Old man Rorio sat in the back of the bar alone like he did every day. And just like every other day, the bar owner would give him a free drink out of pity. Rorio had been a colonel in the Galadan army, and after the civil war broke out after the different lords tried to take advantage of the emergence of Heaven’s Bane, he thought he would die in service, and didn’t want it any other way. He thought dying for one’s country was the best way to go, better than his father who went out in a drunken stupor as he lay in a ditch.
However, his luck failed him in the battle of Darmio Pass when his regiment was all but entirely wiped out by a barrage of constant landslides. The few others that survived with him accused the enemy of using witchcraft, but Rorio didn’t care about what had caused the landslides. All he cared about was their result.
Rorio honestly thought he had died as when he awoke he found himself in pitch-black darkness, but after he started to hear the voices he was awoken to his cruel reality. He had lost his sight, a leg, and an arm to the disaster, and with that an acquaintance with the ghost of those under his command as what-ifs and guilt consumed him.
Now he carried out his miserable existence in the back of the bar, wasting his fortune on drink, so that he may be provided with a brief escape.
“What do we have here?” A sweet voice like a cool summer breeze entered Rorio’s ears.
“Who is it?” He asked, his lip trembling as he was overwhelmed by the sweet presence.
“Hmm…I don’t know if any would know of me now so how may I put it,” the woman's voice sounded quizzically amused, “I am comfort for poor souls that have suffered by the hands of fate. People such as you, if my intuition is right.”
“Comfort?” Rorio was in disbelief. True comfort had eluded him for so long, but the woman's voice seemed to almost wrap him in it.
“Though you’ll need to do one thing for me first.”
“Anything!”
There was a short pause and the woman's voice came back filled with satisfaction, “Give up on life.”
“Uh,” Rorio’s mouth fell open. He was too proud a man to do that under any circumstance.
“I wonder why you still go on? Your son perhaps?” The woman said with a peculiar amusement.
“What about him? He’s simply off in the army, following in my footsteps.”
“He hasn’t sent you a letter in months, Rorio. Isn’t that peculiar for such a good son as your own?”
“No…no that’s impossible. We’re at peace.”
Rorio felt a cold hand on his shoulder, “Yet you come here every day recalling how Heaven’s Bane moved near the fort your son was stationed in.”
Rorio seized the hand from his shoulder, and it went limp with little resistance, “No! I tell you he’s alive!” He could feel streams of tears flow down his tears.
The woman placed her hand gently on the one that gripped her other, “Yet you waste your fortune on drink like you have no one to give it to,” pride filled the women’s voice, “You know deep down the truth. Denying it will only bring you more pain, and you’ve already had enough of that for one time.”
In Rorio’s eyes appeared the most gorgeous woman that he had ever seen in all his years. She had snow-white skin, knowing eyes, and a gentle aura that seemed to lift one's burdens when in her presence.
Rorio almost couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t believe he could see her, and instantly he felt the need to be comforted by her embrace.
The woman offered a delicate hand to him, “No need to worry about anything more. Surrender it all to me, and I’ll ensure that this cruel world harms you no more."
Rorio reached out as he finally found peace
The old man seemed to be devoured by shadow with a peaceful smile on his face in front of a figure clad in darkness. The patrons of the bar took no notice of the event.
The figure gave out a sigh, “I should’ve headed to him first, but how could I have ignored this poor soul. Wish I could help more creatures, but I don't have the time. Better to do what I’ve come here for before Alvaro shows up.
***
Canadine was awoken by a presence that entered the room. He at first thought it was Tanthia bringing him more medication, or trying to converse with him, but he soon became aware of the chill down his spine and his hairs standing on end.
A woman in black entered. She had a round face and a quizzical resting face. Her age was hard to place but gray stained strands littered her hair and minor wrinkles could be seen on her face.
Canadine narrowed his eyes at the women, and after a brief consideration turned over in his bed, attempting to go back to sleep.
“Hmm, you're in a sadder state than I thought. How the mighty have fallen, tsk, tsk.” The women spoke in an amused tone that was mixed with both disappointment and delight.
Canadine simply ignored her. His instinct screamed for him to do something, but he couldn’t find the motivation to bother.
The woman slowly made her way around the bed and knelt to face Canadine, “Keeping your eyes closed won’t make me leave.”
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“There’s a chair across from the bed, there’s no reason to be so close.” Canadine groaned.
“Oh, but there is. I need to read your face.”
Canadine slowly opened his eyes, “And why would that be?”
“I need to see that you truly understand the despair you’ve brought to those close to you.”
Fire filled Canadine’s mind. He cowered under the sheets like a helpless to escape it, but he knew it was futile. He would never be able to for as long as he lived.
The woman slowly lifted the sheets from Canadine’s face with a bitter smile, “Ahhh…so you remember. I wonder though, does a part of you think that those weren’t your actions. Like when a drunk man commits a crime and blames it on the alcohol.”
Canadine’s face showed denial but also exhaustion, “What do you want?”
The woman gave a smirk, “I want you to realize the futility of it all. On your own, you’ve done nothing, but harm. Though with my help you can right that wrong.”
“What are you going on about? Besides what happened…” Canadine’s voice was weak.
The woman shook her finger, “Oh, I don’t care about that. You caused much more harm earlier on, and you knew what you were doing, too.”
Canadine clenched his teeth, “Nonsense!”
