Without even turning around, the Celestial had already known who she was talking to. A few steps from her stood a striking young woman. Unlike other cult members dressed in all gray, their leader was wearing black clothes, completely unsuitable for a religious servant. Her clothes consisted of a cropped top which opened up her chiseled belly decorated with a small amplifier, shorts adjoined with high stockings, high heel boots and long gloves. A brooch in the form of the Light of the Goddess glittered on her chest, pinning a dark cloak—perhaps the only sacramental element left in this embodiment of lust. Her sweet childish voice could have belonged to an idol.

“Tell him that she is not connected to that Lackluster. We have no Violets among us, and we have nothing to do with either the murder or the legendary artifact.”

“I’ve no idea what artifact you’re talking about.”

“Uh-oh, I guess this wasn’t mentioned in the official reports. Shame. You are so blind. That’s why you should listen to what I say, otherwise you’ll be wandering in the dark forever.”

“Why on Earth would I trust you?”

The Celestial was watching Hecate closely. She wasn’t wearing her mask, but her eyes were hidden by the shade of the cap.

“Because lying makes no sense. The Gray Sisters never deny it when there’s blood on our hands. Yet we do not kill for fun. We are the defenders of justice, blessed by our Mother herself. She’s chosen us to cure this world from its sins and show it who is truly worthy of her grace.”

“Someday,” Aoi hissed, “I’ll stop caring that you’re hiding behind the Omnious patronage and wipe away your disgusting cult with its disgusting beliefs.”

Hecate’s tattoo started to shine with a pale yellow color, and a huge two-sided glaive appeared in Hecate’s right hand. The Gray Sister swung it—much more elegantly than might be expected from someone handling a weapon of this size— and the curved blade adorned with jewels froze an inch from Aoi’s neck. The Celestial didn’t move. Hecate’s red lips stretched out in a predatory smile.

“Don’t you dare call our beliefs… disgusting.”

The commander of the Unit continued to look at Hecate with her eyes full of disdain. She wanted to say a lot to this lost woman. That her fanatical faith had given rise to a monster with a long trail of innocent victims. That the numerous crimes of the Gray Sisters were unlikely to be included in the List of Good Deeds, compiled by Mother of Light on Monday morning. Instead, Aoi only spoke with usual frost in her voice, “Anything else?”

“Show some respect to your own family, Amiana. The greatness of the Omnious should not be called into question by one of them.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

“You’re welcome.”

Hecate spread her fingers, and the weapon immediately crumbled into flickering dust. Then the young woman moved towards the exit of the residential complex, further into the darkness.

For the first time in their conversation, Aoi hesitated. The enchantress hated the idea that the enemy might have known much more than Hecate had mentioned. But her pride demanded that she remain silent until Hecate would be gone. The Gray Sisters hated PRISM, and PRISM hated the Gray Sisters. They never shared information with each other—this was against the rules.

But didn’t Hecate break the rules by coming there to justify? Aoi gathered her courage and asked, “Who framed your Sister?”

Hecate slowed down a bit and replied, “The ‘Children of the Evolution.’ They took Edward Shell’s legendary artifact; a transformation box, to enhance their magical thread implants.”

“How did they do that? Was it a shapeshifter?”

“We don’t know.”

Hecate half-turned to Aoi, and their eyes met for a second. She added, “One of our Sisters was killed while retrieving this intelligence.”

The Celestial was ashamed to admit that she felt regret; a cloying sensation like that of a deadly swamp.