In the chief's house, Maximilian was looking at the little injuries on Milne's body. He had helped her took the armour parts of her upper equipment off, giving him access to the slight cuts on her arms and shoulders.

"Hmmm, nothing too bad here, drink this." Said Maximilian as he presented her one of his health potion. "A sip or two should do the trick."

"What is this? A health potion?"

"Yep, this will heal you in a bit."

He waited for her to drink a bit before putting the potion remnant in the Havenbag.

"So, now you have to tell me what happened. I thought your quest was a success, how come you appear beaten up in this place?"

Milne thought for a bit, not as much to retrieve her memory than to make a believable lie.

"Th...we have been accused of treason. The Cardinal himself will soon judge them for heresy, they will by condemned to death. I managed to escape but...Sir Nilmerus, I know I already owe you my life, but I have to ask for your help once again, you have to come to the capital. You must go see the Inquisition, convince them of your purity so my friends can be set free!"

Maximilian was surprised by her words.

"My purity? How could my purity be the reason of your problem? Last time I checked, I hadn't done anything wrong..."

"You were alone in one of the most dangerous dungeons of the land, you gave the Princess what she was looking for without receiving anything in return, you managed to get our Captain on your side in such a short time, all those details raised the inquisition suspicion about you. They think you could very well be a demon in disguise, a demon who could have cursed or perverted some of the members of Princess Arima's group."

"But 'how' did the Inquisition learned about that?"

The question took the inquisitor by surprise, but she quickly found an answer to give, playing on the fact she was hurt to give herself a second or two to reply.

"The soldier you let go after you hurt him...the one you called Ratman...I think he might be part of the Inquisition, some sorts of spy for the Cardinal."

"And you think me going to see those 'Inquisitors' might help?"

"I'm sure of that. By proving your allegiance to the Cardinal, you would prove everyone you're pure at heart, and that would make any accusation about your heresy be abandoned immediately."

After she was done talking, the room stayed silent for a while, no one knowing what to say while Maximilian was thinking. After a while, he shook his head from left to right and said.

"No, I'm not gonna do it."

Milne opened her eyes wide, if only for a second.

" You...you won't do it? But...they're gonna die!"

"Rest assured. I'm not gonna let them die and do nothing. All I was meaning was that I wouldn't swear allegiance to this Cardinal. Hell, I only bowed before Arima when I estimated she deserved it, and she is a royalty, so your Cardinal..."

Maximilian made a gesture meaning he didn't care about it, to Milne's horror.

*Heretic...how dare you to throw away a chance to bow before his Highness...very well, if asking doesn't do the trick...*

Milne pretended to have her stomach hurt, closing her eyes a bit as she hissed.

"Something wrong? Isn't the health potion working?" Asked Maximilian.

"No, no, it's just..."

Good actor, the inquisitor managed to blushed willingly.

"...Lady business..."

Maximilian didn't understand at first.

"Lady business? What do you m...oh, I get it..."

Hissing as she sat up, Milne painfully smiled at Maximilian.

"I'm sorry to ask this but...I need to go..."

Binvo, who had stayed silent like the others until now, scratched his head.

"Go? Where? Woman hurt, move now bad"

Lin-Lin slightly hit the human looking minotaur before giving him her spear. She stepped next to Milne, helping her to stand.

"Please excuse him, Lady Milne. Master, I'll go with her."

"Do you need help?"

Lin-Lin shook her head from left to right.

"It's alright, we won't be long."

Milne smiled at her as she stood, using the Panda girl to stood straight.

"Thank you, Lin-Lin."

As the two advanced to go at the back of the house, where the "commodities" were, Maximilian heard the two talk.

"Is it me or are you taller than before?"

"I am, Master Maximilian takes good care of me. He taught me a lot, so I grew well."

.........................................................................................................................................................

Being the chief of the village have perks. Having a big house, for example. If a lot of other habitations required the resident to go out to relieve themselves, the chief's house was big enough for a small room to be made for this use.

Lin-Lin helped Milne to reach the place, giving her a bit of privacy by turning her back to her.

"So...how has travelled with him been? I know it hasn't been a long time, but I'm sure the Princess would like to know if you're doing well..."

"You think so? I...I didn't know her Majesty could be worried about me..."

"Don't you remember how she wasn't happy about letting you go? Believe me, Princess Arima would be happy to know how he is treating you."

Lin-Lin kept silent for a bit, looking down while playing with her gauntlets.

"He...is gentle. He's always smiling at me, he cares for me. He doesn't see me as a slave, nor as an inferior being for not being human. Thanks to him, I have become stronger."

"What you mean to say is...that you mean a lot to him?"

Not sensing the heavy meaning in the question, the panda-girl blushed as she put her hands on her cheeks.

"I...I don't know...Maybe? What I know is that he would risk his life for me, he told me himself."

"That's all I wanted to know."

The Inquisitor last sentence came from right behind her, surprising her as she turned.

Milne was there, less than one metre away. Lin-Lin did not have the time to say anything, nor scream for help, as the inquisitor hit her on the nape with the side of her hand.

Milne was stronger than her, quicker too, with a level superior to hers. Those facts plus the surprise of the attack made it impossible for her to evade the hit, receiving it with full force.

"Ma...ster..."

The panda-girl felt unconscious, caught by the inquisitor who quickly took out the letter from her underwear, dropping it on the ground.

"That's done, now let's take the bait back."

She took Lin-Lin on her shoulder, easily carrying the light girl. Pulling out a teleportation scroll, she quickly read it and disappeared, just as Maximilian and the rest of the group were arriving where they were.

.........................................................................................................................................................

While the two girls were gone, Maximilian was thinking about what Milne had told him.

*So, in the end, things didn't go so good for Arima...damn me, I shouldn't have let Ratman go. If I had taken care of him right then, he wouldn't have talked about the coat or arms and ....wait a minute...*

Remembering something, Maximilian opened his eyes wide. Just as he started to run in the two's direction, he felt a magic energy. He arrived just in time to see Milne teleport with Lin-Lin on her shoulder.

"LIN-LIN!!!"

Maximilian shouted, but it was too late. The inquisitor was gone, taking his friend with her.

"What happened? Why did this woman take Lin-Lin?" asked Octavia.

Maximilian went to pick up the letter on the ground, unfolded it to quickly read what was written on it.

As he was reading, his face showed the anger rising inside him. Around him, everyone had taken some steps back, the aura emitted by Maximilian worrying them.

"Master?" asked Octavia, finally taking a step closer as Maximilian dropped the letter, finished reading.

