Elden Ring is the property of FromSoftware and Monster Girl Encyclopedia is the Property of Kenkou Cross. I do not own any of these properties.


Chapter 6: Inquisition

A carriage moved through the slums of Lescatie, within it were two individuals. They wore the markings of The Chief God, and they carried with them arms made of the finest steel. These two were not heroes, nor were they part of the nobility. The two were Inquisitors, Church Hounds of the Chief God.

"...Lescatie isn't how it used to be." One of them stated.

He was a male around 43 years of age. He had black hair and a stubble under his chin, he wore a leather coat over formal wear consisting of a vest, undershirt, and a cross symbolizing The Chief God. A leather strap was slung over his chest, on it were several knives he used in case things got too violent.

He looked out into the windows as he watched the slums as the carriage went by. He saw the decrepit state of the city. Street children rummaged through the filth that covered the streets trying to find a scrap to eat. Lamps were rusted and broken, unable to truly light the place covering most of the area in darkness. Adults wasting away in their homes and jobs, marred by disease and starvation.

It would be a lie to say that this is exclusive to this particular area of Lescatie. Suffering was ripe here, and when there's suffering there's usually heresy. When your life is at its lowest point, clinging to darker and more perverse routes to apparent salvation becomes all the more appealing.

"For a Church Dog to say something like that… Geez, and here I thought that Lescatie was supposed to be the pride of The Order." Another one started with a shrug, his voice slightly accented.

This one was younger, around 18 years of age with chestnut hair and red eyes. He had a shit-eating grin on his face, but what's of note are his notable eastern features and the Zipangese style blade strapped to his waist.

The older man's brows furrowed at that, and he turned to his companion who was currently sitting lax with crossed legs and eyes wandering outside the slums. His one hand rested on his blade while the other was picking his nose.

"Don't they teach you respect back in that country of yours, Akito?" The man asked rhetorically, brow raised as the Zipangese just slightly turned his head towards the inquisitor before he spoke up.

"Damn Rylan, and here I thought that you didn't care about Zipangu. To answer your question, yeah but unlike here you have to earn it back where I come from." He started with a shrug and a grin. That just caused the man to sigh, at this point he was used to Akito's antics and so this wasn't really anything new.

Rylan Rudy Schreiber and Akito Shion, Inquisitors in service to Lescatie's branch of The Church. Their purpose is quite simple: root out any Heresy and corruption that could threaten the Chief God's power within the city. Internal threats from power-hungry nobles to monster sympathizers were all culled by their hands.

They were a feared organization, one that held sway over every Order Nation. They answered to no one but the Chief God herself, not even kings could sway them.

Or at least, that's how it should be.

And yet now they seemed to have lost their way. Most of the Inquisitors had sold themselves to these nobles, using their power and influence to further the goals of their benefactors instead of enforcing The Chief God's will. The Inquisitors here were nothing more than a shadow of their former selves.

The Inquisition in Lescatie itself had become a corrupt organization, often taking bribes and fabricating cases to their benefit.

And yet these two remained steadfast in their organization's original goal. To ensure the protection of Mankind, they would wait in the shadows and strike against those that threatened their existence.

Both are from different backgrounds and different stories, each different in their ideals and beliefs, and yet the two have been partners for over a year now.

"...still, I'm curious. What finally made you realize that this decrepit old dump was the piece of shit it always was?" Akito asked. Rylan shook his head and sighed, if anyone from the Clergy heard both of them speak then he wouldn't doubt that their heads would be paraded on pikes.

"Just look around you, the slums haven't changed in the 4 decades that I've been alive. The younger Heroes aren't enthusiastic about their work, anyone with a functioning brain would realize that they're being forced to do something they don't agree with. Low morale is a dangerous thing especially when it comes to heroes. The rates of monster sympathizers and heretics have been climbing more and more these past few years." He started as he looked up to the sky and gave a small sigh.

"Wow… you only noticed that now?" Akito asked, one brow raised as Rylan glared at him before he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"For once in your life can you take your job seriously?" He asked. Akito shrugged before he gave his own answer.

"Why would I take this joke of a job seriously?" Akito asked rhetorically.

"Anyways, speaking of… what were we tasked with doing by the way? I didn't really hear what the Cardinal asked us to do." Akito muttered as he looked at Rylan for an answer.

"How many times do I have to tell you to listen when he's giving you orders?" Rylan stated as he looked on at Akito. Akito once more shrugged before he leaned forward. He dropped his foot down on the carriage before he spoke up once more.

"Never, we're both dogs after all. All we have to do is to sit there, look pretty, bark whenever our master gives us orders, and then do whatever the hell they want us to like good boys." Akito stated.

"How are you still in the Order?" Rylan asked incredulously. His brow raised as he listened to Akito speak.

"Because a decrepit old turtle like you can't match me when it comes to combat." Akito retorted with his own glare.

Rylan nodded at that. When it came to combat, Akito was a beast, unlike anything he had ever seen. The way the blood danced around him as he sliced their enemies into pieces was a sight he'd never forget.

It was both an intriguing and an unnerving sight to him.

"We're here to investigate a sighting. Apparently, a figure was spotted moving through here. It terrified a few people to the point where the clergy thought it necessary for us to investigate. The local guards already set up a perimeter, all that's left for us to do is to investigate." Rylan spoke up. Akito didn't really say anything in response, just nodding before leaning back into his seat.

"So this is the place. Geez and I thought the sewers smelt like shit." Akito noted as he moved through the place. He looked at the armors, weapons, and even books and personal belongings that were left untouched.

"Hey uh, whose unit is this?" Akito asked as he moved to one of the offices to snoop around and investigate.

"Lady Mersé's. She's out on a crusade right now so she isn't here." Rylan stated as he moved through to check if there was any sign they could use to point them to a conclusion.

"Wait, Mersé... As in that Mersé? Damn… she's gonna be pretty pissed off. and now two Inquisitors are being sent here to go and investigate. We're gonna do some extra-judicial heretic hunting, Rylan?" Akito asked.

"No, and for the last time, we're only permitted to kill if they strike first. So if we have to make an arrest please don't try to provoke them next time." Rylan pleaded before he sighed and continued his investigation.

"They should be heading back by now, though knowing them it'll probably take them another day or two," Rylan added.

"Are we sure we're allowed here? She's a hero and all that." Akito commented as he continued to rummage through Mersé's office.

"We have permission, Priest Noscrim himself specifically told us to investigate," Rylan stated. Akito's eyes perked up in surprise, Rylan didn't blame him. Priest Noscrim was considered to be the de facto head of Lescatie, above even the likes of The Royal Family. Despite their less than stellar feelings towards the man, it was he alone who could allow them to rummage through a Hero's belongings without fear of reprisal.

