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 31: Purge
A few hours before the emergency meeting…
In a dark room covered by shadows, the only light coming from a few dimly lit candles and the open window. Two figures stood opposite the other, one with a straightened back and a calm expression and the other timid and nervous. Green eyes stared at each other, both silent as one tried to process the words she had just heard.
Aria was going, to be honest; she wasn't really sure what went wrong with her life. When did everything fall apart? Was it when she saw her brother return from Solovan? Was it when she joined the Inquisition? Or perhaps she was just fated to be miserable from the very beginning? Whatever the reason, it didn't change anything about the situation she currently found herself in.
Here the young Inquisitor stood in front of her monster of a brother, staring her down as he relayed the news to her. It had all come as a shock; Aria's spine probably would've straightened out into a pole by the sheer gravity of what he had said.
"F-Father's dead?" Aria couldn't help but repeat what he said; she just couldn't believe it. The inquisitor almost forgot that Albain hated it when people forced him to repeat himself.
"Are you deaf, Aria? Did you not hear what I said? Father is dead," Albain repeated, hands behind his back as he stood straight.
If she didn't know him, she probably would've raised her brow at his cold tone. To think that this was once the boy who wanted to do nothing more than play music and become a musician. He didn't even bat an eye at the words he said, knowing what she knew and how the man felt… it didn't surprise her in the least.
"S-Sorry- I mean, my apologies. I should've heard you earlier." Aria hurriedly said, in hopes that she won't anger the man.
He just sighed in disappointment, as if her mistake was all but expected. She didn't know what would've been worse, him getting angry or Albain expecting me to keep on being a failure. Regardless, the result would've been the same. I felt a pain deep inside, one all too familiar. Aria didn't want anything from him; she just wanted to get away. But seeing your own family show you how much of a failure they think you are just… sucks.
"You don't sound all too bothered," Albain said, eyes staring deep into her own.
I didn't?
Aria supposed that it would've been strange. she had no real attachment to the man. Always ignored or passed around as if she was nothing more than a second fiddle to Albain. A secondary product who would never overshadow her brother's worth. How could she ever feel bad about him, not when he wouldn't have felt the same.
"Forgive me…" was all she could say in response.
Chief God… I really am pathetic…
Albain just stared blankly, looking over at the files on his paper. He narrowed his eyes, and a cold feeling went up Aria's spine. She knew it all too well; call it instinct or maybe she was used to it, but those eyes only ever meant trouble.
"I've come to inform you of this. As of today, I am officially the head of the Inquisition." Albain began, causing my eyes to widen slightly.
Head? Him? Wait, hold on, how did that happen?
She knew her family had partial ownership of this organization, but… being the Head? That was just unheard of for them. How should she react, shocked? Congratulate him? Flaunt his pride…
As Aria mulled it over, he continued on…
"As you know, the head of the Inquisition is a powerful position here in this country. I have the right to arrest anyone I see fit and have full control over our resources."
Should I prostrate before him and proclaim his greatness? Beg for his forgiveness over every failure I've caused? What to do…
"But that also means that I will no longer be able to handle family matters; as such, I have decided to release you."
I know, I'll…
What… What did he say?
"Um… uh… can you repeat that?" Aria said, so caught up in what he said that she completely forgot about his dislike of repeating things.
"Why must I repeat everything to you?" Albain said, eye twitching as his tone became irate.
"Very well, I shall relay this to you clearly so there won't be any misunderstandings."
He pulled out a piece of paper; it was a document detailing her complete resignation from the Inquisition. "Aria, from this day forth, you are no longer an Inquisitor. You have been released, unbound, discharged, and would not face the dishonor of a shameful dismissal."
"Sign this here," he then added, pointing at a particular place.
Her mind went blank; her eyes stared at Albain to see if this was some kind of cruel joke. She was deluding herself; Albain wasn't the type to joke around. But as she stared deep in his eyes, she saw only his hardened gaze.
"What are you hesitating over? I know the only reason you were ever an Inquisitor was to escape our father. Now that he's gone, there's no reason why you should remain one."
Aria stared at Albain, unable to move. She processed what he said, turning to the paper on the desk. Albain was right; the only reason Aria even chose to become an Inquisitor was so that she could escape her father's plans. As a nobleman's daughter, Aria had certain responsibilities her father wanted to be fulfilled. Mostly to have her marry and be used as a political bargaining chip.
The only reason she became an Inquisitor was to escape that life, that inevitability. But now she just traded one grim future for another, one where she was forced to walk a bloody and brutal path. Despite everything, she was as naive as they came.
Now that her father was dead, she had no reason to stay as an Inquisitor. She was free, finally able to live the life she wanted. But…
…Is this being offered to me out of pity.
All her life, she had been mocked and ridiculed. She was compared to and lambasted by those around her for her inability to live up to any expectations. She was pathetic, unable to think or move past. She never grew up from that emotional and haughty young girl from long ago.
"A-Albain…"
Aria didn't know what else to say. Thinking it through, this would've been the best outcome for her. She was already questioning her position in the organization in the first place, and she hadn't been in the organization for long. There were no strings attached, no negatives with taking it…
So why did it feel so wrong? Why couldn't she accept it?
"...I-"
Was she a hypocrite? Or was she just confused? Aria was still a little girl in the end, unable to grow up or stand on her own two feet. Forever forced to play whatever cruel game Albain wanted for her. Accepting this deal would've meant that Albain had full control of whatever his sister did. She wouldn't be free; she'd just be in a different prison.
She couldn't speak; she couldn't say a single word. How could she? She never raised her voice or complained; she always acted in the role of a good little girl in front of her father and brother. Why would she do so now? Her thoughts conflicted, and she found herself unable to act.
"I-"
"Do you have something to say, Aria? Speak up." He ordered, eyes staring at Aria's as she looked up at him with her body moving back.
"I… I can't…"
Albain raised a brow, his head tilting to the side as he listened to what she said.
"You can't do what?" He questioned.
"I-I can't understand…" she said meekly,
"I don't understand. Did I need to do something differently? Did I disappoint you somehow?"
What am I saying?
