Lisa whimpered at the sight of the monster ahead of them and tightly hung on to Lenoria. Aquamarine calmly climbed off Mr. Horsey while Clara jumped off from Tsukuyomi's arms. Lenoria hurriedly leaned closer to Chestnut's ear, making sure Lisa didn't fall off from the sudden movement. "I know you don't like me, Chestnut, but can you keep her safe for us?"

Chestnut snorted his response.

"Good. I'm sure your master would be proud of you. None of us can't outrun him, so feel free to throw in a hit whenever he's open." She then poked Lisa. "I think you gave me a bruise from squeezing me, Lisa. Use that strength to grab on to Chestnut and not let go, okay?"

Lisa nodded and closed her eyes as she clung to Chestnut as tightly as she could. Lenoria patted the crippled girl on the shoulder and hopped off Chestnut. A vortex of water swirled around Aquamarine as she drew her rod with a cat-eared plushie attached to it, and Clara and Tsukuyomi placed themselves in front of their teammates. The four Soulstones present gave off a small glint in anticipation of the upcoming battle.

"Clara, can you transform again," Lenoria asked worriedly.

Clara shook her head. "Afraid not. We've been taking short breaks, but I haven't gotten any proper rest since my fight with Zep. Apus is as tired as I am and needs to rest." She resolutely stared at the bull man. "But we'll still keep him away from you two. Individually, I don't think we stand a chance. That's why we have to work together."

She may have been putting up a brave front, but Lenoria knew her friend better than that. Clara hadn't completely recovered from her last fight, and as a result her resources were limited. "Don't be ridiculous, Clara. You're forgetting I got some training in, too." Lenoria stretched her fingers as she pulled back her fingerless glove. "Sing to your heart's content and use your crossbow when you see an opening. I'll let you and Aquamarine focus on missile weaponry. I'll try to wear him out in melee."

"Alright. Tsukuyomi, please back her up."

By Clara's command, Tsukuyomi marched forward until he was mere feet from the minotaur, who at this point had been observing them quietly. He grinned maliciously when Lenoria stepped up next to Tsukuyomi, still wearing her cape and mask. The path was big enough to allow the girls some mobility during a fight, but also narrow enough for the minotaur to block their path. It was clear to them that he had no intention of letting them go.

Once Lenoria put up her fists in a stance, the bull man bellowed with laughter. "You really think you can beat me with those tiny fists of yours? You had a better chance with that pistol from earlier."

"Don't need it. Are you going to keep talking, or are you going to shut your trap and fight?"

"Fine." Ser Loin raised a meaty fist. "You'll be the first to die!" Ser Loin met the smaller girl head on with his fist against hers just as the dice rolled for initiative. The impact pushed both of them backwards, leaving a gap between them again.

Character Initiative Ser Loin 20 (1d20+0) Lenoria 10 (1d20+3) Clara 19 (1d20+8) Aquamarine 6 (1d20+3) Chestnut 16 (1d20+1)

Turn Order: Ser Loin, Clara, Chestnut, Lenoria, Aquamarine

Ser Loin did not hesitate to make the opening blow. In a blink of an eye, he closed the distance between himself and Lenoria and impaled her with his horns. The girl did her best to block the attack, but by mere instinct she stretched out her palms to soften the impact. Due to this, the horns had impaled one of her hands, which she quickly dislodged to avoid any further injury. It didn't completely pierce through her hand, but it was enough to make her bleed.

"That was too fast. I couldn't keep track of him at all..."

"Ha. I thought you'd be too lithe to take a hit like that. You're nothing like the rebels I trounced just now. This should be interesting!" Ser Loin took a step back as Lenoria shoved him to keep some space between them.

Not far from them, Clara readied a crossbow shot and aimed for Ser Loin. But Aquamarine's words stopped her.

"Have faith, Clara," said the little magical girl. "Go ahead and support us. I promise I won't let him hurt her too much."

Clara lowered her crossbow. "R-right. Lenoria is stronger than before. She's given us directions and is counting on us." Singing another aria, Clara's voice instantly boosted the girls' morale and their fighting spirit. Aquamarine nodded with approval while Lenoria raised a thumb and grinned at the minotaur.

"What's your deal," Ser Loin asked as he traded punches and kicks with Lenoria. The gap in strength was immediately noted by the girl, who had taken a more defensive stance to block with her forearms and knees. "The Order of the Blue Jay usually hires small fry they can sacrifice to the meat grinder. You're not really part of that organization, are you?"

