Saltzpyre muttered prayers while vigilantly keeping watch as the cart the newly formed group occupied moved along its route. The transport consisted of two carts total, one for the survivors and the other for the bodies not belonging to the local village, most likely adventurers and travelers who would need to be identified first before being sent home for proper burial. The former had been crowded enough as is and so the group sat alongside the corpses.
None of them held any opposition to the decision, Sienna and himself had already gotten used to the presence of the dead throughout their many skirmishes with the forces of chaos, the same appeared to be the case with Goblin Slayer, which was not too surprising considering his career. As for Priestess, being in the corpse cart meant that she could perform the rites for the deceased.
"O' Merciful Earth Mother, grant your sacred light to guide the souls of your fallen children lost in the darkness and allow them peace as they return to you." The cleric spoke with her head down and her hands clasped.
"Blessed Sigmar, shepherd the souls of these men and women who had not the chance to seek your deliverance and protect them from the dark powers that seek to consume them as they wander into the realm of Morr." The witch hunter muttered, keeping his eye open on their surroundings.
As the two more religious members of the group finished their respective prayers, the carts eventually arrived at their destination.
"I will inform the guild of the news," Goblin Slayer stated, as he took his leave, headed towards a building.
"I should go speak to my sisters of the temple, they'll need to prepare some space for the survivors," Priestess said as she stepped out of the cart.
The sun was setting by now, casting its orange glow across the land, night would arrive soon and it would be cruel for the surviving victims of the goblins to find themselves without any place to rest after the horrors they'd been through.
"Indeed you should; make haste on it," Saltzpyre said commandingly, though he refused to show it outright for the sake of keeping up appearances, he admired the girl's diligence, "And if any complications should arise, inform me, I may possess the adequate resources to resolve them.
The witch hunter thumbed the coin pouch on his belt as he finished speaking; there were cases in the old world wherein refugees of village raids were too much for the town temples to handle and local inns had to be rented out, even then some were still forced to the streets. Their case now was much smaller comparatively, but he felt obligated to offer assistance nonetheless. The silver shillings he could spare would likely be enough to cover their room and board for a few days.
"R-really?" Priestess asked, looking at the old man with surprise at his generosity, he was a stranger and not only had he helped save them all, but he was also willing to pay out of his own pocket to ensure their welfare, "Thank you, Mr… Sorcerer!" The cleric blurted out with a quick bow to the man, not knowing what title the man went by, before making her way to the temple to inform them about the matter at hand.
Saltzpyre stood dumbfounded as Priestess ran off. Had she just called him a 'sorcerer'? A wielder of magic? Him?
'No, that would be ridiculous,' The witch hunter thought, the girl must have, due to her hurriedness, stumbled in her articulation, intending to address both him and Sienna, the 'sorcerer' in question, with her thanks. Yes, that must have been what had happened.
"I have to say, that was pretty big of you," Sienna remarked, snapping the witch hunter out of his thoughts, "Looks like you really have gone soft," She finished with a smile.
"Soft? Soft!?" Victor repeated questioningly, taking the remark as an accusation of some sort, "What are you talking about, wizard?"
"Darling, you act like you didn't just spend our entire travel here sharing a communion with that girl," The bright wizard said, still smiling, "The Saltzpyre I used to know would've never done something like that with a 'heretic'."
"Heretic!?" Victor said incredulously, "Watch your tongue, wizard, I will not have you speaking ill of the righteous faiths!"
"Last time we were at the temple of Shallya, you were rambling on about how they were ineffective and worthless," Sienna continued, clearly enjoying poking the witch hunter's buttons.
"You are blatantly misconstruing my words," Saltzpyre argued, "Their faiths are of lesser significance to that of Sigmar's, that is true, but they still have their place and purpose!"
"A place beneath him, you mean?" The wizard asked for clarification.
"Precisely!" The witch hunter answered without hesitation.
"Well, good to see you're still yourself, darling," Sienna responded just as quickly, "I was almost worried you'd been possessed."
"What!? Possession!?" Saltzpyre blurted out, ready to argue again, before he realized that his companion's intent from the start was to provoke him, as she always did, "Our argument is ending now, wizard!"
"I look forward to our next one, darling," The wizard said, getting the last word in.
