“Death is a serious matter,” Priest Olwen said grimly, pulling a white sheet over Izold’s body. The old man laid upon the altar, the flowers having been tucked around it at the base. It was a good temporary location, and to Noa’s understanding, a typical one before embalming━something Priest Olwen said he’d do after the proper rites.

“Has someone fetched the constable?” Olwen asked.

“Conagan, and one other went with him,” Noa said.

“I’m afraid that this is a sin not even Waroc and Yana can hide away from...”

If Waroc is still alive, Noa thought, but a little voice in his head told him that the brute wouldn’t stay down. He turned away from the altar, looking towards where Eliaz finished healing Black Panther. Zahur looked exhausted, accompanied with a grim expression. That seemed to be spreading across the room, people scattered across pews.

The church doors opened frequently as more people came, and each time they did, Noa feared the worst. When would he see She-monstrosity or her husband come barreling in? What then? Their most capable fighter wasn’t doing too hot. Well, Waroc probably wasn’t either, but She-monstrosity would be just fine.

Worry eased when a set of knights in familiar blue colors marched through the doors, followed by Blondie the Barbarian in full armor. She held tightly to the hilt of her sword at her waist, but her face was a refreshing disposition of calm in such a dour crowd. Now that was a real leader.

She marched right up to Noa and Olwen, and looked at the priest. “May I see the damage?” she asked.

“News spreads fast, I see,” Olwen noted, but nodded, and lifted the sheet just a bit for Blondie, who cringed at the sight.

“Someone died. An event like that piques interest. I should hope not too much,” Lila eyed the old priest.

Olwen gave a wan smile. “Only as much as necessary,” he said, and Lila sighed.

Right... well, cryptic conversations were so helpful right now. Noa stepped away from the altar, and moved to Zahur. The large man didn’t even look up at him, and instead, Noa sat down beside him opposite to Eliaz.

What do I say? he wondered. Was showing appreciation the right thing right now, especially when Noa had let Izold down? And by extension, everyone else? Get out of your damn head, dimwit, he told himself. This wasn’t about him. He failed, yes, but that happened. He couldn’t have known that he was going to need so much more aether than he had; he couldn’t have known that Waroc was going to kill Izold. With a single punch. Damn.

“You did good, Zahur,” Noa tried. It sounded like the thing to say.

“As did you, Noa,” he responded, his deep voice melancholy. “I’m sorry I let Izold die.”

“No, it’s not your fault,” Noa said, and felt as if he was saying that for himself as well.

“What good is power if I cannot protect people?” he asked, and Noa winced.

Ouch. What did he say to that?

“Had I taken that blow, I would have lived. I have the spells to strengthen my body against such things,” Zahur said.

“Was his death in vain?” Eliaz asked, and Noa raised his brow.

“No, he saved me today,” Zahur said.

“Grieve, then celebrate his sacrifice,” Eliaz said, sitting back. “You’re all healed, Zahur. How do you feel?”

“Angry,” Zahur said, his expression tightening. “I am a fool! How have I been so blind!”

Things grew quiet, and Noa sighed. “They ran a clever con, that’s how,” he said. “But they can’t get away with it any longer. We’re making a difference now, and that matters.”

Light fluctuated through the room as the church doors opened. Noa twisted, seeing Constable Loic meander his way up to the altar. Noa quickly moved to join Olwen and Blondie there, as he was not going to be left out of this conversation.

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“Let me see it,” the constable motioned to the body.

Olwen stepped aside, and the constable lifted the sheet, taking a long hard look at the dismantled features of the old man’s face.

“He’s as dead as dead can be,” Loic said, Olwen frowning.

The priest stepped forward, swatting the constable’s hand. “Let him rest now. You’ve had your look. Go do your job,” he said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do my job alright. We can’t let these scumbags be running free,” Loic said, and Noa looked the skinny constable up and down. Yeah, no way was he going to manage to drag monstrosities to his tiny jail and shove them in cells.