"He's smart for a brute." Lenoria ducked instantly to make way for Tsukuyomi, who pulled back a mechanical fist to deliver a haymaker. The alloy punch connected to Ser Loin's jaw, chipping out another tooth. Using this opportunity to gain a tactical advantage, Lenoria slid herself through the gap between the minotaur's legs, emerging on the opposite end with only minor cuts and scrapes from the gravel of the road. The minotaur threw a punch as she slid through, and only narrowly missed her.

"How did she do that?" Ser Loin scanned the area and noticed a raven hovering above Lenoria's head by about 20 feet. "What is that? That wasn't there before..."

"Thanks, Pearl," Lenoria whispered. "Saved my bacon with that ability of yours."

"Even with my powers over fortune, we'll need more than just luck to defeat him. You were lucky now, but we can't guarantee the same result next time. Please tell me you have a plan."

"I do. I just need to keep him distracted for a little bit. I can't risk giving away my plan." When Ser Loin turned to face her, Lenoria struck with her left knee to keep up the momentum. But the bull man met her head-on and blocked the strike with his forearm. "Aw, nuts."

"You hit like a boy," the minotaur taunted. He suddenly felt a force strike him on the back of the head, giving the air a smell of wet fur. Ser Loin wobbled a couple of steps to his left before turning around and snarled at the offending party.

"And you smell like dung," Aquamarine retorted.

"I'll remember your face, brat!"

"Come and get me, ugly!" Aquamarine pulled her lower eyelid mockingly and stuck her tongue out. "Bleh!"

"I'll save you for last. But first!" A fist shot forward for Tsukuyomi. The muscles behind it expanded just as Ser Loin's face seethed with anger and his eyes glowed with an eerie red light. Tsukuyomi raised both arms to defend himself, but he could not escape the damage as his armor bracers received dents from the impact after Ser Loin followed up with two more punches, missing with the last one.

Lenoria watched the minotaur's moves carefully, noticing a change in their pattern. "His punches suddenly got better. He's fighting like a kickboxer."

Sparks and metal flew when the bull man lunged at the eidolon with his horns, narrowly grazing him as the horns slid down the machine's green armor. "Go back to the scrap heap!"

"We have to stop this behemoth. But how? At this rate, Tsukuyomi won't be able to hold on much longer." Clara's mind raced as she tried to come up with a solution that could stop Ser Loin's assault, at least momentarily. "If only I could stop him from attacking." She immediately exhibited a smirk when something came to mind. "Ser Loin, right? Then allow me to show you my moooooves~!"

The girls momentarily gaze upon Clara after making her joke, and most surprised of all was Ser Loin himself, who looked at her incredulously before even more anger set in. "Just for that, I'll make sure to bury you alive when I'm done with these two."

"I just made him madder." Clara smiled defeatedly when the magic of her voice faded away and loaded her crossbow despondently while Tsukuyomi charged desperately with a one-two punch. Having to deal with the eidolon in front of him and the girl behind him made the minotaur a little more open to their attacks, and he was sure his nose bled when Tsukuyomi got a hit in. This snapped Clara back to reality and aimed carefully at her opponent.

"Don't you dare give up just yet!" Watching her opponent's movements, Lenoria rammed her knee on the minotaur's backside when he dared divert his eyes from her due to Tsukuyomi's assault. "That was a bad joke, but we got him on the ropes, Clara! The key to victory is to hit him with what you used against the mother giant!"

Clara and Aquamarine sweated a little once the realization hit both of them. "I should have done that form the start. Aquamarine, can you continue applying pressure to him while I prepare the spell?"

Aquamarine harumphed loudly. "Why have you do it when I can just do it instead? Just wait until he gets a taste of my Ice Panel!"

"Ice what?" Ser Loin asked with a confused tone as his ears twitched from listening to Aquamarine. Seeing Aquamarine holding out her hands without doing anything else, he grinned when he suddenly struck Tsukuyomi unexpectedly. He followed up with another punch, then a third that narrowly missed, and finished things off with an impalement attempt.

But despite three of his attacks landing, Tsukuyomi seemed to have received minimal damage. "What?!" He quickly spotted a nebulous red thread on Tsukuyomi's neck which traced back to Clara, who had started bleeding around the neck and chest area as if she had been impaled with something.

"You always protected me Tsukuyomi." Her left arm dangled lazily before she grabbed on to it. "I figured it was time to return the favor..."

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"Clara!" Lenoria shouted sadly.

"I hope you made peace with your maker," Aquamarine angrily declared, "because you're through! Ice Panel!"

Ser Loin braced himself for another attack, but to his surprise his feet wobbled once again, causing his body to collapse on his back on the newly formed sheet of ice. "Not again!!!"

