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 22: Shifting Winds

Wilmarina Noscrim stood in front of an entire room filled with heroes and high-ranking soldiers from her order. Her eyes scanned the various men and women, each of them sat by chairs or stood nearby in order to listen to her reports. These were the leaders of the squads she and her inner circle divided into and right now, their purpose was to be briefed on their current tasks.

She stood in front of a map of the forest, detailed and well made with various markings to make it easier for them to understand.

She looked on at her side; standing next to her was Eva Mystiv. His form was fidgeting, nervous but still standing. She gave a sympathetic sigh at that, those comments about his frail physique had given him low self-esteem, even if he more than made up for it with his strategic abilities.

He was the one who proposed this plan, and he was also the one who finalized it with her. He stood by since it was his design, but it was her who was to relay the plan to her unit.

The last time Eva stood by in front of a room like this, he became somewhat of a nervous wreck.

With Wilmarina at the helm, most of them would at least take the time to listen in on the plan. Clearing her throat, the already quiet whispers in the room had all but silenced.

"With all of us gathered here tonight, I think it's time that we begin." She started, turning to the group before she began.

"The assault will take place at dawn when the day gives us the most visibility within the thick forests. You have all been divided up into three separate units with over 100 each to cover the entire forest." Wilmarina noted, looking on at her comrades as they nodded.

"The left flank shall be led by Lady Olivier Amaltia and the rest of the three musketeers. They will aim to secure the left flank of the river that leads outside the forest. If we succeed in securing it, it will prevent the monsters from retreating to an area closer to the capital." She explained, turning to Eva as he nodded.

"The right flank shall be lead by Lady Eristia Vitral, a hero not of our Order but I've personally seen her exploits. We believe she's up to the task and would serve well as a leading figure." She continued,

Eristia Vitral, someone she was somewhat acquainted with. For some reason or another, the Order decided to send her in with her. She along with a few other unaligned heroes and even those from different Orders. It was honestly quite strange, she knew that the situation was dire but to call upon a force this large? They didn't spare a single expense here.

"Their purpose is to secure the right end of the river splitting the forest. Once that's done, we would effectively cut the forest in two and leave only one route for the monsters to escape through." Wilmarina continued, her hands moving to her side as she rested one arm on the blade on her hip.

"As for the center, it will be led by myself. Our goal would be the most difficult and dangerous, we will push through into the center and try to push them out of the forests and through the mountains." Wilmarina finalized, she hid the fear in her hands as she did.

She had to take this facade, the persona she cultivated over the years. She was scared of what she had to do, but this was what she was expected to do. As Lescatie's greatest hero, her job was to inspire and protect all those within her care.

Wilmarina took a deep breath; after the last mission, she finally found the strength within herself to do this. If not for them, then definitely for him. The one she loved was strong now, but she would do her best to keep him safe as a hero.

"In summary, our job here is to cut off any other potential escape routes and push them through the mountain. Any stragglers left behind would be dealt with; any questions?" She asked.

The crowd looked at one another as whispers flew around the tent. Eventually, one of them stood up. "What of the mercenaries, Lady Wilmarina? What is their purpose in all of this?"

"Most of the mercenaries shall be placed as our eyes. They would be tasked with guarding the forest's edge and would be reinforced by a few heroes of my choosing." Wilmarina answered.

"A few notable ones however would be sent in to aid us, treat them as you would your own comrades." She added,

Her eyes then turned to a set of lupine eyes that could be seen out in the background. Looks like Isaac recovered already and was currently catching up with her deputy. She suppressed a small bitter smile, unlike her, Luciana had more leeway to express her love and admiration. She still had limits as her deputy but she was at least less expected to speak with people of higher standing.

She shook her head, now was not the time for that.

Eventually, another person stood up.

"What if we encounter the vampire?" A nervous voice spoke up. Wilmarina rose her brow at the sight. Corin Rosenthal, son of a merchant and Alameria's partner before she was placed with Olivier and Paula. He was asking for her sake, considering how it was allegedly a vampire that burnt her home and destroyed everything she held dear.

This mission must've meant a lot for her, she still remembered the rage that burnt in the usually kind girl's eyes.

"Then you would deal with it as you would any other monster. If her strength is too much for you to bear, then retreat and regroup. Listen to your leader's next command, you're given the full authority to retreat back to the safety of this encampment if your squad leader allows it." She continued on.

After Corin's question, the rest of which were just questions of which squads they'd be placed in and other heroes and soldiers jockeying for a position on her squad. It was somewhat irritating having to reiterate that the squads had already been chosen and that they could not switch unless she deemed it so.

Eventually, they all ceased and backed down after she gave them all a warning. Honestly, this was just how it was in her Order. People trying their best to strengthen or rise in the ranks through her.

"If that is all, then you are all dismissed. Get a good night's rest; we'll attack at dawn." With that out of the way, she stepped off the podium and out onto a room just outside.

With her out of the public eye, she let out a loud sigh and stretched her arms. Dealing with them was just a little exhausting at times,

"You look a little too happy finally being out of that tent," A voice called out to her,

Wilmarina turned her head towards the source and let out a small smile. "You should try dealing with them sometimes, Olivier; they can get exhausting."

Olivier let out a light laugh; if there was anyone whom Wilmarina could be herself around: it would've been anyone from her circle.

"Seeing how everything was in there, I'd rather not." She muttered before a small sigh escaped her lips. Olivier could've been the one standing up there instead of Wilmarina, to be honest. Between the two of them, they were both matched in skill, power, and even influence. The only reason she hadn't become one was due to her father's allegiance with Wilmarina's own.

Wilmarina sat by one of the chairs, slouching on it as she turned to the desk that sat in front of it. "I'm worried about Alameria…" Wilmarina admitted, causing the leader of the three musketeers to turn to her with a small sigh.

"I am, too; she's been pushing herself ever since she found out that there was a vampire inside the forest," Olivier said,

The poor girl had done nothing but train ever since she learned of this fact, and while it is good to keep yourself honed, the way she went about it was a little too much. She refused to eat anything until she felt satisfied with her progress; she spent less and less time with Corin and the other two musketeers; it had gotten to the point where Olivier herself had to put her foot down and order her to rest.

