Chapter 3: Inhuman Need

< Previous Chapter / Next Chapter >

Overlord: Celestial Crusade

Themis was flying around in order to scout the area and then something grabbed her attention, with her flying lower and saw what appeared to be a village of creatures that seemed like bipedal goats that were suffering from what seemed like black fumes coming from the ground.

"Oh my." she said and touched her temple "Lord Aethaion, I have found something interesting." she said telepathetically to her master who was sitting on the throne.

"Oh? Excellent Themis, tell me more." he asked eagerly.

"I see below me a village of what seem to be bipedal goats that is plagued by something that slowly kills them, do you want me to do something?" she calmly asked, almost apathetically and Aethaion became skeptical.

The need to save these creatures suddenly sprung within him "I will!" he said and extended his hand "**Gate**" he said and a portal appeared before him and once he crossed it, he was brought near Themis on the sky "Show me, Themis." he said to her.

Themis bowed her head and showed him the village "So sad." he said as genuine sadness overcame him "*Does being an angel intensify my need to protect and help others?*" he wondered and flew down with Themis who followed him, with both landing on the village without being noticed by anyone.

"Whatever curse this is, it's clearly of low level, my Lord." commended Themis while throwing a glance around and Aethaion touched her right shoulder.

"A great observation Themis, you did excellent until now." he said pleased while not looking at her.

"I'm unworthy of your praise, my Lord!" she passionately said while bowing down and he took a step in front.

"Time to get rid of this curse, **Widen Magic: Remove Curse!**" he shouted and extended his hand, unleashing a glowing wave that erased the fumes and the village seemed clearer while the residents felt better and stood up in confusion, however, some noticed Aethaion and Themis and surrounded them while ready for anything.

"My Lord, should I do something?" asked Themis calmy while ready to attack if needed.

"No, let's wait first." he said and as they were talking, the crowd in front stepped aside for an elder looking bipedal goat with a rusty armor and a missing right horn was slowly walking towards the two.

"What are you all idiots doing?! This is our savior!" he shouted angry, with all relaxing and putting away their spears away "Y-you are an angel, an angel that saved us, thank you, my Lord!" thanked the Elder Aethaion sincerely and bowed, with the other ones doing so too.

"There is no need, Elder. I just saw you suffering from a curse and I just removed it." explained Aethaion much to the elder's happiness.

"I know it's not much, but please join us in a feast. It's the least we could do to our saviour and his companion" pleaded the elder while looking at him.

Half an hour later

Aethaion along with Themis were on the elder's house and were asking him various things. Aethaion learned that what he saved was a tribe of demi-humans known as Bafolk, with many tribes existing in the area which was known as Abelion Hills which is a huge area with vast hills that hosts eighteen types of racial tribes "I have to tell you that the hills are between two kingdoms." he said and Aethaion seemed interested.

"Please, tell me about them."

The elder brought out a map and pointed at something on it "this is where we are, the Abelion Hills" he said and dragged his finger on the left "this is the Roble Holy Kingdom or better known as Holy Kingdom. I only know that it's divided into two parts and has nice defenses as many have been the tribes that attacked it with no results." said the elder and then pointed on the right, with his expression becoming angry and disgusted "and this is the accursed Slane Theocracy" he said and coughed.

"You seem to hate it." commended Aethaion and the elder's aide looked at him.

Before anything could be said, the door opened suddenly by a villager "Elder, it's a disaster!" he shouted panicked. In the center of the village, all the villagers were concerned as they were looking at a huge pile of vegetables and meat that had flies flying over it.

"I can't believe it, our food is poisoned!" said the elder shocked from what he saw in front of him.

"It's not only the food. Our water supplies are also poisoned!" revealed the villager while placing five barrels near it, with everyone being panicked and confused in their question of how it could happen.

"What's wrong?" asked Aethaion who came out along with Themis and saw the villagers being distressed while coming closer to the food pile.

"Oh, Lord Aethaion, it's a disaster! Somehow, our food, water and wine supplies have been poisoned. I'm afraid that the feast must be cancelled and must go gather new supplies." announced the elder disappointed, but Aethaion chuckled as he was an inch away from the pile and extended his hand.

"**Maximize Magic:Purify Food and Water!**" shouted Aethaion and his hand glowed, with the food and water glowing for some seconds to the fascination of the elder and the villagers that were coming closer. When the spell finished, everything was looking so fresh as if it was harvested or killed today while when the curious villagers opened the barrels, the water was crystal clear and was of such quality that it felt as if it was gathered by a fountain while the wine had an intoxicating smell "I removed any toxins and poisons from your supplies, so you can have your feast." he explained much to their happiness.

It was night

Many Bafolk were dancing around a fire while others were sitting down and eating, some alone and others with their families and kids while the elder was sitting on a special seat while having two guards near him and then, he stood up and raised his wooden cup "everyone, we feast tonight in honor of our saviour who descended from the heavens to save us. Let's cheer for Lord Aethaion!" he shouted and everyone who stopped doing anything raised their glasses "to Lord Aethaion!" they shouted excited and drunk, resuming then whatever they were doing. The villagers were fascinated with Aethaion; many considered him a good omen for their tribe while even more were fascinated to see an angel, a being from tales, from up close while there were some in their drunk state that wanted to spar with him, but they all genuinely felt grateful for what he did.

Aethaion was watching the festivities going from a hill along with Themis "You can join them if you want to." he said to Themis who was also watching the village party with a face of great interest and she seemed to barely contain herself.

"My duty is to be alongside of you regardless of what I want." she explained with closed eyes and then, she felt him petting her head much to her surprise and embarassment.

" I will be fine and even if danger appeared, I would summon you immediately." he said and stopped petting her, with her being in bliss and looked at him.

"T-Then, I will f-follow your orders and have fun" she said and quickly descended near the fire and began dancing, with everyone being mesmerized by her figure and dancing as they stopped everything they were doing, only to later dance along with her in her happiness.

As the festival was going on, a group of red hooded men were looking from another hill "Hmph, dance and drink pieces of filth. Tomorrow, you shall be purged with fire in the name of the Six Gods!" claimed a a man with a fire shaped mask.