Once the two made their plans for how to remove Karena from the picture, it was set into motion, starting with the distribution of the new Story. On the leaves of paper that fluttered into the townspeople's waiting hands it said that a powerful witch would threaten the town, turning many people to stone while leaving no tracks to follow.
This caused the townspeople to become horrified as they fled to their homes once the parade had ended. Only one person was left on the streets alone…Karena. She was afraid, but she was more concerned with something else that she wanted to discuss with Zacharias as soon as possible. So she waited at the guarded gate that led to the Knight's Garrison for him to come out.
Karena waited for quite a while before he finally did, just as evening was starting to fall. He saw her and approached her with a worried expression on his face.
"Karena what are you doing out here all alone so late?!" Zacharias asked as he grasped her upper arms gently. "Did you not read the new story?"
"I wasn't alone Zachary. In fact, I was having a nice conversation with the knights guarding the gate here." She replied, before becoming concerned. "And I did read the Story. I just wanted to discuss how it will affect us…"
Zacharias also became concerned after she said this and told her, "I have finished now, so I shall walk you home Karena. We can talk as we go," while starting to guide her towards her house.
Once they got a good pace going, the knight continued. "So what is it about the Story and us you are so concerned about?" he asked.
"Well…I was just hoping that we would get married soon, now that our plans to do so are finished…" Karena answered slowly, blushing a little. "But now with this Story in effect, you will probably be busier than ever, and I fear that we may never wed…"
Zacharias suddenly stopped once she spoke these words and immediately drew her into a warm embrace. "Do not ever let that thought pass your mind my love." He told her sternly, bringing her in even closer. "We shall be wed. It will just be a little while before we do so." – he pulled away and gazed into her eyes with a reassuring smile – "Just think of this as an opportunity to make sure everything is in order for our special day."
"Very well Zachary. I shall wait patiently until the witch is captured and we can breathe easy." Karena agreed, still feeling the tiniest bit of worry. "I just want you to be careful Zachary…This witch might turn out to be quite a threat."
"I promise you that I will be very careful." He stated in reply while caressing her cheek. "Now let's get you home safely. I would not forgive myself if any harm came to you on my watch."
They finished their walk home, and Zacharias wished her good night with a loving kiss, before heading off to his place….
In the weeks that followed, the whole town exercised great caution, making sure to be extra alert and returning to their homes before the sun set. Some were still caught unawares though, as they were found on the streets once every week or two in the morning, turned to stone with fearful expressions permanently plastered on their faces.
This made the Knights of the Inquisition busier than ever, with the paperwork building up and less time for breaks. It also meant that Zacharias had less time to spend with Karena. She understood though, as she would check on him when she could, and bring meals as he wasn't eating properly due to his being swamped so much work.
Zacharias was grateful for his supportive fiancée but it caused great worry that she would return home most evenings alone. To remedy this, he offered to send a free knight with her, but she politely refused, telling him that it's usually still light outside when she goes, and that she's on extra alert for any suspicious characters.
Karena usually did and got home safely, but this time she decided to stop by Rouge's tavern to see how everyone was doing. Unfortunately the tavern was closed for the night, as the doors were shut tight and the lights turned off.
"I guess even they are on alert too…" Karena muttered under her breath.
"Yeah, this witch has caused quite a stir in the town." She heard a young man say from behind her. She turned around and saw that it was Nero while he continued. "Where is Barnham? Shouldn't he be walking his fiancée home in these dangerous times?"
"No, he is far too busy with everything that's been going on…" Karena answered as she trailed off and then quickly recovered. "But I understand and support him the best I can. How is your sword training doing?"
"Rather slow." Nero replied sheepishly. "I might have more drive if you were by my side…But Barnham won, fair and square, and I'll continue to honor his wish." – he paused as he gazed up at the sky – "It's getting pretty dark. Do you want me to walk you home in Barnham's stead?"
"No, you're already here and I don't want to endanger you by keeping you out too late. I'll be fine if I run." Karena said quickly while taking his hand in hers. "See you tomorrow?"
"Of course." The young swordsman agreed as she nodded and then ran off in the direction of her home.