It only got worst when she found the bloodied state of the scouts sent in.

"I understand her; vengeance and rage are powerful emotions," Wilmarina commented, preparing a cup of tea for herself. Usually, she would've gotten a servant since it was unbecoming of a noble to serve themselves. But she liked the tea better when it was prepared by herself.

"I know…" Olivier added, sighing as she sat on her chair. "I worry for this mission, Wilmarina… things have gotten strange in the past few weeks."

Wilmarina understood where she was coming from, more than she'd ever admit. First, her childhood friend had somehow received the strength to rival her in power, a feat only a few could ever hope to match.

Then, Monster sightings have been fluctuating all over Lescatie. Some populations just disappeared entirely, while others were becoming more rampant at the edge of the country. The recent assassination of a cardinal within the capital was also one incident that her father snuffed out.

The only reason she learned of this was that Olivier told her about the altercation between her father and the Inquisition. There's a vampire within this forest with monsters that are not afraid to kill, along with the rumored wolfman running amok within it.

She paused, wondering if this had anything to do with Elt somehow. It was possible; his new strange state, coupled with a string of unusual events, made her doubt that all of these things were disconnected.

A thought hit her, with a force this large being sent in for a vampire it was clear that her father was taking this matter seriously... but that was what was odd: Her father was taking this matter seriously. Most of the time, she was the one who was expected to handle monsters with her Order. Despite everything, she was given mostly free rein over how she handled her Order.

'Could he... know something?' She thought,

There was something amiss in Lescatie, and something told her that the ramifications of which could be major for all of them. She'll investigate this, later on, and probably go and meet with Elt but for now…

"I know, Olivier… regardless, we still need to do this mission," Wilmarina stated.

Olivier nodded, accepting their duties as heroes if somewhat reluctantly. She needed to deal with this first before she paid attention to the other matters; that being said she'd definitely keep an eye out.


A figure walked through the decrepit streets, their feet swiftly moving across as the passed through the dilapidated area. Their eyes frantically searched every corner beneath the hooded cloak they wore. A heavy breath left their lungs with each step, sweat poured down their face.

The sounds of coins echoed through the darkened streets, the pouch carrying them hanging on to dear life at the speed that it moved.

Eventually, the figure found herself in an empty alleyway. They looked around, checking to see if there was anyone there. Seeing noone, they let out a sigh of relief before they continued on…

"Umph!"

Only for a group of men to come out and tackle her to the ground. They had masks covering their faces, made of rags and whatever they could find out here int he slums of Lescatie. They carried weapons, ranging from crossbows to small daggers.

"H-Hey, Let me go!" The figure yelled out as they tried to struggle only for their head to be pushed down on the ground.

"S-Stop, that hurts!" They added, continuing on their struggle before a clapping sound could be heard from the alleyway. Eventually, they pulled the mask and hood off revealing a feminine face with light-brown hair and eyes. She glared at her captors, continuing on her struggle before a voice called out from the alleyway.

"Did you honestly think that you could've gotten away after what you did?" Out on the open came a man with brown hair and red eyes; he wore the standard inquisitor garb and had a Zipangese-style blade strapped on his hip.

"A-Akito… I-I can explain," The girl muttered.

"Out of all the idiotic, dumbass decisions that you could've done… and you decided to sell information that I strictly said was off-limits." Akito sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before turning to see if anyone was nearby.

He looked on at one of the men before he spoke. "Secure the perimeter, I don't want anyone getting near us, understood?"

With a nod, the man walked off.

"See, that's all you had to do. You just had to listen to me, and we wouldn't have any problems." Akito commented with a shrug before he sighed.

"Take off that stupid disguise, Kara; it doesn't suit you," Akito ordered; Kara grit her teeth before she let out a small sigh.

Her form began to shrink; ears popped up on her head before a massive tail formed on her back. Akito gestures for the men to let her go, complying with a nod they got up and walked a few feet back.

"Is it just you, or are the rest of you squirrels this stupid?" Akito asked, Kara furrowed her brows before she turned to Akito.

"We're Ratatoskr, you idiot! At least call us by our proper names…" She muttered with a sigh.

"You lost that privilege when you gave away information to Aria. A Ratatoskr is supposed to be good at handling information, so either the Encyclopedia is wrong, or you're just an idiot squirrel." Akito noted with a shrug before he walked toward her.

"It's not me who's an idiot here, Aki…" Kara retorted, turning to Akito before she continued. "Do you realize how hard it is to hide the fact that someone managed to beat a Baphomet when the battle happened in public? The fact that we managed to do it should give me a Lilith-damned medal around here!"

"Careful, that name's a very heretical thing to say here, Kara." He stated with a wry grin. "It could get you killed,"

"So why haven't you?" Kara asked, brow raised and arms crossed.

"You and your dumb race are much more useful to me alive than you are dead… Even the stupidest squirrel is better at handling information than anyone here in this dump." Akito stated with crossed arms.

"So don't fucking prove me wrong." He threatened, causing Kara to gulp and take a step back.

"In any case, I need you to tell me what exactly you told Aria," Akito stated,

Kara pauses, sweat forming on her forehead before she takes a deep breath. Most people would've just given him the information; most would've tried everything in their power to live.

But Kara was not most people.

She gave a small mischievous smirk, one that caused Akito's brow to twitch before she continued. "This is information, isn't it? If you want it, then you know what to do."

Was she being suicidal? Possibly, but she knew that Akito was going to kill her if she gave it to him for free. If she was going to die, might as well make sure that he wasn't going to enjoy it.

"...You really are an idiot, Kara." Akito began, sighing before he pulled out a pouch of coins.

"And you're an even bigger one for actually listening," Kara retorted; Akito sighed and waved her off.

Crossing her paws, she looked on at the pouch with a raised brow. "It's a lot less than what Aria was willing to give me,"

"It's not just this pouch; I'm also paying by sparing your worthless life." Akito dryly muttered.

She shrugged, "Touche,"

And so she told him, not everything, but enough to satisfy his desire. She omitted anything about Sasha Fullmoon, after all she didn't deserve any respite the Inquisitor might bring to her. Once she was done, the look on his face was less than amused. Akito had his teeth gritted, his eyes glaring at the Ratatoskr, and his fist clenched. Soon after, however, he relaxed and held out the pouch for her to grab.

