For a week, we focused on staying hidden, occasionally killing the Radiant Monsters that plagued the countryside before we finally managed to get ahead of their migration. During our nightly rest, Lenore and I had been scrying for information, looking at the world from above and sending our gaze far across the land. Thanks to that, I was able to witness the Imperial response to the disaster and was quite impressed. While they hadn’t been able to contain the monsters and quite a few farmsteads and small towns had burned, when it came to larger towns and cities, they were largely untouched. In Lenore’s vision, shared to inspect the information from our scrying, we could see the towns glow like beacons, magical formations surrounding them with powerful shields. Similarly, we had been able to spy on one kill squad of Adventurers, travelling to take out the monsters wherever they met them. We didn’t manage to see them in action, but just from the impression I got, I was reasonably certain they were as powerful as the four of us, maybe even stronger.

Researching on the forum basically confirmed what I had learned by scrying, there were dozens of such teams roaming the countryside, suppressing the monsters, and probably Rebels alike. One of the commenters postulated that the Empire had such teams seeded throughout their land, for such eventualities, some of which might even be largely retired but get a stipend to keep in shape to assist in disaster relief. Good, if boring, governance.

But there was something else I found during my research on the forum, something that made my blood freeze. The first time I noticed, it was a few days after the fact, merely a glimpse in a video focusing on the defence of that particular town and its shield. But looking closely, it was a face I recognised, surrounded by Imperial guards, hands adorned by quite obvious shackles.

Somehow, Olivia had managed to get captured and detained. With only that single glimpse, I wasn’t able to make much of it, but it gave me a place to start searching and on the second night of my search, a video came to my attention, adding greatly to my annoyance.

It was from Hatterion, one of the major harbour cities and biggest towns of the Empire, the scene having garnered attention for its uniqueness, less for the participants. It wasn’t an everyday occurrence that a Priest was tried in a secular court, especially not with the consent of the major temples.

Most of the proceedings were arcane and quite boring, Olivia not even trying to defend herself, simply standing there in silent dignity, back straight and a soft halo of flames around her head. I recognised those flames as the ones normally adorning her staff, but given that it was gone, they were now around her head, much like a radiant crown. Clearly not a divine Judgement, but it didn’t seem to matter to the magistrate.

Nor did it matter to the crowd, and while the guards made sure that nothing was done to the servants of the court, that didn’t extend to Olivia, who was peppered with a variety of projectiles, from rotten produce to rocks.

By the time all was said and done, Olivia had been sentenced to Death for aiding the Rebellion and a few religious crimes. The Traveller filming had stuck to the procession as she was led out of court and once outside, between court and the prison where she was to be held, Olivia suddenly stopped, the flame atop her hand burning brightly, like a torch. The jeering crowd that had followed the procession suddenly fell silent and I was pretty sure I could see a rotten apple fall from a person’s hand, rolling away.

Before any of the guards could act, the shackles around her arms shattered with an audible crack, she raised both arms and suddenly, the stump of her hand was sheathed in flames for a moment and before anyone was able to do anything about it, the flames winked out, her previously severed hand back, but at the same time, in the middle of a busy plaza, she was petrified. With only a video, I couldn’t really tell anything, but either, Olivia had been masterfully teleported out after some sort of light show and replaced with a statue of her,

Or she had been petrified by some unknown force and from the way the guards and clerics were milling around, not a force they could trifle with. The video continued for a few more minutes, there were a few attempts of clerics and mages to do something about the statue, but nothing happened before the video ended. A further comment, made hours later, explained that the statue was still there, standing untouched and proudly, despite the authority's best efforts to remove it.

While a small part of me was amused, there also was a terrible wrath within me. An icy chill that wanted nothing but consign those responsible for the death of my former companion to a dark void, where they would wallow in insanity until the end of time. Cursed to be awake, aware and yet unable to ever escape into the sweet release of insanity or death.

When I logged back into Road to Purgatory, Lenore and Sigmir immediately picked up on my emotions and I could feel their concern.

“What happened?” Sigmir asked while I felt Lenore’s worry through our bond.

“Olivia is dead,” I replied, my voice seething with cold fury. At the same time, I let Lenore see the images I had seen, the trial and her ultimate fate.

“Huh?” Sigmir let out a confused noise, “What happened?”

“I don’t know the details, only vague images. She was captured a few days ago, taken to Hatterion, tried and consigned to death. I believe her Deity intervened and removed her from the mortal plane before the punishment could be carried out, but functionally, that changes nothing. She is dead,” I explained, my anger radiating outwards.

“We shall take revenge in her stead,” Sigmir placed a hand on my shoulder, giving me a gentle squeeze. Revenge, the way of her people. Strike those who strike at you, pay back any wrongdoing a hundredfold.

“We shall,” I agreed, a terrible smile on my face. But who to strike against? The Rebels who had promised to keep her safe? Or the Imperials, who had put her to trial? Or maybe just both, to let them all feel our retribution.

“Lenore, do you remember the details of that rebel plan? They wanted us to act as a distraction for an operation of theirs, right? Did you hear any details?” I asked, before repeating the question out loud, asking Adra, Rai and Sigmir. If the rebels were planning an operation on the Imperials, especially if it was an operation targeting Hatterion, I wouldn’t mind mixing things up a little. And make them all pay the ultimate tribute to my companion.

For a moment, none of the others replied, all trying to recall any details.

“They didn’t exactly say much, I heard a few talks about a raid to give a few nobles tax troubles,” Rai replied, his face scrunched in a frown.

“I heard that, too,” Adra nodded, “I think it was a noble near Hatterion and they needed to be done before the Tax-Collectors come around in a week or two, they were quite tight-lipped on the details.”

“As they should be,” I agreed, already considering how I could get the information I wanted and position us so we could have our revenge. There was a small part of me that considered leaking the rough position of the rebel village to the authorities, but that didn’t sit right with me. Revenge should be taken as personal and direct as possible, a strike by you against those who wronged you, not by helping your enemies, even if they might also harbour hatred for another of your enemies. No, Vengeance would be wrought by my mind, delivered by my hand and magic.

For the rest of the evening, even while I was supposedly on watch, a large part of my focus was consumed with the question, how could I properly avenge my companion? How could I get rid of the anger swirling around my body, the drive to send as many of those idiots to a frozen grave?

If the people had allowed Olivia to face her accusers with honour and dignity, without disgracing her, without the cheers at her sentence, maybe I would have had a bit of mercy for them. But, even if only on a video, seeing crowds bay for the blood of my companion, to see people, to see even children, be excited and happy about the death of a kind soul like her? Someone who had gone through life without raising her hand against others, with an Oath to not impede the freedom of others?

If they wanted to cheer for the death of a good person,

I would show them what the revenge of an evil person would be. For I was certainly not good or benevolent in any way, shape or form.