The Demon King has made his move. He is marching his army towards these lands, defeating every single adventurer party that has ever gone to face him. Even the “Chosen” hero types die before him. He does not let anyone survive or escape, no matter what.

I talked it over with Connor and Mariah. Connor suggests it’s because it would reveal the secret to his power. According to Illyra, he should’ve been defeated a while ago. A lot of the parties sent were more powerful than any Demon King of times past.

And yet, the all died.

A reckless party has prepared a bold move. To attack the Demon King head on, make him reveal his secret, and then run.

That reckless party is none other than ours.

Harris shook as he took a seat across from Inquisitor Harlan, the Fallen Hand looming beside him.

“Wine?” Harris asked with practiced calmness.

“Unfortunately, I must not.” Harlan declined. “Not on the job.”

“Perhaps some for your… friend?” He asked, gesturing to the Hand.

“Vizian does not partake… in anything really.” Harlan said.

Vizian just stared, making Harris shrink into his chair.

“What’s this about a rebel?” Harris asked, trying to look concerned.

“One we’ve been hunting for the past year. The Queen of the Boroughs.” Harlan said.

“I’ve heard of her. She’s the assassin for hire in the courts, isn’t she? Why would she be working for the rebellion?”

“For the longest time we thought so too. We had her labeled a low born Noble selling her services to whatever house, no questions asked. That is, until we found out she was indeed a Half Born, who in evidently placed her hands into the remnants of the Hero’s rebellion.”

Harris raised an eyebrow.

“Dangerous mess. What happened out east. I lost a lot of business in the sector.”

“The boroughs there are still under martial law. One Hand and six inquisitors oversee the policing of that ruined Hearth.” Harlan sighed, rubbing his head in frustration.

“May I be of service in any way? My house is on its way up to higher nobility. Within the next generation, perhaps, we shall become a Great Household. We possess incredible resources.”

“Unfortunately, you are too kind again. House Farran has always been a loyal house, records indicating loyalty stretching as far back as the Early Frost. However, all manners of inquisition and dealings with rebellions fall upon our stead. The Order of the Fallen Hands.”

“So, what is it you need of me? Unfortunately, I had not heard of this rebel till now. And I doubt I’d recognize her by sight alone. Perhaps I should question my servants. I have a sizable number of Commons in this household, if this rebel had appeared here, I guarantee one of them might have seen something.”

“That is why I have Vizian here today. We have come to personally interrogate the Commons of the household. They are natural liars you see… and they require some incentive to speak truthfully.”

Harris swallowed, his heart beating out of his chest. The Hands’ reputation for interrogation, at its most mundane form usually involved a few missing fingers. They’ll hurt Micah. Morgan. And everyone else.

“Personally, High Inquisitor, I’d prefer if you not employ your usual interrogation methods. I have great pride in my Commons abilities and would not like to have them replaced if I could help it.”

“They’re just animals Lord Farran. I promise you full compensation for any damages done.” Harlan said without missing a beat. “I swear on the Supreme One’s name.”

“Witnessed.” Vizian growled, causing even Harlan to shiver a bit.

Just animals. That’s what the Commons were to them. Harris knew the doctrines of the Eternal Regency. He knew that Commons were not seen as men, that they were the work horses, the live stocks of the few chosen by the Supreme One. They were meant to be used and thrown away. Micah, his wife in everything but name alone, nothing by a tool. Morgan, a butler who was more a father to Harris than his own, nothing but a slave. And Elaine, his little girl, nothing but an abomination. His fear faded away, giving rise to deep, righteous anger that bellowed in his chest, threatening to burst out at any moment.

“If you must be so inclined.” Harris said, watching his words. “My animals are integral to my specific system within this household. They are irreplaceable cogs in a machine that has contributed to House Farran’s rise to power. To jeopardize that will not only sabotage my name, but the name of my household and my descendants. I would prefer you do not damage what is mine, lest I petion to my lordship, Great House Solas.”

Damn arrogant Noble. Harlan thought.

“Descendants… you have a daughter correct?” Harlan asked.

“Yes. That is correct.” He answered, his fear returning to him.

“Her mother?” Harlan asked, brow raised.

“My wife. From House River.” He said without missing a beat. “She died when Elaine was born.”

That wasn’t a lie. Lady River had in fact died in childbirth. Only, that child wasn’t Elaine. Both mother and son died that night, with Micah having Elaine a couple days later. The perfect cover up, the perfect coincidence, but all the while excellent for legitimizing Elaine.

“And yet the child was hidden from the world for two weeks, without an inquisitor nor your lordship to witness the birth.” Harlan said.

“I was in grieving. I loved my wife.” Harris said.

Again, not a lie, he did love Micah. Lady River was just a political marriage.

