Memento

Location: Secularia / Square

Time: Y1503 / 26th day of the Wither Moon / Dusk

“Wait!” (Looter Horazio)

The sun was about to disappear below the horizon when the last looter of the day hurried toward the merchant who was packing her stuffs after a long day of trades.

*pant* “Thanks. This is good stuff! You won't regret buying it!” (Horazio)

“Alright. Let's see what you have gotten for me today, Horazio.” (Merchant Novella)

“You... remember my name?” (Horazio)

“Of course I remember you. It would be bad for business to forget the name of good customers. Or the face of crafty scoundrels.” (Novella)

“I hope you see me as a good man, fair merchant.” *smirk* (Horazio)

Ignoring his advances, the merchant took the dirty sack full of trinkets from the hand of the looter. The metallic noise it made when moved betrayed the content.

“...” (Novella)

“What is it? Is this no good? It must be worth something!” (Horazio)

“It is. I'll pay you well. I know who I can sold those trinkets to... I know all too well~ (Novella)

The merchant let the faintest hint of sorrow slip through her expression as she carefully laid the blood covered medallions bearing the symbol of the red sun on her scale for weighing.

Underground Worship

Location: Secularia / Fallen Temple of Gloria

Time: Y1503 / 26th day of the Wither Moon / Night

Novella threw away her disguise of merchant as she slipped through the cracks in the walls of the ruined Temple of Gloria in Secularia. She was now Inquisitor Novella, and today was the day the enemies of the Church would pay for their sins in blood.

The temple was much smaller than the one in Victoria, but it still was home to more than two hundreds brothers and sisters. Most were slaughtered during the sack of Secularia at the hand of an extremist sect of the Cult of Fertility.

As Novella passed through the debris, memories of the time she spent there flashed in her mind. Her sight lingered on an oven near the walls. That's where she used to bake bread when she was but an initiate.

*sigh* (Novella)

The inquisitor entered the remains of the main building. The walls were still standing strong, but they were burned black with soothe and there was no door barring her way. All wood burned away and even the roof fell down, littering the floor with debris.

Novella spotted a blackened skeleton hand emerging from below a slab of stone that was once part of the roof.

[I wonder if this can be considered a burial. At least the fire cleansed them properly.] (Novella)

The inquisitor skillfully navigated the halls and chambers, her gaze lingering on places she used to live her everyday life when she was young.

Empty broken bowls. Splintered planks. Charred tables. Bare metal nails. After the sack and after the looters had their way with the place, all that was left was garbage, rubble and the stench of death.

Novella reached her destination. An heavy table laying broken, upside down on the floor.

There were marks on the ground, betraying the fact that it had been moved just recently.

*groan* (Novella)

Summoning all her strength, Novella moved the heavy table, revealing a round opening with makeshift stair leading into the darkness.

(Novella)

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Novella conjured a magic light. She was navigating what once were the dungeons of the temple. A network of chambers and tunnel excavated from the naked rock. She had to crouch while walking as the tunnels where rather small.

After a short while, a light could be seen at the end of the tunnel.

Novella found herself in a cave looking room, about thirty meters wide. The place was littered with several crystal lights and had a makeshift altars made from a table. There were open cages at the sides. This place was originally an underground prison, after all.

“You came!” (Priest Alsan)

The makeshift church was cramped as fifty people were crammed inside. It was hard to breathe. An old man emerged from the crowd to greet the inquisitor.

They had meet before, but she was surprised by the tone of the old priest. It's like this man was unsure whether she would come. Unthinkable! Or perhaps expected? This man had not been anointed by the church.

The priest was an impostor who took over the spiritual needs of the servants of Gloria after the temple fell.

[He may have sinned, but his heart was in the right place. I will be lenient with his punishment once the natural order is established once more.] (Novella)

“Are your men ready?” (Novella)

“The strongest amongst us donned the equipment you gracefully shared, inquisitor. We are as ready as we are ever going to be.” (Alsan)

Novella inspected the man and women cramped in the small cave. They were mostly old men and children who usually worship Gloria in secret from the safety of their own homes. Today they all gathered here, as she instructed.

A dozen of them stood out as they were dressed for battle. Their weapons and armors where of unusually high quality, but ill fitting.

“Did you bring in any reinforcement, Inquisitor?” (Ulis)

The fiercest looking warrior amongst the worshipers, a Dark Skin woman who lost her family during the raid, stepped forward asking a legitimate question.

Including older children, only fifteen could fight. They would need some serious help to eradicate the wretched scums that took home in the sacred woods.

“The Gifted One bestowed her blessings upon me. I am all that you need, my crusader.” (Novella)

(Novella)

The inquisitor lifted her arms as she uttered her declaration. One by one, the people present keeled under the unnatural pressure being exerted over them.

