[Psychokinetic] Eyeball Pulling - Chapter 237

“What’s going on?” Astrid asked, jogging to stand next to her mother.

“The Sanctity Healers,” Freya said. “They have erected defences around their Sanctuary. If we want to assault them, it will require a swift attack with all of our forces.”

“Are they really working with the Order?” Astrid asked.

Freya nodded. “We caught some of them trying to leave. They were dealt with. Realising that they cannot escape, they are attempting to buy time for the Order to succeed in their attack, and rescue them. However, they have the Bishop. Although he is a dedicated healer, he has holy powers. He isn’t a man to be trifled with.”

“And that means we can’t wait for Lord Sinwen to return, either,” Jonathan said. Astrid nodded at him, and he returned the gesture.

“Yes, precisely,” Freya said. “With our strongest forces within Apocrypha, and Noah, and Lady Sinwen injured, assaulting Sanctuary will be a dangerous mission.”

“And we need to nip them out before we reach the Dead Seas,” Astrid said.

The others nodded in agreement.

“So you can understand our current predicament,” Freya said, crossing her arms.

Astrid thought for a moment. She lowered her head, pinching her chin. Then she snapped her head up, looking at Freya, then to her mother. “What if we don’t need to fight them directly?”

“What do you mean?” Freya asked.

“We can destroy the floor from underneath them,” Astrid said, mimicking an explosion with her hand. “All we need to do is set up a death trap below, then bam!” She slammed her fist into the palm of her other hand.

“There’s a reason we haven’t thought of that,” Jonathan said. “The metal of Rebirth is too durable. Maybe only the grand elders, or Lord Sinwen could break apart the ark.”

“I have a Skill that can bypass defences,” Astrid said. “As long as it’s dead, I can melt through it.”

“If that’s really the case, then it’s a good plan,” Freya said. “But who will create the trap? And that leads me onto the next problem we face. “The situation within the Lower District is getting heated. Buildings are burning. They want out. They are threatening to attack the elevators, sabotaging them so that we can’t use them.”

“Oh for Goddess’ sake, then let them out!” Astrid said. The nobles turned to her. She scowled in response. “Why not?”

“Why not?” Meridan frowned. “Can’t you see? This is what they do. They started by forcing their way onto the arc, killing those in their way. How many people died by their hands during the Boarding? And now they want to force their way out. Will they be happy once they surface? Or will they simply want more and more, until we’re all dead.”

“That was centuries ago,” Astrid said. “During the Boarding, they were scared. They had to fight tooth and nail to secure a spot on the arc to avoid the devouring oceans. As a noble of Rebirth, you should understand that notion of survival at all costs? Or have you forgotten that sitting in your plush chair adorned in gold?”

Meridan bubbled with anger. It was the same sentiment for most of the nobles. Their memories were tainted with what happened during the Boarding.

“Astrid is right,” her mother said. “These are no longer those times. Rebirth should be one. United. No longer shall we be bound by archaic rules set by our forefathers.”

“But those rules are to hold law and order!” Meridan said.

“Then if they are not happy with that arrangement, they are free to go their own way,” Freya said. “We will provide them with ships before we reach the Dead Seas. They are free to make their own choice. Stay with Rebirth, or find their own home.”

Astrid nodded in agreement.

“Fine,” Meridan sighed. “But I want no part in this. My ancestors would flay me alive for going against their words.”

“Then it is settled,” Eli said.

“How shall we calm the Lower District down?” Freya asked. She rotated her head, looking at Astrid. So did Jonathan, and her mother.

“What?” Astrid asked. “Why are you giving me those looks?”

“If we want to bring peace to the Lower District, it needs to be you, and your team,” Freya said. “They idolise you, you know? You helped rebuild the orphanage. You gave them the opportunity to earn not only a decent living, but provided them the perfect training ground to apply for Rebirth’s military thanks to what happened in the Underbelly. And that’s not all. You view Leena, a member of the Lower District, as an equal. A sister. Hell, you’re closer to her than you are me.” Freya chuckled.

Astrid turned silent. It was a responsibility she didn’t know she had. And honestly, it was an uncomfortable feeling. Being watched. Her actions were scrutinised. What if she did something wrong? Would they hate her instead? She never viewed herself as some sort of high character. She just went about her life the ways he wanted. To be free.

She took a breath, then looked at Freya, and said, “Okay, but what do I say?”

