The three of us sat in our little triangle with myself on my bed and the other two on chairs they had pulled over in an awkward silence. I made my declaration to stop hiding in the shadows quite clear or at least I think I did. Was I speaking some foreign language? Why were they staring at me with those looks? That was something I don't think I'd quite understand yet I still feel that the best way to save those people would be to stir up a little commotion. Most of the Cult's activities are attributed to Sloth and it would certainly ruffle some feathers if a new Archbishop were to appear brazenly.
"Are you sure?" It was Prylla that decided to voice her thoughts first and break the unending silence.
"Absolutely. It's the simplest solution really."
"Won't the city guards come after us? We aren't in any shape to fight. What if the Mad Prince comes after us? We wouldn't stand a chance from the rumors I've heard." Ireyne said.
"I'm sure the Mad Prince won't do anything as far as everyone is concerned he might not even exist or he's dead."
"What about Lust and Gluttony? They surely won't like us treading on their playground?" Prylla added another wrench to the plan. Ireyne shuffled uncomfortably, probably recalling the incident in Mezoreia. The last time two Archbishop's were in the same place as myself I lost a limb and was cursed so running into more is not desirable. Gluttony is a wildcard in my opinion, however, Lust was one I've personally dealt with and would rather flay the flesh from her bone, melt her brain, rip her heart out of her chest, and burn her soul to ashes than speak with her ever again.
"Gluttony only cares about eating, and I remember them mentioning they aren't allowed to eat me so I think it's fine. I'm not sure why Lust interfered in Mezoreia as we aren't supposed to interfere with one another. Unless Lust and Wrath were meant to work together and I interrupted. In that case I broke the rules and was punished accordingly. I honestly can't say for certain who was on free time there and who wasn't. I think Lust was following her Gospel, but Wrath had free time since it directly conflicted with my Gospel."
"And the guards?"
"That's where Ireyne comes in," Ireyne perked up, "She'll send in anonymous tips to the guard stations around the city at random intervals about Witch Cult sightings to throw them off."
"So I won't go to the tavern?" She asked.
"No, you can't fight at all, so your presence wouldn't be necessary. I don't want to put you in harm's way if I don't have to." I waved my hand. Ireyne looked relieved as she let out a breath.
"Fooling the city guard is plenty exciting for me." Ireyne puffed out her chest as she tapped her fist to it.
"Then what should I be doing?" Prylla cocked her head to the side, her violet hair bounced a little and the light in the room reflected nicely from her emerald eyes.
"Well it depends on the time we decide to return to the tavern. I can't be certain of anything that is happening there before Water Time. It's currently late Wind Time, so we have a long way to go before the attack takes place. This should give Ireyne plenty of time to draft and get the letters to the various guard stations around the city." I shifted a little in the bed before laying down on my side which I found far more comfortable. "The guards will be on high alert, but that should also mean that many of the residents are going to go straight home, so if I'm right then that should mean fewer people drinking late at night as well as less cover for our killer."
Prylla and Ireyne nodded seemingly satisfied with my plan so far. The only thing I had yet to work out was whether I would head to the tavern and shut it down directly or choose a more indirect method. It was times like these I wished my Gospel would update and give me the necessary guidance. However, it had remained silent since the previous update which I staunchly ignored however painful that may be. Sorry brother, but you'll have to wait a bit; I hope you'll understand.
"Well from your description I think heading to the tavern directly is a bad idea. If weapons can't even pierce his skin then fighting is pointless." Prylla offered her assessment.
"Agreed, but I never said we had to arrive the same time she did. We could arrive earlier and scare the patrons into leaving while yelling, 'Archbishop,' which I would find mildly amusing."
"Hah-." Prylla shook her head and sighed. "There's no talking you out of going there directly is there?"
"Nope! I wonder if we can pick up a new friend while we're at it? Wouldn't some extra hands be grand? It would take some of the work off your back too..." I leaned my head onto my arm as I met Prylla's gaze head on.
"I don't think we'll find anyone worth our time in a tavern..." Prylla dismissed the idea.
