Blue

by Silenta-Atestanto

The history of our world is a simple one. An Overlord emerges to terrorize mankind, before a Hero rises up to slay him. So the cycle went, until it was broken when a succubus claimed the mantle, seduced the Hero sent to slay her, and created the stalemate we recognize today. But history is rarely ever so straightforward. I should know. I saw the events that would unfold for myself.

33. Chapter 33: Hunt

Chapter 33: Hunt

The party made camp not long afterward. With the surrounding plains so flat and open, the party would be readily spotted by any other marauders that might be roving the countryside, and there were few- if any- positions that would provide any sort of defense against an assault. Fortunately however, as the sun began to set, the group stumbled upon an abandoned village- or rather, the ruins of an abandoned village. Most of its buildings were little more than crumbling piles of rubble, but there were still a few structures that looked stable and sturdy enough to serve as shelter, from the chill wind if nothing else. So, choosing the largest- a modestly-sized stone building that had most likely been a chapel- the party settled down for the night.

Abel sat near the campfire, holding the mask Fiann had made for him in his hand, watching the flames dance and flicker. He could hear the others moving about, chatting, clearing debris and covering holes in the walls to block the wind, but his mind was elsewhere, wandering through memories from earlier that day. Of the battle with the centaurs. Of how they had died. Of how he had killed them. He looked down at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fingers. He could still see the blood caked beneath his nails, the bruises and scrapes in his knuckles gained from pummeling that final centaur to death. Even if they had been monsters, the sheer brutality of his actions, the way he had lost himself in his own rage and fury… it disturbed him.

He didn't have the excuse of protecting his friends, or of fighting for his life. The centaurs had tried to run as soon as they realized they were outmatched. But that hadn't stopped him. Even as they were fleeing, Abel had pursued. And what followed wasn't a fight as much as it was a massacre. But what he found even more unsettling than the violence itself was how he had felt in the heat of the battle. He felt… alive. More alive than he had ever felt in his life. Every fiber of his being had thrummed and crackled with power and energy. And through it all, Abel had felt… invincible. Unstoppable. Like a god, striking down his enemies.

His eyes turned to the mask in his hand. The mask… before, when had taken the name "Zeke," he could have sworn the mask had shuddered, as if in approval of the name. But now, as he held it, it was still, lifeless. Abel ran a thumb along the mask's rough surface. It did not react in any way… at least not in any way that he could sense.

Had he just… imagined it? Had the stress of their situation- of being declared an enemy of the Church, of being shunned at every turn, of being rejected by those whose lives he had saved… had it all gotten to him? Was he starting to lose his grip on reality?

Was he…

"Hey Blue."

Abel started slightly at the voice, nearly dropping the mask. He looked up to see Raine standing over him, hands on her hips and wearing a small frown, Niel sitting on her shoulder. "You… feeling alright? You've been moping around ever since we got here."

"I'm fine…" Abel replied, tucking the mask into his jacket, though there wasn't much conviction in his voice. "Just… tired, I guess."

"Well, before you turn in, we need to have a talk." The witch seemed more serious than normal- was it because of what had happened with the centaurs? Had she sensed something off about him during the fight? Abel's heart began to race. But then Raine plopped herself down next to him with a sigh. "If we're gonna make this disguise work, we should probably lay out some ground rules."

Abel almost breathed a sigh of relief. Still… "Rules?"

"That's right," the former angel replied. "Wearing a disguise is pointless if people- and especially the Church- are able to recognize you anyway. So when the witch suggested we come up with ways to hide your identity, we came up with a few ideas." Niel held up a finger. "And the first rule is that you don't use my power."

"I hate to say this Blue, but you being able to fly is probably the easiest way for someone to ID you, disguise or not," Raine added. "So it's better if you just… don't."

At an instinctual level, Abel understood that. His powers were unique, and very distinctive. If people were able to recognize his powers, then the disguise would be worthless. Still… "So I can't use any of your powers, Niel?"

Niel folded her arms over her chest. "I suppose in situations like this, it would be fine," the former angel said. "But in situations where strangers are around, you should try to keep them to a minimum. Especially flight. As the witch said, it's the most distinct of your abilities, but we can't rule out the possibility that the Church knows about other, less obvious powers. It's best to avoid using them altogether if you can."

"That goes for your Relic too, Blue," Raine then said. "It can give you away just as much as Parrot's powers can."

That would be hard. He could avoid using his amulet, but using Niel's power was almost instinctive to Abel now- he couldn't recall a battle where he hadn't used at least one of the former angel's abilities in some way. But, if he was going to make this disguise work, he would have to learn how to do without. "Alright," Abel replied, giving a small nod. "What's the next rule?"

"If we ever visit any towns, then we have to split up," Raine said. "That missive from Ilias's Order had a description of you: a young, frail-looking man with blue hair, traveling with a large group of women. And if people see one guy traveling around with a bunch of girls, they're gonna get suspicious. So, when we're in town, we need to act like we're different groups that don't know each other. Not that we're all traveling together. We go in at different times, stay at different inns, and avoid talking to each other unless it's really necessary."

"Understood." Again, it was a sensible rule. Wearing a disguise didn't change the fact that Abel was the only man in their party. The less attention they drew, the better. "What else?"

"Well, this one's not really a rule, but…" Raine shifted, looking a bit more like her usual self than before. "We should spend some time figuring out your backstory."

"My… what?" Abel was utterly baffled by the witch's suggestion.

"You know, who Zeke is: where he comes from, why he's on this trip, stuff like that," Raine clarified. "Zeke has to be his own person, and not just 'you wearing a mask,' Blue. And the more believable of a person we can make him, the less likely people are to do any digging. And first up: why Zeke wears a mask. Do you know why Zeke wears a mask?"

Abel blinked, before reaching up to touch the mask hidden in his jacket. He realized a stranger who wore a mask to hide his face would inevitably draw attention… and suspicion. How had that not occurred to him sooner. But, as hard as he tried, he couldn't think of a good reason why. "Uh, I- I uh…"

The witch rubbed her temples. "Aagh, Blue, you're killing me here…"

Despite stumbling at this initial hurdle, Abel and Raine- with some occasional input from Niel- were able to piece together a coherent, if somewhat basic backstory for Zeke. Zeke, they decided, was a freelance monster hunter, hailing from the western reaches of the Empire. Abel had suggested making Zeke a slayer, but both the witch and the former angel staunchly opposed the idea. Slayers, they explained, had garnered a reputation as ruffians barely a few steps above bandits, using their concealed identities to terrorize the public with impunity; though opinions were beginning to shift, due to a handful of individual slayers that conducted themselves more honorably, for the most part, anyone who called themselves a slayer who wasn't also a member of the Fighter's Guild, attached to a mercenary company of good standing, or who hadn't independently established a solid reputation for themselves was generally viewed with suspicion. No, it was better for Zeke to be something less conspicuous. There were hundreds of independent monster hunters across the continent- one more wouldn't make a difference. As for why he wore a mask, Zeke had been savagely mauled by a hellbear during a hunt some time before. Though he'd survived, his injuries left him with scars others found disturbing, forcing him to cover them in public.

"Alright…" Niel said with a nod. "I suppose that will do for now. We can add more details later if we need to. Now, we should speak to the alchemist."

"Wait, Violet? Why?" Abel asked.

Raine reached out, lightly tugging at a few strands of Abel's hair. "'Cause of this, Blue. Hopefully Bottles and Miss Maid cook up some hair dye."

"Is… is that…" he began hesitantly. "…do we have to? I mean, I'm sure lots of people have blue hair…"

Niel gave Abel a look. "Maybe. But aside from your powers and traveling with a large group of women, your blue hair is probably your most identifying feature. It was right there in the missive. So, yes, we have to. Unless you'd prefer to cut it all off."

Abel reflexively reached up, touching his hair. He couldn't say he liked the idea of changing his hair color… but he liked the idea of losing his hair entirely even less. He sighed. "Alright. I'll do it."

"Great. Hopefully Miss Maid won't mind pulling off an all-nighter for us…" Raine rose to her feet, but before she departed, she looked back at Abel and said, "Oh. Before I forget… try to take it easy with the violence, Blue."

A chill ran through Abel. He'd thought- or maybe he'd just hoped- that Raine hadn't noticed his behavior during the battle. "I…"

"I get it. Things have been tough for us. And I don't blame you for wanting to take some stress out on those monsters," Raine said, folding her arms across her chest. "But you've gotta keep it under control. I mean… you almost flattened your girlfriend out there."

Abel winced. The others always saw through him easily. But this time, there was a sharpness, a bite to Raine's words that he wasn't accustomed to. He could feel himself shrink, if only a little. "I- I'm sorry, Raine," he mumbled.

But Raine sighed. "You don't have to apologize. Not to me, anyway. Just… just be careful, alright? There's enough things out here trying to kill us as it is. We can't afford to have you doing it by accident." With that, she turned and headed off, leaving Abel alone with his thoughts.

Once she was gone, he pulled the mask from his jacket again, staring into its empty eyes. As before, the mask did not move or react in any way. But still, Abel had the odd sensation that the mask was looking back at him. Staring at him.

The fire popped and sparked, sending up a flurry of glowing embers, and Abel watched them drift upwards, twisting and dancing in the air until they faded away into nothing. Just like those centaurs. Snuffed out so easily, in an instant. Their lives, ended just like that. Because of him…

He looked back down to the flames. Then to the mask in his hand.

The fire was right there. If he threw the mask in, it would ignite with ease, and burn until there was nothing left.

His fingers twitched.

He could just say that… it was an accident. That it slipped out of his fingers and fell in, and he couldn't reach in to get it in time.

Just a simple mistake. No one would suspect anything.

But…

But he couldn't do it. For reasons he couldn't explain, he couldn't make himself bring the mask toward the flames. Maybe it was because Fiann had made it for him. Maybe some part of him couldn't stand the idea of being so unsettled by a carved piece of wood. Or maybe…

Abel glared at the mask, as though he was trying to bore a hole through it with his gaze. As the mask stared back, expressionless and unmoving, until he shook his head, realizing what he was doing and how utterly foolish he was being. It was just a mask. A thing carved from a piece of wood. It didn't have a will, or consciousness. It couldn't look at him, or stare into his eyes. It couldn't move or shudder. It couldn't approve, or disapprove, of his decisions- of anything at all. It wasn't alive.

It was…

Nothing.

And yet…

Abel slowly closed his fist around the mask, squeezing until his knuckles turned white. The mask creaked slightly under the pressure, but held fast. Abel scowled, and tucked it away, before he did actually muster the will to destroy it.

This was foolish. He was being foolish. The mask couldn't control him, it couldn't influence him. Couldn't affect him at all. It was just a thing. An object. A possession. It had only as much power as he gave it. And he would not let it have any power over him.

As the flames of the fire danced and flickered, the thought repeated over and over again in Abel's head, as if each repetition would somehow make the statement more true.

The fire let out another pop, sending another puff of glowing embers up into the darkening sky.

---

Though her entries in historical records are more extensive than those of Ixion or Hecatoncheir's, the origins of Garuda, the Warden of the Winds, are just as obscure as those of her cohorts. Where and when she originated are unknown, and what few historic records of Duat with translations provide only scant hints of her history with that nation. The oral tradition of Gemenos, as recorded by the Cybelians who would colonize the region, assert that for five hundred years, it was Garuda, rather than the Duat's pharaoh, who wielded true power over the land. Even Lescatié's journal provides little information about Garuda's history, stating only that the Warden of the Winds had held Duat- and Mayfil in particular- as her domain "for generations."

However, while Garuda's history may be uncertain in the eyes of historians, her temperament was not. Wicked, cruel, and bloodthirsty, she was considered among the most brutal and sadistic of the Fiend Generals. As Lescatié noted in her writings, "Garuda does not seek to govern or control the people under her dominion. She does not seek to ensure loyalty in those that serve her. All she desires is the suffering and destruction of those that fall within her reach. She is a creature of ruin and malice. A storm made flesh." And indeed, the list of atrocities committed by the Warden of the Winds, even within the limited scope of Lescaite's journal, is extensive. Her preferred method of suppressing rebellions- or indeed, simply expressing her capricious cruelty- was to draw sand and dust from the deserts of Duat into great spiraling cyclones, before letting them fall upon the heads of her victims, burying them and their strongholds in a single, crushing blow.

With this much in mind, it is little wonder that in both Alondight's time and the present day, Garuda stands among the most feared and reviled of the Fiend Generals. But this fearsome reputation would ultimately prove to be the Warden of the Winds' downfall, as it would motivate the Sanctum of Horus to observe Garuda, collecting information on her movements in the hopes that it might be used in an assault against her. And with the arrival of the Dragonslayer and his allies, this opportunity would come far sooner than they could have anticipated.

- Dragonslayer, Chapter 6: The Seeress and the Warden of the Winds

Sin crept along the rocky ridge, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. The moon hung low in the night sky, but its dim light would still be enough to betray him if he was spotted. His breaths were shallow, his eyes darting back and forth across the expanse of sand and stone before him, searching for birds and other small creatures at rest, or a gap between the ridges that was just a bit too wide. The map he'd studied of the area surrounding Dalyth had not been the boon he'd hoped for- though it showed roads and large rises, the smaller ridges were not so diligently marked. As he skulked among the ridges, Sin could only hope that the map on the fortress's interior would prove more useful once he reached it.

Though Jibril and Deneb had intended to accompany him, he had felt it best to enter the fortress alone. A smaller group was less likely to draw attention to itself than a larger one, and in any case, Sin was not a stranger to stalking prey alone. Still, the others remained nearby, behind a particularly large ridge, waiting to move in if- or rather, when- the battle started in earnest.

Lescatié had recommended waiting to assault Dalyth until the moon had waned, under a cloak of absolute darkness, but Sin had no such reservations. Total darkness likely proved no obstacle to the General, and would hinder them more than it would help. Better to strike now, while they still had some moonlight to see by.

Sin's movements were slow and cautious, feeling less like a hunter and more like one of the pieces he'd seen two of the robed figures in the Sanctum moving about across a square marked board. But after what felt to him like several hours, the outer walls of Dalyth were clearly visible. He could see no guards from his position, but according to the knowledge gathered by Lescatié and her Sanctum, that was not unusual. Garuda was many things, among them arrogant; she likely believed her presence alone to be deterrent enough to all but the most foolhardy and desperate.

That wasn't to say that her roost was open to intrusion. Dalyth was still a fortress, built of great blocks as wide as a man was tall and twice as high, packed together with only the barest cracks between them. Climbing would have been all but impossible… but Sin wasn't intending to climb. Instead, his eyes swept over the walls, searching for an opening which he had spotted on the map- a small hole, formed when a quaking of the earth had caused a portion of the fortress's foundation to crumble, forming a small tunnel into its interior. It would be a tight fit, but so long as the map was accurate, there would be room enough.

There. Nestled along the bottom of the wall was a rectangular indent in the wall, almost obscured by the shadows cast by the moon overhead, and by the mound of sand placed in front of it- likely placed by one of the Sanctum's agents, to make the opening less visible at a distance. Quickly and silently, Sin raced from the last ridge to the base of the wall. He moved quickly to push the sand aside, slipping into the tunnel once the opening was wide enough.

The map had not done justice to the tightness of the space, the rough walls brushing against him on either side as he crawled forward. Something else it had failed to capture was the smell. The metallic scent of old blood, of rot and decay assaulted his nose, making him fight the urge to retch. Holding his breath, he pushed forward, removing Ixion's horn from his back and crawling deeper into the darkness.

But after only a few moments, the tunnel widened once again, stretching out into a dark space beyond. Sin waited for a moment, listening for the sounds of movement- anything, really- but nothing stirred. Rising to his feet, he looked around as his eyes adjusted to the gloom. He had entered into some sort of passageway, both ends disappearing around a sharp corner. He sniffed the air, first to his left, then his right, trying to determine in which direction the foul stench was stronger. It seemed stronger to his left, so he chose that path, having little doubt that he would find his quarry at its end.

Sin moved silently, touching the passage wall next to him as he walked, using it as a guide. Sure enough, the further he went, the worse the smell became. Sin was accustomed to the odors of death and decay. But this scent… it was different. As if he was breathing in the very essence of suffering and despair.

But even if the stench was nearly overpowering, even if it seemed to claw at the inside of his nostrils like a living thing, he would not allow himself to falter. His resolve hardened, and he pressed on.

He felt the wall next to him sharply turn- it was the first corner he had encountered so far. Though it may have just been his imagination, it seemed as though the passageway had become… he wouldn't necessarily say brighter, but certainly less dim. Cautiously, he peered around the corner, his eyes narrowing. In the total darkness, even the faint light of the moon had been overwhelming. But his eyes adjusted quickly, and toward the end of the passage, he could see a doorway, opening onto a courtyard. It was too far away to see clearly, but something seemed to be… moving. Not moving toward him, thankfully, but crouched down, and shifting in a way that suggested it was… searching for something.

Sin moved silently, cautiously, down the passage, toward the doorway. There was a faint noise. A scraping sound, like a blade on stone. And as the doorway drew closer, the shape, or whatever it was, began to take on a more distinct form. It looked… like a human. No, a woman. But, its whole body was covered in feathers, the moonlight shining down on them making the figure seem like a silvery ghost. What he'd initially taken to be the figure's hair was actually a pair of small wings, folded tightly against the figure's head. But what truly struck Sin was the figure's size. It was shaped like a human, but enormous- perhaps three or even four times his height. Although he had glimpsed her crossing the sky when he and the others first arrived in Caprica, he had not truly grasped just how large Garuda was.

And he was certain that the massive winged woman was indeed the Warden of the Winds.

He drew ever closer, the scraping sounds growing louder, the foul scent ever more unbearable. And as he drew closer, the source of both became clearer. The courtyard beyond the doorway was filled with bodies, piles upon piles of corpses, some desiccated to little more than bones and scraps of leather, others looking much more recent, the flesh still clinging to their bodies, covered with terrible wounds. Spatters of blood and gore stained the floor and walls of the courtyard, as if they were a canvas for some gruesome masterpiece.

The beast's back was still turned. And his weapon was already in his hand. Even if his first strike wasn't a fatal blow, it would certainly be a crippling one.

His steps were careful and measured. One, then another, his heart beating fast, but his body calm. The scraping sounds came with a regularity that gave him a rhythm to follow. The stench of rot and decay grew stronger with every step, nearly choking him, but still, his focus did not waver.

Closer.

And closer.

Step after step.

His pulse quickened.

All the while, the scraping of the beast's talons continued, unaware.

Sin drew back the horn, preparing for a fierce thrust.

"You have a very light step," a deep and raspy voice remarked. Garuda's voice.

Sin's heart nearly jumped into his throat. The scraping stopped, and the beast turned, the moonlight illuminated its figure. Her face was that of a woman's, the only part of her not covered in feathers, and her features could, by most standards, be called beautiful. But her skin was as pale as bone, and her mouth was lined with vicious, knife-like fangs. Her eyes glowed a pale yellow under the moon's light, boring straight into Sin like little suns, their piercing gaze seeming to see past him, past his very being. "A shame that you cannot quiet your heart in the same way."

With a suddenness that startled even Sin, Garuda whirled, her hand sweeping out and catching him across the chest. The blow knocked him off his feet, slamming him into a wall behind him. His head cracked against the stone, his vision flashing white, the horn falling from his grasp. His vision wavered as he groped for his weapon. For a moment, his fingers brushed against it, but before he could seize it, it was pulled away. He looked up, seeing Garuda's blurred form staring down at him, her long, taloned fingers curled around the horn. "I knew it…" she growled, turning the horn over in her hand as she spoke, her golden eyes narrowed. "You are quite bold, little assassin, to carry the proof of your deed so openly." She tossed the horn aside and reached out, lifting his chin up with her finger, her talon pressing against his throat. "Tell me: did you come here with the intent of claiming my head next?"

Sin's vision was swimming, his breaths ragged. Whenever he'd faced the Fiend Generals before, a voice in his head would command him to "Awaken," granting him the strength needed to overcome his foes. But the voice was silent now, leaving him at Garuda's mercy.

She grinned a wicked, predatory smile. "Do not delude yourself, little assassin," she hissed. "You are not the first to seek my death, nor will you be the last. You may have slain Ixion and Hecatoncheir, but they were among the weakest of our number. They were as far beneath me as an insect is beneath you. Bahamut will not mourn their loss. And neither shall I." Her finger twitched, and a trickle of blood dripped down Sin's neck, her talon slicing his flesh. "…tell me your name," she commanded. "I would know the name of the fool who dared to think himself equal to the Warden of the Winds."

He glared at her defiantly. "…Sin."

"Sin?" She chuckled. "A fitting name. For to raise your blade against a Fiend General is a sin. A grievous and unforgivable one." Her free hand closed around Sin's neck, and she lifted him up, his legs dangling uselessly, her grip tightening. "A sin that only your death will absolve."

Sin felt his windpipe constrict, and his hands rose up instinctively, grasping at her wrist, struggling to break free. Darkness crept at the edge of Sin's vision, and the pressure in his head grew greater with each passing second. He could feel his pulse throbbing beneath her iron grip, his mind growing numb. His fumbling fingers scratched furiously against Garuda's flesh, but his efforts were fruitless, unable to so much as scratch the surface of her skin. And all the while, all Sin could ask was…

…why wouldn't the voice come to him?

He needed to awaken. He needed its strength.

Why was it abandoning him now, when he needed it the most?

"Have you such little faith in me?"

Sin's eyes snapped open. Even as the world around him faded, the voice remained clear and strong.

"Where… were you?" he choked.

"I am always with you," the voice replied. "You need but call upon me."

Sin's vision grew dim, his limbs heavy. "…Help… me."

"Of course," the voice said softly. "Now…"

AWAKEN

Sin's body was wracked by a jolt of energy, the sensation burning through him. He felt his hands, his arms, his chest grow hot, like his flesh had caught fire. He reached up, gripping the hand holding him, and he pulled, his muscles straining against the beast's iron grip.

Garuda's eyes narrowed. She tightened her grip, her talons digging into his flesh. Sin felt his windpipe crush under her vice-like grip, the last breath of air forced from his body. But he refused to give in. He pulled, harder and harder, ignoring the pain.

Then, with a sickening tearing sound, the flesh of her hand split open.

Garuda roared, releasing her hold, and Sin fell to the ground, his lungs desperately gulping down air. His head swam, and he fought to maintain consciousness, his hand rising to his throat. He looked up, seeing Garuda looking down at her hand. In the space between her thumb and forefinger, there was a gash, a wound that stretched down to her wrist and partway up her arm, as though a blade had torn through her flesh; the thinner half of her arm curled over and hung loosely, dripping blood. She stared at her wound briefly, before her gaze snapped to Sin. Her face twisted in rage, before she leapt at him, a howling screech tearing from her throat.