"Octavia...do not come near me please..." Said Maximilian, his voice far deeper than she had ever heard. The weight of his voice was scaring everyone, even his close companions.

"I have to go...please don't follow me for now..." Said Maximilian as he went out of the chief's house.

"Master!" Octavia tried to run after him, but he was already out of sight when she arrived at the door.

.........................................................................................................................................................

"IDIOT! MORON! YOU STUPID GOOD-FOR-NOTHING IMBECILE!!!"

Maximilian had gone out of the village, fearing how his anger could affect his actions for the time being. He was vociferating against himself.

"OF COURSE IT WAS A TRAP! RATMAN WASN'T EVEN THERE WHEN YOU GAVE ARIMA THE COAT OF ARMS!! HOW COULD HE HAVE TELL ANYONE WHAT HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW?! AND YOU IDIOT BELIEVED EVERYTHING!!! HOW DUMB CAN YOU BE?!"

*That certainly wasn't a good choice of your part...*

Maximilian shut up instantly, looking around him to see who was talking.

"Who's there! Show yourself!"

The voice had surprised him. Someone had managed to approach near enough to be clearly heard by him without shouting, and that was worrying him a lot because he hadn't felt anyone.

*So you finally can hear me...showing myself would be hard, Maximilian...*

A deep voice was echoing around him, a deep voice he knew, but wasn't able to believe how it could be.

"I know this voice...but it's impossible..."

*Close your eyes, let me show myself to you.*

As he looked around once again, he had to accept the idea that the voice wasn't coming from around him, but from inside his head.

Maximilian calmed himself, taking deep breaths before he did as the voice told.

In the dark made by his closed eyes, he saw a familiar form appearing before him.

*What a pleasure it is to finally be able to discuss with you again...* Said the one before him.

"...Dragnïr?!"

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Maximilian gone?" asked Binvo as Octavia came back.

"Yes...he is gone...without us..."

Octavia looked down as she sat on one of the room chairs.

"Maybe what he read in that letter bothered him, do you mind if I...?"

The chief's daughter picked up the letter when Octavia signalled her to do so.

"Could you...could you read out loud, I can't read."

"Binvo not know word on paper."

"Oh...Okay then..."

The girl cleared her throat before reading.

"Nilmerus,

when you'll be reading those lines, I'll be gone. I took with me something precious to you. I still don't know what or who it will be as I write this letter, but Inquisitors tend to find what people hold dear.

Yes, I am an Inquisitor, as you may have guessed now. You may be thinking I should have revealed it earlier, but my actions required some secrecy.

Here is what's going to happen.

After I've arrived at the Inquisition headquarter, I'll send a group of Paladins to meet you, they will escort you to the capital, then to the headquarter. You will follow them and come here to be interrogated. Know that any rebellious sign from your part will mean what you hold dear could very well be...disposed of.

Expect them to arrived approximately a quarter of an hour after my departure. I suggest you don't try anything stupid, I know you're not very well informed about this land, so I'll tell you this: Paladins are well-trained warriors, equipped with enchanted weapons and armours protecting them against magic. I know you can use some basic spells, but don't fight them, you would be destroyed like many before you.

There is no need to go on any longer, you will obey and come or you'll lost what I took from you.

PS: Know that I would have preferred for you to come willingly, but if you read this letter, that must mean you proved to be too stubborn for your own good. Blame yourself, not me.

May Carendar be praised,

Inquisitor Milne"

After she was done reading, the girl put the letter on the table, not really knowing how to react.

"So...that lady was an Inquisitor...what are you going to do now?"

"We wait here, Master will come get us when the time will come." Answered Octavia, taking care of her bow while she was waiting for Maximilian to come back.

"Binvo wait too."

The minotaur sat, looking at Lin-Lin's weapon.

"Isn't that the panda girl's spear?" asked the chief's daughter.

"Yes. Lin-Lin gave Binvo, Binvo keep for Lin-Lin."

"The sad thing is she certainly would have needed it........" Said Octavia.

.....................................................................................................................................................................

"Do you get it? The two following him are not important. This man is the one you must bring back."

Milne had arrived at the Inquisition headquarter, situated not far from the capital teleportation crystal. There, she gave the unconscious girl to two inquisition private guards, ordering them to take her equipment and to lock her in one the underground interrogation chambers. Once she was taken care of, Milne called for a group of Paladins.

They quickly arrived. Being the armed troops of the Inquisition, there always were groups of Paladins ready to act inside the headquarter, no matter the time of the day or the night. A dozen tall figures looking like the ones who were with the cardinal in the throne room were ready and waiting for orders from their leader, another tall figure with an armour identical to the others, only with a slight difference on the helmet. Where the 'normal' paladins had nothing but black metal on the top of their helmet, the group leader had some sort of golden halo graved on it.

Showing a true talent in drawing, Milne took a piece of parchment and pictured on it the face of Maximilian. Once done, she gave it to the leader, instructing him on what to do and where to go.

"Be careful with this one, he is more powerful than he looks."

"Do not worry, Inquisitor. As always, we will make sure the will of Carendar is done."

The leader saluted by a hit on his chest, where the church symbol was, soon imitated by the dozen paladins behind him.

"May Carendar's light shine on us!"

Milne answered the salute.

"May he enlight the world."

.....................................................................................................................................................................

In Maximilian's mind, a discussion between the man and his first friend in the new world, a friend who he thought was dead, was currently taking place.

The great dragon, now appearing before him in a form smaller than his by a head, was sitting in a position showing his proud nature, even after his size diminution.

"Dragnïr? How is this possible? I thought you were dead!"

"I am, you weren't mistaken."

The calm answer from the dragon surprised Maximilian. It was almost funny to see the now smaller dragon speak with his deep voice, the same as when he was so tall and big.

"...Are you a hallucination? Some kind of trick my mind is playing? If so, good job because I clearly didn't see this coming."

"You're not hallucinating, Maximilian. It is me, Dragnïr, the dragon you killed when you arrived in this world..."

"Yeah, sorry about that."

The dragon chuckled.

"Are you still bothered by that? Don't, I am not, and I'm the one who's dead."

"Speaking of that, how comes you are here if you're dead? Is that a law of this world I'm not familiar with?"

Dragnïr scratched his chin with one of his claw, thinking.

"To be totally honest with you, I've never heard of something like this happening, even with a dragon. The only answer I could figure was that my soul and yours have 'fused'."

"Care to develop?"

"Of course. When You killed me, you obtained a tremendous power, but without any knowledge. As you told me, you were level one and for that reason had no skills nor stats to speak of. When I died, my soul must have been attracted to your body, body she thought empty at the time."

