Chapter 5: Lohan

In a dark land where the sun did not shine, a petite demon with white hair stood upon the balcony of a dark tower rising from a dark palace, and looked out over a dark city. Dark clouds rolled in the sky above, with only the occasional flash of lightning providing any light.

The petite demon sighed. Black, black, black. Black as far as the eye could see. Honestly, did Lord Baphomet have to make everything so dreary?

But, it wasn't His fault. He was merely following in the footsteps of His predecessor, Lord Phoenix. And Lord Phoenix had merely followed in the footsteps of his own predecessor, Lord Leviathan. And so on and so forth, as far back as the demon could recall.

The petite demon had faithfully served no less than four previous Overlords, and had lived through the reign of many more. But it was only recently, in the aftermath of Lord Phoenix's fall, that she had come to a realization:

Something… needed to change.

She had no desire to claim the title of Overlord for herself, however. She had seen how it changed those who assumed the mantle- even the most intelligent and erudite became little more than wild, ravening beasts who cared only for causing death and destruction. Baphomet seemed resistant to the regression, but the demon knew it would be only a matter of time before He too succumbed.

So as she served the Overlords, she worked to craft a sanctum of warmth and light in the shadows of this dark and dreary land. There was still much to do, and many pieces were still missing, but time was of little concern to her. She'd already spent a hundred years building her sanctuary- what was another century or two?

At that moment, the doors to the petite demon's private quarters opened. A woman dressed as a sister of the Order entered, her black hair carrying the subtlest tinge of red, a pair of black leathery wings sprouting from her back betraying her true nature.

The petite demon recognized the false sister in an instant. "Korzanna!" She rushed over, wrapping the younger demon in a tight embrace before she could escape. "You should have said you were coming! I could've prepared a feast for you, gathered up some handsome men… there's nothing wrong with having a bit of fun with other women, but you're in the prime of your fertility, you know. You should take advantage of it." The petite demon was well over a thousand years old at this stage, and not only looked younger than her children, but had birthed her youngest just seventeen years prior. In truth, Korzanna would have no issues with fertility.

"Mother, please, you're embarrassing me…" the younger demon moaned.

"Why? It's not like anyone's here to see." In any case, a child shouldn't be ashamed of the love their mother showed for them. And since children were on her mind… the petite demon freed her daughter from her embrace. "And how's our dear Laxi? Is she keeping well?"

Korzanna handed her mother a crystal and looked away, visibly uncomfortable. "That's… partially why I'm here, actually. You see…" The younger demon began to share everything she'd observed at Saint Katherine's, focusing especially on the period after a stranger brought a peculiar young man to the abbey.

"She what!?" the elder demon shouted, making her section of the palace quake. "And you left her alone!?" She staggered to a plush armchair close by and fell into it, hand on her forehead.

"I told you, you have nothing to worry about," Korzanna said. "But if it bothers you that much, I can track her down and-"

"No," the elder demon said firmly. "You're staying where I can keep an eye on you."

"But-"

The elder demon sat up straight. "Enough, Korzanna. I've made my decision. You will remain here, until I decide I have need of you."

Korzanna gritted her teeth, but ultimately bowed her head and replied, "As you command, Mother."

The younger demon turned, and began to leave her mother's chambers. The elder demon called, "Your room is the first door on the left, dear."

"I know my way around my own home, Mother!" Korzanna called as the door shut. And the elder demon was alone once again.

Andralaxia moving about unsupervised and unprotected was bad enough on its own. But the elder demon wasn't about to send Korzanna after her. She couldn't. She had lost enough children as it was- she would not lose any more. But the younger demon raised a fair point. She would need to send someone to watch over her wayward youngest daughter. And this Hero boy she'd mentioned… he would certainly merit further investigation as well.

But who would she send? They would need to be swift, someone able to remain unseen, and most importantly, someone the elder demon could trust entirely- her precious Andralaxia couldn't be entrusted to the care of just anyone, after all…

"I must say, this boy your daughter found has stoked my curiosity," a sultry voice spoke from above. The elder demon looked up, to see a dark, red-eyed figure clinging to the rafters by their feet. The sight would have sent a human- and perhaps some lesser monsters- fleeing in terror. But the elder demon knew the figure too well for that.

The figure suddenly dropped to the ground, turning and gracefully landing on her feet without a sound. The light revealed the figure was a short young woman, wearing a puffy black dress with red trim that covered so much that only her face was visible, her skin so pale it was nearly translucent, her long white hair tied back with a black bow. She knelt before the elder demon, bowing her head. "It has been far too long since a Hero's blood has crossed my lips."

"Joanna…" the elder demon said. "Should you not be at your master's side?"

"One of the candidates Lord Iedolas selected as his new bride has gone missing. At this very moment, all who serve beneath him have been ordered to scour the land in search of her. My absence should cause no troubles for the time being." The pale woman lifted her gaze. "And you of all people should know I have room in my heart for only one master… my beloved Luxuria."

The elder demon smiled. Of course, Joanna filled all those criteria perfectly. And as a former human, she could blend into their society in ways that her lesser minions would struggle to. Poaching her from Iedolas was the wisest decision she'd ever made.

"Dear Joanna, I have a task for you," Luxuria began. "Should you have the time to indulge my selfishness."

Joanna's bloody red eyes lit up, and she smiled, exposing a pair of long, cruel fangs. "I would never dare to call any request of yours selfish, My Lady. Now, what would you ask of me? You need only name it, and I shall make it so."

Luxuria toyed with the crystal her third daughter had given her. "You remember my beloved Andralaxia, yes? It seems that wanderlust has struck her once again. I had Korzanna watch her while she played at being a priestess, but now I dare not risk the lives of both of my surviving children." Her focus returned to the vampire. "So I ask that you watch over my child, in my stead."

Joanna bowed her head. "As you command, My Lady. Where shall I begin my search?"

"Lohan," the elder demon replied. "It's the only thing worth noting in that miserable desert." She then leaned forward. "But remember: you are only to observe. Reveal yourself only if there is no alternative. My daughter cannot know I've been watching her this whole time."

"Of course. I am the very soul of caution." Joanna stood, and walked across the room through the doors leading out to the balcony. She then held out her arms- they twisted and morphed, becoming large leathery wings. "And what of this Hero boy? Shall I dispose of him?"

"Leave him be for now," the elder demon replied, stepping out onto the balcony as well. "Andralaxia's safety is your main priority. At least until I review the data Korzanna collected."

"As you command, My Lady. I shall await your judgement." And with a powerful flap of her wings, Joanna took to the sky, quickly becoming lost in the sea of clouds.

Alone once again, Luxuria turned her attention to the crystal in her hand. To the untrained eye, it appeared to be just that- a crystal. But she could feel the magic slumbering within. Through secret incantations, one could inscribe information within a crystal such as this, where it could be recalled at will at a later time. Korzanna had told her this crystal contained the biometric information she'd collected from the Hero boy. And the elder demon could not deny her curiosity.

Luxuria held the crystal at eye level. "Alright then." She focused, letting her mana flow into the crystal- it began to shine, its facets showing the reflection of a blue-haired young man. "Let us see just what kind of man you are… Abel."

A day passed. Though the threat had been dealt with, Abel and the others were in no condition to set out. So after a day's rest, and pilfering the bandits' cache of supplies to replenish their own, they continued north once the sun set. Despite Abel's suggestion, none among them knew how to drive a wagon, or even how to ride a horse, so they had little choice but to continue their journey on foot.

As the group crossed the dunes, Raine lit the way for the rest, both figuratively and literally- she led their column, while holding a small flame in her hand to drive back the shadows. Abel followed- behind him was dancer Holly, then mercenary Holly, and Lailah in the rear.

