The evening had been surprisingly calm with but a dozen patrons thus far; Velvet took the chance to take it easy in the kitchen, her staff chatting while they watched the various meals. Seraphim did not eat and lacked digestive limitations, thus they did not know how to cook meals suitable for humans; that was why she personally taught them all how to cook. They were doing well now, with and without the small group of humans she hired over time to assist. While the serving staff consisted almost entirely of seraphim, the kitchen staff had an even spread by now.

Just as Velvet checked the curry stewing over a fire, the door opened noisily; a glance to the side revealed an unexpected sight, that of Symonne entering her domain. She immediately garnered everyone's attention, but went straight for Velvet with clear urgency: "We're back and we need you for something."

Those around them got attentive, but only the Bloodwings actually understood what this might be about. Velvet gave none of them a chance to ask questions and simply followed Symonne out of the room. On the way out, she clapped Louis' shoulder and motioned for the curry she was watching. He nodded immediately and went for it.

She found herself in the living room soon after, seated at a table with their suddenly returned travelers and Laphicet; Cynthia as well, seeing that Margaret dragged her along. And the tale they told did not sound good; by Velvet's estimate, Princess Alisha had been captured at least a week ago, so she would have been rushed back to Ladylake; it took the girls four days to return to Marlind for the teleportation gate, that was enough for a good horse.

When Margaret finished, her mother was looking down at the table. "I never imagined," she muttered softly. "How could those people treat one of their princesses like that? The merchants and travelers always tell me how good things are going in Hyland, but..." She trailed off, at a loss for words; a searching look was thrown to the others.

"Alisha is an odd case," Symonne finally commented. "Her mother was of common birth, and so most of the nobility refuses to treat her as an equal, even more so because she champions the common people to the point it costs the nobles. You will be hard-pressed to find a peasant or merchant who doesn't at least like her, though."

Margaret nodded along while the rest had listened curiously. Velvet agreed with Symonne's assessment, though she could not help but ask: "And how much of that was you?"

Cynthia's gaze wandered between them, the only one yet unaware of the full story. Symonne fidgeted a little and refused to meet Velvet's gaze, which told her enough.

"It is just as well," Laphi added into the silence with a sigh. "We can't take the risk of them actually executing her. Or even just let her wither away under house arrest. Shepherd Sorey is important, so Alisha, who is closer to him than most, needs to be freed. That's what you came back for, right?" Both girls nodded and he rose. "I will go see her, the guards can't notice me."

He had a thoughtful look that drew Velvet's attention. She tapped his shoulder as he walked past her, admittedly a little worried. "What are you thinking?"

Calculating, that was the impression he gave her in that moment. Laphi carefully picked his words when he spoke: "From what I gathered, both from you and literally anyone else who spoke to her, Alisha Diphda is compassionate, driven, kind, and smart."

Velvet's eyes narrowed at that, though she was interrupted by Symonne cooing and wrapping an arm around her brother. "Aww, do you have a crush on her?"

His "No" was so flat that the tease paused in surprise, though it did not stop Margaret from joining in: "I bet he's more into the naughty girls." Which prompted Symonne to giggle softly, arm still slung around Laphi's shoulder; she seemed more at ease around him now, which was at least one good thing to happen today.

Either way, Laphi rolled his eyes before meeting Velvet's stern look. His own expression grew more serious and he gently plucked Symonne's arm off. "I guess we have to thank you either way, if you were a part of creating this scenario." The seraph girl's smile faded and she looked at him almost blankly.

Velvet did not stop him when he left the room, rather she prepared to follow. Cynthia, meanwhile, looked between her daughter and said daughter's partner. "What did he mean with that?"

She left the two to their fate of having to explain the situation.

. .

. .

It was difficult not to think, or so Alisha found. She was trapped in this small room, but a few dozen paces wide. Without her armour, for it had been confiscated, clad in but a simple dress. Almost a peasant's dress, which she knew was a deliberate insult. It did not matter.

She had done any exercise she could think of doing in such a room, had drenched herself in sweat until her muscles ached everywhere; the guards thankfully left her alone, but now she was tired. So tired. Usually she would do something when it came for her, read a book or patrol or review reports, yet she had nothing today. She was alone with her thoughts and the reality of her own failure. It had been a chore to get out of bed, she just kept lying there until midday before finding the strength to get up. There was no purpose to her anymore, no more reason to push beyond these transient feelings.