"Ah… I forget… others discriminate far more than I do. I firmly believe everyone deserves a chance no matter the circumstance. Well… except for that killer of course. He'd already forfeited his life by choosing the wrong path."
"Well if you plan on heading there directly, at least allow us to accompany you. We couldn't bear it if we lost you." Prylla spoke in an unusual manner which caught my attention. What did she mean by us?
"Us? Who's this us?"
Prylla's eyes went wide for a moment before she wildly waved her arms in front of herself. "I meant I! I misspoke, please disregard that!" Her face twisted with embarrassment as she settled down.
"Hmph." I huffed. I ultimately decided not to press the issue as I am a forgiving person. I won't be so lenient the next time. I shook my head disapprovingly before sitting upright in the bed once again. "In any case, you may follow along, however, don't do anything without my permission." Prylla seemed happy enough with my decision and nodded. Now all that's left is to wait until Water Time.
The sun had set as it does every night without fail. Ireyne had successfully brought the city on high alert with the false witness reports. The city guards were out patrolling the streets in groups of four and questioning anyone they came across. Only a Witch Cultist would have business this late at night after all. Prylla and I were using back alley's to slip around the various patrols on our way to the tavern.
"Do you think they saw us?" Prylla asked.
"Well they aren't chasing us, so I think it's fine."
A guard in a patrol that was passing by had glanced in our direction, but it seems the darkness of the alleyway mixed with the snowfall covered our tracks. We waited for them to pass a good distance before slithering out and continuing to our destination. This was the typical pattern as we made our way through the city. It was twice as cold as it usually was in the day and the wind's bite felt even worse.
"Brrr… So cold."
"You'll have to endure it for a little longer, my Lady. We're almost there."
"I hope we make it in time. I didn't think we'd move this slow, but it seems I've underestimated how cold it would be."
Another patrol turned the corner ahead of us and we slipped behind a wall that protruded slightly. There was barely enough space for a single person let alone two, so Prylla pressed herself against the wall while I went against her. The patrol approached us slowly.
"Damn Witch Cultists, making us work this late. I should be ten bottles deep by now."
"Geez, you really have a drinking problem."
"How else am I supposed to stay warm?"
"Have you tried prayer?"
"Grr… this is why we never invite you."
"Thank Odglass. I prefer to NOT join you on your late night escapades."
The guards bickered back and forth as they passed us without a care and once they turned down the street further away we slid out from our hiding spot and continued to the street they had just turned from. Reaching the corner the tavern would be at the other end of the street and, to my dismay, the windows glowed a pale yellow indicating it was occupied. We made our way to the other end of the street and entered the tavern.
The tavern had fewer people than I saw in my vision which I am thankful for. There were two sitting across from each other in the corner to the right of the entrance. The bartender was chatting with a small group of four at the counter while there was another person drinking alone on the other side of the tavern. Prylla went to find a seat somewhere on the left side of the tavern while I went to approach the counter directly. From the looks of the place we probably only have about ten minutes before the killer arrives which should be enough time.
I calmly walked to the counter and took the empty seat on the left end of the counter earning myself a few stares from the patrons. I ignored them and waited patiently for the bartender to take his attention off the other four. He walked over to my end of the counter with a curious look on his face as if to say, 'Why are you here?' Naturally I would be answering this quite soon with as much flair as possible.
"Already trying to develop a drinking problem at this age, eh?"
"Not exactly." I smiled at him which seemed to relax him a little. His shoulders appeared quite tense, but he quietly grabbed a glass from under the counter and filled it with a dark liquid.
"Don't tell your mom about this. I don't do this for everyone." He glanced around the room as if to ensure nobody was paying attention before setting the glass in front of me. He gave me a little wink before leaning on the counter with his elbows. "You see the one alone. That's the one I was telling you about. Take this to him to loosen him up. On the house." He pushed the glass closer to me and I responded with another smile and a nod. "Be careful when you leave. There's apparently Witch Cultist's skulking about. Wasn't enough to deter these poor sods though."
