Nick and Maggie watched their landlord as he left the premises. Maggie waved after the large man's back as he disappeared into the rest of the city.
As soon as he left eyesight, Maggie punched her brother in the arm.
Nick hissed and rubbed his shoulder, "Ow! Watch it, sis! That part's still sore from Sen-Master's training."
"Why are you always like that with Mr. Montgomery?" she stepped forward until she was almost chest to chest with her brother. She stood on the balls of her feet as her eyes drilled into her brother's.
He looks away almost immediately, "Always like what?"
"Confrontational!" she shouts to draw his eyes back to her, "You're always in a bad mood and look ready to punch someone when he's around."
"Yeah, well can you blame me? The guy's a creep," Nick responds while turning towards the manor. He started walking towards the building, "And besides, he's always increasing how much rent we have to pay him every month. You know it's true, I've shown it to you."
Maggie, not to be deterred, followed after her brother and continued her rant, "Yes, I know. But he's still our landlord. And nothing's stopping him from tossing us out on the street because of your disrespect."
"So what if he does," Nick lets his sister into the manor, waiting for her to step inside then doing the same. He makes sure to lock the door before following her down the hall, "Wouldn't be the first time we've had to rough it on our lonesome."
"You and me, no. But Marcus...," Maggie lets the implication hang in the air. She turns into the kitchen, heading towards the sink and rolling up her sleeves, "I won't let him live through the same things you and I did."
Nick bit his tongue and looked at the ground. He couldn't argue with his sister on this front. He could still feel the hunger pains from when he was forced to go days without food so his siblings could eat. Then having to get up the next day so they wouldn't get attacked. But his grimace soon turned into a smile as he lifted his head, "Well, Maggs, if losing our house is such a problem...then why don't we just live here?"
Maggie quickly shut the water off. Her head darted to her brother, looking at him as if he had grown a second head, "What did you just say?"
"I said why don't we just live here?" he waves his arms at the walls around him, "Think about it; Cynthia's a noble, and she had no problem bringing in two kids she found on the side of the street. She's probably got plenty of money to spare for the three of us. Plus this place is big enough to house all of us no problem. And even I can see that Marcus likes Gloria. What possible reason do we have not to stay here?"
"The fact that we don't have Ms. Cynthia's express permission for one," Maggie explained while taking a washcloth and drying her hands, "No guarantee that she'd be willing to take us in for another."
"Ok, yeah, but why wouldn't she? She trusts us enough to let us watch over her house and kids."
"Yes, with three armed and trained mercenaries that she somehow knows."
"Yeah? Well there's also the fact that she saved our lives," Nick frowned at his sister while rolling his eyes, "People with bad intentions wouldn't bother helping two strangers get away from some Mamono."
Maggie turns her gaze away from her brother, "Well...ok, you're right on that."
"Also, lets not forget that she didn't blame either of us for what happened," Nick starts to walk around his sister, his eyes locked on her as he keeps speaking, "Most people would have come to the conclusion that we let the Mamono in on purpose. And even if they knew that wasn't the case, they would use it as an excuse to kick us out anyway."
He stops when he makes a full circle and frowns at his sister, "Maggs, I know you're smarter than this. You should know how good a deal this whole situation is. Why are you so against us doing it?"
"It just...It just feels like we're taking advantage of her," Maggie admits while wringing her hands together, "She's been so nice to us and...and I can't bring myself to ask anymore of her than we need to."
"But you're fully willing to grin and bear living under the thumb of Montgomery?"
"Well, no-"
"Then, why?"
"I don't know! Ok! It just doesn't feel right," Maggie turned her back on her brother, heading towards the cupboards. She quickly said to him, "I'll get started on lunch. Can you let everyone know, please?"
Nick knew that this was his sister's way of saying she was done talking. He placed a hand on his head and shook it while letting out an exasperated sigh, "Sure, Maggs. See you later."
He then turned and left the kitchen, more confused than angry. He leaned against one of the hallway walls and groaned in disappointment. He stood there, trying to make sense of what was going through his sister's head. This was the perfect opportunity. The three of them could finally get out of poverty and not have to worry anymore. As long as they played their cards right they would set for life. What did she not understand about that?
He was brought out of these musing by the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. He looked up and saw Jet coming towards him, his hair messed up and full of dust.
"Hey, Nick," his light-hearted tone shifts as he sees Nick's expression, "What's up with you?"