Bartlow had struck harder than she expected. Or maybe it was another who finally decided to get rid of her; not a word of what few supporters among the upper nobility Alisha had, her under house arrest at best and in the night before her death at worst. Help would not come and she was defeated.

The guards did not treat her badly, at least. They would not let her out, but none of them had unkind words for her. They were respectful, even; not that it did her any good. No matter how considerate that woman was when she told Alisha of the shepherd's refusal to comply with the condition to her freedom, it did not change reality; deep down, Alisha knew it had only been a matter of time. This time, she lacked the will to chase those thoughts away.

And yet, Alisha was glad that Sorey did not burden himself with her; she knew she was not worth throwing away his duty, his sacred neutrality. Yet the thoughts plagued her and she was out of options to distract herself with. So she wondered, thought if, perhaps, things could have been better if only she acted differently, but failed to think of a single matter that could have been improved. Only changed, or made worse.

Perhaps this was her failing. That she could not see more than a path which led to failure. Maybe she should have played her cards closer to the chest, conformed more with Bartlow's schemes to redirect them. But ultimately, she also knew she lacked the patience for that; seeing people suffer when she could prevent it, even just the slightest bit, was not something Alisha could do. Maybe if she had considered the long term more carefully, she could have done better.

Still she felt useless.

Having held the power to truly change her realm for the better, yet having it taken from her before she could do much of anything; now she knew just what she had and that it would not come back. Not ever. This hurt more than making no progress to speak of, seeing a chance and having it snatched away through nothing but how she was born. It was not fair.

However, nothing in life was fair. Alisha took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She knew life itself was not fair, it was cruel. That was what made humans different; they held the potential to be kind instead.

She cried earlier, in the safety of this little room. The tears were held back on the road, only let out where none could see. It would not do to bother another with her misfortune. This, at least, Alisha wished to retain. Her dignity, or what few shreds of it she had left. Perhaps she should have resisted her arrest instead of complying; even as a fugitive she could have still done something.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Alisha breathed in. And out. Her body was calm even if her mind remained in turmoil. She rose from the ground and traipsed to a small bucket of water they brought her earlier, knowing that no one would check on her for a while yet. She disrobed on the way and picked up a washcloth; yet another intended insult, she knew. She did not care.

The water helped wiping away the sweat and tear tracks, but it could not wash off the sense of defeat; she was going to die without accomplishing anything. Either swiftly through execution, or slowly by withering away.

Yet even those thoughts were slowly drowned by her calm. The repetition of wiping herself down helped. By herself, a simple thought filled Alisha's mind: she did not want to die.

But she would die. She would die.

Alisha felt strangely calm despite that. No fear, just certainty. If she had no choice, bemoaning her fate brought her nothing. If she was already going to die, it would be with what dignity she still had left intact. Perhaps, she thought, she could do more in her next life.

"Not a speck of Malevolence, even now."

Alisha snapped out of the dark thoughts and turned her head, eyes wide. There sat a boy on the small bed, hair like spun gold in the last rays of sunlight. He was clad in pristine white clothes, shorts and robe, dressed reminiscent of the highest of the ecclesiarchy. Alisha gaped while the boy smiled at her without a trace of warmth

"Hello, Alisha."

"H-How do you know my name? Who are you a-and-"

She cut herself off and took a deep breath. Surprised she may be, but this did not do. Breathing out, Alisha restored her normal demeanor, voice growing stronger. "How did you get in here?"

The shadow of a smile ghosted over her unknown visitor's face. He crossed his legs and placed his hands on them, gaze firmly meeting Alisha's own. "I am Laphicet Crowe, a seraph. We met before, but your eyes could not yet see then."

She stared at him for a long time after he said that, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. "So I am hallucinating? I am Squire no longer, I should not see at all."

He inclined his head, agreeing with her. "My blessing allows me to boost your resonance far enough to see anyway. I am quite real. Now, I believe you met Margaret a bit over a week ago?" She nodded numbly and he motioned for someplace beyond the room. "Ordinarily, Shepherd Sorey would have followed Hyland's demands to fight war for them if it meant to protect you. Margaret offered him another option, to ask others for help in freeing you."