"Are you sure we're still going the right way?" Abel asked.

"I'm sure," Raine replied confidently, pointing ahead with her free hand. "See those three stars up ahead, just over the horizon? Those stars point north, so as long as we follow them, we'll reach Lohan eventually."

Abel looked ahead. There were lots of stars in the sky, but straight ahead was a cluster of three stars forming a triangle, close enough together that if he were to hold out his hand, he could block out all three with his fingertip.

"She's right," Lailah said, albeit reluctantly. "Travelers have used Alondight's Sword to navigate at night for thousands of years."

Yet another name Abel didn't know. And the question met Abel's ears before he realized it left his mouth: "Who's… Alondight?"

Silence. Abel could feel the eyes of the others on him. It was as if the whole world were staring at him. "…Seriously?" Niel finally said. "You don't know who Alondight is? The Dragonslayer, the Flame of Hope, the Lodestar- seriously, none of those are ringing any bells?"

"Hey, lay off, Parrot," Raine said, turning to face the angel. "If Blue doesn't know, he doesn't know. Making him feel stupid won't help."

"Who are you calling Parrot?" Niel snapped, indignant.

"Who else!?" Raine retorted. "You sit on his shoulder and squawk in his ear all day! It's perfect for you!"

The angel jumped off Abel's shoulder. "Why you-"

"Guys!" Abel shouted. "I- …I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Just… don't fight. Please?"

Both Raine and Niel looked at Abel. "What? No, Abel, you…" the witch stammered. "You don't need to apologize. You didn't-"

"Alondight was a Hero," a melodious voice from behind said. "The first Hero, who gathered a group of twelve champions to fight the first Overlord, the dread dragon Bahamut, and his twelve Fiend Generals." Dancer Holly stepped up alongside Abel. "My troupe puts on a play that tells his story at the end of every year. Very popular. Very dramatic. …Very long, too. Takes us three nights to get through the whole thing."

The group continued on in an uncomfortable silence, Raine and Niel keeping to themselves. Abel was desperate to break the tension somehow, and asking their new traveling companion about herself seemed like the perfect way to do so. So he asked, "So, Holly-"

"Yes?" Holly asked

"Yes?" the other Holly asked.

"Sorry, new Holly," Abel added. "I should have been more specific. Anyway, Lailah said you've been all over the continent. Is that true?"

"Oh yes. We've been to so many places it's hard to keep track of them all," the dancer replied. "Apollonia, Ermis, Cybele, Mavors… we usually stick to cities along the shores of the Arielian, but we venture inland sometimes. Mr. Kauri- our troupe leader, always insists we visit his hometown Kazas at least once a year. And a few months ago, we were hired as entertainment for some noble daughter's birthday celebration in Fletz."

"Fletz? Where's that?" Abel decided at that moment the first thing he was going to do once they reached Lohan was buy a map.

Dancer Holly scratched her head as she tried to remember. "Some country out in the west. …Peryn, I think?"

"Vulkan," Holly said. Mercenary Holly. "It's the capital."

Dancer Holly snapped her fingers. "Right, that's the one. I'd never been before, but I can't say I'm eager to go back anytime soon. The landscapes are breathtaking, but the cold…"

Abel remembered something. "Oh, right, you're from Vulkan, aren't you, Holly? Maybe the two of you crossed paths without realizing it."

The mercenary began to stammer. "Uh, that's… not true! That's impossible! I'm from a town near the border with Peryn, so there's no chance that could've happened!" She began laughing nervously.

"Er, right…" dancer Holly said once the mercenary settled down. "Anyway, that wasn't the first time we've been hired for a private show. Before we came to Lohan, the King of Mavors invited us to perform at his court in Magrad…"

Over the next two days of travel, Abel began to notice changes.

First was the air. The air felt… different- heavier, carrying a strange scent he couldn't identify. The earth changed next, the dunes giving way to dry, but solid ground. But the most profound change of all… was that there were other people on the road. Granted, they were mainly wagons escorted by armed men, but on the morning of their third day of travel, Abel saw more people in just one hour than he'd seen since leaving Hokes.

"Who are those people?" Abel asked, as what must have been the fifth cart he'd seen that day rolled past them. "And where do you think they're going?"

"Private villas outside the city, if I had to guess," Raine said. "Lohan is one of the largest trading hubs in the world. Lots of people find their fortunes here." She looked ahead. "Anyway, we should be coming up to the city pretty soon. Mind your step- the hills around here can get pretty steep."

Gradually, the ground beneath them began to slope upwards- gently at first, but growing steeper with time. The group's pace slowed, but they pressed on, spurred on as Raine and dancer Holly began to recognize their surroundings.

And when they finally reached the crest of the hill, what Abel saw stole the very breath from his lungs.

Stretching out before them was a forest of buildings. It was the only way Abel could describe what he saw. He believed Hokes had been enormous, but the city in front of him could have held twenty towns the size of Hokes within its walls with ease. And seemingly every building held within those walls was different from the one standing next to it- some were wide and block-like, while others were tall and thin, like daggers poised to stab at the sky, flying flags and banners of every shade imaginable. Some looked more like massive tents than a proper building, and still others were round and squat, resembling giant upside-down bowls. Stone, wood, metal, cloth… the materials used to make the structures were just as varied as the structures themselves, and all in so many colors that even the most vibrant field of flowers couldn't compare. The city was surrounded by a high wall built of dark brown stone, but further on, he could see another, identical wall rising up. Was there another city, inside the city? Abel couldn't think of any other reason for it to be there.

"We finally made it…" Lailah said. "Lohan."

Raine folded her arms over her chest. "Capital of the Kingdom of Istar, and largest city on the Windurst continent with a population of approximately twenty-four thousand residents. It's main features of interest are its Coliseum, built in the days of the old Cybelian Empire, and the Pioneer's Cathedral, the first church dedicated to Ilias built on the continent."

"You sound like a travel brochure," dancer Holly said. "But, everything you said is true. You local, too?"

Raine shrugged. "Nah, I'm from Mavors. But I did a lot of research on the places I was going to visit before I set out on my search for elemental spirits."

"Hey, wait a minute!" Niel appeared and fluttered up into Raine's face. "You wouldn't tell us where you were from last night, but you cough it up to her just like that?"

Raine blinked, then gasped as if suddenly remembering something. "I-I mean-" she stammered, "…I refuse to be bound by petty notions that serve only to divide people such as nationality! I choose to focus on elements that… unite people, such… as…" Her shoulders slumped and she hung her head. "Oh, forget it."

"So how exactly do we find the Archbishop?" Mercenary Holly asked, adjusting her glasses. She raised a good point- finding a single person in a city of twenty-four thousand would be no small feat, even if they were someone as important as the Archbishop.

"See that building with the enormous spire, in the inner district?" Lailah asked in turn, and pointed. Abel had to squint, but through the haze, he did see a large building with a tall spire, beyond the second wall. "That's the Pioneer's Cathedral," she continued. "I had to go there to meet the Archbishop when I first came to Istar, so I imagine she won't be far from there. But first thing's first…" Her attention shifted to the dancer. "We should bring Holly back to her theater troupe. I'm sure they're worried about her."

"Okay… where would we find them?" Abel asked.

"We're all staying up in a lodge near the harbor, on the far side of the city," dancer Holly replied. "I know this city like the back of my hand- I'll get us there in no time."

"Holllyyy…" a woman cried, sobbing into dancer Holly's chest. "Holllllyyyy…"

"I'm so glad you're alright," another woman said as she held Holly from behind. "We were all so worried about you…"

"Guys, I'm fine. Really," dancer Holly said, for what must have been the twentieth time. But her words fell on deaf ears as a dozen women took turns to hold her and cry.

