"So that Hero, Edward I believe, was your mentor," Selina placed her hat in her lap as she sat on the large rock overlooking the babbling brook in front of her. Her crimson locks had grown to the point that they covered her ears. She frowned while lifting a stray strand towards the gray skies above. She would need to cut it soon.

"Yes...he was," Nikon grunted and panted as she dashed across the ground on the nearby riverbank. Her hooves churned the earth beneath her hooves as she swiped at an invisible target. With grit teeth, she turned around for another pass.

"Then I can better understand your feelings and why you were so upset today," Selina took off one of her gloves and lifted the naked arm up to her nose. She sniffed twice and grimaced at the smell. She pulled the black glove back on while making a mental note to find the time to take a bath. She smelled like blood, dirt, stone dust, and more blood, "I offer my condolences, for as much as they're worth."

"I...thank you," Nikon replied as she came to a stop in the middle of the riverbank, sheathing her blade with a shaking hand, "But there is no need. The man we fought last night was...no longer the man I knew. You did no wrong in...ending his life."

Selina didn't look at the centaur but could tell by her trembling voice that the Mamono was forcing herself. She was reminded of her relationship with Gehrman. She had seen the old man as a mentor, guide and, after unintentionally hearing him lament over his role as Master Of The Dream, a tragic figure trapped in a nightmare of his own.

And, when the time came, she slew him with her own hands.

She had done the same to so many others...but his death had stayed with her. Because when she first became a Hunter, and the first time she died, he was the one who gave her any kind of direction. Granted, he merely told her to "kill a few Beasts" and not much else.

But it was a goal. A simple one.

And she was scared, confused, alone, and entirely out of her depth.

A simple goal was exactly what she needed at the time.

His words and presence affected her even now, evidenced by how she wielded his scythe. And this was how she felt about a man who she spoke to rarely save for when she needed guidance. Nikon had known Edward for most of her life and could hardly bring herself to speak ill of him, even though he was an unrepentant traitor.

While Selina could sympathize with the centaur, she doubted she'd be able to fully understand her feelings about the Hero.

Though that didn't mean she couldn't try.

"Could you tell me a bit about him? Perhaps a happy moment you shared with him?" she asked while picking up a rock lying next to her.

"Why?" Nikon asked, her red hair falling around her face as her head tilted in confusion.

"Idle conversation," Selina chucked the rock into the rushing river, watching it splash through the surface before being swept away, "and I find remembering the good parts of a person can help ease the pain of their passing."

Nikon didn't answer at first. She kept silent while kicking at the grass with her hooves. The Huntress didn't push the Mamono. She was asking for her to remember the good things about a now-dead traitor. Not exactly an encouraging thought, much less a thrilling conversation starter. However, the centaur did eventually begin to speak, "There...there was this one time when he talked down a crazy extremist."

Selina turned to look at the Mamono as Nikon continued, "We were both off duty and making our way through the marketplace. A Guard in our barrack was planning to retire to take care of her family, so we were going to throw a party for her. The two of us were charged with getting the food. On our way back we ran into this guy standing on a street corner yelling at the top of his lungs about how there was a sickness in our City. He made it pretty clear he was talking about Mamono and would yell at everyone walking by."

"Was that really a bad thing?"

"No, there's nothing wrong with yelling about what you believe in public. But the man started to harass Mamono and human/Mamono couples who walked by. Shoving them, threatening them, and yelling about how they'd die when the 'reckoning' came," Nikon shook her head at the memory. She trotted over to the edge of the riverbank and laid down with her four legs folded under her before continuing, "I hate to admit it, but I let my emotions get the better of me. I almost galloped up to the man and struck him in the face. But...Edward stopped me. He asked me to carry his portion of the food and walked up to the yelling man. They shared some words, then the two of them went into a tavern. A few minutes later they came out with their arms around each other's shoulder, laughing at a joke like good friends. Then Edward led the man back to me. He stared at me, then Edward, then me again, and then he left."

"What happened to him?"

Nikon chuckles, "Well, a few days later, I see the same man in the marketplace buying fruit, arm in arm with an Apsara. A Mamono created by the Goddess of Love herself. Edward had spent one day with that man, and he managed to completely overturn his view on the Mamono. It was...inspiring."