*whisper* “Is Gloria angry at us?” *tears up* (Child)

*whisper* “No, my child. As long as you have faith, you have nothing to fear.” (Mother)

The very real powers displayed by the herald of their Goddess could not be denied. All the worshipers could do was to submit and pray that those powers would be directed against those who wronged them.

*groan* *kneel* (Ulis)

Even Ulis relented. The inquisitor undoubtedly bore the blessing of Gloria.

(Novella)

“My crusaders. You are wearing the best weapons and armors I gathered from the looters. Your faith in Gloria steady your aim and strengthen your arms. Most of all, you have me. Gloria's own servant. May Gloria bear witness to my words! Those sinners cannot oppose us!” (Novella)

**cheers** (Worshipers)

“Gloria! Avenge my husband!” (Widow)

They worshipers had no way to consciously understand just how powerful that inquisitor was but their instinct told them that Novella was on a completely another level compared to other magi. The small underground chambers resounded with cries of jubilee.

Beside the expressionless inquisitor, old man Alsan was watching with pride. He lived too long to believe that Gloria would help Secularia directly.

By gathering worshipers of Gloria and setting up this underground cult, Alsan had bet on the Knights of Gloria or even for the Inquisition of Gloria to intervene to regain control of the town.

[I wonder if they'll let me have Secularia for myself after this fight is won.] *grin* (Alsan)

Alsan's bet had paid off.

Pep Talk

Location: Secularia / Building near the Sacred Woods

Time: Y1503 / 26th day of the Wither Moon / Night

It was the heart of the night when Novella led her fifteen warriors past the city guards patrolling the ruined town of Secularia. It wasn't hard as she had many days to study their patrol routes and the guards only tried to keep safe the small center of the town.

Now, only a small field of grass separated the decrepit building where Novella's forces were laying in wait from the tall trees of the woods held sacred by the late inhabitants of the city.

*whisper* “What do we do now, inquisitor? They have sentinels. They'll see us coming. Without the effect of surprise they'll crush us with their numbers.” (Ulis)

(Novella)

Without saying a word, Novella closed her eyes and joined her hands while weaving a spell. The Gifted One's Technique she had gracefully accepted, boosted the potency of her offensive spells to an absurd degree, but unfortunately, the technique didn't improve the effectiveness her subtler ones by much.

She had to rely on her experience and skills developed in many years of practice in detection magic.

After spending several minutes trying to detect glimpses of life from the woods, the inquisitor rescinded her spell.

*whisper* “Your reports were inaccurate. There are not one hundred sinners, but two hundreds.” (Novella)

*whisper* "Two hundred?!? How on earth are we supposed to take them on with just fifteen warriors and a mage?!?" (Crusader Tenore)

Tenore was a Fair Skin men in his twenties. He was a city guard, and unlike most others his loved ones still lives. He means to keep it this way.

*whisper* “Dammit! Can't we do it after all?” (Ulis)

*whisper* “Nonsense. Be it one hundred or one thousand, makes no difference to me. I bear the Gifted One's blessings. As long as your faith is strong, victory is assured." (Novella)

It was true that powerful Magi could be worth a thousand soldiers in battle. But that was on an open field. Here they had to contend with archers and hit and run tactics. An lucky arrow could end the life of the inquisitor, crushing their chances.

*whisper* "I understand you are strong, inquisitor. But will that really be enough?" (Ulis)

*whisper* "I can do it on my own if your faith is lacking. What will it be, leader?" *glare* (Novella)

The inquisitor turned around, facing Ulis. The leader could feel warmth leaving their body like the cold gaze of the inquisitor was robbing her of her warmth. The eyes of the fourteen warriors were likewise glued on her.

*whisper* "Ulis! What are you doing?!?" (Crusader Eroe)

Eroe was a Fair Skin man in his late forties with long black hair and a long beard. He lost his wife and children in the raids, and found a new reason to live with the Church of Gloria.

*whisper* *sweat* "My... my faith is strong, inquisitor. I will lay down my life for you if needs to be. Please, forgive my transgressions." *look down* (Ulis)

With the insubordination taken care of, the inquisitor examined her crusaders.

Their equipment was good. It was ill fitting, but it was the best that could be found in the ruins of the town. Of her charges, five would usually be considered too young to fight. Three too old. And she faced two hundreds enemies.

But she had two monumental advantages going for her. The element of surprise, and the Gifted One's Collimating Technique.

[A trial, then. So be it.] (Novella)

*whisper "Young child. You are up. You'll have the task of taking out the sentinels." (Novella)

*whisper* "Inquisitor! Is it wise to leave such an important task to young Seiral?" (Ulis)

The leader was starting to doubt the sanity of the inquisitor. Failing in clearing the sentinels might as well doom their crusade from the start. Their best bowman should be given such task. Or even better, the inquisitor herself should use her magic to do it.

Furthermore, Novella had made many appalling decisions. Counting Ulis herself, only four warriors carried a sword. The rest only had bows and shields.