“And yet, you, Harrison Farran, according to official record, were reprimanded in your teens for being to friendly with a housemaid your age.” Harlan smiled. The Hand did not seem to react, simply staring at Harris, the mask obscuring its eyes. If it had any.

“I was young. And volatile.” Harris said. “You know teen boys.” His hands were shaking.

“Ah yes. It’s common for lords to use their servants for their purposes.” Harlan said. “As long as nothing comes of it, and provided that servant is sent to an Inquisition station monthly. Which your house servant was not.”

“I didn’t do anything with her.” Harris answered. This was a lie. “My father broke it off before anything happened.”

Harlan raised his brow again.

“This servant still works in this household, correct?”

“Yes.” Harris felt a bead of sweat begin to form on his brow. “Do you wish to question her?”

As it so happened, Micah was watching the whole thing, peeking from behind the corner. And so was Merrill, perched above and behind a window. She was watching very carefully as to what would happen, and if she needed to intervene, if necessary.

“Yes. I would very much like to interview, if possible.” Harlan smiled. The Hand turned, apparently having already noticed Micah.

Micah did not move. She just watched as the thing stared at her, unsure of what to do.

“Micah…” Harris called, as slow as he could. “To me.”

“Yes, Lord Farran?” She entered, looking towards the floor.

“High Inquisitor Harlan would like to speak with you.”

“My lord.” She bowed before him, trying to ignore the glare of the Hand. It felt hot, physically hot when its eyes bore down on her, like the heat of a furnace, focused on her.

“It is regarding the Farran heir.” He said. “Records indicate you were a midwife for her birth.”

“Yes, my lord.” She said, still looking downward.

“Look at me.” Harlan ordered.

She met his eyes. They were cold and predatory. But at least he had them, unlike the masked thing next to him. How did the Hands even see out of those masks? She realized it did not have any eyeholes.

“Did you witness the birth of the heir from Lady Farran?”

“Yes my lord.”

“And did you confirm that it was Elaine Farran that was born, and no other?”

“Yes my lord.”

“And are you Lord Farran’s mistress?”

“My lord?”

“Do not question me.”

“I believe she has answered your questions regarding Elaine, High Inquisitor.” Harris interjected.

“This is a manner of the inquisition Lord Farran. Lest you feel your nobility, a gift from the Supreme One, trumps his own noble purpose?”

“Now,…” He leaned forward, glaring right into Micah’s eyes. “Let me ask this again. Are you Lord Farran’s mistress?”

Elaine screamed, causing Harris to jump up. He met eyes with Micah for a moment. She nodded. Harris shot out of the room, running up the stairs to his daughter’s room. There, Merrill held a knife to Elaine’s neck.

“Elaine…” Harris drew his blade. Merrill winked at him. What the hell is she thinking? He thought, holding his small sword forward.

“And there she is.” High Inquistor Harlan said, strolling up behind Harris.

“Let her go.” Harris demanded.

“You damned Nobles.” Merrill laughed. “I knew you’d catch up to me eventually.” She smiled. “Here’s the deal. You let me out of here, or the girl gets it.”

The Hand shoved his way into the room, twin iron maces in his hands.

“Dammit Harlan stop him! That’s my daughter! My heir!”

“Vizian, halt!” He ordered.

Vizian hesitated.

Sorry kid… Merrill whispered into her ear, before digging the knife lightly into her shoulder. Elaine screamed as it dug into her.

“Elaine!” Harris said, gritting his teeth. He was sure Merrill wouldn’t actually do any real damage, but the way Elaine screamed was enough to stir his parental instincts.

“Vizian!” Harlan howled again.

Vizian let out a sigh, steam pluming off him as he did so. He swung, aiming to smash through Elaine to kill Merrill. Luckily, Merrill expected it, and flipped out of the way, jumping backwards out the window.

“What in the Supreme One’s name!” Harris yelled, swinging his blade at Vizian. Vizian reacted, blocking the weapon with a mace.

“What is one Noble girl to the Supreme One’s eternity?” Vizian hissed.

“Vizian, withdraw!” Harlan ordered.

“I do not answer to you, High Inquisitor.” Vizian growled. “I only obey the Supreme One.”

Vizian kicked Harris, sending him flying against the wall. He then struck Harlan with his mace, smashing him onto the ground. He then rushed at the window at incredible speed, smashing through the glass as he plummeted into the snow below. He hit it with a massive plume of heat, melting away the snow, revealing the mud underneath. Vizian charged after Merrill, who was leaping away on rooftop.

“Elaine! Elaine!” Harris cried, jumping out the window after him. [Ranger’s Recovery] He hit the ground below in a roll, running after the pursuing Hand. Damn you Merrill!