"Your soul...thought that?"

Dragnïr did something looking like a shrug before continuing.

"Who knows? I'm not familiar with the way souls work. I'm only guessing from what I know about undead's possession, spirits and those kinds of being. Anyway, I don't know exactly why or how, but my soul is now in your body, partially merged with yours."

"That's strange...how come I didn't noticed you earlier? And why didn't you talk to me earlier?"

Showing two of his scaled 'fingers', Dragnïr calmly explained.

"One answer to your two questions: you weren't ready to hear. I've tried to talk to you several times already, but you didn't remark me...at least not like now. You were hearing me, but not really."

"Could you explain?"

"Of course...for example, my body. You asked the imp to take care of it, right?"

"Indeed..."

"What would you say if I told you it wasn't your idea, but a suggestion made by me?"

This surprised Maximilian.

"What? Wait, I remember perfectly being the one asking them to take care of your body to make sure nothing was wasted nor disgraced."

"I know...it was my idea."

A silence last for a few seconds between the two before Maximilian began to talk again.

"Okay, you lost me."

"That's understandable. I'll try to explain this as good as I can. When I died...when my body did, at least...my soul went inside you. The strange thing is that you couldn't hear me, but your mind could."

"My...mind?"

"Your subconsciousness, if you will. Your first idea about my body was simple, you were going to make a crystal coffin for me."

"I don't remember that." objected Maximilian.

"That's because I was there to 'change' your first idea. As soon as I saw it beginning to picture itself in your mind, I used my own consciousness to changed it."

"But...that means you manipulated my mind?!"

The dragon tilted his head to the right then on the left.

"Yes...and no. See, I was able, with a lot of effort, to change your idea, but only because it was something you were willing to do. I wouldn't be able to make you do something you're not willing, in the least, to do. For example, if I had tried to make you...I don't know...kill the Princess, that wouldn't have worked. Your mind is free, I'm just able to make some suggestion. You are the only one who decides in the end."

"Okay...I think I got it...I have a question, thought."

"That's understandable. What is it?"

"You said it took you a lot of effort to make me change my idea. What do you mean by that?"

"I'm just a soul now. Anything other than just being there takes energy from me. To make you hear me, I had to wait, for days. After I made you use my body, I stayed silent, looking by your eyes the events going on. Only by pulsion was I, sometimes, able to act. The guard you cut in two, even if it was by your will, I can say for sure you were not the only one willing to."

"So...making me hearing you takes a lot from you...why making me butcher your body then? Was a crystal coffin a bad idea?"

Dragnïr noded

"A very bad idea."

"Oh...why?"

"Well, there are several reasons. Crytal or not, some adventurers could very well one day reach my body. And once they would be able to teleport there as much as they want, they could very well bring an entire mining group to take care of my coffin, then my body. If someone has to take what is left of me, I prefer it to be you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Us Dragon are proud, we don't allow anyone to take our treasures, and our body are a treasure itself. I told you to take all my treasures, that also meant my body. Another thing, and here we are going to talk about more serious matters. You took my heart, didn't you?"

"I took all I could, didn't you see it?"

"Not really. After my idea was planted, I lost consciousness for a while. I woke up a good day after that, a bit before your meeting with the Princess group. If you have my heart, there is still hope for me."

"For you? Your soul?"

"Yes. Once we're done talking, would you kindly take out my heart?"

"What do you want me to do with it?"

"Simple. What I want you to do is to infuse your mana in it, as much as you can in one go. While you do that, I'll use the flow of mana to go out of your body and return in my flesh."

"Dragnïr...you didn't forget that you're dead and cut to pieces, right?"

The dragon laughed a bit at Maximilian's observation.

"That would be hard to forget, you know? If my memory serves me well, my soul returning to my flesh with enough magic power should allow me to reborn...or at least to die once again and be done with it. There's an old tale about something similar happening long ago, a dead Dragon resurrecting from an egg made of his heart. I think it's worth a try."

"That's a bit...risky, isn't it?"

Once again, Dragnïr shrugged.

"I'm dead, Maximilian. I cannot stay in your body forever. It isn't that good for you, and my proud Dragon spirit cannot stand the fact of acting like a parasite like I do right now."

"A parasite?"

"How do you think I'm able to still exist? My soul is taking a bit of your energy to stay...alive? That seems strange to say but let's go with 'alive'."

"Strange...I don't feel like I'm being parasitized..."

"That's only because of your high mana pool, Maximilian. Another one would not even be able to stay awake with a dragon soul inside...I don't even know if one could survive a soul like mine. You and I sharing your body produced some interesting effect but I think I should go as soon as possible."

"Wait...'interesting effects'?"

"Didn't you realise? What? You thought the speed at which you learn your skills were normal?"

"I thought it was because of my high level..."

"That helped, of course. But those skills you learned so quick are the ones I used to know. You learn this quick because I already knew them. The fact your blood can help others evolve is also one of my high dragon's trait. A human, as strong as he may be, would never have this kind of power."

"So...your soul being in me was a good thing?"

"For that, yes, but on the other hand, no."

"Once again, I have troubles following you."

"It seems your mind is suffering from my presence. Not physically, luckily, but the 'place' I take is blocking a part of your mind."

"Wait, wait...you mean I'm getting dumber or something like that?"

"I don't think so, no. Your intellect is intact, I think your memory is the part suffering."

"But...I remember my family, my old life, my old world..."

"Don't you find it strange? You discovered magic but don't try anything...special. You, who in your old life dreamt so much about fantasy, haven't done anything that special."

"I don't know...it's just that I..."

"You didn't think about it, right?"

"Yeah...what you mean is that I forgot all I knew about fantasy? All my imagination is gone?"

"Not gone...more paralysed, partially at least, you still have fragments of what you knew. You still know what are Dragons, Fairies and Elfs, basic things, but nothing more. As long as I'm here, it will be difficult for you to create something really out of the ordinary...except for the power, of course, your power is far above the ordinary."

"How do you know about the ideas I could have? If even I forgot, how could you possibly know?"

"Don't forget I'm in your head. While you were sleeping, I had the pleasure to look through your memory...your world is interesting, by the way."

"Be careful, Dragnïr, some could consider that being privacy invasion..."

The dragon laughed a bit.

"I'm a dead dragon, do you think I care about what people think? More seriously, I only look through your knowledge, not your personal experience."

"Meaning...?"

"Let's say I'm more interested in the books you read than the girls you slept with."

"Oh...alright then..."