"Indeed it was," Selina agreed. Being able to change another person's worldview was no easy task. To do so in a day was next to impossible. Yet, Edward did it. With an extremist no less. It was an admirable accomplishment.

The loss of such a man would be missed.

The two lapsed into silence. The only sound was the rushing waters near them. That is until they both heard the tell-tale rustling of bushes to their east. Nikon stood up while the Huntress looked towards the source of the disturbance.

From within a thick bush came the small form of Spencer with the blond-haired Valarie right behind him. The mage straightened out his robe and shook stray leaves from his head while shouting, "Cynthia! I brought Val!"

"I can see that. Thank you, Spencer," Selina stood up and jumped from the rock above, landing with a roll to mitigate the damage. She dusted the vegetation and dirt off her clothes while looking up at the gathered people. Valarie still wore the same armor and skirt from their first encounter, but she had her blonde hair tied into a short ponytail. While not ideal, she had made progress.

The female Hero crossed her arms and scowled at Selina, "Spencer told me you had something important to tell me, though I fail to see why we must come this far out of the city to discuss it."

"You will see soon enough. Were you followed?" the Huntress looked over the two's shoulders as she asked.

Spencer shook his head, "I had a sensory spell up on our way here. I would know if anyone was tracking us...unless they can hide their Mana or are a better mage than me."

"There are spells like that?"

"There are spells for everything if you're a Hero," Spencer shrugs with indifference.

Selina nods and waves a hand towards the centaur, "Before we begin, Valarie, I would like you to meet Nikon. She is one of the three Guard Captains of Vinvers and is apart of our group."

"Hello there," Nikon held out a hand for Valarie to shake, "I look forward to working with you."

"L...likewise," the female Hero said slowly, not taking the offered hand. Nikon frowned as she drew her arm back.

Sensing the sudden tension Spencer asked, "Ok, Cynthia. Now can you please explain what you said back at the bakery?"

Selina nodded, "Of course Spencer. Valarie, you likely heard of the discovery of a dead Hero and Mamono today, correct?"

"Of course. The Order is already planning its own investigation into matters. We will soon find the culprit behind the unauthorized slaughter."

"You will not need to look far. I am the culprit."

"What?! Impossible!" Valarie pointed at the Hunters will an accusing finger, "Skilled you may be, but there is no chance you are capable of defeating both a Demon and a Hero at the same time!"

"You are technically correct, in that I did not face them alone. Nikon fought with me. However, I am the one who killed them both."

"I can vouch for this. I witnessed it myself," Nikon said, anticipating the Heroine's response.

Valarie looked between the two before crossing her arms with a huff, "Fine. Simply more crimes to add to your growing record. Continue with your explanation!"

Selina rolled her eyes before continuing, "Before I slew the Mamono and Hero, they both said there was a Mamono army camped a day away from Vinvers. Not only that, but they have been subverting the Guard by convincing members to turn traitor and join the Mamono. They did not say when the Mamono would attack, but I don't plan to wait. I wish to stop them and I require the assistance of the three of you to accomplish this." She refrained from mentioning the part about the Order's own plans for Vinvers. She had no confirmation on whether that was true or not, and saying so now could sour the two on helping her with this plan.

"Well, why didn't you say so sooner?!" Spencer shouted with shock, "This is a serious matter! We-We need to tell the Order about this!"

"Indeed, Spencer," Valarie replied to her friend, "We must gather our allies and go put an end to this Mamono force before they can harm any innocents! Let us go!"

"No," both Heroes stopped in their tracks at the sheer authority behind Nikon's voice. The centaur's eyes were filled with anger and disappointment at the two Heroes, "Did you not hear what Cynthia said? There are traitors within the ranks of the Vinvers City Guard. If we act too rashly, we risk alerting them."

Valarie scoffed, "It matters not. Once they reveal themselves, it will be easy to cull them!"

"If they reveal themselves," Selina pointed out, "However, that's assuming they are foolish. And they would not be very good traitors if they were. It is far more likely that informing the Order and gathering a force to fight them would be detrimental to us. They would inform the Mamano and use our fervor to their advantage."

"Besides, we don't know the army's exact location. We merely know it exists," Nikon clarified with a wave of her hand.

"And, perhaps more pressing, is the fact that we don't know if the Order hasn't been compromised as well."