"Just some stuff with my sister and our asshole of a landlord. What happened to you?"
Jet shrugs, "Marcus and Horace wanted to wrestle a bit. Let them wail on me and mess with my hair. You know, let them have their fun. Though, I think Horace knew I was holding back."
"Probably. I think that kid pays more attention to us than some people might think,"
Jet shrugged again while moving to stand next to Nick, "Yeah, maybe."
The mercenary leaned against the wall to Nick's right, "So, what's this about an asshole landlord?"
Nick leans back until the back of his head is touching the wall, "You ever heard of a guy named Brigid Montgomery?"
Jet shook his head.
"Figures. The guy's a merchant in town. Not exactly a big name, but has enough money to own a lot of properties in the slums. Me, Maggs, and Marcus have been renting one of his houses for a while now. But I've been trying to find a way to get us outta of there."
"Because...?"
"Because the guy's a creep," Nick said plainly. The thought of his soon to be former landlord made his jaw clench, "In the slums he's known for targeting girls, or clients with girls living with them, with monthly increases in rent. When it starts getting to the point where they can hardly make ends meet, he steps in and offers them a 'chance to work for him.'"
"Let me guess," Jet's brow furrowed as he turned his upper body to better speak to the younger man, "The job is only ever open to women. And the ones who accept it always come back changed, right?"
"Yep," Nick scowled at the thought, "I've seen it first hand. There was this girl, Veronica, that would babysit Marcus when me and Maggie were busy. She was a normal girl who really got along well with my brother. She loved spending time with our family...then she took Brigid's offer. The change wasn't immediate, but I started noticing that she would stare at me. A lot. With eyes that...you know...wanted something from me. Something I didn't want to give. And it only got worse."
"What ended up happening?"
Nick didn't answer at first, but he evnetually replied, "It happened three months after she took the job. It was bright and early in the morning. I had to go meet some people and Maggie was going to try selling more of her statues, so we had asked Veronica to come watch Marcus for the day. He was asleep when I went out to meet her. She...she looked wrong. Her face was flushed, her legs were shaking, and her eyes were wide open. She was panting like crazy and when she got close enough...she jumped me."
"Oh," Jet closed his eyes while shaking his head, "Damn."
"Yeah. I was on the ground, but I was stronger than her. Managed to get her off me. Got angry. Told her to leave and never come back. Didn't even bother listening to her side of the story. I knew it wasn't her fault. Montgomery probably did something to her. But...I didn't care about that at the time. Last time I checked in on her, she was working at a brothel letting anyone have their way with her...but every few days she gets a special appointment and no one can see her save one person. Guess who?"
"Montgomery."
Nick nodded his head.
"Fucking sick bastard," Jet flinched as an image of the merchant formed in his head, "Makes it worse that he's not afraid to let others know he did it. Must think he's untouchable...wait, how did you know that she was working at the brothel now?"
Nick smiled, placing a finger on his lips, "Nuh uh. I can't tell you that, now can I? But it's not what you're thinking."
"Right. Anyway, I'm guessing this guy has his sights set on your sister now?"
"But I've made sure he's failed at every opportunity. Even when he raises our rent, I have ways of getting around his shit. But now, I don't need to worry. Fucker knows that we're in good with Lady Cynthia, and that he can't touch us."
"I wouldn't be too sure," Jet said while straightening his back.
"What do you mean?" Nick pushed himself off the the wall to look straight at the bounty hunter.
"I've seen plenty of guys like him in my line of work," Jet begins, "And one universal fact about them, is that they don't like to lose. He knows that he can't get to you using his normal tactics. So, he'll think of something outside the box."
"Wait, what? Why? Wouldn't he be afraid of pissing off a noble?"
Jet tilted his head at the mention of Cynthia being a noble, but didn't say anything about it. It wasn't important. Instead he responded to Nick, "Yeah, if said noble was in right now. But he knows she's gone. Meaning he can act under her nose with impunity."
"But he doesn't know when she'll be back."
"Which is why he'll have to act quickly. Likely sometime tonight, and probably not directly to keep his hands clean. He'll higher someone else to do his dirty work."
Nick pushed himself off the wall. His eyes were wide with fear as his mind raced to figure out Brigid's plan, "Fuck! Then we need to move now! I need to get Maggie and Marcus outta here! Fast!"
"Now, hold on there," Jet's words made Nick stop in his tracks. The bounty hunter lifted his head up with a smile, "Why are you panicking?"