Kara moved in, greedily grabbing the pouch before…

"Umph!" She grunted, a boot digging into her chest as air was pushed out of her lungs. She collapsed down, coughing as she reeled from the blow.

"You stupid idiotic squirrel…" Akito spat out, crouching next to her. He grabbed her hair and pulled her up from it; his eyes narrowed.

"You decided to sell information to the sister of the worst inquisitor in Lescatie. Do you honestly think that Albain would spare you… any of you?" Akito asked, his eyes narrowing as Kara glared at him in turn.

"No, but I know that you wouldn't either… worst inquisitor… if you want to find the worst inquisitor, then look in the damned mirror, you fool…" Kara answered,

She lets out a laugh, a dry one. "You need me, Akito… you're nothing without the information we give you and the rest of the Inquisition."

"For a traitor to her race, you're as monstrous as the rest of them," Akito commented,

"It's a matter of survival, the same way this is… I'm not welcome back in the demon realms… not after what I did…" Kara stated. It was part of the reason why Akito decided to trust her, well… trust is a big word, more like work with her.

She held no allegiance to Royal Makai, to Lilith, not even to her own kin. She was a survivor, a renegade, a fact she had to learn since she was young. As a Ratatoskr, she was weak and magically defunct. Her only real skill is her speed, a fact that she makes use of to great effect when running from all of her problems.

"If you're doing this for survival, then you really are an idiot. Selling information to a Rejulia, you might as well be asking for a pyre." Akito addes as he got up and dusted himself.

He threw the pouch down on the ground in front of her.

"As much as I want to kill you, you're right about one thing," Akito said as he looked on at her fallen form. "I hate to say this, but I need the information your little organization can give me."

They were in a deadlock here; both had the means to get the other killed, but doing so would also mean their own deaths. She tried to get up, only to find the heel of a boot keeping her from standing.

"Never forget that it's because of me that your little organization's still in Lescatie in the first place," Akito added before he walked off.

"Next time you fuck up, you'll find yourself with a missing tongue. Hell, it might be an improvement over the current you." Akito finalized as he got away from the alleyway leaving Kara on her lonesome.

Kara got up with a groan. Clutching her back as she glared at where Akito had left. "Asshole…"

She pulled out a potion before drinking it, her form once more taking its more human shape. "Now I need to get this resupplied because of you…"

She picked up the pouch and checked its contents. "Not even an ounce of gold, huh? Samael damn you…"

Kara sighed, uttering the name of both the Demon Lord and the Fallen Hero was a sin in this country. But her existence in itself was a sin in this place.

She dropped the contents of the pouch on the ground.

Just a bunch of rocks, she should've known. But honestly, she was just glad that she got to live. She checked herself, turning to the alley before she continued on her way with a slight limp.

She's going straight to bed after all of this.


In a lonely orphanage in the middle of the night, a witch wiped clean a table made of rough oak. She stood by one of the chairs, a fact that somewhat irked her but she paid this feeling no heed.

She stood up on the chair, wiping her forehead with a slight sigh before she turned to a shelf above. Getting off her chair, she moved it near the shelf before she began to wipe it clean. Removing any grime and dust with the piece of cloth in her hands. However, due to her short stature she found that she couldn't completely reach the top shelf.

Merridith ftowned, but she didn't give up on this endeavor. She stood on her toes, leaning on the shelf to support her as she wiped the top clean. She bit her teeth together as she cleaned the very edges of the shelf before…

Creak

"...Oh… crap…"

With a loud thud, she fell onto the floor. She hissed in pain, clutching her back as she rolled on her side. She looked on at the chair, its form had slid away as she tried to clean.

"Edith!" A voice called out, turning to the source she found the familiar face of Sasha Fullmoon. Looks like she's returned, that was good. She moved to Edith's side, she didn't even hesitate. A green light covered her side, the pain if the fall all but vanishing.

Edith sighed, "Thank you Lady Fullmoon…"

Sasha gave a small smile at that, "You can just call me Sasha, Edith."

Edith turned to her with an incredulous look before she gave a small nod. It was still somewhat absurd to her, one of the most renowned heroes in Lescatie was harboring monsters in her home. She was thankful for it, it

meant that she at least had a home now.

Even still, it was mind-boggling to think about it.

She got up and bowed to her, mostly as an apology and partially due to courtesy. Whenever she screwed up back in the Morrigan estate, she was expected to stop what she was doing and bow for forgiveness.

"Forgive me, Sasha. With the way I am… I don't think that I'll be of proper help here in the orphanage." Edith muttered,

Sasha just waved her hand lightly in response. "Don't worry about it, if you find things troubling then I'll just take over for you."

"Besides, with your condition… you shouldn't force yourself too much." She added,

Merridith merely sighed and nodded in response. "I know… it's just frustrating being in this position sometimes. I'm 20, but I have the stature, look, and strength of a child."

Edith dryly laughed after, a sad smile gracing her lips as she turned to the shelf. "I can't even reach the top shelf, not without a chair or an adult like any other kid…"

Sasha gave her a sympathetic look, her eyes slowly turning to Merridith's own before a sigh escaped her lips. "I'm sorry, Edith. I wish I could help you but…"

There was no known cure for monsterization, no special method to turn her back into a human. She suspected that Elt perhaps had one, but dismissed it under the assumption that he would've done so already if he did.

And even if Merridith were to turn human again, that was no guarantee that her life would take a turn. As far as the Order is concerned, Merridith was already tainted by the Demon Lord's infernal magic. There was nothing that would change that fact, no consideration would be given.

She would burn as either a witch or a human.

Merridith knows this,

"It's not your fault, Sasha… it's… it's mine." Merridith softly muttered. It was her decision that damned her, it was her sin to bear. Kuroferuru may have tricked her, but in the end it was she who decided to take the deal. Regardless of the context, she believed herself to be a sinner.

"They're right to call me a sinner, a witch… because in the end, that's what I am." Merridith added,

Sasha sighed, she understood the feeling well… it was the same way she felt when she first began this orphanage. Sasha got up, her eyes turning to a wooden chair by the table before she sat upon it. Looking on at Merridith, she patted the top of a chair opposite her own.