It was hard to believe. Alisha still sat numb, trying to understand that there was someone who did care enough to do this. She shuddered, not from emotion but from cold; only then did she realise she was still sitting on the ground in her unmentionables.

"I, ah, could you perhaps turn around for a moment?" He did without hesitation, turning his back to her and staring out the window with a curious sound. Alisha paid it no mind and bustled around for another chemise and dress. Yet she still reeled and wondered. "Why would you go so far for me?"

"That," the boy started a little more slowly, "is a bit complicated. The short of it is that Margaret likes you and I think you don't deserve this."

Alisha slowed, a simple dress in hand, and turned her eyes to the patient seraph. The words forced themselves out of her throat before she could stop them: "How could I be deserving of anything at all, after being consigned to death without ever accomplishing anything?"

Laphicet sat quietly for long seconds, silence disturbed only by the rustle of cloth. He sighed. "That just reinforces my own thoughts. Please trust me on this, I know what it feels like to be powerless." There was no response because Alisha had none, but he continued on his own after a little while: "Now for a more relevant question, Alisha: do you want to go?"

She hesitated again. "What do you mean?"

"A new chance lies ahead of you, but taking it means you have to leave a lot behind."

"I want to."

"...that was fast."

And it was the first time Laphicet displayed emotion, even if it was an actual deadpan instead of his detached behaviour so far. Alisha carefully slipped into the other dress they had prepared for her and fastened it at the back with careful motions. "I was thinking earlier that I want to live," she told the seraph quietly; it felt like a confession. Perhaps it was. "Even if I have to throw my dignity away, I want to live. So I will go."

"I see. Can I turn around?"

"Yes. Thank you for your consideration."

He slid off the bed and met her gaze again, the detached expression gone and replaced with an actual smile. Yet he said nothing and neither did she; Laphicet made two steps and began to glow in golden light that engraved itself into the ground. Alisha watched him, forgetting to breathe at the beauty of it; like a small sun that illuminated the night. She watched artful characters and forms being put into place for several minutes, unable to form words and simply admiring the display. Even Sorey's flame of purification lacked this ethereal beauty.

"Do you have anything else you want to take along?" he asked kindly, without averting his gaze from the incomplete arte.

"...no, not in this room. My belongings are likely under lock and key."

"Yes, I suspected as such. We will not be able to make a detour like that, I am afraid; I can send someone else to get your things later, though."

"How so?"

Laphicet looked up at her, a sinister shadow cast over his face by the groundbound light. He did not need to say anything though, Alisha merely tapped her chin without regard for the sight. "Oh, I see. No one would be able to see a seraph entering or leaving."

"Exactly." The light winked out, except for a faint golden glow; an intricate design covered half of the available floor. "This is done, too. Step over here into the center, Alisha." She followed the order without complaint and Laphicet joined her. He pointed one palm at the ground before seeking her gaze. "What I am going to do is teleport the two of us out of here, far away. It will feel a bit weird, but that's nothing to be concerned about."

She had no idea what teleportation was supposed to be, but right now felt like a bad time to ask. So Alisha stayed quiet and watched Laphicet pulse mana into the inert arte, making it activate; a golden fog formed right in front of them and the boy motioned for it. Then he walked into the fog and was gone. Alisha blinked, looked around, and then quickly hopped through as well.

For a moment, all was light and the young woman fell through a long, bright tunnel. It ended as soon as it began and Alisha almost stumbled, but managed to stand firm. Her bare feet dug into grass and its chill hit her moments later.

They were outside. Not just past Ladylake, no. Before her, Alisha saw the sea. A peculiar smell assaulted her nose, that of salt and water. Endless waves hit the cliff she stood on, faint golden light making them shine; night had already fallen on the capital, but here, far up north, a tiny bit of the sun remained visible. Alisha marveled at the sight, but a greater shine from behind made her head turn; the gate she arrived through began to glint under Laphicet's hand. She could not tell what the seraph did, merely that it was magical; which was why Alisha turned back to look at the sea instead. Fading sunlight warmed her, but Autumn was near if it had not arrived already; the night would be cold and she was not dressed for it.