"We must go to this 'Adventurer's Guild'," Saltzpyre stated, ignoring the still smirking wizard now, "They should have answers to our location, among other things."
As the witch hunter made his way to the door of the building he'd seen Goblin Slayer enter, he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye into the building through one of its windows. It was then that he stopped, and took a closer look through the window, before stepping out of its view, holding his arm out to Sienna to signal her to stop in her path.
"Is something the matter, Saltzpyre?" Sienna questioned, with a slightly more serious tone.
"Wizard, the magic you wield is inherently tied to the dark energies of malevolent powers," The witch hunter began.
"Oh, we're starting again so soon?" Sienna said, smirking, "Just so you know, Victor, I love you too."
"This is no time for your games, wizard!" Saltzpyre said sternly, taking another glimpse through the window. "I need you to tell me, do you sense anything wrong around us?"
The smirk on Sienna's face dropped, now having a more serious look, upon hearing the urgency in her companion's voice. The witch hunter wasn't entirely wrong, being able to wield Ashqy meant also having the ability to sense the Aethyr it was derived from, and by extension its corrupted form: Dhar.
However, ever since being teleported out of the Citadel of Eternity, the air around them had a much different scent to it; it was somewhat similar, but clearly distinct, and notably less volatile than the winds she was familiar with. With that said, she didn't sense the influence of dark magic in the area, and the lack of comment from her spirited 'guest' likely meant the coast was relatively clear.
"Nothing I can tell," The wizard answered, trying to look over the witch hunter's shoulder, "Why? What did you see?"
The witch hunter remained silent for a moment, processing his companion's input, before moving to the door of the building and entering it, with Sienna following him in.
The interior of the building was nothing too remarkable, though its appearance was closer to that of a tavern or inn than a supposed 'guild', then again this was apparently some branch for a mercenary company, so it may have been appropriate in that regard.
It was then that Sienna looked upon the occupants, most of them were rather mundane, bearing armor and weapons of varying quality, though many of them were notably young. It was then that Sienna caught a glimpse at some of the more remarkable figures; some were dressed in distinctive clothing and bore items that she could identify as magical conduits and trinkets, while others seemed to have bestial features on their face and parts of their body, there was also the occasional pointed ear that stuck out from the crowd.
No wonder Saltzpyre had seemed so worried, they were surrounded by witches, mutants, and treacherous elves. Of course that was an exaggeration, but his perception tended to be so. For the time being at least, they did not seem hostile.
"What's that awful smell?" An armored man with a spear at his side said gagging, "It's worse than Goblin Slayer's."
"It appears… to be… new arrivals," A woman in provocative clothes said slowly.
"Hey! That woman's on fire!" A boy sitting next to a priestly-looking girl blurted out.
The last remark caught the attention of many in the crowd, dozens of eyes were now upon the pair.
"It appears you've drawn their attention, wizard," Saltzpyre whispered as he continued moving toward the front desk, acting as if nothing happened.
"Oh please, they smelled you before they even saw me," Sienna responded in a hushed voice, giving a small friendly wave to the crowd of onlookers, "You should take a bath when this is over, Victor. You're still covered in all that mess from our time in the chaos wastes."
"Do I look like a Bretonnian to you?" The witch hunter muttered back as the pair reached the front desk, along with the receptionists behind it.
One of the receptionists, a young woman with long brown hair, visibly gagged as the smell of old blood, pus, and other forms of waste and viscera from a mix of ratmen, beastmen, northmen, and now greenskins reached her nostrils. The other, another young woman with lighter brown hair tied in a long braid, maintained a visage of pleasantness, a sign that she meant she was either noseblind, exceedingly polite, or simply used to such things.
"Hello, how may I help you?" The woman greeted with a smile.
"I require some answers to a few questions," The witch hunter stated, "I presume this is the 'Adventurer's Guild' I have heard about?"
"That's correct," The woman responded, "Do you have a quest to submit or are you looking to sign up?"
"Neither at the moment," Victor replied, "My companion and I are in need of some directions, I presume that an organization such as this one would possess a map of the local region?"
"Of course, wait a moment please," The girl said as she began to stand up.
"I'll get it!" The other receptionist volunteered, a hand still over her nose as she rushed to the back room.