"Why? Cause an asshole is probably gonna come attack my family tonight!"
"Yeah, in a manor being protected by three badass mercenaries. Three badass mercenaries, who happen to owe your benefactor a favor for helping them on a job," Jet pushed himself off the wall and stretched his arms towards the ceiling. He cracked his neck and told Nick, "Just stay calm and go get your sister. I'll grab Blitz and Sen. We'll meet up after lunch and get a plan together."
"Re-really?" Nick watched Jet walk towards the backdoor with a mixture of confusion and surprise welling up in his heart. But when Jet nodded without looking at him in reply, that confusion was replaced with relief. He yelled, "Thank you," to Jet as he ran into the kitchen.
Jet grinned and let out a happy sigh. Looks like this job was about to get interesting. Cynthia better appreciate it and get back soon.
----------------------------------------
"Stop running! We just want to talk!"
Selina ignored the words of the Order Knights and Soldiers chasing after her. Her black boots clacked as they hit the polished white floors of the Church. She ducked around a corner and into an open doorway. She turned around the door and placed her back against the wall. Then she waited, listening to the footsteps as they ran passed her position.
Once she was certain they were gone, she ducked out of the room and ran in the opposite direction.
"Are you ok?" she asked Felix as she adjusted the still unconscious Tina in her arms.
"I'm fine," the former Order Scribe assured her as he tried his best to keep his arms from losing their grip around her shoulders, "What about you?"
"I do not tire easily."
With that Selina turned her focus back to her flight. She wasn't sure how long she had been running, nor whether she had made any actual progress in escaping this church. She could remember the path to the obvious exits, but had no doubt those were heavily guarded by this point. Add to that how she didn't know the layout of the church by heart while the Agents of the Order did, and under normal circumstances she would've been captured much earlier.
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However, she did have two distinct advantages.
"Cynthia! Watch out!" the Huntress looked up at the sound of the former Scribe's voice. In front of her stood a group of about three Order Knights. They wore the plate mail one expected of Knights and each wielded a single long sword.
"Stop and face your judgement, heretic!" the one at the back of their triangular formation shouted Selina ignored his order and charged straight at the group of three.
"Keep your head down," her voice was calm as she gave Felix the order. The man did as he was told, while the Huntress pulled Tina closer to her body. Eventually she closed the distance between her and the three Knights. The two at the front dashed forward with their swords held high above their heads. Selina had ran passed them before they even managed to swing.
The Knight at the back attempted to use his size to block Selina's path. This proved to be a mistake when Selina jumped into the air. She landed behind the Knight, not slowing in the slightest as she rushed down the hallway behind him.
If her opponents were not Heroes, they posed little threat to her. Likely due to how they were still technically normal people. Which meant she could easily get around Soldiers and Knights without losing any momentum.
Another was the unintentional split she caused with her demonstration. No doubt adherents who follow Galoran, or at least the Priest's train of thought, were interfering with those who followed Viola. While she had no interest in helping them, she would not deny their free offer of keeping her path a bit clearer.
She cuts through a random room, dashing past two adherents being scolded by some other priestess who briefly tried to stop her. As she moved through the exit she spoke to the former prisoner on her back, "Felix, have you regained your ability to move?"
"I...I think so," Felix replied.
"We can not afford uncertainty at this moment. Can or can you not move on your own?"
"Um, uh-"
"Understood," the Huntress kept up her rapid pace. She turned a corner and forced herself to a stop, sending Felix off balance on her back. He regained it as Selina adjusted her grip on the unconscious Tina, eyes narrowing at what was now blocking their path.
Two people stood before a large set of double doors. One was a woman wearing a single piece of cloth that barely covered any part of her body. Made worse by her large breasts straining against their confines. She held a small, gnarled wooden stick in her right hand. White hair fell around her face in waves, blocking her eyes yet she didn't seem to have any trouble seeing.
The other was a young man about the woman's size and age. He wore only trousers, boots, and an open fur coat. His black hair was cut short atop his head. His chest and arms were well muscled and toned, complementing the large hammer that he held over his shoulder.
"I told you she would come this way, Sige," the woman began while taking a step forward, "My predictions are never wrong. Now, let us do the will of the Chief God and clean her world of this filth."
Selina's teeth grit beneath her bandana. While it was a simple matter to puzzle out what the Knights from before could do and thus overcome them just as easily, these two were not as simple. While she could estimate that the two of them were Heroes and the woman was a magic user, she could be completely wrong. She's made such assumptions in the past and paid dearly for it. The floor polishers in the Vileblood Manor came to mind.