"I won't forget this, Clara! Tsukuyomi, hang back for just a moment!" Lenoria wasted no time and swiftly climbed on the minotaur's back and grabbed his necklace. It was too late for the prone beastman to do anything when he finally noticed what was going on, and the iron chains jingled as they left their owner. Lenoria nearly jumped when she heard snarling nearby. "Got it! Time to go!"

"What?! We can't just leave this guy here," Aquamarine argued.

Lenoria made a dash for Chestnut and took a moment to pat the horse to see if he was okay. Once she confirmed there were no injuries, she began the mounting process. "We got the Soulstone and Clara's seriously hurt! If we don't run now, we may not get another chance!"

"Lenoria makes a good point, Miss Aquamarine," Mr. Horsey said. "Clara is in dire need of first aid. Prolonging this fight may aggravate her injuries further."

Nodding begrudgingly, Aquamarine grabbed on to Clara and helped her get on Mr. Horsey. "You careless wonder. Tsukuyomi would have come back tomorrow if he bit it. Why did you do that?"

"Hehehe," Clara chuckled. "H-he ended up helping out in the end." She grabbed on to her arm. "Ow..."

"Hmph. That's what you get for making me worry." Aquamarine's face reddened when Clara sat in front of her. "D-don't you dare move! I might just drop you when we're running if y-you do anything funny!"

"I appreciate your help, Aquamarine," Clara said wearily. "Please don't let go. I can't hang on to the reins with my bad arm."

"R-right." The two girls flinched when they saw Ser Loin rise from the ground but sighed with relief when his feet wobbled again and he fell down.

"Let's go!" Flicking the reins and Lisa leaning on her, Lenoria ordered for the others to advance. Tsukuyomi lagged behind them, but his flight allowed him to move unimpeded. The snarling around them grew intense, and both horses weaved when a walking pale corpse wearing soiled rags rose and stumbled from the bushes and stood on the road. It growled with a gruff tone, indicating a disturbing lack of humanity if its putrid flesh hadn't done so already.

"Undead..." Clara struggled to stay conscious. "Is that why we're leaving?"

"Yeah. I knew we would attract some sooner or later with the sounds of our fight. I'm just glad they came when they did, or we would have had trouble leaving." Lenoria focused her eyes on the road ahead. The snarling grew louder and louder, and soon more walking corpses stopped on the road and tried to reach out for the horses as they passed by. "Avoid them! We can outrun them easily if we don't engage!"

"Come back here!" Ser Loin, in a moment of clarity, rolled to his side repeatedly until he was out of the ice puddle. Standing up straight, he soon noticed a large amount of walking corpses stumbling ahead of him...and they all eerily turned to face him as soon as they heard him. "This is bullsh-"

***

Despite waiting for nearly an hour before Demetrio's knights finished their business in Norwich, Alistair remained calm as he patiently waited on a bench in the town square. He would hear their updates from time to time, all reporting no sign of rebel or Blue Jay activity since their arrival. He would hear Demetrio bark orders to either check again or search the outer perimeter of the village for any tracks. Once all knights reported back simultaneously, they all apologized for their lack of results.

"You see, young Alistair," Demetrio said, "force is sometimes necessary to keep people in line. Now that the Order of the Blue Jay humiliated my men and I, their actions will encourage the rebels to keep fighting. And as long as they keep fighting, more people will suffer. I'm sure your heart is in the right place, but with all due respect, I would appreciate it if you didn't question my authority in the future."

Alistair bowed his head respectfully. "Of course, Lord Demetrio." The boy felt a sense of accomplishment watching Lenoria stand up for what was right, but a part of him begged him to come clean over her rash behavior. He felt a collision between duty and ideals and wrestled with his oath to protect the girl and the oath he swore as a paladin to defend king and country. Was he willing to betray one for the other? "Sire-"

His manacles opened when a Ruby Knight inserted a key in the keyhole. Alistair instinctively rubbed his wrists after being shackled for so long, and just as he was about to say something, Demetrio interrupted him. "What do you know of the Order of the Blue Jay? This isn't the first time they foiled my plans, and I would certainly love to have a chat with the next member I see."

Was this an out of his dilemma? Alistair decided to try his luck and gamble by providing what he knew while diverting any involvement Lenoria had with the Order. "They were a thorn during my pilgrimage, Lord Demetrio. They threaten others into submission, and I've recently discovered that they have made deals with demons."

"Demons, you say?" Demetrio scratched his chin. "Interesting. That is quite the accusation, Alistair. However, even with you being a noble paladin, I can't just take your word for it."