“Take some of my knights with you,” Blondie offered. “Waroc won’t be easy to detain.”

The constable nodded. “Thank you, but no need. I am a grand class [Transmutationist],” he said, and just like that, swiftly left.

“I hate that man.”

Lila gasped. “Priest Olwen! You?” she asked.

Olwen pointed. “Don’t let my blasphemy leave this conversation, youngin’!” he said.

Blondie grinned. “I’ll wait until nightfall to see the results of the constable’s efforts,” she said, moving on entirely. “If nothing becomes of them, my knights will detain the murderer.”

“And what of all the indentured servants to Yana? Surely this just proves that they’ve been conning us all,” Noa asked.

Lila turned to him, and pursed her lips. “I wish I could say something on that, but all you have here is a murder. There’s nothing that proves the innocence of the indentured servants. You’ll have to find another way, Noa Kai,” she said. “Yana will not be liable if she wasn’t involved in today’s events.”

Noa huffed. Seriously? He moved back to Eliaz, and noted that Conagan was standing near the door of the church. He was going to need that kid in a moment.

“What’s wrong?” Eliaz asked.

“I need to get the lock,” Noa said.

“Now? Don’t you think this timing is kind of...”

“Awful? Yeah, I do. Think you can manage the strike alongside Zahur?” Noa asked.

“Yeah. I mean, I don’t think anyone wants to go anywhere right now, so they’ll stay here, protected by Lila’s guard until all of this is over,” he said. He leaned forward, grabbing at Noa’s wrist. “You can’t seriously be thinking of sneaking back onto that farm though, right? They’ll probably kill you on sight at this point!” he hissed quietly.

Noa grimaced. He did not like the idea of that. “We need proof that they’ve been lying about all of our crimes, and unless you have a better way of providing that, I have to do this,” he said.

“You could ride out the strike,” Zahur suggested. “This many voices united might be proof enough.”

“Yeah, what he said. Don’t do something idiotic, newb!”

Noa scratched his head. It was a good point. He could ride out the strike, but could he guarantee it would work? Can I guarantee that my lock will be proof enough either? he wondered.

Neither situation was, in his opinion, a guarantee. However, getting the lock could reinforce the numerous voices here. That could barely do it, and sounded like the most surefire way to him. Making up his mind, Noa looked into Eliaz’s blue eyes.

“I need to do this. It gives everyone here the best chance,” he said, and shivered. Oh hell. I’m going to get myself killed, he thought, and yet, that didn’t deter him. “I’ll take Conagan with me. Zahur says he’s a good thief.”

Eliaz, for once, deadpanned Noa. Oh, he was good, really good. The way his face looked so unamused was━actually, now was not the time to be admiring Eliaz’s deadpan.

“Don’t die. I’m starting to like you,” he said.

“Starting?” Noa asked. “Ow.”

Eliaz gave an amused snort, and Noa shook his head. “And here you were suggesting we become brothers not too long ago,” he shot back, and turned on his heels, certain that he was missing the elf’s priceless expression, at least he hoped it was priceless.

“Conagan,” Noa said as he approached. The blond kid looked up at him. That felt nice. “Think you can help me steal something back?”

Conagan raised an eyebrow. “Where from?” he asked, leaning forward a bit and crossing his arms. His eyes briefly flicked towards the front of the room, as if he was suspicious of something.

“Yana’s closet.”

“Ew! No!” Conagan paled, jumping back quickly.

Noa facepalmed. Of course he was going to jump to that conclusion. “No, not like that. She and Waroc have something of mine in there, and it’d prove that they’ve been conning us.”

Conagan relaxed. A tad. He leaned forward again. “And it’s just that, right?”

Dragging his hand down his face with a groan, Noa nodded. “Just that. Conagan, get your head out of the gutter.”

“It’s... not in a gutter?” He looked confused.

Right, idioms don’t work the same here.

“So, are you in?” Noa asked.

“If it’s gonna save my arse from four more years of indentured servitude, what are we waiting for?”