"That asshole? Didn't think he'd hire a couple of rats to do this. I'll thank him by chopping his dick off if I get the chance. That way his physical body can use three assholes to dump all that bullshit inside his body." Akito muttered as he continued checking and snooping around Mersé's room.

Note that the second asshole Akito's referring to is his mouth, because to him the only thing that person spills out of his mouth is bullshit.

Rylan didn't comment on Akito's somewhat crude response, Akito was just saying what he and a lot of other people thought. He continued on his search, carefully moving around and checking for any signs of anything potentially demonic.

When he checked the rooms where the soldiers were stationed, his eyes narrowed.

Akito meanwhile had decided to rummage through Mersé Dascaros's belongings. When he stumbled upon something his eyes widened. "Oh damn…" Akito reached into the cabinet before he pulled out a bottle of wine that Mersé was keeping.

"Free wine, nice," Akito stated as he opened it and began drinking.

"Akito, stop drinking and get your ass over here. I found something…" Rylan yelled from his spot. Akito nodded as he moved forward, Wine in hand as he knelt down with Rylan to his right.

"Alright boss, what did you find?" Akito asked. Rylan looked at him first, looking at his eyes before he turned to the wine in his hands. He shook his head before he turned to what had caught his attention.

Akito's eyes widened before they visibly narrowed. Whatever it was, it was enough for Akito to take the mission seriously. Placing the bottle down on the side, he pulled out a pin before he took a sample of what he saw.

Pulling it up, he investigated the substance before a grim look formed on his face. That all but confirmed it, there was a monster here and from the looks of it, it wasn't just some minor monster that they could easily take on.

"Is that what we think it is?" Akito asked before turning to the man, hoping desperately that he had an answer contrary to what they already knew.

"It is… it's Dark Matter." Rylan noted grimly.

"What's it doing all the way in here?" Akito muttered as he got up and looked on at the small remnants of Dark Matter left on the ground. With a snap of his fingers did he set the thing ablaze before it could awaken.

"Don't know, but it can't be good. Whatever happened to these men, we at least have an idea." Rylan stated as he got up and turned to Akito. Akito looked on at him before he spoke up.

"So, we telling Lady Mersé about what happened? Or should we keep this as a matter for the Inquisition?" Akito asked as he crossed his arms. Rylan crossed his own arms as he thought, after some deliberation, he shook his head.

"Knowing her reputation, she'd want to get involved. She and her unit were said to be like family so if she found out that something like this happened to them she'll try to interfere. It could hamper our investigations." Rylan stated as he looked on at the rooms.

"You do realize she's gonna ask, right? As soon as she notices something's off she'll start asking." Akito stated as he looked on at the room where they found the dark matter.

"Then we have to make sure that she doesn't find anything off, go and put everything back in its place, make sure that nothing's out of place." Rylan stated.

Unlike what many would assume, the forces that lay within Lescatie are often acting against one another. The inquisition and the heroes being one of the biggest rivalries within The Order. The two branches of The Order don't often see eye-to-eye. And often times they both sabotage one another in order to further their own glory.

A Prime Example of this in Lescatie would've been between the Inquisition and The Noscrim Faction. Ironic that it was the head of that faction that gave them the authority to search a hero's office without her consent like this.

Rylan wondered what could've been so dire as to get the leader of the Noscrim Faction to get the help of two Inquisitors. Lowly Inquisitors mind you, but Inquisitors nonetheless.

"Or we could just leave it as is and say that raccoons did it, that way I could keep the wine." Akito muttered with a sly grin.

All he got as a result, was a smack from Rylan.

"Ow, fucking hell man... I was joking alright... Chief God's fucking tits man..." Akito muttered. Rylan shook his head at the last comment, as blasphemous as it was. That was just how he was sometimes, his contributions and actions spoke louder than his crude words. Despite everything he's said, he is a loyal follower of The Chief God.

"You do realize that if you said that in front of literally anyone else, you'd have your head on a pike?" Rylan noted as he walked towards the exit.

"Yeah, why do you think I only say it in front of you? It's because you kinda shit at your job." Akito stated with a grin as he followed behind.

"And where do you think you're going?" Rylan asked as he stopped Akito from moving a step forward.

"...You want me to clean up Mersé's office, is that it?" Akito asked with a grumble.

"See? you're a smart kid, Akito... you just have to use your brain a bit more," Rylan noted as he tapped his head twice before he walked off.

"...I'm a fucking adult, Rylan!" Akito yelled out before he sighed.

"Then act like one, I'm your partner nor your babysitter." Rylan's voice echoed out from the doorframe.

Picking up the wine, he closed it before he walked back towards Mersé's office before he placed everything back in its place.

Looking on at the wine, he could tell that it was half-empty. Furrowing his brows, he'd have to replace it. Memorizing its composition he scheduled a visit to the local brewery to get it replaced.

Looks like his wallet was gonna take a hit, but all in the name of The Chief God he supposed.

They had work to do.


Lucas walked through the streets of Lescatie. Books in his hands, passing through alleyways and houses that look as if they haven't been tended to in years. His eyes stared at the streets in front of him, his footsteps being the only sounds that echoed through the empty streets.

He had just come from another lesson with his newly found master. With it he managed to cast his spell using this world's magic system. It was an intriguing system indeed, using one's Mana that's inherent to every living soul and permeates through the very lands to cast sorceries.

His master however had been a little guarded while she was teaching, she wasn't acting as childish as she usually did. Strange, had he offended her in some way shape or form? If that was the case then he would apologize to her when he returned the next day.

As he walked his mind wandered and he thought about the magic in this world.

It truly was an intriguing system, one he desired to study more when he got home. He wondered if there were any overlaps and if he could perhaps combine this land's magic with his own.

He shook his head, with the two being vastly different in execution it's most likely safe to assume that combining the two would be nigh-impossible. Then again, his creator often spoke of someone who did what even she thought impossible.

Nevertheless, the magic here evolved with a method free from the yolk of either The Golden Order and The Stars. It was fascinating to observe, and even more so to study himself.

Mana in on itself was something he found to be quite intriguing. It wasn't simply another element within ones body, but it seems to be tied to your very existence. Whether it was used to cast sorceries or to strengthen one's self, Mana could be shaped to do whatever its user desires with nearly limitless capabilities.

Still, he preferred his brand of sorceries. Both because he was more used to it and because it held a much higher significance to him than this World's magic.

Lost in thought, he walked into another individual who happened to be moving through the same street.

"Ugh-" Lucas muttered as he dropped onto the ground, his books falling into the ground as one was drenched in a puddle that formed just by his side.