Maximilian kept silent and thought for a bit.

"Tell me, Dragnïr...would it be possible for us to talk more, but without me being in this kind of meditating state?"

"Now that you're aware of my presence...yes, I suppose it would be easy. Why this question?"

"If you look through my eyes, you know what happened with Lin-Lin, right?"

"Indeed. Once again, I think your memory problem is to blame here. Judging by your story, games and overall knowledge, her act was screaming 'trap' at your face."

"I know, I know, I've been had...what I wanted to say is that I'm going to need my power for now. Getting your soul out of my body could leave me weak fo a while, we don't know what could happen.... could you wait for a bit before I take care of your heart?"

"As long as you don't die, I'm okay for now. I may even be of some use to you."

"How?"

"I saw a bit of the old stories and...some kinds of games you seemed to play through a glass window...you called them 'vidogame'?"

"Video games." corrected Maximilian.

"That, yes. I look a bit into it and saw one thing or two that could help you, but let's talk about this later. You've been here for a bit now. Even if time passes more slowly while you 'meditate' with me, we should go meet those paladins."

"You're right...Dragnïr?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad I can speak to you again, even this simple conversation managed to calm me a bit."

"I'm glad too. But do not be mistaken, I don't want you to go all kind and friendly with them. I just think we should see how things go before bringing hell to them. I know your feeling are the same as any Dragon on the subject: those who take something precious from us have to pay the price for it."

And as Maximilian opened his eyes, back in the 'real' world, he let a predatory smile pass on his face.

"How glad I am we are on the same page..."

...........................................................................................................................................................

"By the law of Carendar! We are the Paladins send to bring the suspected heretic Maximilian Baltazard Van Nilmerus back to the Inquisition headquarter. There he will be fairly judged then set free or executed. By the law of Carendar, I spoke!"

The group of Paladins were standing in front of the chief's house, where they had been informed Maximilian had been seen by Milne. Octavia and Binvo came out, the chief's family looking from behind the window, as asked by the two.

"My master isn't here."

The leader looked down, speaking to the little girl who had dared to come before him.

"He was ordered to be here when we arrived! Disobedience means heresy!"

The leader extended a hand in Octavia's direction.

"Don't touch her, I'm here..."

A voice, spoke in a tone calm and heavy at the same time, stopped the leader who looked on the side, discovering the man they were sent to bring back.

"You were supposed to wait here..."

"I had business to take care of."

"What kind of business?"

"The kind of business in which, if you want to help me, you should at least invite me to dinner first..." said Maximilian, pointing at his crotch.

"Show respect to Carendar's Paladins, heretic!" said one of the tall armoured figure while the leader chuckled a bit. The paldin got out of rank to grab Maximilian.

Without any effort nor fighting intent, Maximilian evaded the paladin and passed next to him. He calmly walked to the leader, placing himself between the tall man and Octavia.

"I am the one you were sent to bring back, yes? Don't bother with those two, let me send them away..."

The leader looked at him from behind his helmet. The way Maximilian had managed to evade one of his trained warriors as if it was nothing clearly had surprised him, showed by the few steps he had taken back. In an instant, though, he was back to his straight and proud position.

"Paladins are servants of the light, not monsters. Our orders concern you and no one else, you may send those two away..."

"Thank you."

Maximilian forced a smile on his face before he turned to face his two companions.

"Wait til tomorrow, then go for the capital. Walk fast, but not too fast...am I clear, Octavia?"

The white skinned human girl looked straight in his eyes, clearly not pleased by the situation.

"My place is with Master! Why must you go alone? I want to help, I want to..."

Was it of rage, of pain or simply sadness, Maximilian didn't know, but Octavia's eyes were getting teary. Seeing this, he put an arm around her shoulders and hug her a bit.

"There are things I must do, and I have to be alone to do them well. Octavia, I want you to take this..."

Maximilian took out a ring from the Havenbag, giving it to Octavia.

"While I'm away, you will lead, okay? If you need help, or when you arrive at the capital, use this to contact me. You and Binvo must go to the teleportation crystal of the capital. I'll meet you there. I want you to have this too..."

He took out a small leather purse that made a small tinkling noise as he put it in the girl's hand.

"Some money for you to use if needed."

He patted the girl's head before standing. Seeing Lin-Lin's spear in Binvo's hands, Maximilian smiled at the human looking minotaur.

"Thank you for looking after her spear, Binvo. I'll make sure she get it back, okay?"

"Binvo give Maximilian, Maximilian give Lin-Lin." said the tall one as he gave the weapon.

The simple way he was talking seemed to amuse the paladins, chuckling a bit among themselves.

"Little girls and simpleton...that is quite an impressive company you have..." said the same paladin who had tried to caught him earlier.

"Better than you could imagine...but seeing how your imagination mustn't be better than one of a rock, I'll let it slide for now."

"Watch out how you're comporting yourself, heretic. You do remember we have something precious for us to play with at the headquarter, right?" said the paladin.

The leader spoke next, stopping there the conversation between the two.

"Enough! We gave you time, now give away your weapon and present your hands."

"Be well, you two..." said Maximilian as he turned to face the Paladins once again. He took his sword and Lin-Lin's spear before putting the two in the Havenbag, getting a bunch of raised shield and swords pointed at him.

"What's this thing?! Heresy!" said the leader, also in fighting position.

"Simply a carrying artefact, useful to transport my equipment...should I take off my gauntlets too?"

"Yes..."

Maximilian did, putting them in the Havenbag too. He then threw it to the leader who caught it by reflex.

"If you're worried I could use it against you, take it for now. I'll get it back later."

The leader carefully looked at the Havenbag. He opened it to look inside, put it upside down, seeing if something would drop from it, but nothing did.

"How does it works?"

"I don't think we've got the time to discuss magic..." said Maximilian as he presented his hands.

"Yes...yes, of course." the leader attached the Havenbag on his belt before signalling two of his paladins. The two came before Maximilian and put handcuffs on him.

As soon as the handcuffs were closed, Maximilian felt something. It was as if someone was trying to put an invisible net on him, but the said net was far too small to cover him.

"What are those?" asked Maximilian, designating the handcuffs with a head gesture.

"Those, heretic, are magic inhibitor. We were told you could use some basic magic and come prepared. Although I doubt you would be really that dangerous without a catalyst, to begin with..."

"Oh...so those are inhibitors..."

*Far too weak to stop your magic, though, you can break them when you want.* Maximilian heard Dragnïr's voice in his head.