Did she dare question him now? When she had nothing to gain? When he was offering her the one thing she wanted? She didn't know what she was saying; she didn't know what she was doing. It was clear to Albain and to everyone involved that she was not fit for this job, at least not as she was now. Aria knew this herself, so why? Why would she ever protest this?
"I got the information you wanted; I investigated Elt…."
She stuttered out, her words coming out like rusted clockwork. If Aria could be likened to a machine, it would be one whose algorithm had been forced into a corner. She was always looked down on, and seen as another disappointment. A woman not even worth respecting, this dismissal was just another sign of that. Her heart lacked the love she desired, so in an effort to gain affection, she clung to the only person left in her life who once loved her.
"I had everything you asked for filed and recorded, every conversation neatly given. Is that not enough for you, Al?"
Albain sighed, listening in to his sister as she rambled on and on. He listened to every word, every nonsensical argument she uttered. As he expected, his sister was not at all fit to be an Inquisitor. She was too dependent and too emotional, she had potential, but that potential would take time to develop.
Time that I don't have…
"Aria, enough," He said, his tone likened to the coldest of winds. She paused, her eyes turning to Albain as he stepped forward. He moved around his desk, walking closer to her. In response, the girl took a fearful step back.
As he walked, he spoke.
"Do you want to know why I'm dismissing you?" He began,
Albain continued on, taking step after step before he stopped just before her. She looked up at him, her eyes rapidly shaking as he continued on.
"You have shown me that you do not desire to be here. You absolutely despise your station, and you have no commitment at all to the Chief God's holy mission, am I correct?" Albain asked,
"No… I-" Aria protested, but she paused.
Her breath hitched, and her eyes turned down as she tried to think what to say. She could deny it all she wished, she could protest, cry and beg him to stop talking but she knew his words to be true.
"I'm offering you a chance to leave this organization, an organization that you yourself never wanted to be a part of, and you don't want to?" Albain asked,
"This is the crux of the issue here, Aria. You lack a backbone, always so timid and so meek. You lack agency, ambition, the drive to be useful." Albain said, his words as harsh as it was sharp. With every syllable, Aria shrunk further and further into the floor. Her eyes began to water, but once again, her pride refused to let the tears fall.
"But I digress…" Albain decided,
"Come to the meeting that I'll be holding soon. I'll let you decide whether or not you wish to stay once I'm finished. It would give you a glimpse of the future this nation is coming to." Albain finalized, his cold stare boring into her own eyes. She looked on, eyelids wide open and mouth unable to move.
Aria blinked, unsure of what to say…
…
Present time…
Aria sat by the corner, her eyes watching as her brother effectively took control of the entire organization. Her eyes widened, thoughts running through her mind as she watched Akito confront her brother. Akito had always been an oddball, a peculiar yet frustratingly annoying man. He was the only one who didn't put up a front, the only one in the organization who'd let his mouth run for all eternity if he could.
Reckless, prideful, if not a bit of a jackass, he was almost Albain's complete opposite. She wasn't sure what to think of him, whether to dislike him or be neutral. Regardless of that fact, Akito did bring up a few good points. Albain was the last one to have met the cardinal, and while there isn't any concrete proof pointing to him as the murderer…
Wait… could he have?
No, it was certainly possible. Albain was the last person to meet with her father before he died. And now that Albain was made head of the Inquisition, he had no one to really challenge him. It was all too convenient; from what she's heard from him, their father had died from his illness. It was to be expected; the man was bedridden and couldn't move. He was set to die at any moment but…
This seems far too convenient…
Having two of the most influential people in the organization suddenly die like that? It was just too much of a coincidence. Even Aria could see that, no, she had already suspected ever since Albain told her of this news. The problem was that she refused to act on it, to think further. For all her life, she was only a puppet serving higher and crueler masters. Perhaps internally, she knew that she would be nothing more than that.
Or at least, that's what she believes…
And so as Albain stood there, his eyes staring at each and every one of the inquisitors. As he declared to purge the organization of parasites, Aria Rejulia could do nothing but watch with bated breath.
"For far too long, this organization has been corrupted… not by monsters, demonic energy but by the greed of men. Those heretics follow only the scriptures that encourage their degenerate behavior. Fools who incompetently run this nation to the ground." Albain said, gripping his podium as he eyed each and every one.
The reactions were mixed. Some were nervous, some were terrified, others neutral, with some looking at the man disdainfully. It was a mixed bag of emotions, one he had expected. But as long as the two heroes were there, no one could do anything. They were all under his mercy; should one make the wrong move, they would be dispatched.
"To build, I must first destroy. To clean house, as one would say." Albain said,
"I could sit here and explain, I can continue talking on and on about all of this. But… there's no point in lecturing adult-aged infants. As such, I'll lecture you through action rather than words. Send him in," Albain said, turning to the door.
Through it moved forward a man in noble clothing. He was bloody all over, his face was bruised, and his walk was limp. He stood in front of the crowd as Albain nodded to let him speak. Weakly did the man mutter…
"My- name is Sardonis Calais, a member of the Inquisition and son of Serpegio Calais…." The man muttered weakly, his voice hoarse and rough. It was as if he had spent the past few hours screaming; the only reason he could be heard clearly was that the man was making an extra amount of effort to speak. If he failed to put his message across, he could very well lose what he had left.
"I-I have come here to confess… of a crime unforgivable…" He uttered, stuttering every now and then as the members of the Inquisition within the room looked at him in shock, fear, horror, and revulsion. Out of everything they'd expected, this was not one of them.
"I confess to the grave sin of heresy… or blasphemy and conspiracy with the enemy…I have been touched and tempted by the demoness' foul horde… and I-I deserve to be killed…" The man cried out, tears welling out of his eyes. The look on his face betrayed the words out of his mouth. True, he cried and wept but not for the guilt he apparently felt.
No, the reason for those emotions was the fear and disgust that was coming out of his own mouth.
"H-Heretic!" One of the Inquisitors in the crowd panicked; he pointed at the man with widened eyes as he spoke. "He must be sent to the pyre-" He would have said more, but Albain raised his hand before anything more could be said. He didn't exactly like having interruptions during the process.
"Quiet, let him finish." He said, turning to the man who yelped before turning to the crowd.