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Valarie gasped in shock, then narrowed her eyes in anger. She stomped over to Selina and began poking her in the chest while shouting, "How dare you! Your mere suggestion that the Order, an organization blessed by the Gods themselves, is grounds for punishment! Tell me why I shouldn't enact such justice right this second!"

Selina was about to answer but stopped when she saw Spencer step up and place a hand on Valarie's shaking arm. He met the girl's angry gaze with his own calming one. He shook his head, "Calm down, Valarie. She's just saying it could be the case. Not that it is the case. It's fine."

The young mage squeezed his friend's arm as a placating gesture. Valarie looked between him and the Huntress before letting her rage out with a sigh. She stepped away from the Huntress and implored her to continue. Selina silently thanked and praised Spencer for his actions as she began to lay out her plan, "Taking all this into consideration, I have come up with a plan. The first step is to discover who the traitors are and where the Mamono army currently resides. The second step will be to split our group into two. One group will go to the Mamono army, gather information on their numbers, supplies, and otherwise, and then return to relay the information to us. The other group will focus on finding and weeding out the traitors within Vinvers. The last step is to gather our forces and prepare to fight the Mamono army. Thoughts?"

The three looked between each other. All of them began to nod as they contemplated the plan. Nikon replied first, "It is sound. And I can not think of a better one."

"I agree, loathe as I am to do so," Valarie admits after a few moments.

"I think it'll work," Spencer said while nodding with a smile on his face, "But who will make up the two groups? I'm guessing we're splitting two and two?"

"No. I shall be group one. The three of you are group two."

"...What?" all three asked simultaneously.

"The three of you will remain at Vinvers and weed out the traitors. I shall go and gather information on the Mamono army alone," Selina answered without missing a beat.

"...WHAT?!" the two humans and one Mamono all shouted simultaneously.

----------------------------------------

"Is she here yet, Jillea?" the younger succubus asked her senior while idly plucking away at a leaf from the tree the two of them were hidden in. She sat atop a tree branch, eyes focused on the moon shining down from the sky. Her purple hair was done up in two pigtails that fell down to her C-Cup breasts. She turned her sharp, blue eyes towards her senior, "How much longer do we have to wait?"

"Patience, Vyn, patience," Jillea answered her young companion while keeping her eyes focused on Vinver's East Gate. The older succubus had slightly tanned skin with four wings instead of her companion's two. Her white hair was cut short with its ends curled inwards, with twin ram horns protruding from her skull. Her pointed ears twitched as the night air caressed her skin, while her D-Cup breasts rose and fell with her breathing as she watched the gate for movement. A flask filled with a pink and purple liquid swayed away on the belt wrapped around her wide hips.

Vyn pouted and placed her head in her hands, "But we've been waiting forever!~ Shouldn't she have come out here by now?"

"She could've been waylaid," Jillea answered, "Maybe her patrol got changed."

"Couldn't we just fly into the city and find her? I can put up a quick glamor and we'll be in and out in no time."

Jillea frowned and leaned back to look at her young companion, "Have you already forgotten what happened with Cerci and Edward? The two of them went into Vinvers last night and still haven't been back. Until we learn what happened to them, we need to avoid going into the city."

"I know that," Vyn huffed and looked away from her senior, "But I...I just don't like waiting around. Maris and I were going to practice our magic for when we start the siege."

"I know, but...hold on. She's here," Jillea's ears twitched as she returned her attention to the gate. The gate closed behind two figures whose features Jillea could see clearly even in the dark of the night. One was a relatively plain-looking human female. She wore a thigh-length green skirt with a matching shirt that emphasized her chest. Her short brown hair framed a square face with twin brown eyes that kept shifting between the city and the treeline where she and Vyn were hidden.

Jillea had expected her to show up, but the Mamono at the girl's left made her cautious. It was a blond-haired centaur who walked with an air of authority about her, though her head hung low as she trotted their way. Jillea called Vyn to her, the younger succubus crawling over to look out of the tree with her senior. Vyn squinted at the approaching figures then gasped with glee before pointing at the centaur, "That's Nikon, one of the Guard Captains!"

"You're sure?" Jillea asked, surprised at the revelation mixing with elation at its prospects.

"Uh-huh!" Vyn nodded in reply, "Edward would always mention her when he spoke at the strategy meetings. He must've convinced her to join us when he and Cerci left! She probably knows where they are!"

