"I'm sorry, kids, but it's already late and I'm about to get home," the coachman says as he looks at Raia and Raiden, adjusting his bowler hat. A faint chime of coins reaches their ears as he taps his hand on the brown pouch strapped to his waist.
That slight movement may have been unintentional, but it is more than enough to imply that the carriage driver did not make enough money today. That being the case, he is hesitant to end his shift.
"Are you sure?" Raiden asks, his voice brimming with persuasion. After assisting the girl in bringing her father to her house not long ago, they made their way into the main street and found only one public carriage.
The coachman averts his gaze. He looks at Raiden after a brief moment of hesitation.
"How much can you give?" he asks, his voice hesitant. "At this late hour, there should be a fare increase, especially since my shift just ended."
Raiden smiles and reaches inside his coat. "How about this?"
The coachman's eyes widen when he looks at the tan drawstring pouch sitting on Raiden's palm. Then he frowns.
"Y-you're giving me all that?" he blurts out, unable to keep the disbelief out of his voice.
When Raiden nods, the coachman slowly reaches out a hand and takes the tan pouch from him with a little reluctance.
"Okay then, get in," the coachman says, gazing at the bag of sacred coins with a sparkle in his eyes. "This is more than enough to buy my son something good to eat."
Raiden thanks him several times before stepping inside the black carriage with Raia. They take their seats across from each other, and the carriage begins to move forward, passing huge buildings with windows full of golden glimmer, matching the glow of the bright, yellow street lamps that run along the side street. A cool breeze blows in across the deserted street, gently caressing their cheeks. The sound of horse hooves clicking against the cobblestones becomes a sort of lullaby for them.
"Are we there yet?" Raia asks, breaking the silence around them as she looks out the window.
"Not yet," Raiden answers, staring at the green leaf between his two fingers, one that came from his Blessing. "It's on the outskirts of town, and we're only a half-hour away now."
Raia sighs. "Half an hour."
She hasn't had much sleep for three days, looking for the organization that her master told. Her body feels tired and heavy already, she's even becoming more aware of the hunger surging through her. Does she even eat anything besides apples? Her forehead creases when her stomach lets out a quiet grumble.
"You kids okay in there?" the coachman says.
Raiden looks up from the leaf to respond, despite the fact that he can't see him. "Yeah." He casts a glance at Raia. "By the way, where are you from?"
Raia's brows furrow. "I'm Urielean."
Raiden's eyes widen in awe, his blond hair and golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight streaming in through the window. "Really? Wow. So you came here instead to be branded as an Aragon in the Mikaelean Branch?"
When Raia only nods, he shakes his head, still stunned. "That has never happened before. Well, I know someone who was transferred to another Branch. But being Branded to a place where you weren't born . . . that's new to me. Well, I'm glad you've chosen to be a part of our Branch. However, why haven't you joined the Urielean Branch?"
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"My master sent me here," Raia responds quietly, returning her gaze to the window.
Raia has no idea why her master sent her to the central continent instead of the land she was born in. Perhaps it's because her master is from here.
But Raia remembers what he said.
"You can heal, which is a miracle from Elysium. You might have been sent here with a sole purpose, so I'll be sending you to the Mikaelean Branch for someone who really needs your power."
"What do you mean?" Raia asked him, but he merely smiled.
That's why Raia came here, obeying her absurd master with only a crappy map he drew roughly himself. He may be an absurd man, but he is the only one she has. The one who saved her from that lonely orphanage.
Raiden clicks his tongue. "I see. Who's your master, by the way?"
The carriage jolts to a halt before Raia can respond, and they both fall out of their seats. Her head thumps against Raiden's.
"I'm sorry!" Raiden exclaims, but Raia has already exited the carriage, allowing the cold wind to respond.
As Raia steps out of the vehicle, she finds herself in a wide street lined with brick terrace houses. The horses galloping down the road transform into a silhouette before the night swallows it. Then her eyes land on the coachman lying unconscious on the stone cobbles. As she approaches him, she notices a black stain creeping up his neck. She stares in horror.
He is tainted.
Raia's brow furrows as she touches her silver cross pendant. "Answer my call, Raphael."
Her necklace shines and transforms into a longsword with a holy flame, shining brighter than the lampposts lit down the street. She rushes over to the infected coachman and raises her weapon, her gaze fixed on the black stain covering half of his face.
"May the Light be with -" Someone kicks her from behind, knocking the wind out of her and sending her tumbling to the ground. She winces and raises her head, glaring at the scrawny woman standing next to the unconscious coachman.
Raiden rushes over to her and helps her to her feet. "Are you okay?"
"The man is tainted," Raia says in a deep tone as she stands.
Raiden looks up at the Outcast, who has long dark hair tied in a messy ponytail. She's dressed in a long shirtdress, and her dull eyes are fixed on them- on the bright orange flames blazing in their chests. Light is flickering in her palm.
"Answer my call, Cypress," Raiden utters, and his silver cross earring brightens and transforms into a broadsword.
The rest of the sword is pitch black with trimmings of silver. Like Raia's longsword, a shining cross is emblazoned on the center of the crossguard. A vine with thorns surrounds the blade in a spiral-a holy vine.
Raiden charges at the Outcast, his broadsword fending off the spherical light. He tightens his grip on his weapon's hilt and delivers a horizontal cut.
Raia charges forward with her flaming sword, but their opponent has already escaped beyond the reach of their holy blades.
The Outcast leaps onto the carriage roof and swings her hand. Her movement creates a massive arc of light that speeds toward Raiden.
Raiden defends himself from the light by holding his sword up in front of his face. When it collides with the blade of his sword, a powerful force propels him backward into a brick wall. He groans. As he slowly rises to his feet, shards of stone and mortar fall from him. A scream erupts from the house he crashed into. People are soon rushing out of their homes to see what the commotion is all about. Then they shriek when they see two people with swords and a woman standing on the carriage's roof.
"How many has she tainted?" Raiden shouts.
"We're both clueless," Raia answers as she dodges the ball of light. When she turns her head, her eyes widen upon seeing the people huddled in front of the red brick houses, the lampposts barely illuminating their features. Since innocent humans are an Outcast's prey, it is not safe for them to be exposed in an open area where a threatening being is present. And if the demon taints one more soul, she may evolve into an even stronger opponent.
"Dammit!" Raia hisses. She lunges forward, and Raiden follows suit.
They attack at once, but the Outcast leaps high into the air as their blades cleave downward.
The Outcast alights on the roof of the house in front of them and looks down. Her feature is now nothing more than a silhouette.
Raiden furrows his brows. "She's on the verge of transition. We must finish her before she evolves."
"Of course," Raia says, her face set in a deep frown.
With a single fluid movement of her hand, the Outcast sends bullets of light below. Raia and Raiden adopt a defensive stance and hit them with their swords. Light particles float through the air before fading away.
The Outcast leaps from the roof, landing with a thud on the ground. Raia and Raiden spin around, and their eyes widen in terror. The Outcast is standing next to a man.
It's the tainted coachman.