Merridith tilted her head, she knew what the gesture meant. Getting up, she moved and sat on the chair as Sasha looked on at her with a small sigh.

"Do you think I'm a sinner, Merridith?" Sasha began,

Merridith tilted her head, her eyes turning to Sasha as she tried to think of what to say. By the standards she set for herself, yes, Sasha is indeed a sinner. Worst than that, she was a heretic and blasphemer, one just as worthy of the pyre as she was.

Alas, even if that was the case, she couldn't see Sasha as anything but the pure and noble soul that she was.

"...I… I'm not qualified to call you a sinner, Sasha…" Merridith began,

Sasha smiled, "I am a sinner, Edith… same as you, same as Elt, same as everyone in Lescatie."

Merridith looked on at her with a quizzical look, her head tilting before Sasha continued on. "The weight of those sins vary, but no one is truly ever pure."

"You say that… but my sin could cost me my life…" Merridith began,

"So can mine, even now I wonder if what I'm doing here is what's best for me…" Sasha trailed off, her eyes turning to the window outside. She watched as Adelie stood and taught her fellow monsters how to make garlands. A little trick she learned from Elt, and one that she seemed to enjoy very much.

"But when I look outside and see the faces of these children, I'm reminded of what I sinned for in the first place." Sasha added.

"That's the difference, your reason is pure… mine is…" Merridith paused,

Sasha tilted her head, "Love isn't pure?"

Merridith paused, her eyes widened as she looked on at Sasha. "H-How did you…"

Sasha merely smiled at that, "Intuition, and you just confirmed it for me. We sin because we love… we desire, it's the root of all of humanity's faults and greatest accomplishments."

"I'm not a human anymore… My selfishness cost me that." Merridith answered,

Sasha merely shrugged at the thought, "Human, Monster… in the end, we're all sinners… What matters is who you are, not the form you take."

She then gently held Merridith's arms, causing Edith to look on at her with a look of confusion.

"All I see in front of me right now, is a scared and lonely girl who needs help."


A cloaked figure looked up at the dilapidated church, her green eyes staring at its form. She took a deep breath, she never knew how scary it was to be out here in the middle of the night.

Once again, she was reminded of how unprepared she truly was to be an Inquisitor. The common folk have been staring daggers at her form, the combination of her noble looks and Inquisitorial garb doing nothing to ease their hatred of her kind. Even still, she did her best to ignore all of these and focused her energy on her work.

Aria Rejulia looked on at the dilapidated church with a curious eye. On the surface, there was nothing special about it other than the fact that it could've been in better repair. But Sasha Fullmoon was said to have come here often, most likely to pray.

She found that to be quite odd in her opinion. There were other less dilapidated churches here, dozens of them in fact. It's possible that she comes here to pray in peace and without interruption but she found herself doubting that possibility.

All she had with her are speculations, some of which were too scandalous to mention. But speculation alone would do nothing to aid in her investigation, what she needed right now was solid evidence.

And what better way to learn than to search the scene herself. With a deep breath, she entered the orphanage.

The pale moonlight illuminated her surroundings, but with no source of light it was difficult to see. She had no real light source on her, but she wasn't going to wait until morning.

Aria could not and would not afford to give herself time.

She looked around the church, her boots causing the wooden floor below to creak with every step. She looked around and tried to find something of note, but nothing.

She turned to the old and cracked figure of the Chief God, its form standing in front of the church with her hands outstretched and with wings sprouting from her back.

One of the hands was missing and the face was utterly unrecognizable, most likely eroded by time and exposure to the elements.

By her estimate, this church was probably a few centuries old by this point. Forgotten and left to time, replaced by grander and far larger cathedrals.

Aria looked down with a sigh, this statue was one that was found in every church and place of worship she's been to. It was a figure she memorized to a T and not one she did by choice.

She found herself recalling childhood memories, ones she buried due to the pain it caused her.

Things were much simpler back then, Albain used to be a lot nicer, she and Merridith used to play within the gardens, and Hathaway often fought with Albain in their play spars.

Aria remembered how fond Albain was of the piano, how skillful of a musician he was. He and Hathaway had played together, creating symphonies for Old Man Harrison.

She lightly smiled at the memories, but then it all turned sour.

It took just one visit, her father had taken Albain out to meet with Lord Tobias Finnegan from the neighboring kingdom of Solovan.

When they returned, Albain's eyes were widened and his irises were shrunken. There was a tension in his mind, and he never recovered since. Whatever happened in that visit, Aria would never know.

But the result of the visit was one that would shake the foundations of everything she loved.

He turned spiteful, and hateful, and started to bury himself in his studies. He stopped coming to the mansion altogether and had done nothing but pray, study, and sleep.

He looked desperate, as if he was clinging to something he'd lost but Aria never understood what it was. Slowly but surely, he began to turn into someone she feared. He became ruthless, uncaring, overly zealous, and cruel.

His hateful eyes were focused solely on their father, on the nobility around him. But as he was, he found that he could do little against them.

As such, they turned to the monsters… the one race he had the power and right to lash out against. He joined the Inquisition, and in his tenure, he managed to gain a reputation of infamy.

She sighed, such thoughts mattered little right now. 'Focus, Aria… you're here to investigate… not to have flashbacks.'

Aria continued on her search, checking under the broken pews and worn down walls and yet nothing. Perhaps she really did just uses this place to pray, maybe coming here was a mistake…

She took a step forward, and the wooden plank below shifted.

"Huh?" She uttered, her head turning down as she looked on below. With how dark it was, it was hard to see if there was anything here but…

She knelt down, her hand moving towards the wood before…

Creak

A noise,

Quickly she got up and looked around, pulling out her rapier as an instinct.

"Who's there?! Identify yourself!" She yelled out, pointing her rapier outwards as she tried her best to calm herself.

Silence,

She took a deep breath, moving around as she observed every corner. There were no movements, no noise, just her and her blade glistening under the moonlight.

That was until…

"What are you doing here?"

She widened her eyes, her arms swung at the source. It was right behind her, whoever it was. The figure quickly dodged the blow, ducking before he spun and held his arms.