Excitement overtaking her, Vyn flapped her bat-like wings and floated into the air, "Come on, let's go!"

"Hold on," Jillea grabbed Vyn's arm and frowned at the approaching centaur. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to get a look at the Mamono's Mana. What she saw was a muddied mess of emotions all swirling around in the centaur's mind. However, she wasn't able to pinpoint anything that looked reassuring. No happiness, no certainty in her decision, nothing like that. Also, there was something...strange about the way she moved. Like there was something on, or someone, on her back. But Jillea could see no saddle, nor anything approaching a human body. Just empty space.

She frowned and shook her head, "I don't like this. I think we should go back."

"What?! No way! We've been sitting here for hours! I'm going down there!" Vyn shook herself free from Jillea's grasp and zipped from the tree towards the pair. Jillea shouted for her to wait but her words fell on deaf ears as Vyn landed next to the human girl. She hugged and kissed the girl on the cheek with a giggle, "Hi, Riza! You look great! Any luck with Micheal?"

Jillea sighed while shaking her head. Vyn still had a lot to learn, but her heart was in the right place. And maybe Vyn was right. Perhaps she was just being paranoid. She should be happy they're getting a powerful ally in their task.

The older succubus used her own wings to float down to the ground. By the time she touched the grass, the three had reached the treeline and were close enough for Jillea to hear Riza speak, "I've tried everything to get his attention but he won't even look at me. I just...I just don't know what to do."

"Aww, honey," Vyn patted the distraught girl on the back, "Don't get discouraged. You'll get him, especially after you become a Mamono."

"You...really think that'll work?" Riza ventured with clear uncertainty in her voice.

"Of course! Every guy out there wants a Mamono wife, even if they say they don't. Just let yourself be turned and before you know it, Micheal and you will be together forever!"

Riza smiled and nodded at Vyn's words while Jillea went over to greet the Guard Captain. But even as she got close enough to shake the centaur's hand, she couldn't shake off her bad feeling from earlier. She looked up at the much taller Guard Captain and squinted her eyes to focus on the centaur. Within moments she finally spotted it; The human silhouette sitting on the centaur's back.

And the emptiness that it carried within its body.

Jillea's eyes widened in shock as she tried to jump back, only to have an arrow pierce her left leg. She shouted in pain and tried to fly off, but found herself grounded when two more arrows were launched through her wings.

"Jillea!" Vyn shouted as her senior hit the earth below. The younger succubus tried to dash over to help but was stopped by another arrow puncturing her right shoulder and wing. She stumbled away while Riza stared at the two in horrified shock. She tried to run to the gate but stopped in her tracks when she saw the gleaming edge of Nikon's sword held at her throat.

"Try to escape and I chase you down. I believe we both know how easy it would be for me to catch you, Riza," Nikon's cold voice froze the guard to the spot. The person who was on the centaur's back jumped from their seat to the ground in front of Jillea. The older succubus was gasping in pain as blood trickled from her wounds. Her attacker's shadow fell over her as she pushed herself to a sitting position. Her head shot up to the stranger...and felt her blood run cold.

What was she looking at? Was this even a person? Were they even alive? How could they be when their body had no Mana whatsoever? Jillea could only imagine how awful such an existence would be. Unable to feel the magic that flowed throughout the world, unable to share your feelings with others through lovemaking, and, worst of all, unable to become a Mamono.

Who was this person?

And what happened to put them in such a horrible circumstance?

"It seems my plan worked, Guard Captain," the black-clothed stranger's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion, "I assured you my elixir would keep my presence hidden."

"That you did, Cynthia," Nikon said as Riza put her hands up, "However, our mission is not yet complete."

The centaur jerked her head towards Vyn, who was standing there dumbfounded as she held her bleeding arm. Jillea felt dread start to set in as the stranger lifted her weapon, a strange, intricate bow she held in one hand and aimed it at the younger succubus. Jillea turned to Vyn and shouted, "Vyn! Run! Get outta here!"

"But what about you and Riza?!" Vyn replied with her eyes locked on the stranger, who was already readying another arrow.

"Don't worry about us! Just don't let them catch you!"

Vyn hesitated despite her senior's instruction. As Cynthia readied her next shot, Jillea slammed one of her arms on the ground while casting a spell. With a flash of green light, brown roots shot from the earth in front of Vyn just as Cynthia loosed her arrow. It bouncing off the wall of roots is what finally got Vyn to run off.

