Bloody Odyssey-Chapter 38: Body Of Light III

Chapter 37: Body of light.

The grand halls of the churchs inner sanctum in the Holy South were filled with sacred silence—until a terrified scream shattered it.

"Ahhh!"

A blindfolded woman of goddess-like beauty stood trembling in flowing white robes. Blood slipped down her cheek in a slow, red trail, stark against her pale skin.

"Abel!" she screamed again, voice full of pure terror.

In the blink of an eye, a young-looking man appeared beside her. Golden armor covered him from head to toe, glowing faintly with holy runes. He caught her as she swayed, lifting her into his arms while the blood continued to drip.

"Elizabeth!"

"Darling..." She reached up and held his face with shaking fingers.

"What happened, Elizabeth?" he asked, voice thick with concern as he carried her quickly through the large hallways lined with marble pillars and glowing holy symbols.

"Please, my love... take me to the temple to pray."

"In your condition?"

She nodded weakly against his chest.

"Okay."

He raised his voice without slowing.

"Prepare the teleportation circle immediately!"

Elizabeth’s fingers tightened on his armor.

"Darling... Lord Micah is still alive."

Abel’s eyes, which had been shut tight from the moment he arrived, finally opened. One half was pure molten gold, the other deep silver—heterochromia that marked him as something touched by both divine favor and curse.

"Eli," he said softly, "I will take you to the temple. Master is alive. I need to find him."

Elizabeth shook her head slowly.

"He is a heretic now. I saw him in my vision—striking at an angel of god."

Abel’s jaw tightened.

"Is he that strong? To be able to fight an angel and survive?"

"That is the thing, darling. He was saved. By a silver-haired man. I couldn’t see him properly. But his presence was terrible. Even the angel was terrified of him."

Abel’s grip on her grew tighter.

"Then Master is not the problem. He is being controlled."

"Darling, our hands are tied. Baby, I know you thought he was dead. I know you feel indebted to him. But he has turned against us."

Abel stayed quiet for a moment, clearly conflicted—old loyalty fighting against current duty.

"Any clue on the silver-haired man?"

Elizabeth shook her head weakly.

A servant hurried forward, bowing deeply.

"Master, the teleportation circle is ready."

With steady steps, Abel carried her into the glowing circle of runes on the floor.

"If my speculations are correct," he murmured as the light began to rise around them, "it should be a monster from that place."

The golden light flared brightly. In an instant, they were gone.

—

Meanwhile in Dax’s lab, the stone floor was cold and unforgiving.

A naked woman lay there, still at first. Then her eyelids trembled. Slowly she pushed herself upward, arms shaking for only a second before finding strength. When her eyes opened, they shone bright—golden, full of vitality that had been missing for far too long.

"Hello, Nadia." Dax stepped forward with a small smile and draped a robe over her shoulders, covering her carefully.

Nadia didn’t answer right away. She stared at him in pure astonishment. Her hand rose slowly and touched his face—gentle, almost afraid he wasn’t real. Then she brought the same hand to her own cheek, feeling smooth, unscarred skin. She ran her fingers down her arms, her neck, her chest—testing her body, confirming the pain was gone.

"My Lord... Grandfather did not lie."

Tears filled her eyes. She stretched both arms out and embraced him tightly.

"Thank you," she said. Her voice was soft now, pleasant and clear—no more ghastly rasp.

"Thank you."

Her hold grew tighter, desperate with gratitude. Dax froze. He didn’t know how to react to the sudden closeness, the raw emotion pouring off her. Then he felt her shoulders shake. Quiet sobs started.

"Nadia." He gently pulled back from the embrace and draped a thicker coat over her, making sure she was completely covered. "Your grandfather is waiting for you."

Inerous, please escort her out.

Inerous appeared at the doorway in her synth body—elegant black clothes, black hair. She gave a gentle nod and held out her hand. Nadia followed close behind her.

Before she left the room, Nadia turned back and looked Dax straight in the eye.

"May I know my benefactor’s name?" She rubbed at her tears with the back of her hand.

"Dax Godfall." He gave her a small smile.

Nadia nodded once, committing the name to memory, then followed Inerous out.

—

Moments later Dax walked into the next chamber.

The instant Micah saw his granddaughter, he rushed forward and pulled her into a fierce embrace. Tears streamed down his face openly.

"Nadia..." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He held her tight for a long moment, then turned to Dax.

"Thank you, Master! My life is for you!"

He dropped to his knees immediately. Nadia followed, kneeling beside him.

"I can never repay this debt," Micah said, voice thick with emotion.

"You are already repaying it," Dax replied calmly.

"How, Master? I don’t feel that way."

Dax’s face stayed expressionless.

"The moment you allowed me to tweak your limitations, it began."

Micah’s eyes widened in understanding.

In that moment Dax saw it—a faint golden string, thin and glowing, connecting him to Micah. It pulsed once and disappeared. Dax ignored it for now and focused on Nadia.

"Get up."

They rose slowly.

"Tell me," Dax asked, "do you feel any changes?"

"Hmmm... yes." Nadia placed a hand over her chest. "I don’t feel my body burning again."

Dax nodded.

"What next?"

"The light rays..." She paused, as if feeling something inside herself. "They are slowly strengthening my constitution."

A bright smile spread across Dax’s face.

Then he threw his head back and burst into maddened laughter.