Agaphe Philia - Chapter 2 - Preface (2)

Chapter 2: Preface (2)

Beatrice looked at her bloody hands wrought with injuries and then to the people. When she looked at the eyes of the perpetrators, they flinched back. She overwhelmed them.

“Don’t you see? You too have been plagued by this monstrous evil and you can’t see it. Why?! Would you have also seen the light? The truth? I can’t be sure. I was the same and it had taken me this long to realize… Rohen he took advantage of our hopes. He entered our lives, proclaiming himself a hero when, in truth, he was the devil. And we played right into the palm of his hands!” Beatrice exhaled, voice containing mixed emotions.

The people’s agitation subsided. They were in a drunken state, captivated by Beatrice.

“Everyone makes mistakes! We have desires and weaknesses and that was what he wanted us to cling to! But we shall live anew! We shall reflect…! The hero, Rohen, has brought us endless tragedy as we continue to cling to our desires and weakness…”

It was mere sophistry, and Beatrice knew it. She knew her speech was without logic, without reason, but it did not matter. She was not appealing to reason but emotion.

And it worked.

Only a few dissidents thought rationally to think in orders of logic and reason, but the vast majority were ignorant and judgemental and lived their life through the lens of emotions.

It seemed effortless and simple to appeal to the masses with emotion than reason too. And the privileged used this natural means to remain in power at the pyramid scheme.

Emotion spreads. When one laughs, the rest follow along like a herd of sheep; and when one grieves, the rest grieve. The world works on this order. Even those highly reasonable folks would eventually lose to the power of emotion.

And so, finally, Beatrice had a firm grip of the people in the palm of their hands.

“Do you remember the city where Satan was born?”

The people nodded at Beatrice’s words. It was an unforgettable tragedy forever locked in their heart and mind. Unprovoked anger swept through the city and many killed each other without thought and reason. Mothers carried their children in their arms before carrying out the act of murder like it was natural law and order.

And at the same time, it was a tragedy Beatrice found herself in — a tragedy she was praised for.

She, the saint, sacrificed herself to protect the people, using her divine power to prevent the disaster from spreading. She and the royal families were assaulted and wounded heavily, her bones broken and her body coated with mangled sins of blood.

And when the people came to their senses, their spirit imbued with divine power, they realized the unforgivable sins they’ve committed. But Beatrice, she smiled and forgave their sins under the divine power.

Underhandedly, Beatrice was praised for her direct action rather than Rohen.

“I’m sure you remember the tragedy. There is a cruel, terrible truth behind it and it involved Rohen!”

Beatrice raised her hand and touched the corner of her eyes, wiping off the never-ending tears. The blood in her hand fell as her tears fell.

She shed tears of blood.

“It’d taken a full day and night for Rohen to defeat Satan, the Devil of Wrath. I and everyone else believed he struggled to topple Satan. But this too was false.”

The people’s hearts shook. Their eyes, their body language, it was full of surprised anger and the feeling gradually spread through their whole body.

Rohen’s voice suddenly erupted. “Don’t be ridiculous! I fought against Satan with all my life that day!” He spoke the truth.

Beatrice turned around and laughed coldly, revealing her true nature.

Rohen’s heart choked.

The woman he loved… the one he would protect against all odds at the expense of his life… it was a… lie…

Beatrice turned around.

“Of course, what he says is true.”

Beatrice defended Rohen.

She lied with truth as her weapon.

A sneer faintly rose to her lips. “But that too was a lie! It did not take him a day to topple Satan, the Devil of Wrath. No, Rohen made sure many deaths would occur so he and the devils’ strength could rise to its fullest!”

“Wh… why would I do such a thing? Everyone get a hold of yourself! Wake up! This is a trap!” Rohen roared.

Meanwhile, Beatrice smiled wryly.

“Did I not already explain why? To strengthen yourself. Rohen, you stood at the sidelines as you watched the lives of innocent ones fall one by one.”

At her words, Rohen’s face distorted.

“Don’t be ridic…”

And without notice, emotions of rage clouded Rohen’s reasoning. He looked at Beatrice with bloodshot eyes, immediately shifting his eyes to the people.

Why had no one come forward?

So… it was like that, huh…

A broken and twisted smile formed on his lips. “Haa… what… what’s wrong with…”

He was at the receiving end of injustice.

“Fine…” Rohen said coldly. “A warrior becomes powerful, determined to save the world but you’d immediately peg one the villain, right? Is that it?! You’ll immediately place the blame to others so long as it justifies your reason?!”

His words stirred the hearts of people, but Beatrice, she grinned inwardly.

‘Oh, Rohen, how stupid are you?’

Beatrice could not help but let out a soft chuckle.

At this moment, the poison of doubt had been released. There exists a lingering rumor for years… that their closest ally, a hero, sided with the devils and that he was the true devil king.

Those were dark and bitter times… and once the people allowed themselves to sprout the doubts in their hearts, it would be difficult to rid themselves of it. The seed of doubt proved effective when no physical and tangible evidence exists.

And meanwhile, Rohen’s legend continued to grow.

Beatrice used that doubt to turn the suspicions and rumors without hard evidence into facts.

And now the false truth was exposed.

It was Rohen, the hero who saved their world.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, many were torn apart finding the truth. Some did not readily believe the sudden revelation. There exists a possibility that all was a lie but none had to guts to speak their thoughts out loud.

“A devil would say that. Are you saying that to bid yourself some time? Do you want to continue this facade ‘till the very end?”

Rohen realized his mistake. He should not have said that. Of course, only villains would say those sorts of things…

“Look at them, Rohen. Look at the people. If you weren’t a hero, you’d be no different from them and it would be someone else who’d take your place instead,” Beatrice said softly.

Beatrice clenched her fist and said out loud, “I won’t give you time to escape! These people, Rohen, they held up their swords, they held up their bow, they held up their spears, but in the end, they were powerless. They didn’t have the power to stop the devil’s invasion. All they could do was place their trust in the powerful and you took advantage of that!”

There was no logic in her words, no reason, but it made sense. It made emotional sense.

Blood dripped from Beatrice’s fists. The masses looked at it and their hearts beat violently while some shed tears. They did not know why but all had contained emotions ready to burst out.