The parts of her attire that hadn't been burnt were now covered in a stomach-turning about of blood.

She forced her ragged breathing to a more stable pace and looked into Tibaut’s eyes.

“Hmm, I'm not sure I want to tell you. After all, I'd feel a bit unclean doing what a human of all things has asked me to.”

He turned around and began walking away, with a smirk on his face.

“You bastard, don't turn away from me!!”

Elizabeth ran towards him and threw a punch with her only good arm. Tibaut ducked and flung her over his shoulder.

“Hoh, you still have some fight in you, do you? Why don't you go ahead and make that other arm useless?”

Elizabeth landed on her feet after the throw and kicked up dirt running back towards him. She threw a flurry of punches and kicks but Tibaut effortlessly parried them.

She threw her injured arm at him and he stopped it without a second thought. She reached for her damaged sword and he moved his hand to stop it before it left the hilt.

She decided on a kick to free herself but he landed a headbutt on her before she managed to lift her foot off the ground.

It left her bloody, but it was nothing compared to the backlash of using her magic.

(“He's stopped using his magic? Did my magic fail or did he do something to stop it? Whatever the case this is my best opportunity to get rid of him.”)

She wanted to continue the brawl but Tibaut held his hand out.

“This is just too boring. I thought a Saint would make me put this body to good use but I guess she's still underdeveloped.”

“What was that you bastard?” She said. She blew some blood out of her nose before pulling out the part of her sword that remained.

“By the way did your goddess not tell you about me?”

“Don't change the topic you-”

She fell silent. He had been mentioning her being a Saint all this time. She assumed he might have gathered as much from Tibaut’s memories but… she soon remembered the time she briefly spent with her goddess. That someone troublesome by her standards was associated with Tibaut.

“W-what? Who are you?”

“Well, Saint girl, I'll be borrowing this boy for the next few days.”

“Hold on!”

They threw a fireball much faster than the ones Tibaut did and if she hadn't already had her sword out, she imagined she would have been sent into a nearby tree.

“I said I'll be borrowing the boy. Listen, I'm leaving it at this only because of your Goddess. But if you push this god any further I'll send you to her.”

“God? Is Tibaut also a Sai-”

He threw another fireball and used it as a cover to close the distance between them. He grabbed her neck and slammed her into a tree. She grabbed his hand and struggled to pull it off. He backed away with a clear look of disgust on his face.

She was left coughing and trying to regain her breath.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I'll kill you if you even suggest such a repulsive idea. Do not liken me with that cheery fool you call a Goddess.

He turned around and began walking.

“You shall receive him after I'm finished. Be thankful I'm even returning him.” He said as he disappeared into the forest.

She watched as he walked away but if what he was saying was true then she didn't stand a chance against him. She leaned against the tree and slid down it until she was sitting on the floor. She held her good arm against her head and shook it.

(“A god? No, he might just be lying. Lady Gabriel did say he was troublesome but she didn't mention anything about him being a fellow god… yet even if he was, which one would he be? His personality matches none of the other three. There might be an argument for Uriel but that's unlikely. If only I could ask her but I can't imagine she'd be pleased if I died again this soon or rather at all.”)

She sat there questioning what she encountered for the remainder of the morning.

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

“... kid has more spunk than I thought.”

She woke up and immediately sidestepped the person in front of her.

The morning sky had now taken on a golden hue and the birds of the forest were chirping with vigour.

She reached for her sword but soon stopped when she got a closer look at the person in front of her.

“What kinda bullshit is this? Huh, Elizabeth? You let that little shit get away!?”

Elizabeth looked at him unsure but quickly remembered what happened earlier.

“Ah, that.” She said.

Thankfully her minor injuries had healed but her arm still looked obviously damaged and blood still stained her.

“The fuck did that bastard do your arm? Doesn't he have fire magic!?”

“It wasn't him.” She said.

“Huh? Then who the fuck was it?” He asked.

“(Right, I remember the conclusion I came to when I sat and thought about it.) Furor, what I say to you stays between us, agreed?”

“What kinda shit is this?” He looked into her eyes for several seconds before continuing. “Oh, you're not bullshitting.” He clicked his tongue and sighed. “So what fucked you up then, huh?”

(“It'd do me no favours telling anyone about this encounter with Tibaut and that thing that controlled him. If I take him at his word, Tibaut will return but when is unknown. Plus he knew I was a Saint. If I say anything suspicious he might try to capture him or inform the others to help him behind my back. Not only would they be in danger but I'd run the risk of the others learning of my Sainthood if they meet him in that state. More importantly, I need to question Tibaut about it after he returns and the last thing I need is someone else confronting him.”)

She sighed and looked around the area before saying what she had to.

“Last night, Tibaut and I encountered the man in black.”

Furor’s eyes widened and he looked around.

“Then… is he?”

“No, for some reason it seems they wanted him alive. It looks like they contacted him at some point during the day and told him to meet with them alone.”

“Damnit, I knew I should have kept a closer eye on him. So where'd they go, huh? Which way?”

“It seems like they've covered their tracks but they've most likely headed for the dungeon. (At least if he does leak it, our destination remains the same.)”

“Fuck, are they planning to take us out one by one?”

“No, it was only him. They seem to have some sort of fascination with him. (Well, with how many times they've encountered him, it doesn't sound too outlandish.)”

“Damnit, that kid was pretty decent too plus they got you fucked up as well.”

“Trust me these battle wounds look worse than they are. But we've indeed lost some fighting power because of this. Regardless we'll have to go there.”

“I would have beaten your ass if you said otherwise. Of course, we're gonna rip those bastards a new asshole.”

“Good, also I'd like you to leave the explanation to me. I feel the truth would wear on the others too much.”

“Tch, if those pussies feel like running because of the truth then-”

She cut him off.

“Furor, we can't afford to distract the others with this. First, get me a change of clothing, gauze and a wet towel so I can hide these injuries.”

“Whatever. So how are you gonna explain your missing golden boy?”

“I sent him to investigate something about the cultists and sent him ahead. That should suffice. Oh, make sure to argue with me to make it more believable.”

Furor rolled his eyes and walked off.

“Tch, whatever. Just make sure it sounds realistic.”