Act II Part 1 Chapter 1 – A Family Gathering Gone Wrong

March, Four years ago

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One could hardly speak of Sylia’s life without mentioning Dio Krevoski-Sigmund and his complicated relationship with Sylia. Dio had always been a decent man but one far too optimistic, forgiving, and painfully soft-hearted. It was that very temperament that had led him down a dangerous path nearly two decades ago. Since then, Sylia had learned to keep her distance, knowing too well that Dio was not someone who could bear too much truth at once.

Dio had a kind nature and a strong sense of duty, but he was also famously indiscreet in his personal life. He and his son, Dio Jr., were notorious for their affairs with women from both the Nobility and Noble Gentry. These liaisons often led to scandal, and in Dio’s case, considerable strain on his already stretched resources. The man was fertile to a fault—an unfortunate trait that did little to help his reputation or finances.

This brings us to four years ago, at a family gathering where long-held secrets surfaced and carefully buried truths clawed their way into the open.

It was cabbage and semi-vegetarian sausage day.

As expected, Dio had been thrilled. He loved cabbage.

They were temporarily staying in a house deep within the Dernavios Forest, where several members of the Sigmundi bloodline had settled. Dio Krevoski-Sigmund and his son Dionito Sigmund each kept a residence there. The forest itself stretched south of the City, just beyond the South Gates on the eastern side, shielding part of a Half-Enclave—space warped and folded in on itself, much of it resting in a Mid-Enclaved zone accessible only to authorized individuals.

Though Dio and his son didn’t spend much time in their forest homes, many of their children and relatives did. The residents of Dernavios Forest wore both a pendant and a bracelet allowing them to pass into the more secure zones, including residences owned by extended family.

Sylia had requested the creation of the area years prior. Since then, it had developed steadily, with the addition of many hidden Half-Enclaves and Semi-Enclaves. One of the oldest among them was the Saryamandae Half-Enclave, where Count Garutam—one of their closest allies—resided. He regularly supplied them with excellent products at very fair prices.

Count Garutam had joined their small family gathering with a few of his kin and men. It was a festive occasion, filled with laughter, good food, and ample drink. Cabbage was the day’s centerpiece, but fire-roasted meat and grilled skewers were just as essential. Sylia had once told Dio that no Combat-class Noble could be properly entertained without them and Dio, as always, had no intention of contradicting her. The Sigmundi were fond of such food.

The Sigmundi blood were used to the wilderness. They liked living in forests and mountains with few people around, so they could run free. City life suffocated their kind. For many of the pure bloods, living inside of a City would have been too stifling. They would have grown mad rapidly and maybe that’s what happened to some of them. For others, the City was more of a punishment than anything else.

Dio wandered into the kitchen area and spotted a teenaged Sylia slicing cabbage beside her Bunnies and a handful of volunteers. His face lit up with a grin.

“Well, look at that. There seems to be plenty left. Do you need a hand? I’m not bad with a knife, you know.”

Pullina, now six, giggled at her uncle’s theatrics. She had been abandoned two years earlier by her family, then adopted by her grandfather and his wife, Tasha. Fortunately, she’d ended up living with her Uncle Dio and some of his grandchildren. He was still remarkably fit for fifty-six, bearing a strong resemblance to his sons, Dionito and Dio Jr, despite their obvious age gap. Most people had trouble believing he was their father, which had led to more than one awkward moment of confusion.

Sylia glanced at the charming smile that never meant anything good. Dio was flirting again. She had kept her teenage form precisely to keep him and others like him in check. There were children around, after all.

“No, we’re fine.” she said. “Go entertain the guests. That’s supposed to be your job. I already put Dio Jr. to work. He’s cutting them with a katana. He’s gone rusty lately with Dionito.”

Dio folded his arms and grinned. “You mean since his marriage? You still haven’t forgiven him, have you? I doubt it’ll last. Never worked for me either. Not for more than a few months, anyway. And only when someone shoved a blade at my back. Some of those parents and cousins were incredibly protective.”

Sylia shot him a glare. Pullina, standing nearby, smiled. She was young but well-acquainted with her uncle’s history and his relatives’ dramatic habits. Dio had once roamed the country working for the Adventurer and Mercenary Guild. He hated City life, hated being tied to the army.