Staring out at the ocean's endless expanse, it finally hit home; now she had done it. She fled captivity. Any power she might have held, Alisha possessed no longer; she would be declared a traitor to the Kingdom of Hyland, removed from her positions, and sought after throughout the realm. All she now possessed were the clothes on her back.

Alisha thought she should be devasteted, but she felt little different to normal. For now, she simply breathed and enjoyed the scent of the sea. Her vision grew blurry after a time. She stood like this for a long time, watching the sunlight fade and night fall once again. Only it was a different night.

And all around Glenwood, people took notice.

Shepherd Sorey beheld the night sky tinged red, looked up at the full crimson moon, and marveled. His accompanying seraphim had varying reactions, but all of them joined the discussion he began; they all once wondered or were wondering just what may have brought forth such a phenomenon.

Runette Forton interrupted her evening prayer to gaze out at the alluring yet frightful sight, silent in her appreciation. The moon cast long, bloody shadows.

Van Aifread glanced up at the sky while many of his underlings pointed in wonder and began to chat. None dared disturb the odd melancholy of their boss, however. He had no words for them and silently urged his horse forward.

Margaret Randgriz noticed when she avoided her mother's irate and disappointed gaze, but could not think much of what she saw outside the window when Cynthia's lecture resumed.

On two tall mountains up high, a dragon and an ancient seraph respectiveyl peered up at the night sky. Eizen remembered, always remembered, the night he and his marched to kill the exorcist legates; Zenrus remembered as well, but rather the many sacrifices committed over the millennia.

Lastly, close to Glayvend Basin, a man stood alone and soaked in the crimson moon's light. His body was liquid darkness, his hands had become great paws, his head that of a lion. He calmly watched as he often did, to the conclusion of his plans. His claws flicked a few times as if in premonition, just like the last times the moon changed colour. He knew this reaction was Maotelus' doing over their bond, but never figured out just what was so significant to the dying god.

By Alisha's side, Laphicet studied the sky as well. "It's been a while since I saw a scarlet night," he mused out loud. "How fitting."

She did not know what he meant. For the moment however, Alisha did not care. She simply drank in the sight, one she only got to see every few years. For a single moment, she was at peace.

However, her legs slowly lost their strength and she began to shake, then slumped to the ground; wetness ran down Alisha's cheeks and she desperately covered her eyes, to no avail. She could not help but sob as reality crashed down on her.

She was free now, but freedom cost her everything she ever had and ever was. Her possessions, from armour and weapon to her home, her knighthood, her flimsy royalty. Gone.

She could not help but cry, no matter how much she wanted to stay strong. The tears refused to stay in, so she let them out, her sobs growing louder and beginning to wrack her body.

Alisha did not know how much time passed, but eventually a pair of arms gently wrapped around her. She was pulled against soft cloth and a warm chest underneath. Laphicet.

Yet no matter how much being reminded of his presence made her try to pull herself together, she failed. The tears kept rolling down her cheeks, the sobs persisted. After a time, she simply accepted it and clutched the boy in her arms, crying into his chest. He gently rubbed her back, her head, whispered to her, and Alisha was grateful for it; truly grateful, for this was the first time ever since she lost her mother that anyone offered such comfort to her.

She cried for a long while and then, at some point, another body joined the embrace; Alisha could tell from the warmth pressing against her cold back, from the second pair of arms wrapping around her. She did not care who they were, she just cried it all out, alternated between whimpering and wailing.

It was freeing, in a way. Alisha had no idea how much time passed until she was spent.

In the end, her throat was hoarse and her eyes burned; she did not yet move, indulging in the warmth while it lasted. It was comforting, ever more so than she felt in a good long while.

Alas, all good things had to end; a calloused hand cradled her face and turned it away from Laphicet's chest. The boy let go and so did she, allowing herself to be turned. Only to come face to face with someone familiar. Amber eyes almost shone in the light, smooth skin discoloured by the full crimson moon. Black hair billowed behind her like a cloak, a few strands framing her soft expression.

"O-Oh. I... I am so sorry, but I forgot your name."

She knew where they met and even what they spoke about, but the name was gone from Alisha's memory. Thankfully though, the kind woman did not seem to mind. She simply nodded. "It's Velvet." Right, exactly. "Are you alright now?" Alisha had to think for a moment and Velvet corrected herself after a moment: "No, that's a stupid question. Are you feeling better?"