"But… But I was not alone!" He yelled out,
This caused everyone within the room to freeze, their eyes widening as they slowly came to a realization of what this was. Albain was the new head, and his position was still vulnerable. He came here not to simply announce this new development but to solidify his hold. They had all fallen into his trap, and now they would be forced into the deadly lottery.
"Is that so? tell me, then. Who else could have joined you in this heinous act? Tell me of their names, so they may be taken care of." Albain said,
Meekly, the man began to whisper. A low voice before he decided to take a deep breath. Turning to the crowd, his eyes bloodshot, pupils heightened, form shivering, he began to speak.
"Forgive me…" He weakly uttered out.
"Lauren Coltone!" He yelled out,
Immediately, one of the many inquisitors had a visible reaction on his face. Shock, fear, anxiety, and dread all turned up to eleven. He muttered, mouth agape as a low sound came out of his mouth. It was obvious that the man had no idea what Sardonis was talking about. It was clear that whatever alleged crime Sardonis committed, the man who had been called out had nothing to do with it.
"L-Lies! I have never done anything of the sort- this slander must- Gakh!" His pleas were silenced. His form was forced down onto the ground by one of the heroes. Holding him down, he was dragged to the platform for all to see.
Albain stared at the scene, his eyes neutral and impassive. The rest of the Inquisitors stood frozen; everyone looked on at the scene as Lauren was forced to kneel on the podium. They couldn't do anything, not when those two heroes were following Albain's every command.
The worst part, Sardonis wasn't done.
"Gibson Lothaire!" He continued,
"What?! No!-" Another Inquisitor stood up, but he was not granted the chance to protest or even speak his mind. Much like with Lauren, one of the heroes came forward and forced the man to the ground. He was then dragged up onto the podium and forced to kneel.
More and more names were called,
"Kieren Kreskes!"
"Iudas Carter!"
"Willard Horace!"
One, two, three names called. More and more people joined the group kneeling on the podium. The group was stunned, unable to move, unable to defy the man at the front. If there were any doubts about his new authority before, they were gone now. Both in claim and practice, Albain now had control over the Inquisition. Whether the Inquisitors liked it or not, they would be forced to follow Albain.
Four, five, six names more.
"Norton Deryck!"
"Fraser Eden!"
"Zimry Jeffrey!"
Akito stood there stunned. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't nervous. Out of everyone here, Akito had the most reason to be placed up there. He was the only one who ever openly mocked and insulted Albain.
'Shit… what the fuck is going on here?'
This didn't make any sense; Akito knew this. While he was busy dealing with the Baphomet and the Lilim, something darker was festering within the organization itself. He slapped himself in the face; why didn't he notice it until now? He shook his head; he'll think about it later. The first thing he needs to do is to figure out a way to come out of this alive.
But right now, all he could do was hope and pray that he won't be the next name called by the disheveled and broken nobleman.
A possibility that became more and more likely as the number of people away from the platform dwindled.
"Carlisle Dudley!"
"Quincy Becket!"
"Timothy Arodai!"
Aria watched the scene with horror reflected in her pearly eyes. Being close, relatively speaking, to Albain, she should have been more used to this. This was not the first time he had committed an atrocity, and she doubted that this would be the last. More and more names were called, and being the compassionate soul, she worried for the fate of those knelt up on that platform.
She was smart enough to know that none of these men had committed the crime they were being accused of. Albain was merely using the noble in front as an excuse to have them all killed. The extra-judicial powers of the Inquisition were both a blessing and a curse. They could legally maneuver and condemn almost anyone they considered a heretic.
Of course, there were a few set rules, but that did little to quell the rampant corruption such powers could cause.
Maybe that was what Albain wanted to root out, but how effective would it be if he used the same powers being abused to destroy the corruption he apparently saw?
Aria felt her hand twitch, her lip quivering. She was spared from all of this; she knew Albain enough to know that he wouldn't hurt her, physically at least.
But that didn't change the situation everyone else found themselves in. Nobody knew who Sardonis would call next; as of this moment, anyone could have been called up to that platform and be charged with a crime they had never committed.
20 names called, 25 names, 30. The platform was filled with more and more men. A fraction of the entire organization was now kneeling up, awaiting a sentence to a crime they never committed. At this point, some would simply use this opportunity to flee. But they couldn't, not with the heroes in the room.
"Maximilian Modred!"
"Cairo Rodrick!"
"Kaiden Evariste!"
Three more names, three more to send to the gallows. Fear and paranoia gripped the room; people began praying, some pleading, others voicing their loyalties and devotion in a vain attempt to curry favor. But alas, nothing could change.
A manic frenzy overcame the room; those who had reached their breaking points had either collapsed, fell unconscious, or were in complete shock. Sensing this opportunity, Albain raised his hand, signaling for Sardonis to stop speaking. Silence overcame the room, the faint sounds of weeping and fear coveting the halls.
"The extent of the crimes committed cannot be ignored. But as the new head of the Chief God's Holy Inquisition, I must do what it takes to ensure the stability of this organization." Albain said,
They all listened to him intently, afraid that even missing one syllable of his words could lead them to certain death. They were all afraid, afraid for their lives, afraid of the potential consequences…
Afraid of him…
And with that fear, Albain had secured control. And with that control, he will do what he must.
"But I alone cannot fulfill the will of our Holy Goddess. So I ask you, what must be done with these men who kneel before you all?"
Silence overcame the room; the shock of the earlier events was still fresh in their minds. Before long, one of the Inquisitors stood up. His face was wet with both tears and sweat. He was red, the result of the stress he was just put through. He shakily lifted his hand and pointed at the men. With the most amount of force he could muster, he spoke in a fanatic frenzy.
"E-Execute them! Lord Inquisitor! They who have betrayed the Chief God must die by the sword! I will support you, Albain! I will put my all into ensuring your continued and righteous march!" He yelled out,
It was nothing more than an attempt to save his own skin, but with that one statement, the floodgates were opened.
"T-That's right! Send them to the gallows!"
"Heathens like that don't deserve quarter!"
"We will follow you, Albain! Destroy the heretic!"