As she readied herself for a confrontation, the male, Sige he had been called, stepped forward until he was in front of his companion. He spoke with a guttural tenor to his voice, "Is it true? Can you really turn a Mamono back into a human?"
"Wait...what are you saying? Sige?" the woman step up to Sige's side, her head looking up at the man. Sige didn't reply, keeping his soft, tired eyes focused on the Huntress.
With little reason to lie to the man, the Huntress slowly nodded an affirmation, "Yes. I can."
Faster than either Felix could see, Sige's hand went up and struck the woman in the back of her neck. Her body tensed up then went limp. She fell forward into the waiting arms of Sige, who said, "Sorry, Wolfa. I'll make it up to you when you wake up."
He threw Wolfa over his shoulder and started to walk towards the Huntress. He stopped in front of her, having to look up to meet her gaze, "Head through the doors and you'll come to an altar to the Gods. There's a Priestess and two other Heroes in there. This is as far as I'll go for you."
"Understood. Thank you for the assistance."
Sige grunted while walking passed the Huntress, "Don't thank me. I'm just making sure our greatest asset doesn't end up dead."
Selina waited until the man disappeared down the hallway she had just came from. Only when she couldn't hear his footsteps anymore did she head to the entrance. She shoved it open with her shoulder, the two doors flying open as she marched into the room.
The room was circular with the only source of light being a large assortment of wax candles directly across from the entrance. They were arranged around four statues of what the Huntress could only assume to be deities. The Huntress recognized the naked, tatooed facsimile of Ares, but the other three were alien to her. One was a woman with long flowing hair and the body of a fertility goddess, her breasts and hips larger than her head. Another looked to be a young girl in a Gothic dress that wouldn't be out of place among the Vileblood nobility. And, in the center of them all, was a single marble statue of a warrior woman wielding a great sword with six large wings extending from her back.
Any attempt at anlyzing the statues further were interrupted as her attention feel to the rooms three other occupants. One was kneeling in front of the altar while the two others stood on either side of them. The tension in the Huntress body slowly dissolved as she approached the three figures, swiftly recognizing the two standing humans. She called out to them, "Spencer. Valarie. I am glad the two of you are ok."
"Cynthia? It is you! You're ok!" the young mage ran over to the Huntress. Selina smiled at the approaching mage, moving to kneel down so that her passenger could get to the floor. Spencer stopped as Felix fell to the floor. The former Scribe briefly managed a crouch before his ankles gave out and he fell to the floor.
Selina returned the mage's greeting while handing the unconscious woman to her husband. She placed a hand on Felix's shoulder, "Her body is currently replenishing its Mana. Because she was once a Mamono, it will likely take a long period of time. Until then, watch her and keep her safe."
"Y-yes. Tha-Thank you," Felix replied, arms tightening around his wife. His head turned towards the unconscious woman, gently pushing her hair away from her eyes and watching as her chest rose and fell with every breath.
The Huntress stood up and turned to regard Spencer. The young mage was pacing back and forth, hand on his head while his face shifted from confusion to amazement, "This is-this is astounding! She doesn't have key signs of monsterization, while showing all the signs of Mana Deprivation. She's...she's fully healed! Cynthia- I have so many questions! Does this work on all Mamono? Only a select few? You said you had to have skin to skin contact, but is that true? Have you done this before? What abou-"
"Spencer," the Huntress held up her hand to stop the young mage's deluge of questions. As he calmed down Selina responded, "I do not believe now is the best time for this. We should wait until we are not being pursued. However, I can answer your last question. I...have done this once before...on someone who wasn't fully monsterized. Truthfully, I wasn't sure if it would work out this way when I took Tina's hand."
"Wasn't...wait...then you didn't know if what you did was going to work?" Spencer and Felix's faces changed to surprise and confusion. Felix's grip on his wife tightened as the idea of what would've happened should the Huntress' attempt to help his wife had failed.
Selina nodded before turning her head away from the two's scrutinizing gazes in embarrassment. Once again she was thankful the bandana prevented others from seeing her full expression. Her eyes moved from the edge of the room to the altar, where they rested on Valarie. The Heroine had her arms crossed, with her sword sheathed on her back. Her face scowled at the Huntress from afar, eyes narrowed and teeth grit in anger.
