice—a tone which further irritated Kaeliyus.

The two HS, a boy and a girl in their teens, looking no older than nineteen, assumed a fighting stance, alert of Seiya and their surroundings.

Both were dressed in formal academy attire, the fabric fitting neatly against their frames. The girl wore a cloak over the attire that billowed softly in the cold breeze, her black hair contrasting with the boy's neat blonde hair.

"Who are you and what is your purpose here?!" She interrogated, getting ready to activate her awakened ability should there be any protest from Seiya and Kaeliyus.

Seiya looked over to Kaeliyus, silently demanding an explanation for he could only hear their heartbeats, not see them.

"They appear to be Humanity Saviors sent by the association, my Lord," Kaeliyus responded.

"I am sorry but I need you both to tell me exactly what happened here. We are from the SOH Association, and we will need you both to comply," she said, flaunting her HS ID card in front of them.

Before Kaeliyus could say anything, the villagers burst out their door, rushing forward, all calling to Seiya—my Lord.

Kaeliyus turned his head to them, rapidly undoing the barrier before they could swarm out and collide with it.

The villagers swarmed around Seiya, concerned for his eyes and how battered his clothes looked.

"My Lord, you look beat."

"You look so tired my Lord."

"Is the fight already over Master?"

"You being here means you won right? Is our freedom now forever?"

As the villagers swarm all around Seiya, throwing question after question at him, the two HS were taken aback, confused and left speechless—watching silently with wide-eyed wonder.

Kaeliyus and Seiya stood in silence, allowing the villagers to overwhelm them with their concerns and care.

"My Lord," a woman amid the villagers called, her voice solemn and distinct from what the noisy tone the villagers had been using. She stood at a distance, her figure huddled tightly, as if the cold had gripped her.

Hearing her call to Seiya in such a tone made the villagers stop their non-stop questions, moving aside to let the woman be seen.

Her face held a hint of melancholy, the quiet sadness evident on her features.

"My Lord," she called once more in the same tone, her fist wrapped hand resting against her chest. Her lips parted to speak but clenched together, hesitating.

"T-The Kids," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Were you able to save them?"

As if they've been curious about this but had momentarily set it aside in favor of inquiring about Seiya's well-being, the villagers now turned to him, waiting for his response.

"My boy was among them," a man said, head dipping in sadness.

"Me too. My poor son," said a woman, her face contorting as she sobbed quietly.

"Please do tell us, my Lord. If you had tried saving them. Even if—"

"No," Seiya interrupted, cutting off the woman that was speaking. "They were beyond saving."

The woman who had asked the question, joined by several other villagers, stared in brief shock before their expressions gave way to silent sobs. Their bodies trembled as they covered their mouths, muffled cries escaping them.

However, as they cried, amid those bitter tears, they thanked Seiya. They appreciated him, showed him their gratitude for earning them their freedom. A lot more would've died had he not come to save them, it wouldn't have ended with those kids—the villagers understood this.

"Still, My Lord, thank you so much!" They bowed in unison, including the elders—their tears wetting the ground as they wept.

As Kaeliyus stood watching, he struggled to maintain a stern expression, fighting the urge to break into a wide smile. He was overwhelmed with joy, witnessing his young Lord receiving the respect and gratitude he deserved—words could scarcely capture the depth of his emotions in that moment.

The villagers hadn't even finished grieving their sorrows, and the moment was yet to stretch any longer when the female HS cut through the moment.

"I'm sorry, but I need you to make me understand the situation," she demanded sternly, gaze fixed straight at Seiya—a fighting stance ready, poised to activate her ability.