Vizian matched her agility, jumping high into the air and crashing down beside her, the tiled roof shattering around him. He swung at Merrill. She reacted by tossing Elaine into the air, and narrowly snaking her way up and around the Hand’s strike. She caught Elaine as she fell. The Hand attacked again, this time Merrill leapt backwards, the mace crashing on the tile below, causing the whole building to rumble.

Merrill flash stepped across to another roof, the Hand following. It leapt several dozens of feet into the sky. It twisted in the air, two maces in its hands, before plummeting down, the tiles slipping under it as it crashed downwards, hitting Merrill with a surge of heat that pushed her backwards. She steadied herself, grabbing onto a jutting tile.

The Hand charged, only for a blade to cut into its back, causing it to howl in pain.

“Leave my daughter alone! And you!” he pointed at Merrill. “Let her go.” Vizian swung at him. He blocked, but the force of the strike rattled him, nearly shattering his blade.

[Whirlwind] Harris danced, pirouetting like a deadly ballerina, spinning and striking the Hand in a flurry of strikes. Each cut caused heat to surge onto Harris, singeing him, but he pressed his attack. The Hand responded, swinging down with an overhead strike. Harris rolled, dodging the blow, but fell off due to the curve of the roof. He hit the ground below feet first, before face planting from the shock of the blow. He cursed, rolling to his feet.

Merrill released Elaine, before attacking the Hand. She arched her back, sliding under an overhead swing and cutting into Vizian’s leg. She then flipped over its head, slashing at its face as she did, landing behind it. It howled, wildly swinging at her. It was a near miss, but the handle still hit her, cracking her ribs as she rolled off the roof herself.

She fell next to Harris, who was following on the streets.

“Where’s Elaine?” He yelled at her, only for the Hand to come crashing down. Both he and Merrill rolled out of the way in opposite directions.

The Hand swung at both at them at once. Both twirled out the way in coordination, cutting into the creature with their blades. The creature stumbled backwards, only to be met with Merrill’s [Lethal Triangle], her duel daggers cutting into its neck, heart, and thigh. Harris pressed the attack, following with another Whirlwind flurry. His blade shattered as it glazed against its mask, the shards spraying everywhere.

The Hand screeched as an incredible amount of steam burst from where it was cut, burning both Merrill’s and Harris’s skin red. Its howls matched the shriek of the steam exiting its body, masking the whole area in thick vapor.

Merrill looked at Harris, saluted with two fingers, and flash stepped away. Harris cursed.

“Daddy!” Elaine called, her head peeking from the rooftop. She leapt down, casting [Ranger’s Recovery] to minimize the blow, before tumbling and running towards her father, embracing him in a hug.

High Inquisitor Harlan limped out from an alleyway, blood pouring from his head, coating half his face with a red streak.

“Are you all right Lord Farran?” Harlan asked, covering his throbbing wound.

“DAMN YOU!” The Hand shot out from the smoke, wrapping its gnarled hands around Harris’s neck.

[Superior Binding] [Calmness] Harlan casted, raising a hand forward. The Hand’s grip wavered, but it did not let go.

“YOU COWARD!” The creature hissed.

“Submit abomination!” Harlan casted the same spells, forcing the creature to its knees. But still it squeezed. “Oh! Supreme One. Give me aid!” Harlan cried.

“Vizian.” The Supreme One’s voice echoed. Even Merrill, who was running towards the crew’s rendezvous point, stopped to listen. “Return to the Hearth.” The voice, calm and commanding, ordered.

Vizian let go immediately, seemingly sinking down into the shadows, its massive form disappearing like mist.

“My sincere apologies Lord Farran.” Harlan said, bowing. “Those creatures really are inhuman beasts. That damned Common, taking a girl hostage.” Harlan spat.

“Are you all right Elaine?” Harris said, crouching down to her level.

She nodded, wiping away a tear. Already the wound had closed. A testament to the increased vitality of noble blood.

“High Inquisitor.” Harris said, rising to his feet, putting on a noble air. “I intend to petition to Lady Solas about this offense. The damage to my heir, both physical and mental, by the actions of the inquisition are unforgivable. I intend to seek compentsation. Particularly given my house’s high standing in the city, and a future of high nobility, this could have damaged my house’s standing for years to come. What if the heir had been lost? What would the Supreme One say?”

“I… understand.” Harlan nodded. “I will speak with Lady Solas personally, who will bring this issue before the Supreme One.”

“I fully expect the inquisition to answer for questioning the legitimate nature of my heir and forcing me to speak of my deceased wife. And what to say about the insult towards my house servant. She’s faithful and loyal, above and beyond the Common whore that you see her as.”

Harlan only nodded respectfully.

Harris sighed, wrapping an arm around Elaine.

What a day.