She could not help herself, having been seen so weak. Heat pulsed through Alisha's face, any blush hopefully hidden by the red light and shadows falling on them. She just nodded and muttered a quiet thank you, which made Velvet smile; the other woman let go of her but remained sitting, then patted the spot next to her. Laphicet immediately moved to her other side and Alisha joined them tentatively.

"I, ah, did not expect to see you again. I had hoped, but those who venture out into the world rarely return. I am glad that we meet again."

"I feel the same, but it could have been under better circumstances."

Velvet let out a soft sigh and looked up at the sky; from where Alisha sat to her left, she could see that the arm on this side was heavily bandaged. She tapped her shoulder softly. "How did you get this injury?"

A confused glance went her way, but quickly turned to understanding. Velvet shook her head. "That's not an injury," she explained. "It's just how it is." She raised her arm a little and the bandages shifted around loosely, then shrugged. Alisha nodded, uncertain what to make of this; her gaze wandered back to Laphicet.

"Um, do you, ah, know each other?"

"Laphi is my little brother."

"Oh, I see."

She simply accepted this as fact; weirder things had happened this day and she did not feel like questioning everything. She cried her heart out, had been comforted, and now she just sat and felt the cool night breeze dry her tears. Or perhaps it was the ocean breeze, she could not say for certain.

Silence reigned between them, not awkward as she expected but rather just... quiet. Serene, even. It took some time until Alisha found herself ready to speak; once she did, she turned her gaze first to Velvet, then to Laphicet. "I, I would like to thank the two of you. It matters not to me how, but I am grateful that you aided me in a time of dire need." She received smiles in turn.

"Think nothing of it," Velvet answered, the bandaged hand squeezing her shoulder. "Do you have any plans for what comes next?"

She had to shake her head at that. "I am afraid not. I did not expect to get out alive and now I have nothing left to my name. Neither status nor belongings." She could not help but chuckle, which earned her a raised eyebrow. "Well, at least that means I no longer have to try deciding between all the options I had before."

Nobody laughed at her attempted humour, not even Alisha herself. Yet Velvet kept looking her over, carefully searching for something. Their eyes met and the taller woman finally asked: "What do you want?"

"I, um, I just told you I do not know what to do. I-" "Not what you want to do. What do you want?"

They stared at each other. Velvet had put ample emphasis on the intention of her question. She remained calm even while speaking, but Alisha could feel the intensity in her gaze; it was all the more powerful beneath the blood moon. In the end however, she had to lower her head in defeat. "I do not know that, either. Perhaps I never knew." Or perhaps she simply did not want to admit what she truly thought. It did not do to desire such, even if it was a human failing to do so anyway.

Surprisingly, Velvet sighed loud enough to make Alisha look back up. The other woman shook her head. "Alright, then I will just make my offer." Velvet closed her eyes in thought while the former princess watched her curiously. The pause was long enough for her doubts to resurface, long enough for Alisha to speak up: "I, I do not think I can be of much use to you. Without any resonance-"

A single finger landed on her mouth, a finger wrapped in bandages. "I think I'm starting to understand," Velvet muttered. Alisha's eyes were on the hand she looked at; the bandages began sliding back from their position, revealing red flesh underneath; it almost pulsated in the equally crimson moonlight.

Velvet pulled back her finger and studied that very hand, rubbed the sickly discoloured limb. "Resonance is not the be-all, end-all." she told Alisha softly. "I didn't have any, either. I never needed it to be happy." She glanced at Laphicet, who shuffled a little awkwardly. "But what I see in you, right now, isn't a desire for resonance, Alisha. You want power."

Alisha flinched.

"Enough power to make a difference, to change the world. Am I wrong?"

She opened her mouth to deny it, but no words came out; as shameful as it was, Velvet hit the nail on the head. What Alisha Diphda yearned for in this very moment was power; enough of it to finally turn Hyland into a better realm, to make the world a better place. She could no longer meet the other woman's gaze. "You are right," she admitted quietly. "But what else could stand up to the hellions if not seraphim?"

Velvet did not respond immediately, merely sized Alisha up. Her brother answered in her stead, his eyes almost gleaming in the night: "Another hellion could. A will strong enough to persist even through the transformation can make a person even greater."