"Wait, wait! relax… I'm not here to hurt you."

Aria paused, she recognized that voice. Turning her head, she confirmed her suspicions. In front of her form was the familiar sight of a red-haired man with his hands up. He had a look of surprise and shock in his face, understandable considering she just swung a blade at him.

She lets out a sigh of relief, lowering her rapier slightly but not sheathing it. After what she's learned, there was absolutely no way she was going to leave herself defenseless around him.

"Elt… it's just you…" She said,

Nevertheless, she needed to hide the fact that she was investigating him. The best way to do that was to continue to act cordially with him and pretend that she knew nothing. It was a skill she was taught, and one she intended to make full use of.

He gave a small smile at that, a sweat dripping down his forehead. "Be careful with that next time, you almost gave me a heart attack."

Aria deadpanned, "Next time, don't scare me like that while I have my blade out. I thought you would have learned that the first time." She said with a sigh.

Elt just laughed awkwardly at that, "Y-Yeah, you're right."

If she weren't currently investigating him, Aria would have raised a brow right then and there. With the way he spoke and talked, she couldn't believe that this was the man who fought against a Baphomet. She didn't know if he was acting or being genuine, and that was honestly the scary part.

He placed his hands on his hips, his eyes looking around before they turned to Aria. "So… what are you doing in a place like this?"

Aria paused, she couldn't exactly tell him that she was here to investigate Sasha Fullmoon. But what exactly could she say to justify her coming here. Thinking quickly, she created a reason in her head.

"...I was just here to… reaffirm my belief… I guess…" She stuttered out,

Aria wanted to hit herself over such a stupid excuse.

Elt tilted his head, his blue eyes turning to her with a confused expression. "What do you mean by that?"

Aria pauses, her eyes thinking of what to say before she sighs. The best lie is a half-truth, therefore she'd reveal a portion of her situation back home.

"As I've told you, my situation isn't as great as it might appear to be…" She trailed off, walking before she sat on one of the dusty pews.

"I was always a faithful woman, I pray to the Chief God everyday… I visit churches and cathedrals often, and I try my best to serve my Lady with as much faith and vigor as I can muster." She continued,

"I'm faithful to the Order, fighting monsters and heretics and those who threaten its existence with every fiber of my being. I'm faithful to my family, even with my tenuous situation I try my best not to shame the Rejulia name."

She would've laughed at the last one. She's completely lost faith in her family, both to her father and her brother. She didn't want any part in their plots and schemes, and yet here she was doing that. In order to escape her father's plans, she instead found herself serving her brother instead.

It was like choosing between two types of poisons, there was just no winning for her.

"But in the end… I'm not exactly happy with where I am right now. My coworkers think I'm a joke, Albain thinks I'm a fool, and my father thinks that I'm a waste…" Aria stuttered out.

Even if she was doing this to keep Elt in the dark, there was still a semblance of truth in her words.

"I wonder how things went wrong… where I went wrong with my life… Ha… one of life's great mysteries, right?" She dryly muttered, shaking her head before she continued on.

"I suppose I'm rambling again, but you at least understand why I'm here now… so go ahead and laugh." Aria stated, turning to Elt who gave her a sympathetic look.

"...Faith, huh?" He muttered out loud, causing Aria to raise her brow.

Elt's blue eyes turned to the altar of the Chief God. Slowly, he made his way to it. His boots caused the floors to creak, his hair flowed under the light breeze that blew through the ruined walls. He placed a hand on the base of the statue, wiping away the dust before he spoke.

"This place needs fewer churches…" He admitted,

Aria's eyes widened, her form standing up in both surprise and outrage. "Elt! Stay your tongue, such comments could be considered blasphemous!"

To say something like that to an Inquisitor took courage… or perhaps foolishness, depending on who you asked. Despite her frustrations, not once has she cast her loyalties away from the Order and the Chief God. She was a faithful servant as was expected of her, and her faith was one of the traits she shared with Albain.

But much like the rest of the traits she shared with her wayward brother, her's was fragile.

"How so?" Elt asked, his eyes casting a curious glance at Aria.

Aria paused. "Because…" She begins, but alas no words come out of her mouth. She didn't know what to say, how to refute him.

"The funds used for all these extravagant churches and cathedrals could be used for something better, don't you think? If you nobles are unwilling to spare change, then surely the Chief God would instead." He continued on, causing Aria to pause and look away.

"To deny the Chief God her rightful coin could dampen the faith of the people. These churches and cathedrals serve a purpose, Elt… to keep the faith of the populace intact." She continued.

Elt merely raised his brow at her answer. Once more he asked, "How so?"

"What use does a God have for all of this? For all these statues and all that gold? Is the people's faith so shallow that these churches are its only foundation?" He added with narrowed eyes.

Aria couldn't take it, both as an Inquisitor and as a member of the Order. She lifted her blade up and spoke. "In the name of the Chief God, cease this at once!"

Elt just blankly looked at her, his eyes turning to her blade before he sighed. He took a step towards her, causing the girl to take a step back in response. He continued forward, his footsteps echoing through the church like a coming apocalypse.

Aria pointed her blade at him, in a panic she spoke once more. "Stay back, I order you!"

Alas, he continued on. She moved back once more, only to find that her back was on the wall. She turned her head towards it before she felt a presence in front of her. In the split second she turned her head, Elt was now standing right in front of her with his eyes coldly looking at her own.

His once blue irises had turned gold, and the usual smile on his face had disappeared.

Panicking, she swung her blade at him only for her to watch as he grabbed it with one hand.

He gave a slight glance at her blade, his eyes turning to it before they turned back to Aria. "I suppose I was wrong… your faith is enforced by both the church and the blade." He commented,

It wasn't an insult, instead it was an observation on his part. No, more like a realization after everything he's been through. Aria looked on in horror as he gently moved her blade away and stared straight into her soul. With that one action, doubt was sowed in her mind.

From the look on his eyes, that was the intended effect.

With a voice unlike anything she's heard, he spoke.

"You will not find what you desire here; if you continue down this path then all you will find is pain and misery." He declared, taking a step back before he continued.

"If you value your life, leave this place."