Looking at the individual who bumped into him, his brow rose when he was met with another person who looked around his physical age.

Much like he, she had black hair that was tied into a pair of twin tails. Contrasting his own blue eyes, her's was a crimson red that held a strange look within that he could not comprehend.

"Owie~ Oh… Oh My, I'm sorry about that… clumsy me." She uttered in a childlike tone. She got up before she moved towards Lucas, leaning her head forward as she looked into his eyes.

Immediately, he knew that something was off about her. 'Her tone… it's overly childish. It isn't fake but… it's unnatural, to say the least." He noted in his head.

"Uh… yes… no worries, I myself wasn't focused on the street as I walked. Therefore, I apologize." He spoke up, getting ready to just grab his things and leave. He stopped when he heard her giggling, looking up he could see the girl's hand on her mouth as she struggled to keep her laughter.

His brow perked up at that and his face furrowed as a result. He couldn't understand why this creature found him amusing. Did she perhaps see through his childish facade? Did she simply enjoy watching him fall and ruin his books? Children could be cruel at times, that much he learned simply from looking at a mirror.

Still, thinking about it would serve him no quarter, and so he decided to voice his question on the matter instead.

"...What's so funny?" He asked.

"Your voice… the way you speak is so weird~ Haha" She spoke up in that same odd tone. It unnerved Lucas, to say the least, she wasn't someone he had wanted to deal with. He could be mistaking it, but she just didn't feel like a child to him despite how she spoke.

In other words, she felt like himself… someone who isn't who they claim to be.

"Is it improper for children my age to speak like this?" He asked incredulously. He wanted to get away, to run off but his curiosity got the better of him. He had a thirst for knowledge, every kind of knowledge, and sometimes that could lead him to some very dark paths.

"No~ but it's funny how you're forcing yourself to speak like that." She retorted.

He furrowed his brows…

Forcing himself? He wasn't forcing himself to speak like this, this was just how he actually spoke. For most of his life, he was surrounded by people who talked like this and because of it his method of talking was proper. Even then, compared to some of his old home's inhabitants his way of speaking his tone would've been considered to be more casual.

"I'm not forcing myself to speak like this, this is simply how I talk." He stated, getting somewhat irritated at the girl.

At that did her brows widen and she leaned in closer. He instinctively took a step back as he looked into her eyes.

"You have me interested, why is a child like you talking like an adult?" She asked. Her mouth formed a curious expression as her red eyes scanned his very being. It seems his words had gotten her curiosity, did she perhaps catch on to that he wasn't who he seemed?

"Why is a child like you so interested in how I speak? As far as I am concerned, it is none of your business." He retorted with a small childish frown.

At that she laughed, holding her belly as stifled one out of her lungs. He raised his brow at this, looking on at her hands clutching his book and readying an incantation should things go awry. He began thinking of plans to escape, escape routes, and potential spots where he could be at an advantage.

Whatever she was, she wasn't someone to take lightly and his instincts told him to be wary of her.

"You… I like you, what's your name?" She asked with a childish grin.

He debated on whether or not to answer her, he took a deep breath before he decided to give her his name, the one he used in these lands.

"...Lucas…"

He didn't mind if she knew, she would not find any record of his past. She wouldn't find anything in his old home, nor would she know of his ability to cast sorceries that lie outside her world's system. His name in itself was a ward, and it was a ward that allowed him to live in Lescatie without much issue.

Besides, if he got into trouble then his mission to find The Tarnished would've been all for naught. He was here, he could feel the stars tell him such.

"...Lucas… You interest me, Lucas. It's getting late so I'll be off now. I'll see you later." She noted as she began to walk away. She was about to turn the corner into an alleyway but stopped before she turned to him.

"Oh… and you can call me Kuro-chan~" She stated with a grin before she left.

"...Kuro… chan?" He noted with a raised brow before he shook it off. She was using the Zipangese method of using affixes. Strange, she didn't look like she was from Zipangu so hearing that from her was strange.

He felt a shiver in his spine as he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Whoever she was, she wasn't someone he could take lightly. She could be an obstacle for his mission, he shook his head. He needed to find the Tarnished as quickly as possible, then aid him in the coming conflict in any way he can.

It was why he was created, after all.

He shook his head once more, that girl wasn't human. He needed to go home and lock his doors. He didn't think that it would stop her if she truly tried to enter but it would at least calm his mind.

This did tell him one thing, he needed to research these lands even more. At first he believed that he could take his time with learning. But this just told him how foolish he was for not researching as soon as possible. Whatever she was, she wasn't something from The Lands Between and so he guessed that he should take to the bookshop soon.

There had to be some form of bestiary of some kind that he could read.

He walked off taking a detour that he hoped would prevent her from following him.

He would sleep with both his eyes open that night.

...

Outside of his field, the familiar black-haired and red-eyed girl from earlier reappeared atop one of the buildings. Black sludge moved through in an unnatural manner, her red eyes scanning the streets below as she watched the boy leave.

She would grin at the sight, she knew that there was something off about him. He didn't exactly feel human and it piqued her curiosity. She was sure that Lady Druella would've forgiven her if she derailed the mission for just a little bit.

He could serve a boon on their side if her hunch about him was correct. She let out a grin at that thought, she'll investigate him later on using the Sabbath that she had integrated into Lescatie's borders. Just as she had done with this Elt and just as how she planned to do so with Mimil Miltie. Still, for now her focus was on that inhuman child.

This Lucas Boy wasn't a human, and his mana felt... odd... different in a way that she could not ascertain. She'll inquire about this with her twin sister, and perhaps even with the Sleepy Magical Archives. Speaking of, he reminded her of her sister in a way, they both talked to others as if they were much older even though they were physically young. Perhaps that was why she had an interest in him, it was like she was looking at a male version of her own sister.

Still, she had a mission to do and so she moved through the streets of Lescatie and into the night. She already raided the barracks in which this red-haired hero was apparently stationed. She drowned every witness unfortunate enough to spot her in a sea of her black mud, slowly making them lose their minds to the depravity she showed them.

She looked for files and even witnesses from neighboring barracks, and through this she learned of a kind and steadfast warrior within Lady Mersé's ranks. Such a shame then that this warrior was not recognized by his own Order. Worry not… she and her mistress would bring him into their cause and he would be properly rewarded with an endless sea of pleasure.

For none would be able to escape the temptations of a combined might of a Baphomet and a Lilim.


Elt dreamed of the stars and the moon. Looking around he found himself standing in what could only be described as a void. The landscape seemed endless, filled with nothing but the stars and moon. For some unknown reason, this place calmed his mind more than any other vision.