A cacophony of praise, condemnations, and fanatic devotion. An unpleasant symphony but one that was music to Albain's ears. That was the final nail in the coffin. The men on the said podium could do nothing but cry, stand still in shock, or grimly accept their fate. Those who could argue spat back reinforced their alleged innocence, and tried to reason with the crowd.
Alas, trying to reason with a herd of fanatics was a nigh-impossible task.
Albain's eyes turned to Akito, who glared at him in turn. As expected, even this was not enough to shake the man. But the fact that Akito stayed put and did nothing was a sign that he was at least affected by what happened.
He'll deal with Akito later, right now…
"Then I say we wait no longer; if you all desire their heads, then we shall do so right here," Albain said,
Silence, the cacophony, and the symphony stopped. The Inquisitors looked on at Albain with wide eyes. Their fates were sealed, but to carry out their sentence now? Right up there on the podium? They had gallows for a reason.
There were obvious signs of protest. While they were completely willing to throw the lives of the people on the platform away to save their own skins, they didn't want to witness the consequences of their condemnation.
"Alb- Lord Inquisitor… surely we must follow the due process. We have gallows in this facility for a good rea-"
"When have we ever adhered to the due process?" Albain began,
"We have pillaged, killed, burnt, and destroyed entire populations without mercy. Why must I treat these heretics differently from the common heathen? Simply because they are of greater status? Or is it because you do not wish to stain the floor with their blood?" He asked,
"An Inquisitor that is reluctant to spill blood is no true Inquisitor. They will be executed here, just as we had done to countless others. They deserve no such special treatment." Albain said, turning to the crowd before he spoke.
"Why do we bother with formalities? Why the need to adhere to tradition? We are Inquisitors, we are the hounds of the Chief God. Our purpose is to get our hands dirty so that the Order could function." Albain finalized, his eyes turning to a certain someone.
Said person's eyes widened, their form pausing as Albain continued on.
"We have all stained our hands with blood. But one of us has yet to understand the true depths of the darkness we are willing to commit to." Albain said, his voice low.
"Aria, stand up and get over here."
Aria yelped lightly, and the entire room's focus turned to her. She slowly got up, trembling as she did. She walked forward, moving through her fellow Inquisitors before she stood just in front of Albain. The fear in her eyes was palpable; her hands trembled, her knees shook, and she was just as afraid as the rest of her peers.
Albain looked at her with the same neutral expression in his eyes. He looked straight into her sister's eyes, almost like a vulture circling its prey. She took a deep breath, waiting to see what Albain had in store for her. She didn't have to wait for long; soon enough, he turned to the hero beside him and gestured toward his sister.
The hero nodded, walking forward before he handed over his axe to her. She stood there, stunned and unable to speak. She looked down at the weapon now in her hands, unable to comprehend, or more accurately, refusing to comprehend what Albain wanted her to do.
"You have yet to stain your hands with blood; you have yet to personally face the true meaning of what it means to be an Inquisitor. As such, you will act as their executioner."
"W-What?" She asked, her eyes widening in response to Albain's words.
Her? Execute them? Right here? In front of everyone in this room?
Understandably, she found herself frozen once more. Aria had yet to take a life, but now she was being tasked with taking the lives of this many people all at once? She clutched the axe, bringing it up to her chest as she felt herself gulp. She nervously looked at the group of people before her. All of them were a mix of confusion, fear, apprehension, and grim acceptance.
"You said to me that you wanted to stay under my employ, that you wanted to remain an Inquisitor." Albain said, narrowing his eyes.
Aria looked on with widened eyes, her fingers twitching and her legs shaking. She didn't know what to do; she didn't know what to say.
"This is your final chance, Aria. If you disobey me, it will mean your dismissal." He added,
What Albain did here was just the beginning. This was merely a taste of what would continue to happen should she stay here. He was showing her through actions what horrible acts she would be forced to commit. What atrocities would lay before her should she continue on.
"I-" She stuttered out,
"Come on, do it." Albain goaded, his eyes narrowing.
"I- I-uh…"
"We don't have much time here, Aria. Make your choice." He accentuated.
She breathed in and out, her lungs gasping for air, but it wasn't enough. The stress of the situation was too much; she was nearing her breaking point at this rate.
"I…" she whispered,
"What was that?" Her brother coldly asked, "Speak up." He demanded.
"I c-" She stuttered out, her voice meek and incoherent.
"Are you mute, Aria? Speak up!" He commanded.
"I can't!" She yelled out, unable to take it anymore.
She fell to her knees, tears welling up in her eyes. She'd done it again; she failed to do as he said. It only proved her uselessness in her eyes, her inability to do anything. She silently wept, tears falling down on the ground as the room looked stunned. Albain merely looked at her neutrally, his face unreadable and cold.
"I can't… I'm sorry, I can't do it…" She said, tears falling down onto the ground.
"I have no one else… please… please don't abandon me too…." Aria said, her voice hoarse and sore.
For all her life, she had only felt loss. Her mother first, then her father became distant. She lost contact with Hathaway and Merridith, and soon enough, Albain became cold. She was left on her own, without any dreams and without any passions. In a desperate bid for attention and to escape her monotonous life, she joined the Inquisition.
"Then this settles it," Albain said, turning to her. "From this day forth, you are hereby discharged from your service and position. Surrender your cross, Aria. You're done here." He said,
She could only sit still, unable to react. Albain looked on at her, watching as she just sat there silently. Even for him, this was quite cruel. To think that he could treat his sister so coldly wasn't at all unexpected. But that didn't make it any less cruel. Akito could say that much.
"Pathetic, Aria. You can't even do this much. Regardless, it won't change anything. These men here are to be executed; there will be no pleas or bail. My decision here is final. Do any of you oppose my decision?" Albain asked,
This was their chance, their way of opposing the man before them. But alas, they could not. How could they? Any act of defiance could be seen as heretical. Try as they might, Albain now had complete legal control over the Inquisition. He could do as he pleased with them, at least until someone from a higher position told him otherwise. Unfortunately, that person was situated months away from Lescatie. So until then, Albain had free reign to move.
