Holy Eleris loomed high upon the mountain that shared its name, surrounded by lesser mountains that protected it. The cracked marble white walls of Eleris stood proud of their eons of service. Within Holy Eleris loomed numerous marble temples that echoed with chanting, each dedicated to the gods. Meanwhile, atop those temples stood the dilapidated statues of bygone heroes from bygone ages; their names long since forgotten; the statues being all that was left to remember them as their lifeless eyes watched over the city.

In the heart of Eleris, surrounded by seven castles, shined the great gilded cathedral of Primatus, the birthplace of the Order. It shined like a beacon of piety as sunlight glowed from its gold covered walls. It was a cathedral so grand it was said that the greatest artists of history worked upon it to make it a place like that from heaven.

Everything within Eleris had the appearance of the divine, for even the guards looked more like righteous paladins than simple soldiers.

Sasha's Convoy rode into the pious city, through its ancient and filthy streets; the holy and common folk glancing at Sasha's carriage as it rode by. Sasha looked out of her carriage's window in silent admiration of the city and its architecture. Long ago, when she had first started as a hero, she had made a pilgrimage to this place and to Primatus. It felt bittersweet that here, the place she truly began her journey as a hero, would be the place her journey would end.

The Priestess's convoy stopped at one of the castles surrounding Primatus and Sasha was escorted out of her carriage and inside it by Capri. The Castle they entered appeared more like a temple rather than a castle, with clean polished floors and Order symbolism everywhere. As they walked through its halls, Sasha noticed that the guards they passed would either look at her with awe or disgust.

She was brought to a tower and ascended its spiraling stairs, going higher and higher till she had reached a single bed chamber at its peak. Its floor was a red carpet with fancy golden linings. Its bed was king sized with purple cloth. The room also had a stacked bookshelf of religious texts and a table with all the proper equipment for writing. Lastly, to the side of the bed was a small window with a great view of Holy Eleris and Primatus Cathedral glowing in a blanket of sunlight.

As Sasha entered the room and looked out the window, Capri stood at the entrance and spoke, "Are you going to plead guilty?"

"Yes, I am," Replied Sasha plainly as she stared at the city.

"Why?" Asked Capri, "You turn yourself in, you willingly come along, and now you plan to plead guilty for something that will cost you your life. Do you not wish to live?"

"I do wish to live, Capri, but I have to do this. It is the right thing to do-"

Capri broke Sasha off with a sudden outburst, "Stop being so damned self-righteous! I cannot let you do this because you want to! I refuse to let you just die! We can still have a chance to have you declared innoce-"

"I am not Capri! I told you before," Interjected Sasha before she calmed herself, "I do want to live. And I know I could go back and do so much good in my own eyes if I ran or lied on my innocence. But I am a follower of the chief God. I must obey their laws, no matter what. No matter how afraid and terrified it makes me feel! I have seen the cost of breaking their laws before and I will not do it again! God may have forgiven me, but I must make amends with man!"

Capri's fists tightened and Sasha could feel his furious eyes pierce through his helmet and into the back of head. But Capri stopped and spoke slowly, "At least, let me try and have you declared innocent. If it is within God's will that you are spared, then I will succeed. Please, let me do that."

Sasha turned to the man, "Capri," she stopped and took a deep breath, "Fine, but tell me," She paused.

"What?"

"Why are you so concerned about my survival? Why have you been trying so hard to treat me with mercy, when by all rights, I should be treated less than the insects of the earth? After all, by all rights I should have died the day I admitted to my crimes at Lescetie. Just tell me that."

Capri said nothing. There was only silence as Sasha waited with bated breath. Capri turned round and began to close the door behind him. However, he stopped at the last moment, " I cannot help you in person at the court. But I will do what I can. You helped me get here, all those years ago at the orphanage. My name... was different back then." The door was shut, and Sasha saw him no more.

The days passed and Sasha awaited her trial. Her defender, a young scholar of average disposition and simple attire, would come and visit every now and then to try and work her case. All the while as news spread of Sasha's arrival, a crowd began to gather around the castle throughout the days.

All the while, Capri's words plagued her mind. Was she, deep down, merely a selfish priestess? A selfish hero? And then it dawned on her, she still could not hear the chief God.

DAY ONE

Sasha was escorted out of the castle alongside her defender; the crowd that surrounded it now followed her; speaking praises and curses with every step she took. Even as she entered Primatus, the crowd followed. If it were not for the guards, the crowd would have also followed her inside.

They climbed the ascending steps and stopped at the Golden Gates of the hero, the entrance to Primatus. It was said that the door was older than the temple itself, and upon the gate was the image of the first hero, a barbaric man holding the severed head of a snake in one hand and a lion in the other. Nothing else was known of him, save for his title and that he slew the first demon lord; at least according to the scriptures.

When her presence was declared to the guards of the temple, the gate was opened, and she entered the great cathedral. It did not echo with chanting of hymns, nor did it echo with sermons through its polished halls, wooden pews, and stone pillars. No, the cathedral was silent, save for footsteps. It felt like a tomb with the eyes of dead saints watching her from their stained-glass windows.

Sasha was taken past the pupil and white throne of his Holiness at the end of the hall and into the courtroom. It was a humble court room with simple desks and chairs, save for the cross of the Order on the walls and the as expected fine carpet.