Novella had them prepare basket backpacks and instructed them to fill them to the brims with countless arrows they spent sleepless night gathering and crafting. She ordered all of them to train with bows ever since the day she made contact. Many, like Seiral never wielded a bow before.

It's as if the inquisitor expected to win this battle with just ranged weapons, which are hindered by the tree trunks blocking the line of sight. It's common knowledge that a battle in the woods is a bloody affair that needs knife works to win.

*whisper* “I do not expect you to see the path Gloria clearly laid for us, Ulis. But I do demand that you have faith in those who can see it. Little one, will you serve Gloria?” (Novella)

*whisper* "I... I'll do my best!" *strongly hold bow* (Crusader Seiral)

*whisper* "Ulis! What's the matter with you?!? She is an inquisitor, for Gloria's sake! Get a hold of yourself!" (Crusader Eroe)

"..." (Ulis)

Gloria's Domain

Location: Secularia / Building near the Sacred Woods

Time: Y1503 / 26th day of the Wither Moon / Night

The sinners had no idea the hammer of Gloria was about to smite them down. Time was their ally and the inquisitor meant to take full advantage of that in her preparations.

Novella hid behind a wall tall enough to hide her figure and started dancing, collimating a large amount of magic threads.

*whisper* “Inquisitor... You are so bright! Won't they be able to see your light?” (Seiral)

*whisper* “What light? What are you talking about?” (Tenore)

The young crusader had aptitude for magic and could see a blurry, yet blinding light coming from the inquisitor. She was the only one there that could see it so clearly. The others could at best see a faint golden aura shrouding the inquisitor in divinity.

Paying no heed to the whispers behind her, Novella kept dancing, collimating aether into magic thread to the best of her abilities. For minutes she danced, until a tangle of long thick magic threads was fully enveloping her figure. She collimated to the near limits of her aptitude. Any more, and her own magic channels might have ruptured.

At this point, Novella had more magic at her disposal than an elite unit of Magi could have collimated in a full day of battle, back then during the war. Novella needed all that magic, and maybe even more for the spell she was about to weave.

*shivers* [What is she doing? I feel a dreading aura coming from her. It's like every fiber of my being is telling me to escape.] (Ulis)

Reaching inside her dark tunic, Novella brought out a small five centimeters wide sphere made from black gold with complex geometric patterns etched on it.

*whisper* "What's that?" (Seiral)

*whisper* "That's a divine instrument, Seiral." (Tenore)

*whisper* "Is that black gold?!? That marble is probably worth a small town." (Crusader)

Novella held the sphere tightly in her palms as she focused and started channeling magic inside the priceless artifact entrusted to her by Madre herself.

(Novella)

One by one, the enchantment weaved upon it activated, realizing one of the most effective spells in the church's arsenal. Gloria's Domain. A spell that turned the tides in many battles before.

Gloria's Domain hinders everything the caster perceive as foe and helps everything the caster see as friendly over its area of influence.

[Yes! I can do it, now! May Gloria's blessing bathe you in the warmth of a thousand suns, Gifted One! I can finally bring about the full potential of this spell!] *smile* (Novella)

Gloria's Domain was a draining spell that was taxing to weave and sustain. The best Magi in history couldn't sustain it for more than ten minutes or so.

Novella wasn't the most adept mage alive. Not by far. But she had acquired Liara's Collimating Technique. Limitations experienced by great Magi in the past no longer applied to her. Novella now had an absurd amount of aether to fuel her spells.

This artifact was Meridia's Masterpiece. As Novella kept activating the various enchantments and blessing engraved upon it, for the first time, its full power was unleashed.

The final enchantment Meridia engraved was meant to solve the most glaring shortcoming of the spell. Heat. Gloria's Domain for some reason makes either the caster or the artifact heats up as it absorb burden. Meridia's solution was to use metal that doesn't melt easily, and make it so that the caster does not need to touch he artifact

*float* (Artifact)

Novella parted her palms, but the black marble did not fall. It stayed right there, as sustained by an invisible force. No matter how hot the sphere got. Her hands would not be burnt.

“It is time, little one. Ready yourself.” (Novella)

“Yes! I won't fail you!” (Seiral)

The eager young crusader could see Novella hold a blinding light in between her hands. She did not understand what it was, nor she needed to. All she needed to know is that the death of her parents will be avenged. Gloria had answered her prayers.

[Look at me, Mom and Dad! This is for you!] *tears up* (Seiral)

A Crusade for Faith

Location: Secularia / Sacred Woods

Time: Y1503 / 26th day of the Wither Moon / Night

Back in the days before the sack of Secularia, hunting in the sacred wood was forbidden.

But that was then. There was no one left, either alive or willing, to enforce that rule. Sometimes fools did wandered in the woods hoping to catch some game. Dealing with them was the sentinels' main duty.

And that was during the day. No one had dared venture in the woods at night ever since the extremist sect of the Cult of Fertility took residence there.