Reaching the far side of the city took much less time than Abel expected. The dancer took to the city like a fish in water, weaving through narrow alleys and empty side streets that completely bypassed Lohan's overcrowded thoroughfares. In practically no time at all, they reached the Coliseum- a massive, round building that seemed to be made up entirely of arches. It was there that a woman suddenly leapt on the dancer, almost dragging her to the ground- another member of Holly's troupe, as he would learn. The other woman practically dragged the dancer to the lodge, where she and the other members of the troupe fawned over her.

One of the women standing near Holly asked. "How did you manage to get away?

"I have these travelers to thank." The dancer looked Abel's way. "They were almost abducted as well. But that young man fought them off. Killed every last one of them."

"He did, did he?" The tall woman behind Holly asked. "All on his own?" From her tone, she seemed less than convinced.

"He doesn't seem all that impressive to me…"

"Well, he did bring Holly back, so I guess we owe him."

"He is kind of handsome. In an innocent sort of way…"

Abel couldn't help but shrink under the scrutiny of so many women. More women were standing in front of him at that very moment than he had ever seen in his entire life up to that point. So he was very relieved when a man's sharp voice called, "Now now, girls what's all this commotion about?"

Sure enough, a man hobbled toward them. He was an old man, bald, and bent over with age, wearing a coat with thin black and white stripes, glasses with round, dark lenses that completely obscured his eyes perched on his nose, a cane clutched in his hand. The moment he saw Holly, his cane fell from his hand, and he made a beeline for the dancer, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Oh, my dear! When I heard the news I could hardly believe it! Half the troupe had to stop me from going out to look for you myself. But seeing you here…" The man turned his attention to Abel. "And you must be the one who brought her back to us."

"Uh, y-yes, sir," Abel stammered in reply.

"No need to be so formal, my boy," the man said as he hobbled over to Abel next. "Call me Mr. Kauri, please." The older man looked up at the young man, lowering his glasses slightly, brow furrowing. "Er, hold on a tick… you don't look like any of the mercenaries we hired…"

"That's 'cause, I'm not," Abel replied slowly. "We were traveling up from Hokes to meet the Archbishop. Honestly, us finding your Holly was… kind of an accident."

Mr. Kauri took Abel's hand and shook it firmly. "Well accident or no, you brought back our main event safe and sound. Our troupe is in your debt, sir. We were just putting together a reward for whoever rescued our dear Holly-"

"Wh- reward?" Abel stammered." "I-I didn't do this just to get a reward."

"Perhaps. But, I'm sure you'd want something a bit more tangible than just our thanks." Mr. Kauri grinned up at Abel, fixing his glasses. "Is money not what you were looking for? If so, just name your price, and we'll pay it… within reason, of course."

All eyes were on him. Abel felt like he couldn't breathe, as if the weight of their gazes were stopping his breath. He choked out, "I… have… business with the Church no time for chatting!" And he turned and ran, retreating to the nearest alleyway he laid eyes on. Once he was safely out of sight, and at what he felt was a safe distance, the crushing pressure on his lungs slackened, and he sank to his knees, finally able to breathe freely.

Until a scratchy voice asked, "Um, Abel? What the hell was that?" He looked up, to see Niel fluttering in front of him with her hands on her hips.

Abel tried to reply, but words failed him. What was he supposed to say? No one had ever praised him before. At least, no one had ever praised him and meant it. To say nothing of rewarding him for his efforts. He didn't know how to respond.

"It's impolite to run off when someone's trying to thank you, you know," Raine called. When Abel looked, the witch was coming down the alley, Lailah and Holly- their Holly- following.

Abel's face burned. He realized running off would have meant Lailah would have to deal with that man in his place. But it was Holly- their Holly- rather than the priestess who asked, "Are you alright? I'm guessing you don't handle crowds well, either…"

"No, it- I-I…" Abel lowered his head. "Sorry. I'm… not used to being praised."

"I can tell. Don't think I've ever seen anyone run that fast before!" the witch replied. "I mean, I could understand being nervous about a kiss, but it's just money." She pointed at him. "Totally should've asked for a kiss, by the way."

Lailah cleared her throat. "Speaking of money, Mr. Kauri paid us a hundred dinars for saving Miss Holly. A bit excessive, but we shouldn't have any money troubles for quite a while now."

Abel's heart was still racing. He could still feel the weight of all those women's gazes upon him. But, in the end… it was all over now. Dancer Holly was safely back with her theater troupe, and in all likelihood, he would never have to worry about seeing them ever again. "So… what now?" he asked.

"We meet the Archbishop, of course," Niel replied. "We've wasted enough time on this detour as it is."

"Lohan's main thoroughfare cuts right through the whole city," Raine began, "and it passed by most of the city's major sights. Finding that cathedral shouldn't be too hard."

Finding the main thoroughfare proved easy enough, and after following it for just a short while, the group came upon a gate set into the wall dividing the city. But something wasn't right. The gate was shut, and a number of guards draped with red cloaks stood before it. As Abel and the others approached, the guards moved to block their path.

"Hold!" one of the guards called. "By order of the Lord Mayor, all access to the inner district of Lohan is forbidden. None may enter without permission."

"What? Why?" Abel asked.

"The inner district has been closed in the name of public safety. That is all you need to know."

Lailah stepped forward. "But we have an urgent message for the Archbishop. She's expecting us."

"The inner district is closed, no exceptions. Any messages for those residing in the inner district can be delivered through couriers generously provided by the Vargo Group for a nominal fee." The guard rested a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Now move along."

The group retreated, and at Raine's suggestion, began searching for a bulletin board- if the inner district was closed, she reasoned, an announcement would've been posted somewhere, along with a reason why.

As they searched, Abel asked, "What should we do if we can't get to the inner district?"

"There's nothing to do," Lailah replied. "We need to meet with the Archbishop."

"Maybe one of the local churches can help us," Holly said. "Deliver Abel's message for us."

Lailah shook her head, nervously winding a lock of hair around her finger. "That wouldn't solve anything. They would just tell us to bring the message to the Archbishop. And Abel would need to go to her anyway to receive his Relic."

Raine leaned back, looking up at the top of the wall. "Just fly over there, Blue. You got wings."

The priestess huffed. "That would cause more problems than it solves."

"Actually, the witch might be onto something," Niel said, emerging from within Abel. "You can't get through that blockade, but I can. So, I'll deliver a message to the Archbishop in person, on your behalf."

"I see…" the priestess said with a nod. "The Church might ignore a normal messenger, but they can't ignore an angel."

Raine added, "And if the Archbishop knows he's here, she can put pressure on the mayor to let Blue into the inner district." She looked down at Niel. "Gotta say, for an angel you sure know how to play dirty."

The angel stood up on Abel's shoulder, spreading her wings. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Try not to wander too far." Then, she shot into the air, becoming little more than a brilliant streak of light that arced across the sky, over the wall, and out of sight.

Abel and his companions looked on after the angel for a few moments, before turning back to one another. "Now what?" he asked.

"I say we should keep looking for that bulletin board," Raine replied. "Something's going on in the city, and I wanna know what."

"Shouldn't we wait for Niel to come back?" Holly asked. "She said we shouldn't wander, and- ah!" The wind suddenly picked up, lifting up sheafs of paper strewn across the road and blowing them past the four, one catching on Holly's breastplate.

Lailah reached up, and plucked the paper off of Holly. "What's this?"