If only he knew; a wide smile creeped onto my face and I thanked him. The best lead into the church would have died if I had done nothing. I did as the bartender suggested and walked over to the man's table. He was hunched over resting his head on his hand with an empty cup in the other. Most likely nearing a blackout. I wafted the drink under his nose before setting it in front of him and taking the seat across from him.
"Hrg… Hnn..." The man gurgled a bit as he stirred. He was most certainly beyond drunk.
"Hm? Hello? Anyone in there?" I tapped the table with my finger.
"Who… Hng..." His eyelids cracked open slightly as his head drooped further into his hand. I wasn't going to get anywhere with him tonight. I glanced over to where Prylla had taken her position and waved her over. She quickly moved over to my table with the man.
"He's the one we need."
"Him? Hah- Fine. Fine. What do you want to do with him?" Prylla let out a sigh as she looked at the man with a veiled disdain.
"Capture him. We'll be taking him with us. You'll head out first with him and I'll finish up here."
"Understood."
Prylla nodded and picked the man up from his seat putting herself under his arm and wrapping her own around him. His feet dragged on the ground as she started towards the exit. However, the man decided this was the perfect moment for brief lucidity.
"He- Hey!" The man was only half awake and most likely not aware of his surroundings, but his sudden yell was enough to startle the other patrons who were now looking at us. From an outsider's perspective this probably didn't look so good. The man tried to wriggle away from Prylla, but she struck him over the head knocking him fully unconscious and taking him into a princess carry walking out the door into the frigid night.
"The hell!? I said to talk to him not to kidnap him!" The bartender threw his arms up into the air.
"Hm? He has information I require and is currently unable to be questioned. Why wouldn't I take him? I have no intention of harming him in any way. Is it not my right to do as I see fit? I deemed it necessary to take him overnight until he's able to answer my questions. That alone should be a great-"
"Quit yappin! You're ruinin' my booze!" A disgruntled patron cut me off as he took another swig. I could feel an urge to set him straight. My soul, my blood, demanded he be taught a lesson.
"Cutting someone off in the middle of speaking is very rude. Who taught you manners? I couldn't possibly underst-"
"I said… SHUT UP!"
The man takes his bottle and throws it at me.
I step out of the way of the bottle and it shatters on the ground beside me.
"Now. Now." My voice went cold as the wind outside everyone in the bar seemed to freeze in place. "Attempting to harm someone who's done nothing wrong is a serious serious sin. I've done nothing, nothing! I'm just trying to explain to this kind bartender why I need to take this man while you you you you attack ME?" I raise my right hand towards the man who threw the bottle. "I can't can't can't let this go you know? If the bottle would've never hit me I could have overlooked this but but it was intended to strike me. ME! I had to step out of the way! There's glass shattered on the floor! What a mess! What a mess!" I feel my mana surging into my arm as I prepare his punishment. "That bottle was probably expensive, you know! And look at it now! Broken! Shattered! You ought to feel the same!"
The mana surging in my arm felt as if it was burning as I awaited the sweet release.
"El Vita!"
The next moment the offender crashed violently into the ground as I unevenly added weight to various parts of his body. Audible cracks could be heard as his bones snapped like twigs under his own weight.
"Ah? Ah- AHH!" The man cried out in pain on the ground, completely unable to move as both of his arms, legs, and perhaps a rib or two broke. The wood of the floor splintered beneath him causing his drinking buddy to be flung from his seat. My blood trembled with glee as I put the man in his place.
"W-Who are yyyyou?" The bartender's voice quaked slightly as he watched the man writhing on the ground. The other patrons watched on in their seats frozen with fear.
"Me? Oh… How rude. How forgetful. I've completely neglected to introduce myself. I'd never expect to be so careless. Ah- and here I am here to grant you salvation. You don't even know who your savior is, do you?"
I reached into my heavy coat to pull out a small black book that I was all too familiar with. I raised the book high into the air and watched as their eyes followed it with a certain understanding.
"I am the Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, representing PRIDE! Let me see you tremble with glee in the presence of your salvation! My name is Deneb Arided." My smile grew wider as a dark feeling emanated from my very core. My anticipation building and growing with every passing second into the deep dark future.