Sin rolled out of the way just in time, dodging her lunge, his body slamming into the wall behind him. He ran in an arc across the courtyard, gaze sweeping the area for Ixion's horn. He saw it, laying discarded near the center of the yard, and sprinted towards it. Garuda was fast, however, and as Sin made a grab for the horn, she snatched his ankle, her claws digging into his skin, and she wrenched him backwards, lifting and throwing him aside. Sin tumbled through the air- through the confused blur, he saw himself flying away from the fortress, before his back collided with something hard. His ribs buckled, and the impact sent him tumbling down a rocky slope, his body bouncing painfully off of stone and sand. When his rolling finally came to a stop, he lay on his side, gasping for breath, the world spinning.

He wouldn't have much time to recover, however- there was a whistle, and the ground under him shook violently as something crashed against it. He didn't need to look to know that Garuda had followed him, and as he looked up, he could see her towering over him, her arm curled, her hand clutched over the wound he'd dealt her. "I will commend you, little assassin," she snarled, her lips pulled back, revealing her long, sharp fangs. "Of all the foes I have faced, none have ever wounded me so grievously." Her eyes burned with rage. "To honor your memory, I will carve you into twelve pieces and deliver each to one of the cities of this land. For the rest of time, you shall serve as a warning of the fate that awaits all who would oppose Bahamut's will."

Garuda's wings flared out. But whatever she had planned, it was interrupted when a voice shouted over the rocky slopes, "Andardráttur Niflheim: Ís Ör!" Suddenly the beast drew one of its wings in front of its body, using it as a shield as spears of ice rained down upon her. The spears shattered against her wings, leaving no marks. Garuda let out a growl, then leapt into the air. As she rose, the wind began to swirl, and the sand around her was drawn upwards, forming a cyclone. Sin watched as the storm grew, larger and larger, the roar of the wind drowning out all other noise.

"Sin!" he heard a voice shout. He looked to the side, seeing Jibril, Deneb, and Lescatié hurrying towards him. "Sin, are you alright!?" Deneb asked urgently as they reached him.

Sin couldn't say that he was. But before he could answer, a loud screech drew their attention skyward. Garuda was now circling overhead, the swirling winds trailing behind her like a cloak. "Look out!" Sin shouted, shoving his companions aside. Just in time, too- moments later, a great whirlwind slammed into the ground, kicking up sand and dust. The rush of the spiraling column of air was deafening, and the force of the blast was enough to send the four tumbling across the hard ground.

The four struggled to their feet, all as battered and bruised as Sin was, but there was little time to take stock. Garuda circled overhead, but she didn't strike again, seemingly content in biding her time. Deneb raised his arm, and called out again "Andardráttur Niflheim: Ís Ör!" Spears of ice launched from his palm, one after the other, flying into the sky. But Garuda was too far, flying too quickly for the spears to reach her. And what few that came close were blown aside by the gale surrounding her. "Fjandinn!" he cursed. "There has to be something else we can do!"

But what could they do? None of their weapons would be able to touch her at such range, and even Deneb's magic seemed to have little effect. The only weapon which might have been able to reach her was Ixion's horn… and that was still in the fortress, far out of reach. Between the whirling storms and Garuda sweeping across the sky, any attempt to retrieve it would be suicidal… but what other choice did they have?

Sin looked to Deneb. "Deneb! I need to get back to the fortress! Do you think you can stop Garuda from following me?"

Deneb looked his way. But before he could answer, another, more gentle voice cut in. "Permit me," Lescatié said softly. She held up her hands, palms upward, and as she began to chant. "Stars, I speak your names. Grant me your power, that I might smite my foes." As she spoke, a glow began to shine in her hands. "I speak the names of Sat, Yama, and Tawe. I weave them together, and bid them heed my call…" The glow shifted, turning into flickering flames. "…in the form of Fire!" she shouted.

A torrent of flames erupted from Lescatié's hands, the heat washing over Sin and the others. The flames rose high, spiraling upwards, their roar enough to drown out the spiraling winds. But the flames did not reach Garuda. The General turned, and with a swing of her claw, cast a wave of what Sin could only describe as a blade of wind, slicing the flames asunder.

But the flames dancing over Lescatié's fingers did not go out. Instead she grit her teeth, and ran forward, throwing two more spiraling bolts of fire into the air. Garuda swung her claws again, and once more the flames were split apart. But every time she stopped the flaming bolts, the storm she had created lessened, the wind dying down slightly.

"What are you doing!?" Jibril shouted.

"Buying time," the priestess replied, the words coming between her ragged breaths. She threw a third bolt, which Garuda dispersed with ease.

"Are you crazy?" Jibril demanded. "You can't win like this!"

"That is not my intention," she replied, her voice even despite the exhaustion in her body. "I do not need… to kill Garuda. Merely draw her attention."

This was precisely the opening that Sin had needed. While Garuda's focus was on Lescatié, he raced up the slope, back towards the fortress. In seemingly just a few steps, he was already a stone's throw from the fort, its massive wood-and-iron gate looming before him, the only thing separating him from Ixion's horn. But with a terrible howl, something struck the ground in front of him hard, kicking up a spray of dirt and rocks. From it emerged Garuda, her wings flared out, her eyes fixed on him. She rushed toward him, trying to seize him in her one good talon. "Did you truly think my attentions could be so easily diverted!?" she snarled. She was fast… but Sin was prepared this time. With a leap, he cleared her grasping talon, landing by her clawed foot. Though he would have preferred to have a weapon, his fist would have to do. His fist struck the inside of the joint with a sharp crack, the bones shattering.

Garuda howled, the leg buckling, and she fell forward, only just catching herself. But before she could turn around, Sin was sprinting toward the fortress again. He didn't stop, even as the gate rapidly closed in. He simply turned, putting his shoulder forward to take the brunt of the impact. With a tremendous crash, his shoulder hit the thick wood and iron barrier, sending shockwaves through his body. But the gate was no match for his strength. It splintered and crumpled under the impact, the broken remains flying across the courtyard beyond. His gaze swept the courtyard, and he saw the horn, lying in the center. He ran toward it- but once again, something stopped him from reaching it. The air before him rippled, before turning into a spiraling pillar of wind that rushed toward him. Sin dived, only just managing to evade the attack. But his prone state meant he wasn't able to rise fast enough to evade the next pillar, which appeared from below and slammed into his chest, throwing him high into the air. He crashed painfully into one of the piles of corpses, rolling down it and onto the hard, bloodstained stone floor.

His ears were ringing, and his whole body ached, a pain that was worsened when a talon slammed down over him, pinning him to the ground. Garuda glared down at him, hand pressed against his chest, collapsed onto one knee. Her face was contorted in a snarl, her eyes ablaze with fury. "Enough. Games." she spat. "This ends. Now." She raised her other arm- though part of it still hung limp, it seemed she still had enough control over it- and held her claws aloft. Sin strained, trying to force the General's grip open, but in his prone state, he had no leverage. He could only watch, as Garuda held her talons high, her intent clear.

"Sin, shut your eyes!"

Jibril's shout rang out over the courtyard. Garuda looked, just as there was a shattering of glass. Brilliant flashes of light burst forth, and the beast shrieked, reeling back, shielding her eyes with her arm. In her momentary distraction, the pressure on Sin's chest was lifted. He gasped for air, his lungs aching, and his hand groped, finding a loose piece of bone nearby. He wasn't about to make another run for the horn. He would end this now, one way or another.

As Garuda staggered, Sin rose. He raced over, and drawing his fist back, he punched Garuda across the face with all his might. The blow was strong enough to send the General tumbling over the courtyard, crashing through piles of corpses, the wind knocked from her lungs.

The beast tried to rise, but Sin was on her in a flash. With a furious cry, he raised the bone fragment in his hands, plunging it deep into the side of Garuda's neck. The beast screeched, clawing at him wildly. But with ease, he knocked her desperate blows aside as he stabbed her over and over, his strikes relentless and frenzied. He was screaming, bellowing like a beast himself, the sound echoing off the walls. But his voice wasn't alone. Garuda's roars were growing weaker and weaker, the sound choked by her own blood. Sin didn't stop even as her struggles grew weaker, stabbing again and again until finally, Garuda lay still, her body twitching weakly, her eyes rolled back in their sockets, the yellow glow they'd once held extinguished. Only then did Sin rise, stepping back, breathing heavily. His hands were covered in blood, and his arms shook violently. But after several breaths, the tremors subsided, and he let the bone slip from his fingers.

…It was over. Garuda was dead. Another of Bahamut's Generals had fallen. But, he felt no triumph. No joy. Merely a vague, empty fatigue.

But, he had won. For now, that was enough.

Slowly, cautiously, the others entered the fort. They retched at the overwhelming scent within, and their eyes widened as their eyes fell on the piles of bodies that filled the courtyard. "Gods…" Deneb muttered, his voice filled with equal parts awe and disgust. "How many people did she kill…?"

"Garuda has reigned unchecked over Kobol for centuries," Lescatié noted, her tone as even and emotionless as ever. "I have no doubt that the list of her victims stretches into the thousands- perhaps even tens of thousands. But…" Her gaze then turned to the body of the Warden of the Winds, and her lips pursed slightly. "…now, that list will grow no longer."

At long last, Sin crossed the courtyard, taking up Ixion's horn. As he slipped it into the harness on his back, he began to speak. "It's over," he said flatly. "Let's head back."

"Right," Jibril agreed. He and the others made to leave, but Lescatié didn't move, her gaze fixed on the corpse. Jibril looked back. "Hey, are you coming?"

"…Sin," the priestess said slowly. "There is… one thing that I would ask of you. As a boon."

…

The doors to the Sanctum swung open. Lescatié entered first, followed by Sin and the others. The interior was dimly lit, the braziers and torches within giving off only a faint glow. Unlike their first visit, the robed figures stood in a great circle around the flame blazing in the center, each of their heads bowed in silence. And standing before the flame was a single figure, their arms outstretched, their back turned. As Lescatié approached, the figure's head rose, and it turned, looking over its shoulder. "It is done, then," Leoria said. "Garuda is no more."

"Yes," Lescatié affirmed, bowing her head respectfully. "The Fiend General has been slain."

The older woman's expression was inscrutable, but she nodded. "Thank you. All of you. We owe you a great debt."

Sin was not a stranger to receiving praise. More than once, back in Neith, he had been praised for the quality of the hides and meat he had brought back from his hunts. But this… was different. It was not a familiar sense of pride that he felt, but rather a vague sense of unease. What he had done, though necessary, was not a deed that should have been praised.

"If you want to repay us, then you can start by telling us where we can find the next of the Fiend Generals," Sin said, his words flat.

"And we shall," Leoria replied. "But, your deeds have not gone unseen in the eyes of the gods. Yours is a noble and righteous mission, and so they wish to bestow upon you a gift, one which shall aid you in the battles ahead."

"…What sort of gift?" Jibril asked.

The older woman clasped her hands in front of her waist, slowly making her way toward Sin. "Long have the gods waited for one who can truly stand against Bahamut and Fiend Generals and strike them down- a Champion, such as yourself."

Sin averted his eyes. "I'm not interested in being a hero," he said, his words faint but blunt.

"Yet that is what is what you are, Sin," Leoria stated. "Regardless of your reasons, in slaying the Fiend Generals, you are performing a most noble deed." She stopped in front of him. "You are the hope of this land. The hope of all lands. But if you are to save them- if you are to strike down the Fiend Generals and the Dread Dragon who commands them- you will need more than the strength of mortal men." She paused. "You need the strength of the gods themselves." Leoria looked at him, her eyes seeming to pierce through Sin, just as they had when they first met. "You have proven yourself worthy of the gods' blessings, Sin. Do not be so quick to decline their favor."

Sin was silent. The gods granted their favor to those they deemed worthy, the old woman said. But how would one prove their worthiness? Was there a scale, some means by which a man's value could be weighed and measured? Or was it simply based on how many of the gods' enemies they killed?

And did that mean that, in the gods' eyes, Sai was not worthy?

That his brother's life had not been valuable enough to spare?

Sin's silence stretched on. The gods had never seemed to have much interest in his actions before. That they would take interest now, when he had proven a useful pawn… it was almost enough to make him scoff. To turn away, and refuse the gods and their "blessing."

…Almost.

But if he would avenge Sai, he would have to fight, and to keep fighting. Even if he had the strength of a hundred men, it wouldn't be enough. And he didn't. His last fight against Garuda had made that abundantly clear. He needed to become stronger. Strong enough to defeat the Fiend Generals, and the Dread Dragon himself. Loath as the thought of taking the gods' blessings, he was not strong enough to achieve his vengeance without them.

And so, grudgingly, he bowed his head. "…What do I need to do?"

Leoria extended her hands toward Sin, and the flames in the braziers burned bright. The room filled with the heat, the glow from the flames illuminating every nook and cranny, casting everything in a brilliant white light. "Give me the horn," Leoria said.

Slowly, hesitantly, Sin slipped the horn from his back. He turned it over in his hands, looking it over one last time, before holding it out to Leoria. Taking it into her gnarled hands, she turned, approaching the flame. As she drew closer, the light grew brighter, the heat rising. And yet, as the old woman neared fire, her garments did not so much as smolder, nor did her flesh blacken or crackle. "Mighty Horus, god of the sky, god of the sun, whose gaze sees all things," she began. "Bestow upon this man, your servant, a measure of your power, that his foes might tremble before his might."

The fire blazed, its tongues licking high above the brazier. But still, Leoria was unharmed, and she remained where she was. Then, turning the horn in her hands, she raised it above her head, before thrusting it down into the flames.

Instantly, a great column of flame erupted from the brazier. The fires grew hotter and brighter, and the room seemed to shake, as if the earth itself were trembling. The flames danced and twisted, and for a moment Sin thought he saw something, a figure moving among the flames, a pair of piercing eyes staring straight at him.

But then, it was over. The flames within the central brazier subsided, burning down until they were almost extinguished. Ixion's horn was still plunged into the brazier's depths…

…only, it wasn't a horn any longer. The curved black shaft had been replaced by a long, golden haft.

The weapon that the priestess pulled free was not the horn he had slain Ixion with, but rather, a weapon the likes of which Sin had never seen before. The closest thing he could liken it to was an axe, but this was something far more savage, more brutal. The head was lined with thin metal ridges, each end rising to meet a razor sharp point that jutted out like a thorn. The entire weapon- the blades, the shaft, even the grip- was seemingly forged from gold, the metal shining and glimmering even in the dim light.

Leoria returned, handing the weapon to him. "This shall be your tool, the instrument by which you strike down the Fiends. Use it well, Sin, and know that the gods will be watching over you."

He took the weapon in hand. Despite the harsh and brutal appearance, it was lighter than he'd expected, and the grip fit comfortably in his hand. An energy seemed to thrum within it, radiating up his arm. It was a strange sensation, unlike anything he'd ever felt before. This… this was no mere weapon. It was something else entirely. He gave a tentative swing, the motion smooth and effortless.

"Follow the River Argo north," Leoria then said. "At its end, you will find a great sea- and across that sea, a broken land where the earth itself bleeds. There, you will find the next Fiend General: Ifrit. But be warned, Champion. The land in which he dwells is a cruel and inhospitable place, a domain of eternal night, of flame and death. You will need to prepare well, lest the journey destroy you before you face your next foe."

Sin nodded. He wasn't about to falter now. His path was clear. "Thank you," he said faintly. Then, he looked to his companions. "…Let's go."

"Hold a moment," Leoria interjected, and he turned to look back at her. "There is one last boon I would bestow upon you. Not from the gods, but rather, from the Sanctum itself." Her gaze turned. "Lescatié."

The younger priestess stepped forward. "Yes, Mistress."

The older woman then reached into her robes, handing Lescatié a book. "Though Garuda has always been our Sanctum's greatest foe, we also realized that one day, she may fall- not at our hands, but the hands of another Fiend General. And so, we made preparations for such an eventuality. Within this book is all the knowledge we have collected about the remaining Generals and their domains."

"Well, we appreciate the offer," Sin said. "But why are you giving that to her? "

"Because I will be going with you, Sin," Lescatié explained, a small smile playing on her lips. "The information collected by the Sanctum is written in an ancient and esoteric tongue- one which has been lost to the world outside these walls. It is a language which only members of the Sanctum have any hope of deciphering."

Sin was silent, his expression inscrutable. He couldn't say he was fond of the priestess- though she was polite and respectful, something about her seemed… off. There was a distance to her, a sense of aloofness. Like she was a spectator, observing him and the others, instead of a true participant. Nor was he fond of the idea of her having exclusive access to information regarding the remaining Generals- it was something that she could easily twist to her advantage.

But… she had proven herself to be a skilled magician. Even if he didn't trust her, he could trust that she would make every effort to keep herself alive. And… he couldn't deny the possibility that the information within that book would prove invaluable. If he were to strike down the remaining Generals, he would need every advantage he could find. Much like the weapon in his hand, he didn't need to like or trust the source of an advantage to recognize its worth… or to use it to further his own ends.

"Alright," Sin said finally. "We'll take you along. But…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "…I expect you to do your part. You're in this just as much as we are. So that means you pull your own weight. No hiding behind the rest of us while we do all the fighting. Understand?"

Lescatié inclined her head. "As you wish, Sin. I am at your service."

…

The sun began to rise over Caprica. And as the first rays crested the horizon, the city began to stir. But the ordinary slow awakening of the populace was interrupted by cries of alarm ringing out from one of the city's numerous squares. The commotion naturally drew the attention of the guards, who hurried toward the source of the disturbance. But they did not find any of the normal causes that would elicit such an outcry- there was no brawl, no corpse sprawled in the streets… in fact, the sight awaiting them was one that the guards present could truly say they had never before seen in their lives.

In the square, dumped into the fountain at its heart, was a head. But not an ordinary human head, no. This head was massive- as large as a man was tall, leaking black blood that stained the surrounding water. But it was not merely the size of the head that made it remarkable. Rather, it was the head's appearance. It was shaped like a human's, but its skin was scaled and hard, the scales a sickly shade of yellow. And its hair was in truth, a mass of feathers, a pair of short, twisted horns jutting from its temples. Its lips were curled in a rictus grin, its mouth lined with vicious, knife-like fangs. And its eyes, that once shone like tiny hateful suns, now stared sightlessly, their light extinguished.

For there, in the square, the guards found the severed head of the Warden of the Winds, the beast known as Garuda.

And all across Caprica, the people awoke. Awoke to a world where their oppressor, the monster who had tormented them for centuries, was no more.

It was not long after the slaying of the third Fiend General, Garuda, that Alondight would receive his weapon, Gradivus. Lescatié herself would describe it in her journal as "a wondrous and divine weapon, one which seemed almost alive in Sin's hands." Gradivus would be shown to have numerous properties throughout the course of the journey: it was light, yet unfathomably durable, able to cleave through the thickest armor and strongest bones with ease. When gripped, Gradivus would heat up, its blade becoming white hot, and when it struck, its searing heat would burn even the thickest hide. It could unleash powerful bursts of fire and lightning, and could even be thrown, yet also return to its master's hand with but a thought. However, though Lescatié would describe its abilities in exhaustive detail, one aspect of Gradivus would fail to be recorded in the pages of her journal: specifically, what manner of weapon Gradivus actually was. The only physical descriptions she would provide were that it was forged from a metal that had the appearance of gold, but was harder than steel, and that it was approximately a "cubit" in length. Vantinius, a scholar who was among the first Cybelian colonists to explore ancient Duat, calculated a cubit to be around 18 pollices in length- from this, and from Lescatié frequently describing Alondight as wielding it in one hand, it is widely believe that Gradivus was a shortsword or dagger of some sort. However, the possibility that Gradivus was another kind of weapon- such as an axe or mace- cannot be ruled out entirely.

Another enduring mystery surrounding Gradivus pertains to both the meaning of the name "Gradivus," and its language of origin. The name never appears within the pages of Lescatié's journal, and it is unknown if Alondight ever gave his weapon a name. The earliest appearance comes in the year 214, in the writings of Praetor Cullis Narad, who alleged that the name Gradivus meant "one who advances boldly." However, the term "gradivus" does not appear in any prior historical documents, leading some to speculate that the word was either a corruption or mistranslation of a genuine term, or an outright fabrication. Those who accept the former explanation point to similarities in the modern Cybelian term "gladius" as evidence, which has also furthered belief that Gradivus was originally some type of sword. However, opponents to this explanation have pointed out that the translation of "Gradivus" provided by Praetor Narad does not align with the known meaning of "gladius," and have further argued that the similarity between the two words is at best, coincidental.

Ultimately however, regardless of its origin, the term Gradivus has embedded itself firmly into the historical lexicon, accepted not only as the name of Alondight's legendary weapon, and the mountain on Apollonia which was named after it, but also as the name of the north star- commonly placed at the very tip of Alondight's sword in artistic renditions of the constellations.

- Dragonslayer, Chapter 6: The Seeress and the Warden of the Winds

---

"And… done." Minze pulled her hands away from Abel's scalp. The paper-white skin of her hands was so thoroughly stained with black dye she looked as though she were wearing gloves.

Claire let out a relieved sigh. "Finally. I was getting tired of listening to all those weird noises you were making, degenerate," she said, earning herself a few dirty looks in the process.

Abel rose from the collapsed stone pillar he'd been using as a seat. "Well, how does it look?"

No one spoke, at least not immediately. But judging from their expressions, it seemed the transformation was far more drastic than any of them had anticipated. "Not bad," Raine replied, before stepping forward to hand Abel a small round mirror. "Have a look for yourself."

As he looked into the mirror, Abel's eyes widened. He'd been told he would be changing his hair color, but seeing his hair black as raven's feather, rather than its usual vivid sky-blue was still shocking. It seemed like such a small thing, but actually seeing the transformation with his own eyes, he felt…

"It's like you're a whole other person now, Abel," Seth said, her voice hushed.

"Oh, just a moment." Minze suddenly reached out, and rubbed a thumb across Abel's face, first over one brow, then the other. Abel was about to ask what she was doing, when the maid drew back her thumb, and revealed a smear of black across its tip. "There," Minze said. "Much better." Looking in the mirror again, he saw that the maid had put dye in his eyebrows as well, making them as black as the hair atop his head.

"His eyebrows too? Isn't that a bit much?" Holly asked.

"If anyone saw Sir Abel without his mask, and saw that his hair was black, but his eyebrows were not, it would raise suspicion," the maid replied, wiping her hand clean on a cloth. "It's a small detail, but in alchemy, even small details are important."

"This… I… wow." It was all Abel could say. As Seth had said, his reflection looked almost like an entirely different person. He handed the mirror back to Raine, saying, "Maybe we won't need the mask after all."

"I'll admit, Miss Maid did good work here…" Raine began, taking back the mirror.