Selina's embarrassment disappeared as she focused on Spencer's comrade. She said to the Hero, "Do you have something to say to me, Valarie?"
Valarie huffed and turned away from the Huntress, "Just that you should feel honored. We wouldn't be here, nor would you have our help escaping if it weren't for Priestess Fransica."
Valarie's head turned to the other person in the room. Selina followed the Heroine's gaze to the one kneeling in front of the statues of the Gods. She slowly got to her feet, her full body dress dragging along the ground as she did. She looked over her shoulder at the Huntress, her shawl once more covering her face. "We meet at last, Cynthia," her voice had a sing-song quality to it. It reminded the Huntress of a mother speaking to a gathering of children.
Selina instantly remembered the first time they saw each other. More specifically, when the Priestess saw her.
Fransica moved to stand before the Huntress. The Priestess bowed her head, "It is with a heavy heart that I must apologize for the actions of Priestess Viola and Priest Galoran. They are usually much more understanding."
"It is quite alright," Selina kept her voice even and calm to hide any emotions she felt at seeing the Priestess, "I, too, am at fault. I did antagonize them from the moment we met each other."
"That is true. But, from what these two Heroes have told me, you did not attack a single one of our comrades despite being hunted by them. Not everyone would practice such self-restraint."
"Is that why you are helping me escape? In spite of what your fellow Priest have said?"
"That is one reason, yes," Fransica looked towards Spencer, "Dear Spencer, could you please let Felix have the healing potion I gave you?"
Spencer, uncertain but confident in Fransica's choice, pulled a small vial filled with red liquid out of his pocket. As he moved to the prone Scribe, Valarie shouted in indignation, "Priestess Franscia? Forgive me, but while I understand wanting to help this heretic leave our home, why would you help that criminal?"
"Hero Valarie Holden," Fransica kept her eyes on Spencer, but Valarie could feel the disappointment in the Priestess words directed towards her, "Are you suggesting that we, servants of the Chief God, defenders of humanity, and shepherds of those who have lost their way, should leave one such person to suffer when we can easy his pain?"
"N-no. But...but he is-"
"He was judged for hiding out with a Mamono. Said Mamono is now human once more. So, his crime has been erased. He is an innocent once again."
Shamed, Valarie apologized to the Priestess before going silent. Fransica watched the young girl for a bit, before turning back to the Huntress, "With that sorted, would you please follow me? I will show you where you will find your exit from this place."
Selina waved for the Priestess to lead the way. Fransica moved towards the statue of the young girl and walked around to its left side. She knelt and picked up a candle, before moving into a hidden side path just big enough for a person to move in. Selina followed the Priestess, previous experience with tight hidden corridors keeping her clam despite the sudden reveal.
Fransica held the candle in her left hand and waited for the Huntress to reach her. Once the taller woman did, she pressed down on a loose section of the wall with her right hand. With the sound of stone grating on metal, the wall slid inward then disappeared into the ceiling.
Fransica moved her candle into the hidden pathway, revealing a staircase that descended into darkness. The Priestess stepped into the passage, soon followed by Selina.
"You seem to have fully recovered from your fainting spell," Selina said as they descended down the steps, "Rather quickly at that."
"Yes. It is all thanks to our wonderful healers, and the other Heroes assisting me. They are all so sweet and try to hard to help others when they can. I wish I could stay with them for a bit longer."
"What do you mean? Do you intend to come with us?"
"No," Fransica shook her head, "But I will not see them ever again all the same."
Selina's eyes narrowed, "Why?"
"I had a dream. One that showed me the future of this world. That is why."
The Priestess said no more. A tension descended upon the two as they got further away from the others. Selina's eyes never left the Priestess' body, studying her every move as she walked down the steps. If Fransica noticed the Huntress' scrutiny, she didn't seem to mind.
Eventually, the two of them reached the bottom of the stairs. Cool air blew through the room as Fransica lifted her candle up to reveal the rest of the room, not knowing that Selina could see perfectly fine.
The hidden pathway was shaped like a square. The walls were rough black stone untouched by the hands of man. Sturdy wooden structures kept the similar ceiling from falling upon their heads. There was a single path forward with more of the structures leading down the dark path.
Fransica pointed her candle towards said path, "If you keep going down this passage, you should reach an exit. There you will find yourself deposited one of our other bases in the city. From there you may rest or move on."
"I see. Thank you for the assistance," Selina bowed to the Priestess.