With a moment of idleness, Victor focused his attention on the murmuring of the crowd still eyeing him and Sienna.
"That rapier looks expensive, is he some noble?" A boy's voice asked.
"He doesn't look or smell the part," A woman's voice replied back, "I like to think we keep cleaner than that."
"What about that lady? All that fire has to be dangerous right?" A girl asked, "That skull on her staff can't be real can it?"
The brunette soon returned to the desk, seeming more composed now, as she handed the map to her colleague.
"Here it is, a map of the local region," Guild Girl said as she unfolded the map, "This is where we are right now."
Saltzpyre and Sienna looked at the map, Guild Girl's finger was right on top of a spot labeled 'Frontier Town', the map appeared to be split in nearly half with a dotted line labeled 'Western Frontier', other points on the map showed certain locations of interest. The 'Capital' had a much larger mark that immediately stood out, a 'Water Town' was marked with a sword and scales icon, Verena's symbol, but that was strange, her faith was one of the lesser practiced ones, and while temples and colleges may be dedicated to her, towns were not. On top of all that, the geography of the water didn't look like anything from the maps of the old world they'd used. It was then that one of them realized a detail they'd overlooked.
"Wait, 'Western Frontier'?" Sienna said aloud, "The West doesn't have a frontier unless you count the Bretonnians or the New World, but this place looks nothing like what I've heard of Lustria or Naggaroth."
"Bretonnians, Naggaroth, Lustria?" Guild Girl repeated confused, having never heard the terms before.
"Does this term 'Western Frontier', imply that these lands have not been settled on before?" Saltzpyre questioned.
"More or less," Guild Girl replied, "Though scholars and explorers have found evidence of previous civilizations here."
"Would you happen to be aware of any notable examples?" The witch hunter asked.
"Well, about five years ago, an entire city was discovered underneath an abandoned mine shaft in the mountains." The woman answered.
Saltzpyre tensed upon hearing the revelation, a city under the mountains meant one of two things a dwarf hold or skaven undercity.
"Though apparently the city was completely deserted and then collapsed shortly after it was discovered," Guild Girl finished.
The witch hunter's worry subsided, if such a place was truly deserted and then destroyed there would at least be no threat.
"What account do you have of its destruction?" The witch hunter asked, needing to confirm the matter.
"A gold-ranked adventurer gave their testimony in support of the group who discovered the city," Guild Girl answered.
Saltzpyre made a mental note to try to find said city and ensure that it was truly destroyed. Such 'evidence' was hardly definitive or reliable. Five years was a long time for ratmen to consolidate their forces, though if that was the case, they were likely already doomed anyway.
"What lands lie east?" Victor questioned, "Beyond this map?"
"The region on the Kingdom's eastern border is the Desert Kingdom," Guild Girl answered, "Though it isn't very safe to travel there as of late, the region is still in turmoil from the assassination of their king a few years ago."
A 'Desert Kingdom' fit the description of Araby, but if that was the case, it should have been to the south, unless she was describing the Bad Lands.
"And beyond that?" The witch hunter followed up.
"Beyond?" Guild Girl repeated questioningly, "I'm afraid I don't have information on that matter."
That couldn't be right, no merchant in their right mind would forget about the lucrative trade routes to Cathay, much less the entire region itself.
It seemed as if the more answers they received, the more confusing their predicament became.
"I see," Victor began, realizing that examining the map was a fruitless endeavor, "I have another matter to discuss then."
As he finished speaking, he pulled out a guild tag, though most of the blood had been wiped off, there were still pinkish smudges across its surface.
"Oh," Guild Girl said, her smile becoming more solemn as she placed a gold coin on the desk, "Thank you for retrieving their tag."
Saltzpyre eyed the coin on the desk, examining the markings. It wasn't any currency he'd seen before. After a few seconds, he slid the coin back to the receptionist.
"Send it to the family of the deceased," The witch hunter said flatly.
"That's generous of you," Guild Girl stated, the smile on her face seemed less forced after hearing the old man's words.
As she moved her hand to take the tag, Saltzpyre's finger landed on top of the pendant, pinning it in place. Guild Girl looked up, meeting witch hunter's imposing glare.
"Could you read out this part?" Victor stated, pointing to the inscriptions that listed the owner's personal information.