Abel leaned in for a better look. It was some sort of flyer, with an image of a dark figure with a skull for a face drawn on it. The image was surrounded by writing, which said:

Wanted: The Ghost of Lohan, for the crimes of trespassing, arson, destruction of property, and assault. A reward of five hundred dinars is offered for his capture. All information is to be reported to the Vargo Group. It is a crime to withhold information with the potential to lead to this criminal's capture.

"A… wanted poster?" Abel asked. He'd heard about them in stories, but this was the first time he'd ever seen one for himself.

Raine also leaned in for a better look. "Well, looks like we've got our first lead," she said.

Holly looked at the poster, then to Raine. "You think this 'Ghost of Lohan' might be why the inner district is closed off?"

"He's gotta be!" the witch replied. "Look around!" Abel did, quickly noticing that wanted posters identical to the one Lailah held were everywhere- posted on walls and doors, hanging in storefronts and windows, scattered across the road…

"I can't deny that this is unusual," Lailah began, "but we shouldn't jump to any conclusions. Let's ask around for more information."

"But what about-" Holly began.

"I don't think Parrot's gonna be back for a while, Specs" Raine said, cutting off the mercenary. "And I'd rather spend that time doing something productive than standing around waiting."

"I agree," Lailah added. "We should split into two groups to cover more ground. Holly, you and I will ask around the local churches. Abel, you and Raine should question the shopkeepers here along the main road." She looked down the thoroughfare. "Let's meet in front of that gate at sunset."

Once the group was arranged into their respective teams, they went their separate ways. Raine waved eagerly at Lailah and Holly, calling, "Be safe!" Then, the moment the two were out of sight, Raine turned and began walking down the street as well, away from Abel. "Well, I'll be heading out."

"Wait, Raine! Where are you going?" he called.

The witch looked back, hands behind her head. "Blue, you're a big boy. You don't need me to hold your hand through this, do you? Besides, I've got my own super secret sources of info to check in with." She began walking away again.

Abel took a step toward her. "But Lailah told us to stay together!"

Raine stopped, looking back over her shoulder. "Hey Blue, wanna know what would really impress your girlfriend? If you found something out on your own." She tilted her head and smirked, opening her right eye. It was a brilliant yellow, like a gleaming gemstone. "Women like independent men, y'know."

Abel began to stammer, eyes darting around to see if the priestess had been in earshot. "Wh- girlfriend!? Lailah and I aren't-" But when he turned his gaze back to where Raine had been, she wasn't there. "Uh- Raine? Raine, where'd you go!?" But his voice was quickly lost in the din of the burgeoning crowd.

Once she was certain Abel had lost her, Raine ducked into a small alley between two buildings. "Alright, Vee," she muttered, placing two fingers behind her left ear. "Your time to shine."

After waiting a moment, the witch said aloud, "Hey, it's me again. Sorry to get in touch so soon, but something came up." There was a long silence as she began walking down the alley. "…No, I told you I- I… Dammit, just shut up and listen. I need you to send me all the info you have on someone called 'the Ghost of Lohan…'"

"Huh… so that's where that is…" Abel muttered. He wandered down the streets of Lohan, his face buried in a large map. It had cost quite a sum, but hopefully Lailah wouldn't be too upset- it was an essential tool for their journey, after all.

His attempts at gathering information weren't going so well. All the shop owners he'd spoken to over the past hour seemed strangely tight-lipped when it came to the Ghost. And what information he did receive was extremely bare-bones, nothing he hadn't already learned from reading the Ghost's wanted posters. Were they afraid that by talking about him, they would become victims themselves? Or were they all… protecting him? But if that was the case, why would they do that?

At the very least, as promised, he did get that map. The journey just to get this far felt so long, but when he looked at the distance between Hokes and Lohan on the map, it didn't even span the length of his thumb. And Seles wasn't even marked on the map at all. Maybe… the world was bigger than he ever thought possible. Still, at least he'd be a little less lost whenever the others mentioned place names. Maybe he should pick up some books about history while he was out as well. The shopkeepers might be more willing to answer his questions after making a purchase, and… he wouldn't have to ask Lailah so many questions. Raine's words echoed in his head: Women like independent men, y'know.

Abel sighed, folding up the map. He needed to get back to the search. But when he looked up, he was greeted by the sight of unfamiliar surroundings. While reading the map, he allowed his feet to carry him where they willed, and his feet had taken him to a deserted intersection. No stalls lined the streets, and the buildings were short, wide, and devoid of windows, as though nobody lived in them. To his right, a high wall of dark brown stone loomed overhead, though he couldn't tell if it was the wall dividing Lohan's inner and outer districts, or the city's outermost wall. For some reason, a chill ran up Abel's spine, and a sense of dread filled his gut- wherever he was, he was filled with the impression that he shouldn't be there.

So, he began trying to retrace his steps to get back to the main road. But as he walked, he began hearing… a man's voice. Abel thought he was imagining things at first, but as he advanced further, the voice became louder and more distinct. He realized also that there was more than one voice, and not, as he first thought, a single man's voice echoing oddly through the surrounding buildings. Abel was too far away to make out what the voices were saying, but it sounded like they were talking to someone- there were pauses, as if waiting for a reply, but none came.

Finally, Abel heard a rough man's voice say, "…alright, enough with the silent treatment! Tell us what you're doing here!" It sounded very close- so, Abel slowed his pace, and began peering down the alleys between the buildings in search of the source.

And eventually, he spotted it: a group of four men of all different ages. They didn't look like the same guards he ran into at the inner district gate- they wore armor made of dark leather, and lacked red cloaks. Creeping down a small alley, Abel realized the men weren't alone; a girl with brown eyes and short, messy brown hair stood across from them. Her skin was a light brown, like Abel's own, and she looked to be about his age as well. Her clothes were simple: a brown shirt without sleeves that exposed her stomach, brown shorts, sandals, and a long, dark red scarf tied around her neck; and all had some manner of wear and tear: fading, stitching, patches, or frays.

"Well!? What do you have to say for yourself!?" one of the men demanded.

Another man approached the girl- he was older than the others, judging from his greying hair. "Come now, my sweet, you don't have to be frightened. Just tell us why you came here."

The girl recoiled slightly, and crossed her arms across her chest, looking away. She didn't reply.

The man reached out and gripped the girl's chin, forcefully turning her head to face him. "Oh, think you're too good to speak to me, is that it?"

The girl still didn't reply, averting her eyes.

"Filthy bitch!" The man reached back, and slapped the girl across the face. The girl stumbled back, a red mark already visible on her face. But still, she said nothing. She hadn't even cried out when the man struck her.

Before the girl could do anything, the grey-haired man grabbed her by the throat. "So. What should we do with you now?"

"Let's bring her back to the guardhouse," another man replied- he was taller than the rest, with black hair that resembled a lion's mane. "We'll see if she can keep up the quiet act there."

At that moment, Abel decided he'd seen enough, and stepped out into the open. "What's going on here?"

All eyes turned to Abel. The man nearest to him- blond- drew a worn, chipped sword. "Piss off. This ain't any of your business."

The man wasn't wrong. Whatever was happening had nothing to do with Abel- he was well within his rights to turn around and walk away. But… there weren't many situations he could think of that would justify a bunch of men slapping around a girl half their age.

Abel may have been a Hero, but even now, he didn't feel like one. But… maybe he'd been going about things the wrong way. Maybe waiting was the wrong thing to do. Maybe if he acted like a Hero, then the feeling would follow. So, what would a real Hero say in a situation like this? Something calm, he imagined, but firm. Nothing overtly threatening, but something carrying enough of a hint that the speaker wasn't someone to trifle with.

Abel stepped forward. "I think I can decide that for myself." He had to give himself some credit- at least his voice didn't shake.