*yawn* (Sentinel)

The pale moon was bright enough that people were easy to spot had they tried to cross the field. Not that anyone sane would try and hunt during the night. This shift was as dull as always, the greatest battle was against sleepiness.

“hmmmm?” (Sentinel)

A glimmer of light flickered in the distance, catching the attention of the guard looking from high above on the platform disguised in the branches of the tall tree.

*wish* (Arrow)

*hit* (Sentinel)

The poor bastard didn't have the time to react to what was going on. A tiny speck came flying at him, getting closer and bigger until it filled his view.

The sharp pain only lasted an instant.

*fall* ... *thump* (Sentinel)

The sentinel fell dead on his back with an arrow lodged in his left eye socket.

“The sinner has been put to rest. Well done, little one.” (Inquisitor Novella)

The little girl was astonished. So much that she doubted what she heard. She had been training with a bow for a while, but...

“Serial? How on earth did you hit that target???” (Ulis)

“I can't even see where the arrow went!” (Tenore)

“She hit a man one hundred meters away in the dark, while camouflaged in the branches? How?!?” (Crusader)

If ever miracles had happened, this was it. That or the girl was the greatest archer that ever lived at the young age of nine.

“I did say that Gloria would steady your aim. I meant it. Or you still hold doubts in your heart after all you have witnessed?” *glare* (Novella)

A glimpse of the eyes of the inquisitor could be seen below her cowl, making the blood of the crusaders freeze.

*whisper* “”May Gloria's warmth embrace us all!”” *sweat* (Crusader)

The inquisitor, who was still holding the floating black marble in place between her palms turned her cold gaze toward the Sacred Woods once more as she uttered her next command. The first blow had been dealt.

The clock was now ticking. It was either advance until the enemy is vanquished, or advance until her forces are depleted.

“Little one. Aim over there, seven trees to the right, half trunk height.” (Novella)

Having mapped the position of all life in that forest, the inquisitor calmly instructed the position of her next target. She couldn't use her finger to point, so she just described the location.

*nod* (Seiral)

The young crusader picked up another arrow from a basket filled with dozens of them on the ground. She knocked the arrow and pulled the string of her bow, which was as tall as she was.

*nnnggg* (Seiral)

For reasons the girl did not understand, the bow meant for adults was much easier to pull right now than it was during her practice. She pulled the string as far as her tiny arms allowed for.

[I wonder if Gloria herself is standing by my side and is helping me draw the string... I won't fail you!] *smile* (Seiral)

Seiral tried very hard to spot the sentinel. But she couldn't do it. It was disguised too well behind the branches, and it was too dark in there.

*sweat* [I can't see him either! What if I miss? The in~ (Seiral)

“Little one. Do not think too hard. Open your heart to Gloria for she knows where the arrows is meant to go. Have faith.” (Novella)

Seiral did just as the as the inquisitor said. She felt the bow wanting to aim in a precise spot, and entrusted that feeling. She closed her eyes and let go of the string, propelling the arrow forward and up at high speed.

*shot* (Seiral)

Unknown to her, the arrow kept accelerating even after leaving the bow.

The arrow flew in an arc. Or it should have. An unnatural force acted upon the thin rod of wood, altering its trajectory. After reaching the apex, the arrow started losing height while creeping forward at high speed, closing in to a specific tree.

Leaving the area of influence the Gloria's domain, the arrow was now behaving like an arrow should. The arrow advanced while narrowly missing branches and leaves.

*swish* (Arrow)

*oomph* *fall* (Sentinel)

Against all odds, the arrow found its way through branches and bushes, and lodged itself in the temples of an unlucky night sentinel of the cult. But that was not luck. Novella and her Gloria's Domain were the ones that stacked the odds against the sentinel.

“Another hit. You make Gloria's proud, little one. Three sentinels left. Can you do it?” (Novella)

*blush* “Leave them to me!” *bright smile* (Seiral)

*whisper* "With Gloria's at our backs, we really can do this!" (Eroe)

*whisper* "I can't believe it." (Ulis)

"That's the last of them. Well done, young crusader." (Novella)

*bright smile* (Seiral)

Now that the wretched sect had been robbed of their sight, Novella, still holding the floating black marble in between her palms, went around the short wall in front of her.

She stepped outside, leaving herself fully exposed in the grassy field that separated Secularia from the Sacred Woods, ominously walking toward the sinner and their inevitable demise.

The crusaders looked at each others and followed her example.

The fifteen marched for a few minutes under the light of the pale moon, and when they were close enough, Novella stopped for a moment.

*whisper* “The real deal begins.” (Novella)

(Novella)

Novella weaved another spell on top of the Gloria's Domain she had been sustaining so far. This spell granted the ability to see life to her crusaders. It was possible because the artifact was taking care of the intricacies of Gloria's Domain, leaving the mind of the inquisitor unburdened enough that she could sustain multiple spells.