"It would be against our policy to disclose an adventurer's personal information," Guild Girl answered, trying to put up a neutral face.
"Then read it silently," The witch hunter followed up.
Sienna was familiar with what her companion was doing, it was the same act that she'd faced when they first met: an interrogation.
"Victor, I don't think this is a good id-"
"Do not interrupt me, wizard," Saltzpyre responded flatly before pulling out another guild tag, "Read this one as well."
Guild Girl began to look discomforted as her usual facade began to falter, "I already told you I can't do that."
"Your policy, I assume, only prohibits you from speaking the information," Saltzpyre responded sternly, "Simply reading it, should not have consequences to you."
As the witch hunter finished speaking, he pulled out the final tag and placed it on the desk, staring down the woman the entire time.
"I would like to have a word with the one in charge of this 'Adventurer's Guild'," Saltzpyre stated.
By now, multiple occupants were looking on at the scene with concern, especially the other receptionist, Inspector, who was signaling for someone to intervene.
"Hey! Back off!" The spearman spoke up, as he approached the witch hunter.
"I will take my leave after I speak with the one in charge of this organization," Saltzpyre responded, not even looking in the man's direction.
"Yeah, well tough luck shithead," The spearman retorted, "The Capital's hours away and the King doesn't accept walk-in visitors."
The last part caught Victor's attention.
"You mean to tell me that this organization is run by the state?" The witch hunter questioned, now facing the spearman.
"Did I stutter?" The spearman spat, meeting the Saltzpyre's glare with his own, "You got your answer, now stop harassing the girls and get outta here!"
Saltzpyre eyed the receptionist he'd been interrogating, though she still kept her neutral look, he was able to notice a slight shaking in her posture.
"Very well then," Saltzpyre said to the spearman, before turning to address Guild Girl. "The red-haired girl and brown-haired boy described in two of those tags are deceased, the black-haired girl is currently sheltered in the temple, ensure that the reward for returning those tags goes towards their sake."
As the witch hunter opened the door to leave, he spoke one last time to the woman.
"I do not blame you for what happened, but I will confront the ones responsible," Victor stated, before exiting the building into the night.
Sienna turned to look upon the other occupants, every one of them still seemed uneasy, and many were eyeing her. She felt some obligation to make things right.
"I'm very sorry for his behavior," The wizard said to the receptionist, "He's…"
"A complete dick," Spearman interrupted, "If he shows his face around here again, I'm taking his ass down a peg."
"Well I'd recommend against trying that, and for your sake, darling," Sienna responded, having a feeling that the young man would easily be outclassed.
"What was that?" Spearman said challengingly, looking at Sienna.
"Spearman stop it!" Guild Girl scolded, "It's over already, so please calm down."
"Yeah, fine, whatever," The spearman relented going back to his table.
Sienna once again faced to address the receptionist.
"Again, very sorry for that whole mess," Sienna apologized.
"It's fine, really," Guild Girl responded, regaining her composure.
"He looked like he was going to kill you," Inspector remarked, "I think we can get a ban order on him."
"No, I mean it," Guild Girl asserted, "It's good to see that there's someone who cares so much about those rookies."
Guild Girl eyed the three porcelain tags on the reception desk as she spoke.
"I wish I could actually do something about it, but it's against guild policy to refuse quests to adventurers as long as they meet the rank requirement." The woman said solemnly.
"Wait, the way you said that, does this happen often?" Sienna asked with concern.
Guild Girl only met the wizard's look with tired eyes, and that was all she needed to do.
"I will be leaving now," A familiar voice stated as Goblin Slayer came out from one of the rooms deeper into the hall, "I left the money for the potions I took on the table."
"That's fine Goblin Slayer," Guild Girl said with a genuine smile, "Have a good night."
It was then that Goblin Slayer noticed Sienna.
"You're here," The adventurer observed aloud, "Is the old man nearby, I would like to learn more from him."
"Wait, Goblin Slayer, you know her and that man?" Guild Girl reacted with surprise.
"He knows how to kill goblins," Goblin Slayer responded.
"I have a feeling I know where he's headed," Sienna responded, "Trust me, darling, now is not a good time for him."
"I see," The adventurer responded, seeming disappointed, at least to those with the perception to notice the subtle signs of it.
