Who Said A Necromancer Can't Be A Priest?-Chapter 91: The Return (2)

It was an ordinary morning in Aurelia. Amara and Lucien were meeting with various representatives to solve their kingdom's problems. And they had many.

Ever since returning from Aaran's coming-of-age ceremony, they had been struggling. There was unrest among the people. In mere days, over a tenth of the total population had left Aurelia.

The once abundant fields turned barren overnight. Trade routes were constantly interrupted. Amara and Lucien were doing everything in their power to stabilize the situation, but nothing worked.

At that point, the templars made their move. They used their food reserves to feed and win over the people. They even gave them money, resources, and jobs. Within days, the people's trust had shifted from the royalty to the temples.

No longer did they appear for help at the castle gates. Everything they wanted, everything they desired, was given to them by the temples.

Lucien had tried mediating with the people as always, but even that failed. Soon, the royal family was isolated from the people. Only the barbarians stood alongside them, led by Analeis.

As if that wasn't enough, monster attacks began once again. Several walls collapsed, and they had to deploy almost all of their forces to protect the boundaries.

Their failure to maintain the kingdom was the reason the lords of their kingdom were visiting them. But Amara knew they weren't there to discuss things but to denounce their support to the crown.

One after another, they left, and the kingdom crumbled. Aurelia had no control outside their castle. The citizens had turned openly hostile towards them. It was the logical thing to call by the troops and force peace upon the region.

Yet Amara refused to do so. If they recalled the troops, the monsters would invade the kingdom and countless people would lose their lives. While some said it was what they deserved, Amara and Lucien objected to it.

They had spent years as Virtues, protecting and serving the people. How could they turn their backs on them now?

Analeis didn't understand their dilemma, but she followed their commands. The only thing she did differently was to station the barbarians around the castle. She knew they weren't enough, but they were the only line of defense between the castle and an overgrowing angry mob.

Then one night the worst happened.

Hundreds of magic portals appeared in Aurelia. Out of each portal, hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers, thugs, and mercenaries walked out, ready for battle.

Amara and Lucien were alerted. They tried contacting other Virtues and allies they had formed over the years. But not a single call went through. The entire kingdom had been shrouded by a barrier to negate any attempts at calling for help.

Only the magic tower could use such magic.

Realization donned on them like a lightning bolt. Vericia, and perhaps other Virtues, had all betrayed them.

The massive army headed towards the castle, joined by regular folks. Soon, two hundred thousand people surrounded the castle.

Their goal?

To end the Aurelia bloodline.

As for the mastermind, it was none other than the High Priest.

Earlier, he wanted to kill Aaran and be done with it. But the Emperor drew a line there. Aaran was his son now. Touching him was akin to attacking the Empire.

That's when the Emperor hinted towards a resolution.

The Priest would get his revenge, and Aurelia would be wiped from the world's map. However, the Emperor declined any direct involvement in the plan, not wanting Aaran to hate him.

Still, the Emperor helped them with resources to launch the attack.

Now, every piece was in place for their attack.

"Charge!"

***

The area surrounding the castle was filled with the sounds of clashing steel and gunshots. Thanks to their guns, the barbarians could barely hold back the initial waves.

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However, the numbers were against them. Eventually, they would run out of bullets and when that happened, they'd be wiped off. While Lucien fought alongside Analeis and the barbarians, Amara had given up.

Everyone she cared for, every friend she made, the people she cared for more than herself. All of them had betrayed them. What was the use of fighting?

Even if they won, they'd have to walk over the corpses of those they cared for. Amara couldn't bear to do either. Even so, she had one regret in her life.

She wanted to see Aaran for the last time. Perhaps to apologize, or perhaps to ask why he disowned them. In the end, she realized even that wasn't worth living for. That's why she sat on the balcony, sipping what would be her last glass of wine.

***

"Come at me, you ungrateful bastards!" Analeis yelled, her face streaked with blood.

By then, she couldn't see anything but blood and corpses around her. She had killed over a hundred people and yet showed no signs of exhaustion.

She wasn't the only one like that. Every single barbarian was the same. The more they killed, the stronger they got. Thousands of corpses lay on the ground, turning the once lush green garden into a graveyard for the dead.

Despite having the numbers, the temple's forces hesitated to fight against them.

Then suddenly, a bright light illuminated the night sky.

Analeis squinted her eyes, wondering what trick the enemy was pulling now.

Soon, the only light turned to two, then eight, then over five hundred. They kept multiplying until it was impossible to keep a count.

The axe slipped out of Analeis's grasp when she realized what it was.

Meteors.

They were all meteors.

She wanted to scream for her people to take cover, but it was too late. Nothing to protect them from such a devastating spell.

The meteors rained on them. The following explosions tore through everything. Those who were fortunate died immediately on impact, but most were unlucky and burned alive.

Analeis was part of the latter group.

Blood seeped through half her face and body. The pain was unbearable, yet she felt a strange ease wash over her. Perhaps it was the solace of knowing her end was near.

She smiled with all the strength she could muster and took out a cigarette. She lit it with a nearby fire, exhaling slowly.

"You were wrong, young master," she mumbled. "I won't die from smoking."

The thought made her chuckle as another barrage of meteors appeared in the sky. This time, it would end them all.

But then, something strange happened.

A portal appeared before them, and a voice boomed over the battlefield.

"Chapter Two: Hymn of Protection!"

In an instant, a golden barrier was erected over them. The meteors crashed through the barrier and bounced off towards the enemies. The temple's forces scattered too late and thousands died from their own attack.

Ignoring their screams, a person walked towards Analeis. He knelt down, took away the cigarette from her mouth, and crushed it in his fist.

"Didn't I tell you not to smoke in my presence?"

Tears welled up in Analeis's eyes as she nodded. Aaran looked at her scarred cheek and clenched his fists.

"I'll decide your punishment for smoking later," he said. "Rest now."

Analeis closed her eyes, smiling in peace as Aaran turned his gaze towards the temple's army.

"Leave the rest to me."