The next morning, Karena arrived at the market for business, only to find a scene that had become commonplace in the town since the first petrified victims were found.
Knights guarded a roped perimeter to keep the area clear of soiling hands. Closer to the middle of the area was Zacharias along with small group of knights, who were probably searching the crime scene and putting together what had happened.
Karena left her horse cart over to the side, as the produce man was out of business for the moment, and approached the knight who was standing the closest.
"Who was the victim this time…?" she asked sadly with concern.
"I am sorry Lady Karena," the knight answered seriously, not moving from his position. "But I have been ordered to not get any of the townspeople too involved. I suggest you go about your day as if nothing has happened."
'I highly doubt that would be possible…' Karena thought, just as she got a glimpse of the victim, who turned out to be…
"No it can't be…Nero?!" she uttered with shock as she got a good look at the statue of the man. "But I was just with him last night!"
"What?!" the knight was surprised by what she had told him.
"I was with him! We spoke last night!" Karena was dead serious. "You must let me speak with Zachary. I want to help all I can with this case if I can at least make it clear to him…"
The knight was silent in thought for a minute, before he sighed and led her to the man in charge. "Sir, we've made a breakthrough." He told Zacharias. "A witness who was with Nero last night has come forward."
"Where is this witness?!" the Inquisitor asked urgently. "I must speak with them immediately!"
"Well…the thing is…" the knight said slowly, trailing off as he stepped aside to reveal the witness.
"Oh Nero…If only I had known this would happen…" Karena said softly as she got a better look at him.
Instead of fear, Nero's expression was one of determination, as he was frozen in an attacking stance, while holding his sword in a horizontal slicing motion.
"Karena?!" Zacharias uttered with shock. "You are the witness?!"
"Well I did not see what happened to him last night," she answered truthfully. "But I was with him sometime before this happened."
"What were you doing exactly?"
"I had some time, so I dropped by Rouge's tavern to see her. It was closed, and that's when Nero approached me. We just talked for a bit and then parted ways."
"That is all you did?" Karena nodded. "Did you happen to notice anything or anyone suspicious?"
"No, I did not…But why would the witch target Nero, who could harm her easily if this hadn't happened…?" Karena trailed off in thought, before her eyes widened with realization and her face went pale. "Unless…..No!"
She started to tear up, and her fiancé moved to comfort her, but she only inched away from his reach. "Nobody touch me! That is how the witch chose her targets!"
"What do you mean?!" Zacharias asked.
"Everyone I touch, or come into contact with…is turned to stone by the witch. I took Nero's hand in mine as I said goodbye, and this happened to him!"
"But what about me? We have touched many times before and yet I have not been petrified."
"She might be afraid of you, but I want you to be safe." Karena announced seriously. "Let us see what the witch does…when I vow to not touch anyone at all…"
"But Karena!" Zacharias started to protest.
"I must do this Zachary, to keep the people safe." She stated with determination. "Even if it means that I might have to seclude myself once more, I will do it if it will keep my friends and my love safe from harm…"
After that day, Karena stayed in her corner of the town indefinitely. Zacharias was against it at first, but soon came to accept her seclusion, as it had surprisingly worked. For weeks the witch had been quiet, and the town seemed to relax a little, but this was only the calm before the storm…
Karena had been closed in for far too long, and decided to chance one short outing. She only had to avoid touching anyone. How hard could that be?
Unfortunately that's not what the witch had in mind, as he took her chance to strike when Karena passed a young girl in front of an alley. A few moments later, Karena found herself coming back to consciousness in the alley.
"Wha…?" she mumbled while opening her eyes. "Where am I?" She stood up slowly, looking out the alleyway to one of the streets. "Why am I here, when I was just out on the street…?"
She then trailed off, and turned around to take in the rest of her surroundings. Standing there behind her was the girl she had just passed, turned to stone with a Talea Magica laying by her feet.
Karena went very pale at this sight, as she backed up against the brick wall. She moved along it, until she reached the street and made a run for it. She didn't know where she was heading, but somehow she had made her way right to Zacharias.
"Karena what is the hurry?" he asked her with concern. "Why are you out on the streets?"