"I understand your viewpoint, my lord. But I personally struck down a babau demon that had made the Jaguar Lands his hunting ground. I had help from the local populace." Alistair almost smiled when he had an idea. "If it pleases your lordship, I can hunt down the Order personally and interrogate them. I w-won't deny I have a personal vendetta against them, but I believe I can also use that to better serve my country."

If Alistair could convince Demetrio he was capable of handling such a mission, he would be free to exact vengeance on the Order of the Blue Jay and divert Lenoria's involvement with them. He only hoped she would get rid of her silly disguise once she escaped and planned to scold her later for doing something so impulsive, as well-intentioned as it was. As long as no one suspected what she did today, he could work on behalf of Count Demetrio while keeping his conscience clean. It's not like the Order was completely blameless, and if they already tried to foil Demetrio before, then he would have an easier time removing all suspicion from himself and his party.

"You do not have to take my words at face value, but I would encourage you and your men to keep an eye out for demons."

"Your advice is appreciated, but hardly necessary," Demetrio said. "Relative to me, the Order of the Blue Jay is nothing but a termite mound that needs to be exterminated. I don't fear demons, but I know how dangerous they can be if left unchecked. That's why I shall grant you permission to exterminate any Blue Jay that you find. No, consider it an order."

It was more than he had hoped for, but Alistair did not turn it down. "It shall be done, my lord."

"Good. Then you are dismissed. Carry on with your business here in Norwich." Demetrio tapped his foot impatiently. "Ser Loin and Asterion have been gone for a while. Have the rebels outsmarted them? Search the perimeter again," he ordered his knights.

"B-by your leave..." Alistair bowed again before excusing himself. He remained hopeful that the girls avoided capture. He was free to do as he pleased for now, but as much as he wanted to make his way to Goodsprings, there was one thing he needed to check up on.

After some searching, he found a crowd gathered at the local cemetery not far from the town square. A muscular man shoveled the dirt amidst the crowd as they had all gathered next to a coffin. There was no weeping, just silent mourning with a whisper here and there.

"Eleanor was a good woman," said a male villager.

"To think she was housing rebels," another said.

"Demetrio is going to kill us all. I just know it!"

"He already searched our homes and found nothing. J-just do what he says, and he'll move on."

Alistair felt compelled to comfort the crowds, but now that he was away from Demetrio, guilt had settled in. He had revealed himself to stop Demetrio from killing one of the children, but someone else died in their place. Eleanor was gone and the children had gone missing. "I should have acted earlier." If he had challenged Ser Loin to a duel, he probably would have been jailed for defying Demetrio and his men, but he would have saved more lives. He would have stopped Ser Loin from carrying out his lord's order long enough for her to run away.

At least that's what he told himself.

"You're the boy from earlier," exclaimed one of the villagers from the crowd. The others soon faced him and had started making their way to him.

"Y-yes." Alistair put on his best gentle face; not showing anger nor sadness, but compassion and kindness. "Do you need my assistance? I'm Alistair Adams, and-"

"Yeah, we know who you are." One of the male villagers spat on the ground close to Alistair. With a head nod, he signaled two others to come closer. These two men held planks of wood and threateningly smacked them on their free hands. "You're the one who not only defiled Lady Mirabelle, but sent her to prison, too."

"W-what?" Alistair's shoulders stiffened at the mere mention of that name. "You got it all wrong. That's not what happened."

One of the thuggish men took a couple of steps closer. "Do you know what we do to pricks like you?"

"You have some nerve showing your face around here," a woman screamed.

"Why would you do something like that to such a gentle woman, and frame her to boot?"

"I don't understand how your god hasn't stripped you of your powers yet," another said.

"That's because I'm innocent! I didn't do anything," Alistair protested. "There was a trial with a mountain of evidence suggesting she plotted to throw me in jail! I was a victim of a conspiracy!"

"Lies," some of the villagers screamed.

"I'm serious! Those who were there during the trial can vouch for my innocence! If you were there, you would know, too!"

But the villagers were not listening.

"We didn't need to watch some rigged trial. For all we know, the government could be trying to cover something up."

"Yeah. Lady Mirabelle is the kindest soul this nation has ever known! But thanks to you, her name was dragged through the mud by those journalists in the big city."

"You can salvage whatever you have left of your integrity if you take your punishment like a sweet little lamb. If the King doesn't punish you, then we will!"

The villagers closed in on Alistair, clamoring with names and insults as the two thugs swung their planks at him. Shield at the ready, Alistair parried their blows effortlessly but did not counter as he normally would. "Even against a crowd this big, I have the advantage. But I can't hurt them..."

"Leave the boy alone." The crowds stopped when the man with a shovel - likely the cemetery's caretaker - called out to them.

"Stay out of this, Otis," one of the thugs ordered.