"Then I said all I needed to, imprint this meeting into your heads. None of you are escaping my watchful eye. If I see any sort of heresy, sin, or depravity from any of you. I swear that you will join these men." He finalized, nodding to one of the heroes before he walked down the podium.
The hero nodded in return; he held out his spear as he walked up the podium. There was no grand ceremony and no spectacle to be seen. There was no warning, no trial, not even a last word. The hero merely held up his spear and stabbed his blade into one of the inquisitors. A cry could be heard, and a scream followed.
One by one, the Inquisitors on the podium were stabbed by spears straight through the chest. It was almost robotic, eerily so.
One of the Inquisitors got up and, in a panic, attempted to run away.
Fearing for the worse, the other Inquisitors who were not called ran over to hold the man down. They were afraid, paranoid of what Albain would do should even one man escape. There were no saviors to be found,
"Let me go! Please- Stop-"
"Shut up! Hold him down, don't let any of them escape!"
Akito grits his teeth, watching the scene unfold with barely concealed rage. This was a step too far, in his opinion. What the hell happened while he was gone? How much had changed? How did he not see any of it?
"Akito," A voice called out from his side,
Akito turned to the man beside him, watching Rylan look at the slaughter unfold. His eyes were cold, almost eerily so. Turning to the young man, he sighed before he spoke up.
"Akito, let's get out of here. There's something you want to tell me, right?"
"Rylan, I can't just-" Akito said, turning to the slaughter before him. Inquisitor after Inquisitor was stabbed in the chest. Their dying bodies were left on the ground without a care. This was hardly the first time he was subjected to such a scene, but that didn't mean that he was in any way used to it.
"And what are you going to do about it? As much as we want to stop this, Albain has every legal right to do so." Rylan said before he got up,
"Come on, there's something we need to discuss," Rylan said, turning to Akito, who raised his brow.
With no other choice left, Akito grits his teeth and walks off. Following Rylan to whatever he had in mind.
The slaughter continued; there was no end in sight.
"Big sister Edith!"
"Oh, what is it, Adelie?"
"Here!"
"Oh? Another one?"
"Of course! You deserve a hundred more, big sister!"
Lucas had to be honest; the scene he was watching before him made him feel… odd. Strangely nostalgic in a sense, but it felt like something was missing. He stood by the treetops, out of sight but just close enough to watch the scene unfold. Adelie, the little orc girl, had just given Merridith another garland crown.
As if she didn't give her enough already. There were a few more garlands here and there; all of the kids had some. His Lord had quite an effect on them. As expected from the great and powerful Elden Lord, even monsters were beholden to his influence.
Or that's what Lucas thought; his loyalty to his Lord could go a little overboard at times.
Looking at the other monsters, they, too, were wearing garlands over their heads; some were making a few of their own as well. Lucas wasn't sure if it was Elt who taught them or perhaps Adelie taught them herself; it didn't really matter. What did matter was the fact that a Baphomet was potentially out on the loose again. It was a product of his own stupidity, to be honest. For someone so academically and magically gifted, he's an idiot when it comes to common sense.
Why in my mistress' name did I do that?
He'd hit himself over a thousand times over such a stupid mistake. Thankfully, or unfortunately, his master had already done that.
Regardless of that fact, here he sat on the branch of a tree. A fair distance away from the children and the orphanage. Merridith probably didn't know he was here, and he'd rather that she never find out.
Was it because he was worried for her and the kids? That he didn't want to feel any sort of distress knowing that the baphomet who terrorized them all these weeks and years, if one were to refer to Merridith, was back?
…
Hell no.
Lucas was keeping that fact hidden because if Merridith knew, it'd make his Lord look bad. He was there when the Tarnished promised the witch that the Baphomet would not bother her anymore. If she found out, then that would make his Lord a liar. He couldn't have that; his Great and Powerful Lord could not become a liar.
That was just unacceptable in his eyes.
Looking at the scene before him, he watched as Sasha made her way to the front to hang a few clothes here and there. She looked up at him once, staring him straight in the eye, before she just sighed and got back to work. Sasha was far more perceptive than Merridith, that was for sure. It was annoying to deal with, but at least she hadn't confronted him yet. She trusted him, a fact that somewhat confused him, all things considered.
The other two, the elf and the captain, respectively, had shown him a bit of suspicion. Even his master was distrustful of him at times. But her? She had a lot of faith in him, a fact that he found somewhat endearing but also kind of stupid. Was she just a good judge of character? He wasn't sure; she seemed to know that he had no intention of harming them.
She also seemed to know that he didn't want Merridith to know. Probably because he tried to signal it by flailing his hands around a few times to spell it out.
How she figured that out was a mystery to Lucas.
In any case, he's been sitting there just observing for hours now. With his unique physiology, things such as food and water were unnecessary. He could do this for a few more days. But as the time ticked by, he now had time to wonder if he was being a little too paranoid. While the Baphomet he healed was unreasonable, her sister was not. She may be able to convince her to not do anything; after all, she seemed the type to honor deals.
And since they were related by blood, then they have to at least consider that option. Besides, even if she was on the lookout for him, she wouldn't know that he was there.
Maybe I'm being a little paranoid… After all, Lescatie is a big place. There's no way that she'd find me here-
"Found you~"
…
Why do I keep doing this to myself…
Immediately, Lucas sprang to action. He held his staff, a blue blade forming on his other hand. He swung it behind, the figure behind him dodging it before she jumped to the ground.
"W-Wait! Wait! I'm not here to fight!" She said out loud,
Lucas kept the high ground, pointing his staff at her. A blue glow formed, but no spells shot out.
"Have you come to kidnap me, wench! I will not be made into some kind of breeding stock for your degenerate kind!" He yelled out,
"Wha- Rude! And no, that's not what I'm here for!" The figure said, stepping forward with her paws up for Lucas to see.
"Look, see? No scythe, no demonic energy anywhere… I'm not here to fight, nor am I here to take you against your will… I just… want to talk," She said, trying to find the right words.
Lucas raised his brow, looking at the baphomet before him. Just as he thought, it was the same baphomet he healed. Though, she looked a little different. For one thing, she was far more modestly dressed than usual. Not really a big leap, considering her usual clothing consisted of a literal black sludge and nothing else. She wore a nice semi-formal dress.