"I can't take all the credit, Miss Raine," Minze then cut in. "I may have applied this dye, but Lady Violet is the one who mixed it."

The mention of Violet made Abel realize something- he hadn't seen the alchemist at all that morning. He looked around, but didn't spot her. "Where is Violet, anyway?"

"She's resting, Sir Abel. She worked all through the night to make this dye for you, after all," the maid replied.

Now Abel felt a bit guilty, even if he hadn't actually been the one to ask her for the favor. But before he could say anything, Raine cut in. "Anyway, as I was saying, we made a story for Zeke. We should stick to it. And that includes his looks. So, the mask stays. For now."

Despite his misgivings, Abel nodded. "Right." The mask was still tucked into his jacket. Thinking about it still bothered him, but… if it would help them move around safely, then he would have to set his feelings aside.

Once Violet finally awoke, the group packed up their camp and set out once more. For the most part, the day passed uneventfully. Aside from a few encounters with minor monsters, nothing of note occurred. Still, even the smallest of distractions was a welcome relief. And the encounters gave Abel the chance to hone his sword skills. After all, as Zeke, he couldn't use Niel's power to fight- he would be reliant entirely on his own skills with the blade.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the party came upon a town ringed with walls of red stone, wooden roofs and spires rising above its perimeter- Ives, if Abel's map was to be believed. It was a fair bit smaller than the towns they'd encountered so far, but it was a welcome sight nonetheless.

But Raine bid everyone to halt before drawing too close. "Alright, here's how things are gonna work," the witch began. She pointed to Lailah. "Sis, you'll go in first with Madame and Psycho. Prez, you, Madame, Bottles, and Miss Maid will follow a few minutes later. Then, me, Blue, and Goldie will head in last. Got it?"

"Why do you get to go with Abel?" Holly asked, her brow furrowed.

The witch's response puzzled Abel, at least at first. "Blue, mask on." Reluctantly, Abel did. Then, Raine pointed to Abel and asked, "Who is this?"

"Abe-" Holly began, only to abruptly catch herself. "I-I mean Ab- er, Holl- ah, Z- Zeke." She mumbled faintly to herself, "Damn it…"

"See?" Raine said. "We can't afford to make slip-ups like that. The Church knows Abel's name. And if anyone hears us calling Blue by his real name, they might start asking questions. I'm going with him because I can keep a fake story straight, and because I'd rather not send him off on his own and let him screw things up."

Holly's cheeks had turned bright red, and she folded her arms tightly over her chest, her lips pursed. "…Fine. I see your point."

"Good. Now, let's head in."

The party split up, as Raine had instructed, entering the town at separate times. After about twenty minutes, Abel and Raine made their way toward Ives, Tamayatsu padding alongside them in her fox form. The town gates were open, guarded by men in dark yellow surcoats broken by a single red bar, with spears in their hands and stony expressions on their face. One of them, a large man with unkempt blonde hair and skin tanned by many hours under the sun, stepped forward. "Hold," he ordered in a gruff voice, before fixing Abel with a suspicious gaze. "State your business."

"We're monster hunters," Raine said. "Traveling north in search of work. With winter on the way, we were hoping to stay somewhere with a roof over our heads." She looked in Abel's direction. "Right, Zeke?"

Abel nodded. "…yeah."

The guard looked Abel, Raine, and even Tamayatsu over thoroughly, his gaze lingering on Zeke for a moment; specifically, on his mask. "…you. In the mask. Show me your face."

Abel hesitated. Something Raine noticed, stepping in again. "Zeke here doesn't have much of a face left to show. Hellbear attack. If you went through what he did, you'd wear a mask too."

The guard scoffed, clearly not believing the witch's story. But he eventually stepped aside. "I'll be watching you, Mask. You make any trouble here, and I'll toss you out on your ass myself. Got it?" He looked between the three of them one last time, before waving them through.

Once they were through the gates, Abel let out a sigh of relief, only to earn himself a jab in the ribs from Raine. "Hey, at least wait until that guard can't see us before letting out a sigh like that." But the witch then let out her own sigh. "…Well, I guess what matters is that it worked. Let's go find an inn."

The two made their way deeper into the town, following its narrow, empty streets, lined by empty stalls. If this town was a lively place, there were few signs of it now, so late in the day- just the faint scents of bread and roasting meats, and the distant hum of conversation, carried on the evening breeze. Hopefully, Abel thought, whatever inn they found would give them a warmer reception than they found at the gates.

"Remember, Zeke. If you spot the others, you don't know them," Raine said quietly. "You don't have to pretend like they don't exist, but they're not your friends. They're strangers. Got it?"

Abel nodded. "I got it."

"That goes for you too, Goldie," Raine then added, looking down at Tamayatsu.

The fox didn't respond, continuing her lazy pace, her tails flicking back and forth lazily.

After wandering the streets for a time, Abel and Raine stumbled upon an inn, the Sleeping Goat, marked by a crudely painted sign featuring a grey goat curled up on a pile of straw. It was small, and somewhat shabby, but whatever lodgings it offered would doubtlessly be an improvement over sleeping outside, under the elements. The interior did nothing to dispel this notion, as the inn was dimly lit, the floor bare dirt, the tables and benches worn and splintered. The common room was mostly empty, save for a pair of rough-looking men hunched over their drinks at one table, and an older woman, her hair streaked with grey, leaning on a broom behind the counter. The woman's expression soured the moment she laid eyes on the three. "You lost?" she asked brusquely.

"We're looking to stay a night or two," Raine said as she crossed the common room, her voice steady. "If you've rooms available."

The innkeeper narrowed her eyes. "Depends on what kind of 'business' you're in." Her gaze lingered pointedly on Abel's mask.

Raine kept her smile fixed firmly in place. "We're just passing through on our way to the north."

The woman grunted. "Fine. Got one room left. Five silver marks. You wanna meal, it'll be another silver mark each."

Abel tensed at that- the price seemed steep for such a shabby place. But Raine didn't flinch. "We'll take it. And three meals," she said, placing the appropriate coins on the counter.

The woman picked up one of the coins, eyeing it with suspicion. But eventually, she pointed to a nearby door and said, "Room's through there. Last door on the left. Food will be ready when it's ready. Don't bother me 'til then, and don't make a mess."

The three followed the woman's instructions, and were soon situated in their room. It was cramped and drafty, with only one bed. As soon as the door shut, Abel pulled off his mask. "And here I was hoping people in town would be friendlier," he said, his brow furrowed.

"It's just for a night, Blue," Raine replied. She plopped down on the bed with a sigh, wincing when an angry, muffled shout rang out from her pocket. She sat up, plucking Niel from her pocket and setting her on the bed. "Sorry, Parrot."

Niel scowled up at the witch. "Would it kill you to treat me with a bit more respect? Tossing me around in your pocket like a bunch of loose change, it's degrading."

"We're trying to be inconspicuous, Parrot," Raine replied. "And having a little fairy riding around on my shoulder would be pretty conspicuous…"

Abel let out a sigh of his own, and unpacking his bedroll- it seemed he would be spending another night on the ground. "Hopefully the others are having a better time."

"I'm sure they are," the witch said. "Sis and Miss Maid have got decent heads on their shoulders, and the others can look after themselves well enough. They'll be fine."

A silence settled in the room. Though Tamayatsu could've easily switched into her human form, she instead remained a fox, curling up and resting atop her tails. Raine, for her part, seemed to be enjoying the relative luxury of a proper bed, laying across its covers and staring idly at the ceiling. Niel scurried to the foot of the bed, sitting at the edge, muttering something about witches and manners.

Quiet moments like this were fairly rare during their travels. In camp, there was always someone talking, or moving, or doing something. And in the cities and towns they'd visited, the hustle and bustle had always been a constant. The only time Abel found any quiet was when he was alone. But this… Abel found himself unsure of what to do. He wasn't normally one to fill a quiet moment with idle chatter, but the stillness felt… wrong, somehow.

"Raine?" he asked quietly.

She opened one eye, glancing his direction, and then closed it again. "What is it?"

"What… what did you do? Before we met. I… I remember you said you were looking for elemental spirits, but… what about before all that?"

Raine sat up, eyes open, looking Abel's way. "Where's all this coming from? You never asked me stuff like this before."

"I was… doing some thinking a while ago. And, I realized that… I don't really know a lot about you. About any of you. I only knew Kagura for a few days, but I felt like I knew more about her than I did about people I've traveled with for months. I feel like… like I should change that."

"Hmm…" Raine laid back down. "Well, there's not much to tell, really. I was from a small town in Mavors, near the border with Nessus- that's a part of Proserpina. Had some fun going over the border, meeting the locals, getting into trouble. You'd think that in a place like Proserpina, you'd never get bored, but… that's exactly what happened. So I left. Decided to try my luck with the Mage's Guild. It was alright- I made some friends, met Mavis… but it still felt like something was missing. Then I read some old research notes about elemental spirits, and how forming a contract with one would give you all sorts of magical powers. So, I decided to go out to find one. I ended up going all the way to Dimitra and back. I was looking for another when I got grabbed by some bandits, and then… well, you know the rest."

"How long were you traveling?"

"A couple years. Five, or six. Maybe more."

"And, your family? Did they…?"

"They're still around," Raine said, her voice a bit flat. "We don't really talk, though. Haven't seen them since I left home."

"I'm sorry," Abel mumbled.

The witch shrugged. "For what? It's not your fault. It's just the way things are for me."

It seemed strange to Abel. The thought of having relatives- family- but not wanting to see them. Not wanting to speak with them. Not even writing letters. …But then again, it wasn't like he had any plans of going back to Seles, or writing letters to Master Rachel. In that sense, maybe he and Raine weren't that different.

The conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Food's ready," the innkeeper shouted, her voice muffled.

Raine sat up. "Well. Guess we'll have to leave it at that, Zeke. Let's eat. Mask on."

Abel sighed. Mask on.

---

"…I can't believe that woman actually thought that stew was worth a whole silver mark. I'd say it was worth a few pennies at most," Raine complained, for what must have been the fifth time since they left the Sleeping Goat. Though in truth, Abel was inclined to agree- their meal, such as it was, had been a mostly watery broth with the occasional bit of stringy meat or wilted vegetable mixed in. Tamayatsu, after shifting back into her human form and taking a few bites, declared that the soup wasn't so much a meal as it was a crime against the culinary arts, and refused to touch it further. Even now, in her fox form, her ears were pinned back, her teeth bared, as if the very memory of the dish was enough to offend her sensibilities.

"Well, at least the room wasn't as cold as sleeping outside would've been…" Abel said, feebly. Part of him knew his attempt at finding a positive aspect of their experience wouldn't do much to improve Raine's mood, but he still felt obligated to try.

As soon as dawn came, the group left the shoddy inn behind them, seeking out the other members of their party. Though the plan was to act as though the others were strangers, Raine still thought it best for them to reunite, if only for a little while. On top of deciding what supplies were needed, they needed to ensure the party had the funds to purchase them at all- their stay at the inn had put a surprisingly substantial dent in their coin pouch, and it wasn't unreasonable to assume the others had experienced similar losses.

And so, as they made their way through the city's streets and into a square, it came as a relief when Abel spotted a familiar trio: a blonde woman in black, a brown-haired, dark-skinned girl with a red scarf, and a taller woman with a long, unkempt mane of hair as green forest leaves. Abel took a few steps toward them, only for a hand to catch his arm and hold him back. "Hold on, we're not supposed to know them, remember?" Raine said cautiously. "Just… let me talk to them. You… hang out by that bulletin board and pretend like you're looking for a job."

Abel complied, making his way to a signboard with a large number of notices nailed to it. Although Raine had only told him to pretend, he looked over each notice carefully, looking specifically for jobs that offered a reward- depending on their financial situation, he might very well need one or two of them to cover the costs of supplies.

But as he reached out to look at one of the notices in particular, he was stopped when a female voice spoke from directly behind him. "Excuse me sir…" the voice said, "…but would you happen to be familiar with a man named… Abel? "

Abel felt his entire body freeze up. But only for a moment. Trying to maintain composure, he said, without turning to face the speaker, "…I don't know anyone by that name, I'm afraid." He reached toward a notice on the bulletin board again…

…only for the person behind him to swiftly circle around him and catch his wrist. She was wearing a heavy blue-and-white robe, the hood drawn up over her head, only allowing Abel to see her mouth. But there was an unmistakable six-armed cross emblem on her shoulder. "You might hide your face and change the color of your hair. But there's one thing you can't change. Your scent. Even under all that dye, it's still the same as I remember."

His scent? And that robe… was she one of Cardinal Szandor's assassins? But even if she wasn't, a member of the Church recognizing and seeking him out was bad enough. Was she trying to apprehend him? What should he do? Should he run? Should he try to fight her?

Run? Or fight?

Run?

Fight?

He chose to run.

Abel pushed the woman, hoping to break her grasp, and ran toward Raine and the others. But he only made it a few paces before the air filled with a metallic rattle and something seized him around the ankle, sending him crashing to the ground, his mask flying from his face. When he looked back, he saw the woman with her arm extended toward him. Only what emerged from beneath her robe wasn't an arm, but… a row of metal rings, suspended in midair, ending in a clawed metal hand that gripped his ankle. The rings moved and shifted, not attached to each other in any way and yet undeniably connected to each other, moving in response to the woman's motions.

Even unmasked, it took everything in Abel's power to not summon a blade of light to his hand, or use his wings to carry him away. But he wouldn't need to, as the stranger abruptly released him, the metal rings and hand retreating back into her sleeve with a loud rattle as she quickly approached. Abel tried to stand, but before he could, the stranger pounced on him with an almost feral speed and ferocity, straddling him and pinning him to the ground. As he struggled against her grip, she grabbed his chin with a metal hand and turned his face, first this way, and then the other, as though examining him. She leaned in close, pressing her nose to his neck, and inhaled deeply. Her grip tightened, her hands trembling as she whispered, "It really is you… it's really, truly you…"

Before Abel could even wonder what was happening, the stranger but both hands on his face and pressed her lips firmly to his, kissing him deeply and passionately. He was completely taken aback- so much so that he couldn't even begin to react, his arms limp at his sides, his eyes wide.

Despite its intensity, the kiss didn't last very long, lasting perhaps only a few seconds. And as the woman drew back, her hood fell back, revealing her features. Underneath, the woman had short orange hair, with a pair of pointed ears poking out from them, and alternating stripes of lighter and darker skin across her face. Her eyes were bright gold, with cat-like slits for pupils. And when she smiled, she revealed a set of small, but sharp pointed fangs.

But what Abel found most surprising of all was that… he knew this woman. She was…

"Wait… Notte?" He leaned closer. "Notte is that you?"

But there was no mistaking it. It was her. Notte. One of the very first people he'd ever saved, back in Lohan.

But before the two could say another word to each other, he heard Raine bark, "That's enough!" Looking around, Abel realized that she and the others had surrounded him and Notte, weapons drawn, or growling with her claws and fangs bared in Tamayatsu's case. Abel wasn't sure if the others had only just now taken notice of the commotion, or if they had noticed earlier and waited for the right moment to intervene- but either way, the sight of the group poised to attack made Notte immediately release Abel and step back, hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Hold on," she said quickly, "I mean no harm! I'm not here to hurt anyone!" Now free, Abel fumbled, reaching for his mask and slipping it back onto his face.

"Then what are you…" Seth began to demand, only to trail off as she too recognized Notte. "Wait, N-Notte? Why are you…?"

But any further discussion was cut short by the sounds of a shrill whistle, and the thunder of numerous approaching footsteps. The party looked around to see several town guards clad in yellow-and-red surcoats running toward the scene. At their head was the same guard who had met Abel and Raine at the gate the day before. "Alright, what's all this commotion?" the guard captain demanded, gaze sweeping over the entire group, before his eyes settled on Abel. "…Mask," he said, pointing his spear in Abel's direction. "I see that my warning fell of deaf ears. I told you what would happen if you made any trouble."

"Hold on a moment," Notte said, stepping forward and raising a hand. "I think there's-"

But she was cut off when the guard captain turned his spear in her direction. "Silence, beast! Your kind has no right to speak!"

The comment made Notte scowl. "…I hope you realize you're insulting a member of the Crusaders' Special Operations Division."

"As if the Crusaders would let an animal like you into their ranks," the captain spat. "I should have your tongue for such a brazen lie." He looked to the guards that had followed him. "See them to the gates. All of them."

At spearpoint, Abel, Notte, and the others were marched back toward the gates, the rest of the townsfolk stopping to watch them pass. The people's expressions varied- some had looks of suspicion or contempt, and some seemed to feel nothing more than simple curiosity, but not a single face bore anything resembling sympathy. As soon as the group had crossed the threshold to the outside, a lattice of metal bars slammed down over the gate, sealing it shut.

As the guards departed, all eyes turned to Notte, who quickly shrank under the withering scrutiny. "Uhh… hi, everyone," she said sheepishly, a nervous grin on her face.

Raine glared daggers at the cat-girl. But before she could speak, Seth beat her to it. "Notte… what is this? What are you even doing here?"

Notte's grin faded, and she rubbed the back of her neck, letting out a sigh. "That's a… bit of a long story, honestly."

"Well we have plenty of time on our hands now," Raine said, her tone curt, eyeing the lattice barring the gate.

"Raine…" the thief chided. "But… she has a point," she added.

Notte sighed again, but nodded. "I suppose we do have some catching up to do, don't we?" She raised a hand. "Well… I'm with the Crusaders. Special Operations Unit, Griffin Company." As if sensing the others' questions, she added, "Griffin Company is the largest special operations unit, and the ones who usually get assigned missions related to hunting monsters. That's why my team and I are here- to investigate sightings of a monster lurking in the Stilbon Forest, not far from here."

"Hold on," Raine interrupted. "How did you end up in the Crusaders in the first place?"

"It was Archbishop Beatrix's idea," the cat-girl replied. "She thought the best way to protect me from Mr. Vargo was to put me somewhere far away from Lohan, where his influence can't reach."

"But… what about you… not having arms?" Lailah asked cautiously.

"The Archbishop helped with that too. She requested a Relic be delivered from Lescatie. And I ended up with these." Notte pulled off her cloak, revealing her arms in full. Just as Abel had seen before, they were not made from flesh and bone, but from a row of dull grey metal rings, ones that weren't attached to each other, and yet still undeniably connected, held together by some unseen force. The others looked on, gasping in surprise as Notte lifted one of her arms, causing the rings to rattle faintly, and clenched the metallic fingers into a fist. There were more surprised cries when Notte suddenly thrust her arm forward, causing it to extend some ten paces away, before pulling it back with a loud rattle. "Sister Beatrix said they were called the Arms of Kaynan. Don't know who Kaynan was, or what he used them for, but… they work well enough." As she said this, Notte looked down at her hand, rotating it in a full circle. "So after they were attached, the Archbishop sent me to the Crusaders' headquarters in Kazas, I got put with Griffin Company, and I've been with them ever since."

A silence settled over the others for a moment. Then, Abel asked warily, "Then… you weren't sent by the Church to arrest me?"

"What, no!" Notte sounded genuinely shocked by the suggestion. "Of course not! I mean, I did hear rumors, but… my team and I have been on the road for weeks on our own mission. It's not our job to go around arresting people, especially not…" She trailed off, her cheeks coloring pink as her eyes flickered to Abel, before she shook her head. "A-Anyway, this isn't the first time I've been kicked out of a town. Once my captain finds out, he'll clear everything up and then we'll be let back in. So, don't worry about it."

"…If you say so," Raine said, not quite convinced.

A brief silence fell. Before it could linger too long, Abel turned to Notte, asking, "So… you said you were on a mission?"

Before Notte could reply, the lattice barring the town gate lifted. Standing there was the captain, along with two other figures. One was a man in plate armor, bald, his eyes hidden behind a thick pair of spectacles, a long-hafted hammer hanging from a hook on his back. The other was… well, it looked like a dog, but not any sort of dog Abel had seen before. It was large, its body covered in thick brown-and-black fur, looking more like a hunk of solid muscle with legs than a normal dog. The beast stared at the party with bright amber eyes, its mouth open and tongue hanging out, panting slightly.

"And this be- … demi-human is one of your subordinates, is she?" the captain asked, his expression sour.

"She is," the bald man replied, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

The guard captain scowled. "Well subordinate or not, we have laws here. And her kind-"

"Your town may have laws," the spectacled man interrupted, "but so does the Church. And one of those laws requires settlements to aid and abet the Crusaders at their request. Notte may be a demi-human, but she's entitled to the same protections and privileges as any other member of the Crusaders. Unless you intend to defy the Church itself?"

The guard captain glared at the bald man, gritting his teeth, his grip on his spear tightening. For a moment, Abel feared the man might lash out, animosity radiating from him in palpable waves. But after a long, tense silence, the man let out a frustrated snort. "…Fine. But if you and your pet make trouble-"

"That won't happen," the spectacled man replied bluntly, interrupting the captain again. "Unless someone else provokes it." He gave the guard captain a meaningful look.

The guard captain bristled, but eventually, he stepped aside, and gestured for Notte to enter. "Don't push your luck, demi-human. I'll be watching you."

The spectacled man then suddenly added, "Those people. Please allow them back inside as well. I'd like to speak with them."

"They aren't your subordinates, Crusader," the guard captain grumbled.

"No, they're not. But they were involved in some sort of incident involving one of my subordinates. I'd like to ask them a few questions."

The captain gave the spectacled man a glare that could have stripped the paint from a wall. But again, he relented, wordlessly stepping aside and letting the others re-enter the town.

As they followed the spectacled man, he looked over his shoulder at Abel's group. "The name's Justis. And this is my partner, Tharros." The dog-thing let out a deep, rumbling bark at its own name, as if introducing itself. "The rest of our team is staying in an inn not far from here. We can discuss things there."

Justis led them to an inn that, while small, was far more inviting than the Sleeping Goat- the wooden floor was polished smooth, the furniture was in good repair, and the scent of cooked food and baked bread hung in the air. In the corner, a fire burned in a hearth, the flames casting a warm glow over the room. Though not overly crowded, there were still a few patrons scattered about- but it was one group in particular that drew Abel's attention. And it was this group, naturally, that the spectacled man headed straight for.

"Captain," one of the group said. It was a man, clad in battere red plate armor, his face obscured by a helmet that made Abel think of a ship's prow, its eye holes covered by opaque green glass. "I see you found our stray. But… who are these people?" His voice was low, and slightly distorted, as if speaking from the far end of a long and narrow pipe.

"That's what I'd like to find out," Justis replied. He removed his hammer from its sling, setting it against a nearby chair, before taking a seat. As he did, the dog-beast- Tharros- sat as well, resting its large head on his thigh, letting out a low, satisfied growl. "So. Notte?"