The very concept Laphicet just presented should revulse her, the thought of giving herself away like that. Yet, what else could she do but consider his suggestion? As a mere human she could never hope to compare and he had a point; she met hellions strong enough to give Sorey and three seraphim trouble, most of it only mitigated by the fact a single hit with the purifying flames meant victory. She sighed deeply and shook her head, in the end. "As tempting as it is, I can not justify letting myself fall for power just like that. I feel I should be revulsed by the very thought, but I am just tired right now."

Now however, the seraph boy began to grin. "I was not talking about letting yourself fall. But I understand, you could not know what was before there were shepherds." Velvet rolled her eyes, but kept quiet while her brother explained to a curious Alisha: "Before the silver flame appeared a thousand years ago, there were therions. A small number of special hellions that can absorb and digest Malevolence safely. Therions couldn't return someone to normal after they turned, but they could lower the general amount of Malevolence suffusing an area and cleanse the souls of all that they devoured, so that they may be reborn pure. They even grew stronger from doing so under the right circumstances."

"That, I..." Alisha trailed off; she had no words for what he just explained, but her mind was running a mile a minute. Thinking, wondering; if he brought this up right now, perhaps...?

"Just listen for now," Laphicet interrupted her odd state of mind. "Therions need not be human, the only quality they require is a great purity of impurity. A strong calling of one of the eight types of Malevolence. Greed, conceit, lust, cowardice, obsession, selfishness, wrath, and... despair."

He left a pause before the last one and Alisha's eyes widened in realisation; they knew. Somehow, they figured out the empty void where her heart should be, despite all of her attempts to conceal it. The pieces fit themselves together and, slowly, she began to hope. An insane idea for an insane woman on an insane night and yet, she considered. Then she stopped to think.

"Alright."

Velvet had just opened her mouth, but then she blinked back at Alisha; her head was empty, decision made. She stared at the other woman, who frowned. "We wanted to tell you the important parts first."

She shook her head, face cast in shadow. "I don't care, not right now." New tears made her vision blurry as she plead. "Just make me one, or tell me how to."

Velvet's head turned to her brother and they exchanged a glance she hardly saw. Alisha wiped off her tears and took a deep breath, daring not to hope. A soft sigh caught her attention and Velvet turned back, ushering the former princess to her feet. "Alright. It's not like the process is irreversible. If you want it undone later, any shepherd can cleanse you." Alisha nodded while Velvet turned to Laphicet again, the two women facing each other. "Can I trust my instincts on this?"

Alisha waited, shivering under the cold air but also excited; there was some morbid fascination about what she might turn into, too. Hellions did not retain their human form after all, though... looking at Velvet, at the crimson flesh beneath those bandages, perhaps some did.

She only realised she missed part of the conversation when Velvet placed that same bandaged hand on Alisha's collarbone, a warm, pulsating palm lying flatly on the thin cloth of her dress. Alisha's eyes quickly fixated on Velvet's while the other woman began to exude clouds of darkness which turned the area around them black; a spark of crimson here and there, but she could no longer see... and then she could. All the Malevolence bunched up into a single, thin tendril that began to turn into dozens of strands at the tip.

It scared her, more than anything ever did. Velvet gave her one long look, but Alisha stood firm and nodded. She had nothing else anymore, but right here, right now, she knew she wanted this; she was sick of being powerless.

The strands poked Alisha's skin in various places and began to sink into her; she felt the Malevolence surge through her body, a sense of wrongness first just passing through but soon taking root everywhere.

Then something pulsated deep within herself. Right where her crushed heart should be, where she hurt so often, the Malevolence anchored itself. It stopped feeling alien then and something tore audibly even while Alisha's sight went black. She felt herself flicker, senses sharpening, then her sight returned; a wave of darkness blew outward from her body, obscuring everything except the crimson glow of Velvet's hand. The woman in front of her quickly absorbed the Malevolence and then everything was still; even the animals had grown silent.

Alisha did not need to see Velvet's smile to know it happened. She felt better yet worse than ever; her body felt stronger, greater, but her mind was suffused with melancholy.

Alisha thought she had already lost everything she ever cared about before. Now she had even lost her humanity.

And yet, she could not find it in herself to be anything but ecstatic about the prospect.

She became a therion. The first in a thousand years.