Cynthia lowered her bow as the young succubus dashed into the forest. Jillea laughed in satisfaction, "Looks like your plan didn't work out the way you wanted."

Rather than reply to the grounded succubus Cynthia turned her attention to Nikon. The centaur asked the...Jillea couldn't bring herself to call it a human. It was something else, something far worse, "You're sure you will be alright?"

"I am. Be sure you take these two in without anyone noticing. I shall see you when morning comes," Jillea's eyes narrowed in confusion, then widened as she realized what the creature meant. But try as she might, she could do nothing as the manaless monster followed after Vyn...who was heading straight towards where the rest of their force was camped.

----------------------------------------

"Just a bit more! I just need to keep running for a bit more!" Vyn mentally repeated to herself as she stumbled her way through the dark forest. Any attempt she made to get airborne would fail due to her injured wing. Branches and briars scraped at her legs and arms as she tried her best to get away from what she saw. She dared not look behind her lest she spots that...who or whatever that was back there.

It had all happened so fast. One minute they were just talking. Next thing she knows that...manaless thing appears out of nowhere and shoots Jillea. How did they know about this? How did they discover their meeting spot? Riza couldn't have told them. The human was as shocked as she was when an arrow pierced Jillea's leg. Did they capture Edward and Cersi? If so, why didn't any of the other guards tell the camp? And Jillea...oh Jillea.

Tears ran down Vyn's face as she thought of the friend she left behind. All she could do was hope her friend would be ok, while she went to get help. But her arm and wing were aching, and her legs were screaming in pain. How much further was...there!

Vyn burst into laughter at the sight of the camp. Purple flames lit up the encampment as a host of Mamono milled about the place. She could practically hear the sound of festivals and revelry, held in anticipation of their attack a mere two days from today.

This was it! She was safe! She could rush in, tell everyone what happened, get healed, and get a team to rescue Jillea. All she had to do was make-

First, Vyn heard it. A small, wet, thumping sound.

Then she felt her breathing slow along with her stride. She knew she had to keep running but the strength to do so was rapidly leaving her. She couldn't understand why...until she looked down and saw a birch white arrow shot through her heart.

She stopped running...long enough for the second arrow to pierce her skull.

----------------------------------------

"That's seven," Selina said as she stepped over the body of the succubus she had killed. She stopped on the path heading into what could only be the Mamono's camp. She had expected it to take longer to get here, considering Cerci said they were a day away from Vinvers. Yet she made it here and the moon was still the sky. Which meant one of two things.

The Demon lied and they were much closer to the city than originally estimated.

Or, the now-dead succubus lead her down a shortcut that cut down on their travel time by a large amount.

Selina chose to believe the former.

Now that she had found the camp, it was time to plan her attack.

Because, in truth, she had lied to Spencer, Valarie, and Nikon.

She wasn't going to gather information on the Mamono and then report back. She was going to attack them here and now, with the goal of either completely annihilating the enemy force or causing them to rout. Because, while gathering an army to fight an army was a rational option, they would lose more than they would gain from the attack. The Mamono would use the attack to kidnap men and women alike to be turned into their kin. For every one Mamono they slew, more would rise to take its place. Even if they drove them off, Vinvers' military force would be left severely hindered.

And the reason for this was simple; Because, Hero, Mamono, or a simple Guard, they could all be corrupted.

But she couldn't.

The Mamono couldn't turn her. The Mamono couldn't hurt her. The Mamono could do nothing to stop her.

Thus the best possible way to deal with them was to fight them herself.

But she could not tell any one of her companions of this. Lest they do something rash and put themselves in unneeded danger. No, she would face this trial alone.

As it should be.

Leading into the encampment was a steep incline that ended right in the middle of the enemies. She could stay up here and pelt the camp with ranged fire. It would take them a long time to get to her unless they had fliers. Even then, she would kill a significant number before they retaliated.

Alternatively, she could slide down the incline into the enemy's midst, and begin the slaughter.

Or she could take a third option...

After deliberating on her plan for a bit, Selina made a decision. She snapped the Bowblade into its blade form, then pulled out the Evelyn. She kept a mental note of the number of Quicksilver Bullets she had left, sighted down her rifle's barrel, and fired.