"Oh, umm…" The cat-girl's eyes flickered nervously over the group. "You see, I, uh… well, I was, um…" She wrung her hands, looking around frantically, her cheeks bright red. "This is… he's the… uhhh…"

Justis sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Notte."

"He's the boy I keep telling you all about!" the cat-girl blurted out, her tail sticking straight up. "The one who saved me! Abel!"

"Abel…" another of Justis's group said. This one was a woman with black hair, her bangs blunted just over her dark red eyes. She wore a dark red vest and skirt, atop some kind of black garment that clung to her body like a second skin. "Isn't that the name of the Champion the Church denounced some time ago? Claiming he was some manner of… deviant? "

Justis's gaze shifted to Abel. "Is that true, boy? Are you the Abel they were talking about?"

Abel didn't reply. He may have trusted Notte, but these people… he had no idea what to make of them. No way to trust them. No way to know if they would help him, hinder him, or simply leave him be.

"You can speak plainly," Justis then said. "We have our assignment, and it doesn't involve chasing down some renegade. And from how Notte speaks of you, I doubt you're the villain the Church claims you are."

The comment caught Abel off-guard. But, if they truly weren't hunting him, then… he slowly reached up and took hold of the mask's lower edge, drawing it away and revealing his face. "…Yeah, I… I'm Abel. Bacchus's Champion."

"Zeke…" Raine began warningly, before she let out a sigh. "…Never mind."

At this, the last of Justis's companions spoke- another black-haired woman with blue eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you once again, Ser Abel."

Abel was about to ask how this person knew him. But, as with Notte, after a moment he recognized her. She was one of the noble girls who'd attended the Union Day ball in Faéton. She looked much different without her fancy green dress and with her braid cut into a much shorter, more practical length, her clothes similarly practical in design, overlaid with armor of thick, stiff leather. Abel stated as much: "I remember you. You're one of the noble girls, from the Union Day ball. You're, um…"

"I realized some time ago that I never actually introduced myself," the woman said, before placing a hand on her chest and bowing her head. "Serena Olbers, second daughter of Countess Andromeda Olbers of Cerulli, of Themis."

"…Right." Abel wasn't sure what to say to that.

Luckily, Seth chimed in. "So, who are the rest of you, then?"

"These are my teammates, and the rest of Division Three," Notte replied. "You already know Justis and Tharros, and Serena just introduced herself, so… that just leaves Red Jack…" She gestured to the man with the green-glassed helm. "…and Fran." She indicated the dark-haired woman, whose lips curled in a faint smile.

"So… what exactly happened back there, Notte?" Justis asked, propping an elbow on the table, his chin resting in his palm. He looked at Notte expectantly. "Did you happen to catch Abel's scent and get so worked up over the possibility of seeing him again that you couldn't contain yourself?"

The cat-girl's face reddened, her tail waving back and forth. "I- I-I mean, I…"

"Notte. You have to understand, you're a representative of the Church now," Justis said sternly. "And as a demi-human, you'll be under much greater scrutiny-"

"I know that!" Notte cut in. "I just… you have no idea how happy I was to see him again! How important he is to me!"

"From the way you talk about him, I think we all have some idea," Fran remarked dryly.

The cat-girl deflated somewhat. "…Sorry."

Abel remained silent. Justis's words could hardly be called a harsh rebuke- there was no need for him to come to Notte's defense.

"By the way…" Seth cut in, "…Notte mentioned earlier that you were investigating some sort of… monster sighting?"

"That's right,' the spectacled man replied. "Travelers and smaller villages have reported sightings of some strange creature, one they claim to have never seen before. Normally, the Church would have left the investigation to Imperial agents…" Justis paused, taking a long sip from the mug in front of him. "…But, then reports came of an entire village named Donne being razed, and its inhabitants slaughtered. By mapping Donne and the previous sightings to a map of the Stilbon Forest, the Crusaders determined that whatever this creature may be, it is slowly advancing to the northeast. Meaning…" He leaned forward, tapping his knuckles on the table. "…that's this monster's next destination is most likely Ives."

"With all that in mind, we were dispatched to intercept the creature," the armored man- Red Jack, Notte had called him- added. "Donne had no garrison of its own to speak of and only modest defenses, but a beast that can slay an entire village's worth of people would be a serious threat to even a seasoned force."

Abel listened, his brow furrowed. He couldn't say that he held any particular fondness for this town or for the people in it- the reception he and his friends had received upon arrival had hardly been friendly. But that didn't mean they deserved to be slaughtered by some rampaging monster. It didn't mean he had the right to abandon them to whatever fate they might face. His indifference began to fade, a grim resolve welling up within him. "…do you know anything about this monster? Anything at all?" Abel asked Justis, his voice heavy with determination.

"Abel?" Raine said, giving him a questioning look.

"Unfortunately, no," Justis replied. "We have descriptions, but none of them are consistent- one report claimed it was some form of fur-covered giant. Another-"

"Hold on a second!" the witch cut in. "Blue, you're not seriously thinking of going after that… whatever the hell this thing is supposed to be, are you?"

"If this town's in danger, then we can't just ignore it," Abel said firmly.

"Raine is right," Seth agreed. "I've heard of Griffin Company before. They're some of the best monster hunters on the continent- maybe the world. We should leave this to them."

"But-" Abel began.

"Actually…" Justis began, "…I think we could use your help."

Abel blinked, staring at the spectacled man. "Huh?"

"Ordinarily, the Church would dispatch two teams from Griffin Company to investigate a threat like this," the spectacled man said, leaning back in his seat. "But the team that was meant to partner with us has yet to arrive, and we haven't received word on why they've been delayed. We've been waiting for them for just over three-and-a-half weeks now- if we wait any longer, any trail left behind by the beast in Donne may go cold."

"And… you want us to fill in for this other group?" Seth asked warily.

"I can think of very few people I would rather have as allies, even temporarily," Justis replied, folding his arms across his chest, "than a Champion and his companions."

Abel felt his stomach flutter at the spectacled man's praise. After so much hostility, to hear such words of praise, spoken so earnestly, felt…

"We, uh… we need to talk about this," Raine said hurriedly. "Our group is actually pretty big, and we usually have a meeting before making any major decisions, and…"

Justis chuckled. "Well, don't let us rush you. Take some time and talk amongst yourselves. We can wait a little longer."

"Thanks," the witch replied, before grabbing Abel by the arm and practically dragging him out of the inn. Seth, Lailah, Fiann, and Tamayatsu followed.

Abel stumbled, trying to keep himself from tripping over his own feet. "R-Raine, what are you-?"

"We need to find the others," the witch interrupted. "This is too important for them to miss out on. Come on." She quickened her pace, the others hurrying to keep up.

Finding the few missing members of their group proved an easy enough task- they were in the square where they'd encountered Notte. But the conversation that followed, after Raine had explained the situation, proved much more difficult.

"As I understand it," Violet began, "A captain of a division of the Crusaders has requested our assistance in tracking and killing a monster that has been roaming the countryside and attacking villages. Is that correct?"

"That about covers it, Bottles," Raine confirmed with a nod.

Claire eyed Abel suspiciously. "And you think that this is a good idea because…?" She trailed off, waiting for his response.

"Because this town is in danger," Abel replied, his voice firm. "Because Notte and her team can't do this by themselves. If we don't help them, they could die. Everyone in this town could die."

"Are you forgetting who those people are?" Claire shot back. "They're Crusaders- knights of the Church. The same Church that told its followers not to aid you. And even if you do help them, what makes you think they won't just try to arrest you the second their mission is over?"

"I…" Abel couldn't answer. In fact, that had been his assumption when Notte first revealed herself, before he realized who she was. And though he had no reason to believe Notte was lying to him, or trying to lure him into some kind of trap, that didn't mean the other members of her team wouldn't turn him in.

"See, you can't even answer," Claire went on. "For all we know, this whole thing is nothing more than a trap to lure you out."

"You're wrong."

Abel and Claire looked to the source of the interruption- Seth. "I understand that you don't trust the Church, Meltrose. Or the Crusaders. But…" She closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. "I trust Notte. I know her. And she… Abel… he saved her. Back in Lohan. Notte wouldn't betray him. I'm sure of it."

Claire scowled, unconvinced. "And the others? How can you be sure they're trustworthy?"

The thief fell silent, and Claire gave a snort of derision. But if the president thought that Seth had given up, she was mistaken. "…Because if this was meant to be a trap, Notte wouldn't be here. She would never have agreed to be part of a mission to capture Abel."

Again, the president scowled. But instead of responding, she simply turned and walked away, muttering, "Fine then. Do whatever you want. But I want no part of this."

"Meltrose-!" Seth began, stepping after the president.

"Let her go, Seth," Abel said, catching her arm. "She's made up her mind."

The thief let out a frustrated huff, but eventually relented, her shoulders sagging. "…Is anyone else against helping?"

"I'll go," Raine replied. "If this is a trap, then someone'll have to help Blue get away."

Lailah had a dubious expression on her face. "I can't say that I trust this situation completely…" she began. "But, if that captain, Justis, isn't lying, and there really is a monster that can wipe out a whole village roaming around, then we can't just ignore it. I'll come along as well. If nothing else, it may come after us when we move on from here."

Fiann pulled out her journal, writing something in its pages. The message she wrote was short, and direct. [I will help you.]

It seemed that aside from Claire, there would be no further objections, so they returned to the inn, informing Justis they would assist in their hunt. But Abel's answer brought with it a question. According to the spectacled man, Griffin Company- and indeed, most of the Special Operations Units- operated in teams of five: small enough to move quickly or stealthily should the need arise, but still large enough to at least hold their own against any potential threats. And even with the president recusing herself from the situation, their group still had nine members- too many for an effective team, in Justis's eyes. If Abel was to assist the Crusaders in their investigation, then his own group would need to be whittled down. So the question now became: who would accompany him, and who would remain behind?

---

The next morning, Abel and his chosen party returned to the inn where Notte and the rest of her team were staying. They found the captain waiting for them, seated at a table with what appeared to be a map spread out before him. He looked up, taking note of Abel's companions.

"So," he said, "you've made your decision I see."

Abel nodded. "We have."

In truth, Abel had thought choosing his team would have been more difficult. But once they had found an inn to discuss the matter, Holly, Violet, and Minze almost immediately offered to stay behind. Holly felt that her lack of experience, both in battle and traveling over rough terrain, would slow everyone else down too much; Minze expressed a similar sentiment about Violet, in spite of the alchemist's protests, adding that having to divide her attention between protecting Violet and tracking their quarry would only lead her to performing both tasks poorly. Tamayatsu also declined to join Abel, but she wouldn't be remaining behind in Ives- instead, Zaramatsu would take her place. Her younger sister, the blonde fox-girl explained prior to the switch, had always possessed a keener sense of smell than Tamayatsu herself did, and so would be better suited to help track Griffin Company's mystery quarry. When asked what they would do if Justis considered Zaramatsu's presence as a sixth member, Tamayatsu answered, "Well, that captain has a dog with him. If he can have an animal on his team, then surely you can have one as well."

Justis's gaze swept over Abel's companions: Lailah, Raine, Seth, and Fiann. Zaramatsu waited outside the inn- her larger size might have drawn undue attention. "Well, you all certainly seem capable enough. I wouldn't expect any less of a Champion's allies."

"So what's the plan?" Raine asked immediately. "Notte mentioned this monster was moving through the Stilbon Forest. But that forest is massive. We'll need some kind of starting point." A quick glance at a map spread across Justis's party's table proved Raine correct: the region labeled as the "Stilbon Forest" covered half of Derain, with parts even stretching into the neighboring kingdoms of Tir and Tricrena.

The spectacled man pointed to a mark on the map- a dot labelled "Donne," roughly in the center of the forest's easternmost section. "Donne is the best place to begin our search. The attack on that village occurred some time ago, but there may still be a trail to follow, if we're lucky. And if there is…" He then reached over, patting Tharros's head, the canine's ears flicking up. "…Then I'm certain that my partner can find it."

"How far is Donne from here?" Lailah asked.

"About ninety milia. It should take around four days to get there by following the roads." The captain stood up, folding the map back up. "I trust you and your friends are prepared for the journey? It won't be an easy one- even without this mystery beast to contend with, there's plenty of other dangers."

"We've fought monsters before," Seth replied. "We can handle ourselves."

Justis gave a nod. "I suppose we'll see, won't we?"

The two groups set out not long after, Abel introducing Zaramatsu to Justis and the rest of his team as they departed. The captain had no objections to the black fox accompanying them- as far as he was concerned, an extra pair of eyes and a second nose was welcome. And Tharros certainly didn't seem to object to her company either- as the groups traveled, the dog and the fox would sprint and chase each other up and down the road, yipping and barking excitedly.

As the two animals bounded in circles around the group, Abel watched, before asking, "Captain, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of dog is Tharros? I've never seen one like him."

"I suppose that this is your first time seeing a kobold, then?" Justis replied, adjusting his glasses.

Abel's gaze snapped to Justis in shock, before glancing back to Tharros. "That's a kobold?"

"Ah, I understand your apprehensions," a deep, tinny voice said. It belonged to the armored man- Red Jack. "Kobolds are a species of monster, but I can assure you, so long as they are well-trained, they can be just as loyal and friendly as any other dog."

Abel looked out at Zaramatsu and Tharros again. So, that was a kobold… or at least, a normal kobold. While he couldn't exactly call Tharros "beautiful" or "cute," he did have a certain charm about him… although that could just have been because he wasn't a nightmarish amalgam of flesh and metal made by an insane alchemist. "Alright. And, can I ask you something, Mister Red Jack?"

"Please, just 'Red Jack' will do."

"Are you… a slayer?" Looking at the armored man, Abel was reminded of the description Violet had made of a slayer: a man clad entirely in armor, never removing it even while resting…

"Jack isn't just a slayer, Abel," Notte said, quickly coming to Abel's side. "He's the slayer. The man who started making slayers respectable again."

The armored man looked away, seemingly embarrassed. "You flatter me too much, Notte."

"It's true, though," Raine said, sliding up alongside Abel as well. "I don't pay all that much attention to gossip about adventurers, but even I've heard the stories about Red Jack." She leaned over, looking toward the armored man. "But I guess when you hunt dragons for a living, it's only natural that people would start talking."

"Wh-d- dragons!?" Abel stammered. He knew about dragons, from the stories Leah told Mordecai- massive, flying beasts with scales harder than steel, that could breathe flames capable of melting stone. And this man… he hunted them?

"It's what slayers do, Blue," Raine then said. "They dedicate themselves entirely to fighting one specific type of monster: ogres, goblins, manticores… or, in Jack's case, dragons."

"I thank you for the kind words," Red Jack said, bowing his head slightly. "But I'm afraid my dragon-slaying days are behind me now. I never quite healed completely after my last hunt."

"Still, seven kills is an impressive number," the witch said, slightly awed, "especially since you soloed two of them."

"Soloed?' That word caught Abel's attention. And as if sensing Abel's curiosity, Raine explained. "It means he fought the dragons by himself, without any kind of assistance. No partners, no team- not even anyone to bring him equipment." She looked over to the armored man. "In fact, Red Jack is pretty special. He isn't a Hero, and he isn't a descendant of a Hero. Meaning he was the first regular human to slay a dragon one-on-one. Twice."

"So… why join the Crusaders?" Seth asked. "You said you were hurt, but from the way you move, you seem fine."

"You can only say that because you never knew me in my prime, young lady," the armored man said. "I wasn't just a dragonslayer, but one of the fleetest-footed men on the continent back then. I had to be, for the hunt." His tone turned bitter, and he paused for a moment. "But during my last hunt, my leg was wounded. Although those who came to watch my feat mended my wound, it was never the same. Now, I can barely run at half my old speed." His eyes turned forward. "I had to retire. But though I can't hunt dragons, I still wanted to use my skills to do some good in the world. That's why I joined the Crusaders. There are plenty of other fearsome monsters in the world to hunt."

"You must have had some interesting adventures, Red Jack" Abel remarked.

"Oh, I have indeed." Red Jack raised a fist. "Once, we were commissioned to hunt down a most terrible creature-"

In the midst of the armored man's ramblings, Notte sighed and muttered, "Oh for god's sake, not this story again…"

Red Jack continued on: "…a mighty beast, known as the Catoblepas! "

From his tone, it was clear he was expecting Abel and his companions to be in awe. But… "I can't say I've ever heard of such a creature," Seth said.

"Aren't catoblepas a myth?" Lailah added. "I thought scholars concluded that sightings were just elephants, described by people who'd never seen one before."

"No, the beasts are quite real…" Justis then cut in. "… or at least, they were. Most believe they were hunted to extinction by the Cybelians, or died out after the sinking of Adoulin, when rising seas swallowed up their habitats in wetlands along the coasts of Windurst. Not that it matters, since what we ended up tracking down wasn't a catoblepas anyway. It was a basilisk. Still dangerous, mind you, but a basilisk's gaze only petrifies. A catoblepas's is supposed to burn anything it looks at to ashes…"

After an uneventful day on the road, and as night began to fall, the Stilbon Forest came into view, spreading across the land like a colossal green blanket. Here, at the forest's edge, Justis ordered the group to halt and make camp, wanting to ensure that both his party and Abel's were well-rested, before delving into the unknown.

Once the tents were erected and the fire was blazing brightly, the others gathered around it. But though he wanted to ensure everyone was well-rested, each member of his team seemed to be preparing for battle: Justis inspected the leather wraps on the haft of his hammer; Red Jack sharpened a truly enormous blade that was nearly as long as he was tall, and as wide as the span of his shoulders; Serena inspected her leather armor, restitching any loose threads that she found. Even Tharros seemed to be readying himself, tugging and pulling on a thick length of rope he held down with his paws. And Fran…

"So, Fran, was it?" Raine said, seating herself next to the black-haired woman. "Is that a nickname, or…"

"It's a nickname," she replied flatly. "My full name is Franziska z Tir." She reached into a pouch, and pulled out a small metallic ball.

"Alright then… where're you from?"

"Tir." Her tone didn't change as she inspected the ball's surface. "I would think the 'z Tir' in my name would be enough of a hint."

"Fran, be kind," Red Jack said, not looking up from his blade. "Notte didn't know where Tir was either when she first joined us."

After an awkward moment of silence, Raine continued. "Uh, a-anyway… what are those?"

"Sling bullets," Fran answered as she put the metal ball away, pulling out another to inspect it.

"You… fight with a sling? That's… not very common. …Why not a bow, or a crossbow?"

Fran looked at the witch briefly, expression unreadable. "Watch." She whispered a few strange words, before blowing on the metal ball. In response, thin glowing white lines etched themselves into the sphere's surface. Fran then raised her arm, tossing the sphere into the darkness outside the circle of light cast by the campfire. And when the bullet struck the ground, there was a bright flash and a loud bang.

The others around the campfire all jumped, startled by the sudden noise. Tharros leapt up, barking furiously, while Zaramatsu, who had been relaxing on her belly a short distance from the campfire, scrambled to her feet, her fur bristling. "…Dammit, Fran," Justis grumbled, rubbing his ear. "I thought I told you not to do that anymore."

"My apologies," the black-haired woman replied. Her tone didn't sound remotely sorry.

Raine's ears were still ringing as she looked at the dark-haired woman with a newfound respect. "…Wow. Okay, that's actually pretty impressive. So you're a mage, then."

"More-or-less," Fran said, rolling a new bullet between her fingers. "I can infuse objects with elemental magic, which is released when they strike something. Heavier objects can store more energy. Which is why I prefer to use a sling- lead bullets create a more powerful blast than arrows or crossbow bolts…"

A short distance away, beyond the fire's reach, Abel stood, watching the forest as he tried to make his heart stop pounding. Hopefully, whatever it was that woman had done- Fran, was it?- wouldn't draw anything dangerous closer to them. Especially now that they were so close to the Stilbon Forest.

"Abel?"

He jolted, wheeling around to find himself facing Notte. "Whoa, hey! Relax! It's just me."

Abel let out a breath, before turning back to the forest, trying to calm his racing heart. "Sorry."

The cat-girl came to his side. "Why are you all the way over here by yourself anyway?"

"Someone has to keep watch. We're never really safe as long as we're out in the wilderness."

Notte folded her arms over her chest, a faint rattling sounding from them. "I guess that's true. But Tharros is usually sharp enough to pick up any trouble coming our way." She then looked his way. "So… how have you been?"

"Well… I can't say that things have been going well for us recently. But, what about you, Notte? The Church hasn't been giving you any trouble, has it?" Abel knew that, for all the difficulties he and the others faced, as a demi-human, Notte almost certainly had it even worse.

"I won't lie and say that I haven't had my share of troubles…" Notte began. She leaned back, looking up at the stars. "But it hasn't been all bad. I've been able to go to all sorts of places and see all kinds of new things. I got to work with amazing people, like Red Jack. It… made me stronger than I would have been, if I'd stayed in Lohan."

As Abel looked at Notte, an image flashed in his mind- one of Notte lying in the bed at the Temple of Bacchus, wrapped in bandages, bruised and battered so badly she barely even looked like a person. His gaze shifted away. Faint words drifted from his lips. "I'm sorry…"

But to his surprise, Notte pushed her hand against his chin, forcing his gaze back toward her. "Why're you apologizing?"

Abel was surprised. He thought the metal would be cold, but… her fingers were just as warm as they would have been had they been made from flesh and blood. He stammered, trying to find the right words. "You… you deserved better than what happened to you. I… I could've… I should've-"

"Abel." The cat-girl cut him off, her voice firm. "I'm alive, because of you. You know that, don't you?" Her gaze shifted away, her cheeks coloring pink. "All the places I've been, the things I've seen, the people I've met… all of that wouldn't have happened, if it wasn't for you. So please. Don't apologize."

He was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, Abel nodded. "Alright."

A silence settled, as Abel looked once again at the forest, watching for any signs of danger. Eventually though, he asked haltingly, "What do they… feel like?"

Notte blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? What do what feel like?"

"Your arms. You… can feel things with them, can't you?"

Notte nodded. "Yeah, I can. But, they feel… I don't know how to describe it exactly. Like they're… far away from me? Like, if I'm standing here, my arms feel like they're-" She reached out, stretching one of her arms out until it was about ten paces away. "…over here." The arm snapped back to its original length with a metallic rattle, and Notte looked down at her hand. "It was hard to get used to at first, but… now I don't even have to think about it anymore. Sometimes I wonder how I ever lived without them."

"And… what about everyone back in Lohan? How are they?"

"I haven't actually talked to them. But Sister Beatrix sends me letters sometimes, telling me how they're doing. It sounds like…" Notte abruptly trailed off, eyes fixed on something in the darkness ahead of them.

Abel blinked, noticing her odd behavior. "…Notte?"