"Don't worry, he'll be back, he always is," Sienna reassured, before turning to Guild Girl, "So, how much is a room? One that you don't mind burning preferably."
"Uh…" The woman hung on, not sure how to respond.
"I'm just kidding about that last part, darling," Sienna said, chuckling as she reached for her pouch of shillings, "Partially."
Victor shut the door behind him as he stepped into the night.
The situation was even worse than he'd imagined, it was not the fault of a mere company, but the state itself. The insidious nature of it all infuriated him. He had thought that this 'Adventurer's Guild's' operations were plagued by a similar poison that both he and Kruber had faced in their careers, and now it turned out that he had been more correct than he bargained for.
Was this some kind of punishment? That he would witness the same menace of imprudence that had destroyed Ubersreik do the same to this land?
The witch hunter looked up, hoping for a sign that he had not been forsaken. But the only sight he saw filled him with dread. Both Morrsleib and Mannslieb hung in the sky.
"Sigmar, no..." The witch hunter muttered as he quickened his pace, making sure to avoid the foul light of the green moon.
Eventually, the old man found himself at his intended destination and knocked at the door to the temple.
A familiar girl answered the door, as she looked up, she saw the familiar figure and smiled.
"Hello Mr.," Priestess greeted as she opened the door fully.
"Greetings, girl," Saltzpyre responded, giving her a nod, "I presume everything went smoothly with the accomodations?"
"Oh, yes," The cleric confirmed, "We've set beds for each of the women and they've all had a full meal. Thank you for checking up, your concern for them is appreciated."
"I see, yes, that is good to hear," Victor responded, looking around the temple to see a few nuns still up, most were likely asleep.
"If it isn't too much trouble, might I come in and stay for the night?" Saltzpyre asked.
"Oh, of course," Priestess said stepping aside, "Were you unable to find somewhere for the night?"
"In a sense," The witch hunter responded.
"I'll prepare a bed for you then," Priestess offered, "It should only take a few minutes."
"That would be unnecessary," Saltzpyre declined, "I merely need a place to pray and meditate."
"Oh, I didn't know you were a follower of the Earth Mother," Priestess said with surprise.
"I am not," The witch hunter responded, "But I can feel this place is sanctified with the care and diligence of the righteous, and if you and your sisters will permit my company, I will accept your hospitality."
"The Earth Mother tells us to always show compassion and look out for others," Priestess recalled aloud, "I'm sure she would accept someone as kind as you into her home."
"I am unsure of your assessment of me, but thank you," Saltzpyre said as he opened his pouch of shillings, "What is the cost of an inn room for the night around here?"
"That won't be necessary!" Priestess opposed, "You've already done so much."
"Nonsense, I only did what I was obligated to do," Victor insisted.
"Well… um…" Priestess hung on, thinking for a moment, "I'm afraid I don't know, I've only ever spent my nights inside the temple."
"Very well then," The witch hunter said, as he produced two shillings from the pouch, "An offering of gratitude, from a servant of Sigmar to your patron."
"I'm sure your 'Sigmar' is happy to have someone like you as a follower," Priestess complimented as she showed the man to an empty room.
"I would hope so," Saltzpyre said solemnly as he entered.
"If you need anything else, you only need to ask," Priestess offered, before leaving.
The moment she left, the witch hunter collapsed onto the floor.
"Sigmar, I have done everything I could to serve you, I only seek to better dedicate myself to your holy cause," The witch hunter began, "So why have you sent me here? This land is blind to the enemy that surrounds it, it is headed by those who are undeserving."
Saltzpyre lingered on that question, wondering how he could have arrived in this realm, but then he remembered stories he heard from the travelers to the Chaos Wastes. Time flowed differently, what may only seem like a few weeks, could have actually been years. The Guild receptionist had mentioned that a previous civilization once existed here in the 'frontier' and that no one remembered when these lands had been settled in; did so much time pass that history had forgotten them?
If that was the case, history was repeating itself in this new era, and the imprudence that had led to the fall of the empire was just as rooted here as well. This land was doomed to fall to the same fate as those dark times. Everything would be lost once again, and he would be powerless to stop it. Was that the punishment for his heretical expedition? To witness the world's fall once again?
