Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 15 - 6: Vatiums speech

Vatium’s disappointment was evident as he looked at Aurianna with a mixture of sorrow and disbelief. His voice was heavy with bitter experience. "Haven’t you seen the suffering and enslavement inflicted on countless races? The atrocities committed for power and control?"

Aurianna felt her heart sink as she considered Vatium’s words. The idealistic view she held began to waver, and the clear lines between right and wrong started to blur, leaving her struggling for answers.

Standing her ground, Aurianna’s voice was a mix of defiance and confusion. "But those races... they committed terrible crimes," she argued. Vatium’s revelations were challenging her understanding, and she was puzzled by his insistence on calling her by name, as if they shared a connection she couldn’t recall.

Vatium’s frustration flared, his voice tense with anger. He struck a nearby pillar with a powerful punch, causing it to shake and leaving a visible dent. Aurianna flinched at the display of his strength.

"Crimes for being of another race, Aurianna!" Vatium’s voice echoed with a mix of anger and sorrow. His imposing demeanor softened slightly, revealing deep disappointment. He moved closer to her, his tone tinged with desperation. "I thought you would understand the harsh realities of the world. Why can’t you see it?"

Confusion swirled within Aurianna. She felt torn between the ideals she had always believed in and the unsettling truths Vatium was presenting. It was as if her entire understanding of the world was being questioned.

She gazed into Vatium’s eyes, searching for answers but only seeing a deep well of pain and resentment. Her mind raced, struggling to reconcile her upbringing with the harsh reality he was revealing.

Refusing to give in to doubt, Aurianna’s voice was firm as she stood her ground. She held on to her belief in the goodness of individuals, meeting Vatium’s gaze with unwavering determination.

"Even if there are only a few kind-hearted people, I would sacrifice everything for them," Aurianna declared with conviction. "As a Saintess, it is my duty to protect and uplift those who embody compassion and righteousness."

Vatium stopped, his eyes filled with deep sadness. He shook his head, murmuring to himself, "He truly blinded you, didn’t he?"

Aurianna’s curiosity was piqued by Vatium’s cryptic words. She needed answers to understand the hidden truths beneath the surface. Stepping closer, her eyes were filled with determination and a desire for clarity.

"What do you mean? Who blinded me?" Aurianna asked urgently. "Tell me the truth, Mr. Demon King. Help me understand."

Vatium’s gaze softened as he saw Aurianna’s genuine quest for the truth. The tension between them was palpable as he weighed whether to reveal his knowledge. Eventually, he decided to share his past and the tangled connections that bound them.

"I once believed in the same ideals you cherish," Vatium said, his voice heavy with sadness. "But I’ve seen humanity’s dark side—the corruption and greed hidden behind their masks of goodness."

He continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. "The one who blinded you isn’t who you think he is. He used your faith and trust for his own dark purposes, distorting your view of the world and hiding the harsh realities from you."

Aurianna’s eyes widened in shock. The idea that someone could be so deceitful, masking themselves as a hero while being the true instigator of chaos, was staggering. The revelation that her whole understanding was based on lies was overwhelming.

"So why did you start this war? Was it to save those races or just to revel in chaos like the demons you claim to oppose?" Aurianna’s anger flared, unable to accept Vatium’s attempt to present himself as anything but a villain.

She acknowledged that some humans had committed evil acts, but it was revolting to think Vatium was using this to justify his actions. To her, the true villains were the demons who thrived on senseless violence, not the humans.

Vatium’s heart ached at her words, but he needed to correct a crucial misunderstanding. "I didn’t start the war. It was King Girsal, our father, who ignited it, Aurianna!" Vatium’s voice was charged with anger and frustration. Aurianna instinctively took a step back, maintaining her distance as the truth sunk in.

"What do you mean, ’Our Father’?" Aurianna muttered, her voice full of confusion. She was struggling to understand Vatium’s startling revelation.

"Can’t you see the resemblance?" Vatium said, his tone casual but serious. He gathered his long hair into a ponytail.

Aurianna stared in shock. The man before her looked just like King Girsal, from his intense eyes to the shape of his face. She had been so focused on his strength and unusual hairstyle that she hadn’t noticed the resemblance before.

"This can’t be real. How could our father have a demon child?" Aurianna said, her voice full of disbelief. Even though she was skeptical, the resemblance was undeniable.