But she didn't answer. Instead, her hand shot out, extending ahead of her, where it seemed to hit something, something that let out a surprised and pained screech. Notte's arm snapped back, clutching a small shape, wriggling in her grasp. It looked like a snake… a snake with two thin arms ending in long, thin claws and blazing red eyes, its jaw lined with a mouthful of sharp teeth rather than fangs. The thing let out a furious hiss, thrashing in Notte's grip, trying to break free. But she merely clenched her fist, her metal fingers crushing the snake-thing's body with a wet pop, and the beast instantly went limp.

"It's a tatzlwurm," the cat-girl said, dropping the carcass on the ground. "Just a little one, though- probably just hatched. Adults are a lot bigger."

Abel stared at Notte as she tossed the dead creature aside, feeling a sort of mixture of awe and unease. The way she had abruptly shifted from at ease to alert, the way she hadn't even flinched at killing that monster… it seemed Notte had indeed grown stronger since he and the others had left Lohan. And yet… the sight filled him with a pang of uncertainty. Not because she had killed the tatzlwurm- he'd killed his fair share of monsters too, and this one was barely a threat to anyone. But it was the way she did it, so matter-of-fact, no hesitation or regret. As if…

But all of a sudden, Tharros began barking, his paws thumping on the ground, drawing both Abel and Notte's attention. The dog and the fox were staring at the forest, the former's muzzle curled in a snarl, the latter's ears pricked straight up. "Guess that wasn't the only one," the cat-girl remarked, staring out into the darkness.

In seemingly a matter of moments, the rest of her team had formed a line next to Notte, weapons ready as they looked out at the forest. "What do we have out there?" Justis asked, holding his hammer ready.

Notte squinted. "Tatzlwurms. Four… no, five big ones. Not sure how many little ones."

"What do you think, Captain? We each take out one of the larger ones?" Serena asked, armor donned, a long-handled weapon in her hands that resembled both a spear and an axe.

The spectacled man nodded. "Agreed." He looked to Abel. "Champion. You and your friends stand your ground here. Let us handle this." He then turned to Fran and said, "Fran. Give us some light."

"Aye, sir." The black-haired woman uttered her strange words and blew on three balls in her hands, causing thin red lines to etch themselves into their surfaces. She then packed them into a leather sling and swung it in a wide arc, sending the spheres sailing out into the darkness. Upon striking the ground, they exploded, bathing the area in an eerie red glow, revealing a number of serpentine shapes with short but powerful bodies, and jaws lined with rows of teeth rather than fangs… and with two muscular arms ending with sharp black claws. Sure enough, there were five that were notably larger than the rest, ranging from the same size as Tharros to as large as a horse. None of the balls struck any of the tatzlwurms… but then, it seemed that hadn't been the intent.

The serpentine creatures recoiled from the sudden bright lights, hissing and snarling as they shielded their eyes with their clawed arms. At that moment, Notte's team- with the exception of Fran- surged forward. In practically the blink of an eye, Red Jack had crossed the span between him and the nearest of the larger tatzlwurm- before it could react, he whirled to the side, his blade swinging around him in a wide arc, before falling toward the monster's neck with enough force to cleave the serpent's head from its body. Abel could only gawk- no more than five seconds could have passed between Fran's first volley and Red Jack's strike. And the strike itself… Abel had been looking directly at the armored man, and yet, he barely saw it happen at all. If he had so much as blinked,all he would have seen was the tatzlwurm falling dead at Jack's feet.

The others, though not quite as swift, were just as efficient. Notte extended one of her arms, her hand touching the ground in front of one of the tatzlwurms, using her other arm to launch herself into the air above the serpent; as she seemed to hang in the air above the beast, her arm snapped back to its original length, her metal hand tearing a hole through its skull, falling to the ground as the cat-girl landed not far from her target. Justis was nowhere near as swift as Red Jack or Notte, and Tharros easily outpaced him, bounding up to one of the serpents and seizing its arm in its jaws, yanking at the wurm hard enough to force it off-balance, giving the spectacled man enough time to close in and swing his hammer with all his might, the weapon impacting the side of the tatzlwurm's head with a sickening crunch, its skull caving in as it was sent tumbling over the ground. But as his back was turned, one of the tatzlwurms recovered, turning its attention to Justis. But before it could so much as raise a claw, it was impacted by a small blue sphere, which burst in a flash of light and coated the creature in a thick layer of ice, before Justis turned its hammer on the frozen monster, smashing it to bits with a single heavy blow.

"Ke-hahahahaha!" A high, keening laugh rang out from Serena, as she swung the axe head of her weapon with enough force to cleave a large chunk out of a tatzlwurm's jaw, causing it to stumble back with a pained hiss. "Yes! Yes! Scream for me, you insect!" The serpentine monster tried to recover, lashing out with a claw, only for Serena to swing her axe-spear in return, easily severing the beast's hand at the wrist, before drawing back and thrusting the spear end into the monster's throat, the force of the blow driving the point all the way through its scaly hide. Her feet dug deep gouges into the earth as she pushed the tatzlwurm back, leaping onto its body as it fell, driving her spear into its flesh again and again in a blind frenzy.

The smaller shapes began to retreat into the darkness beyond the reach of Fran's flames. And once again, Abel could only gawk. The entire skirmish couldn't have lasted more than a minute. And yet each member of the group had taken down one of the larger tatzlwurms with deadly precision, with not one of the beasts managing to so much as scratch a single one of them.

"That was… incredible," Lailah said, a mixture of awe and shock on her face.

"Griffin Company aren't called the greatest monster hunters on the continent for no reason," Seth replied, her expression a bit more composed, though her tone still carried a hint of awe.

Something nudged Abel in the side. He looked to see Fiann holding up her journal. [This band of hunters is quite formidable. I never thought I'd meet such skilled warriors outside of my homeland.] Coming from the bard, that was no small compliment.

"Alright everyone, you know the drill," Justis ordered, hanging his hammer from his back and replacing it with a long, sharp-looking knife. "Start stripping them of anything worthwhile."

Serena stood, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face, the blood on her weapon gleaming in the eerie light. "Oh, very well…"

Just as swiftly as they had cut down the beasts, Justis's team set about stripping the tatzlwurms of useful components- hides, claws, teeth… even bones weren't spared. They finished as Fran's fires began to dim, returning to the campfire's warm glow, laden with their spoils. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I always get hungry after a fight like that," Serena said, setting her axe-spear aside and taking a seat next to the fire, before sticking a hunk of meat onto the edge of her own carving and holding it over the fire.

Abel stared again, not in shock this time, but in disbelief. Something that Notte took notice of. "Come on, don't look at Serena like that," she said, also sitting next to the fire with a hunk of meat in hand- though unlike Serena, Notte simply stuck her whole hand into the flame. "Tatzlwurm meat isn't too bad. It's tough, but it''s got a good flavor."

"But… is that… safe?" Abel asked, hesitating.

"While it's true that all monster flesh carries trace amounts of miasma within it," Red Jack began, "much like conventional diseases and parasites, with proper preparation, the risk of contamination can be reduced significantly. In fact, numerous regions consider certain monsters to be delicacies." Though the armored man sat next to the fire, unlike the others, it seemed he had no intention of partaking.

"Besides," Notte added. "I've eaten worse."

With a sigh, Raine sat next to the fire as well. "Well, it can't hurt to try it, at least."

As Selene passed her a piece of meat to skewer, Abel asked the witch, "What's a delicacy?"

"Usually, a food that doesn't actually taste all that great, but really expensive to buy," Raine answered. "People eat them to show off, mostly."

"Oh." A pause. "What do you think the others are doing right now?"

Raine touched a hand to her chin. "Well…"

…

Claire glared at the silver-haired girl seated across from her. She took a sip from her tankard, hoping the cheap ale would dull the irritation she felt, if only slightly.

It did not.

"Quit… hanging around me, alright?" the president said harshly. "Just, like… fuck off. Go hang out with Promestein instead."

Holly didn't seem particularly fazed by Claire's hostility. "I think you might've had a bit too much to drink," she said, taking a sip from her own mug.

"Well what else is there to do in a shithole town like this?" Claire shot back, gesturing vaguely. "There's no Temple of Eros- there's not even a regular brothel, and the women here are either fucking ugly as sin. All I can do to entertain myself is drink." As if to emphasize, the president took another, longer drink from her tankard.

"Well, I know a few games we could play," Holly said, leaning closer. "I have to warn you though- I'm pretty good."

Claire glowered. "Games? You mean spend even more time sitting across from you watching you wave those fat, disgusting tits around?"

At this, Holly recoiled, covering her chest reflexively with one arm. "W-What!?"

"You heard me!" The president reached out, grabbing one of Holly's breasts, squeezing it hard despite the girl's protests. "Look at these things! They're ridiculous!"

The mercenary flinched, trying to pull away, to no avail. "Aaagh! M-Miss Meltrose, that hurts!"

But Claire did not relent, instead squeezing harder, digging her fingers into Holly's flesh. "They're literally bigger than my head! You look like some perverted statue, or something! I'm surprised you don't tip over when you're standing still!"

Holly continued to struggle against Claire's grip. "Hhaaah, p-please stop!"

At this, the president did relinquish her grasp, though not before giving Holly's chest another rough squeeze. "I mean that demi the degenerate picked up in Zipangu has ridiculous tits too, but at least she has some height on her to balance it out. You on the other hand…" She could only gesture at Holly, who was massaging her breasts gently. "…I don't even know what to say about you."

…

The witch shrugged. "I'm sure they're fine." She took a bite of the tatzlwurm meat, chewing thoughtfully for a moment. "Huh… Cat's right. This is actually pretty good."

With the threat now passed, everyone began to gather around the fire. After a few moments, Seth said to Red Jack, "So. You can only run at half the speed you could during your prime, you say?"

"That is correct," the armored man replied.

"You're saying that, as you are now, you can cross a distance of… what, fifteen ped s in around five seconds? And that in the past, you could run even faster than that? "

Red Jack paused, and then nodded. "Indeed. Dragons have many strengths, but one that can catch many by surprise is their speed. You might expect dragons to be slow, lumbering beasts on account of their size." He raised a finger. "But that is not so. Even on foot, the average dragon in good health can easily run down a horse, and most can outmaneuver them as well. When hunting dragons, speed is a necessity."

"I guess so. And I'm guessing that sword swing you pulled off is part of that?" Raine asked. "I mean, I was looking right at you, and I still barely saw it."

The armored man again nodded. "Quite right. What you saw was a technique that I developed over several years- one that combines speed with the strength needed to cut through a dragon's scales. I call it, the 'Dragon Cleaver…'"

---

"So… Serena," Abel began. "How did you end up joining the Crusaders?"

The black-haired girl looked his way. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I… you're a noble, aren't you? Why would a noblewoman like you want to become a monster hunter?"

Serena touched her chin. "Well I will admit that after the Union Day ball, I was quite appalled by your treatment of me and my companions. So much so that even weeks later, I couldn't forgive the slight. So, one day, I snuck out of my family's manor and went to a nearby shore to vent my frustrations. I was shooting a target I'd set up, when I was set upon by a stray sahuagin."

"A sah… what now?"

"It's a sort of… fish-man, I suppose. It's not like a mermaid, though. More like a fish, with arms and legs. Granted though, at the time, I didn't know that."

"So, what happened then?"

"The beast emerged from the sea at a moment when I had used my last arrow. I should have been frightened- never before had I laid eyes on a monster, much less stood so close to one. Yet, I wasn't afraid. Instead, I was so… infuriated by this petty creature's interruption of my ruminations that before I realized what I was doing, I took my bow into my hands, and struck it across the head with all my might, killing it in a single blow. When it was over, I could scarcely believe my own actions." Serena seemed to pause for a moment, as if reflecting on the moment. "Yet, I couldn't deny that my feat filled me with a certain… exhilaration. And in that moment that I had a rather… sudden realization about myself. I found…" A wide, unnerving smile broke across Serena's face. "…that I rather enjoyed killing monsters."

In spite of himself, Abel retreated ever so slightly from Serena. "So, you decided to join the Crusaders because of that?"

"The Crusaders weren't my first choice, no," Serena admitted. "I tried my hand with a few mercenary companies, but few were interested in accepting the daughter of a noble into their ranks. And those that were, cared more about the money I might provide than for my abilities. After parting ways with a group like this, I found myself in a small town in Mavors, where I sought guidance with the local priest. At his suggestion, I ventured to Niacal, the headquarters for Griffin Company. I was trained, assigned to Captain Justis's team, and sent out into the world."

The light of the dawn the next morning was quickly dimmed as the two hunting parties delved into Stilbon Forest's interior. The darkness within wasn't like the oppressive darkness of Caral Marsh that blocked out the very sun, but rather a thick, enveloping gloom that gave the impression that something, somewhere, was always lurking nearby, watching them. The dense foliage along the edges of the narrow path seemed to creep closer with every step, as if at any moment, it would reach out to bar their way, or grab hold of someone and drag them into its depths. And all was quiet. There was little in the way of animal calls or bird songs, with only the group's conversation to break the tension; and even that felt subdued, almost forced. Even Zaramatsu, who had spent the previous day bounding up and down the road alongside Tharros, occasionally bringing Abel herbs and wildflowers she'd found, was now quiet, padding along silently and alertly, ears twitching. It was though the forest were… alive- a slumbering beast that would wake at the slightest disturbance, and all within were trying desperately not to provoke it.

But as difficult as it was to believe, people had made homes for themselves in the woods, according to Justis. Though most lived along the forest's edges, a handful of villages and fortresses dotted the forest interior. And it was to one of these fortresses that the two parties were headed- a fortress named Simeiz. Though Donne was still some distance away, as the settlement closest to Ives, it was possible that the soldiers garrisoned there had seen something suspicious in the vicinity.

The road to Simeiz was quiet. So quiet, in fact, that it was a bit unnerving. There were no birds calling in the branches overhead, no small creatures scuttling through the undergrowth. And not a single monster appeared to challenge them. And while there was no denying that it was easier traveling with nothing to impede their progress, Abel couldn't shake the feeling that there was something… unnatural about the lack of interference.

"This fort we're going to… Simeiz, was it? Who's in charge there?" Seth asked.

"The fort is held by the Ermis Imperial Army," Justis answered, the canine at his side sniffing the air every so often. "Officially, all lands that aren't directly ruled by a lesser lord are the domain of the Emperor himself, and thus the Emperor is charged with their protection. That said-"

Justis abruptly stopped. The path ahead had opened up, enabling Abel's party to see further down the road. But it was what they saw ahead of them that made them freeze.

It was a small fortress- really just a set of four walls rising up from the ground, enclosing a single tower- Simeiz, Abel assumed. But it was clear that something terrible had happened there. The gates were ripped off their hinges, one resting on the ground nearby, the other nowhere in sight.

Silently, Justis held up a hand, making a strange series of gestures. Though he'd never seen them before, Abel understood their meaning: Spread out and investigate. Remain silent. Notte and the others complied, after drawing their weapons- Red Jack and Fran each split from the main group, circling around the fort, while the remainder approached the open gates cautiously. All of them moved in complete silence, their footsteps not even seeming to disturb the dust on the ground. With little recourse, Abel followed Justis and his team, imitating their movements, trying to remain as silent as possible.

And as he entered the fort, he saw something he couldn't see from the outside.

The bodies.

There were only a few- no more than ten by his count- but it was clear that all of them had suffered horribly in their final moments. One had been crushed by the gate, only his lower half visible, everything above the waist completely flattened. Another lay face down, his head twisted around to face the sky, his neck bent at an angle no human neck was meant to bend at. But the most unsettling one in Abel's eyes was a body that looked more like a burnt length of wood, with its skin and clothes charred together into an unrecognizable mass… a large hole bored through its chest. The sight made Abel sick- before he realized it, he reached into his jacket and put on his mask, as though it would somehow protect him from the sight. The roiling sensation in his gut didn't stop once the mask was on his face, though it did lessen considerably.

"What… what happened here?" Lailah whispered, voice shaking slightly.

"It seems our quarry has already struck," Justis replied grimly.

Looking around, the bodies were all in terrible condition- in fact, there were more bodies than he originally thought, with several decayed into some unidentifiable sludge, the bones emerging from the mess the only proof they had ever been human at all. But, amid the carnage, Abel couldn't help but notice that something seemed to be missing. And he wasn't the only one.

"Captain," Notte began. "I don't see any tracks." The ground was littered with footprints from the soldiers, but… there were no claw marks, or hoofprints, or… tracks of any type. Yet, it was undeniable that a monster of some type had struck- bandits would have taken the fort's provisions, which were completely untouched, and the bodies showed no signs of being eaten. It was as though whatever had killed these soldiers had done so simply for the sake of killing- to prove that it could.

Fran and Red Jack entered the fort soon after. "Captain, we searched the fort's perimeter," the armored man said. "We didn't find any tracks leading toward or away from the fort."

"Nothing at all?" Justis asked, eyes narrowing. For a moment, his gaze swept over the fort's interior, expression unreadable. "…I see." He returned his hammer to its harness. "Well, even if it left no trace behind, something clearly attacked the soldiers garrisoned here. Let's have a closer look around. There might still be clues as to what we're dealing with."

The Crusader team spread out, inspecting the bodies. Abel followed the spectacled man as he moved to look over one of the corpses more closely- the one whose head had been twisted all the way around. He watched, as the Crusader inspected the soldier's neck. "No obvious marks," Justis muttered faintly, before looking over the rest of the corpse. "Doesn't seem like anything is missing. …His sword is still in its sheath. Whatever attacked him didn't give him time to draw his weapon…"

Abel remained silent, though he too looked at the body, and at the surrounding ground, searching for some hint, any clue that might give some indication as to what had killed this man. The fact that there were no tracks… "Captain Justis," he said, causing the man to look his way. "Do you think some kind of… flying monster did this? I mean, since there aren't any tracks…"

"Unlikely," the spectacled man replied in a low voice, his tone serious. "A flying monster would still have to land, and that would leave some sign."

Abel thought a bit more. "What about… a ghost? Could one have done this?" Abel couldn't help but notice Seth jolt slightly at the mere mention of the word "ghost."

"Also unlikely. Ghosts are almost always bound to a specific place, typically the place of their death. And I doubt a ghost could claim all of Stilbon Forest as its territory."

Abel paused again. "…What if this wasn't done by a monster at all? What if… what if this was done by people? I mean, I've heard the Overlord has cults that worship him. Maybe-"

"I don't think that's the case either," Justis said, cutting Abel off.

Abel tilted his head. "How can you tell?"

"It's true that the cults of the Overlord are infamous for the horrors they commit in his name. But they're not mindless. They strike targets with the intent of sending a message, or to spread fear and chaos. A fortress is a difficult target as it is- there'd be no benefit to attacking one in the middle of nowhere like this." Justis looked over to a corner of the fort- there, stood a number of crates, barrels, and sacks, covered under a tarp. "If nothing else, they'd have looted the stores."

Abel again fell silent. He did have a few more theories, but those would likely be dismissed as well. Any beast he could name would have left some sort of track; any intelligent creature would have taken at least some of the supplies, or perhaps a morbid trophy from their victims at the very least. But then what was left? Something had obviously attacked this fortress, but why?

Nearby, Abel saw Zaramatsu prowling the edge of the camp, nose close to the ground. Then, all at once, she stiffened, before bolting over to Abel, nearly knocking him off his feet as a panicked whine escaped from her throat. "Hey, whoa. What's the matter?" Abel looked, but the area where Zaramatsu had been sniffing was… empty. Nothing should have provoked such a strong reaction from the fox… and yet, that's exactly what had happened.

Zaramatsu's sudden display of fear seemed to spark some interest in Justis, and the spectacled man let out a whistle; Tharros, who had been sniffing at one of the dead soldiers, perked his ears, bounding over to his master's side. "Tharros. Search," Justis commanded. The kobold gave a yip, before bringing its snout to the ground, sniffing. It weaved back and forth, slowly meandering to where Zaramatsu had been earlier… before it too suddenly stiffened. Tharros didn't flee back to his master's side as Zaramatsu had, but stood stiffly, letting out a strange growl with his tail raised and his ears flat against his head. But the growl, the way the kobold stood… Tharros was afraid, not angry. On seeing this, Justis narrowed his eyes, before calling out, "Everyone, on me!"

The others- both Justis's team and Abel's companions- quickly gathered. "Captain?" Notte asked. "Did you find something?"

"I'm not sure…" Justis turned, facing the others. "I think Tharros has the scent of whatever killed these soldiers. But I've never seen him behave like this before." He looked to his canine partner, who was still standing stiffly, growling faintly. "Whatever he's sniffed out, it's dangerous."

"Every job is dangerous," Red Jack remarked.

"Not like this," Justis replied, his tone serious. "Whatever's out there, we need to tread carefully." The captain then shifted his attention to Abel. "Champion. This isn't an order, but… if you have any reservations about continuing, now is the time to speak."

"What are you talking about?" Raine interjected. "Why would we turn back now? We've fought a kraken, a hydra… whatever this is, it can't be worse than them."

The seriousness of Justis's words, along with Zaramatsu's reactions, had made Abel's heart begin to pound. And yet, the witch's words did serve as a bit of reassurance. He'd killed a kraken. A hydra. He'd… well, he hadn't killed the gashadokuro in Isha, but he had at least held his ground against it. But, he had killed Guillaume Rouque- one of the Overlord's generals. Surely, whatever monster had done this, he and his companions could face it.

Abel steeled himself, before looking to Justis. "…the job's not finished yet. We aren't leaving until it is."

The captain regarded him silently for a moment. "…Very well." Though his face was stoic, Abel could hear the relief in the spectacled man's voice. "Alright everyone. From here on, keep your guard up."

"Aye sir," Justis's team replied, in various tones.

Justis then turned his attention to Tharros. "Tharros. Find." The kobold's ears pricked up, and though he hesitated for a moment, Tharros slowly began to stalk forward, sniffing at the air all the while. Silently, the party followed, Justis and Abel at the front, the others following close behind, weapons ready.

Almost immediately, Tharros led the parties into the brush surrounding the fort, weaving through the dense vegetation. The kobold would pause every few seconds, sniffing, before he started forward again, the rest of the party moving silently behind. Every step was cautious, careful. Abel had to admit, he found it somewhat unnerving. Just the day before, he'd watched Notte's team easily slaughter an entire pack of tatzlwurms without breaking a sweat; now they tread so lightly that he was sure that if he were to look at the ground, not one of them would have left even a single footprint in their wake.

