"I–I can explain," Mildred stammered, her face pale as a ghost, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before her.

Baron Randall lay on the floor, blood pooling around him, his wheezing breaths growing faint. Astraea, her torn blouse revealing bloody fingerprints, glared at Mildred with eyes filled with a mix of anger and betrayal.

"All the signs were there," Astraea said, her voice laced with disbelief. "But I couldn't bring myself to believe it. I didn't want to believe it."

Mildred's voice quivered as she sobbed, "Please, Astraea—"

"You betrayed me!" Astraea cried in anguish, tears streaming down her cheeks. Mildred had been her loyal friend, the one person she trusted in this desolate town. In a life filled with hardship, Mildred was her source of happiness, the one who brought a flicker of light to Astraea's world.

"I didn't know," Mildred sobbed, her voice choking with remorse. "I knew the baron was vile, but I never imagined it would escalate to this. I thought it would be unpleasant, but at least you would have the protection of the Goddess—"

"Goddess's protection?" Astraea now sneered, her voice dripping with bitterness. "Does this situation look like the Goddess's protection to you?"

“Since when…” Astraea continued. “Since when was I EVER protected by the Goddess?”

Astraea let her torn blouse hang loose, revealing her scarred back, marred by countless wounds, old and new. The marks of her suffering were etched upon her skin, a testament to the pain she endured.

"I had no idea, Astraea," Mildred said, her voice trembling. "I had no idea your life was so horrible—"

"Exactly," Astraea retorted, her voice laced with hurt. "Just as you bask in your perfect little life. Your parents adore you, don't they? You can't imagine the horrors others face."

"I'm sorry, Astraea," Mildred pleaded, her voice filled with remorse. "If only you knew the reasons—"

"And what are those reasons? What could possibly justify sacrificing your friend and watching her suffer?"

"I couldn't... I couldn't let him defile me."

"What?" Astraea struggled to comprehend Mildred's words.

"I thought you’d understand, Astraea. You saw what Baron Randall was like," Mildred said, her gaze shifting towards the unconscious baron. It was clear he was no longer part of the conversation.

"I'm the light in this town, Astraea," Mildred continued, her voice wavering. "Even my parents believe I'm destined for something greater than this."

Astraea raised an eyebrow in disbelief, utterly speechless. Mildred's revelation shattered any lingering trust Astraea had in her. She realized now that Mildred lived in a bubble, oblivious to the suffering of others, consumed by her own desires.

"I've only dreamt of a better life," Mildred continued, her eyes gleaming with disillusionment. "At first, it was just a pipe dream. Who could believe the words of their parents? They called me their little darling, their eternal sun. And some in this town found me attractive. But to be chosen by the Goddess's Apostles as a life partner? Being able to escape this place? That was beyond my wildest dreams."

Mildred's eyes sparkled with a newfound fervor as she animatedly waved her hands.

"I’d always dismissed it as out of the question, scared to hope for it to become a reality. But then came the Summer Solstice, and I locked eyes with Haakon—"

She paused, closing her eyes, savoring the memory. When she opened them, her smile was tinged with disappointment, sending shivers down Astraea's spine. Mildred's infatuation with the Apostles had taken a disturbing turn.

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"That's when I knew my destiny lay elsewhere," Mildred said, her smile fading as she gazed back at Baron Randall.

"But this man ruined everything when he booked his stay at the inn," Mildred scowled. "He couldn't keep his hands off me. How could I ever hope to be accepted by the Apostles if I became impure? They’d never want to touch me."

"And so it was okay for me to be your sacrifice?" Astraea replied, her voice filled with incredulity. She shook her head in denial. Among all the reasons she had imagined, this was the one that emerged.

"I didn't know it would come to this," Mildred pleaded, her voice strained.

"Forget about that!" Astraea shouted, her frustration boiling over. "Forget about how awful this is!" She waved her hands in exasperation. "It doesn't change the fact that you betrayed me."

"But, Astraea," Mildred said, her head tilting slightly in confusion.

"Isn't this situation not as bad for you?"

Astraea's heart sank at Mildred's words. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"What do you mean?" Astraea's voice trembled.

"I mean, Baron Randall may not be the best person, but compared to me, shouldn't you be more experienced?" Mildred's words heavy with misguided assumptions. "After all, we've all seen how you enchant men in this town. I'm sure you know how to handle yourself."

"Enough!" Astraea screamed. She looked at Mildred with a mix of pain and despair. Despite the façade she presented to men, Astraea was still an innocent maiden. She had hoped Mildred would understand that. They were supposed to be friends, free from judgment, but now Astraea saw Mildred for who she truly was.

She was a disillusioned girl, hiding in the shelter her parents created, not knowing the harm she did to people because of her naivety. She truly, only ever thought about herself.

Muffled voices resonated from downstairs, growing louder with each passing moment.

"Is everything alright?" the cook called out. "I heard shouting coming from Baron Randall's room."

A chill ran down Astraea's spine. Blood covered the floor, and she knew the baron's life was slipping away. She locked eyes with Mildred one final time. One had fear, and the other hesitated.

"Go," Mildred said, stepping away from the door, her arms crossed, unable to meet Astraea's gaze.

Without hesitation, Astraea launched herself from the room and raced down the stairs, her disheveled appearance and bloodstained clothes drawing gasps from the cook.

"Papa, the baron is injured!" Mildred called from above, her voice filled with panic. "Come quickly!"

Those were the last words Astraea heard as she burst through the tavern doors and sprinted through the dirt streets, her bare feet pounding against the ground.

Where should I go? Astraea's mind raced, searching for a solution. Returning to her aunt and uncle's house was not an option, and she knew no one else in the town who could offer refuge.

Shouts echoed in the distance, and Astraea turned her head to see a mob of people approaching with torches in hand.

No, she thought, they've discovered the truth.

Although it wasn’t a Commandment, hurting anyone of noble blood granted automatic imprisonment, and in this case where Baron Randall was fighting for his life, Astraea would be locked away forever.

With no time to waste, Astraea veered off the main road and darted along a winding path, the tall grasses brushing against her as she pushed forward.

"Over here," a voice whispered in the darkness. It was the same voice that had visited Astraea in her moment of need, the same voice that had filled her dreams weeks ago.

"Over here," the voice repeated, faint but insistent, urging Astraea deeper into the wilderness.

“Look!” a townsperson shouted. “I found her!”

Astraea looked back one last time to see the approaching mob. Fear coursed through her veins as she followed the voice, plunging into the thick grass that loomed over her like a shroud, its inky darkness pierced only by the faint glow of the moon.

She stumbled through the dense grass, desperate to put as much distance as possible between herself and the approaching chasers.

Thump.

A sharp pain seared through Astraea's chest, and she clutched at her heart in confusion. She had been fine moments ago.

"Argh!" Astraea cried out as agony coursed through her body.

What's happening? she wondered, her face contorted in bewilderment. The pain grew exponentially, and every part of her body screamed as if it was on fire.

And then it hit her. The first of the Goddess's Five Commandments.

You will not kill.

...

Baron Randall was dead.