It was strange, seeing the stars never calmed him this much before. He knew it was because of someone he should know, someone he should remember, and yet right now he failed to do just that. It was frustrating, to say the least, mostly because he cherished this person far more than he had any right to.

"My Fair Consort Eternal…" Elt's eyes perked up, that voice… he knew that voice.

He quickly turned his head to find where it had come from, to see who it was and yet he found no source to turn to. He made a difficult face, one most would recognize as frustration. It was one of his many quirks, and it was something the person behind this dream knew all too well.

"Be not afraid, I shan't ever harm my dearest friend. However, Thou'st must listen on mine words, I have not a moment to spare." She spoke again.

Elt paused to listen, he tried to open his mouth but found that he could not speak. Whatever this was, all he could do was listen to her call, to her plea for him.

"Seek the doll with moonlit eyes, ally yourself with him for thee shall need it. I cannot say anymore, but I implore thee to move with haste… He is my final gift, and my only contribution to your coming fight." She continued on.

Elt's eyes widened at that, 'doll with the moonlit eyes?', what did that mean? He didn't even know who it was he was talking to, and yet he found himself trusting every word that she spoke out.

It was strange, but this might explain the calming feeling he got whenever he looked up at the night sky.

"The arch-enemy has followed thee… make haste." She finalized.

He didn't have the time to process the last part, but when he heard it a chill went up to his spine. The enemy, there was only ever one enemy she could be referring to...

And yet as he was as of now, he would never be able to know.


Elt awoke with a gasp, he sat up from where he lay and looked around him with haste. When his vision became clear did he find himself in an unfamiliar house, calming his mind down he placed a palm over his head. Another memory? No… not a memory, it was much more vivid than any memory he had before.

So what was it, message? If so, from who?

As he sat there thinking, his eyes moved to his side where he was met with another set of eyes staring back at him. It was a pair of eyes he was quite familiar with, looking at her form he could tell that she was here for quite a while.

"...Lady Wilmarina…?" He asked. It seemed as though she just sat there looking after him while he was unconscious for most of his rest. He was grateful, more than grateful actually but he needed to know where he was first.

Then she moved, slowly at first, seemingly hesitating before she pulled him in close. His eyes widened at the act, as his face was buried into her chest. '...I can feel her heartbeat…' he thought to himself. Looking back, she must've been worried for him. Understandable, he fought a bunch of monsters and exerted more energy than it was probably worth.

"El… you're alright, I was so worried…" She confessed. Elt's eyes widened at that before they softened. He felt guilty, it must've been a shock to her when she found out that he fought off an entire Amazoness tribe.

Speaking of, oh shit… how was he going to explain this to her? As he was thinking of an explanation, Wilmarina suddenly spoke up as if she had read her mind.

"Lady Mersé told me everything… you don't need to hide anything from me anymore." She stated as she pulled away, albeit hesitantly. Elt's eyes widened at that, 'Lady Mersé already told her?' He thought before he looked down. It made sense, no amount of bullshitting on her part would ever be able to fool Wilmarina after what he just did in front of an entire village.

"...Right… so… I'm guessing you know what's going on with my body then," he uttered, his tone somewhat tired and drowsy. After the initial shock, the sleepy feeling that came after waking up hit him. He didn't feel like sleeping, but he didn't really feel quite awake yet again either.

He didn't know if this was from his low blood pressure or from his condition. Perhaps both, then.

Wilmarina shook her head at that. "I need to hear it from you, Elt." She stated. Elt's brow rose at that before he looked down. Judging from her tone, she was serious. This wasn't anything like the tone he remembered from his childhood or the tone he usually heard from Wilmarina the Hero.

He decided to tell her everything, minus his encounter with Sir Gideon. Despite everything, his threat to him never left his mind. He didn't want to endanger Wilmarina or anyone for that matter. He didn't doubt her strength, but he didn't want to trouble her either.

"I don't know where to start to be honest. But… I guess I should start with my body because it looks like that's where the change is most prominent." He started as he looked at her. It was also the one that worried him the least, mostly because the only one being affected was himself.

"For lack of a better term… I'm stronger than how I was before to the point where I can fight heroes and monsters." He noted, recalling his past duels with Mersé and his most recent fight against the Amazoness. He looked at her to see her reaction, she was just sitting there listening to him speak.

"I see… Do you feel anything strange, unnatural in a way?" She asked as she leaned forward a bit.

She needed to know as much as she could, she made an agreement with Merse that she wouldn't tell anyone. But with her influence, she'd be able to access files and documents that not even Mimil or Merse would be able to access.

She wanted to get to the bottom of this, if Elt was in any way or form in danger then she would do her best to protect him from harm.

He looked down at his bed, leaning into the backrest before he spoke up again.

"No, not really. It all just feels natural to me, but…" He started. He then paused as he looked up in thought.

"There is something kind of… I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like there's something missing from myself." He stated. He didn't know how to explain, the power he held now was enough for him to contend with high-tier heroes. But from what he felt, it felt like it wasn't even complete, barely even a fraction of what he should have.

It was strange, he should be satisfied with the amount he has now but it still feels incomplete. There was something missing, both from his mind and from his newly found strength. Maybe the two were connected with one another in some way shape or form.

"I see…" She stated. She didn't know what to think, she was worried about him, and yet from what he told her he didn't feel as if anything was wrong. At least not when it came to his strength.

"What about the memories?" She asked him. It was another thing Merse told her, he had memories and visions that he described as being all too real. She didn't know if Merse just didn't care or if she trusted her enough but telling her about all of this so suddenly might not have been intelligent on her part.

"The memories, I'm not really sure how to explain." He noted.

He truly didn't, at least not without the context behind it all. All he could remember are the events, but what lead to those events he was still unsure of. That one puzzle piece was the thing that was preventing him from remembering all of it.

"It's all disconnected, I can't make sense of any of it. I'm seeing a bunch of random things I don't understand, but I know are connected in some way. I know people I haven't met, I've remembered places I haven't been to, I did things I couldn't have imagined myself doing" Elt continued as he looked on at his palm.

The last statement went two ways, he did things he never expected he could do. He fought gods, slew legends, and grew to the point where he could've challenged the very gods in both his world and The Land's between. But he also did things he thought he would've never done. He's killed his own friends; slaughtered thousands on his journey, and seen many, and he meant many of his friends die… some of whom he himself killed.

It was an experience he couldn't forget, even with his memories sealed the feelings still persisted. It was one of the reasons why he was uncomfortable with killing the monsters that he fought just earlier.

Wilmarina looked on at him with a conflicted expression, to Elt it looked kind of sad, as if she just heard a loved one talk about their struggles, and in a way she did. Best not tell her that he remembered dying a few… hundred times… maybe even more.