“You’re hardly a model.” Sylia muttered. “And I wasn’t talking about his marriage. He’s forty years old. We can’t keep coddling him. I’m worried. Malevolence and Corruption have been clinging to him more than we expected. We always knew it might happen, but we tried to delay it. He’s worse than you were when I found you twenty years ago.”

Pullina blinked but stayed focused after her cousin nudged her. She nodded and went on shredding cabbage.

Dio’s smile faded. “He doesn’t look unhappy.”

Sylia glowered.

“That’s the problem. You had protections. He doesn’t. Malevolence clung to you like fog, but it never settled. It was testing you, trying to wear you down. But with him, it’s already rooted. Dio, we might have to leave him here.”

“No…” Dio’s voice cracked.

“I’m sorry. He’s past the threshold. I’ll have to expand this place with another corruption containment layer.”

Dio hesitated. “What about Dionito? He also got married.”

Sylia frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Pullina and her cousin both nodded, silently questioning the same thing.

Dio cleared his throat. “Isn’t it true that once they marry, they lose your Goddesses’ Blessing?”

Sylia stared at him. “Where did you hear that nonsense? I’m involved with plenty of married men—with their wives’ approval.”

Dio blinked in shock. Sylia sighed.

“We made that up, remember? Just to get you away from those clingy relatives. I might’ve blocked too many of your memories.”

His expression turned dark, eyes glittering with repressed anger, but he gave a quiet nod.

“Don’t give me that look.” Sylia said. “I hunted last night some Flugart Wolves and Wolf-Rabbitdos. They’re bringing them in now. You should go skin a few.”

The announcement made Dio perk up. “Really? I might finally get a new coat for next winter. You talked about it before, but nothing came of it.”

“I waited until their numbers were high enough. I’ll have someone make you a few pieces with different designs. You should train more. We used to hunt better together.”

Dio looked sheepish. “I’m too old for that now.”

Pullina, still working, turned toward Sylia. “Uncle Dio is fifty-six. That’s the age soldiers retire. It’s the pasture age for men.”

Some of the nearby women laughed quietly. Dio’s face darkened, the flush creeping up his neck.

Sylia just smiled. “Actually, he’s eighty-six in religious years.”

Dio stiffened, looking away as a few people nearby gasped in disbelief.

“He received a benediction from Subordinates of the Goddess of Nights and Rights, like a few of his relatives. You can’t judge him by his appearance.”

Judith, Pullina’s cousin, stared at Dio in disbelief. “No way. Dio is—”

“He’s much older than that in civil years,” Sylia said before she could finish. “Some followers of the Queen of Nights receive a benediction that makes a single religious year worth ten. It’s not uncommon among her older faithful followers.”

Pullina blinked. “What? Did my father get one?”

“You mean your natural father?” Sylia asked with a raised brow. “No. He was never a follower of the Queen of Nights. If anything, he may have received penalties instead. One of them being you.”

Pullina’s face tensed and crumpled. Dio, forgetting his earlier irritation, quickly stepped in.

“Sylia, please. She’s just a child.”

Judith gave a slow nod but winced when she met Sylia’s expression. She lowered her gaze at once.

Sylia’s voice softened only slightly. “You should know the truth, Pullina. The real reason you were abandoned.”

“I thought it was because my Magic and Mana were too low for me to survive around them.”

“That’s the excuse they gave you,” Sylia replied. “But the truth is very different. Your Soul holds a Sainted Blessing. It’s completely untainted by corruption or Malevolence. In fact, it repels both. Your Blessing comes from a Mana-Zero Spirit and from Dyarinara, a Celestial-Goddess known as the Spiritual Huntress. That’s why you don’t need Mana to fight or endure. Your strength and combat instinct come from the Celestials themselves.”

Dio’s eyes widened in shock.

“You get along with Judith because her Soul was blessed and protected at birth.” Sylia went on. “And with Dio, because his Soul is under the Obsidian Protection granted by the Queen of Nights—whom he chose to follow.

Sylia continued, her voice steady: “Judith possesses the same Elements as you, which likely makes it easier for you to be together. Not only does your Soul repel corruption and Malevolence that had become a second skin to your father and his wife. You also wield stronger Lightling and Light Elements than most here, which disrupts your parents’ Mana flow. Your father suffers the most, as his Darkness Element is of poor quality—what one might call a corrupted form of Dark and Darkness. I have no qualms with your Elemental condition, for I wield Pure Dark and Darkness Elements.”