*whisper* “Are those~ (Eroe)

*whisper* “Sins. You are seeing what's weighting down their souls.” (Novella)

*whisper* “... So sad... I will free them!” *tears up* (Seiral)

Seiral's jaws dropped as faint green and red lights flickered into existence in front of her eyes. The forest was crawling with them. She could even feel how far the lights were. A feeling she couldn't possibly describe.

Novella described the lights as sins. Indeed, the crusaders had green lights, the color of nature and good. While those in the forests had red light. The color of blood.

[Is this what the inquisitors see? They bear the burden of seeing this much sadness every day? I'll help them as best as I can!] (Tenore)

The inquisitor soul shined of a different light. A golden white light.

[This must be the blessing of Gloria she spoke about.] (Tenore)

*whisper* "Let us proceed, my crusader. Have faith. The sinners cannot oppose our light!" (Novella)

The warriors, carrying bows and a large amount of arrows, stepped inside the forest.

The old trees standing proudly around the crusaders, and nesting on them, the sinners. Most of them weren't moving. They were still sleeping, unaware that the day of reckoning had arrived.

*whisper* “We are deep enough. Choose a light, and extinguish it, like Seiral did. Open your hearts to Gloria. Free them of sins. Shot at will!” (Novella)

*whisper* “”May Gloria's welcome them in her warm embrace!”" (Crusaders)

*let loose* (Crusader)

*swish* (Arrow)

An arrow flew at great speed from ground level, its trajectory being unnaturally bent by an unseen force. The arrow narrowly avoided branches as it climbed almost vertically, then it slowly leveled it's flight path and once it was about fifty meters away from its origin, the unnatural force acting upon it, waned and disappeared.

The arrow was now lined up perfectly toward the thin walls of entwined twigs of the tree house directly ahead.

*slip* (Arrow)

The arrow punched through the thin walls, making a slight noise. It was not enough to wake up cultist nearby because of the noises the forest made during the night. Be it the sounds of insects, the signing of birds or the breeze caressing the tree branches.

The arrow was slightly deviated by the impact. Not enough, unfortunately for the child sleeping on the hay on the floor.

*hit* (Child)

The arrow found its way to the small heart of the youngling who didn't feel anything, dying in their sleep. A payment for the crimes of their parents.

*yawn* [Mmmm? He sleeps soundly. Probably was noth~ (Mother)

*swish* (Arrow)

*hit* (Mother)

Maybe because of motherly instinct, the woman nearby woke up, but quickly dismissed the event as nothing was happening. An arrow extinguished her life as well before she could return to sleep.

[So... many... arrows... But I can take it! I can guide them! I can do it!] (Novella)

An inquisitor of Gloria was giving it her all to ensure that each arrow would find its light. Gloria's Domain was still in full effect, and the enemy had yet to realize what was happening.

*draw string* [It's been five full minutes since our attack begun and the enemy has yet to react to our presence... I have to admit the tactics of the inquisitor has been spot on, so far. Silent weapons guided by magic. Eventually someone will wake up and give the alarm, but I wonder how many we will be able to cull before that happens. The noises of the forests and the space between their tree houses are becoming their undoing.] *loose* (Ulis)

*swish* (Arrow)

*ding* *hit* (Jar)

*hit* “AAAARGHHH! My kneee!!!” (Cultist)

*fall* *ding* *ding* (Golden Jar)

A man was soundly sleeping, at least until an arrow suddenly hit his knee. He had been lucky, what could have been a killing blow merely crippled the man. He was saved by a golden jar he had looted a few moon backs during the sack of the city.

*wake* *stand up* “What's going on?!?" (Wife)

The scream of pain woke up a woman sleeping next to him.

*far voice* “What happened?!?” (Cultist)

*far voice* “I don't know. Someone just screamed.” (Cultistd)

“Your leg!” *rush* (Wife)

Removing the cap from the crystal light revealed that her husband's leg was bleeding. The woman hurried to get a piece of clothes to wrap the wound, but she never made it to the bucket in the corner.

*swish* (Arrow)

*hit* “Gh~” (Wife)

“Lesia!!! Noooo!!!!” (Cultist)

Being hit in the back, the woman fell face down on the floor, her white sleeping gown becoming red near the wound as her husband grieved.

*swish* (Arrow)

*hit* (Cultist)

A third arrow saw that they would be together in death as they were in life.

**screams** (Cultists)

“Archers! Hide behind tree~ Aahhhhh!!!” (Cultist)

“We are overrun! Run for your life!” (Cultist)

[What in the world is going on in my garden?!?] (Guru Eidan)

*slam* (Door)

Opening the door of his tree house, the leader of the cult, wearing his battle-gear could see chaos spreading like a plague. His charges running like headless chickens on the bridges, falling down after being hit by arrows coming from the depth of the woods.

*swish* (Arrow)

*hit* *flare* (Rooftop)

“Fire!!! They have fire arrows!!!” (Cultist)

Many small flickering flames appeared all around, and started to grow in intensity as they consumed the dry twigs that made up the roofs of the tree houses.

