It was an interesting experience working alongside the Spider's Web. In the span of a few days, Shez and Shamir worked to eliminate four members of the Imperial Court, three members of the Knights of Seiros, two commanders of the city watch, and one chronicler of the Imperial Library. Shez would have thought it indiscriminate murder had she not seen the proof of their involvement with her own eyes.
Shez had floated the idea of a more permanent partnership, but Shamir had said she only had room for one overly eager idiot in her group. The purplette had been insulted, but then she actually met Leonie and realized Shamir had a point.
Once the cult members had been silenced, they reported their success to Alois, who had received a package from Byleth to Shez. Enclosed was her promised payment as well as a letter requesting her assistance on another mission. Apparently she'd made headway with their prisoner.
"This is not how I thought this would go," muttered Shez as she gingerly paced around the stone floors of Shambhala.
"Quiet!" hissed Edelgard from up front.
Between them, Byleth kept quiet, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any threats to their cover.
All three of them were dressed in initiate robes of the Avengers of Agartha, provided by the cultists once their doorman had taken away their worldly possessions for storage, ostensibly to maintain the sanctity of the Altar of Nemesis. Shez figured they just didn't trust them.
After Shez had joined up with Byleth and Edelgard, the former cultist had revealed the location of the cult's base of operations, along with a plan to infiltrate the stronghold and recover the Crest of Flames. Edelgard would pose as a returning member with Byleth and Shez as her newly recruited initiates.
It was working so far, but if Shez had known she'd have to give up her things she might've just charged in headfirst with Ratslayer.
The trio arrived at a large chamber of worship, evidenced by the massive statue of Nemesis at the front and the crowd of supplicants singing praise for their fell patron.
They were just in time to witness the cult's leader, Thales, disappear into his own personal realm of Oblivion with the Crest of Flames in hand.
"Now what?" murmured Shez to her companions.
"I… I don't know," confessed Edelgard. "Thales only allows the highest ranks of the Avengers to enter Zaharas. Perhaps one of them has an answer?"
"I doubt they'll just tell us," frowned Shez.
"It's our only lead," said Byleth.
A hum of consternation grew in Shez's throat, but the mercenary merely nodded. Before they could move however, they were interrupted when one of the cult leaders came to them.
"Sister Edelgard," sneered an elderly cultist, "I thought you lost in the mission to claim the Crest of Flames."
"Brother Solon," acknowledged Edelgard with displeasure. "I was not lost. Merely… inconvenienced."
"Were you now?"
"I was. And it was not for naught, for I have two initiates here, ready to serve His grand design."
Solon looked them over with a critical eye. "We could use more initiates in our ranks, especially since we've lost all our agents in the Imperial City." Shez tried not to let her pride show. "But there will be time for that later. For now, Sister Edelgard, there is to be a sacrifice to the King of Liberation. One that you know particularly well." A cruel grin spread over his misshapen face as he saw fear flicker in her eyes. "Come. Prove your devotion to Nemesis by striking the killing blow."
"I have already proven myself a hundred times over," snapped Edelgard indignantly.
Solon cackled gleefully. "Then prove yourself a hundred and one times."
Staring between Edelgard's baleful glare and Solon's taunting leer, Shez stepped forward. "I'll do it," she volunteered. They both turned to look at her. "I'm new, so I gotta start proving myself sooner or later, right? Why not start with this?"
Solon hummed and appraised her once more, and Edelgard bit her lip but remained silent. "Perhaps that would be for the best," allowed Solon, stepping back. "Come."
He led her to the front of the altar, where Shez caught sight of the unfortunate victim chained to the platform. Violet eyes latched onto pink, and Shez could tell this poor woman was near to death. Could she put her out of her misery?
Solon offered up a dark blade of midnight black. "Take up the sacrificial blade Athame, and gut this cur for the glory of Nemesis!"
Shez's hand wrapped around the hilt of the weapon, and she lifted it high. The woman on the altar stared at her, eyes wide in fear.
"From now on," said Shez, "I declare you: Penitence!"
And she brought the sword down, cleaving Solon's bulbous cranium in twain.