Still, they pressed on, the silence seeming to bore into Abel's ears. Tharros would stop every so often, looking back toward his master, as if afraid to continue, but at Justis's urging, the kobold would always turn around and move forward once again. Still, their progress was slow, as though Tharros obeyed, his reluctance was plain to see. And all the while, the silence pressed down upon Abel like a weight. He'd often heard that birds would fall silent, and animals would hide when something dangerous approached- but that had been the case since they'd first entered the Stilbon Forest. Was whatever they were searching for that dangerous? Was it truly so terrifying that the wild itself refused to stir in fear of-

All of a sudden, Abel was grabbed by the shoulder and pulled back behind a tree. Abel looked over to see Justis standing beside him, the spectacled man holding a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence. Abel immediately complied, becoming aware of a sort of faint… whistling sound, like the wind blowing through a small crack. But it wasn't the wind. It wasn't a constant sound. It would stop, then start, then stop again, sounding less like wind, and more like…

…breathing.

Abel looked to Justis, and pointed ahead- he wanted to see the source of the sound, and hoped that the captain would understand. Justis nodded, before replying with a hand signal of his own, one that Abel understood to mean, Go slowly. So, slowly, Abel peered around the tree, keeping himself hidden from view.

Up ahead, in a small clearing, Abel could see… something. He didn't know what it was. It was… some sort of creature, that much was clear- but one that seemed to be nothing but a massive head, covered in scaled, greyish mottled skin. It had no arms, or legs, or wings, or any other sort of appendage that he could see. Yet it somehow floated in the air, hovering about three paces above the ground. And its face… the face was just a gaping maw, a mouth filled with dozens upon dozens of teeth, each as big as a finger. But it was its eyes that drew Abel's attention- or rather, eye, as the creature had just one single, massive eye the size of Abel's own head. The eye was closed, and the way the creature seemed to loll in the air, it was obvious that it was asleep, the whistling sounds escaping its mouth as it slept.

Abel quickly pulled back, deciding he'd seen enough, and in a whisper, he asked, "What is that thing?"

Justis replied in an equally hushed tone, "A death gazer." He provided no further elaboration before saying, "We need to fall back. Now."

"What? Why?"

"Death gazers are some of the most dangerous monsters you can face." Justis peeked out behind the tree briefly. "…Griffin Company requires a minimum of four full teams to hunt a gazer. We'd never stand a chance with just two."

"But we can't just-" Abel was abruptly cut off when the tree he and Justis were hiding behind shook, before being violently pulled up and out of the ground, the sudden shifting of the soil beneath their feet causing the two of them to stumble. Abel looked.

Five blazing red eyes glared back at him.

The gazer was awake.

For a moment, the beast merely regarded them in silence. But only with five of its eyes- the large eye, and four smaller eyes, attached to fleshy stalks radiating from the gazer's body like the arms of a star. However, one eye, attached to a fifth stalk shone gold; from this eye, what looked to Abel like a translucent golden stream flowed through the air, wrapping around the trunk of the tree they had been hiding behind, holding it aloft.

Then with an angry snarl, the gazer whipped back its eye-stalk, the golden river and tree following suit, and hurled the massive object at them.

"Move!" Justis shouted.

But as the two dived to safety, something emerged from behind one of the nearby trees. Fiann sprinted forward with almost blinding speed, and caught the tree before it could land. Her heels dug deep gouges in the ground as the force of the throw pushed her back, but she remained on her feet, before throwing the tree back. However, before the trunk could impact the gazer's body, a red light flashed from somewhere behind the mass of leaves and branches, and red beams cut through the air, slicing through the tree in midair, the different sections falling past the gazer, but failing to hit it.

"D-Damn it! Everyone, move in!" Justis shouted, drawing his hammer and rushing forward.

In practically the blink of an eye, Red Jack had closed the distance. As he had before, he stepped to the side, his enormous blade whirling around him, But as his blade fell, a white light flashed from one of the gazer's lesser eyes, and a white, bowl-shaped barrier appeared in front of the beast. The blade impacted the barrier, and bounced back, failing to so much as leave a scratch. As Red Jack reeled back, the barrier vanished, and the gazer's main eye- all of its eyes- glowed red, before beams blazing with red light shot out of its eyes, all aimed at the armored man. Red Jack clumsily raised his blade as a shield- several beams impacted the blade but failed to pierce through it. One beam, however, managed to catch his leg… and also failed to pierce through. Red Jack caught himself, and as he gripped his blade in both hands, he taunted, "My gear was smithed and enchanted to resist dragon fire! You'll have to do better than that!"

There was no way to know if the gazer understood Red Jack's taunts. But if the armored man had intended for his words to be a diversion, they failed- two of its eyes snapped in different directions, and with a surprising amount of speed, the gazer pulled back, just as Justis and Serena rushed at its sides, their weapons swinging through the air where it had been only moments before. As it pulled back, another of its eye-stalks aimed in their direction. Abel flinched- as he did, a brilliant, dazzling blur of colors flashed against his eyelids, stabbing into his eyelids like needles. He recovered, but it seemed the others had taken the full brunt of the flash, shielding their eyes as they staggered around blindly. The gazer took advantage of the opening however- another golden stream shot out from another of its eyes, wrapping around Justis's hammer like a rope and yanking the weapon free. It swung the hammer viciously, batting aside Justis, then Serena, and then threw the hammer at Red Jack. The weapon's head struck the armored man's chestplate directly in the center, leaving an enormous dent and sending him flying back. He hit the ground hard, motionless.

The gazer then turned its eyes on Abel.

But before it could act, vines and roots suddenly burst from the ground beneath it, winding over themselves like serpents. The gazer tried to pull back, but it was too slow- the roots wound over its body in a matter of seconds, covering its main eye and forcing its eye-stalks to point away from him and the others. And slowly, from the surrounding brush, Zaramatsu emerged. The fox's lips pulled back in a snarl, and she stood low, the fur along her spine raised. Her tail flicked to the side, and the vines wrapped around the gazer tightened. The beast struggled and thrashed against its bindings, different multicolored beams and flashes of light emanating from its lesser eyes as it tried to free itself.

Something grabbed Abel's shoulder. "Blue are you alright?" Raine asked, sounding a bit frantic.

"Yeah!" he answered quickly. "What was that light just now?"

"Just a daze spell, you'll be okay" she replied. "Now come on- we need to kill that thing before-"

The gazer let out a shriek. Several of the others had moved in to strike while the creature was still bound- Notte, Lailah, and Fiann- even Tharros had latched its jaws on the beast's flesh, his paws scrabbling desperately against its hide. They stabbed and slashed at the beast with their weapons, but only Fiann could manage to inflict more than shallow scratches on the monster's thick scales. Then, the beast's main eye opened wide, and a great red glow emanated from the pupil, before a pillar of white-hot flame erupted from the eye. It burned through the vine holding it with ease, causing other vines to slacken enough to aim one of its lesser eyes once again. It glowed red before a thin beam shot from it, burning deep gouges in earth and wood alike, and easily cutting through its bonds. The others gathered around scattered as the beam swept over the area, threatening to slice through anything it touched, before the gazer turned its attention to the one who had bound it- Zaramatsu. The fox snarled, before she charged, leaping at the beast. But a golden glow quickly flowed from one of the gazer's lesser eyes, wrapping around Zaramatsu and momentarily holding her in the air, before she was drawn up and slammed against the ground.

"Zaramatsu!" Wings of white flame shot from Abel's back, and he flew at the gazer like an arrow, a blade of light forming in his free hand. A lesser eye aimed at him, raising that bowl-shaped barrier from before- but when Abel swung, and his blade connected with the barrier, the barrier shattered, blowing both Abel and the gazer backwards, the beast losing its grip on Zaramatsu. Abel recovered quickly; but for a moment, the gazer's face twisted, almost appearing to be… surprised. But the expression lasted only a moment, before its face set into some sort of bestial snarl, and it raised its main eye to meet Abel's gaze. As it did, one of its lesser eyes glowed red, and fired… not at Abel, but at the ground in front of it, burning a thin line into the earth. Abel recognized the gesture: it was a wordless challenge, daring him to cross that line.

This thing… it wasn't just a beast acting on instinct. It was intelligent.

But before either Abel could act, the gazer raised its barrier, protecting itself from a flurry of fireballs that came from the side. Abel was forced back, the flames singing his jacket, and looked to the source of the flames- Raine, hand raised, the sigil on her palm glowing bright red as she drew a pattern in the air. Glowing red lines hung in the air, before another volley of fireballs was loosed, the gazer holding up its barrier in defense. But, it made no attempt to retaliate.

But why?

Raine began drawing another pattern. But before she could finish, one of the gazer's lesser eyes turned to her, and a blast of chilling air erupted from it, a thick layer of frost spreading across everything it touched. Raine turned, sprinting behind a tree for cover, only just barely evading the wave of cold.

And in that moment, Abel realized something.

The gazer couldn't use more than one spell at a time with each eye.

Abel again rushed forward, a blade of light forming in his hand again. The gazer easily saw his approach- but rather than raise its barrier as he expected, one of the lesser eyes turned and fired a dark purple bolt at him. His wings flared as he tried to evade, but he was too slow- the bolt impacted his shoulder, and immediately, his right arm went limp, his sword falling from his fingers. The magic bolt didn't… hurt. But, his entire body suddenly felt impossibly heavy, his legs threatening to give way under him. But Abel grit his teeth, and his wings flared brighter as he flew toward the beast, calling another blade of light into his now empty hand. But when Abel tried to raise his arms to strike… he couldn't. He could barely even lift his arms to waist level. That bolt of magic… had it sapped him of his strength?

Still, Abel flew forward, instead turning the blade forward, hoping his momentum would be enough. He saw the gazer raise its barrier again, deflecting a brilliant flash of lightning, but a mere moment later, a lesser eye was focused on him, a golden light shooting out from it and wrapping around him, halting his flight. He strained, the fiery wings on his back flaring even brighter, but he couldn't free himself from the force gripping him. Then, the gazer tossed him aside. Abel tried to right himself, to slow his fall, but the momentum, along with the strange fatigue, was too much, and he crashed into a tree back first, striking hard enough to send cracks racing through its trunk. Abel landed face-first in the dirt, the fall knocking the air from his lungs, leaving him gasping.

His limbs, his back… they felt heavy, almost painfully so. But even so, Abel still tried to push himself back onto his feet. As he did, something slipped under him, lifting him off the ground and carrying him to safety. He tried to fight, but in his weakened state, he could only manage a few feeble blows before being deposited against a nearby tree, giving Abel a good look at his savior.

"Abel," Lailah said, looking him over. "Are you alright? Can you move?"

He tried to stand. But he couldn't so much as pick himself up off the ground. "…No. The gazer, it… it hit me with some kind of magic. Drained my strength."

The priestess laid a hand on his shoulder, where he'd been struck, seeming to concentrate. "…an enfeebling spell," she said softly. "It drains the physical strength of its target, but the effects usually wear off quickly."

Abel tried to rise again. "We… can't wait that long!" While he had a little more success this time, he still couldn't lift himself completely off the ground. "I have to… help the others! I-"

"Abel, if you go out there now, you'll only get yourself killed," Lailah said. She looked out at something- the battle between the Crusaders and the gazer, if he had to guess- and frowned, a grim look on her face. "…I'll help the others. I promise, you only need a minute or two, then the effect will pass. Just stay here until then."

He almost asked why she couldn't do anything about it herself. After all, she had used her magic to heal him once before. But then, in the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He jolted- the gazer, he thought- but it was only Seth, moving among the trees for cover, stopping to shoot at the gazer with her bow. Seth's attention was elsewhere, but she was close enough that had Lailah used her magic, the thief would have surely noticed. And that would raise questions. Questions that had very difficult answers.

Without waiting for a response, Lailah rushed off, joining the fight, leaving Abel to watch helplessly.

"Damn it…" he whispered. "I should be out there! I… I can't just leave everyone to… fight… for me!" He strained, and slowly, he managed to rise. But even after managing to get onto his feet, his arms felt like lead, too heavy for him to even consider swinging a weapon. But then he had an idea. Resting a hand on his leg- after trying and failing to bring it to his chest- he focused, whispering, "Remedium." A white light pulsed over Abel's body… but the fatigue remained, his strength just as drained as before. "…What…?" he breathed. He focused, casting Remedium again, only to receive the same result. "Why isn't it working?" Remedium was supposed to fix ailments in the body, as Niel had once put it. So why wasn't it working now? …Was it because the ailment was magical in nature? It hadn't worked when he'd been petrified by the gorgon, either. Maybe-

He heard a scream- a woman's, though whose specifically, Abel couldn't say- followed by a crash, as though something large had just fallen. In a panic, Abel forced himself forward, his legs still barely able to keep him upright, stumbling as he tried to hurry back toward the battle. He didn't get far though, as something crashed through one of the trees next to him and knocked him to the ground amid a shower of wooden splinters and leaves. The world spun, and through the pain, Abel couldn't even wonder at what had just hit him. But as his vision cleared, he saw a dark shape above him, held aloft by a golden light wrapped around it. A… tree trunk?

But then, a golden light wrapped around Abel as well before jerking him upwards, and directly in front of the gazer's face, a massive eye staring down at him in cold contempt. Abel glanced around, hoping that someone might help. But all he could see were scattered bodies lying prone on the ground, unmoving, though whether they were unconscious… or worse, he couldn't say.

But a moment later, though he hadn't seen anyone else, someone had seen his plight, and she heard a voice screech in rage, "You get your filthy tentacles off of him!" The gazer raised its barrier again as something rushed past Abel- an orange-haired figure with metal bands where her arms should have been. Notte. She slammed into the barrier, driving the sharpened fingertips of her metal hands into the bowl-shaped field, causing it to crack… but her blow wasn't enough to break it. She reached back, one arm extending an impossible length as she searched for some sort of handhold to pull herself to safety. But at the same time, another golden glow wrapped around her, just as she seized hold of one of the surrounding trees. She let out a pained cry as the gazer tried to pull her in, the tree bending visibly as she clung tightly. But it was only a matter of time before something gave in, and Abel realized with dread that it would likely be Notte rather than the tree.

In desperation, Notte thrust her other hand in the gazer's direction, her arm shooting out like a whip. The attack was fast; too fast for the gazer to react in time, and Notte's claw plunged into one of the beast's lesser eyes. A pale yellow fluid spurted from the wound, and the golden lights binding Notte and Abel flickered, the pull slackening slightly. But if Notte thought she'd gained the upper hand, she was mistaken. Instead, screeching with anger, the gazer yanked at the cat-girl with all its strength. The force was seemingly too much for her arms to bear, and hovering rings abruptly scattered like loose coins. Notte screamed as the gazer whipped her above its head, before whipping her viciously against the ground.

Abel panicked, trying to break from the gazer's grasp. It was going to kill Notte if he didn't do something. But he still felt so weak… he tried to raise a hand, to aim at the beast. His hand was shaking, hardly able to rise above his waist. He grabbed his wrist with his other hand, trying to lift it, his whole body shaking as he fought against the fatigue. But again, it barely lifted. "D-Damn it…! Come on!" he hissed through clenched teeth. "Move…!"

One of the gazer's eyes snapped at something behind it. It raised its barrier, just in time to deflect a burst of white light that chilled the air around them, before immediately shooting back with a blast of frigid air, with its barrier still raised.

It was at that moment that Abel realized something. The gazer had used two spells simultaneously- three if he counted the spell it was using to hold him aloft. So that meant…

…he'd been wrong. The gazer wasn't limited to using only one spell at a time with each eye. It could use multiple spells simultaneously- but had made it appear that it couldn't. But why? Had it been trying to deceive them, to lure them into a false sense of security? Or had it deliberately chosen not to fight at full strength, choosing to restrain itself until it had lost one of its eyes, only then deciding to fight seriously?

"Blue!" Raine shouted from Abel's left, her call followed by a thunderous crack, a spurt of pale yellow blood flying from just above the gazer's mouth. In an instant, one of the beast's lesser eyes turned her way, raising its barrier, while another eye glowed red, firing a bright red beam in her direction. Raine dove for cover, but from a different eye, another beam lanced out, aimed at the spot where she was running toward. The witch's eyes widened, and she tried to pull back… but there was simply no way she could have outrun the beam. It struck her on the shoulder, and Raine cried out in pain as she was thrown backwards. In horror, Abel thought the beam had burned straight through her…

…but in that moment, a small black figure seemed to emerge from one of the pockets on Raine's vest. As the witch was thrown, the figure flapped its wings and took to the air, rushing straight toward Abel… or rather, toward the gazer. It was too small, too quick for Abel to get a good glimpse of it, but whatever it was, the gazer's demeanor shifted. Though it held its grip on him, its remaining eyes turned to focus on the tiny shape, wasting no time in firing more beams at the creature. But the small figure was too nimble, weaving around the beams as if dancing, its flight so swift that Abel could barely track it. And neither could the gazer.

But suddenly, the black figure darted upwards, into the sky. Its wings spread for a moment, before flapping down forcefully, sending down a rain of feathers. The gazer raised its barrier, but as the feathers impacted its surface, they instantly burst in flashes of what Abel could only describe as black flames- and for the first time, the gazer's barrier was damaged, cracking under the force of the small explosions before shattering entirely.

For a brief moment, the gazer's face contorted, almost as if… confused. But then, its eyes narrowed, and its main eye- all of its eyes- began to glow a deep crimson, as if filling with flames, the air around them shimmering with heat. Then, a column of blinding-white light erupted from the gazer's central eye, shooting up into the sky at the black figure with a roar like thunder. The beam's heat clawed at Abel's skin like nails, its light so intense that he had to close his eyes, and yet, for several seconds, it burned, the sound and heat unrelenting. When it finally faded, Abel opened his eyes, and looked.

In the sky, a great, circular hole had been carved in the clouds, the edges seeming to smolder with fire. Had… had the gazer hit its mark? Abel searched for the small, black figure, but…

"Too slow."

Abel's gaze was drawn downward. The figure was right next to the gazer, tapping a hand against its side.

It was… an angel.

A dark, twisted angel wearing a white dress, with short hair and wings as black as a raven's. Above her head was a halo, one made from black wires twisted into a circle and studded with short, sharp spikes. But it was her eyes that were most striking. They too were black, ringed by an orange glow that danced and flickered as though her eyes were filled with fire.

The gazer snarled and pulled back, its eyes beginning to glow again. But the dark angel merely held up a hand, and uttered, "Shadow Bind."

In an instant, thin, rope-like shadows spread across the gazer's body from where the dark angel had laid her hand, winding around its form. Another beam fired out of the gazer's central eye, but the shadows somehow prevented the beast from moving, or even turning to face her. It snarled in anger, its eye-stalks- its whole body- quivering as it strained against the bonds holding it, to no avail. Then, the dark angel, her hand still outstretched, began to clench her hand. In an instant, the shadowy ropes binding the gazer began to tighten, digging into the beast's flesh, drawing blood. Its growls turned into a pained roar, and its face began to contort into a grotesque mask of fear, panic, and agony. Bursts of magic fired wildly from its eyes- burning red beams, dazzling, multicolored flashes, dark purple bolts… But still, the dark angel's hand clenched tighter, and tighter, the shadows around the gazer constricting more and more, until finally…

The shadowy ropes sliced through the gazer's body like knives. Its agonized cries were abruptly silenced as its body was ripped apart, its pieces falling to the ground as the light in its eyes quickly died away. And as the fleshy chunks that had been the gazer fell, so too did Abel, now having nothing to hold him up. But before he could hit the ground, the dark angel caught him- rather roughly, grabbing him by the backs of his shirt- before lowering him down safely.

For a moment, Abel just stood, stunned by what he had just witnessed. He had so many questions. Who was this person? Why was she here? But as he looked to his- to everyone's savior, all the questions fell away, replaced by a single word.

"…Niel? "

It was a foolish thing to ask. He knew it was her. Even as he spoke, a part of him already knew the answer. Despite the black wings, the blazing eyes, the black spiked halo, the fact that the dark angel seemed to tower over him now… the dark angel he was looking at was Niel. There was no one else it could be.

The dark angel blinked. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face, a warm and gentle expression. Abel was struck by it- and not just because it seemed to stand at odds with her dark and twisted appearance, but also because… he couldn't recall ever seeing Niel smile before. "Are you alright, Abel?" she asked, in her rough, scratchy voice.

"I think so…" Abel hurt, but though he felt fatigued, he didn't feel nearly as drained as he had before- it seemed the enfeebling spell the gazer had worn off, just as Lailah said…

Lailah… the others…!

"Notte!" he cried. The cat-girl had fallen not too far from him- he ran over to her, Niel following close behind. The cat-girl lay almost motionless on the ground, save for a faint trembling, her breaths shallow, the rings that made up her arms scattered around her. Seeing her in her current state brought with it a wave of memories… not one of which Abel would call pleasant. He extended his hand, focusing, trying to bring the image of Lailah's smile to his mind…

"Allow me." Niel knelt beside Notte, placing a hand on her head. "Rejuvenate." A black glow surrounded her hand, flowing over Notte's body, a glow that somehow still cast a piercing light that pricked at Abel's eyes like needles. For a moment, the light remained, until…

Notte shuddered, slowly sitting up. There was a rattling as the rings gathered at her side, forming arms once more, and she rubbed her forehead."Wh… W-What happened?" she asked blearily. She looked around, jolting and recoiling as she laid eyes on Niel. "Ah! W-Who are you!? "

"I'm the reason you're still alive," Niel answered, a bit tersely. She then pointed at the mound of flesh that had been the gazer. "See?"

"This is Niel," Abel quickly cut in. "She's an angel. Sent by the gods to help me in my quest."

Notte quickly got onto her knees, bowing her head and stammering, "O-Oh. I… I'm sorry, Your Grace! I didn't realize…" She then looked up. "But… what about the others?"

Niel looked around, at the bodies scattered across the ground. "…They're alive. Fortunately, that gazer chose to hold back its strength for most of the battle… until you damaged its eye, that is. But don't worry." She raised her arms. "I'll tend to them." The black glow from before surrounded her hands, and the dark angel intoned, "Mass Rejuvenate." Black light pulsed through the air, spreading out and enveloping all the unconscious figures. Slowly, they began to stir, sitting up and looking around.

"What…" Serena breathed. "How did we…?"

"We… didn't die, it seems," Red Jack said, looking down at himself.

"No. You didn't." At the dark angel's words, the Crusader's eyes turned to her. They went wide as they took in her appearance, the same look of shock that Abel had seen on Notte's face moments ago. And just like her, they quickly fell to their knees, heads bowed.

"Your Grace…" Justis muttered, the spectacled man the first among them to find his voice. "Were you the one who saved us?"

Niel opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, the rest of Abel's companions approached, cautiously at first, though unlike Justis's team, they showed little deference to the dark angel. "Wait… Parrot?" Raine began, the first of them to speak. Her eyes then drifted to the dark angel's wings. "…well, I guess that nickname doesn't really fit anymore, does it?"

Niel looked down at Raine, her arms folded over her chest. "I see that your sense of humor was unharmed," she replied dryly.

Near the beginning of their quest, the dark angel had mentioned that in her original form, she had been taller than Lailah. And that was true- she was much taller than Lailah. Taller than Raine, and if he had to guess, even taller than Minze. The only member of their group who might be any taller was Zaramatsu in her human form.