Sylia sighed softly. “After all, everything originates from those two Elements. Night is born of Darkness, while Light and Lightling emerge from Dark. You must understand that at the foundation of all lies the Dark Fundamental Element. Darkness itself formed from it. Never be fooled into believing the High Lords lack Dark Elements. Most conceal their most potent Elements, favoring those in which they have specialized over time.”

Pullina’s eyes widened in surprise.

Dio interrupted, “Sylia, what exactly do you mean?”

Sylia’s gaze sharpened. “From the Pure Fundamental Dark springs everything. Since, I come from that Element, manipulating or creating other Elements is natural for me. Many High Lords cloak the extent of their Dark and Darkness Elements. Some even jest, claiming descent from Light instead. Do you know why?”

Pullina shook her head.

“Because they wish to conceal their true age.” Sylia explained. “Some struggle accepting how old they are. A few have even fabricated Elements exclusive to their Flock and had us pay for access to those. It led us to charging them for Dark Elements, as their pretense was too convincing.”

Silence settled over the group. Sylia resumed chopping cabbage with practiced hands, while Dio’s gaze lingered on her. She shot him an irritated look. “What is it? Just say what’s on your mind.”

Dio cleared his throat. “Will you stay a while? Those Spirits recently added the Saraba Half-Enclave at your request. I thought we might spend some time there, catch up with Syrianoyra since she just returned.”

Sylia pursed her lips. “She’ll likely spend little time with us. Her interests lie elsewhere—more with her ex-lovers than with her old parents.”

Dio grinned. “Even better. That means more time for us.”

Judith sighed. “Aren’t you ashamed? You just started seeing someone new—someone younger than me.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Dio frowned. “This is different. With her, I can do things I wouldn’t with others. What about you? I thought you were seeing Dionito. It must have gotten complicated with Sylia around. So, you should have my back instead since it might help you.”

Judith averted her gaze, cheeks flushed. “I don’t know what you mean. I was simply having a rough time after my breakup with Janiro.”

Dio smiled knowingly. “I heard you two were planning on marrying. That would make you his Fourth Wife.”

“That was discussed years ago, and even Sylia agreed.” Judith replied. “It was merely an arrangement. I could claim certain rights that way—especially for my children with Dionito. You remember those right?”

Dio nodded with a heavy sigh. They hadn’t had a choice back then. Still, Sylia had overdone it, probably to teach them a lesson. Suddenly, the woman smiled at him and returned to her task. He never understood why she found such satisfaction in menial chores.

Pullina glanced up, curiosity shining in her eyes. “Uncle Dio, why is it different with Sylia?”

Sylia shot a sharp glare at the naïve girl who always asked the right questions while looking so innocent.

Dio flushed, staying silent. Judith smiled slyly and urged him to answer. A few of their relatives nodded in agreement.

Dio cleared his throat. “We cultivate things with Sylia—cabbage, vegetables, flowers. We also go hunting and fishing. I could never do that with other women.”

From the doorway, Dio’s son Gyundon snorted, a mug of some green concoction in hand that instantly made Pullina envious. The aroma was intoxicating. Dio’s smile faded at the sight of his son and even more so when Gyundon contradicted his story.

“What are you doing?” Dio asked sharply.

“Listening to the nonsense you’re spouting and that none of them would ever believe.” Gyundon shot back.

Two of Judith’s cousins silently agreed as they continued their tasks. Sylia sized up Gyundon and said with a sly smile. “You look hot. Maybe we should do something about that later.”

Gyundon grinned and took a long sip of his drink.

Pullina’s eyes lit up. “Uncle Gyundon, what are you drinking? It smells amazing. May I have some?”

Sylia shook her head. “Not this one—it’s spiked.”

Pullina pouted but conceded. “Alright, but it does smell good.”

Dio nodded in curiosity.

Gyundon explained. “Some of Sylia’s Bunnies are crafting these for a demonstration. This one’s called Pistachio, White Hot Chocolate and Pistachio Matcha Green Beans Coffee with a hint of almond. It’s spiked with various liquors made from Magic Pistachio and Almonds. Most ingredients come from the Saraba Enclave that was created last night after prayers from Sylia and Syrianyor. Syrianyor’s been distributing some of the ingredients to her Merchant friends so they could sell them in the Region.”