"Well then...shall we go? I suppose you won't teleport me but make me walk? So that you have more time to interrogate my friend at your headquarter..."

The last sentence wasn't a question but an affirmation. This was confirmed by the leader's smile.

"You are intelligent...but rest assured, they won't kill her. Not as long as we keep on sending reports, speaking of which..."

One of the Paladins hit his chest and disappeared, teleporting elsewhere using a scroll.

"This one goes now, another one each three hours. If even one report doesn't come in time, that means the end for the prisoner...did I make myself clear?"

*They are a dozen and a report has to be made every three hours? It doesn't take a genius to understand there won't be enough of them for the three days of travel to come...* Dragnïr's voice once again echoed inside Maximilian's head.

*Do you think they bluff or they intend to kill Lin-Lin no matter what?*

*I think it doesn't make any difference with what we've planned to do...*

*You're right.*

"I understand and comply. Take me to your headquarter, I follow."

After a last goodbye to his friends, Maximilian, encircled by the paladins, left the town at a military paced march.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Here is the report, Inquisitor!" said the paladin while hitting his chest in a salute.

Milne returned the salute and waited.

"We have secured the target and begin the journey back to the capital, the rest should arrive in three days, at most."

"Good work, Paladin. You may go now, I have other matters requiring my attention.

"Yes, Inquisitor!"

Once done with the man, Milne went in the direction of the cells where the prisoner she had brought back had to be secured for interrogation.

An interrogation room of the inquisition was looking a lot like a medieval torture chamber, only smaller and less well-equipped. Lin-Lin had been undressed from her armour leaving her in nothing more than her underwear. Her gauntlets, mithril chainmail, pendants, all her material had been put on a table before her to be examined or, if needed, as leverage for the interrogation.

Currently attached to a chair facing the table by her waist, wrist and ankles, Lin-Lin was looking around, clearly as afraid as confused about where she was and why.

Two guards of the inquisition, equipped with the same kind of material as the city guards, only with the church symbol in place of the coat of arms of Griffinia on their chest, were guarding the door.

"Where am I?" hesitantly asked Lin-Lin.

The guards didn't answer.

"Why am I here?"

Once again, no answer came from the two.

"Where is my Master?! Where are my friends?! Why are you not answering me?!" desperately asked Lin-Lin, but then again, only silence came from the guards, not even looking at her.

Someone knocked at the door and one of the guards looked through a little trap to check who it was. He opened the door to let Milne entered.

This time, the inquisitor was completely dressed like she had to, no more disguised as a guard. Under her long inquisition coat, she was equipped with a well-made black leather armour with small pieces of silver metal covering her chest, waist, shoulder, arms and knees. It wasn't a complete armour, more like stronger pieces put above the leather to upgrade it while letting the wearer move as freely as possible. Milne was clearly not the type of warrior relying on her strength but more on her agility and speed, as indicated the two rapiers at her side, one shorter than the other. Attached at the back of her belt was also a small round shield she had to attach on her forearm to fight.

"Lady Milne? What's happening? Where's Maximilian?" asked Lin-Lin, not understanding or maybe not willing to.

Milne stepped in, the guard closing the door behind her.

"Do not worry about your Master, Lin-Lin, he will be here with you soon enough..."

The inquisitor pulled a chair from the table and came sitting, facing her prisoner.

"What you should be worried about is in which state he will find you."

...........................................................................................................................................................

*So...while we go out of the village, tell me how you can help, Dragnïr.*

*Certainly, I have some ideas. You could fly, it would make you arrive faster.*

*I don't have wings.*

*True, true...you should work on that.*

*I don't think human can grow wings, Dragnïr, even with a lot of will.*

*Don't forget you bath in my blood, you got my power when you killed me, you even got my soul in you, this should be possible...*

*Maybe...but I have the feeling this could take a bit too much time, considering Lin-Lin's situation.*

*You're right. How about wind steps?*

*Wind steps?*

*I saw your skills. You can jump very far and high. Use wind magic to create some kind of wind platform and use them to gain momentum, like that you won't waste time getting up and down the road. It's like a straight way in the sky wide open for you...as long as you don't meet any birds, of course.*

*A skill of yours?*

*Used to be. While I was travelling, long time ago, I used to disguise myself as a human, wind steps are far more discrete than wings, very useful when I was in cities.*

*...that could work...worst case scenario, I'll run. Alone, I'll be able to run as fast as I can. Covering the distance shouldn't take too long.*

*When do we act?*

*Next time one of them goes for a report. As soon as he left, I'll act. Like that, It should give me enough time to reach the place without them noticing something went wrong... do you think Lin-Lin will be fine?*

*I think so...Inquisition or not, they need her alive for her to talk. Even if they hurt her a bit, you should be able to heal her wounds.*

*I have a good stock of health potion left.*

*One thing you should do is learn healing magic. Your alchemy is good, no doubt about that, but your magic power would do wonder if combined with holy magic.*

*I still need to find a healer, though...couldn't you teach me?*

*I'm afraid this wouldn't work. Remember, I'm only a soul, a spirit without a body, nor mana to use as my own. Once I'll have a body back, I'll see if I can help you more, but until then...*

*Too bad...I guess I still have to find some kind of healer to teach me.*

*Nonetheless, I can still explain to you how it works. This won't give you the magic itself, but at least you'll already know how to use it when you get it.*

*Isn't it a simple thing like casting a fireball?*

*Hardly. A fireball is a basic attack spell, not needing that much of concentration. You use some mana, imbue it with fire and the idea of a ball, then let go. To use healing spell correctly, you have to know what you heal, or you'll use far too much energy on a single person.*

*On the other hand, I have more than enough mana for that...*

Maximilian heard in his head the Dragon clicking his tongue.

*Don't become presumptuous because you have more mana than others. Think about what I told you, use your head and concentrate on what you wish to heal before acting, or else you will regret it later.*

*Okay, I'll be careful.*

*You better be, if you die now, who knows what would happen to me who's in your body.*

*Glad to hear my wellbeing concerns you so much...*

*I'm an old soul, Maximilian, give me a break.*

*Sorry...old guy...*

Once again, Maximilian could hear the annoyed dragon clicking his tongue. That made him smiled, amused.

Around him, the paladins were all keeping an eye on him.

"He doesn't say a thing for an hour and now he smiles to himself...what do you think Inquisitor Milne could want of him?" asked a paladin to another one.

"I don't know, I guess we'll see soon enough."

...........................................................................................................................................................

"I don't know!"

For the last hour, Milne had sat facing Lin-Lin, questioning her.

