The dungeon surrounded by stone walls was a familiar one. The dust-filled air was oppressive and the faint light from the caged window above was heavy and depressing. However, it was the faint humming in the stones that drew her attention. It reminded her of a place she frequently visited, a place where the now dormant were once glowing loudly with power and mystery. The only difference was that she was now the one being held within.

Rana was correct in her deduction and now the proof was undeniable. The raiders took shelter in the ruins of an abandoned chapel. She did not know how they came across a chapel, but there was no doubt the raiders established their base of operations within the vacated remains of a Church fortress. Whether they had foreknowledge about the chapel or simply chanced upon it through happenstance she did not know, but she had to find the answer to that question. How she dealt with the raiders depended on it, as one answer led to much more pressing issues.

Chapels were lead by Chaplains, high-ranking officials that were in charge of Church-related business within a territory. They were just below Archbishops, Legion Commanders, and Order Commanders in rank, but unlike the aforementioned three posts, theirs were the highest when it came to basic administration. In essence, when it came to Church efforts not related to the war against monsters or the fight to protect humanity, Chaplains were the most important role. This also meant that they had plenty of time to scheme for their own benefits. In a sense, they were like territorial lords of the kingdom. They had their own followers and land, and would constantly fight to expand their sphere of influence.

Chapels were their stronghold. They are the fortified headquarters of a Chaplain and the core of their power. It was like a castle and they the kings that issued command from their throne. So it was honestly a mystery as to why this one fell and was abandoned. They might not be as grand as castles, or they might not hide behind sturdy walls, but what they lacked in raw size they made up for with intricate wards and quality defenders. To siege against one and take it down would sometimes be even more impossible when compared to castles. These structures were usually built on strategic locations that oversaw important areas. It should’ve not have been abandoned that easily, especially when it clearly still had functioning parts.

Rana did not know about this chapel, so it must’ve been build between the century of her death and reawakening, but that did not explain its ruin. There was a chance Mara destroyed it, but it did not fit her sister’s method of what she had heard about. The Dark Paladin laid waste to Church facilities and left absolute no traces of what it once was. That was the reason for the complete loss of inquisitor technology. Yet here, the Chapel clearly still had value. The wards still existed and from what she saw before being thrown in the dungeon, the library, guard towers, and the administrative building still stood. It was unlikely that the Church would leave this place in the hand of roaming raiders. Even if the Church was too weak to retake it, the territorial lords would not let it go.

She brushed her hand against the stone and channeled her mana into the wards. They were not new and had been there for some time. It was at least a few decades that the Chapel fell, yet no one came to restore it or build upon it. She initially only wanted to come here as there was reason to believe the leaders of the raiders had information on news regarding the fallout of the war fought in Aodh, but it seemed like she would gain far more than she initially realized.

Then, there was shuffling in the far corner of the room and a hoarse voice broke the silence.

“Hey,” Jessica said. Her throat was dry and her body was weak due to the beating she took. However, she was still alive and strong enough to talk. That was a relief. “Who are you You lied about the reason you came to the settlement, and you definitely lied about who you were. I want to know.”

“I’m surprised you were conscious enough to—”

“Don’t! Just tell me! I don’t have time for jests,” Jessica yelled. She could tell the girl was sad, her emotional strength already drained and nearing the end with all the pain and suffering she experienced. She lost her home, she failed to protect the people she swore to protect, and was now imprisoned with someone who lied to her. She was defeated and lost. She simply wanted to know what was going on. “Please.”

“Shut your trap! Don’t make me come in there,” a raider yelled from outside the door. “Just wait quietly till Leok comes back. Then we’ll decide what to do with you.”

Leok was the leader Rana negotiated with. He followed Rana’s instruction and was heading to where she hid her belongings. The burly man locked them here and only placed his own as guards. He clearly wanted to dip his hands into what prize she promised him. However, to be able to do so, it also meant he was quite high up in rank for the group of raiders.

“My name is Rana, that much is true,” she said as she walked towards the girl huddled in the corner. There were still bruises over her body and her clothes were tattered and stained in blood, but her critical injuries were healed and her face looked much healthier. Rana slipped some potions to her in secret, and it was what lead to her suspicion. “I am a wandering marked one and am not affiliated with the raiders that destroyed the settlement and took you as a prisoner.”

“I can’t trust you. You arrived just one day before the raiders.”

“Do I need to remind you that I saved your life? I was the one who warned you of the incoming raiders and I also did not participate in the battle,” Rana said. She then took out some herbs and began engraving them with mana. She then ripped off a piece of her cloak and crushed the herbs within. She was not an expert healer, but she did learn the techniques. She then began dabbing the juices of the herb onto Jessica’s wounds. The girl winced but she clenched her teeth as to restrain her whimpers. “I am not your enemy. I simply have some business here. This was just the easiest way for me to get in.”