Dio raised an eyebrow and glanced at Sylia, who quickly turned away, blushing.

“I thought you were busy last night. Busy with me.” he teased.

Pullina frowned, while Judith stifled a cough.

Sylia replied. “I was multitasking.”

Dio smirked. “I bet you had that made for Gyundon because you couldn’t meet him.”

Gyundon shook his head, cheeks flushed.

Dio sighed. “Of course you did. Dionito wouldn’t be so cheerfully carrying cases and cutting melons and those special wind cabbages if he didn’t have a little something to keep him going.”

Judith blinked, confused.

Pullina asked, “What is wind cabbage? I didn’t know Dionito had been working. He’s been lazy and napping so far.”

Sylia smiled knowingly.

Gyundon chuckled. “Sylia woke us early this morning for a cabbage battle. They’re technically not cabbages but magical creatures that look like cabbages. Dionito got the easiest ones—the Flying and Earthly Wind Cabbagios. Dad and I weren’t so lucky. I got Dark Element fighters who refused to be cut down. The Spiritus who made them is mean and doesn’t share his spoils. Dad got a few who punch hard and even some Fire Wielders who almost burned us down. We didn’t even get the worst ones. Some need a Dark hammer to be smashed or they don’t die, and even then they resist and summon Slimes.”

Pullina glanced at Sylia, who was blushing now. Judith sighed. “No wonder Dionito came back so sweaty and tired this morning.”

Dio grumbled. “He doesn’t train enough. I fought Drakno Lizards with less firepower than those. We had to run after alerting the Cabbage Dungeon’s Master—called Cabbage Wee Boss. He’s a Spiritual Creature who creates some of the cabbage and Cabbagios there. He is guarded by his kid—a Dark Earthly Drakno Dragon who told us to get lost. We had to hurry since he was not alone. The Cabbage Knights and Mages in charge of protecting the Boss appeared as well.”

Pullina pursed her lips and looked at Sylia.

Sylia said. “It was for the kids. They also love cabbage like Dio. A Spirit made those to entertain them.”

Dio added with a grin. “Or to kill us, most likely. Those ‘cabbage creatures’ are immortal.”

Sylia shrugged. “Well, they accept being slain for the greater good. They’re only clones. The original ones stay deep within the Dungeon, in another Dimension. As you go deeper within the Dungeon, you see stronger clones and double bodies. It is typical Dungeon setting.”

Dio and his son exchanged a glance and blushed, recalling how they hadn’t even made it to the forest perimeter far outside the Dungeon.

Sylia smiled slyly. “Admit it—it was fun. I even warped space so you could meet those guys when I saw you weren’t getting close.”

Dio and Gyundon nodded, cheeks flushed. Dio suddenly grew serious and turned to Judith and Pullina. “This is something I can only do with Sylia.”

Judith and Pullina exchanged disgusted looks. Neither truly believed him.

Gyundon glanced at Sylia working and asked. “So, how will you make this cabbage?”

Sylia replied. “Same as always. We mix grounded Semi-Vegetarian sausages with grounded meat—mostly pork and beef, with a bit of chicken and Birds.”

Gyundon teased. “I thought you were going to innovate.”

Sylia smiled. “If you mean the stuffed cabbage you like, we’re making some in small quantities with different flavors. This batch is for everyone.”

Pullina nodded eagerly. “It is. A few Priests are coming to try some.”

Dio narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? And who might those Priests be? I hope not the ones I’m thinking about.”

Gyundon shrugged. “Calm down, Dad. I’m sure Sylia wouldn’t have invited them.”

Dio looked skeptical. Sylia confirmed his fears. “They are exactly who you think they are. But they won’t be here before three pm. Most won’t arrive until four, and some might come even later.”

Dio frowned. “Why would you invite them?”

Sylia smiled faintly. “To celebrate Judith’s wedding with Dionito, of course.”

Dio nearly fell backward. Judith looked as surprised as he was.

Judith exclaimed. “You invited them to celebrate our wedding? Was I going to be informed?”