"You know...you should consider yourself lucky..." said the inquisitor as she stood up, walking a bit around her prisoner's chair. "...you got to be interrogated by me, and I tend to be patient. Other Inquisitors may not have wait so long for you to spit the truth. Not that we don't have the ways to do so..."

Passing next to a table where were installed several torturing tools, of all kind of size and form, she took a fireplace poker and put its extremity in the fire burning in the room.

"As a slave, you should be familiar with the pain inflicted by a heated white poker, right?"

Lin-Lin opened her eyes wide and moved from left to right, trying to get off her chair.

"Don't bother, this chair could resist a warhammer...once again, slave, what are your master's plan?"

Lin-Lin stopped moving, looking down a bit and stayed silent. So many times already had she swear her master didn't have any ill attention, but the inquisitor wouldn't believe her.

Milne took out the poker from the fire and came near her, menacing Lin-Lin with the shiny piece of metal.

"Something to say, slave?"

A tear dropped from the panda-girl's eyes, but she was smiling as she raised her head.

"I'm...not a slave."

The strange reaction took Milne by surprise. She expected her to beg, to implore, but certainly not to smile...and her words were strange too.

"Not a slave? Lying won't get you anywhere here, Lin-Lin. You have the mark, remember? You were given by Princess Arima to Nilmerus, like an object, have you already forgotten that?"

Lin-Lin shook her head from right to left, the smile not leaving her face as if she was remembering a pleasant memory.

"I didn't forget...I remember everything. I was born as a slave, I was beaten, hurt, raped as a slave, treated like an object. I have been treated worse than an animal, worse than a beast. Princess Arima treated me better, but the day she choose to give me to Maximilian has to be the best day of my life..."

The resolution in the girl's eyes made Milne lay down the fireplace poker a bit, letting her continue. Even the two guards, although ordered to not look and simply standing there, couldn't help listening.

"...Not once has he treat me like an inferior being. We eat together, we fight together..."

"You sleep together?" taunted Milne.

"No...first I thought all his gentle behaviour was some kind of twisted play, but I was wrong. He didn't need to be gentle, he could have done what he wanted with me all along like others had done before. But not him, not Master Maximilian. He gave me a weapon and taught me how to use it."

Milne raised a hand, stopping her there.

"That man has taught a slave to fight? It's against the law, everyone knows that."

"Maximilian isn't everyone. Thanks to him, I learned to be more self-confident. He...he is a good man. You can torture me all you want, you can order me to betray him by telling you he is planning to destroy the world if you want. All I know is that he will travel around the world to see all the beauties there is to see and I, as long as I can, will be more than happy to be by his side!"

Once finished, Lin-Lin took the time to breathe in deeply, waiting for the pain to come while her eyes weren't leaving the inquisitor's one. A silence fell on the room for a bit.

"You...truly believe what you just tell?" finally asked Milne.

Lin-Lin simply nodded, her eyes full of resolve.

Milne was going to talk again but was interrupted by a knock on the door. A guard was let in and saluted before talking.

"My apologies, Inquisitor, but you are required by the Cardinal. His Holiness is waiting for you in the Chapel."

Milne sighed and signalled the guard he could go. She went near the fire and put back the poker in it, letting it slowly heat.

"It seems like I'll have to make you wait for a bit..."

She went by the door and, just before going out, finished by...

"...I sincerely hope you'll have something else to tell me when I'll be back, or I'll have to do something not pleasing...for you nor me"

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Okay, it's time for me to go."

Like he and Dragnïr had planned, Maximilian acted as soon as the next Paladin was gone.

All around him, shields were lifted and swords pointed at him.

"We Paladins are not known for our sense of humour. I suggest you stop talking and advance." said the leader.

*What do you think? We talk or we kill?* thought Maximilian, asking his draconic friend.

*Paladins tend to be good guys, generally...but those one here are on our way so...give them a chance?*

*Just one then.*

"So...I'm going to break those handcuff, take back my Havenbag and go save my friend you took from me. Once I've arrived at your headquarter, I'll take her and destroy anything or anyone who will stand in my way. I don't have a lot of time so listen to me well. As soon as the magic inhibitor will be broken, I'll start to count. When I reach three, those of you who still have their weapon in hands will die. Those who choose to surrender will be spared and, as a sign of good will, will give me their weapons, armour and magic scrolls. I don't think it's useful to precise, but any of you who will attack or try to flee will die too...question? No question? Good, here we go."

Around him, laughs could be heard. The paladins were clearly mocking him.

"Breaking magical inhibitors? Inquisitor Milne told us you were stronger than you look, but it seems to me you're even more stupid. No human can hope to even bend the enchanted metal use for th...!"

The leader was stopped in his sentence by the noise of metal being torn apart. Maximilian, as if he was tearing a sheet of paper, was currently taking off the handcuffs as if it was nothing. He took good care to show them around before dropping them on the ground.

"One..."

Quickly recovering from the shock, one of the paladins, the one who had try to grip him earlier, charged from the side with his sword ready to hit.

"DEMON!!!"

With a single circular arm gesture, Maximilian created a wind blade that dashed at the paladin. Trained warrior, he lifted his shield by reflex, only to see it being cut in two.

"...!"

The paladin wanted to cursed, to ask what had happened, but no sound came from his mouth. The man saw the world around him turned as the ground approached. The last thing he saw was his beheaded body before the last little spark of life residing in his head disappeared.

The corpse of the dead Paladin fell on the ground, some of the others looked at it as if not believing what had just happened.

"Two..."

"HIS MAGIC CUT THROUGH A PALADIN'S SHIELD!!!HE'S GOING TO KILL US ALL!!!"

Two Paladins charged at him while a third was taking out a scroll to teleport away, to a safer place where he could ask for reinforcements.

None of them lived long enough to regret their actions, their head soon meeting their comrade's one on the ground.

"Leader! What do we do?! He's going to kill us all..."

The experienced leader, who also seemed to be the most experienced man of the group, was quick to understand the situation and act the only way possible for him and his last paladins to stay alive.

"Drop your weapon."

"Leader?"

"Thr..."

"WAIT! We surrender!" Said the leader as he threw down his sword and shield. The four paladins still alive quickly imitated him.

"Good. There are at least some intelligent ones in the Inquisition. Now I'm going to take back my Havenbag."

Not giving the leader time to answer, Maximilian retrieved his artefact.

"Asterife."

The imp appeared next to him.

"You called?"

"Call your clan. I want you to take all you can, the weapons, the armour, the bodies, everything. Leave the heads."

Asterife looked at the five paladins, still facing Maximilian and waiting.