A tense silence fell around the two of them.
"Priestess-"
"I know what you are about to say," the Priestess kept her back to the Huntress as she spoke, "What made me faint when I first beheld your magnificence."
Selina frowned beneath her bandana. Her hand went to her side and hovered over the Rakuyo, "What did you see?"
"Many things," Fransica started to pace around the room. Only now did the Huntress that the wax from the candle had begun to drip down onto the Priestess' hand. It sizzled through her dress, filing the air with the smell of burning flesh. Yet she didn't seem to mind at all, "Through the Chief God's Blessing I was able to sense and understand the Mana within others finer than even the strongest of our Mages. I could tell if someone's Mana had been corrupted, or if they have a vast well of untapped Mana with nary a glance. But, such power comes at a price."
"Your shawl," Selina ventured, "It's to keep your power in check."
"Very astute, my Lady. Yes, without this my sight would be filled with nothing but the bright sparks of Mana within everyone."
"Which is why they brought you to that 'trial'," the Huntress almost spat as she said the word, "to see if my claims were true. But you didn't see any Mana in me."
"No, I saw something much, much more horrifying...yet...at the same time..."
The Priestess stopped walking in front of the Huntress. She reached up and pulled back her shawl.
Where once were two piercing purple eyes, were now two blank and bloody voids.
"It was so beautiful."
The Huntress moved on instinct.
Before she knew it, she had stabbed her Rakuyo through the Priestess' chest. However, rather than cry out in pain or fall over dead, the Priestess grabbed the Huntress' shoulders and leaned forward. She bowed her head while breathing heavily, "Yes...yes...this is for the best. I know...the things that I know...they don't belong in this world...they'll bring ruin to it."
Selina grabbed the woman's back, "Wait...you wanted this?"
"Yes," a coughing fit seized the Priestess as blood began to fill her lungs, "The dream...the things I saw...I...wasn't strong enough. If I remain...they'll use me to come here sooner. I know they will."
"Who?! Who will come!?" Selina resisted the urge to shake the woman, but kept her arms wrapped around her body.
Fransica fell to one knee as the strength began to leave her. Selina did what she could to keep her from falling to the floor as she kept talking, "You know them...and they know you...they're waiting. Waiting...for you...to...urgh!"
The Huntress' eyes widened as the woman's life began to ebb away, "No! Stay with me! Tell me! Who are they and what are they waiting for!"
"For you to let them in."
The Huntress' heart skipped a beat.
"They're there...in the void...waiting for you to open the way. You are their kin...it is only natural. And, I have seen the future. When they come...none will be able to stop them...not the Demon Lord...not the Gods...no one...except you."
The Priestess placed a hand on Selina's shoulder. She turned her empty eye sockets up so they pointed directly into the Huntress', and smiled, "You will be there...standing before them...blades in hand...the corpses of those who follow them at your feet. You...you will be our...protector."
The Huntress could tell the Priestess was nearing the end of her life, yet found herself at a loss for words. She could only remain silent as she laid the Priestess on the ground. Fransica's smile remained even as her body began to grow cold, "Ah...so this is death...so cold...I'm sorry...Luca...I'm...going...before...,"
Fransica feel silent.
The Huntress stood there, hand still holding the Rakuyo as the blood pooled beneath the dead Priestess.
Then, with nary a word, she pulled her blade out and called up the Messengers. She asked for lots of cloth blankets.
She was going to need to do a lot of explaining.
----------------------------------------
"You won't get away with this," Micheal whispered to the hooded person holding a knife to his back and forcing him through the dungeon hallway, "Someone will stop you."
"Be quiet and look pretty, boy," the figure replied to the town guard as they headed towards two specific cells, "And make sure you've got those keys ready."
When they reached their objectives, the figure told Micheal to open the cells. He hesitated for a moment but the feeling of a knife poking through the gaps in his armor made him act. He quietly asked the Chief God for forgiveness as he unlocked the two cells to his left and right one after another.
The figure spoke, "Jillea, Riza. I'm here to get you both out. Come on."
From the left cell stepped the former Guardswoman, who gasped in shock when she beheld Micheal. And from the right stepped a single, older Succubus with four pairs of black, bat-like wings.
When she saw the hooded figure, the Succubus smiled, "Should've known it was you, Guard Captain."
Micheal's eyes widened as the figure tossed the two women matching hooded cloaks, "Shut up and put these on. Then follow me. You two will be leaving Vinvers today."