The grey-haired man let the girl go, drawing his own weapon- an axe. "Someone's always gotta play the hero, don't they?"

The man's words caused a flame to surge within Abel's chest, and he replied before he'd realized it.

"I'm not playing at anything."

Wings of light flared to life on Abel's back, and he slowly rose into the air. Calmly, he drew his sword. "So. Who wants to go first?"

The blond man stumbled, tripping over his feet and falling back. "Whoa! What the hell kind of demi-human is that!?"

"That's not a demi-human! It's that kid! The one from Hokes!" the grey-haired man shouted back.

The last man turned, and began running away. "Oh hell no, I'm outta here!" The grey-haired man and the blond man followed.

The black-haired man, however, stood his ground. "Hey, where are you going!? Don't you dare run away!"

But the men didn't stop. And one of them called back, "I got paid to catch a thief, not get my ass blown up by some freak!"

"What!? Damn you, get back here! Grr… Mr. Vargo will be hearing about this!" The black-haired man turned to Abel. "That goes for you too, freak! Don't think you'll be getting away with this!" Even so, the man followed his comrades and retreated.

The wings of light vanished, and Abel breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad his bluff had worked. He quickly discovered that without Niel steering him, he couldn't fly that fast with his wings of light. Or… at all, really. All he could do was float a few inches above the ground.

Anyway, now that those men were gone… he had a damsel he needed to see to.

Abel looked to the girl. "Hey," he began, taking a step toward her. "You alright?"

The girl gasped and took a step back, but didn't say anything.

Abel stopped, realizing the girl probably wouldn't want any men getting too close to her. "Don't worry, I'm not with those guys. I just arrived in Lohan today. My name's Abel. What's yours?"

The girl still didn't answer.

"So… what did those men want from you?"

The girl crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. Again, she said nothing.

The pride Abel felt from intervening was quickly withering. "…Why… won't you say anything?" he asked. "Can you… not talk? Is that what it is?"

The girl wouldn't look his way. But she finally spoke, in a small, but firm voice: "I didn't need your help."

"Really?" a scratchy voice asked. "Didn't look that way to me." Niel glided through the air, coming to a halt next to Abel.

The girl gasped, recoiling when she laid eyes on Niel. But after a moment, the emotion drained from her face. "Oh. I see what this is. Those men are violating me right now, and I'm just imagining all this as a way to escape."

Before Abel could respond, Niel flew to the girl, fluttering right in front of her face. She then reached back, and slapped the girl's cheek. It… wasn't particularly effective, given the disparity in size between the two. Niel then put her hands on her hips. "That real enough for you?"

The girl looked at Niel, too surprised to respond.

"You should be more grateful," the angel continued. "Most people wouldn't have lifted a finger to help you. But Abel's too soft for his own good."

The girl's surprise was quickly replaced by indignation. "And who says I needed help? I could've handled that on my own." She began walking away. "I'm leaving. If you have any sense, you will, too." She glanced back, glaring hard at Abel. "And don't you dare think about following me."

Niel folded her arms over her chest and huffed. "Honestly, the nerve of some people… you stick your neck out for them and this is how they show their appreciation?" Her gaze turned to Abel. "And you."

The young man already knew where this conversation was headed. "I know. I shouldn't have gotten involved."

The angel flew back to Abel's side. "If you already knew, why'd you do it?"

Abel… hesitated. "I… I-It's just-"

"'It's just' what?" Niel fluttered closer. "If you have a reason, just say it. I won't judge you so harshly if you can do at least that much."

Abel didn't reply. It wasn't that he didn't have an answer- he did. But… the words to express that reason… simply wouldn't come to him.

Niel waited a few moments, but when Abel didn't answer, she let out a long, disappointed sigh. "…so, what exactly have you been up to? Aside from sticking your nose in other people's business?"

"We found a wanted poster for a criminal after you left," Abel replied. "Raine thinks he's why the inner district's closed off, so we were trying to find out more about him."

The angel looked at a poster put up on a nearby wall. "The Ghost of Lohan, huh? Can't say I recognize the name." She turned back to Abel. "What have you learned so far?"

"Honestly, just what's written on his wanted poster," Abel confessed. "Nobody wants to talk about him."

Niel sighed again as she sat on Abel's shoulder. "Figures you'd be hopeless without someone to hold your hand through this… alright, let's get back to the main road. I'll show you how to persuade someone."

The sky above the city was painted a brilliant orange. But Abel's return to the inner district's gate was anything but triumphant. As before, the shopkeepers wouldn't divulge any new information about the Ghost, even with Niel whispering advice in his ear.

Abel and Niel were the last to return to the gate- after arriving and exchanging greetings, the group found a tavern close by where they could share their findings. "I'll start off," Niel said, sitting on the table in front of Abel. "I passed word on to the Archbishop. She says she'll need to talk to the mayor, but she's working on getting Abel into the inner district. She'll send a Crusader to find him when she's ready."

"What about the rest of us?" Holly asked, visibly worried.

"You're all part of a Hero's entourage, so you shouldn't have any trouble going with him." The angel leaned in. "Anyway, Abel told me you were out chasing a thief while I was away. Did you learn anything interesting?"

Everyone averted their gaze. For a moment, no one spoke. But eventually, Lailah looked down at the angel. "No, we didn't," she replied. "The churches, the shopkeepers… no one wants to talk. It's like they're all afraid of something."

"Really?" Raine asked. "Am I the only one who found anything out?"

All eyes turned to the witch. "You found something?" Holly asked.

"My sources were pretty sparse, but yeah, I did," Raine said. "Most of the shops here in Lohan are run by one of three merchant guilds. But the Ghost has been going after properties owned by one in particular- the Vargo Group, the biggest and richest of the three." Raine leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Kamash Vargo, the leader of the Vargo Group, thinks the Ghost is working with one of the other guilds to ruin his business. He's been hiring mercenaries left and right to protect his holdings and to scour the city searching for him."

The others looked at Raine in stunned silence. If she considered that amount of information "sparse…" but, it did explain what that encounter Abel stumbled upon was about. Those men must have been mercenaries working for this Vargo man, and believed that girl had some kind of connection to the Ghost.

Raine leaned in further. "It gets better. Word is, the Ghost broke into Vargo's villa a few weeks ago. Didn't take anything, though- apparently, the two of them had a bit of a chat. And whatever the Ghost said really pushed Vargo over the edge- he's been stepping up all his security measures since then. He even asked the mayor to pull the city watch out of the outer district so his men can work without being interrupted."

"He can do that?" Holly asked.

Raine shrugged. "When you're rich enough, I guess so."

"Why the outer district?" Abel asked.

"After meeting him face-to-face, Vargo is convinced the Ghost is a demi-human. And since demi-humans are restricted to living in a specific section of the outer district…"

Confusion welled within Abel. But before he could, Holly asked, "Demi-human?"

Nobody answered the question however. Rather, Lailah reached back, gripping her spear tightly, and said to someone past Abel, "You. What do you think you're doing?" Abel looked- standing behind Holly was a tall, rough-looking man whose black hair resembled a lion's mane, dressed in armor made of worn leather.

"I'm here for the boy," the black-haired man said. "Mr. Vargo wants to speak with him."

Lailah narrowed her eyes at the man. "Why?"

"Mr. Vargo has his reasons," the man replied. He reached back, gripping the hilt of a very large sword hanging from his back. "And I will be taking him. So either step aside, or I'll cut you down and step over your corpse."

Lailah shot to her feet in an instant. But Abel said, "Lailah, don't."

"But-" she began.

"It'll be fine," he said, rising to his feet. "If he just wants to talk, I should listen to what he has to say." He turned to the man. "What does Mr. Vargo want?"