"The war was never meant to bring peace," Vatium said, his voice heavy with sadness. "It was a plan to get rid of a problem for our father. Once he’s wiped out all the demons, he wants to turn his land into a so-called Holy Land and enslave all demon offspring. We’d rather fight and die than live as slaves."

"That’s insane," Vatium added angrily, breaking the silence. His words left Aurianna confused and struggling to understand.

Her mind raced with questions. Was Vatium telling the truth? Could he really be King Girsal’s child? If so, why didn’t she remember him? And what about the war? Could his claims be true? She still had doubts, especially since Vatium had deceived her before. Her father had never shown direct interest in the war, which only deepened her uncertainty.

"I don’t know if I can believe you," Aurianna said, her voice trembling. "Are you lying to me again? I want to believe in the people of my kingdom and other humans. Demons have always been shown as evil."

Vatium shook his head, frustration and understanding in his eyes. "You can’t understand because you haven’t lived through the same pain. How could you? You’re a princess, protected from the struggles and discrimination that others face."

Aurianna’s expression hardened with defiance. "I won’t accept your claims. I’ll keep trusting the people of my kingdom and humanity as a whole. Demons might have a bad reputation, but that doesn’t mean they’re all evil."

Vatium sighed, sadness in his voice. "Do what you must. Just remember, I warned you. There’s so much potential in you, Aurianna, but the truth has been hidden from you. You won’t truly understand until you see it for yourself."

Aurianna felt a pang of sympathy as she saw the deep pain on Vatium’s face, a pain she hadn’t expected from someone called the Demon King. His suffering made her question if there was any truth to his harsh view of humanity. Could humans really be as cruel as he claimed?

"They will abandon you," Vatium continued, his voice heavy with despair. "They’ll use you until you’re nothing but a shell, then wait for the next Saintess to come along."

Aurianna tightened her grip on her staff, trying to find comfort and stability. Her emotions were a mix of doubt, fear, and a flicker of curiosity. Could there be truth to his dire predictions about the fate of Saintesses?

Before she could think more, a hand suddenly pierced through Vatium’s heart, cutting him off. Shocked, Aurianna turned to see a mysterious figure behind Vatium. A shadowy boy appeared beside Vatium and vanished just as quickly. A blinding white light engulfed Vatium, and he disintegrated, leaving Aurianna stunned and overwhelmed.

"You broke your word," the male voice said, filled with anger and disappointment. Aurianna shivered as she took in the scene. Tears filled her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. It felt like she had lost a dear friend. As the light faded, Vatium was gone. Had she somehow caused his death?

Her mind raced with questions. "Who was that boy? Did he really kill Vatium?" she wondered aloud, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Concern gnawed at her. If it was someone else who dealt the fatal blow, she and the heroes might lose their honor. Yet, Vatium’s words lingered in her mind. Was there any truth to what he said?

Determined to make sense of this, Aurianna shook off her overwhelming thoughts and rose from the ground. She needed to piece together what was happening. If humans were not the clear heroes, then who were? Was there even such a thing as "good guys"? The line between right and wrong was increasingly blurred, leaving her with a deep sense of moral confusion.

Seeking a moment to think, Aurianna found a spot to rest and recover her depleted mana. Slowly, her energy began to return. With renewed strength, she approached the fallen heroes and used her Saintess powers to revive them. But just as she finished, a sharp pain shot through her body, causing her to collapse, barely staying conscious.

Cindy, one of the revived heroes, groaned and rubbed her temples, her face showing shock and concern. "It looks like the power of the Saintess is no longer with you," she said, disbelief clear in her voice.

Aurianna’s eyes widened in shock as she realized her power—the strength that had defined her role—was gone.

She struggled to stand, her body aching from everything that had happened. Cindy’s news had hit her hard, leaving her stunned and confused about what to do next. But despite the pain and doubt, a small spark of determination flickered inside her. Vatium’s final words echoed in her mind, pushing her to stay strong.

"They won’t abandon me. I believe in them," Aurianna whispered to herself, trying to find comfort in her own belief. Despite the pain, she forced herself to move and face the group.

Taking a deep breath and forcing a smile through her discomfort, Aurianna prepared to speak. "I’ve defeated the Demon King," she announced, trying to sound triumphant. "Now, we can finally be safe."