"I just… I don't know if I'll be able to explain it to you properly, especially since I myself don't really understand." He muttered. As he was now, he couldn't give her an in-depth explanation of what was going on. He himself had no idea what was happening to him and it scared him. It gave him powers that he could use to match heroes and monster's alike, but it also gave him memories of horrors beyond his comprehension, of struggles that no human should ever have to bear.

Wilmarina's gaze hardened a little when she heard him. Moving forward, she took Elt's hand before she spoke up. "When did these visions start happening?" she asked, Elt blinked at the act, his face slightly turning red at the contact before he spoke up.

"When I fought Lady Merse…" He muttered. Then he blinked as he processed those words. The most frequent cause of his memories returning to him was when he was facing someone in combat. When he fought Lady Merse, Sir Gideon, and that Amazoness woman he began remembering things he didn't remember before.

It might be a defense mechanism, his mind scrambling to find anything that would aid him in combat. And so if it couldn't find anything within his memories, then it would do so with the visions he's being plagued with.

"How about the other times?" Wilmarina asked.

"It was either when I was asleep, or something related to the memory was happening. Like fights apparently… and the flower bed, oh and seeing the night sky for some reason." He explained.

He must've sounded like a fool, Wilmarina's confused expression told him that much. He would not fault her for thinking that he had lost it. And he hasn't even gotten to the part where he fought an oversized demigod riding a tiny horse, or how he met a turtle(dog) pope or the giant golden tree that pierced the heavens… or the talking pot.

"I see…" she stated, turning her head down on her lap before she stood up and walked up to him.

"So… you remember something when you're in combat?" Wilmarina asked. Her eyes staring straight at his own, he looked around as he thought.

"Uh- yeah… why are you- oh…" Elt muttered before he processed what she may have planned. She looked at him with a conflicted expression, looking like she herself wasn't sure if she was willing to go this far. But from the sounds of it, his fighting was the most prominent cause of these visions.

If that was the case, then she'd see if she could bring out some of the memories within him. Of course, that's with his consent, she wasn't going to fight him if he didn't want to.

She was named the strongest Hero in Lescatie for a reason after all. Even still, she'll hold back for as much as she can.

Elt processed this information, unlocking his memories was something that was near the top of his priority list. If there was a method for doing so, this might be it. He wasn't sure if he could take on the strongest hero in Lescatie. But he didn't need to beat her, he just needed to unlock his memories.

"I- I'm not really sure about this, Lady Wilmarina." He muttered. She nodded at him, understanding his views.

"That's fine… I don't want to force you to do something you don't want." She stated. Elt turned his head to his lap, still, on his bed, he sat up before he looked straight at her.

This might be the only way he'd be able to consistently unlock his memories, and after his encounter with the All-Knowing, it was clear to him that he might need them as soon as possible.

"No… Let's do it." He stated. Wilmarina paused at that, she looked at him incredulously. Her eyes softened and a conflicted expression once more filled her face. She bit her lip as she thought of his answer.

"Are you sure? You really don't have to if you want." She asked. She'll make sure not to hurt him too badly, not like how Mersé did it at least.

"No… I want to." 'I have to.' He thought as he looked out the window. They were out there, Sir Gideon was still out there, He needed to do this if he wanted to have a chance at beating them. Wilmarina looked on at Elt's expression before she nodded. She then got up before she spoke up once more.

"In that case, meet me next to the stream near the village. Our units are still packing up so we have time before we leave." She stated before she left him in the room.

Elt nodded as he tried to get up. He struggled to do so, still somewhat dazed by his most recent vision. He paused as he finally had the time to process what it was.

It wasn't just a simple vision, not just a memory. It was something more, a warning to him. He didn't know who this Arch-enemy was, but from his recent bout, it was either the monsters or Sir Gideon.

He furrowed his brow, he'll think this through later. For now, he needed to go and have a spar with Wilmarina.

With that, he left the house.

Wilmarina Noscrim stood across from her childhood friend, on her hand was a wooden sword, one that was handed to her by Elt's unit that they brought with them to practice while they were on a trip. This wasn't anything serious, it wasn't even a spar, just a small little exchange for him to get his memories back.

She stood by the stream, the sunset somewhat covering the area in an orange hue. It was odd, it made it seem like this was some kind of emotional final battle when it was anything but.

His red hair contrasted her light blue hair, while their eyes were more similar in color his was a deeper blue. His armor wasn't anything special, just a tattered gambeson with leather gauntlets. His blade was made of wood, and his expression looked somewhat nervous.

She couldn't exactly blame him, and she felt guilty that she was about to do this. But this is what he wanted, a little exchange between the two of them. She'll hold back for as much as possible, deciding to not use her blessings or magic and instead rely on her sword skills. Sword skills that were considered unmatched in the country, but sword skills nonetheless.

"El, you can still back down if you want." She stated.

"No, it's alright Lady Wilmarina. I'll be fine." She bit her lip in frustration at that, she was finally calling him by his nickname but he still won't call her Mary. What was up with that? She knew enough to know that he could be dense, incredibly so but even still that was ridiculous.

She hoped that frustration wouldn't affect their fight.

"In that case, get into position." She stated. He did as he was told, moving his blade forward as he slightly arched his body. She got up and got in her own stance, elegant, refined, and perfect in its display. She wasn't just taught how to fight, she was taught to look good while fighting.

It was a way to boost morale, her fighting style was graceful and dignified, refined to a T and leaving little in the way of imperfection.

Elt looked on at her form with a blush as she got into her stance, she would've smirked at the sight but she held herself back. Still, she was glad that he at least found her attractive in some way. Maybe she should start showing off the other forms she was taught to him?

No, no… focus… this is for him after all.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be." He responded. He took his sword as he waited for her to attack. And move she did, not using her blessings, she moved in order to strike him with the wooden sword. Even without the blessings did Elt look up with wide eyes.

She was fast, not as fast as Mersé nor the Amazoness he fought when the former was using her blessings, but faster than he or any of his other units could ever hope to match before his sudden upgrade.

He moved the sword up to intercept, locking blades with her as he did. She retaliated by moving to his side, her form moving like a dancer as she did. Elt ducked under the strike aimed for his chest before he moved back.

'He's fighting defensively.' Wilmarina thought as she continued on with her strikes. He didn't want to hurt her, she smiled at the thought. Even if he wouldn't call her by her nickname, he still cared for her enough that he wasn't going to try and fight back. She gave him ample opportunity to do so after all.

She wasn't putting as much force into these strikes, she was just trying to prod at his memories not beat them out of him.