"Don't defend him, Otis," another callously said.

"You will not spill any more blood today," Otis retorted. "Not on my graveyard. I already dug a grave for Eleanor, despite her stupidity. Do not make me dig for more."

"Don't insult her," shouted a woman.

"We'll drag this boy and hang him in the forest if you're so worried about working overtime!"

"I wasn't referring to him," Otis said menacingly. "Look at him. He carries the banner of the Hammer of Justice. He is blessed by a higher power. Do you seriously think you can hurt him with sticks and stones? On top of that, the Hammer is a harsh judge and executioner. He would have abandoned this boy long ago if he really did commit the crimes you claim he has done."

Otis placed himself between Alistair and some of the men from the crowd. He planted his shovel on the dirt below and rested his fists on the handle. Alistair then noted just how tall Otis was; he easily towered over every single man present, himself included.

"Who is responsible for these allegations?"

"Lady Mirabelle, sir. She was here until this morning before needing to depart for some pending business." The villager who said this, a middle-aged man in overalls, removed his hat out of respect. "She was so sweet, she tried to play off her trauma as if it wasn't a big deal. I have a daughter who is just as old as her, so my blood boils from just looking at this boy. I swore I would rough him up to show him how being weak feels like..."

Alistair froze at the revelation. "She was here?"

"And I assume you spread the word," Otis guessed. "And was this boy there to defend himself?"

"No, but even if he was, we would have made sure to bury him where nobody would find him."

"Yeah," the villagers agreed with a bloodthirsty look in their eyes.

"Then her word is just as good as his. According to this boy here, she plotted to have him thrown in prison and she was arrested for the amount of evidence found on her. Evidently, she was rightly served with the same sentence she tried to condemn this young man to serve."

"Then why was she released from prison so soon," screamed a villager, and others screamed along with him with words of affirmation. "She must have been innocent the whole time!"

"Why is anyone released prematurely?" Otis remained callous and calm. "We all know crooks get out of jail early all the time. Some even choose to join the guard in Goodsprings over the executioner's axe. With this Mirabelle being a noble, it's not hard to guess why she was released."

Alistair's mind and heart raced as Otis revealed more. "Crooks? Goodsprings?"

"This is what we should do. Anyone wishing to harm this young man will have to dig his own grave, first. If the gods are with this young man, they will protect him from harm. You can test your luck if you wish, but I won't overwork myself because of your stupidity." Otis offered his shovel to the first man he saw. When that man refused, Otis moved to the next one, then to the one after that.

Alistair felt relieved to see someone come to his rescue. All of the men who were so eager to gang up on him suddenly weren't so brave anymore. He bowed to Otis politely and with gratitude. "T-thank you, sir..."

"Don't thank me just yet. It would be best if you left this place. If the gods are with you, then you'll be safe during your trip back to whence you came. If not, then you most likely deserve whatever fate awaits you out there." The caretaker dragged his shovel back to the grave he was digging on. "I know one thing for sure; you are not welcome here."

"This is just like back in Hammer's Reach..." Frowning, Alistair hunched his head forward and left the cemetery. Just like before, his efforts ultimately amounted to nothing and decided to leave Norwich before he provoked more of the villagers with his mere presence. The villagers, having no rebuttal for Otis's earlier comment, stepped aside while glaring daggers at the young paladin. Knowing they could do little else, they spat on the ground he walked on and continued to do so until some grew too tired to continue while others did so until Alistair reached the northern gate of the village.

"And stay out!"

"Just like old times..." Alistair ignored their insults and yelling. Not many have cared to believe his claims of innocence, and knew he'd waste his time with people who already made up their mind. The best he could do now is meet back with the girls in Goodsprings and discuss the night's events with them. He also resolved to tell them the truth behind the allegations before anyone else did. It was only right.

Alistair left the village even more anxious than when he first entered it. Mirabelle had been released from her prison sentence. He knew true justice was rare in Thule, but for her to be released now was a little too soon for his liking. On top of that, the discovery of crooks joining the guard in Goodsprings as a way to avoid the death penalty made him fear for the girls' safety. What had Gabrielle signed up his beloved up to?

"How am I going to tell them all this? O, Hammer, I have not asked for much, but please keep the girls safe. And if possible, bless them with the wisdom to determine the truth, should they hear these allegations before I can reach them..."

Not far from the village, shambling rotting corpses barred his path. He counted at least a dozen, with many more standing idly in the distance, their eyes glowing with the light of necromancy.

And they all eerily turned to look at him.

With a sigh, the young paladin grabbed his massive hammer and got to work. The night had only just begun for him.

(Coming up next: Alistair's interlude)