"He has some kind of proposal. For your ears only. That's all I can say," the black-haired man replied.

A proposal. Abel had the impression that whatever deal Mr. Vargo had in mind would be very one-sided, and not at all in his favor. Even so, he replied, "Well, let's not keep Mr. Vargo waiting, then."

The black-haired man began to exit the tavern. Abel followed, But something grabbed him by the arm. "Abel, don't go," Lailah said. "Something about this… it just isn't right."

In truth, Abel wasn't keen on meeting with Mr. Vargo any more than Lailah was, especially on his own. But a lifetime of conditioning told him that disobeying those above him would be a bad idea. Especially when they had a small army's worth of mercenaries at their disposal. And the last thing he wanted was to make enemies less than a day after arriving in town. But, just in case things soured, he did have a secret weapon. He glanced down at Niel. The angel nodded, and darted toward him, disappearing into his body. The black-haired man didn't notice.

The mercenary led Abel out of the tavern and down the thoroughfare toward the inner district gate. The guards stopped them, but after the mercenary showed them a roll of parchment, they stepped aside and opened the gate.

The inner district was much different than the rest of the city. The buildings weren't packed as closely together, and all of them looked fairly similar- rectangular, with white walls and sloped roofs made from orange tiles. The one building that deviated from the others was a massive structure that stood at the end of the road, with a tall spire that towered over everything else. That must have been the Pioneer's Cathedral. Heat flared in Abel's stomach as he looked- he was so close. But the mercenary turned down a side road, and the cathedral disappeared from sight.

Eventually, Abel was stopped in front of one of the nondescript buildings of the inner district. However, Abel couldn't help but notice this building seemed larger than the others, and was once again surrounded by its own wall- white, and capped by orange tiling, and only around seven feet high, likely meant more for privacy than protection. In his head, Niel said, "Wow. An authentic Cybelian villa. You don't see too many of those these days. Wonder how much it cost to have it restored."

The mercenary opened a metal gate and stepped into the villa. Abel followed, and found himself in a small courtyard. Almost immediately, a man's voice called, "Bring him here!" Under the awning surrounding the courtyard, a man was seated at a small round table.

As Abel and the mercenary approached, the man asked, "Is this him?" He tilted his head as he looked Abel up and down. "…well, he does match the descriptions I've heard. Thank you, Georg. I can take it from here."

As the mercenary departed, the man turned his attention to Abel. "Good evening, Sir Abel," he said. "My name is Kamash Vargo, head of the Vargo Group, the largest and most successful merchant's guild in Lohan." He held out a hand. "Please, have a seat."

Abel said nothing, but took a seat across from the man. He had to admit, he didn't put much thought into what Mr. Vargo would be like. But seeing him in person, Abel was struck by how… ordinary he seemed. Brown hair and eyes, darker skin, clean-shaven. he could have passed him in the street without noticing anything peculiar. Only his clothes seemed out of place: a robe of deep purple, the likes of which Abel had never seen before.

In his head, Niel scoffed. "An authentic villa and a toga? Someone's got a serious Cybele fetish."

"I imagine you must be wondering why I called you here today," Vargo began, before Abel could ponder what Niel meant. "Well, rumor has it that a Hero has recently arrived in Lohan. And I find myself in need of a Hero's… particular talents."

Abel still didn't say anything.

Vargo clasped his hands together, resting his elbows on the table. "I'll get straight to the point. For several months now, my business has been assaulted by a foul criminal. He steals my guild's merchandise, attacks my workers, burns down my storehouses… I refer, of course, to the Ghost of Lohan. My men have attempted to apprehend him, without success. But recently, he crossed the line- he broke into my home and threatened me to my very face." Vargo suddenly slammed his fist against the table. "And I will not let such brazenness stand!"

After taking several breaths, Vargo calmed himself, and looked at Abel. "…I want you to put an end to the threat the Ghost poses to my business, by whatever means you deem necessary. Whether you kill him or apprehend him is of no concern to me. Simply remove this thorn in my side, and I will be satisfied."

Up until this point, Abel had listened to Vargo in silence. But after hearing him out… "I'm sorry, Mr. Vargo," he replied. "But I don't think I can help you. I may be a Hero, but I haven't been one for very long. I'm not experienced enough for a job like this. And, I have to leave for Lescatie soon, anyway. I'm sorry." That last part was a lie. Abel had no idea when he would set out. But everything else was at least partly true. It was probably the only reason he could slip in that lie to begin with.

Mr. Vargo rested a hand on his chin. "My boy, trials like these are precisely the fodder a burgeoning Hero needs in order to grow. And surely, you can spare at least some time. The ferry to Apollonia won't be arriving for a while yet. And it's always possible the ship may encounter… unexpected delays."

What was that supposed to mean? Abel wondered. But Vargo continued, "Furthermore, my men report that you interfered with the questioning of a suspicious character found near one of the Vargo Group's warehouses. If you choose to assist me, I will… overlook this transgression. Refuse, and I'm afraid my men will have to continue their interrogation."

Abel felt his stomach drop. He didn't have to meet Vargo in person to know he wasn't a decent man, if he was willing to let his mercenaries run rampant against helpless citizens. But to openly threaten that girl…and worse yet, Abel couldn't do anything about it. He had no idea where she lived, but Vargo likely did, if he could threaten her like that. And the thought of his men finding that girl and dragging her off to do gods-only-knew-what…

Abel let out a long breath, before answering, "Fine. I'll try to catch the Ghost, but I can't make any promises."

"I'm certain you're far more capable than you let on," Vargo replied, standing. "And rest assured, you will be handsomely rewarded should you succeed." He held out a hand toward Abel.

Abel looked down at the older man's hand, but didn't take it. Instead, he asked, "Just one question: Can I ask other people to help me?"

"By all means. Do whatever you feel is necessary. Just know that your reward will remain the same regardless of how many aides you bring in." Mr. Vargo sat back down. "I'll instruct my men to allow you to examine any Vargo Group properties where the Ghost has struck, both previously, and in the future. Good hunting, Sir Abel. I expect great things from you."

Abel couldn't see himself out of Mr. Vargo's villa fast enough. Only when he was already halfway through the gate back to the outer district did the thought of heading directly to the cathedral occur to him. But then again, any delays would only probably only worry Lailah and the others. Still, he doubted they would be happy to hear the news.

"Bluuue!" Before he could react, Abel was nearly knocked to the ground when something, or rather, someone crashed into him. They wrapped their arms around one of his, clenching his hand between their thighs, and pressed their body against him. "Oh Blue, we were all so worried about you!" Raine said. "The Sister was sure that Mr. Vargo had kidnapped you and sold you off as a slave! But I knew you'd get away!"

Niel emerged, shouting, "Hey- you quit rubbing on him like that, you pervert!"

As Raine continued to molest Abel, Holly and Lailah approached, more calmly, but with worry clear on their faces. "So… What did he want?" the priestess asked.

Abel hesitated to answer for a few moments. "…Mr. Vargo wanted me to help catch the Ghost of Lohan. I… I told him I would."

Lailah immediately frowned. "Abel, we don't have time for this sort of thing. We need to meet the Archbishop and be on our way to Lescatie."

"That's what Abel told him," Niel replied. "But Mr. Vargo said he'd stop the ferry to Lescatie if Abel didn't agree to help him." She folded her arm over her chest. "…Well, he didn't say it exactly like that, but he dropped enough of a hint."

"Can't say I'm surprised," Raine said. "Kamash Vargo isn't exactly the kind of man you say no to."

"I know I shouldn't speak ill of people I haven't met," Holly began, "but from what I heard, I can't say I like Mr. Vargo very much."