"What… what happened to you?" Seth asked. Unlike the others, she had emerged from the trees around the clearing, having escaped whatever assault the gazer had launched against the others. She took in Niel's new appearance with a stunned gaze. "I thought you'd lost your powers."

"I did lose my powers," Niel stated. "But I regained them, by pledging my services to a new god." Her hand went to the black spiked halo on her head, as if touching it for reassurance.

A new god… when Niel had first lost her powers, Bacchus had told Abel that only the upper tier of gods could create angels. And that was a very small pool to draw from… "…Who is it?" he asked tentatively.

"That… we can discuss that later." Niel's response came quickly… almost too quickly. But, she wasn't entirely wrong. They were still at the heart of a forest potentially teeming with dangerous monsters. As suspicious as the return of Niel's powers may have been, it was a discussion that would have to wait.

Any further ponderings were paused however, as Zaramatsu padded up to Abel and the others, holding something in her jaws. In the course of the battle, Abel had lost track of her entirely after she'd been thrown aside by the gazer- though considering the size of their group, and with Notte's team in the mix, it was easy to lose track of someone. "Hey Zaramatsu," he said. "You're alright. What do you have there?"

The black fox dropped the object at Abel's feet: …a greyish-green eyeball, nearly half the size of a man's head, with a thin, scaly stalk attached to the top.

"Ugh- uh, t-thanks." Abel tried not to look too disturbed by the sight of the severed eye, pondering just what he was supposed to do with it.

"Fran, Jack," a voice said. It was Justis. His team was back on their feet, having seemingly recovered from the awe of meeting an angel in the flesh. "Have a look at the gazer's body. Despite its condition, there may still be something worth salvaging."

The armored man and the red-eyed woman obeyed, shifting through the mound of flesh that had once been the gazer, picking through it for… something. As they did, he approached Abel and the others. "Champion, Your Grace… I want to thank you," he said. "We would not have survived this encounter if not for your intervention. So please, allow us to express our gratitude. If there is anything you require, any service we can offer…"

"Well if that's the case…" Raine began, speaking as though she had been waiting for a moment like this. "…then I guess there is something. We're a bit short on funds for our journey, so if you wouldn't mind-"

"Raine," Lailah cut in. She had a firm tone in her voice, and Raine shrunk back slightly.

Justis didn't seem fazed, though. "That's hardly a problem at all. In fact, I'd already planned to compensate you for your aid, even if Her Grace's intervention hadn't proven necessary." He glanced back at Red Jack and Fran, who were still rooting through the remains of the gazer. "I trust you can wait to accept payment after we return to town and deliver the materials we've collected from this mission?"

"But what about you and your team? Won't you need the money?" Seth asked.

"We already receive a sizable stipend from the Church as it is," Red Jack called out, holding in his hand… some manner of bone, seemingly testing its weight. "Any additional earnings we would have received from this hunt would be a pittance in comparison."

"Are you sure?" Abel wouldn't say he wasn't grateful for the offer, but he couldn't help but feel that accepting it might be taking advantage of them.

"Abel just take the money." The words came not from any of his companions, but rather, from Notte. "This is the second time now you've saved me. I owe you. I mean, I was already planning on giving you my share of our earnings anyway." She looked at him, pupils wide, her ears flattened against her head. "And at least this time, I can give you something more valuable than just a kiss."

Abel opened his mouth, wanting to argue… but found he couldn't, his words failing him. "I- I… well, thank you," he finally managed to say.

"I don't mean to sound… unappreciative," Niel began. As she spoke, her body began… to shrink, returning to her more familiar, diminutive form- and once she was in this form, she fluttered her wings, and took a familiar seat on Abel's shoulder. "But how exactly is this beast's flesh useful? Tatzlwurm claws and hides are one thing, but that gazer…"

"Let me show you, Your Grace." Justis reached down, picking up the eye-stalk at Abel's feet. "Even after being severed, a gazer's eye-stalks retain a sizable quantity of mana. In fact, if you stimulate them in just the right way…" He ran a finger along the underside of the stalk- in response, a burst of dazzling color flashed from the eye, causing Abel and the others to recoil.

"Oh, son of a bitch!" Raine spat, covering her eyes.

"…one can discharge the mana stored within," Justis finished. "This is true for any monster that can use magic, but the mana that lingers in a gazer's eye-stalks is notable for being especially potent."

The blur of colors imprinted in Abel's vision faded, a little more quickly than it had earlier, but a faint imprint on the inside of Abel's eyes lingered. He supposed he should be thankful the eye had only discharged its magic in a harmless flash, rather than one of the other, more destructive spells the gazer had been capable of.

"…Captain," Abel finally said. "…do you think this was the monster you were looking for?"

"Seriously, Blue?" Raine chided, incredulous. "After everything we just went through? What else could this thing have been?"

"Well what if there's more of them?" he asked in turn. "What if there's a whole pack of them out here?"

Justis put a hand on his chin. "I don't believe that to be the case, Champion. Though intelligent, gazers are solitary creatures, and fiercely territorial as well. I imagine that gazer is the only monster within thirty milia of here."

"The tatzlwurms from yesterday…" a flat female voice then said. It belonged to Fran, who approached Justis alongside Red Jack. "They were running away from something. Monsters like them only flee when a more powerful monster encroaches on their territory." She looked to the spectacled man. "We gathered what we could. But with the shape the body's in… there's not much worth taking."

"I see," Justis replied. He turned back to Abel and the others. "In any case, I believe that threat has been dealt with. We should head back to town and inform the Church our mission is complete. And, compensate you and your party for your services, Champion."

"I'm with the Captain on this one," Raine chimed in. "I feel like if we're out here any longer, I'll forget what it's like to sleep in a proper bed."

"I think I've had enough of camping out for a while, myself," Seth added.

Abel wasn't going to argue. The thought of warm beds and meals that weren't just meat roasted on a fire, all behind sturdy walls beyond the reach of any wandering monsters, was too tempting to resist. And the sooner they got moving, the sooner he- they, could experience those things.

"Alright then," Abel finally said. "Let's head back."

In short order, the two parties set off, trudging through the brush, Tharros guiding them back the way they'd come. As he walked, Abel looked to his shoulder, to the unfamiliar weight perched upon it. Niel was looking ahead, as if searching the forest around them, though the only sounds Abel could hear were the footsteps of his friends, the wind blowing through the trees, and the rustling of leaves underfoot.

"Niel," he said quietly.

She turned his way. Almost immediately, she frowned. "Why are you still wearing that thing? It doesn't suit you."

"What are you talking about?" Abel asked.

But then, he remembered.

The mask. He was still wearing it. He'd put it on at the fort, and had completely forgotten he was still wearing it.

"R-Right. Sorry." Abel removed the mask, his face feeling suddenly… exposed. But he pushed the feelings aside, tucking the mask away. He wouldn't need it for now. Not until they'd returned to Ives. "I… I just wanted to say that… well, thank you. For saving us."

The dark angel's expression was stoic. "In Lescatie, I made a promise to protect you. That hasn't changed."

Abel remembered. But he also remembered that she had sworn to protect him from Cardinal Szandor and his assassins, rather than all potential threats. Still… "I know. I… I just- I'm… glad, that you're here. To help us. That you're… how you were before."

Niel looked away. But, the stoic expression shifted, a small smile spreading across her face. "I'm glad, too."

---

"…you… flinched?" Notte's voice sounded incredulous, the cat-girl's wide gold eyes peering at him. "That's it?"

"Yeah…" Abel replied. "I just… happened to have my eyes closed when the gazer used that… flash, so it didn't affect me as much."

"That's quite the stroke of good luck," Red Jack noted. "Then again, I suppose as Champion of Bacchus, the tides of fortune would naturally be in your favor."

Abel supposed that was true. But hearing it like that, it made his own efforts seem a lot less… significant. That luck was the only reason he'd survived his battle with the gazer. But at that moment, Justis spoke up. "Still, that good fortune is what won the day for us. Preparation is the most important element of any battle, but not every possibility can be accounted for. Not every danger can be anticipated." He adjusted his glasses. "Only a fool places his trust entirely upon chance alone… but it is just as foolish to deny its presence entirely."

The parties' return to civilization was swift and uneventful, and when they sighted Ives at midday the day after their battle with the gazer, the town appeared to be much the same as when they had departed. While the sight of the city's walls came as a relief to Abel, there was also something unsettling about it- after all, Fort Simeiz had had walls too. And there were a lot more people in the town than there had been at the fort, all blissfully unaware of the danger lurking beyond. If the gazer had reached Ives, how many lives would have been lost before it had been brought down? Dozens? Hundreds? …would anyone have been able to stop it? Would any even have survived long enough to send word for help? Or-

"Blue."

A tap came to his shoulder. He looked, finding Raine at his side. She said nothing, but she didn't have to.

"Right." Mask on.

At that moment, Niel- still perched on his Abel's shoulder- stood, and took to the air. "I'll meet up with you once you're in town," she said. She then flew up into the sky, vanishing in the clouds.

As Abel watched the dark angel depart, he felt a hollowness within him. Even in the time where she had lost her powers, the amount of times where she was not nearby had been few and far between. But, as though sensing his mood, Raine placed a hand on Abel's shoulder. "Don't sweat it, Blue. I'm sure Parrot just wants a chance to stretch her wings and fly around on her own. I mean, she has been without her powers for a while now, right?"

"…I guess," he replied faintly.

"She'll be back before you know it. Now come on."

The group continued on their way. At the gates, Justis exchanged words with the guards, and their passage into the town was quick and simple, the guards making no protest, offering no resistance. Now securely within the town's walls, the two parties parted ways- Justis and his team needed to report the success of their mission, but also pass on word of the annihilation of the garrison at Fort Simeiz, as well as turn over the various materials they'd harvested from the monsters they'd slain. They promised to meet back up with Abel and the others once their task was completed- but until then, Abel and the others would be left to their own devices.

"So… what now? Head to the inn and rest up?" Raine asked.

"I know it's early, but I can't say I disagree with that," Seth chimed in.

"We should find the others first," Abel suggested. "Let them know that we're back."

Seemingly as soon as the words had left his mouth, the sound of running footsteps came from the direction of the cathedral. "Master Abe- he-ga-I mean, Mast- eh- Z- Zeke!" a familiar, squeaky voice cried. A petite form rushed over to the group, stopping just in front of Abel, followed more slowly by a taller, more stoic figure.

"Well that was quick…" Raine commented.

"Violet, Minze," Abel greeted. "It's good to see you. How have things been?"

"We've been well," Minze answered. Her face remained expressionless as ever, though her eyes seemed to shine a little brighter than usual. "But what about the Crusaders? Shouldn't they be with you?"

"They needed to give a report to the Church," Lailah replied. "They'll be meeting with us once they're finished."

"Ah. I see," Violet replied. "So, what manner of beast did you end up hunting?"

"A death gazer," Abel answered.

Violet didn't reply, falling utterly silent with wide eyes. Even Minze's normally stolid demeanor broke, her eyes widening and jaw falling open ever so slightly. "A… death gazer?" the maid breathed. "You… fought a death gazer?"

"We didn't just fight a gazer, we killed it too," Raine said proudly, chest puffing up.

The alchemist looked up at Abel in awe- even Minze couldn't fully suppress the shock on her face. "I… you must tell us everything that happened while you and the others were away!" Violet demanded. "Spare no details!"

"Alright alright, calm down, Bottles," Raine chided. "We will. But we should let Jugs and Prez know we're back first. You know where they are?"

The alchemist and her maid wasted no time in leading the group to their lodging- a small but well-kept inn near the heart of the city. As Minze had promised, they found Holly and Claire there. The mercenary greeted them with a warm smile and a wave- the president was much less expressive, simply nodding in greeting.

"You're back," Claire said. "And you didn't die, it seems."

Seth scowled. "You could at least pretend to be glad to see us."

"I am happy. Really." She didn't sound like she was the least bit happy.

Violet quickly took a seat at one of the open tables nearby. "Alright! Tell us what happened!"

"What sort of monster did you fight?" Holly added.

Abel and the others seated themselves as well around the table- no small feat with the number of people gathered. "Well… do you know what a death gazer is?"

Violet and Holly showed little reaction. But Minze visibly recoiled. The president, however… "Bullshit. Hunting parties need specialized anti-magic gear and at least twenty members to hunt those things. Even if you had a team from Griffin Company backing you up, there's no way you could have taken one down. It would've killed you all before you could land a single blow."

"Well, I don't feel very dead right now, Prez…" Raine began, gaze turning to Lailah. "Sis. Do I look dead to you?"

The priestess frowned. "Raine, you really shouldn't make light of that. We all could've died."

Raine grinned. "Yeah, we could've. But we didn't."

Claire looked decidedly unimpressed. Violet, on the other hand, was on the edge of her seat in anticipation. However, Holly seemed… confused? "Hold on a moment. I… what's a death gazer?"

"Death gazers are some of the most dangerous monsters in the world," Minze answered. "They possess numerous eyes from which they can cast a variety of spells, ranging from paralyzing beams and hypnotizing flashes, to destructive rays and freezing blasts. Though they are incapable of speech, they are extremely intelligent, capable of planning ambushes and improvising tactics to catch opponents by surprise. The only saving grace is that they're incredibly rare outside of the Overlord's realm in Xibalba, and those outside Xibalba are solitary, territorial creatures. Still, even among experienced hunters, only about one in every twenty encounters with a death gazer ends in a hunting party's favor."

Claire gave Abel and the others a searching look. "With all that said, I hope you can understand why I'm having a hard time believing you fought and killed a death gazer."

In a way, the president wasn't entirely wrong- in the strictest sense, Abel and the others hadn't killed the gazer. That had been Niel's doing. "Well…" he began, "…let's just say, we had some help."

Claire's expression darkened. "From the Crusaders? Julian, or whatever his name was?"

"No, not him," Abel answered. But before he could explain further, there was a faint tinkling as the door to the inn swung open. Abel looked over his shoulder. Standing in the doorway was… a woman. A woman he knew. Her wings and her halo were hidden, but even without them, he would recognize her anywhere.

The dark angel walked toward the group. Violet looked at her with curiosity, Holly with apprehension. But Claire… a bright red blush crept up her face, before she shook her head, her stunned expression shifting to a flirtatious smile as she ran her fingers through one of her tails. "Oh. And who might you be?"

Niel's eyes narrowed, and a slight scowl came to her face as she folded her arms over her chest. "I realize you've never seen me in my true form before, mage, but surely you don't need a reintroduction."

Recognition sparked in the president's eyes. "Wait. You're… the angel."

Arms still folded, Niel grumbled in response, "I do have a name, mage."

At the same time, Abel heard Raine mumble to herself, "So that's Prez's type…"

Violet and Holly gawked at Niel as well- and again, Minze was unable to suppress her shock. The alchemist's eyes seemed ready to pop out of her head. "Miss Niel, you… then does this mean-"

"Yes, I've regained my powers," the dark angel replied. She raised a hand near her head- and for the briefest of moments, Niel'a black spiked halo appeared above her head, before disappearing just as suddenly.

Violet looked on at Niel, awed; Claire, though taken aback at first, seemed to approve of the sight. But someone who seemingly didn't approve was Minze, her expression of shock turning to one of concern- even, suspicion. Minze, finally regaining her composure, asked, "When did you regain your powers?" the maid asked. "And, which god is it that you serve now?"

"It happened a few weeks ago. Around the time you all disembarked the Peregrine and set out for Nerevik," Niel answered.

A tense moment passed. "…And, your new master?" the maid pressed.

Niel's lips twisted, her expression growing sour. Moments passed, but no answer came. Abel wondered if he should say something to break the silence…

…but he wouldn't get the chance to. Again, the bell at the inn's entrance rang, and the door swung open. Two figures entered- Justis and Notte. "Abel," Notte said excitedly, hurrying over. She was carrying a heavy-looking pouch, which she dropped onto the table before Abel.

"Your compensation, Champion. As promised," Justis stated, once he was close enough.

"Oh, thanks." The table bent ever-so-slightly under the weight of the pouch, though Abel thought it might be a bit rude to start counting their earnings right then and there.

"In all, it's about twenty gold marks' worth of coin," the spectacled man continued. "It probably would've-"

"T-Twenty gold marks!?" Raine exclaimed, cutting Justis off.

Abel looked at the pouch again, confused. "Is… is that a lot?"

"An Ermisian gold mark is worth thirty silver marks," the dark angel explained. "Most inns don't charge more than a few silver marks a night. And the supplies we'd need to venture into the northern wilderness shouldn't cost more than three gold marks. So yes, Abel- it is quite a lot."

"We probably could've brought in more, but all the mana from the gazer eye we brought back leaked out," Notte said. "Still, I'm sure someone might want it. And tatzlwurm leather always gets a decent price."

"I… thank you." Abel wasn't quite sure what else to say.

Fiann wrote something in her notebook, showing it to Minze. "'What will you do now?'" the maid translated.

"We'll be returning to Griffin Company headquarters in Niacal," Justis answered. "We'll only be staying in town long enough to rest and resupply."

"You're leaving so soon?" Abel asked.

"Our work never ends, I'm afraid," Notte replied. "There's always some monster or demon that needs exterminating somewhere out there." She smiled, her hand extending to touch Abel's shoulder. "It was wonderful to see you again, Abel."

Abel reached up, touching the cat-girl's hand. It was just as warm as it had been the first time she touched him- just as warm as a hand of flesh and blood would have been. "It was good to see you too. I'm… glad that you're doing well."

Notte smiled, reaching out another hand, laying it on Seth's shoulder. "And don't think I'm not happy to see you, too, Seth. In fact…" The cat-girl raised her arm, easily pulling the thief onto her feet and making her stumble slightly. "…we're going to have a nice, long talk, you and me. We've got a lot to catch up on."

---

With a breath, Abel sat down on the bed of his rented room. After Notte had pulled Seth away- and after counting up the funds received from the Crusaders, totaling a staggering five hundred sixty-eight silver marks- Abel's party dispersed, heading their separate ways for the evening. And after paying a few marks for a room, here he was.

Lying back, he couldn't help but think that maybe Raine had been more right than he'd thought. How long had it been since he'd slept on an actual bed? Now that he thought about it, Abel realized that since arriving in Ermis, though he and the others had slept with a roof over their heads on occasion, this would be the first time he would actually spend the night in a proper bed.

But, he didn't rest. Not yet. Thoughts whirled in his head, and he doubted he would be able to find rest anytime soon. And the cause of his unease was readily identified.

Niel.

The return of her powers should have been good news. He remembered how much she had struggled after losing them, and though she had adjusted to life without them, it was clear even to Abel that she had never fully come to terms with the loss. Now, she could fly again, she could defend herself, she didn't need to rely on him or Raine to provide for her… and she was no longer restricted to the diminutive form he had come to see as her "normal" self. All of that should have been cause for celebration, but…

…certain details just didn't quite align.

Niel had claimed she had found her new patron when they had disembarked in Ermis. But, he recalled that though the angel had asked to come with him on their journey to Mayfil, she had not once asked him for anything- not food, not water, not to… relieve herself, nothing. She'd always refused when he asked if she needed anything, so he'd thought perhaps she had simply been taking care of her own needs in secret. But… what if she had already regained her powers while they were in Flanvel, or perhaps even before then? Her never asking for anything would make sense- angels didn't need food, or sleep, or anything like that. And it would explain why Niel had asked Abel to bring her with him. If something had happened traveling to or from Mayfil- something similar to their battle with the gazer- then she would have been there to protect him.

But if that was true, it raised its own questions. When had Niel regained her powers? Why had she waited so long to reveal it? And perhaps most importantly… who was her new master? Bacchus had said that only the upper tier of gods could create angels as servants. And that was a very small pool to draw from…

Abel heard a knock at his door. "Abel?" Raine's voice asked from beyond. "Can I come in?"

Abel braced himself, having come to notice a trend with Raine: whenever she called him by his actual name, it meant they were about to have a very serious conversation. And he had a strong feeling that he knew exactly what this conversation was going to be about. "Sure. The door's open."

Raine entered, shutting the door behind her. She glanced around, as if looking for something- or perhaps someone. And when she didn't find them, she breathed a small sigh of relief before her gaze turned back to Abel. "…We need to talk about Niel." Her words were quiet but direct, heavy with meaning.

A part of him knew that this conversation had been coming, but even so, Abel's first instinct was to pretend he didn't know what she meant. He crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at her. "What about her?" he asked, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

Raine took a step closer, her eyes open, and locked on his. "You know what I'm talking about."

Abel deflated almost instantly, slowly nodding. "Yeah. I do."

Silence fell. It pressed down on them like a heavy, weighted cloak. But even though both of them seemingly knew the topic at hand, neither seemed eager to broach it. But in the end, someone had to say something. And that someone was ultimately Raine.

"I don't like this," she said. "Parrot said she got her powers back by pledging herself to a new god. But every time we try to ask her who it is, she finds some way to dodge the question. That makes me worried. And it should make you worried too, Abel."

"Well, when Niel first lost her powers, I went to Bacchus to ask for help. And Bacchus told me that only the upper tier gods are able to create angels as servants," Abel replied. "Even if she won't tell us which god she serves, maybe we can figure it out on our own by narrowing down the possibilities."

She leaned back against the wall next to the door. "I would normally say that would be a good idea," Raine began, "but, I think Bacchus was wrong. Or at least, that what she told you wasn't entirely true."

"What do you mean?"

"Bacchus is right, in that Ilias decreed that only the upper tier gods could create angels as servants." Raine gave Abel a look, expression serious. "But there are gods who aren't interested in playing by Ilias's rules."

"It sounds like you have one in mind."

"I do." Raine took a deep breath. "…Have you heard of… the Fallen? "

Abel searched his memory. He even scoured what he remembered of the sermons from the wandering priests that visited Seles. But unfortunately, it proved fruitless. "I can't say that I have."

"Then listen up, Abel. Because this is important. You need to hear this." Raine's gaze shifted toward the window. "I don't know how much of the Church's dogma you know, but according to them, long ago, the gods fought a war among themselves. No one can say for sure why they fought, but on one side was Ilias; and on the other, a god whose name was erased from history- a god the Church calls 'the Fallen.' Ilias won this war, and expelled the Fallen and their allies from the heavens. As the Fallen's allies were stripped of their divine powers, they were twisted and corrupted, transforming into the world's first monsters. But the Fallen was much more powerful than the others, retaining a small part of their divinity even after they were expelled from the heavens."

The implications of what Raine had said were clear to Abel. "You think Niel's new patron is this… Fallen?" he asked slowly.

"It's a possibility we can't rule out," the witch replied.

Abel fell silent. Judging from everything Raine had just shared, it was clear she considered the idea to be more than a mere possibility.