She hesitated, her eyes looking on in fear before she ran off. Her form exited the church and ran out onto the streets. Elt sighed, he honestly hated doing all of that.

"My Lord…" a voice called out from behind.

Turning his gaze, the red-haired Tarnished found the familiar sight of a doll. His form looked on at where Aria left, a disapproving eye showing his discontent with the matter.

"That was a risky maneuver; if you aren't careful, then it could place a target on your back." Lucas began,

Elt merely shook his head, "I know, but it was the only thing I could think of to get her off Sasha's trail."

He used the exact same thing she tried to do. Use a half-truth to mislead and get her attention away from the church. He suspected that she already knew about him, considering that she had her rapier out during their entire conversation and kept her grip on it tight. No one just keeps a blade out unless they know that their life could be in danger.

There was also another alternative, but he wouldn't even consider that option. "Besides… I'd rather not get her blood on my hands."

"Then let me do it instead, with my power I could make it look like an accident or an action done by another." Lucas offered,

Unlike Elt, he had no such reservations. He was a doll, a tool made for the purpose of war. His job is to serve his lord faithfully, and if his lord doesn't want to dirty his hands then he should do it instead.

Elt gave him a blank look, "I'd rather not leave this responsibility to a child, Lucas. If it ever comes to that, then I have to do it myself."

Lucas scoffed, he's heard his master complain that his Lord treated her like a child despite her talents. It appears he was also doing the same thing with him. He needed to correct this thought as soon as possible.

"My Lord, I am not my Master. Unlike her, who was raised for the role of a hero… I was made to be a weapon, a blade, a tool for your use." Lucas stated, turning to Elt before speaking up once more.

"Please do not consider me as anything but that," He stated,

Elt shook his head, "I know… but I just can't see you in that light."

Elt knew that he couldn't exactly treat Lucas the same way he treated Mimil. Lucas wasn't like Mimil, he wasn't someone who had their childhood stripped away to become a ruthless soldier, he was specifically designed to be one. He wasn't even supposed to be a child, that was a fluke, a mistake that would never be repeated.

Even still, he found that he could not use him in the way he was supposed to.

Lucas just sighed, during the past few days he had gained an understanding of his lord. He gave him a critical eye before he spoke up.

"You are kind… my Lord, too much so, in my opinion…" He comments, his blue eyes narrowed.

"You may regret this fact in the future."


A black-haired goat moved through the encampment with a limp. Her form caught the stares of a few monsters, their eyes widening in shock at her poor state. Kuroferuru paid them no heed, right now she needed to go and meet with her Lady.

She hoped that she could've avoided her Sabbath for the time being, especially when her current state was considered.

"Kuroferuru-sama! You've returned!"

Alas, it was not to be. A voice called out from the side, her red eyes turned to its source. It was a witch, wearing nothing but the blackened form of dark matter.

"...Take me to Druella…" She stuttered out, she tried to take a step forward only to wobble forward and fall. She was caught by the witch, concern clear in her eyes as Kuroferuru gave her a reassuring smile.

"Kuro-sama… what happened to you?" The witch asked,

"Nothing I can't handle, just a little injured…" She said, her voice noticeably weaker than usual.

"...Kuro-sama…" The witch stated in concern, her eyes giving a worried look as Kuroferuru gently pushed her away.

"Should I prepare a Dark Matter bath for you?" She asked with a head tilt. Usually at this point, she would've gladly said yes and threw herself in the depths of her own depravity.

But… after everything…

"I'm not here to stop you because you're a monster… I'm here to stop you because you're just a horrible person…"

"L-Look at me! I'm an abomination! I can't age, I look like a child forever, and I will never get to see him again!"

"Not now, maybe… maybe next time…" She trailed off, unsure of herself. That caught the witch off guard, usually she would've greedily accepted that offer. From the looks of it, Kuroferuru herself was caught off-guard by her own answer. But right now, she found that she couldn't exactly accept the pleasure that she could offer herself.

"Hey… Leah…" Kuroferuru began, the witch then turned to her with a curious eye.

"...Are you happy with where you are now?" She asked,

Without skipping a beat, the witch answered her in full. "Of course! I wouldn't have been able to see a solution to Polove's plight without you!"

Polove wasn't even a demon realm yet. Much like with Lescatie, another person had plans of turning it into a demon realm for the betterment of its inhabitants. It was the plan of a certain Elementalist; they were plotting the eventual takeover and subsequent transfer of Polove onto the hands of the Demon Lord.

Kuroferuru smiled at that, she tried to convince herself that Leah's answer was genuine but… after Merridith, Elt, and the rest… she couldn't help but feel that she wasn't being honest.

Or at least, that honesty of hers was warped. 'Damn that infernal boy… What did he do to me?'

"I see… thank you, Leah." Kuroferuru answered hesitantly. Leah frowned at that, her eyes turning to the Baphomet as she dragged herself through the camp. There was something off about her lady, but she just couldn't pinpoint what.

Kuroferuru limped through the encampment once more, again and again she was met with the concerned looks of her fellow monsters. Again and again, she merely gave them a small reassuring smile in response before continuing on her journey.

Eventually, she made it to the highest point if the encampment. Just within should be her mistress, along with the rest of her circle.

She reached out to enter, but paused. Her brow raised and her form moved forward.

"-My sisters were taken, all of them… Our husbands… they-they-"

There was a stifle, as if one were trying to keep themselves bursting into tears.

"I-I'm worried, Your Highness… what if-"

"Calm down, Shina… I know what happened is terrible but you need to tell me exactly how this occurred."

Kuroferuru raised her brow, 'Taken? What do they mean by that?'. There was only one real way to find out, without any further delays she entered into the tent.

When she entered, she found the tent to be in utter chaos. Papers, maps and documents were all just lying on the table without a hint of organization. Monsters and Incubi were all moving around arguing on troop movements and other issues. Her Mistress was tending to another matter entirely, speaking with a group of monsters.

The latter was what caught her attention the most. They were a variety of monsters, werewolves, orcs, harpies, amazons and more. But there was one common theme among them, they all looked awful. With horrible scars and dried tears on their faces, along with the paranoia, fear, shock, and rage.

It wasn't the look a monster should have in this day and age.