Sylia shrugged. “You already have an appointment next week for the civil marriage contract. I don’t see why inviting them over to celebrate your religious wedding would cause any issue.”

Judith frowned deeply, clearly unhappy.

Gyundon said gently.“Sylia, honey, I think you went too far this time.”

Dio admitted. “I had no idea you rushed the marriage, Judith.”

Judith replied firmly. “We decided a few days ago. Sylia, I’m sorry, but I have no intention of a religious wedding this week.”

Sylia’s eyes narrowed. “I never said you had a choice.”

Judith frowned further, displeased.

Gyundon added. “Sylia, honey, I usually trust your judgment, but this should be their decision. You’ve always respected free will.”

Sylia laughed darkly. “There is no free will for an Ogre Goddess who fell to Celestial status and has been eating Judith and wearing her skin all week. I won’t let her snack on Pullina next.”

Gyundon froze mid-step, the mug still in his hand. His eyes widened, and so did Dio’s. Even Pullina seemed to understand quickly and staggered back.

Judith’s expression twisted—not just with emotion, but with something strange and powerful. Her irises shimmered, reshaping into something sharp, fractured, and utterly unnatural. She hissed, no longer pretending. The Celestial that wore Judith’s skin had dropped the charade, now.

A moment later, she lunged at Sylia with terrifying speed.

The attack never landed.

A wall shimmered between them, translucent and humming with raw power. The false Judith slammed into it hard, then fell backward almost unconscious.

She shrieked and surged forward again but thick silver threads of spider web snapped out and caught her limbs. The next second, they yanked her backward with brutal force. Her arms and legs were flung behind her, rendering her helpless then the threads twisted fast around her body, locking her into a spider web cocoon.

From the center of a swirling Dark Portal stepped a monstrous Spider, sleek and white, with red stripes all over its body. Its legs clicked quietly on the stone, and its eight crimson eyes glowed with hunger.

Dio instinctively reached for a weapon he didn’t have.

Then the Spider raised one leg and waved.

“Lady Sylia!” it chirped, in a voice disturbingly bright and delighted. “It’s been ages!”

Sylia nodded calmly. “You’re right on time. Keep that one down.”

“Of course, my Lady. Oh Lords. It smells like Ogre rot around here.” the Spider replied, already anchoring threads with unnatural speed. “I hate that smell.”

A dark figure suddenly appeared before Sylia. The man was tall, gray-skinned, cloaked in black, and radiated the same foul energy as the Ogre Goddess. He remained silent at first, merely raising an arm. Then, as he began to summon, he hissed, “You shall die here today, filthy Saintess.”

Creatures emerged one after another, only to be ensnared by Shadow webs pouring from the floor. The Dark Celestial Guard was quickly immobilized, but he had not come alone. More figures like him appeared, summoning in turn, when another Celestial, dressed in white and green, descended through the ceiling, smiling.

Sylia wasted no time. She first teleported all bystanders away and cast protective wards around Dio and Gyundon while expanding the room. Then, she summoned full armor that enveloped both Dio and Gyundon, followed by two swords that flew directly into their hands. Additional weapons appeared at their sides and waists.

“Go. I’m covering for you.” she said. “Use those Dark swords well.”

Dio stepped forward first, with Gyundon close behind.

Meanwhile, Sylia pressed her hands outward. The space around them shifted subtly, then stretched. Layers of protection thickened between them and the rest of the house. Shield after shield formed—silent, invisible, and anchored firmly in place.

Sylia turned her attention to the Celestial who seemed more powerful than the others.

The other Celestial Guards continued summoning while avoiding eye contact with their crying, shrieking Dark Guard comrade, who was being devoured by Dark Shadow threads. Many of their summoned creatures barely moved before disintegrating. Sylia smiled as she glanced at the now visibly nervous Dark Guards from her floating vantage near the other Celestial.

The remaining summoned creatures charged Dio and Gyundon. Steel clashed mid-step. Both men fought fiercely while Sylia watched proudly. She held the powerful Celestial trapped within the wall as he struggled to free himself.

Sylia reached out her hands and said, “Oh my, look who we have here. Why pretend to be a Celestial? Oh, fallen God. I thought we had an agreement. We left you alive with half your Divine powers after you made part of this place with your sister—whom we did not spare.”