Her hands were human, and so were her feet. Her horns were missing from her head, and her slit eyes were replaced with more human-looking ones.
This was certainly new, that was for sure. A tactic to disarm him? Perhaps, but this seriously seemed… out of character.
Then again, he barely knew her, so it's possible that any preconceived ideas were misdirected. He'll fix that later; for now, he needs to assess his next best move. He could fight her here, but it was clear to him that even when she looked defenseless, she could pull out her weaponry and cast her with the mere blink of an eye. While he did have the means to fight her and potentially even kill her, he didn't want to reveal that card so soon.
And he certainly didn't want to battle her so close to Sasha's orphanage.
She was willing to negotiate, a fact that she was incapable of before. Might as well make use of it and see what she wants before getting her to leave.
"Then speak your word and leave," Lucas said,
"I- look… I know you don't want me here right now, but-"
"Yes, you're right about that. So leave,"
"Let me finish first! Geez…" Kuroferuru said, yelling it out before she composed herself. She fixed her clothes and pulled on her collar to air it out lightly. From a mere glance alone, it was clear that she wasn't used to wearing those kinds of clothes.
Or any clothes for that matter…
"I know you don't want me here, but… I am trying to make amends with people. I admit, I was in the wrong for what I tried to do back then; I should've handled all of that better…." Kuroferuru added, trying to think of what to say next.
"So… here," She said, holding out a box for him.
"...What is that?"
"An apology cake! See," She said, opening the box to reveal a vanilla cake with markings in blue with the words 'I'm sowwy' with a small caricature of Kuroferuru bowing on the side. It was meant to show him how genuine she was in her shame. After everything, she was sorry for what she had done.
Lucas, however, just raised his brow.
"Did you lace that thing with aphrodisiacs?"
"Wha- no, it's just a regular vanilla cake."
"I see, so it's filled with demonic energy."
"What! No, it's literally just a regular cake."
"Will I turn into a monster if I consume it?"
"Lucas, it's just an ordinary cake."
Understandably, Lucas found that hard to believe. But that was indeed the truth. To make it as genuine as possible, she refrained from adding anything that could leave the mind open for suggestions. Both the explicit types of control and the more tame ones, she wanted to court him the regular way. No mind manipulations, no removal of barriers, just good ol' letters and flirting.
"I don't believe you,"
"...Okay…"
Defeated, she let out a sigh and waved the cake away for later. She wasn't going to give up, but it became clear to her that pushing on with this would only sour their relationship further.
Looking at her, Lucas raised his brow. It became increasingly clear to him that she won't leave any time soon. They could sit here all day and argue, but that ran the risk of being discovered by Sasha and Merridith. He didn't want to let them know that the Baphomet returned. He thought of what to do, what to say to get her to leave…
"You wish to speak, right?" Lucas said, turning to Kuroferuru, whose eyes perked up in response.
"Then let's move to a more comfortable spot." He said, walking off and beckoning her to follow.
With a small smile, she walked off after him.
…
Lucas wasn't exactly sure what was happening in that Baphomet's head. He kept his guard up, readying a finger seal in case she tried anything. But now that they walked through the streets, he found that to be less and less likely. She seemed really happy for some reason, maybe it was simply because he agreed to talk to her but even then he couldn't understand it. Intimacy and love were foreign to him, both the familial kind and the romantic kind.
So all he could do was assume that it was because she was gathering intel. And in a way, he wasn't wrong. She was indeed gathering intel; she was noting every single one of his mannerisms and was reading into him to the best of her ability. The only thing he really got wrong was the reason she was doing this. As his Lord said, she was potentially in service to a Lilim. If that were the case, then anything he said or did could be considered valuable intelligence for her side.
He was still somewhat unaware of how factions worked with monsters, but if she decided to send the girl beside him of all people, then Lucas could already guess what her temperament was.
He lightly sighed, shaking his head to focus on the current task. Just as she was potentially getting intel on him, he was going to get intel on her. This little 'hang-out' would be the perfect way to get to know her. That way, he could exploit any potential weakness and keep his lord safe if need be.
"What's wrong?" Kuroferuru asked, turning to him with slight concern.
Did she hear that? Crap…
He shouldn't have sighed so loudly.
"Nothing, just keep walking."
"So," she decided to begin, cupping her chin as she thought of what to say.
This whole human style of courting was entirely new to her. She steeled herself; she promised that she'd try to keep herself restrained for once. Her ideals were shaken and arguably broken the last time she came here. Even now, she was still confused and somewhat unaware when it came to human etiquette. She wasn't like Druella, who took her time to understand the human psyche first when it came to how she came to the conclusion that all morality and indecency should be thrown out the window.
People should be free to pursue what they love without consequence!
That was what she and most of the people in the Radical Faction believed in. Kuroferuru lacked any alternative line of thinking… or, more accurately, she refused to even consider any other line of thinking. That was until she was forced to rethink them by that red-haired abomination and his gang.
As such, she had trouble thinking of a nice and simple conversation.
So with no knowledge beforehand, she defaulted to the usual conversation starter.
"Nice weather we're having~"
"...Isn't it a little cloudy?"
Dammit…
He was right in that regard. While it wasn't raining, she wouldn't consider that a nil possibility. Especially when the winds were quite harsh, it was likely that it would rain soon.
An awkward flush crossed her face; immediately, she tried to salvage a response.
"I know, it's just that… uh… I love rain, haha…"
"But it's not even raining yet,"
"It might!"
…
"..."
"..."
"You're horrible at this."
"I know…"
Like he was one to talk. Then again, he wouldn't deny the fact that when it came to relationships… he was pretty dense; he wasn't going to lie. But that fact was excused by the fact that he was not at all programmed to feel intimacy or romance. Though, he wouldn't exactly say that he was incapable. He was given a somewhat human mind. And while he has felt loyalty and devotion to his lord, the typical feeling of love was…
Lost to him…
"You confuse me," Lucas decided to begin,
Seeing as how Kuroferuru couldn't converse casually if it meant her life, Lucas decided to take the reins. Though, that wasn't really much of an upgrade. He was at least more knowledgeable in casual conversation than she was. But that lack of common sense meant that he also had no filter or consideration for the other party.