What could've happened to them?

Most prominent of all was the look on her Mistress' face. She's never seen her act so seriously, not at all.

Given the situation, however, Kuro could at least infer as to the reason why. Eventually, Kuroferuru tried to say something to get her attention but she found that she couldn't voice anything to her mistress. Was it due to the shame of failure? The fear of what the boy had done to her? Or because of her admittedly shambled state of mind?

It was all these things and none, Kuroferuru just had no energy to say anything.

Eventually, Druella caught a glimpse of her. Her mistress' eyes visibly widened, her form freezing as she turned to her. Kuroferuru paused, a difficult expression marring her face. She tried to think of what to say, but she found that no words needed to be said.

Druella moved, her form crouching down before she pulled the Baphomet into a small hug. "Kuro, you're okay…"

"You've been gone for a little too long," Druella explained, her red irises turning to the Baphomet before a sigh escaped her lips. "The situation in Lescatie has gotten… strange, for lack of a better term."

Kuroferuru tilted her head, that much she could observe. But right now she lacked the context behind these observations, "What do you mean, Druella-sama?"

Druella's eyes turned serious for a moment, her form standing as she looked on at Kuroferuru. A strained look formed on her face as she turned to the monsters behind her. "Lescatie might be in a worse state than what we originally observed."

She began, her form moving towards the monsters before she gestured towards them. "This is Shina, an orc from a tribe just a few miles south of here…"

"That tribe… no longer exists…" Shina said, her voice hitched and form frozen.

Kuroferuru widened her eyes at that, her eyes turning to Druella. "W-What does she mean by that, Mistress?"

"Monster populations are disappearing from Lescatie at an alarming rate. Soldiers coming in at night with weapons and magic unlike anything they've ever seen, abducting and destroying entire populations and locking them in cages." Druella continued, a stern and grim look forming on her face as she turned to the werewolf beside her.

"Kalen here had her entire pack abducted, the alpha was slain." She then gestured to the amazon.

"As for Lira, they put up a good resistance… but… in the end…" She trailed off, Lira's eyes didn't even react. Her eyes had an emptiness to them that scared Kuroferuru.

"T-That's terrible!" Kuroferuru yelled, finding just the slightest bit of energy from the outrage.

Druella nods, "It is… but as we are now there's little we can actually do."

Kuroferuru paused, her eyes turning to the ground before she nodded. She can understand why that was the case. If these monsters still lived, then they could be used as leverage should they try anything too drastic; one wrong move and their heads would roll.

This especially makes their planned invasion a little more complicated.

"But we can't just leave this be." Kuroferuru stated, Druella nodded in response.

"And we won't, but if we want to do this with minimal casualties then we need to stop and think." She responded, sighing as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"In any case, with you here… that must mean that you're done collecting information on the boy?" Druella asked,

Kuroferuru paused, her eyes turning down as she tried to think of what to say. Technically speaking, she did in fact succeed in getting information on him. She learned of his current whereabouts, caught a glimpse of his abilities, character, and philosophies.

But her method in gaining such things was… questionable, to say the least. Whether or not the cost of such an endeavor was worth it was debatable.

Sighing, Kuroferuru turned to her mistress. "I need to talk to you alone… if possible."

Druella merely raised her brow at that.

"A-Are you certain?" Druella asked, her eyes widened.

She and Kuroferuru currently stood within her chambers. A large king-sized bed stood at the center. Luxury goods, both for pleasure and relaxation, were placed around shelves. Along with those, there were books on various topics ranging from history to tactics and warfare.

It was a room fit for a Lilim, but right now, it was the perfect place for Druella and her closest companion to have a little chat.

Everything that Kuroferuru had said just served to further the migraine in her head. Her powers had diminished, and her magical ability was sealed off and tampered with. Not only that, but she was also visibly and physically weakened.

Overall, it was a situation that she found most dire.

"How did this happen?" Druella asked,

Kuroferuru tilted her head; her eyes turned down as she fidgeted in place. The shame of her loss was still something that stung, and to tell that to her mistress of all people was one she hated above all else.

"I contacted Sasha Fullmoon after I learned of her connections with.. that thing. I then confronted him and tried to goad him into joining our side… but he just vehemently opposed the thought. We fought… I won in the first round; I would've taken them if it weren't for…" Kuroferuru trailed off.

Druella raised her brow; to refer to her target as a 'Thing' was something she never really expected from her. Was the red-haired boy not human? It was possible, considering the state he left her second-in-command in.

"Go on," Druella stated with a nod; Kuroferuru continued with the story.

"There was an inhuman boy, a child from how he looked, but he was anything but… He fought with magic unlike any I've ever seen, and in the end, they managed to escape because of him."Kuroferuru's paws twitched,

"One thing led to another, and eventually, we fought for a second time. He called me a monster… in the more subjective sense rather than… you know. I don't know what came over me, but I got… angry? Frustrated Confused? I'm not so sure." Kuroferuru sighed as she held out her paw.

"He pulled out this sword… that… infernal, damned weapon. It wasn't like anything I'd ever encountered before. It gave off a feeling… a feeling of…" She paused, trying to think of what to say.

Druella tilted her head, "...Of what?"

Kuroferuru paused, taking a deep breath before she answered. "It gave off the feeling of Death."

Druella's brow rose, her arms crossing as she processed what she said. Death, she says… it was a concept that her kind should've already conquered. As a Lilim, she was unaging and functionally immortal. Kuroferuru should've been the same way; in fact, there was little that could truly kill her.

Especially since the Goddess of Death was practically on their side.

"Explain," She commanded,

"I-I can't; it's confusing to me too… I need to talk to Shiro about this, to Greilia… maybe even Runya…" She stuttered out,

Druella gave a sympathetic glance; from what she could see, the poor girl was suffering under what that boy did. She got up, moving towards the girl before she spoke. "Hold out your arm,"

Kuroferuru paused, her eyes turning to her mistress before she did as she was told. Druella gently placed her hand over her paw, and with one move, she tried to see if she could figure out what was going on with her.

Druella herself was no slouch when it came to magic. While some of her sisters were better than she was, her skill surpassed that of even the most incredible human minds. But as she inspected her subordinate's form, her mind was bombarded with malicious force.