"You do realise some of them are still alive, right?"

"They surrendered, help them out of their armour. If they resist, they die. Am I clear?" The last sentence was directed to the paladins who simply nodded.

"Alright then."

"Asterife?"

"Yes?"

"I don't have a lot of time, call all the members of your clan as necessary to be as quick as possible."

"As you wish."

.

.

.

It took more or less a quarter of an hour for the imp to take everything from the paladins, leaving them in their underwear before disappearing. Out of their armour, it was finally possible for Maximilian to see there were two women and three men left, counting the male leader. The leader, like Maximilian had thought, was older than the others. They were all tall and well build but not that impressive to look at now that they didn't have anything on their back. While the imps were taking care of that, Maximilian had put back on his gauntlets and his sword.

"Now what? You humiliated us, are you going to kill us next?"

"No. I wasn't going to kill anyone if everybody had done as told. I suggest you go for the capital, beasts are numerous on the road. Another thing, my two other followers will pass by here tomorrow...it would be better for all of you if they don't find you on their way."

"Why?"

"Because they are as dangerous as I am, more so against naked opponents. And the girl you met has a good sense of smell, so she will recognise you. As one of those who took her friend, I doubt she would be as generous as I am. So....off you go."

Maximilian concluded by throwing them the heads of their comrades.

"I suppose you honour your dead...hurry back before they start to rot."

The leader looked at the dead face and simply nodded to Maximilian before starting to run in the capital direction, followed by the others.

*Good thing done, I suggest we hurry now.* said Dragnïr.

*I think so too. About those winds steps, I run as fast as I can and simply picture stairs in my head?*

*That's the idea...*

Maximilian crouched a bit, stretching his legs.

"Alright...her I GO!"

And Maximilian dashed at a speed so high he let the trace of his feet deep in the ground.

.

.

.

The paladins were running as quick as they could, fearing the man could change his mind. They heard something, like a strong gust of wind, as Maximilian passed next to them. They only saw, thanks to their trained eyes, the remnants of the red colour of his coat as the man started to literally run in the air, rapidly disappearing in the sky.

"Leader... thank you."

"For what, paladin?"

"After seeing what I just saw...I think you saved our lives by making us drop our weapons."

...........................................................................................................................................................

"So it was true..."

Some times after Milne was gone, someone else came and was let in by the guards.

Ratman was there, a satisfied smile on his face while he was looking down at the panda girl.

"To think I would have the pleasure to see you tied up like that...what a pleasing scene!"

Ratman turned a bit around the chair, making his arm turn a bit.

"You know...my arm is still hurting because of you..."

"I didn't do anything, you were the one who..."

"SILENCE!!!"

The man slapped the girl, the noise of his hand on her face echoing in the room.

"You talk when I order, is that clear, slave?"

Lin-Lin looked down, not answering.

"IS THAT CLEAR, SLAVE!!!"

Ratman used a hand to raise her head before slapping her again.

"Trainee, interrogating her is the duty of Inquisitor Milne..." said one of the guards, only to be pointed at by Ratman.

"And who are you to dare to oppose me?! I am under Milne's Jurisdiction here! You will guard that door and shut your mouth!"

Ratman turned and showed all his teeth at Lin-Lin as a smiled.

"Who knows...after I'm done making you talk, I may even not stay under her command for long..."

He stood and walked a bit in the room, passing before the table with the torturing tools.

"Milne is weak, she has been with you for more than an hour and you still haven't been correctly interrogated. No wonder she couldn't get any answers from you, slave...Oh, what is this?"

He took the poker out of the fire showing the heated white part to her.

"Maybe she's good for something after all. Look, slave, she already prepared toys for me to use on you...so, let's begin, shall we? What is the son of a whore you call Master going to do to our city?"

The poker passed before the terrified eyes of Lin-Lin.

"N...nothing! He has been invited by Princess Arima...as a friend!"

"LIAR!!!"

Ratman screamed as he put the poker head against her leg, just above her attached ankle.

...........................................................................................................................................................

Maximilian had trouble believing the speed at wich he was advancing. The wind steps he had learned from Dragnïr had allowed him to literally run in the sky, taking strong impulsion from an air platform to another, jumping several metres each time. A galloping horse couldn't dream of keeping up with him at the moment.

*Truly wonderful! At this speed, I'll arrive in less than two hours. You were right, Dragnïr, it truly helped!*

*I'm glad it d...Maximilian? What's the matter?*

Dragnïr stopped when he felt Maximilian tensing.

*It's Lin-Lin...something's wrong...I don't know what's happening to her or how I'm able to tell, but I know something is wrong.*

*It's the soul flame! The pact you made with the girls makes you feel when something is hurting them too much. I'm surprised it worked so well... to be able to feel her flame from that far already is impressive, even for you...Maximilian, for you to feel her means she has open her heart to you...that girl believes in you.*

Dragnïr was surprised to feel Maximilian's speed increasing once again.

*Maximilian?*

*If I felt that, it must mean she's being hurt. They're torturing her!*

*That is likely the case. Inquisitors aren't known for their hospitality.*

*I'm going to destroy them, Dragnïr. Those who dared to hurt her, I'll make them disappear from the face of the world!*

*You may not be a Dragon, but you sure are as terrifying as one...you can count on me to help you as much as I can.*

...........................................................................................................................................................

"And now? Still not willing to talk, beast slave?"

Ratman had passed the last hour torturing Lin-Lin. Her fur covered body had been marked by the poker at several places, burning her beautiful black and white fur and piercing her skin. 'Luckily' for her, the whited heat poker was, by burning the hole in her skin, preventing the blood from flowing.

Breathing hard, Lin-Lin wasn't crying, although it was hard not to. She didn't want to give Ratman the pleasure to see her tears.

"I...may be...a beast but...not a slave."

"What did you say?!"

Ratman came closer to hear her better, her voice a bit feeble because of the pain. He raised her head by pulling her hair, looking at her bruised face.

"I asked you to repeat, slave."

In her heart, Lin-Lin was shouting her anger, screaming her pain, each injury in her body hurting her more than she thought it was possible.

*I have to be strong, I have to resist. I know he will come. I need to be stronger, I need to grow...*

In her mind, she was resisting by repeating those words. Her eyes, not focussing on Ratman, were looking at the pendant made of her Master's blood.

"What are you looking at?"

Ratman let go of her to take the pendant by the chain, looking at it with a critical eye.

"What is this piece of garbage? It's not even a precious stone..."

He came back before her, shaking the pendant before her eyes.