If she was going to insist on staying with him and bothering him, then he might as well get a few answers from her.
"Hmm?"
"I have read somewhere that Baphomets are very picky about their mates. It's a major detail stated within that accursed book I was forced to read to catch you." Lucas deadpanned. He still remembered every word written on that page, much to his dismay. If there was one piece of information that he could remove from his mind permanently, that damned book was at the top of his list.
"And yet you, a Baphomet, decided to have me, someone who tried to kill you, as your… potential but extremely unlikely mate." Lucas said,
"Extremely unlikely? So you're saying that there's a possibility~?"
He was taught early on that nothing was really impossible. Bending the very laws of nature itself was something that was quite common in the Lands Between, and from the looks of it it was also pretty common for the monsters that inhabit this place.
"That extremely unlikely just increased by a lot, you damned degenerate." He then deadpanned,
"Mou~ you're so mean… Do you have to throw such hurtful words at me?"
"Believe me, right now, I'm being as patient with you as I can be," Lucas said with a sigh before he shook his head. He would do this in café Loumede like usual, but the café was probably closed at this hour. That, combined with the fact that it was more open than the café while also being relatively empty around this hour. It would provide him with both the privacy he needed to converse with her, while also having it be open enough that neither of them could do anything without garnering suspicion.
The fact that no one managed to notice their brawl back when they battled was a miracle. He had a sort of gut feeling that the annoying one with red eyes had something to do with it.
Akito was quite the peace of work, that much he could tell.
Plus… it would be a bit more symbolic, considering their current relationship.
"We're here." Lucas said, his eyes looking up at the broken statue of a hero. The place was slightly crowded, though. Relatively speaking, it was still somewhat early into the night.
"This is…"
"-the place where we fought, yes." Lucas said, walking up to one of the more secluded benches before sitting down.
"..." The baphomet didn't speak, her hand moving towards her midsection. It was the part where Elt cleaved her in two with the Black Blade. Looks like she still had memories about that, something he'd note.
"Is something the matter?" Lucas asked,
"Nothing…" she waved off. Though, compared to before, her voice was notably weaker. It looked like the battle they had done more than just scar her physically.
Seeing this, Lucas observed her idly before he patted the side of the bench. He beckoned for her to come to sit, but the spot he patted was a notable distance away from where she herself sat. Surprisingly, she did sit where he patted. That somewhat surprised the doll; looks like this place had more of a psychological effect than he initially believed.
"You're awfully submissive." Lucas commented,
She glared at him lightly, but as she was it was more like a young child trying to scare an emotionless killing machine than the great and powerful Baphomet he fought against.
"Shut up, I'm not in the mood now…"
"I didn't mean anything by it. Just a casual observation on my part." Lucas said, leaning back on the bench.
Well, regardless of her personal feelings. Now that they are here, he can begin their conversation (read: interrogation). She didn't seem hostile at first, and as much as he wanted to just blast the goat out of the city once and for all, he had to think of the consequences. From his Lord's words and from his own eyes, he saw that the Baphomet was not alone. She had a sister, someone who might be as powerful as she was. And while she did sign a geis contract, it was also possible that she could render it null.
But even if she couldn't, he already saw that there was another baphomet in the tent. She signed no such contract, and if she was just as capable, then who knows what she would do. And lastly, there was the lilim. Out of everyone, that was what concerned him the most. He had no doubts in his mind that his Lord could deal with such a creature. But imagine for a second, what if he did deal with it?
Then what? No Lilim has ever been defeated in recorded history; if word leaked that his Lord did so, then he could kiss that peaceful life he so wanted to protect goodbye. And even if he did keep it silent, even if the public never found out, the demon lord's faction certainly would find out. He had dealt with Gods before, but his Lord still needed time to recuperate his strength. If the Baphomet was just one part of a larger whole, then they would suffer greatly should they provoke the monsters.
Sure, they struck first. But from what he could tell, they had already struck back. The matter was settled until Kuroferuru just burst into their lives once again. Honestly, this girl, in particular, was ridiculously annoying.
It was just a simple matter of escalation. Lucas was unwilling to trouble his lord. He had already done so by curing her; the best he could do now was to agree to some of her whims.
"Regardless, we're here now so you and I can converse. I will trust the fact that you're not here to capture or disrupt me, my Lord, or anyone else my Lord cares for. Be grateful; I'm giving you a second chance." Lucas said, looking at her.
"Thanks… that means a lot." She said,
In any case, he had a lot of questions for her. He had questions concerning her allegiance and who exactly she served; he had questions on what her faction wanted and why a Lilim was targeting his Lord and even more. But for the time being, he decided to ease her into the conversation first. Get her to spill smaller things before he gradually raises the importance of the questions so she wouldn't notice.
"But here's how we're going to do this. I will ask you a question, and you will answer. After you answer, I will then ask another question. Rinse and repeat." Lucas said,
"Wait, don't I get to ask questions?"
"No,"
"What? Don't we usually take turns?"
"I'm giving you enough of my time as is. The fact that I'm here speaking to you should be enough, especially considering what you've done." Lucas added with a small sigh.
He wasn't sure why she was complaining. The fact that he was even entertaining her with his time was way more than what she's worth, in his opinion.
"Listen, you and I being here is more than what you're worth. Be grateful that I even bothered to talk to you, don't act like you did nothing wrong." Lucas sharply stated, crossing his arms as he leveled her with a small glare.
Kuroferuru deadpanned, but she didn't protest. She just pouted lightly and nodded. She was acknowledging that fact, at least.
"In any case, here's my first question. I already accepted your apology, what else could you want from me?" Lucas said, turning to her.
The baphomet gave him a deadpan expression, just sighing lightly as she crossed her arms.
From what Kuroferuru could infer, both from her empathic sense and general skills with reading people: Lucas wasn't at all genuine with it. It was saddening, but she'd be lying if she said that it wasn't at all expected. Still, she'll take her time with him. She promised to take it slow, so she won't push him to like her immediately.
Still, there was also another reason why she was here.