"Me neither…" Abel replied bitterly. He wasn't worried about having to stay in the city. But, if the others found out he was helping because Mr. Vargo had threatened a total stranger… at least Niel hadn't shared that. Though whether it was because she thought it was irrelevant, or because she genuinely didn't know, Abel couldn't say.

"Anyway, I know we should start looking for the Ghost, but…" the witch began, finally letting Abel go. "There's no need to rush into this, right? I doubt the Ghost is going anywhere anytime soon."

Abel tilted his head. "Huh?"

"From what I picked up, the Ghost strikes in some kind of pattern," Raine replied, as she began walking down the thoroughfare. There were less people out now that the sun had set, but the street was far from deserted. "There's usually a few days in-between his crimes. And his most recent break-in was last night."

The others followed the witch. "So, you're saying he shouldn't strike again for a few days?" Holly asked.

Raine nodded. "Exactly! So we can afford to take some time to unwind."

"I'm not so sure about that," Lailah replied. "Abel still needs to put his responsibilities to the Church first. And the sooner we resolve this 'Ghost' business, the better."

Raine turned, walking backwards as she faced toward Lailah. "Come on, can't we have just one night to ourselves? Where we don't have to worry about obligations and responsibilities and just… cut loose? Getting rid of stress isn't a waste of time, you know."

Lailah grumbled, eyes darting back and forth as if searching for an excuse to deny Raine's request. But in the end, she replied in a low voice, "I suppose one night couldn't hurt…" She then said more clearly, "But just one! Then we have to start looking for the Ghost."

Raine threw an arm over the priestess's shoulder and pulled her close, grinning. "I knew you'd see things my way, Sister! You are gonna love Lohan's nightlife!"

"Nightlife?" Abel asked. "What is there to do at night?"

"Lots of stuff, if you know where to look!" Raine said cheerfully. "The Coliseum's always got a play or gladiator duel going on. And Lohan is a port city, so there's plenty of taverns around. And of course, no city's complete without its own Temple of Eros."

Niel fluttered directly in front of the witch. "Absolutely not!"

"What's a Temple of Eros?" Abel asked.

The angel pointed at Abel. "You stay out of this!" She then pointed at Raine, a small light shining from her fingertip. "And you, don't you dare answer that!"

Despite the commotion, Abel realized something was missing. And a quick glance around revealed that Holly was no longer with them. She had stopped, and was staring up at one of the buildings alongside the street. He hurried to her side. "Hey," he said. "Is something wrong?"

The mercenary jolted slightly. "Oh? Sorry. I just thought this building looked familiar…"

Abel looked. The building before them was rectangular, with white, windowless walls, and a sloped roof made of orange tiles, similar to the buildings of the inner district. Although heat was far from a rare occurrence on their journey so far, this building seemed… strangely warm, even from their distance. As he looked at the building, Abel asked, "Isn't this one of those Siberian villas?"

"What, that?" Raine said as she eyed the structure. "That's just an old Cybelian bathhouse."

"A bathhouse?" Abel asked. "What's that?"

"It's… a house. Where you bathe," Raine replied slowly. "Seems pretty self-explanatory to me."

"The old Cybelians used to build heated baths in the territories they occupied," Lailah explained. "Although their borders have shrunk considerably, much of the amenities and infrastructure they built in their former territories remain, such as these bathhouses."

Abel looked back at the bathhouse. "Honestly, a bath doesn't sound too bad right now," he said. "I can't remember the last time I had one."

"We had heated baths in Vulkan, too," Holly added. "I never had the chance to visit a public one, though." The mercenary looked over to Lailah. "Can we? Use it, I mean."

"Of course," the priestess replied with a small smile. "If that's what you and Abel want."

"Alright, let's go," Abel said, climbing up the short set of stairs to the front door.

"W… now wait just a minute!" Raine called. But her protests fell on deaf ears as the others entered the bathhouse. "Ah…" She sighed, shoulders slumping. "…Getting excited over a bathhouse? Are you a bunch of old people or something?"

A pause. "…Hold on… I haven't seen any of these guys naked yet!" The witch raced to the bathhouse door, calling "Wait, I-I'm coming too!"

Raine let out a long sigh. "Haaaah… you know, this isn't so bad. Maybe Blue's got a better eye for this kinda thing than I thought…" There was a shuffling as a sliding door was opened, and a splash. "Holy… good god! Look at the size of those things!" Raine said in shock. "Where do you even keep them?"

Holly made a few squeaking sounds before answering nervously, "…could you please not stare?"

"Sorry. But it's a little hard not to, Specs. And I think I might have to come up with another nickname for you." Water sloshed, as if someone had climbed out of the bath. "Gotta say, my life would've been a whole lot easier if I had a pair of swingers like these…"

Holly let out a loud squeal. "Ah… Aaaahhh! Stop it! Don't touch them! They're sensitive!"

"Oh? And how is it you don't want me to touch them? Like this? Or maybe something like this?" Holly let out another very loud squeal. "I'm glad I came with you guys now. I could spend all night just sinking my fingers into these! And I thought Mavis had a rack on her…"

The sound of whatever was happening next was drowned out when Abel poured a bucket of cold water over his head. The sudden shock almost made him drop the bucket right on his head, but he held firm, the water washing away all his impurities, not just the ones on his body. And when he entered the large bath, he felt as if he would melt away. The warm water seemed to dissolve all his worries, and for perhaps the first time in his life, Abel felt truly at ease.

He had worried that all of them would be bathing together, but thankfully, the baths were divided by gender. Though he'd been relieved at first, Abel had to admit, now that he was actually on his own, it was a little lonely. Since he set out from Hokes… no, from the moment he awoke at the abbey, Lailah had been at his side, day and night. And not just her- Niel, Holly, and now Raine as well. Abel never thought of himself as someone who would enjoy the company of others, but after what they'd experienced, it was difficult to imagine a time where they wouldn't be together.

And now, he was alone. Again.

…Or so he thought.

"I hope you're not thinking of trying to spy on the others," a familiar harsh voice said.

Abel jolted, sinking down beneath the water to hide himself. But Niel said, "Relax, it's just me," as she fluttered into view. The young man relaxed, though didn't emerge from the water.

"Oh, Niel," he said. "Did you need something?"

"I'm just here to make sure you're not getting any funny ideas," she replied.

Abel's brow furrowed. "Ideas about what?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared. "Do I really have to spell it out for you? You're a boy, at that age where your head is filled with nothing but doing lewd things to girls."

"Lewd!? I-" Abel didn't have any idea what that meant, but he was certain he would never try to spy on the others while they were bathing. "…I wouldn't do anything like that!"

The angel's frown deepened. "Really? Look me in the eyes and say that."

Abel met Niel's gaze, trying not to flinch away. "Well, I… I wouldn't want them watching me, so…"

Niel eyed Abel with suspicion for several agonizing moments… before finally relenting. "…Alright, fine. I'll believe you. But only this one time." She began fluttering up, toward the top of the wall.

"You… aren't gonna stay?" Abel asked.

Niel stopped to look down at him. "I know you and I are bound together, but I'm not quite ready for that level of intimacy, Abel." She then continued on, disappearing over the wall dividing the baths into two halves.

It wasn't until the angel was out of sight that the implications of what Abel said sank in. Did he… just ask a woman to bathe with him? He sank down into the bath again, heat rising within him, and not because of the hot water.

When in the world had he become so bold?

From on the other side of the wall, he heard Niel say, "Huh? She's not here?"

"Yeah, the Sister's been taking her sweet time getting ready," Raine replied. "You'd think she was trying to hide something from us."

