Chapter 61 - The Lost Shiva (2)

Archie heard absurd things. But the things he was hearing from the Justicar made him both worried and scared. “Are you saying that they did all these destruction and death for the sake of some ruins?”

“Yes,” the Justicar nodded. “It is the cruel truth, but they were never after the city itself. They only made Avilla as their excuse, while keeping their eyes on the real price that is the ruins marked in this location.” He pointed at the mark on the map.

“Is that really it then?” asked Archie. “What about the Thorn Cross Legion. Don’t tell me you came here with the same intention.”

“No, we did not. We came here because of the request of the Lady Dolce. Of course, we thought of what she said in that note. Coming here in this city would allow us to defend the supply lines that feed our soldiers fighting in the front-lines while at the same time, find the ruins that our scouts have reported. Don’t you find it odd? That they made such excuse? Even a blind fool could tell that they won’t just gather their forces like that just to take this City. If they gathered that kind of army in the front-lines it would change the tides of battle. So why would they gamble away their flying ships here when they can use those to break our lines?”

The Justicar spread his hands. “It’s simple really. They know that whatever is inside that ruin. It is worth gathering their forces. But too bad that they’ve met with someone like you who destroyed their vanguard ship and then face my Legion’s full might.”

“This is complicated,” Archie touched his head. “So you are saying that whatever is inside that ruin. It was worth all the death and destruction?”

“Yes,” said the Justicar straightly. “They deem it worthy to sacrifice their lives for this ruin.”

Archie glared at the Justicar. Not even bothering to hide his suspicions. “Do you want to take whatever is inside that ruin then? If so, why should I help the Templars take it?”

“Because we made an oath that we’d never use anything that we might find against the city. Or do you prefer the others to take the weapons inside the ruin and use it? Do you find us evil?”

“No, I don’t. I just don’t trust the Legion.”

“I can understand that. But let me say this to you, Archie of Avilla. It’s either we get what is inside the ruins. Or let the others take it.”

Archie folded his arms. “Now I am even more confused. Whatever is inside that ruin, won’t it be better if you keep this as a secret? You could take it and never bother to ask me to join.”

The Justicar smiled. “Do you know how the Templars started?”

“No,” Archie shook his head.

“We started as traveling knights protecting people across the Holy Midland. We protected people from barbaric Cagan natives and fended off raiders from the Bali. We were protectors of the weak and frail. Our symbol is the cross, the cross which signifies the sword we carry. Our Cross is thorn because, in order to protect, we need to bloody ourselves. We are people of gray. We belong neither to good or evil. We are just Templars doing what our goals are. To protect the weak, we kill, and if taking these weapons with us means that we can protect better. Then why should we not get them?”

“Yet you guys burn people alive,” Archie scowled. “There is no right to that. That’s not protecting.”

“And you prefer those sinners to be alive? To walk this earth while knowing that the food they get or the water they may drink might be needed by others? Why should we let those men be kept alive when they can be redeemed through a baptism of fire?”

“Because they are people!” shouted Archie.

“They ‘were’ people. They abandoned that right when they attacked this place.”

“So that does that mean that I should be burned into a stake like them then?”

“No, you protected people. You protected your home. There is no sin in that.”

“This place isn’t your home.”

“It isn’t. But this place feeds our troops. Therefore we should protect this place in order to protect those who are fighting for our home.”

“I can’t believe that a Templar from the Holy Midland is saying all of this. Spouting this nonsense, trying to keep his feeble reasoning right and true, are you not ashamed?”

“Why should I?” The Justicar frowned. “I don’t care whether you believe my words. What I want from you is cooperation. We made an oath to the Warlord of this City. And isn’t it better for someone as righteous as you to keep watch over us ‘hypocritical’ Templars that you mistrust so much?”

Archie stared coldly at the Justicar. The Justicar stared back with a slight grin in his mouth. “So what do you say Archie of Avilla? Would you join us in this mission or would you not?”

“I’ll join. Just so that I can see what’s inside this ruin that you Templars want so much and report it to the Warlord,” Archie grimaced. “That is if you people could hold back on killing me there.”

Archie could never trust the Justicar in front of him. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe his words. In his head, no person that could allow anyone to take someone as a slave would have great and selfish intentions. Indeed, the Templars are well-known for keeping their oath. Archie might have believed the Justicar if he didn’t watch Joshua get taken into slavery because of a mere request.

The Justicar offered his hand. “It doesn’t matter what you think of us. What we need from you is cooperation and that you’d watch our backs as we watch yours. Can we agree on that, Archie of Avilla?”

“Yes, I can,” Archie took the Justicar’s hand. “Let us work together and see what’s inside this ruin, Justicar.”

“Good, which we shall do.”

The two shook hands. They started coldly at each other. There was no trust in this agreement other than that both sides will watch each other’s back. Archie doesn’t know what danger there was inside the ruins. But he knows that it was enough to make the Templars asked for help.