The room was already filled with priests and nobles of the Order when Sasha and her defender arrived. Therefore, it did not take long for things to proceed with the entering of his Holiness.

All rose and were seated, and the proceedings of court took their order. Sasha's defender pleaded innocence for her, but her innocence was quickly disproven when it was pointed out that Sasha had admitted to her crimes at Lescetie, with the guards that were with Capri that day as witnesses.

But then the case moved on to the Red Hood and whether or not he was of the divine. For if it was from the chief God, then Sasha was deemed forgiven by the chief God and should therefore be spared.

DAY TWO

On the second day of the trial, a witness was brought up by Sasha's defense. He was short and plump; his face was clean shaven and his scalp bald. He wore a gown like that of a wealthy merchant and around his neck was a necklace depicting the cross of the Order, however he wore no other jewelry. He swore to tell the truth in the name of the chief God. "State your name and occupation for the record," Spoke her defender.

"I am Gren, recent lord of the town Vertera of the Trade Federation."

"And what were you before that?" Asked the defender.

"I was a humble merchant who led caravans to Lescetie."

"I cannot help but to notice that you, sir, are a loyal follower of the chief God, despite the fact you are of the T.F.U., a nation that is known for its neutrality and for not following any specific god. Why is that?"

"It started when I was still just a caravan master, and I was leading my people through the Lahara desert due to it being a shortcut to Lescetie. We were ambushed, and the Red Hood, at the last moment, saved us."

The scholar representing the accuser spoke up, "Objection!

"How long ago was this?"

"Oh... a few months if I recall right. It was right before all the mamono life was eradicated from that land."

"I see. One last question, why is it because of the Red Hood saving you that you fully support the chief God?"

"It was because... right before a mamono claimed me, I prayed to the chief God to save me. I swore that if I was saved, I would serve them faithfully till the end of my days. And so it happened, and in turn, I shall follow them till I die."

DAY THREE

No new ground was made, the two sides going back and forth as the court slowly fell into chaos on whether or not the Red Hood was truly from the chief God. Other witnesses were brought, scripture was used, but in the end the whole point of the case related to Sasha was now nonexistent. Order was brought back every hour or so, but sometimes the court had grown so heated that his Holiness's demands for order were sometimes ignored.

DAY FOUR

It was not even a court anymore. It was more like a tavern of angry drunks. Then soon after it wasn't just a tavern of angry drunks, it was a battlefield of shouts of anger and frustrations that were hidden deep in each member's heart. The yelling and screaming grew louder and louder, like screams of war that echoed in Sasha's mind. She was a bystander to the chaos, just like in Lesceta. She was a bystander to more chaos that she caused. All because of her need to do something good.

This whole time she was silent, save for the occasion when she was brought to the stand. She couldn't let this history of hers repeat. She couldn't! But what would happen if she spoke out? Would she cause even more trouble if she tried to fix things? She stopped the doubtful thoughts and pushed away her fear.

"Your Holiness!" shouted Sasha as she rose. The whole room went quiet, each and every person now staring at her, "I know this is out of order, but it matters not if the Red Hood is divine! Whether or not I have been forgiven by the chief God does not matter either. I have betrayed the Order and I have betrayed the land of Lescetie. Because of me it almost fell, and therefore," She took a shaky breath, "I am guilty, and I must face just punishment. Even if it is death. As it is written."

His holiness was stunned, words failing him as he stared blankly at her. He then gestured for her to come closer, "Sasha Fullmoon. A word," Sasha walked up to his Holiness and he leaned in close, his words hushed, "Are you sure? The consequences to this could be... irreversible. No matter what happens, if we cannot disprove the Red Hood's divinity, your death would no doubt cause riots in the streets. We have come close many times to civil war because of things such as this. Are you sure you wish to risk that to be your legacy? I could give you a lifelong sentence instead."

"I-," Sasha paused. Her heart felt heavy yet light at the same time. She felt compelled to say yes, to say that she was guilty. But was that a self-righteousness sneaking its way into her? Was it nothing more than a selfish want to feel as though she was good? Was Capri…. right? She did not know, but she hoped her feelings to plead guilty were genuine. Yet at the same time she doubted that hope.

She always ruined lives from her desire to do good. It was her curse, and now both options led to something terrible. If she lived, she would be used as evidence to cause more destruction. However, if she died, she'd be a martyr for this chaos. All the roads she could foresee only led to ruin. But, when she thought back to the lives that trusted her, to those she betrayed, to the lives she ruined, she could only see one path where those who suffered from her hands could be at peace. If it is selfish, then let the chief God forgive her. She looked at his Holiness, her eyes filled with determination, "I am."

Regret and uncertainty, yet also respect, filled his Holiness's face, "Very well, you may go back to your seat," Once Sasha sat back down everyone looked at him. He was silent for a while until he forced himself to speak. "After much consideration and debate, Sasha Fullmoon is declared... Guilty. Tomorrow on the day before services at sunrise, Sasha Fullmoon will be executed. May the gods have mercy on her soul."

Some of the people cheered while others made vain cries of opposition as Sasha was escorted back to the castle and to her room. As she walked by, the mob of people shouted in joy and anger when they heard her sentence, but Sasha could not bear to look at them.