[The enemy has achieved full surprise. My forces are in disarray. My garden is burning.] (Eidan)

Initial dismay was replaced by a deep sense of loss as the gravity of the situation sunk inside the heart of the Guru.

[Wha~ (Eidan)

*swish* (Arrow)

What could only be described as instinct, or sixth sense made the guru of the sect fall down to reality. Sensing the danger approaching, his arms came together as they had their own will, shielding the Guru's face. At the same time, Eidan knelt, as to shrink his profile.

*bling* *fall* (Arrow)

The arrow pitifully impacted small half round shields extending from the braces of the Guru of this sect. It was a custom piece of equipment that allowed him to make full use of his unusually developed reflexes. An equipment that saved his life many times before.

*raise* *inhale* “FOOLS!!” (Eidan)

The Guru took a deep breath and spoke a top of his lungs. A deep powerful voice resonated in the forest, making everyone and everything came to a stop. Even the arrows stopped flying, if only for a moment.

The leader of the sect was a burly Fair Skin man, towering at two meters in height. He wore a pelt of a Shining Fang Wolf on his shoulders, and the exposed skin on his manly torso bore many scars. His hair were long and black with silver strains. He had large eyes that gave him captivating presence.

“Get the helpless to safety behind thick walls! Everyone else, grab a rope, and follow me! lets beat them back!” (Guru)

Without an hint of fear, the Guru wrapped his hands with a thick leather protection, grabbed one of the ropes that was dangling from a branch in front of him and jumped down.

“With the Guru!” (Cultist)

“Death to the invaders!” (Cultist)

With now clear instructions, the most experienced members of the sect recovered their wits, and followed suit after the guru, taking a rope to the ground. Seeing that, other cultist regained reason as well, and started acting in unison, arming themselves, and helping out.

Some had the opposite reaction, hiding and cowering in fear, but they were the minority.

“To the ground! Death to all Magi!!!” (Cultist)

*swish* (Arrow)

*hit* “Ahhhhhh!!!” *fall* *splat* (Cultist)

Consumed by bloodlust, a cultist tried to take one of the rope down, only for an arrow to arrive first and make his journey to the ground that much quicker.

“To me! They come from the east! Hide behind the tree trunks!” (Eidan)

*swish* (Arrow)

*hit* *fall* (Cultist)

[Dammit! Those must at least fifty elite archers! Only about thirty warriors came down with me safely. Where are my forces?!? I need more men to break through!] (Eidan)

“Ahhhhhhh~ *splat* (Cultist Jesten)

[Jesten... Focus! They must have gotten at least fifty of us in their opening strike. Seventy can't fight, this should leave me with at least another seventy able bodied left. I should wait a little longer for more men to gather.] (Eidan)

Little by little the Guru's forces was increasing, but it's not enough.

“Shields!! Get shields and get ready to advance!” (Guru)

**swish** *hit* *ding* *thump* *ding* (Arrows)

"Reinforce the barricade!" (Cultist)

"We need more wood over here!" (Cultist)

"Here! Have some planks!" (Cultist Siska)

For several minutes the Guru endured the wait and directed his man the best he could.

His men moved trunks and used wooden barricades ripped from the ground facilities as makeup shields. Using hammer and nails, they reinforced them.

Little by little his forces were building up.

"What's the situation?" (Eidan)

"Sixty warriors made it. We are building a barricade as you instructed." (Cultist Fairelise)

Fairelise was the right hand of the Guru, as well as his consort. She was a Fair Skin woman in her thirties, she had short blonde hairs and was short in stature. She was muscular and fought using blunt weapons.

"This ought to be enough. We advance with what we have right now." (Eidan)

"What if they have a mage? If we clump together~ (Fairelise)

"We won't. That's why I ordered three barricades to be made. My group will fall back, drawing them in. Fairelise, you take twenty men north. Eros, you take the rest south. We are going in for a pincer." (Eidan)

"And so I will!" (Cultist Eros)

Eros was Eidan's left hand. He was a Fair Skin men in his thirties, he had long blonde hairs, and a baby face. He used to fight with a crossbow.

*fall* (Burning Tree House)

"It's falling! Get out of the way!!!" (Cultist)

*crush* (Burning Tree House)

The fire above had been spreading for a while, consuming the tree houses, the bridges, the ropes and the belongings of the sect. The tree themselves were still safe as they were covered in a thick resins that protected them against the fire.

*covers head* "Who do you think they are?" (Fairelise)

"Elite bowmen from the kingdom surely." (Eidan)

"But... our agreement with them... and I thought those units were gathering near the border at least two days from here! Something big was going down there." (Eros)

"We have been deceived, then. No matter. Even the Kingdom will feel the loss of those units. They'll learn to tread carefully around the Cult of Fertility! Secularia is ours, and I mean for it to stay that way! You know what to do, move!" (Eidan)

""Yes, Guru!!!"" (Cultists)

For several minutes, Eidan's twenty strong force had been dragging a makeshift barricade four meters wide and two meters tall backward, trying to draw in the enemy archers. They had been maneuvering around the thick tree trunks to force the enemies to reposition themselves and advance.