The Fallen God was suddenly seized by crippling fear as he met the gaze of a grinning Sylia. There was no longer any doubt—his end would be most horrifying. For this was Sylia, the Dark Saint, famed for her merciless nature. In time, he would come to bitterly regret betraying the one who had once granted him mercy, for Saint Sylia punished treachery with a cruelty so fierce that even the Gods had more than once voiced their disapproval. She had not earned her feared position among the Flock of the Dark Lord’s Crow by chance.

For now, he was just gripped by a terror unlike anything he had ever known, as he stood before the chilling smile of a true predator.

***

What happened next, Dio and Gyundon could barely recall. The shock was still too strong. Sylia had vanished with the Fallen God and their remaining foes after swiftly dispatching the last of the hostile Celestial Guards.

Perhaps Dio was the most shaken of them all. He had just learned that his son, Dionito, was doomed. The Ogre Goddess had inflicted too much damage on him.

Dio had always known that his family and Sylia would be targeted by corrupted Gods and Spirits, but he had never imagined losing his son to one of them, and not like this.

Dio sighed, exhausted after the recent events.

It had been a long day for everyone, and Pullina had yet to recover from the shock of the attack.

Thankfully, Sylia’s efficient and gentle daughter Rozen had arrived to help. She was currently looking after Pullina and the other children attending the gathering. The rest of the guests were being cared for by Sylia’s Summons. So everything was gradually returning to normal.

Dio still noted with some unease that his son Neron seemed almost unaffected by the terrifying incident. The boy didn’t appear to find anything strange in the house being attacked by corrupt Gods and Celestials. He was beginning to resemble his older brother Seron more and more—but that one, at least, had the excuse of being born of someone even worse. Master Mathias Herves—the incarnation of a God. Maybe even more than a God.

Dio sighed. He would need to speak to his son later on. For now, he focused on the rest of his family. The more he learned from Sylia’s Bunny Summon and Gyundon, the more he understood why Dionito’s Divine Protections had failed. His son had entered a Pact with the Ogre Goddess knowingly, and even before she devoured Judith. He had also kept that dangerous Pact active without telling anyone. The worst part was discovering that Dionito had done it not out of desperation, but only for power.

Gyundon let out a frustrated cry as he listened to his father’s laments.

“I told you he might betray us.”

Dio replied, “You shouldn’t speak of your brother that way.”

Gyundon shot him a glare.

“You adopted him before I was even born, so I don’t blame you. He’s too much like his birth father. That bloodline is cursed. They always turn bad. How long will it take for you to understand that?”

Dio answered, “Sylia is giving them a chance. Would you say that Pullina is cursed?”

Gyundon made a sharp, exasperated gesture.

“Sylia is only pretending. As for Pullina, she’s not cursed at all. If anything, she’s blessed.”

Dio looked up, stunned.

“What?”

Gyundon said, “Galanda and Syendro told me.”

Dio paused, troubled. His daughter Galanda wasn’t someone who spoke lightly. She was not only highly educated but renowned for her wisdom. Clearly upset that his son knew something he didn’t, Dio yelled at him.

“Explain.”

Gyundon answered, “Pullina was created by Spirits under the orders of Mathias Herves. So the only one we could actually call her parent around here is Master Mathias.”

Dio murmured, looking lost.

“No…”

Gyundon continued, “Pullina is actually a Sainted One. We just don’t notice because Sylia pretends to be a Saint. You know—almost none of Sylia’s children are Saints. They’re half-Celestials. That includes Neron, Galanda, and Syendro. I was even told they’ve been tasked with protecting the actual Saints and Sainted Ones who’ve become targets for both the corrupt authorities and the Celestials.”

***

Dio sat in silence, weighed down by all he had just learned. His son Dionito had chosen power over loyalty and kept dangerous information that eventually led him to ruin.

Pullina, the sweet girl they had tried to shelter, was no ordinary child but a Sainted One whose soul had been made by Spirits, under the command of none other than Mathias Herves. And Sylia, the one who should have answered their questions, was gone—vanished with the Fallen God and the last of their enemies, whom she was likely torturing by now.

The house had become very quiet, but the silence held no peace. Around him, his children bore the marks of different truths: Mattina dazed, Gyundon seething, Neron disturbingly still. Dio closed his eyes. The war had not ended. It had only come home.