That was rather odd, Abel thought. Lailah was the one who offered to pay for their visit to the bathhouse, so why wasn't she joining them? Was it because she was part of the Church? Or was it a personal-

The door to the men's bath slid open. Abel thought nothing of it until a gentle voice called, "Abel? Abel, are you in here?"

Instinctively, Abel ducked below the rim of the bath. After a moment, he peered over it, toward the entrance. His ears had not been deceiving him. Lailah had entered the bath. She was still wearing her robes, thankfully, but…

"Lailah!? Wh- What are you doing!?" he said. He tried to stay quiet, so as not to alert the others. "This is the men's side!"

"I thought you might be getting a bit lonely right around now, so I came to wash your back for you." She kneeled down in front of a small stool sitting at the edge of the bath. After waiting a few moments, she beckoned. "Come on."

Abel remained exactly where he was, face reddening. "Lailah, can't you… look away or something?"

She looked directly at him. "It's alright, you know. I've… already seen all of you."

Her gaze made Abel sink under the rim of the bath again. "Wait, what? When?"

"When you were brought to the Abbey, you were unconscious," the priestess replied. "You slept for five whole days before waking up. I looked after you that whole time- I fed you, treated your wound… washed you…"

Abel's face burned even hotter. So she had stripped him down and changed his clothes. Then… then…

"But, if you're still not comfortable, then… I promise I won't look." Lailah fell silent. Abel peered over the edge of the bath- she had turned her head and faced the dividing wall.

Slowly, the young man climbed out of the bath. What in the world was he thinking? He hurried over to the stool and sat down on it, his back to Lailah. What in the world was Lailah thinking? Why was she doing this? Did she… want something from him? Was that why? But, why not just ask? Maybe… maybe this was some sort of trick. He'd sit here, waiting for her to do something, and then-

"Alright…" Lailah said. "I'm starting now."

Abel nearly jumped when he felt Lailah lay his hands on him. They were… so soft. His skin tingled as the priestess ran her hands over his back. He shuddered.

He… couldn't remember the last time a woman… that anyone had touched him so gently.

Lailah's hands pulled back. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "Sorry. I'm not used to this."

"Don't be sorry. Just let me know if I'm being too rough with you." Her hands returned to his back, leaving hot trails wherever they touched.

Several… lengths of time passed. Abel had no idea how long he sat, feeling as if he were being shocked every time the priestess laid her hands on him. But eventually, he found it in himself to ask a question that had burned in his mind from almost the moment they met. "Lailah…" Abel began. "Why… why are you doing all this for me? Is it… just because you're part of the Church?"

"I can't deny that this is part of my duties…" the priestess replied.

Abel's shoulders slumped. Of course. That's all it was. She put up with him because she was required to. She didn't… like him. He knew that. It was the answer he'd been expecting… but knowing the blow was coming did little to soften its impact.

"…But I would have gone with you even if Sister Alexei said I couldn't," Lailah added. "Even if I wasn't with the Church."

"Wha-" Abel began turning around, but stopped when Lailah wrapped her arms around him, and held him close. He tried to gasp, but no sound came out.

"You've had a hard life, haven't you, Abel?" she asked. "I can tell. I can see it, in every part of you. In every word you say. In these scars on your back. In the way… you look at me and the others. I don't know what you went through before you came to the Abbey. And if you're not ready to tell me about it, I understand. But when you are ready, I'll be here to listen." She took his hand, interlacing her fingers with his. "And not just then. I want you to know that you aren't alone. If you ever feel like you're lost, or like the whole world is against you, I want you to remember that I'm here with you." She squeezed his hand tightly, and held him closer to her. "I'm here for you. I will always be here for you. No matter what."

Abel didn't reply. He sat in utter silence as Lailah held him, her hand intertwined with his. His vision… began to blur. Her arms felt… so warm. It felt like… all the fears and doubts he had since he set out couldn't reach him. Something… began to well up within him. A strange roiling that felt as if it would drown him. He squeezed Lailah's hand, shuddering, trying to hold in the storm building inside…

"So this is where you snuck off to…" a playful voice said.

Abel jumped and looked back. And instantly looked away again. "Raine at least cover yourself!"

The witch laughed. "Come on, you don't need to be embarrassed," she said playfully. "I don't show off all this skin for nothing, y'know."

"Raine, we should go back," Holly said. Oh God. She was here too. "They're… having a private moment…"

"Really?" Raine asked. "'Cuz it looks like the Sister's over here trying to sneak the first bite for herself."

In an instant, Lailah let go of Abel and was on her feet. "I-I wasn't-"

Raine crossed her arms… or at least, Abel thought she did- he was trying to avoid looking directly at her. "Oh, I'm not upset. Honestly, I think you and Blue would make a great couple. I just wish you would've said something first. I could've helped you set the mood, taught you some of my special techniques, bought you some water-resistant lube… y'know, helped you make a whole evening out of this."

"That wasn't my intention in the slightest!" Lailah cried.

"Fine fine, I get it. You're too embarrassed to ask for help. I'll let you figure things out on your own, then." Raine tilted her head. "But since you've had a chance to sneak a peek, at least tell me this- is he blue down there, too?"

Something inside of Abel snapped. He slowly stood up, and quietly said, "Everyone…"

His actions didn't go unnoticed. "Abel?" Lailah asked. "Is something wrong?"

He wheeled around, face bright red in a mix of rage and embarrassment. "Everyone, get ouuut!"

From the moment Niel returned to him, Abel was being watched.

Of course, the young man had no way of knowing that. Staying out of sight was one of his stalker's skills. And they were just as adept at hiding in plain sight. It was what allowed them to survive for so long. And it was what allowed them to follow the young man for the rest of the day, until he and his companions rented a pair of rooms at an inn near the inner district gates. From there, they merely had to wait.

And now, under the cover of darkness, when nearly the whole world was asleep… Abel's stalker finally made their move.

The climb to the second floor was hardly difficult, and opening the latch to a closed window was something they had done over a dozen times before by now. As the sole male in the party, it seemed the young man felt that sharing a bedroom with women was inappropriate. The stalker couldn't complain- it made their task that much easier. They climbed into the room, as silently as a ghost- perfectly fitting for their namesake. Only one feature would be discernible in the dark room, had anyone been awake to observe them: their mask, a pale white that seemed to glow in the darkness, shaped to resemble a glaring skull. They looked down at the sleeping boy. He slept peacefully, completely unaware.

A thief couldn't ask for an easier target.

The stalker knew of the boy's meeting with Vargo. Even with the merchant's increased security, entering the inner district was no more difficult the second time around. Someone else in their position would use the opportunity to kill the boy, to eliminate a future obstacle before he could hinder them. But that wasn't why they had come. What they said before was true.

They didn't need his help.

…but that didn't mean they didn't appreciate his kindness.

The figure reached up, pulling away the long mane of white hair that ran down their back, and the small catlike ears placed at the crown of their head. A mask alone could only do so much to conceal their identity- these extra measures would serve as further barriers to prevent being identified, or so they hoped. Then, the figure removed their mask.

The figure looked down at the sleeping boy again. In that moment, Abel's stalker was no longer the Ghost of Lohan.

But she had still come to steal something.

She leaned down, bringing her face to his… and pulled away.

A surge ran through her body. She had burned homes, stolen into the most secure locations Loah had to offer, put her very life on the line… and yet, taking such a small thing made her spine tingle, and her heart face, in a way nothing ever had before.

The figure donned her disguise once more. She reached into her pocket, and left a small card on the boy's bed. A mark showing the Ghost of Lohan had struck once again. Her business concluded, she crept out through the window and into the darkness.

The warmth of Abel's lips lingered on her own for the rest of the night.