Elt continued dodging, parrying, and blocking strike after strike. She was good, really good to the point where she could probably take on a Hero even without a blessing if she so desired. Even still he could tell that she was holding back, she was holding back a lot for his sake. Just fighting enough to try and prod his memories instead of forcing them out.

But…

'It's not working…' Elt thought. To anyone outside, the fight might've looked intense. After all, both were moving at peak human speeds and smacking their wooden blades together. But Elt knew that she wasn't trying to hurt him and neither was he trying to hurt her.

While he appreciated the thought, it just wasn't working. What else was going on with those fights that forced him to remember? Oh yeah… those fights felt like a fight for survival against a superior foe. It was a familiar feeling, one he knew all too well. This spar just wouldn't be enough for him to remember.

And so as he parried another strike he moved back with his hands up.

"Wait, stop. Time out." He muttered. Wilmarina stopped as she looked on at him.

"Why? What's the matter, is it working?" She asked. At that did Elt shake his head, it just wasn't working for him.

"I'm afraid not… it just isn't enough for me to remember," Elt muttered with a sigh before he had a thought.

"Hey, uh… this might sound off but…" Elt began as he nervously clutched his neck. Wilmarina looked on at him with her eyes sternly at him before she spoke.

"Go on…" she uttered.

"Alright… when we continue I want you to use your sword and your blessings." He stated. The only times his memories were unlocked were when he was locked in a battle for survival. This would also mean that he'd count Merse's training sessions as battles for survival, though with the number of bruises, broken bones, and black eyes he's received from her; they might as well be.

At that, she widened her eyes before she shook her head. No, that request she just couldn't accept. She'd never be able to forgive herself if anything happened to him because of her.

"No, Elt… I'm not risking your life over this." She stated. Elt looked on at her before he looked down at the ground before he spoke up.

"But…" He muttered before he paused as he remembered something.

Well… he could try the… no, they were kids back then, it'd be ludicrous to think that it still applied when they're older. Much like how Wilmarina knows all of his habits from their childhood, so too did he remember hers from way back then. And much like how she knew of a way to get him to do whatever her whims told her, he knew of a way to convince her to go with his own requests.

Well… he was out of options and he wanted her to fight him seriously. He took a deep breath before she looked straight at her eyes, making sure that they're wide as possible with him thinning his mouth.

"Please, Mary?" He uttered in a voice reminiscent of his childhood self. His eyes widened with sparkles seemingly forming in them.

Wilmarina's face turned into a frying pan. Her eyes widened as her cheeks turned redder than even Elt's hair. She placed a hand over her mouth as she looked away to try and hide it.

'THAT IS SO UNFAIR!' She thought to herself as she blushed uncontrollably. It was the first time he's called her Mary and he did so in a voice that reminded her of their childhood together. She recognized it immediately, it was the same look he gave her when he asked her to go to a certain spot in the garden.

So he did remember, that just made her want to pout more. He remembered their childhood together and used it against her. She tried to resist it, she really did but unfortunately, the tone was too much for her to handle.

It worked, by the Chief God, it worked too well. "F-fine… if… if that's what you want…" She stuttered uncontrollably as her blush subsided somewhat.

'OH MY GOD, IT WORKED!' He thought to himself with his own blush. That was embarrassing to do, stupid too, considering he would've probably looked like an idiot if it didn't work. He himself was dumbfounded by how effective it was. 'I guess she never really did change…' he thought to himself awkwardly.

'I'll get you back for this…' She thought to herself as she turned to him. She didn't really want to, but she couldn't say no to him after what he just did.

She'll try to hold back, but this time she'll be using her blessings and power and display it in full force.

"Alright, Elt… I just want to apologize in advance." She declared as she pulled out her wooden sword, Orofuyo would've been overkill for something as simple as a spar.

Elt pulled out his wooden sword, pointing it at her with the same stance as before. This time the gloves were off, she'd come at him in full force with the power The Chief God had gifted her.

Elt did much the same, much like how she tapped into the power of the Chief God, he tapped into the runes that lay dormant within him. Even if he didn't know what it was exactly, it allowed him to even the playing field with her.

No more words were spoken, both having apologized in advance within their heads.

With that, the two charged.


Mimil Miltie paced around her study as she tried to comprehend what she had just read. In spite of her efforts, it took her two whole nights to comprehend everything that she just read. It all sounded like a bad fairy tale, something straight out of a fiction novel, and yet she couldn't help but be drawn by it.

The Carian Royal Family Consisting of Rennala, Ranni, Radahn, and Rykard. One mother and three children, the father of whom weren't even mentioned. That was the odd thing, the father should've been an important figure and yet he wasn't even mentioned once in the book. Odd since the book went into great detail about their customs, their beliefs, and yet such an important character was left out.

It was all so strange, she theorized that he was intentionally left out for some reason. Either because he was not well liked or that there was little to no information regarding the father that the author could find when writing this.

She read about Liurnia, of the academy of Raya Lucaria, and most importantly of the lands simply referred to as The Lands Between. As far as she was concerned, these lands did not exist and this should've been nothing more than a myth, a fictional story that had no basis in reality.

But she just couldn't chalk it off as such. All for two reasons, Elt's condition and because of Lucas himself.

As much as she hated to admit it, he was gifted… incredibly so to the point where he mastered the beginner-level books she gave him in just a few nights and was now learning the intermediate-level spells at a rate that ran parallel to her own growth before.

Beyond that, however, was the fact that Lucas took things too seriously. It was an odd quirk of his, he may joke around at times but he was awfully socially inept when it came to social cues, jokes, or anything that kids should know.

For all intents and purposes, the boy acted like an adult far more than she did. No, not even an adult… for lack of a better term he acted like an extremely gifted and extremely formal infant. He was unaware of some of the most basic knowledge found in the world, he didn't even know what Mana was or its relation to every living soul in the world.

He was unaware of The Chief God or the Order Nations, a fact that she had to hide lest he is executed for Heresy by the more fanatical elements in the church. He was unaware of the Monsters, something that he should've known being inside the City that's known for producing monster-slaying heroes.

Sure, she could chalk up his lack of knowledge on said subjects by saying that he was just a kid and wasn't concerned about such things. But that's the thing, his curiosity is one of his most prominent traits. As someone who was so adamant about acquiring knowledge he surprisingly lacked any knowledge of even the most basic information.

She had only known him for a week, so she didn't know if he was faking it or not. But from how earnest he was with learning magic to how he scoured every book in her library once he finally took a real interest in them, she couldn't help but feel as if he wasn't faking it.

There was something going on with Lucas, and she couldn't help but feel as if it was connected to Elt's condition in some way. She wasn't blind, the moment Lucas began asking about Elt's condition she began to suspect that he knew something she didn't.