"I want to apologize…" She began,
"But, I already-"
"Not just to you! But… uh… everyone that I wronged while I was here." Kuroferuru decided to say.
She had wronged a lot of people while she was here. Who knew that all it took to do so was a near-death paralyzed state where she could do nothing but lie in her bed away from any distractions that could move her mind away from the sins she committed. The first step to atonement was to apologize.
She wanted to change, and she wanted other people to know that she did.
There was one small issue, though, something that even someone like Lucas could pick up.
"Everyone? As in… My Lo- Elt? Mimil? Primera? Sasha…" He trailed off,
"And Merridith?" Lucas asked,
She just nodded, her eyes filled with determination. From the looks of things, she really wanted to atone and apologize for what she's done. To let everyone know that she's changed, or at least she's trying to. Especially to Merridith, since she was the one, Kuroferuru wronged the most in this situation. Over a decade of suffering caused by her, she deserved an apology more than anyone else.
However, as Lucas would soon point out. There was a glaring issue with what she planned.
"And what would you expect would happen should you apologize?"
"Well… ideally, I'll get along with everyone, and I'll be able to get their forgiveness~," She said,
"I'm sensing that there's a but in there."
"But… realistically…"
She didn't finish her answer. Realistically, it won't end that way. The majority of the people here hated her. Primera hated her, Sasha hated her, Elt hated her, and Merridith definitely Hated her. Forgiveness isn't so easy to get, especially after everything she's done.
But still, she at least wanted to try…
"You're more self-aware than I thought," Lucas commented, leaning back as he thought of what else to say.
"Look, I might be a lecherous monster who drowns herself in pleasure often, but I'm not that dense," Kuroferuru complained with a huff, crossing her arms.
"Somehow, I doubt that." Lucas added,
"Lilith-be-damned, you're somehow both tugging at my heartstrings and testing my patience." Kuroferuru said,
"My apologies; this is just how I speak." Lucas said,
"Yeah, I figured. Sheesh, you really are like my sister."
"I'd rather not be compared to that white-haired wench."
In a lone tent within Druella's camp, a lone white goat sneezed. Odd, it wasn't even that cold.
Kuroferuru giggled lightly, shaking her head before she sighed. This was… well, she wouldn't exactly call it fun, especially considering how the location reminded her of the battle. But it was progress; he was at least willing to speak with her.
"In any case, hmm… Listen, I know that I agreed with you earlier… but… couldn't I be given just one question~?"
"No,"
"Come on, just one~?"
"No,"
"I'll let you touch me if you do~"
"Go jump off a cliff and die."
"Ouch, that's a critical hit…"
"Don't tell me that this is the first time someone's told you that."
"You'd be surprised."
"Consider that so,"
Kuroferuru huffed lightly. Looks like she won't be getting anything from him. Nothing less than an appeal to logic would work on him, it looked like. A shame; she wanted to get to know him better, after all. Alright, if an appeal to his logic would be enough, then let it be so.
"So instead of a question… how about a deal?" Kuroferuru asked,
Lucas raised his brow, turning to his red-eyed companion with a tilted head. A deal, she says? What exactly could she offer him? From what he knew, there was nothing she really had that he wanted. Perhaps information, but she was already giving that much to him.
"I don't want anything from you-"
"There is one thing," She says, placing a hand under her lip as she thinks. She leaned in, and in a soft whisper, she spoke.
"My signature on a geis contract,"
Lucas widened his eyes, moving a few paces to the side as he looked at her with wide eyes.
"...You're serious?"
"Very serious, although I'd only be able to sign it once I get a hold of it. As a precaution, you can watch me sign it in front of you. How does that sound? A single question for a lifetime contract." She said,
Lucas thought about it, and honestly, it wasn't a bad deal. It was just a single question, and there wasn't really a way for him to get her to sign before.
"And what's stopping you from just refusing to sign."
"The fact that if I don't sign, you would never be able to love me."
Lucas blinked; he tilted his head as he looked straight into her eyes as he tried to get a read. Was she serious? Did she really think that this was possible? While he didn't think that anything was impossible, this was probably the closest to impossible one would get. He is a Doll, a tool, a weapon made to kill. Perhaps he could feel love, but compared to his loyalty and devotion to his lord, that love would be shallow.
His purpose is to serve, and if that meant his death, then so be it.
"Kuroferuru, you are utterly delusional if you believe that I would ever love you." Lucas began, turning to her before he sighed and shook his head.
Kuroferuru frowned, a small, sad smile gracing her lips. Maybe he was right; maybe she was foolish for ever thinking that. But she didn't care; she was always the more irrational one of her kind. Regardless of whether or not it's true, she'll try to pursue him regardless.
Just as she was about to nod, he then spoke once more.
"However… you have yourself a deal. One question for one Geis contract, make sure that you'd hold your end of the bargain." Lucas said.
The baphomet looked up, elated at the deal. Of course, this meant that she'd have to sign a Geis contract with him later. There's no trick here this time. She won't use the weaker ones that she cod ignore, she'd use the ones her sister personally used so she'd never be able to break them.
Whatever's written on there, she'll follow.
"In any case, make this quick… just one question." Lucas said, turning to her.
With that out of the way, it was time to actually ask. There were so many things she wanted to ask about him, some far more useful to her than others. But if there's one question that was on her mind…
"Have you ever felt love before?"
And for the first time, Lucas didn't really know how to answer.
Author's Notes:
New Chapter, Huzzah!
Not much to really say here, just wrapping up Albain's little meeting and placing Aria's perspective on the matter in it. This should move the plot along nicely, though we won't see Albain anytime soon… ish. I say ish mostly because it's not really that much later. I just need to wrap up a few other things on every other character's side before moving on.
The next chapter will be focused on Isaac and the rest of the Order of the Ice-Flower returning, plus how the Noscrim faction/Golden Order is taking in the new development within the Inquisition. Then the subsequent chapters would be focused on Kuroferuru's definitely not going to fail plan of apologizing to the one girl she's tormented for over a decade, both directly and indirectly. That, and whatever plots Elt has cooking within the slums.
As always, leave your review, reaction, etc., here! Any type of feedback helps!
Have a nice day!
Whamo out!