Slaughter, Kill, Fade Away, Demise, Die, Die, DIE! DIE!

"Druella-Sama!"

Druella reeled her hand, hissing in pain as she looked down. Her eyes widened as a blood-red flame slightly covered it before disappearing entirely. She looked on at the damage, her eyes widening as she healed the torn-off skin.

It was brief, just a single second, but it was enough to harm her. It wasn't permanent, and from the brief exchange, she could tell it was imperfect. It was Death, but incomplete… a mere imitation, but one that had the power to harm her.

Her eyes wandered to Kuroferuru, who looked at her with concern in her eyes. She gave a reassuring smile, showing her hand to see that the damage had healed.

"I-I'm sorry, I should've told you to stop," Kuroferuru muttered, her voice filled with shame as Druella merely shook her head.

"It's not your fault; I was the one who decided to try and inspect it," Druella stated as she looked on at her subordinate.

"But you are right; I should send you to Greilia or Shirokuto. Whatever happened to me is also happening to you on a grander scale. We need to figure out its cause so we can deal with it immediately…" She stated, her eyes turning to her hands.

"We might need to call in a Banshee as well… if anyone could tell what's going on with you, it's them," Druella stated.

"Regardless, you earned yourself a rest. I'll write a message for Shirokuto and Greilia, perhaps one to Runya too." She continued.

'...Perhaps I should send one to my mother as well… but… no, I don't want to trouble her yet.' She thought before her head shook.

Kuroferuru merely nodded at that, not finding the strength to say anything. With that done, Druella walked out of the tent and onto the hilltop. She let out a large sigh as she looked on at the horizon.

"My Mistress…" A voice called out; turning her head she was met with a particular amazon.

"Aera," she greeted,

Aera looked distressed, a common theme among her peers if Druella had to be asked. The situation in Lescatie is growing more chaotic by the day, and not in the way that would benefit them.

"These reports… What are we to do with them?" She asked, her eyes turning to her mistress, who sighed in response.

"I'm still in the process of planning, my dear. The situation here has gotten… complicated, for lack of a better term." She admitted,

Aera didn't look satisfied, and if Druella had a mirror, then she would've seen that she, too, was the same. Things have gotten out of hand; the longer they stay here, the stranger the events. Soldiers abducting monsters, strange magic being sighted and reported; there was even a rumored wolfman going around.

"But… we will do something about this, right?" She asked,

Druella smiled, "Of course. There's no way we could abandon these monsters to a grim fate."

"But… we don't have a plan…" Aera stated; Druella sighed. "Not yet, no…"

Aera's eyes turned to the horizon. Her pupils widened as a thought hit her. "What of the red-haired boy?"

Druella's eyes narrowed; from what she could tell, that boy was an anomaly, unlike anything they'd encountered before. To reduce a Baphomet to such a state was something that was once thought impossible.

"He is to be avoided at all cost. If you see him, then retreat," Druella ordered. Right now, she couldn't throw the lives of her fellow monsters away just to pursue him. It would be reckless, stupid, and unnecessary.

Her eyes turned to the horizon before a thought clicked.

'Hold on… strange magic… wolfman… anomaly…" She began, her eyes widening as a realization struck her.

It was nothing more than speculation, but this boy might have been connected to everything happening here in some way, shape, or form: the strange power, the anomaly by his side, his control over an imitation of death.

'Perhaps there is something we can do…' She thought with a small smirk, 'But we need to be cautious about this…'

Druella already witnessed his capabilities, and with the way Kuroferuru handled the situation then, it was likely that Elt wouldn't be too cordial with them. She needed to handle his situation with care and careful planning.

She could come to them, take a disguise before moving in to find him. But knowing his capabilities, it was possible that she'd be discovered and perceived as a threat.

So the answer she came up with was simple. She won't come to him; she'll make him come to her.

But… how…

Kuroferuru was out of the picture, but that didn't mean she was lost on resources.

"Aera…" She began, turning to her sister in arms before she spoke. "...I need you to call Shizumi and Kiniro… I have a task for them."


Vyke's eyes turned onto the horizon, his pupils narrowing as the sun began to rise. It was time; looking down onto the forest, he could see the fires of war beginning. The assault was about to commence, and now was the

perfect opportunity to strike.

"Ready yourselves," he commanded.

The Black Knife Assassins stood atop the mountains. Their daggers imbued with Destined Death, writhing on its promise of blood. Vyke spun his spear and hit the ends onto the ground.

Lightning formed on his hands, and his draconic eyes readied themselves.

"Try not to get spotted, but if you are..." He trailed off, his eyes narrowing before he took a deep breath.

"Then leave no witnesses," Vyke ordered,

They needed to be discreet about this; the Golden Order's existence must be kept hidden until the vassal's arrival. If the Order found out that there was a parasite writhing in the darkest depths of Lescatie, then it could spell trouble.

He looked up out onto the horizon, waiting for the signal before…

He jumped, his allies followed suit. He slid down the mountain with a spear held aloft; jumping up he stepped onto a branch before he journeyed forward. He looked to his side as his fellows split into groups. One headed east, the other headed west, and the last few moved with him.

He sped through the forest, his eyes watching every inch as he looked for his target. He should be easy to find, all he needed to do was to find a man with wolven eyes.


Author's Notes:

Took a little while, but I think it was worth it.

Before you ask, yes, that is Leah from Another Story of Fallen Maidens 2. I've just recently been able to play the two games to get a better grasp on the world. Right now, she just serves as a little cameo since I just needed a witch who would go and talk to Kuro.

The timeline probably doesn't add up, considering that she was probably monsterized during the transformation of Polove. But I decided to take a small creative liberty with it, and I'll potentially make use of Polove in the future.

Also, I made Merridith and Albain before I found out about Leah and Albert. so now there's two witches here who coincidentally had a history with a person nicknamed Al.

Kinda awkward for me when I found out, but since we're deep into the story now I won't change Albain's name.

Anyway, what else... right, right. Next chapter's gonna focus solely on the assault, it might take multiple ones actually but Elt's side will just be in the background.

Druella's whole scene was a set up for something in the future. It won't happen for a while, but I do have plans for the future.