Page 77 of I Ran Away to Evil #3
“I know you’ve also seen the other fates; that’s why I’m telling you—because this world doesn’t have any path that isn’t full of heartache and trauma .” I took an appreciative sip of tea.
“Then why did you watch it?” Alice stared at her own teacup with suspicion and didn’t drink.
I blushed. “Reasons.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I rushed to change the subject. “Five years ago, I died in my world and woke up in Gerda’s body, with all of my old memories intact.”
“And why do you think that Fate welcomed your presence?” Alice demanded. She tucked a straight lock of blonde hair behind her ear and glared at me with her strikingly big blue eyes. They were as clear as a summer sky. I looked away, reminding myself that she could trap my mind if I let myself go.
“Because I could change the story,” I told her. “Guide things to an actual Happily Ever After. For everyone.”
“All who see the future can change it,” she refuted. “That’s why Fate only grants her powers to those who won’t abuse them. You’ve abused them more than any other being in history.”
“But she must’ve known that I was going to change things,” I countered.
“And that I’d stop you. [Watcher of Fate].”
[You have been affected by the Skill: Watcher of Fate . Your fate has been sealed for sixty-three seconds or until you are no longer being watched. Character Sheet sealed. Abilities sealed. Movement sealed. Health Points sealed. Mana Points sealed. Immune to all Damage.]
[You have been affected by the Skill: Watcher of Fate . Time until effect wears off 00:00:62]
Though it happened differently and I managed to actually have a conversation with Alice before she hit me with her ability, this was all still according to the original oracle.
Now it was up to me to properly see it through to an end where I walked away from this encounter.
Fighting Alice wasn’t in my skill set. I wasn’t a Combat class; I was a Defense class …
and the Arcane Magesplitter Axe would probably do more damage to my domicile than the mage …
Besides, who wanted celestial all over my cottage? Not me. The thought made me sick.
[You have been affected by the Skill: Watcher of Fate . Time until effect wears off 00:00:61]
“Finally!” Alice stood up and walked over to my side of the table.
She popped a mana potion and downed it, replenishing her reserves.
Then, she wiped her mouth and stored her potion bottle.
“You have no idea how much I’ve dreamed of this day.
” She pushed the table over, shattering everything on it on the floor, all so she could stand in front of me.
“You’ve been a thorn in my side from your first Crystal Cast.” She swept her hair over her shoulder dramatically, looking down at me.
[You have been affected by the Skill: Watcher of Fate . Time until effect wears off 00:00:52]
She paced back and forth in front of me. “You’ve undone years of planning and hard work, toppled future governments, and destroyed the fate of countless innocents.”
That wasn’t really fair; it should be that I’d saved countless innocents.
“ You are the reason I’m an international criminal, forced into hiding.
I can’t even go to my favorite bakery anymore!
” she ground out. Again, not fair; she was the leader of the Blackfog spies, and from what I knew, already an international criminal.
I’d just told everyone what she looked like, and she’d turned around and exposed me, so I’d actually call us even.
[You have been affected by the Skill: Watcher of Fate . Time until effect wears off 00:00:41]
“Fate has stopped answering my prayers because of you! ” Alice yelled. “And I can’t even enjoy the simplicity of your demise because it’s going to take me years to undo your meddling. The very idea of it makes me want to take every extra second to really savor this moment!”
[You have been affected by the Skill: Watcher of Fate . Time until effect wears off 00:00:28]
“I’m going to void your heart, and then I’m going to use [Sever Fate] on your body, so even if you’ve hidden a piece of it somewhere, no one will be able to revive it.” She laughed with pure and utter malice. “And when I’m sure you are dead, I’ll use this .”
She summoned a small vial, wagging it in my face. “You thought I’d used my last one in the church, didn’t you? But no. I’ve been saving this one for you , Madame Potts.”
Her plan was a bit overkill, to be honest.
Not that it was going to work.
“And when I’m done”—she lifted one hand and pressed it firmly against my heart—“I’m going to collect your ashes and scatter them on the floor of Fate’s temple as an offering.”
[You have been affected by the Skill: Watcher of Fate . Time until effect wears off 00:00:09]
“Goodbye, Madame Potts.” Her smile was so breathtakingly beautiful. The seconds ticked down until, “By the Will of the Eternal Rest, [Void Arrow].”
The attack was already piercing my chest when her skill ended … and taking half damage meant nothing for an instant-kill hit that ripped a hole through my heart. As I slumped to my knees, too many things happened all at once.
Alice touched my head and followed up her previous attack with, “[Sever Fate],” before promptly dumping the vial of molten ash vane on me. A bunch of notifications told me what was happening while I palmed Menlomin’s Horn to purify the poison.
[You have been affected by Sever Fate . For twenty-four hours, you are immune to Raise , Resurrect , Revive , or Respawn .]
[Single-use item Phoenix Feather activated. When you would otherwise die, you are Reborn instead. Health Points 777/777. Mana Points 1215/1215. All status effects nullified. All curses undone. All equipped items at max durability.]
[You have been hit by Molten Ash Vane . Do you wish to Purify the Molten Ash Vane with Menlomin’s Horn . Yes/No.]
Alice realized something was wrong when I didn’t just dissolve into a pile of ash. “WHY WON’T YOU JUST DIE?”
“[World Bridge].”
To activate the spell, I had to be in motion, so I pushed myself away from her to stand.
Both of us appeared on the bridge I had set up in view of Her Eminence Feliwyn sleeping by the shores of Lake Loria. Previously, my battle with Alice had ended on the Coral Palace sky bridge … and that had been a disaster.
Maybe here she’d wake up Feliwyn early, and the dragon would eat her.
Stumbling from the forced transport, Alice snarled, “ You b— ”
“WHY DO ROGUES WEAR LEATHER?” I yelled at her. It was the first riddle I could think of, and it threw her off-balance long enough for me to get off another spell.
“Enter by the Channels, [Troll Magic]!”
Alice shrilled, “You can’t trap me here with your stupid riddles! [Portal]!”
She appeared not ten feet away on the other side of the bridge, turning toward me in triumph.
Of course she did; I hadn’t cast any bridge spells to keep her. My purpose in bringing her here had been to get her out of my house long enough to move it, preferably somewhere she wouldn’t think to look for it.
“It’s because they like Hide,” I answered the riddle for her.
“That’s it—I am going to void you until there’s nothing left,” she hissed, lifting one hand.
“You’ll have to find me first. [World Bridge].” I stepped backward and portaled away.