“How about you just be yourself?” Freya responded.

“Now that’s a dangerous thought,” Jonathan said. Everyone laughed, smiling.

Astrid glared at Jonathan, then shook her head. “Then I’m guessing you’ll prepare the traps while I’m doing that?

“Right,” her mother said. “By the time you return, we will have everything prepared and ready for you.”

“Okay, then I’ll try and stop a rebellion with kind words and a warm smile,” Astrid said. She fidgeted with her fingers. She would rather fight an army of spawn than talk to a large crowd. A crowd that was about to blow its top. She turned on her heels and waved to her mother, and the others, and said, “Make the traps deadly!”

“You don’t have to worry about that, my dear daughter,” her mother said, finding it difficult to hide the bloodlust behind her eyes.

Astrid stood up on a staircase in the middle of the Lower District. A massive crowd looked at her from below. Around ten thousand of them. And they were angry and loud. But thankfully, they didn’t want to rip her apart. Yet.

“Please, everyone!” Astrid shouted above the raucous arguing. With her Psychokinetically enhanced voice, it boomed throughout the entire district. They stopped and listened the moment they realised it was her. She continued, “As you may have already heard, we are going through a hell of a time. We are being assaulted by foreign invaders. They plan to destroy us completely. I don’t know why, or what their reason is, but the fact is, they are trying to kill all of us.”

Astrid sat down. She was tired. “I know you’re all angry right now. You wish to rebel against the nobles. Against us. And I understand your frustrations. Hell, I agree with them. But right now, you have an important decision to make.”

Someone shouted from the massive crowd, “This is just you nobles trying to placate us once more! To get us to submit like we always have done. No more!”

Yelling agreements followed.

“You can leave,” Astrid said, and they turned quiet once more. “We will be travelling into the Dead Seas to escape our enemies.​ That is how serious this situation is. On the way, we will be passing a cluster of islands. You can use all of our ships if you wish to find a new home. You can keep them, too.”

The crowd erupted in jumbled mumbling. Astrid didn’t know what they were saying, but she could guess that the people were confused.

“You will give us Rebirth’s military ships?” One person asked. He was roughly a middle-aged man.

“All of them, depending on how many wish to deboard Rebirth,” Astrid said. “Those from the military may also leave. They will protect you, if they wish to join you. But if they don’t, you will be on your own out there. This is the last thing we wanted, but at least at the very end, you have the freedom to make your own decision.”

Leena placed her hand on Astrid’s shoulder and smiled. Astrid smiled back at her. Leena’s eyes widened. Astrid focused, and saw that Leena’s mother was waving from the crowd.

“Go,” Astrid said.

“I’ll meet you back at the Sinwen Manor,” Leena said as she descended the stairs, and entered the crowd.

“But for now, we ask for you to be peaceful,” Astrid said. “Please don’t resort to violence when we have already seen so much. That’s cheap, coming from a noble, isn’t it?”

There were a few laughs from the crowd. Astrid smiled wryly.

“We have always been bound by rules given to us by our ancestors,” Astrid continued. She saw some of the kids from the orphanage, and amongst them, was Losef, and her team. “Passed on by the Elders, enforced by them. But the young are always looking to break the rules, aren’t they?”

Astrid smiled. She stood up as more of the crowd laughed. “Truthfully, they may have segregated all of you. Offended you. Hell, some of them are even cruel, committing crimes against you. But they are now fighting for the survival of all of us. They are standing side by side with some of the best Wayfarers, Seafarers and Adventurers belonging to the Lower District. The world is never black and white. Thank you for your understanding, and if you all wish to leave Rebirth, it’s been a pleasure knowing you. Well, at least some of you.”

More people laughed. Then clapped. The younger generation cheered her name, but she could see the emotion hanging above the elderly’s heads. They had experienced too much during their lives. It was difficult to remove the stain of having been treated as lesser by the nobles. Astrid understood that. She just hoped they would find a land to call home.

Freya smiled, and said in a low voice, “Eloquent words, cousin. If I hadn’t known you for all of your life, I would have assumed you were well versed in interpersonal politics. Easing the hatred of the nobles, while calming those of the Lower District in one fell swoop. I couldn’t have done it better myself.”

Astrid shrugged. She turned around. “Let’s take care of these healers. Maybe then I can finally rest for a while.”

The air contorted around her because of her powerful energy. Freya took a step back in awe.