"I'm not- I don't want to say that Niel is evil, even if it turns out she is working for the Fallen," Raine quickly added. "I'm not saying that. If she did agree to serve the Fallen, it would only have been because she felt she had no other choice. Because she wanted to use the Fallen's power to protect you. But…" The witch looked away. "…sooner or later, there'll be a time when Niel will have to choose between protecting you and obeying the Fallen. And when that time comes… the Fallen will make that choice for her. No matter how hard she tries to fight it, sooner or later, the Fallen will make Niel turn against you." She looked to Abel again, her gaze intense. "I need you to understand that, Abel. No matter how much Niel cares for you, no matter how much she doesn't want to hurt you… in the end, the Fallen will force her hand. I know you want to trust her. I do too. But when that time comes- and believe me, it will- we'll need to be ready. You need to be ready."

Abel remained silent. It was true that Niel's reluctance to reveal the identity of her new master was concerning. But an evil god expelled from the heavens? It was almost too much to believe. But then again… Niel's black wings, her spiked halo, her eyes that blazed with flickering orange fire… if asked to imagine what an "evil angel" would look like, Abel probably would have imagined a figure that looked much like Niel did now.

"I guess… all we can do is wait and see what happens," he said at last.

Raine nodded. "That's all we can hope for right now. I hope things won't come to that. For all our sakes."

Abel wasn't sure what else he could say. So instead, he asked, "…Is there anything else?"

Raine shook her head. "No. I think that covers everything."

"Alright. Well… good night, Raine."

"Good night." With that, the witch departed, shutting the door behind her.

Abel let out another long breath. Niel… the servant of an evil god… it was something he didn't even want to consider. The thought of having to turn his blade on any of his companions was almost enough to turn his stomach- even Claire, the most openly hostile toward him, would likely give him pause for at least a few moments.

But… Raine wasn't wrong. The scenario she had laid out was a possibility. A frightening one, but one he could not afford to ignore.

With nothing left to do, he laid back, resting his head on the pillow. But, the moment he did, another knock sounded at the door. "Who is it?" he called out.

"It's Lailah," the priestess's muffled voice answered. "Can I talk to you about something?"

Abel let out another breath. "…Sure. The door's open."

"Actually… I think it would be best if we didn't talk here," Lailah said.

Abel let out a third breath. But, after a moment, he rose, slipping his mask over his face. "I'll be right out."

Abel thought that the priestess would speak to him outside the inn. But she led him away from the inn, instead guiding him down the street, and eventually to the city gate. Surely, Abel thought, whatever Lailah wanted to talk about couldn't be something that needed them to leave town, could it? But they passed through the gates, and into the fields surrounding Ives, Abel's concern growing more and more as the town shrank in the distance behind them. It wasn't until the city was almost entirely out of sight that the priestess stopped, and even then, she led him into a small thicket of trees not far from the road.

Now, Abel was genuinely worried. Lailah hadn't said a word during the entire trip. Her expression was solemn, and her pace had been quick, but not quite frantic. It was obvious, whatever it was, she wanted to ensure no one would overhear them, that no one would see what was about to happen.

Once they were within the thicket, and the trees blocked the view of the road and the city, Lailah turned to him, a look of unease on her face. "Abel… there's… something's…" For several seconds, she tried to speak, only to stop, as though whatever words she could muster were simply insufficient for what she was trying to say. Eventually, she took a breath, and spoke once more, her voice firm, yet tinged with unease. "…It would be… easier to just… show you."

"Show me what? What's going on?" Abel asked.

Lailah looked to the ground, seeming to… brace herself. Then, her eyes glowed- not red, but a brilliant orange, before a pair of flickering orange-and-white beams of light shot out of her pupils, scorching the dirt below. She turned her head, the beams following, burning a shallow divot into the ground. Then as quickly as they had come, the beams vanished. Lailah looked up at Abel, the orange glow fading from her eyes, replaced by an apprehensive stare.

"…earlier, when that girl Notte said the mana had leaked out of the gazer's eye, it… it didn't happen naturally," the priestess said. "It was because… of me."

Abel felt his heart skip a beat. "W-What?"

"I took it." Lailah lifted a hand, looking down at it. "The gazer's mana."

"What do you mean you 'took' it?"

Lailah averted her gaze. "Abel, you… you understand what a succubus's main power is, don't you?"

He recalled what Niel had once said about succubi- that they were demons capable of seducing others into serving their will. "Controlling… people's minds?"

But Lailah shook her head. "That's… not quite right. That is connected to it, but a succubus's main power… is to absorb the mana of others. The power to seduce others… just makes that easier."

Although Abel had heard about many types of monsters, both through rumors and stories, demons were a monster type mentioned very rarely. Even the wandering priests who visited Seles to give their sermons spoke little about them. All he knew for certain was that they were powerful magic-users, and entertained themselves by bringing misery to mortal races.

"How… how did this even happen?" he asked.

Again, her gaze drifted from Abel, both in shame, and as though she were remembering something. "It… it's not like I meant for this to happen. But last night, while we were camping…"

---

Lailah's eyes were heavy. Exhaustion tugged at her body. But she did her best to shrug it off. It was her turn to take up the night watch, after all. She sat, watching the forest around the campfire, her gaze flicking to each noise in the darkness, the crackling of the campfire and the gentle sounds of her friends' sleep filling the air. Her thoughts, meanwhile, wandered, returning again and again to the battle with the gazer. She knew a little about them, of course, but even so, she hadn't expected one to be so… powerful. And the worst part was… the gazer they'd killed had been far below the average strength of its kind. It had suffered from some form of mutation, causing it to be born with fewer eye-stalks than normal- a healthy gazer could have as many as ten, each eye capable of firing destructive beams and other spells. But even without the full range of abilities a normal gazer would possess, it had still used what spells it did possess to devastating effect. Even Lailah's own formidable constitution had been quickly worn down- first by a blast of frigid air, then by being bashed into submission by a full-grown tree wielded like a club.

Lailah sighed, rubbing her temples. Still, they had survived. In no small part thanks to Niel. Still, though the angel had saved all of their lives, Lailah found it difficult to feel gratitude toward her. But not because she thought she and the others didn't need Niel's help- she wasn't so prideful as to think otherwise. No, rather, it was because of the strange power that seemed to radiate from the angel. Before, the angel's aura had been like a blazing sun- bright and overwhelming in its intensity. But now… there was still a heat, but one that somehow melded with an unnatural chill. It was a… cold heat, a blaze of ice. The sensation that came from the dark angel was one that left Lailah with a profound unease- and yet, somehow, it felt… familiar.

A rustling sounded nearby, startling her. Immediately, her gaze darted around, and her grip on her spear tightened. None of the others stirred, seemingly unaffected by the sound. But despite how close the sound had been, there was nothing in sight. She sat tense for several moments, but no new sounds came, and she let out a breath, slumping back down.

"You shouldn't fall back into a sense of security so quickly, Andralaxia."

Lailah jumped, letting out a startled gasp, and grabbed her spear as she turned around. Sitting behind her was a woman, a woman with white hair and red eyes, wearing a puffy black dress with red trim that covered her from the neck down, so that only her head was left exposed. Her skin was pale, almost deathly so, seeming more like a moving corpse.

Lailah knew this woman. She could sense the familiar aura that emanated from her. This woman… she was one of Mother's associates.

"Put that away, Laxi," the woman said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she gestured to Lailah's spear. "Is that any way to greet your mother's dear friend?"

"Miss Joanna…" the priestess began, the grip on her spear tightening. "Are you here to take me back to Akheros?"

"If I had come to bring you home, then this conversation wouldn't be happening," Joanna replied. She smiled, her canines a bit longer than they should have been. "You would have simply fallen asleep, and then woken up in your own bed."

Lailah hesitated. But after a moment, she set her spear aside, but not too far from reach. "What do you want?"

Joanna's smile returned. It made Lailah shudder in spite of herself- Joanna's smiles always carried a predatory look, whether the vampire intended it or not. "I'm not here to talk about what I want, Laxi. I'm here to talk about what you want. Or perhaps I should say… who you want."

The priestess felt her face flush. "Wh-What are you talking about?"

"You're far too clever to play the fool, Andralaxia. You know exactly what I'm talking about." Her grin grew, exposing the points of her fangs. "Though if you must insist on these games, I'm talking about the boy. Your precious Champion."

Lailah's face grew hotter. She opened her mouth, intending to protest, but only a sputter came out.

"I must say, you have your mother's taste, Andralaxia. The Champion is certainly quite the handsome young man. Strong, brave, courageous… he's everything you could hope for." Joanna leaned closer, her face now barely a hand's length from Lailah's. "He even managed to make my withered old heart race."

Lailah couldn't speak. Her tongue was paralyzed, and it took several seconds before she could force out a word. "Y-Y-You… you- you stay away from him! "

But the vampire only laughed, shaking her head. "Laxi, do you truly think I would come all this way just to steal your prey? No, child, I have other reasons for being here." She pulled back, seeming to glide over the ground like a ghost, stepping over the sleeping forms of Lailah's companions. "I'm here to help you."

Lailah felt a chill run up her spine. "Help me? Help me how?"

"To claim what you desire, of course," the vampire replied. She weaved among the members of Griffin Company. None of them stirred- not even Tharros, who surely would've been awakened by a vampire's presence.

Lailah felt a rush of anger- but more than that, of indignation. "You think I'm going to let you put some kind of spell on him!? Just so he'll give in and… and…"

Joanna stopped, turning to look at her. "You misunderstand, Laxi. I don't need to put a spell on him. He's already enchanted by you as it is. And you didn't even need to use any of your gifts. No, what I'm here to do is help you keep him." The vampire knelt down by one of the Crusaders' packs and rummaged through it, until she found what she sought: …a gazer's eye-stalk, the only one that Red Jack and Fran had found intact. "After all, that which belongs to you is yours only as long as you are strong enough to protect it. It is the most fundamental law of our kind. And if you are to keep your Champion, you must be able to defend him from his enemies, just as he defends you." She rose, walking toward Lailah, and held the stalk out to her.

Lailah looked at the stalk, then back at Joanna. "And what am I supposed to do with that?"

"Can you feel the mana within, Andralaxia?" Joanna asked.

The priestess focused. There was a faint, yet powerful, pulse emanating from the severed eye. "…I do."

"Take it. Absorb the gazer's mana into yourself and make it your own. Let its strength become your strength, its power become your power, so that you may protect what is precious to you."

Lailah hesitated. She could feel the power radiating from the stalk- even after losing its connection to the gazer, the mana was still present. And still quite potent.

But…

…if she took it… if Lailah took this power into herself… then…

She felt as though she were standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down over a chasm with no bottom. If she took the power Joanna offered- if she stepped off that cliff- then her path would be set. There would be no turning back, no way to return to who and what she had been before.

Silently, she cursed the gods. When she had run away from Akheros- from her mother and her servants and everything she had once known- she had sworn that she would never again use her powers. That she would live her life as something other than a demon. And yet, at every turn, the world seemed determined to force her to break her vow. And even though Abel had accepted her for what she was, if she took this power…

"Laxi." Joanna's voice was gentle, yet insistent. "What will it be?"

For the longest time, Lailah did not move. A part of her wanted to turn away, to refuse the offer- no matter how tempting, no matter how useful it would be, it was a road she didn't want to travel. To accept it- to accept the power- would mean embracing her heritage, and all the darkness that came with it. But another part of her- small, but insistent- told her that she needed this. That the road ahead was filled with more dangers than she could ever imagine. …Like today. If Niel had not intervened, all of them would have died. Even Lailah's formidable strength had done little to turn the tide against the gazer. And there would be other monsters just as strong, if not stronger, on their journey. And if they were going to survive… if she was going to protect him, then she would need every advantage she could find.

It was for his sake, after all. For Abel's sake. Lailah wasn't doing this for herself. She was doing this for him. The words repeated in her head, over and over again: I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing this for his sake. She held onto those words, hoping that if she kept telling herself that, it would become true. And after letting out a long, shuddering breath, Lailah reached out, her hand wrapping around the gazer's eye-stalk.

…but nothing happened.

She could feel the power pooled within the stalk, yet it did not flow into her. It merely sat, stagnant, like the water at the bottom of a well, far beyond her reach. She gripped it tighter, and focused, but again, nothing.

"Is something wrong, Laxi?"

The priestess's hands trembled. "I… I can feel the mana, but… I can't draw it out."

"Of course you can't," the vampire replied. "The mana of another living thing will not simply flow into you of its own accord, Andralaxia. Mana may move within living things, but you would be mistaken to think of its movements to be like the flow of water or blood. Mana is a manifestation of will." She looked at Lailah intensely, eyes gleaming in the firelight. "And just as you cannot stand on a river's shore and expect the water to rise to fill your cup, you cannot expect the mana- the will-of a living thing to submit to your own will without effort. If you are to claim another's mana- if you are to make their strength your own- then you must prove your will is greater."

Lailah closed her eyes, and focused once more. She could see the mana… or perhaps not so much see, but feel. She could feel it. Its strength, its warmth, its power. She reached out with every fiber of her being, trying to grasp it, to hold onto it. But still, the mana within refused to budge. It wasn't like the water within a well, but more like a stone- solid, and unyielding. Even so, she focused, concentrating with all the strength her mind could muster, trying to force the mana to come to her.

And then, suddenly, there was a change. The mana within the stalk began to shift, to twist and turn, as though it were a living thing, resisting her attempt to take it. Was this a good sign? She didn't know, but she refused to give up. Lailah redoubled her efforts, pushing, pulling, twisting through the gulf that separated them. The mana resisted, trying to pull away. But even so, thin wisps began to flow away from the stalk, drifting toward her like smoke in the wind. She reached out with her will, grabbing hold of the tendrils- but the moment she did, a searing pain exploded through what seemed like her entire being, as though her soul itself was on fire.

But she refused to let go. Pain flooded her body, like molten iron coursing through her veins. Even breathing hurt. But she didn't yield. She wouldn't. She needed this power to protect him. And if this pain was the price she had to pay to claim it, then she would gladly bear the cost.

She pulled harder, and more and more mana flowed into her. It flowed faster, and the burning spread, until the pain was all she knew. It seemed to fight against her even as she drew it into herself, like a venom flowing through her very essence. But still, she held on, she refused to let go even as it burned her, tearing at her very soul, until all that was left was agony…

…and then Lailah woke up.

She was seated in front of the campfire, the flames died down to little more than faint red embers. She looked around, but Joanna was nowhere to be found- in fact, there was nothing to suggest that anyone else had been there at all. All of her companions were asleep, not so much as stirring.

Lailah let out a breath, before sitting up. …a dream. That must have been what it was. Just a dream. She shook her head, and turned her gaze to the forest. Perhaps the stress of their battle against the gazer was making her mind play tricks on her. It wasn't as though the priestess had never experienced nightmares before. Still, it had been far more vivid than any dream she could recall. Even now, she could feel the echo of the pain in her body, the heat in her chest.

She stood. Falling asleep when she was meant to be keeping watch wouldn't reflect well on her. And she needed to rekindle the campfire anyway. But as she got to her feet, something that had been resting in her lap slipped and fell, hitting the ground with a muted thud. Lailah's eyes went wide as she stared down at the object: a severed, fleshy stalk, ending in an eyeball with a blood-red iris.

The gazer's eye-stalk.

For a moment, Lailah could only stare, before she snatched the stalk up, clutching it in her hands. She focused, trying to sense the mana within, but…

There was nothing. Not even the faintest trace of power.

Her breath hitched, before she forced herself to calm down. When a living thing died, its mana could linger within the remains for a time, but eventually, it would leak out and dissipate into the surrounding air. Surely, this was the case here. It may have happened a bit sooner than was typical, but this was an entirely natural occurrence.

…wasn't it?

Lailah grit her teeth as her feet carried her a short distance from the camp. She couldn't believe that she was entertaining such paranoid thoughts, but the memory of the dream still lingered, like a ghostly presence hovering just out of sight. And unless she proved to herself that what she had experienced in her dream had been just that, then her mind would not allow her to rest. She stopped a short distance from the camp, the glow of the fading embers just barely illuminating her.

Only… now what?

Even if her dream had been a reality, and she had taken the gazer's mana into herself, Lailah had no idea how to activate it. Did she have to speak an incantation, as she would with a normal spell? Or was the power simply there, ready to be unleashed by her will alone? She didn't know. She had fled from Akheros before receiving anything more than very basic training in magic- she understood the principles behind spells, and could even cast a few on her own, but her knowledge was sorely lacking, to say nothing of practical experience. And that was assuming that a gazer's magic was anything like…

She shook her head. She was wasting time. It didn't matter how it worked, or even if she understood it at all. All that mattered was whether or not she could use it. Her eyes swept over the darkness in search of a suitable target, settling on a shadowed tree some distance away. Her face scrunched as she glared at the tree with all the intensity she could muster, feeling utterly foolish all the while. There was no way this could possibly work. A gazer's magic may have been concentrated in its eyes, but there was no way that glaring in a particular direction hard enough would-

But at that moment, Lailah's vision filled with an orange light, and with a hiss and a crackle, a beam of energy lanced through the air, striking the tree with a small burst of flame, the wood charring and smoking. The priestess jolted, bringing her hands up, to cover her eyes, as if that would help somehow, only to recoil and jerk them away again as the searing light burned her skin. "Aaagh-!" But at that, the beam cut off, and darkness returned to the forest, broken only by the faint glow of the embers of the camp's fire.

For a moment, Lailah glanced around, the lingering light burning bright in her vision. Again, no one stirred, despite the racket. But then, had Joanna been here, it was likely their sleep was not naturally induced. The vampire would have taken steps to ensure their meeting would not be interrupted.

The beam hadn't been very large, or particularly intense- the burns on her hands were superficial, the kind of injuries one might expect from putting their hand too close to a lit candle. But her injuries were not what concerned her. And as she looked back to the tree she'd targeted, she could see that its trunk was cracked cleanly in half, from its peak to until it disappeared from sight beneath the earth, a feeling of dread gripped at her.

It was real.

All of it had been real.

---

Abel was silent. He had noticed that Lailah had seemed a bit more withdrawn than usual as they traveled back to Ives- even apprehensive- but he hadn't given the matter too much thought. She had probably just been shaken up by their battle with the gazer, and he couldn't really blame her. Even he was still trying to process everything that had happened. But this…

"Lailah-" he began, reaching a hand toward her.

But the priestess recoiled. "No! D-Don't- don't touch me!" She wrapped her arms around herself, shrinking away from him. "I… It… I…" Her gaze was fixed on the ground, shame and fear written plain across her face. "It isn't safe. For you to be near me."

Abel wanted to say something- to assure Lailah that she didn't have to worry about him, that he would be fine- but no words would come to him. Seeing her shrink away from him- him- like a frightened animal, hurt him in ways that years' worth of insults and beatings never could.

He had to do something. But comforting others, relieving them of their fears and their pain… it was something he had little experience with. As much as he wanted to reach out to Lailah, to help her, he didn't know how.

The silence between them stretched out like a great chasm, separating them as surely as any physical distance could. But then… Lailah took a small step back toward Abel. It was timid, hesitant, but still- the gap between them had lessened, even if only a little. "I… I'm not going to leave, Abel," she said, her voice barely audible above the rustling of the forest around them. "No matter what happens, I'll stay by your side. But… please, try to understand. As long as there's even a chance that I might… that I might-" Her voice broke off, and she swallowed hard. "…you… understand. …don't you?"

He did. As painful as it was to hear, he understood her fears. The power to absorb the mana of others… he couldn't imagine how that might affect a living thing. Or rather, he could, as he remembered the symptoms of mana deprivation, as Lailah herself had once described them: headaches, rupturing blood vessels, organ failure, then… death. It was little wonder that Lailah didn't want Abel anywhere near her. The possibility of draining someone's life away until they were nothing but a dried-up husk… "…I understand," he said, nodding. "But… we'll find a way to fix this. I promise."

The priestess looked at him, incredulous. "Fix this? Abel, there's-" She looked down at her hands. "…there isn't a way to fix this."

"Yes there is! There has to be!" He stepped forward, reaching for her again. "We just have to-"

"No!" But Lailah slapped his hands away before he could take another step. "Don't. Just… don't."

Again, silence reigned. Abel wanted to protest. To say that no, he wasn't just going to give up. That there was a solution, and that they would find it. But the words wouldn't come. After all, that's all they were. Words. And empty, meaningless words were worse than nothing.

After several moments, Lailah's gaze fell. "…we should go back," she murmured.

Abel didn't speak. He merely nodded. And he held his silence, even as they returned to Ives. Even as they parted after returning to the inn, finding their own rooms, he didn't even so much as wish her a good night. It was only after he sank onto the bed in his room that any sound left him- and it wasn't even words, just a long, heavy sigh.

So much had happened. Too much, it felt like. There were too many things that needed his attention, and it seemed like there was no time to spare any of it a thought for more than a few moments. Niel, the Fallen, and now Lailah and this new power of hers…

Abel laid down, the bed creaking under his weight. He had hoped that they would get some time to rest once they got back to Ives, but it seemed like the world was determined to prove him wrong.

And almost as soon as the thought came to him, there was a knock at the door.

He sprang up, stomping over and tearing the door open. "…what do you want?" he growled. It took far more restraint than he cared to admit not to shout at whoever was waiting on the other side.

But though he hadn't shouted, his visitor shrank back all the same. "Is… now a bad time?" Holly asked, a slight tremor in her voice.

Abel took a breath. "No, it… it's fine. What do you need?"

Holly hesitated, retreating another step. "I… It can wait. I'm sorry to bother you!"

"Holly-!" But it was too late. The silver-haired girl was already scurrying away, vanishing around the corner. "…damn it." He shut the door. He hadn't meant to snap at her- she couldn't have known about the day's events. His own frustrations had nothing to do with her, and yet they had spilled out onto her anyway. He rubbed his face… or rather, he attempted to, until his mask got in the way. With another sigh, he removed it, letting it fall to the floor with a clatter, before he sat on the bed. He tensed slightly, in anticipation of yet another visitor.

But, no one came.

The tension drained from him, replaced by fatigue, and he lay down fully, the mattress creaking beneath him. But, his eyes remained open. His body was tired, but his thoughts continued to turn.

Niel's patron. Lailah's power. Two more additions to the seemingly endless list of things he had to deal with. Not for the first time, Abel found himself missing the parts of his journey that involved things trying to kill him. At least in those moments, there were clear answers: fight, or die. There was no room for ambiguity, for doubt, for fear. But everything else… it was so muddled, so uncertain. He felt as if he were wandering through a thick fog, and every fork in the road only led to some new problem to resolve, some new complication to navigate.

And as he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, Abel couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be any end to it all. If he would ever find his way out of this labyrinth of worries… and whether he would even recognize the exit if he did find it.