Before he could continue down that line of thought, he heard a knock on the door.
Expecting to see Priestess, the witch hunter recomposed himself before answering the door, only to find a different person greeting him.
"You must be the man that she has been talking about," A smiling young nun greeted as she held a bowl of soup, "It would be improper for us to leave a guest without a meal."
The woman before him was perhaps only a few years older than Priestess. Her skin was dark, and the hair flowing underneath her headdress was black. Traits that contrasted rather significantly with most of the locals.
'Likely someone of Arabyan heritage,' Victor thought, being familiar with merchants from the land that would travel through the empire.
"I assume you mean the girl who ventured into the cave?" Victor asked, accepting the bowl from the young woman.
"Indeed, she sings praises of how you and your companion saved her and the women from the goblins," The nun answered, "And of your compassion in ensuring their welfare."
"I do not believe I am worthy of such praise," Victor said as he took a drink from the bowl, remembering all of his failures. Failing to save Ubersreik, Skaggerdorf, or even the burgomeister's daughter. Not to mention his expedition to the Citadel of Eternity.
"I can see why she grew attached to you," The nun began, "You are stern, but fair, and diligent, but humble, had you been her father, I think you would have raised her well."
"Father!?" Saltzpyre asked incredulously, before realizing the implication, "She is an orphan?"
"Many here are," The nun answered solemnly.
The witch hunter mulled over the answer, it was not hard to reach the conclusion, he had seen it many times in the Old World, the aftermath of raids, whether by beastmen, greenskins, northmen, or other menaces often left orphans in their wake.
"You have my condolences then," Saltzpyre replied.
"You speak like someone who understands such pain," The nun examined.
"No, not exactly," Victor corrected, "I was taken into my order with my father's permission; he was a man of strong principles and perhaps he thought my calling was to a higher purpose. I trained to be a servant of Sigmar's will. And throughout my service, I have borne witness to many cases of such tragedy."
"I see," The nun responded empathetically, "Still, I think it is fortunate that she has found someone like you to look up to."
"No, she was fortunate to have people such as you watch over and raise her," Saltzpyre argued, "She is already brave, diligent, and faithful. She refused to abandon her companion to the greenskin filth that hunted them, and she returned to save another even after realizing a greater danger within. That is the fruit of yours and her efforts, not mine."
The nun was left speechless after receiving such praise and so simply responded with a nod and a smile.
After he finished drinking its contents, Victor handed the bowl back to the nun.
"Good night, Sir," The nun said as she left.
When the door closed, the witch hunter once again knelt down and began praying once more.
"You remind me of that which I had overlooked- no, that which I had refused to see," Saltzpyre began, "This era holds people worthy of your deliverance, and even if I must be the sole servant of yours who enacts it, so be it."
The witch hunter, for once in a long time, was happy to continue his line of thought, finding some sliver of his faith returning. He thought of the others who were worthy before the will of the Heldenhammer, Goblin Slayer being one of them, had there been perhaps a few dozen more people like him in Ubersreik, the city likely would have never fallen.
Wait, Goblin Slayer; how had he been so blind?
Sigmar Unberogen had taken on the title of Sigmar Heldenhammer, a title which meant 'Hammer of Goblins' and was taken to commemorate his victory against the vile greenskins of Blackfire Pass. The fact that the two figures shared nearly the same title could not have been a coincidence, it was a sign, an unmistakable sign. The only thing more blatant would have been the fall of a twin-tailed comet.
It was then that the witch hunter realized something else.
Twin-tailed; two. He and Fuegonasus had been spirited away together as a pair. When he first encountered Goblin Slayer he had arrived paired with Priestess. Priestess' miracles, of a similar nature to the battle prayers that warrior priests of Sigmar could perform, had saved two lives that would have otherwise perished.
The whole time he had been bombarded with signs from his patron, but in his despair he had refused to see them. It was a mistake and one that would not be repeated.
Sigmar had brought him here to serve him in this land that had forgotten him, and he would do so without any more hesitation or doubts.
"My faith is renewed." The witch hunter announced, "For the first time in months, I have holy purpose once more!"
He would follow the signs that had been presented to him. Goblin Slayer and Priestess were key figures in enacting Sigmar's will. Whatever plan his god had for them, he would ensure it was followed through.