"What happened?" Shaula asks, seeing a fuming Prisca making her way over. Angelidis walks over as well, wanting to hear what went down between the two of them.

"The idiot, the fucking idiot… he says he's not leaving until the statue ritual is completely done… or the statue itself is destroyed." Prisca snorts.

“But… what’s the big deal? It’s just a little fighting going on around here, right? His people seem like they can handle themselves here, you know?”

“It’s not that, Jelli.” Shaula explains the details concerning the undercover guards trying to incite the crowd into a riot which the armored guards can then suppress while simultaneously arresting anyone they deem suspicious. The fact the crowd is fighting is all a play to catch Barden.

Angelidis opens her mouth in shock, her eyes wide.

"He’s still staying despite all this? Despite the fact that those pricks are just waiting to rip off his claws or pull out his teeth? W-What's… he's too macho." She shakes her head in exasperation and fear.

"Right!? Who's he trying to impress…" Prisca bites her lips before she can finish her thought. He's obviously trying to impress her, as well as Cel and Sito, Enezies, Selunte, his bishop friend, his congregation of worshippers as well as the demihumans who heard his speech and saw his bravery, including Angelidis.

In truth, if he dies, Enezies the Deacon of the Tritol denomination of the Church of Panaphon and Savitarius would take over his role as priest. He's more timid but undoubtedly smarter than the old man and just as devout. His wife Selunte would take the position of Deacon from him, though she would refuse it every step of the way before begrudgingly accepting the position.

Barden is a symbol out here right now, but within the church, he's just a kind grandfather who at the very least isn't all talk. She certainly doesn’t want him to die, but her fellow church members would view him as a martyr. Which he would be.

Is he really not just suicidal? Prisca wonders in the back of her mind. Perhaps the fact that I think that is proof that I couldn’t show as much dedication as he could towards the church…

"So, he's not leaving." Shaula grits her teeth. She really didn't want to do this right now. This could have been a Trump card for later, but if it’s the only way to ensure he’s safe…

"Fuck… alright. Prisca, you're sure he'll leave only when the statue is destroyed?"

Prisca looks at her with curious eyes. Angelidis seems to understand faster than Prisca does.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"S-Shaula, wait, are you sure you should get involved like that? You saw the mage who made that statue, right? What if he's a noble? That’s pretty likely, isn’t it?"

"Don't worry about how I'll get away, you'll just have to watch and see."

Prisca darts her eyes between Shaula and Angelidis, still not understanding what Shaula is planning on doing. She opens her mouth to ask.

"Watch what? W-What are you planning to–" Though, Shaula interrupts her.

"Just tell me, Prisca, he'll leave right when it's destroyed? He absolutely will?"

No point in doing this if it’s not guaranteeing his safety. Well, there is a point, there’s definitely a point. I can’t deny it either… I’m going to enjoy this.

"...Yeah, he will. In fact, he'd shout for everyone else to start leaving too." She smiles a bit thinking about how happy it would make Barden if that statue was destroyed.

Would he shout something like 'why the fuck are we all standing here for? Wasn't there supposed to be a statue or something? Oh? There isn't anymore? The losers failed? Well, better get on home then!'

She holds back her laughter at the prospect. However, her laughter stops as she learns of Shaula’s current objective.

"Listen. Listen, closely, alright? If it wasn't clear already, I'm going to destroy that statue, Prisca."

"..." Prisca looks at her as if she just spoke in a language she cannot comprehend. She turns to the young draconid girl to get some clarification.

Angelidis sighs, bookending it with a light laugh. Shaula continues, unphased.

"I'm going to do it right now. This is going to be super annoying for me… or at least not as easy as I think it’s going to be, so the least you two can do is make sure that you get the old guy away when things really get interesting."

Shaula puts on a toothy smile from ear to ear. Sometimes she wishes she had Angelidis sharp teeth to really pull off that mischievous wide toothed grin of hers.

She starts jogging away.

Prisca stands there, still not sure if she had heard what she just heard. Angelidis pulling her shoulder gets her out of her stillness.

"Come on, we have to prepare Barden for what's about to happen."

"But… no, you don't think she can actually–"

"She can. I might have doubted it yesterday. But, she can. She definitely can, Prisca. She will."

"But… there are a hundred guards blocking the statue. There's a noble there, that’s not just ‘probably’ a noble, that’s undoubtedly one! If he fight Shaula, then… no, wait, she's not even going to get past the hundred commoner guards. Where… Where is your faith coming from?"

"Listen, Prisca. It's either trust her to do this or wait until the guards come to arrest Barden. You coming?" Angelidis grabs hold of Prisca's arm and gently pulls her along.

"...Yeah. Fine, let’s do this." She finds her resolve while holding Angelidis hand tightly.

Prisca follows behind her while watching Shaula jogging through the crowds getting farther and farther until she finally stops at the edge of the square. There seems to be a clear path at that point where she can run directly from the edge of the square towards the statue, mostly unimpeded.

Oh… dear Panaphon, please protect her… please protect my brave and foolish friend. Ha… all it took was a few hours and she’s already my friend. Isn’t that nice?