Chapter2

« …Do you know about the last news? »

One of men around the table was drinking a wine very refined; even if that was the only thing they could pay. These kind of pleasures were very rare there, especially when they lived in a little village which looked like more a shanty one. Guests even didn't know how they could pay a wine like this but enjoyed it despite all. His interlocutor asked:

"What about?"

"…" The man sighed. "…Index sent people there again."

"Index…You mean that kind of tyrannical organization which decided to take control on everything? These kind of organization wanting to establish Catholicism and doesn't hesitate to suppress every faiths…that they think as wrong?"

Around them, guests stopped talking when they heard his saying. It seemed something serious went on. Even children who played around the table stopped, feeling the serious atmosphere.

"…Precisely this one…I recall you that this organization burnt people alive who refused to take part of the "right" path…even people who lived in our own town."

"…" The other paused, taking a pensive look. He made his glass full of wine turn around, making red wine look like blood. He probably thought about his neighbor who had been arrested by the Inquisitive group…and died as well.

Finally he ended up by saying:

"That's not really a problem…After all, we already planned what to do for the next they sent another group."

"…Apparently, it would be easy this time…They just sent three people: a leader with his subordinates."

His comrade shook his head.

"You shouldn't underestimate people…even if they are few, they must be strong…I've a bad feeling about this…"

"I will take care of them!"

The two men turned their head toward the person who just talked. The others guest followed the same gesture to see who the one of them who decided to assault was.

The young girl just stood up from the table to face all of guests and she seemed to be very determined. However the man just glanced at her with half-hearted look.

"Elaine, you should sit down."

"…Leave them to me…I will take care of." Elaine made a little smirk. Around her waist, there was her sword given by her mother, called the Dragon Skeleton Sword, which was a very powerful sword. Elaine inherited it of this sword, and she seemed to treasure it as her partner, never hesitating to use it to kill people in her way.

"You, Elaine? Do you want to be the one to protect the town this time?"

She nodded. After all, that wasn't her first time…She wasn't called the Snake Wisdom for nothing. And her way to defeat enemies was very brutal…She would be useful for it.

"If that's your wish… Just don't lose" The man shrugged before drinking again.

However the other wasn't convinced. With his eyes, he observed Elaine who was welcomed with clapping from others guests, amazed by her bravery.

Elaine was the first one to wake up this morning…She was turned toward her lover who slept next to her, and she observed him in smiling. Nevertheless, that was just an appearance. Actually, her mind was kind of preoccupied. This dream…wasn't a dream as she was accustomed to make. She remembered this moment…it happened when she was still a member of Ophian, a branch of Christians who fought against every enemy from her belief. They were a little ethnic but they proved themselves to be strong enough to floor every organization which tried to control them…except Index she recalled.

Elaine remembered of her family. Actually her two parents were already died this time…According to people around her, they had been killed by Index…tortured to them by Inquisition then burnt to easy their suffering…However they never forsaken their faith and belief…And they died for it…

People told her to be proud of them. And she was.

However…When Elaine noticed Sebastianus moved slightly, she could do nothing but tenderly caressing his red hair…He growled but didn't open his eyes. Usually, it helped her to get better of her worried thoughts.

Elaine had been taken in charge by a preceptor who taught everything to her…her formation to battle, Ophian's story…and the rule of being always there to serve their belief and faith…

…More years spent, more Elaine gradually learnt to respect it…even if her years in Index made her wonder if that wasn't brainwash… and if this so-called preceptor didn't…make her as a killing machine.

However, when she saw Sebastianus's face, she thought she was wrong. She changed…thanks to him and his presence. If she was just a killing machine…she couldn't have been there…and enjoying these moments with him…That's her meeting with him who surely changed her…For the good she hoped. She still respected Ophian's rules but…she also used them to serve Index…

No…She would never serve Index really…She just served her Sebas…and if she must, she would be ready to break these rules if he asked. However it didn't seem to be the case…He seemed to be okay with it.

Suddenly she realized the hour then she thought it was time to get up and prepare his breakfast. So, after having placed a kiss on his forehead, she got up then headed for the kitchen. While she took a knife to cut some bread as usual, her thoughts were away…

Yes, of course. She wondered what would have happened if she never met Sebas…Would she have stayed in Ophian as always…? Or would she have left by herself…?

She would never know…

Finally, she smiled. After all, what did it matter? She lived happy with her lover…even if she worked in an organization which killed her parents…Love really made people do unexpected things…

Suddenly, she stopped to cut. Then she touched her belly…Strange. She felt it hurt there…She frowned. That was probably nothing but…

She heard a sound behind her then turned back. That was Sebastianus, the person who busied her mind. When she saw him, she gave a tender smile to him.

"Good morning, Sebas. Did you sleep well?"

Sebastianus slightly nodded. He glanced at the bread she was cutting then sighed, sitting down on the table. Noticing it, Elaine asked him:

"Is there something wrong? Do you want me to do something else?"

"…No…Thanks. It's okay."

Elaine smiled then came back to her bread. While she cut it in slice, she asked him:

"…So…Sebas, what do you plan to do today?"

"…"

When she finished, she buttered the bread in slice, without noticing Sebastianus was reading something.

"…I thought. It made a long time we didn't do some mission…Do you want us to check if there is one left for us…"

"…"

As Sebastianus didn't respond to her, she turned back, looking a bit worried.

"…Sebas?"

She then realized he was reading something. She came closer to check what it was. It looked like a bit a note Georgius usually sent in order to talk about a new mission or anything else about Index. Sebastianus was reading attentively without any expression on his face.

"…What is it?"

Sebastianus closed his eyes. He apparently finished to read then stretched it to Elaine. She frowned when she understood what it was.

"…Is Georgius convoking us?"

"…yes, apparently." Sebastianus took a pensive look. "It seems he would like to talk about the last mission…"

"Do you mean the one with the sect?" Elaine looked upset. She was tempted to tear this note apart.

"Yes…He convokes the others as well…"

"But we already finished this mission for two months…What does he want from it again?" She clenched her fists. She was aware of her…hot-tempered nature but…that situation slowly began to annoy her.

"I don't know…Maybe we didn't do our work very well…"

Seeing hint of concern in his eyes, Elaine calmed herself down.

"I'm sure it would be alright…"

"…Probably…but in this case…" he paused. "…Why did he add to the end of his note to see you especially?"

"…" Elaine checked. Indeed, Georgius wrote toward the end of his speech these lines: "Elaine must be there imperatively." She sighed.

"I don't understand. I did nothing wrong."

"Possible…But apparently you did something he would like to have some precision about."

"I sent the report as you did. I think we did the same so…there is no problem about it."

She shrugged.

"After all…It mustn't be so important…"

She then thought about the bread she was preparing. Then she finished to butter them up then served slices to Sebastianus.

"…Bon appetite, Sebas!"

Sebastianus, seeing Elaine's warm smile toward him, ended up by making a slight smile back even if he seemed to be a bit worried about the situation.

He had a bad feeling…and he thought he was right.