"Is it with that he made you believed you were worthy of any attention? You know what that is? A piece of trash offered by a piece of trash to another piece of trash!"

Lin-Lin looked at the pendant that was for her more worthy than any jewel, the crystallised drop of her Master's blood seemed to call after her as if she could feel Maximilian warmth in her chest.

"My flame is yours... and yours is mine." whispered the panda girl right before she used her remnant force to pushed herself forward, managing to take the blood crystal in her mouth.

As soon as the crystal touched her tongue, it dissolved. A wave of warm feeling ran inside her for an instant then...nothing.

"Why did you do that? What was that thing you swallowed?! ANSWER ME!!!"

Lin-Lin laughed a bit. Was it the blood who gave her more courage or simply the pain nullifying her sense of danger, Lin-Lin didn't know and didn't care.

"That...was a present from Master...for me. You...can torture me all you want, have fun...but know this...Master is coming for me."

Ratman threw the chain away and pulled on her hair to raise her head higher.

"AND?! DO YOU THINK I'M AFRAID?"

Lin-Lin looked at him with one eye, the other starting to be obstructed by the blood dropping from her eyebrow, where Ratman had hit her several times.

"Of course...you are...he is gonna destroy you."

Ratman's mind comprehend immediately and made him go furious. Not because of the fact a slave was daring to talk back to him, not because he didn't get the answers he wanted, but because deep inside, he knew

the girl wasn't lying.

"YOU LITTLE....!!!"

Ratman raised the poker, willing to break Lin-Lin's skull with it, but was stopped by the guards at the last moment.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? WHO ORDERED YOU TO MOVE?!"

"I did..."

Near the door was Nilem, a tray with food and water in her hands and an expression of horror on her face.

"What have you done to her? The poor girl is all beaten up!"

"And? Who gives a damn if a lowly slave is shaken up a bit?"

Nilem put the tray on the table, not looking at Ratman and coming before Lin-Lin.

"Are you awake, can you hear me?"

"What are you doing? She's to be interrogated, not taken care of!"

Nilem stood and came before Ratman, slapping him so hard in the face you could have sworn a tooth had come out.

"SHE IS MY SISTER'S PRISONER, NOT YOURS!!! MILNE GAVE ORDERS, NO ONE WAS TO HURT THE GIRL!!! YOU DISOBEYED A DIRECT ORDER, TRAINEE, KNOW THAT IT WILL BE REPORTED! NOW, OUT!"

One of the guards pulled Ratman out of the room. Nilem pointed at the other guard.

"You! Go get a healer, quick!"

"But, Trainee Nilem, I must gu..."

"NOW, GUARD!"

"Yes, Trainee!"

The guard saluted and ran out of the room.

Once alone with Lin-Lin, Nilem crouched before her, took a tissue out of her pocket and drenched it with the water on the tray. The sad look on her face showed how sorry she was for the panda-girl.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. This shouldn't have arrived..."

Using the wet fabric, Nilem cleaned Lin-Lin face, doing her best to stop the blood flow before her eye.

"Sis wasn't going to...she planned on scaring you, but not hurting you. Sis never hurt others, I swear..."

"Sis...?"

Lin-Lin, still breathing with difficulty, was wondering who that girl was talking about.

"Inquisitor Milne, the one who brought you here...she's my sister."

By reflex, Lin-Lin shook her head back, fearing another hit from one of the inquisitors or their entourage.

"Don't worry! Don't worry! I won't hurt you, I swear."

"Your sister...lock me here...because of her...I'm hurt..."

"I know, this shouldn't have arrived, this...!"

Suddenly, the Trainee was taken over by a coughing fit, putting her hands on her mouth. Lin-Lin saw her hands tainting red as she did.

"Are you hurt too?"

Nilem sadly smiled at her before taking some water and helping the panda-girl drink a bit.

"Not hurt, sick. Since I was little, I always had a bad health. Milne took care of me when our parents died, but healers are expensive and none of them can cure me for good. So she and I became part of the Inquisition, like that we had access to free healing."

"Why...do you...tell me this?" asked Lin-Lin, feeling her consciousness leaving her.

"I don't know...maybe because I don't want you to hate my sister?"

"Doesn't make...any difference...now..."

Nilem was aware the panda-girl was losing consciousness, but what she was saying was intriguing her.

"No difference? Why?"

"Can feel...Master...here..." and she was gone, a slight smile on her face as she did.

"Her Master? What could she have meant? From what I've heard, that man won't be here bef...what was that?!"

As she was talking to herself, she felt the walls, ground and ceiling shake, as if something big had crashed against the inquisition headquarter.

"What happened?"

She looked around and her eyes came back on Lin-Lin before opening wide.

"Don't tell me..."

...........................................................................................................................................................

The entrance of the inquisition headquarter was as large as a station hall, decorated like a cathedral, with numerous stairs and doors leading to different places, some more unpleasant than the others.

The big doors, large enough to let five metres tall giants in, were closed at the moment, locked by metallic mechanism and guarded by a dozen guards at all times. To open the door, only one possibility: knowing the password. Without the password, changing every week, none could enter. After you give the password, the gate open to let you inside. Once inside, you have to be checked by the guards and paladins present to judge if you can go in...or even go back where you came from.

While checked, you are constantly aimed at by crossbowmen and mages from the inquisition who seem to hope for you to try and cause problems only to be able to kill someone.

Yes, the doors from the inquisition was a proud piece of their fortress, capable of stopping any heretic...or at least was until today.

In one hit, the doors flew out of place, falling down in a loud noise made of metal tearing apart, wood breaking and guards screaming has they were crushed by the heavy material.

Maximilian entered, walking in the headquarter with the hood of his coat raised, placing his face in the shadow and preventing anyone from recognising him.

*Why the hood?* asked Dragnïr

*Just in case, I don't want someone recognising my face later if I decide to let someone go.*

*'If' you let someone go...*

Alerted by the noise, guards, paladins, bowmen and mages were already encircling him.

"SURRENDER OR DIE!!!" ordered one of the paladin.

"That..."

Maximilian talked while letting his aura come out, his eyes taking their draconic appearance, shining from the shadow of his hood, and his voice as deep as Dragnïr's.

"...is for me to say."

Seeing that, some of the paladins took a step back, while some guards and mages were almost crushed down by the weight put on their shoulder by Maximilian's aura.

"De...DEMON!!!" shouted a paladin.

"It's the second time today I've been called a demon...if that's what you want..."

Maximilian raised his hands, covered with flames.

"...I'LL BRING HELL TO YOU ALL!!!"