Suddenly the building shook violently as if an earthquake had occurred.
Canadine’s face filled with fear, but the women seemed unconcerned.
“Don’t worry it wasn’t you.”
“Then what?”
A malicious smile appeared on her face, “Me of course. I needed to give you some sort of incentive to follow my demands.”
***
Angelica ran through the streets to the center of town that held the altar, a gentle lamp light guiding her path in the darkness, “I swear I don’t care if he’s a Voice or not I will kill him if he touches that book.”
“No need to trouble yourself, my lady. I will gladly do it myself,” The Jester flew next to Angelica as she made her way to her destination.
“If only I was faster,” she mumbled to herself.
She closed her eyes in an attempt to focus. She had tried this many times before, but it never worked, “Tamer repent for your sins in life and come to fulfill your God-given duty. I order you to take me to my destination!”
No response
The Jester grabbed his head out of frustration, “The insolence! How dare he defy you! I hope I may see him one day, so I may strike him down.”
“You're gonna have to wait till you're back in purgatory.”
Angelica knew it wouldn’t work, but it was worth the try. She just had to place her hope in The Rogue for now. She had sent him ahead, and he usually followed orders, usually.
Angelica ran past the stone buildings of the town, paying no heed to the residents who called out to her. If anything happened to that book, she would be a joke.
She finally broke through the buildings into a large square plaza surrounded by shops and at its center the altar. The altar wasn’t exactly big, but its grandness came from its intricate and ornate design that left any who looked at it in awe. It was certainly the most impressive piece of architecture in the town.
The Jester immediately rushed to the shadow of the altar which was cast by a single bright lamp that lit up the entire area from the far side of the plaza. Angelica felt a tingling sensation and turned towards its source. The Rogue sat with his crossbow aimed down at the plaza, awaiting any potential pray that would enter his crosshairs
Angelica followed The Jester into the shadow where she found a certain man peeking through the stained glass of the altar, “What a coincidence Nalenco, who would I thought I would find you here of all places,” Angelica attempted to build up confidence in her voice.
The Jester stood by the Voice’s side with a spear to his throat. Though he didn’t seem inclined to make any movement unless instructed.
Nalenco cleared his throat at her unexpected arrival, “I was just checking on the security measures for the book. If you were so certain that it would be safer with you, and not the emperor’s palace, I wanted to see why,” A spark seemingly appeared in his eye, “I must say after closely looking over it at this time of night it's a bit lacking. Don’t you think? I mean anyone could simply break this window then…”
Angelica clenched her fist, “It seems that you’ve put a lot of thought into how to steal that book, but I can assure you it is perfectly safe.”
A smug look appeared on the Voice’s face, “Oh really? And you expect me to blindly put my faith in you? No offense Charastro, but if a…band of bandits came into town, seeking that book, what would the town do? In reality, what would you do? I mean you're just a…”
A sudden look of shock came to Nalenco’s face as he glanced at his throat as The Jester gave out a playful laugh.
“I would choose my next words very carefully Nalenco.”
“This is absurd! A crime! How dare you do such a thing to me! I’m a Voice of the Emperor! I swear The Wolf will hear about your brazenness.”
Angelica crossed her arms and furrowed her arms at the man, “Go ahead. I dare you. I am The Saint of Charastro and I can only tolerate so much of your nonsense, so contact The Wolf. Contact the whole Zoo and see if I care. They would treat me with more respect than you have today,” while saying such a thing it was hard to stop her legs from trembling, “I don’t know what must have gotten into the emperor's head to send someone such as yourself, but I’ll make sure he hears of this.”
Nalenco gave a weak smile, “How brave of you Charastro, but a Voice is trained to tell if someone is lying, and I suspect…”
A low growl from a short distance away cut him off. A distorted body climbed out from the shadow. Its pupils were white as snow. Its body was relatively human except for one of its arms and legs, which had an angular shape and was the size of its whole body.
“What the hell is that thing!” Nalenco yelled
The creature turned its eyes on him and gave a high-pitched scream.
“Charastro let me go. Please I beg of you! I’ll do anything!”
The Jester chuckled, “I don’t think I will.”
The creature pounced with its sight set on Nalenco.
“CHARASTO!”
Angelica flipped her wrist and the creature was sent flying away from its target. She then pointed to The Jester then to the creature.
The Jester reluctantly let go of Nalenco and approached the creature with his spear.
A chill voice came from behind Angelica “Do you mean to insult my ability, Charastro. Once I shoot my prey's fate is sealed.”
Angelica started to breathe heavily as the situation settled in, “That is no normal prey Rogue.”
As The Jester continually pierced the creature's flesh with his spear, Nalenco looked on in pure terror as to his eyes Angelica was ripping the creature apart with some unknown power.
When The Jester finished a white holy light appeared and from it, The Priest rushed to the corpse. Angelica slowly approached him, “What is it?”
The Priest's hands started to tremble as he examined the body, “This is…This is…This is…Rorio.
***
“All you have to do is take a trip down memory lane, and in exchange, this town will be saved. Though the longer this takes the less of a town there will be. What do you say?”
Canadine looked at the woman in shock, “What are you?”
“I could ask you the same question. Now, are you ready to reflect on your sins?”
Canadine nodded, afraid of what the women would do next.
The woman clapped her hands together, “Well then I’ll respect your time, so who would be best…oh, why don’t we reflect on what you did to The Divine Witch.”