The way he asked for the color she was reminded of when looking into Elt being one of the main causes for suspicion.

Speaking of his condition, what he was going through was similar to what she read in the book. It was only briefly touched upon, spoken only a few times in the course of the entire chapter as a footnote but within it, she noticed something that could piece it all together.

The Erdtree and the Elden Ring. It wasn't something that the book explored too much, simply something said in passing but the few context clues she received gave her something to connect it with Elt's condition.

The Lore within the books was absurd, something out of a grand fictional story and yet she couldn't help but draw a few parallels. Either there was something more to this book or it was just a coincidence and Lucas was just really, and she meant really obsessed with it.

Tired of walking around, she sat down on one of her chairs and she heaved out a heavy sigh.

'What am I going to do?' She thought to herself. Lucas didn't seem like he was a threat, but if the book was true in any way shape, or form then it's possible that he knew things and was actively hiding them from her.

That being said, Lucas didn't seem like a bad person. But she couldn't be sure, not like this at least.

Her pride wouldn't let her cut it off, but Elt's safety was at the top of her mind first. 'Alright… I got it…' She began as she sat up.

'I need to figure out what Lucas's deal is. I'll use our lessons to help me get to know him better and see if he's a threat.' Mimil continued as she got up and walked toward her desk. Looking at the book, she placed it into her drawer to read later before she pulled out a quill and paper.

Looks like she'll be doing a bit of investigating on her own. Spurned by the flames of curiosity, she spent a few more sleepless nights reading.

'If he's a threat then... I'd have no choice but to remove him.' Mimil thought to herself. Despite her age, she was still a hero.

This wouldn't be the first time she'd have taken a life, but that didn't make it any easier for her.

Especially since she was quite fond of her target, even if she would never admit it.


In the darkness of the night, a hooded figure made her way out into the woods. Walking through the dreary night, the air was humid and the withered trees that surrounded her danced through the cold wind. The moonlight shined down upon her as the only source of light, the stars remained hidden from sight as the figure made her way to an old and dilapidated church.

She seemed jittery, almost paranoid as she turned her eyes to her back every so often to make sure that she wasn't followed. Finally, an old dilapidated church finally made it into view. This one was in more disrepair than the one she worked in back home. Seemingly abandoned, moss grew on its stone walls as the depictions of the proud goddess had decayed and rotted over time.

She opened the wooden door as she made her way inside, once she did she shut it before she removed the hood on her head revealing long green hair and kindly eyes. Sasha Fullmoon looked upon the scene before her, a scene she'd come across multiple times. Much like how she cared for abandoned children back in the capital, Sasha Fullmoon cared for abandoned children here.

The only difference was that the children here were ones she was taught to despise, hate and ultimately cleanse off the face of the earth. She had once believed the teachings of the Chief God at first and carried out her duties as a hero without hesitation.

But as the years went by and she slew Monster after Monster she had seen the horror in their eyes, the anguish and despair they felt, it all just felt wrong to her. As such she began to question the teachings of The Chief God. She began praying for answers, something to strengthen her resolve at least but she found none.

In the end, The Chief God had all but abandoned her after she asked question after question. After that fact did she see the blatant corruption more clearly, the suffering the Order created and the pain and loss felt by all.

She was disgusted by this, and so she took it upon herself to ease the suffering of both humans and monsters alike. She would not discriminate, she would not side with any of them. In public, she remained the staunch and faithful figure while in the shadows she would aid the monsters she swore to destroy by all means.

She grew tired of this conflict, and now she simply sought to help others regardless of what they were.

The Order has made Orphans of Humans and Monsters alike, and so it fell to her to ensure that none would suffer under her care.

She removed her cloak before she hung it over a wooden hanger on the wall. She turned to the orphanage but found something odd. The children hadn't greeted her and so she became somewhat worried.

Pulling out a small dagger, she readied herself for the worst. She slowly made her way through the abandoned church, through the halls before she found the sounds of burning wood in one of the rooms.

Curious, she opened the door slightly to see what was going on but her eyes widened at the sight. The children, monsters all, were gathered around a single child. Only... She was no mere child, no. She knew what the monster was, one of the most powerful monsters feared by the Order. A Baphomet, and one that managed to find her way inside the abandoned church.

"Oh, looks like your Onee-chan arrived, why don't you go and greet her for me?" The Baphomet spoke up, her voice was sweet, and yet there was something far more sinister within her voice.

Looks like she was discovered, quickly she opened the door before she looked on at the Baphomet with a cold stare. Whatever she did to these children it couldn't be good.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sasha asked as she moved in front of the children to protect them. The children moved back a bit, their joy at seeing her turning to fear after what she did.

The Baphomet waved her hands, indicating that she meant no harm. "I'm not trying to hurt them, Sasha-chan~ I was merely teaching them about their true nature." She stated with a sigh. She then got up from her seat, which was just a makeshift chair made from dark matter before she walked towards Sasha with her scythe resting upon her shoulder. Leaning forward, she looked on at Sasha before she grinned.

"So this is what the great Sasha Fullmoon was up to during her spare time. Didn't your Order tell you that we're nothing more than savage beasts?" The Baphomet asked. Sasha looked on at her incredulously before she answered.

"I have no reason to answer you, why are you here?" Sasha asked. She wasn't obligated to answer her and so she won't. While her belief in the Order had waned, that didn't mean that she'd side with the monsters so easily. While she knew that they weren't as bad as the Order said they were, they were definitely not as good as they presented themselves either. Nothing in this world was black and white, that she learned the hard way.

"My oh my? I thought that you were supposed to be a kind woman? I was simply asking you a question, I didn't harm the children in any way shape, or form." The Baphomet muttered with a sigh before an idea came to her mind.

"It's because you don't trust me, right? In that case, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kuroferuru, the Black Goat of the Devil Mud~" She introduced herself in a sing-song voice. That caused Sasha to raise her brow, keeping the children behind her she spoke up once more.

"You'd give your name to a Hero so easily?" She asked.

"Why not? We're not enemies here, Sasha-chan~ I'm here to offer you a deal." Kuroferuru stated with a small grin.

"A deal...?" She muttered.

"That's right, a deal~ I've been researching you, Sasha-chan. I've learned all your little tricks, all your little quirks, and most importantly what you've been doing in your free time~" Kuroferuru stated with a grin as she moved around Sasha, dark matter moved around as she did, barely missing Sasha and the other children. Sasha turned her head towards the kids to check on them before she looked back at Kuroferuru only to find her gone.

"You understand us better, Sasha-chan... you know that we aren't like anything you were taught~" She stated. Suddenly appearing behind Sasha, lying down on a platform made of dark matter with a cheeky grin on her face.

