9-13: The Other Side

Everyone ran around like headless chickens, half with paperwork and the other half trying to trying to keep things under control. This was something normal for the past millennia. Though, only one woman seemed calm, walking with purpose.

She oversaw everything, from the farmers who wish for rain, to the rest of her kin her try to decide if it's worth it.

"L-Lady Amaranth." A younger Angel attempted to get her attention.

"What is it?" Amaranth responded, examining the girl closely and quickly.

"About the priest, I believe we should-"

"He would've been executed anyway."

"I... what?"

"If he was successful, he would've been executed for interfering. It's specifically the curse that needs to kill."

"Why does it need to be the curse? Couldn't we just make a drought and starve them to death? Or have a deadly illness run through?"

"How old are you?"

"Lady Amaranth?"

"Answer me. How old are you?"

"I just recently turned 5,000 last week."

"That explains it. You're too young to have known. You did pay attention in your schooling, did you?"

"Well, a little bit."

"Then, do you remember why we went to war?"

"Um... wasn't it because the Dragons were encroaching on your territory, and the Hakano were traitors, who were giving the Dragons information even though we were paying them to be mercenaries on our side?"

"Ugh... Only on official documents. The real reason is because it was the only way to save what was left. The curse we made was part of that."

"I... think I remember something like that. Um..." The young Angel flipped through her papers as she found a document.

"Ah, here. Um... something about whatever is being fed with the souls of those we cursed. But what does that have to do with the war?"

"Hmph. You really are too young. The war was the best option we had to gather enough souls to ensure it's kept under control. We Imbued our weapons and killed the least prevalent of the races. Humans and Elves breed like rabbits, especially humans. So, we only put the curse on humans to affect a small, but significant portion of their population. Elves were fine. The Hakank and Dragons though, much smaller populations and just as ageless as us. So, we killed them all, ensuring that the rest can live. We kept the curse as it was necessary."

"I see, but it looks like we can stop with the curse for at least 50,000 years. If we stop, we can let humanity grow more, couldn't we?"

"I wish we could. But the reason why we still use the curse is to ensure there's just enough.."

"What is it for anyway?"

"I think that's enough questions for now. You can leave."

"But-"

"Leave."

The young Angel quickly fled as Amaranth stared into the distance, balling up her hands into fists.

"It was the only choice we had." She whispered to herself.

The girl that escaped from her grasp was insignificant, but Amaranth thought to herself how she could prevent that from happening again. And there weren't many options, except for giving certain humans those weapons.

"No, no... it needs to look natural. If it wasn't, we'd lose our support. Damn it!"

All the options won't work. The only one that can is what they already have.

"That girl is coming for me. I'll need to make sure she doesn't get far."