“So you would let the innocent die? If you had fought maybe we could’ve won,” Jessica said after breathing out to soothe the pain. Rana only had enough potions to heal the girl’s critical injuries. She was still injured, but at least with the help of the herbs and self-regeneration, recovery was possible. “Why didn’t you help? You are just like all the other marked ones.”

“I very much doubt it,” Rana finally said after a moment of silence. She smirked at the notion. It was an irony she did not fail to notice. “My existence is an affront to what a mark stands for, and my wish is far from what most marked ones want. Still, my participation would not aid your settlement in the slightest. I am not an ascended one nor is my mark powerful enough to take on an army. You fought the enemy, you should know that the reason you lost was not because of my absence, it was because you are weak.”

The room was silent, then Rana heard a small sniff followed by the sound of water droplets. She looked to her side and saw Jessica bury her face into her knees.

“I know. I’m sorry,” she said. It was a whimper, a resignation of frustration. “I am no different than I was on that day when my village was destroyed. I was unable to protect my home then, and I am unable to protect others. Who am I kidding, thinking that having a mark made me special, made me different? What symbol of peace? What protector of the weak? I am nothing but a weak and foolish girl.”

“You are not wrong,” Rana said. She then knelt in front of Jessica and waited for the girl to finish sobbing. Rana then prompted Jessica to look at her in the eyes. “That is the true nature of humans. We are weak and powerless. Without the mark we would be nothing but food for monsters and playthings for the vilest humanity has to offer. However, you are also right that the mark was given so that we can protect ourselves. There are those without the mark and it is the responsibility of those with it to protect them. That is the reason why the mark was given to a select few in the first place.”

Then, footsteps were heard outside the dungeon and soon appeared Leok. Rana stood up and faced the raider as he dumped to the ground bags and a giant staff wrapped in heavy cloth.

“You weren't lying, merchant,” the raider said. He clearly tried to unwrap the cloth and open the bags. Unfortunately, they were locked by wards. “However, tell me, how come a merchant had access to wards such as these?”

“I paid for them so that people like you don’t go snooping around. You might want to excuse some of your men for the next part. You want first picking and I need someone to vouch for me when the time comes.”

“You have a deal,” Leok said. He motioned some of his men to guard outside and sent several, most likely not loyal to him, away. Some of them protested, saying of the danger, but he quickly dismissed them. “Don’t worry, in this room, no marked one will be able to generate mana. The chick there is nearly dead and even if the merchant was a marked one, she can’t call upon her mana core.”

Rana was hoping that he knew. Imperfect knowledge led to overconfidence and subsequently led to an underestimation of her abilities. That was a mistake that resulted in death. In the room, there was now only Rana, Jessica, Leok, and his three men. She then gave a single ward key to Leok. He opened the two bags, intentionally saving the best for last. Inside the bag were some pellets and potions. It was in no way an indication of her being a merchant, but Rana knew the hidden staff alone was enticing enough. Even if Leok had no mana, rare magical items had the ability to gravitate others towards it. Its mere presence attracted attention.

“Hey, this one is still locked,” Leok said as he fumbled with the heavy cloth around the staff. “Don’t make me wait, quickly unlock it.”

Rana did as she was told. She channeled mana within the ward guarding the staff and it loosened, revealing a gleaming crescent blade with a pristine handle. She then handed over to Leok, whose wide grin was salivating with greed. His bright eyes widened, enamored by such an amazing item, then it widened even more of what it meant.

“Leok, do you not realize the implication of what just happened?” Rana asked with a faint smile.

His grin fell as realization dawned on him. It was too late. The crescent blade burned and blades of ash materialized and soared. Before the raiders were even able to scream, their throats were sliced. Their bodies slumped to the floor, the guards outside sensed the change in the air. However, before they were even able to examine what happened inside the room, blades of ash already flew out and killed them as well. She could not see them, but she knew where they were, and now every raider in the immediate vicinity was dead.

Leok was not wrong. The room restricted mana regeneration and lowered the strength of a mark. The issue was that for an inquisitor such as herself, it was not difficult to circumvent the powers of the ward.

Rana looked at a stunned Jessica.

“I saved you out of convenience for myself. We all have something we must do, and the mark is what gives us the chance to do it. You were now just given another chance, an opportunity once again. So, what will you do?” Rana said. She then took off her hood and revealed her ashen skin. She spent too much time cooped up under the constraining fabric. “I am an inquisitor and I have something that I must do. I need your assistance, and I am willing to discuss the terms of your cooperation.”

Jessica did not immediately answer, but she stood up. She struggled against the pain and her weakened body, but she overcame the protest of her body. She wiped her eyes and nose and met Rana’s gaze.

“I want to save the prisoners. I’ll do whatever you want. Please, help me.”

Rana smiled and extended her hand and Jessica took it. She did not think she could win against the group of raiders, and she did not need to do anything other than getting what she needed and get out. However, since a chapel was involved, the situation drastically changed. She would gain more than what she initially expected, and of course, the death of the raiders could now be guaranteed.