**swish** *hit* *ding* *thump* *ding* (Arrows)

[They must be running low on arrows by now. They'll be forced to switch to blades, soon. Also, my units should now be in position on their flanks.] (Eidan)

"That's it! Stop retreating! We now advance!" (Eidan)

The barrier was looking like a porcupine, with dozens of arrows embedded in it. As soon as Eidan's men started advancing, the stream of arrows came to a stop.

"guru?" (Cultist)

"Do not leave the barricade! They are getting ready for a sword fight! Keep advancing!" (Eidan)

Soon enough, the enemy was finally in sight. There was a forty meters wide clearing and it was one of the few spots in the woods from where the skies were visible. Now less than fifty meters separated Eidan's unit from the enemies.

[They are fewer than I imagined... Uhm... is that a mage? I see... Gloria's Domain! It's the church!] (Eidan)

There were fifteen soldiers of varying ages holding shields, in a defensive circle formation. Only a few swords could be seen, and in the center there was a kneeling figure dressed in black. The light coming from the flickering fires from above gave them with an ominous appearance.

[Gloria's Domain is a draining spell. If she has been using it all along, she must be exhausted by now. She hoped to end this with just arrows? Laughable!] (Eidan)

"Guru!" (Cultist Fairelise)

"We are in position as well!" (Cultist Eros)

Both from the north and from the south, the units Eidan had dispatched before, came together, closing the pincer maneuver. The enemies were now surrounded. Their mage, spent. Their arrows, rendered useless.

Eidan's plan was coming together. The enemy pressed their attack too far. They would have been better off retreating after the first successful salvos.

"Well done! Their mage is exhausted! Everyone... Advance!!!" (Eidan)

From three sides, sixty cultist advanced from the safety of their barricades. As the distance reduced, the enemies could be seen trembling. Fear was sure to grasp their hearts.

Thirty meters.

Twenty-five meters.

Eidan could now see the enemies in their eyes from the crack in the barricade he was using to keep track on the enemies.

Twenty meters!

"Now! Swarm them! Kill them all!" (Eidan)

From behind the barricade, the cultist rushed forward, holding swords, spears and knives.

(Novella)

**freeze in place** (Cultist)

*ngggg* [What's. Happening.] (Eidan)

The warrior of his sect were mere meters away from striking down on the enemy's defensive formation when the mage suddenly stood up, and as the sphere she held in her hands became red hot everyone just froze.

[No. The sphere is not in her hand. It's floating near... them.] *groan* (Eidan)

No matter how hard he tried. Eidan could not move a muscle. It was like he was encased in something. Like the air around him was fighting against his every move. He could only roll his eyes.

His men, where in the same situation.

Everyone was frozen.

*unsheathe knife* (Crusader)

*fall* *thump* *roll* (Shields)

[They can move?!?] (Eidan)

The enemies broke their defensive formation. They stood up, letting their shields fall to the ground as they unsheathed short knives.

[Move, body of mine! Move!!! DAMMIT!!! MOOOOVEEEE!!!!] (Eidan)

Eidan could now see the enemies clearly as they closed in. They were women, children and old men. Most of them, far from the peak of youth.

[Where they really the ones that let those arrows loose? How can this be?!? MOOOOVEEEEEEEE!!!!] *ngggggg* (Eidan)

*slash* *blood sprinkles* (Fairelise)

A Dark Skin woman was the first to act. She leisurely walked near one of his cultist. She examined her for a moment, and when she seemed satisfied with her observation, she slashed the throat of Eidan's right hand.

[Fairelise... and she is not falling down? Gloria's Domain... It hinders foes and helps the user... but I never heard it could stop people in their tracks like this. Nor that it could be sustained for such a long time!] (Eidan)

*slash* (Cultist)

*slash* (Cultist Siska)

The enemies were fanning out, leisurely cutting the throat or piercing the heart of every living statue they were coming across.

How terrifying must have been for those men, to be unable to do anything as they were killed like that?

This was not a battle.

The cultists were like animals in a slaughterhouse.

They were just waiting for their turn to be butchered.

*slash* (Knife)

*slash* (Knife)

*pierce* (Knife)

*slash* (Knife)

*slash* (Knife)

*slash* (Knife)

*slash* (Knife)

*swish* (Knife)

*slash* (Eros)

*slash* (Knife)

*tears up* [My men... was I wrong all along? Is Gloria really the one true goddess? Is this the price for undermining the church? I beg forgiveness, my men. I led you to ruin. All those life I took. All for nothing. I was wrong~ *cry* (Eidan)

Eidan thought everything was unfolding according to his plan, when really everything was unfolding according to the mage's plan. But how could Eidan have imagined the power that lone mage held?