Startled, she instinctively moved in front of her and got in-between her and the children who took a step back. She pulled out her dagger just in case. The Baphomet's eyes turned to the dagger before her grin widened.

"Oh, don't be so mean..." She muttered as she got up and took a step forward. Sasha pointed the dagger at her but she didn't stop. She moved with a skip, uncaring of the 'danger' the dagger poised.

"I suppose I've been a bit too forceful, in that case... Here..." she stated, using her dark matter to pull a chair over for her to sit on.

"Take a seat, Sasha-chan. We have a lot to talk about." She stated with a grin. Sasha turned to the chair before she thought of her response, a Baphomet's power wasn't one to be underestimated. With her diminished state, her power would hardly be enough to fight her off and with the children around she won't be able to do it at full strength without the risk of them getting hurt.

Reluctantly, she sat down cautiously. Satisfied with her response, The Baphomet nodded before she spoke up once more.

"Anyways, why don't we start with a simple conversation starter. Here, let me get us something to drink." Kuroferuru began, with a simple snap did she summon a teacup for her and Sasha both.

"I've introduced myself, but you haven't done the same. Though... I already know who you are so I guess that makes sense." Kuroferuru stated as she cupped her chin in thought.

"Why are you here? What do you want from us?" Sasha asked.

"Oh? Straight to the point then. Alright, alright... My deal is quite simple really... I want to take these children back to a proper Demonic Realm where they belong, staying here in an Order Nation is dangerous for them, you know?" Kuroferuru muttered, taking a sip of her drink.

Sasha paused at that, it didn't seem like a bad deal. On the contrary it was almost too good. Even if she was caring for these monsters she knew how dangerous for them to stay within the borders of an Order nation, especially one known for producing Monster Slaying Heroes.

Still, there had to be a catch, there always was.

"And what, for these children to be placed into your sabbath?" She asked. She knew a bit about the monsters, but even she knew of the depravity that a Sabbath usually dealt in.

The Baphomet shook her head at that.

"As much as that may sound appealing to me, They won't join my sabbath unless they really want to. I'm a staunch believer of choice, most of my members choose to join me. It's just that I can be... Very Persuasive." She stated with a grin, one that caused a shiver to run up Sasha's spine.

To monsters, choice is something vastly different from how humans view it. When she says she's a believer of choice, what she really meant is that she was a believer of enticement and promises, to influence the choice of men and monsters to her and her mistress' cause. Targetting the mentally weak and vulnerable, she indoctrinates them into their radical beliefs. The only difference between her and other would be charismatic leaders is that she would actually deliver on those promises.

When push comes to shove, humans would often seek out deals with the devil herself.

Sasha looked on at the Baphomet before she spoke up again.

"And what would you give me in exchange?" Sasha asked.

The Baphomet looked on at Sasha with a thoughtful expression before she spoke up. "A promise, that we can make nation into something more. Something grander, without the sorrows and suffering inflicted upon its city." that caught Sasha's attention.

"You see it too, don't you? The oppression, the suffering and the pain. How many lives were lost because of this city's corruption? how many families broken and seperated by greedy men who sit at the top of this grand city's hierarchy?" She started as she got up and used her magic to shift the very nature of the room itself.

No longer where they at the orphanage but instead viewing the city from high above. An illusion? Perhaps, but even so for her to pull something like this off so easily made for a terrifying prospect.

"There's doubt in your heart, an indescribable pain and sorrow at the state Lescatie's in. A city of heroes, marred by corruption and hate when it could be so much more!" She spoke out with zeal and determination.

The city below shifted, the gilded streets and the dirty slums shifting into something much more. A caricature of a demon realm One where everyone was free to do as they pleased and one where the taboos of mankind were removed.

One where there was plenty of grain and food, one without starvation or even death.

One where none felt sorrow or pain, where pleasure and happiness were in abundance.

"A city not of heroes but of pleasure and love~" she muttered with a lecherous grin before she turned to Sasha.

She held out her paws, waiting for her answer.

Sasha looked on at her with a difficult expression. She was... obviously interested, enticed by the offer the Baphomet gave her. So this was their lecherous allure, their natural charisma at work. She knew what Sasha desired in the bottom of her heart and used it against her.

She looked upon the city, the once corrupt city was transformed into one without suffering. Where men and women were free to live their lives as they desired. But... would she really do this to the city she once served? The one who turned her into who she was? No, she couldn't. This monster's words could be a trick and even if she was honest who knew what the consequences would be.

She was about to reject it until certain images invaded her mind. Whether it was the work of the Baphomet in front of her or something else, she didn't know. She clutched her head as images flooded her mind, images she was all too familiar with.

A crying red-haired boy, weeping in anguish at the loss of his parents.

The suffering of the villages she had seen, how they were slowly getting killed by the back-breaking work just so they could feast on meager grain.

Those killed in the name of The Order, both man and monster alike, for the simplest of so-called sins by fanatics within the Order's hierarchy.

The isolation and loneliness of a certain half-elf, forced into the woods by cruel rumors and scornful eyes.

How could she let such suffering be?

In times of desperation, a man would shake the hand of the devil itself. The horned beast grinned under the roof of a place that used to be a site of virtue. Her paws beckoned forward, urging her to take the path that promised her all that she desired.

Sasha took the devil's paws, pausing a bit before fully clasping it. hesitance in her mind but it was clear in her

The Devil grinned, and the clock ticked closer to midnight.

If God cannot answer her prayers, then the devil would.


Author's Notes:

Alright, so that ends the 6th chapter. I don't really have much to talk about, so this section might be shorter than the rest.

First off, Rylan and Akito. These two would be vital in the coming chapters, They'll serve as a glimpse into the Order's inner workings and would serve as a counter to the Monsters. One thing I should note, Rylan and Akito are purely MGE Characters, or at least they are from MGE and would have no blood relation to the Lands Between. Akito though is a little more interesting, what his deal is you'd have to guess.

Secondly, I based the infighting between the Inquisition and the Heroes on the infighting that often happens between the Inquisition and basically the rest of the Imperium of Man in 40k. Various MGE Books often spoke of the infighting going on within Lescatie and so I decided to try and make that into a proper plot point.

Thirdly, as you can see from the scenes, Kuroferuru would be a major part of this portion of the story. Just to make it clear now, she'll serve as the major antagonist in the next few chapters. Think of this as being a new Arc, with new characters taking the center stage while the others would be in the background.

In any case, as always leave your reviews, reactions, and complaints in the Reviews section. If you have anything that you want to tell me privately then my PMs are open. Have a nice day, and I'll see you all when the next chapter's finished.

If nothing else,

Whamo out!