Lord of Myths: I Can Summon and Fuse Divine Powers.-Chapter 36: The Old Woman. (3)

The old lady’s arm stretched out, twisting unnaturally, as if it were a tentacle.

With speed, the limb extended toward Regulus, lengthening more than it should to be able to reach him.

The boy saw how that deadly attack headed toward him.

It was his end, he was going to die there.

Or so he thought.

But at that moment, he heard some gears starting to sound, then suddenly stopping.

Regulus expelled air, a voiceless scream caused by the sudden attack.

However, the old lady’s limb had been paralyzed.

In front of him were the old lady’s wrinkled fingers, with prominent claws protruding from the fingers.

The boy felt his heart beating at a hundred miles an hour, while a warm substance wet his pants.

Regulus felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment, but no one could blame him, he had received a deadly attack after all.

But there was still a question to answer.

Why was he still alive?

Why had the woman stopped her attack?

Regulus swallowed hard, was she mocking him?

No, it wasn’t that, there was something strange about her stillness, it was as if she had suddenly become a statue.

Regulus turned to look at Lisbeth, she was also still, as if she were a freshly carved statue.

"L-Lisbeth?" Regulus asked with a trembling voice, confused by what was happening.

The girl didn’t respond, she was paralyzed, like a statue.

The boy separated from her, still confused by what was happening.

He looked at the old lady again, she was the same, still, not moving an inch.

Even the sun rays seemed to have stood still, as if everything had stopped.

"W-what’s happening?" Regulus asked with fear in his voice.

However, the embers of his courage ignited again.

This wasn’t something to fear.

It was an opportunity he should take advantage of.

Everyone was still, but not him. He could still move, so he could escape with them from the old lady.

Regulus approached Lisbeth, taking her by the arm and trying to move her.

When he pushed, his effort was in vain.

Lisbeth didn’t move an inch.

"I don’t think this is going to work," the boy said disappointed.

He couldn’t take them with him. However, there was still one option.

"I just need to be quick and get help. If the old lady is paralyzed, she won’t be able to do anything while the guard comes," Regulus smiled at his ingenuity.

That was a fabulous plan, now, he just had to carry it out.

The boy started running, he had to go to the templars’ headquarters, there he could find help.

However, Regulus didn’t notice something. When he was a certain distance from the scene, time resumed its course.

The old lady’s hand stretched until it pierced through the wall that had been behind Regulus, emitting a burst of dust.

"Huh? What happened?" the old lady asked confused, seeing that Regulus had disappeared.

The old lady inhaled air through her nose, as if she wanted to smell something.

Upon doing so, her eyes opened wide.

"Impressive, I can’t believe he really is... Pfft, seriously, this is too convenient," the old lady mocked, as she smiled cheerfully. "Though I’ll deal with him later, for now I just need the vessel."

Her arm stretched unnaturally toward Caligo, grabbing her by the wrist.

"You’re coming with me," the old lady said.

Lisbeth fell to the ground, unable to do anything while she felt her senses clouding over.

Helpless, Lisbeth lost consciousness.

Meanwhile, Regulus ran, as fast as his legs allowed him, going through a sea of people wrapped in stillness.

"I need to hurry, I hope the templars aren’t affected by this too," the boy said, but then, people began to recover their movement, which disturbed Regulus.

He had to hurry, he had little time.

The boy kept running until he found it.

A gleaming building that commanded respect. It was between two other buildings, smaller than other temples in the city, but still served its purpose.

It had a rounded roof and a tower on each side, it was built with polished white stone, while the roof was a dark golden color.

Small stained glass windows let light in, with golden and silver mosaics that drew religious symbols.

At the entrance, two large templars, with imposing golden armor, armed with a large spear.

They looked strong at first sight, Regulus felt immediate relief seeing them.

"Please, I need help!" the boy exclaimed breathlessly, exhausted from so much running as he approached the two guards. "A lady attacked my sister, please we need you to help us."

One of the guards turned toward the boy, his helmet covered his face, but his eyes were visible enough to see concern and alertness in them.

It was normal, after all he had just heard a child asking for help.

However, upon looking at Regulus, his attitude changed.

"Get out of here, brat, we’re not here for games," he said with a firm and authoritative voice.

Regulus opened his mouth in confusion.

What was he talking about?

His sister had been attacked by a crazy woman who was about to kidnap another girl.

How could that be a game?

"No, you don’t understand, it’s real! They’re in danger, please you have to come," the boy said with a pleading voice.

But he only received a stern look from the guard.

Regulus gritted his teeth.

Why weren’t they taking him seriously?

He extended his hand, taking the templar’s and pulling it so he would follow him.

"Please, there’s no time, she’s about to kill them!" the boy insisted, pulling the templar with all his strength, but he couldn’t even move him an inch.

Then, the templar’s hand accelerated toward the boy’s jaw.

A dry slap, with the armor on.

Regulus went flying backward as he felt his teeth coming loose.

"Don’t touch me, scum! Didn’t I already tell you I don’t have time for games? Go back to the sewer you came from, you damn xeno," the guard shouted forcefully, as if Regulus had committed a horrible offense.

The boy’s mouth filled with the taste of blood, as small tears began to descend down his cheek.

Why were they treating him like this?

Why wouldn’t they help him?

That’s when he remembered it.

"Xenos."

That’s what they were to them.

Unimportant creatures not worth the effort of being saved.

That’s why Nora had gone to rescue Ruth.

Because those who were meant to protect them didn’t see demons or fairies as people.

That was the harsh truth.

"Pfft! Hahahaha! He pissed himself, see?" the other guard then mocked with malice in his voice.

Regulus felt his stomach churn from the humiliation and anger he felt.

"They’re like that, like animals, no, worse than that," the first templar added with a cold voice.

The golden-haired boy felt the world crumbling around him.

No one was going to help them.

Or so he thought.

"What’s going on here!" an authoritative voice then said.

Regulus heard several steps approaching, with a metallic sound. There were several people in armor approaching the place.

"Is this how the templars of Aurudil treat children?" the woman continued, getting closer. "You should be ashamed!"

Regulus looked back to see who was speaking.

There they were, several templars had flooded the streets, led by a woman with golden armor, and two ram horns on her head.

"It seems there’s a lot to inspect here."

At that moment Regulus knew it.

There was still hope.