The cult of fertility exists to restore the natural order. His sect do so by extinguishing the magi. It was now clear in Eidan's mind that this had been a fool's hope all along. Mortals cannot hope to fight back if magic of this level can be wielded by humans.

The mage in question opened her mouth. She was about to gloat of her foregone victory, surely.

"Sinners. Thank you for coming this close. It made the task of cleansing you of sins that much easier. Please, bear with the wait as my crusaders free you of the burden of life!" *grin* (Novella)

[She has strength to spare? Impossible!!! I witnessed Gloria's Domain in action during the freeing of Secularia, but the mage there barely slowed us down and fell exhausted after no more than a minute. Is that the Beast? But I heard she was but a little girl. Has she grown in full adulthood in just~ *slash* *sprinkles blood* (Eidan)

With Eidan's taken care of, every sinner nearby was finally freed of sins. The crusaders had a complex look on their face. One thing is to kill a man in battle, but snuffing their life like that, left a bad taste in their mouths.

[This doesn't feel right.] (Ulis)

Ulis watched her hands, feeling dirty. Each and every crusaders lost someone or something at the hands of the sect. They knew the enemies deserved every little bit of this. They knew this was the will of Gloria.

Still, this victory felt wrong.

(Novella)

*fall* *catch fire* (Artifact)

**fall** (Corpses)

Novella finally rescinded Gloria's Domain. The artifact, fell to the ground, and being red, it caused the grass around to catch fire, hissing as water evaporated. Likewise, the living statues fell down like broken dolls whose strings had been cut.

Novella used up most of her magic, but had much to spare. Even with her level of aptitude, combining the Gifted One's Technique with a one of the most powerful artifacts owned by the church can yield such results.

As long as the enemies do not acquire the same technique, the inquisition will remains unchallenged. What wonders can be achieved in such time, Novella wondered?

Still, the deed was not complete. It was time to finish this.

"Some nests are untouched by fire. A few sinners await Gloria's judgment. Prepare your fire arrows." (Novella)

"Can't... we leave them be? Surely this is enough?" (Ulis)

Meekly, the strongest warrior amongst the crusader suggested to leave the survivors be. Other crusaders felt the same, but it took great courage for Ulis to speak up. They no longer saw Novella as a human, but as something else. Something terrifying.

"You suggest we let sinners be?" *glare* (Novella)

Novella glacial gaze felt even sharper and colder than before. There was no room for mercy in her heart. And as her crusaders, they did not have the freedom of choice.

*weak voice* "... Prepare the fire arrows." (Ulis)

Like zombies, the crusader moved to enact the will of Gloria's own herald. Whatever that creature was, it was not human. Of that, the Crusaders were certain.

A few hundreds meters from there, a lone scout was looking through an artifact, and witnessed the unspeakable events that just took place.

*whispers* "Monsters." (Scout Vista)

Having witnessed all there was to see, he left while feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Vista

Location: Plains near Secularia

Time: Y1503 / 26th day of the Wither Moon / Night

In the sea of grass, a lone scout was running under the light of the pale moon.

Vista served as scout for the sect that took residence in the Sacred Woods near Secularia, and that night , he was non duty keeping watch over the western borders of the forest.

He heard screams, prompting him to leave his posts.

What he witnessed was the massacre of his comrades at the hands of an immensely powerful mage, member of the inquisition of Gloria.

*pant* [I never heard of a Gloria's Domain that powerful. What's going on here? I must report to the Green Fairy as soon as possible! They must be warned!] (Scout Vista)

Vista has been a scout for many years. He knew that the best way to cover a lot of distance was not to run at breakneck speed, but was to run at a speed that can be sustained for a long time.

He'll make it to a Dark Skin village by dawn, there he can get an horse, and cross the Silent Forest, to be in Victoria before the midday.

*pant* [The church's rise in power is worrying. We had staked on their power waning, but the opposite is happening. We need to find a countermeasure. Perhaps the Kingdom, or even the Principality of Saren will have to intervene if we wish to stop them.] (Vista)

(Inquisitor Incubo)

*pant* [What is... I feel drowsy~] *fall* (Vista)

The scout was confused. His mind was clouded, when it shouldn't be. It happened in the past to lose consciousness when he pushed himself too far, but he is far from his limits.

*step* *step* (Incubo)

Even with his consciousness impaired, Vista could feel someone coming closer to him.

*bite lips* *bleed* (Vista)

Vista tried to bite his lips to shock himself conscious, but it didn't have any effect.

"Finally! I give you my most profound thanks for trying to escape. I was afraid Inquisitor Novella wouldn't leave anyone for me. So cruel! There is such a thing as being too efficient, you know?" *grin* (Incubo)

Vista shivered as he saw the wretched expression the inquisitor made under his cowl.