"I didn't do it Zachary! I swear!" his fiancée pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "You have to believe that I didn't do it!"
"What are you claiming that you did not do?" the knight questioned further.
She looked around cautiously, before she took him aside and explained everything under her breath. "And when I woke up a few minutes later, she was there, petrified." she finished.
"So you were rendered unconscious?"
"Yes."
"You must lead me to the girl you passed."
Karena nodded and did as he had asked; only to find Darklaw there with a group of knights already at the scene. As they approached, the High Inquisitor began to question Karena.
"A witness has come forward, telling me that they saw you here Miss Edwards." She said. "Is this true?"
"Yes…" Karena replied truthfully. "But I became unconscious."
"This witness also told me that you were the one who cast the spell on this poor girl." Darklaw ignored the latter statement, as she gestured to the statue behind her. "What do you have to say about that?"
"She did nothing! She said she lost unconsciousness!" Zacharias exclaimed as he stepped in.
"Do you have proof of this?" The Inquisitor went silent while she continued. "Miss Edwards, you are under arrest for petrifying countless innocent people as the Stone Witch. Take her to the cells."
The knights hesitated for a moment before taking her arms as they apologized to her. She only smiled and went with them willingly….
"I am telling you; Karena is not a witch!" Zacharias exclaimed as he slammed his hands on his superior's desk.
"Unless you have proof, I am not letting her go free." Darklaw stated calmly. "Whether you do find any or not, she will still burn. No one has stepped forward to defend her."
"Then I shall be her defender." The Inquisitor announced. "Just give me the time to find the proof."
Darklaw was silent for a minute before she answered with, "You have until tomorrow morning."
"Thank you." He said with a courteous dip of his head. He then left the offices down to the holding cells below…
"I must find proof by tomorrow morning to prove your innocence." Zacharias told Karena when he approached her.
"Okay." She agreed. "I'll give you the key to my house. You should find all the proof you need there." She then handed him the key, and he received it graciously.
"Will you be okay here for the night?"
"Yes. The knights are guarding me, so I'll be just fine."
"I love you Karena."
"I love you too Zachary."
He then kissed her goodbye through the bars of the cell, and left with the court artist to her house. The two of them stayed there all night, and found nothing to indicate that she was a witch. In the morning, Zacharias hurried to the High Inquisitor to report his findings…
"Karena is innocent." Zacharias announced proudly. "I have sketches and hard proof to show in today's trial."
"It is too late Inquisitor Barnham." Darklaw told him simply.
"Did you already put her through the trial without a defender?!"
"No."
"Then what happened to her?!" Zacharias became desperate.
"I suggest you go take a look for yourself. She is still in her cell."
She barely finished, just as Zacharias rushed down to her holding cell. There he found the most shocking sight; a petrified Karena, frozen in a state of shock and horror with tears in her eyes. The cell door was open, and various knights were already within, searching for clues.
"NO!" he shouted with anger and shock as he ran up to her, before turning to the knights. "Tell me now! What happened here?!"
They all fumbled a little, and then one of them answered with, "We don't know what happened Sir. Honest! We were guarding her like normal, and then we suddenly went down. When we woke up, she was like this…"
All of them then apologized solemnly while Zacharias turned to face his fiancée slowly. He grasped her upper arms in his hands and shook with anger and sadness. Suddenly he turned to the nearest wall and punched it while yelling, "BLAST!" – he then turned to the knights in the cell with him – "I want you all to search this place thoroughly! Leave no stone unturned!"
"Yes, Sir!" they all said while getting back to work.
'I swear…I shall find the witch that did this to you my love...' Zacharias thought, gazing into Karena's hollow eyes with determination. 'And I shall set her aflame myself!'
Alright...so I was originally going to put Karena on trial, but decided against it, because then you'd be waiting for a long while as I would scrounge enough research on how the trials go, and then write it. So be glad that I decided not to.
Also, I'm going to take a short break because this weekend will be about as crazy as the last, and then when I get back, I probably won't want to write anything. So I'll probably take about a week, maybe two at the most, and then I'll come back with the start of the events that happen in the video game!