The loop was back. Viktor felt its presence trying to distort his senses, and he welcomed it. I don’t need to remember the faces as long as I never forget the crimes. He didn’t know if the loop understood him, but he felt a bit warmer as a woman wearing a blue robe took the place of…

He shook his head and kept walking. Viktor knew a little about tracking, but finding the horse was proving to be difficult. For every hoofprint he found, there was a less obvious sign that he usually missed, like a broken branch or a tuft of fur or cloth. But he found the mare.

He just wished he knew what he was going to do with her. Sonne is a fine animal. I could sell her once we leave this area… He didn’t want to think about killing her. She was just a horse. It wasn’t her fault she was out here in a place filled with death. Yet, Viktor couldn’t ignore her, either.

Sonne watched him approach, nose quivering as she breathed harshly, making Viktor sigh as he pulled out an apple from his sleeve. “You poor girl. You’ve done enough, Sonne. It’s time to take a break and…”

And I should bring her with me. She isn’t big enough to carry two people, but I’m sure Nadia will adore her. The thought, along with Sonne tentatively stepping forward to accept the apple, made him smile. “You’re such a beauty.”

She flicked her ears as she crunched the apple, then came closer to nuzzle into Viktor’s side. He petted her absentmindedly for a few minutes before sighing. “I’ll take you back to the ranch. Father Lena will want to see you.”

What am I going to tell him? Even if I grab Nadia and run. Father Lena will track us down and demand justice… There’s no way to hide. Viktor grabbed the reigns and gently led Sonne away. His feet crunched pleasantly against the leaves and dirt, making Viktor smile.

This must have been a beautiful place to grow up in. Hopefully, it will continue to be so for everyone else. Viktor reached the ranch long after the sun went down. He didn’t have anything prepared. And he didn’t have time to reach Nadia as Father Lena greeted him at the gate.

“Where is she?”

Viktor loosened his grip on the reigns and pointed to the forest. “Close to the village where the incident happened.”

Father Lena stared at him in shock before a cold fury filled his eyes as he clenched his fists. “And you left her there?”

“Yes.” Viktor offered the reigns to Father Lena, but the older man kept staring at him, so Viktor continued. “She tried to attack me. I didn’t feel like carrying her back.”

“What are you playing at, boy?”

Viktor released the reigns and shrugged. “I’m not playing at anything. I wish to leave with Nadia. Will you let us go?”

“I will certainly not! You will take me to Sister Aura’s body and consent to taking a truth spell at once!”

“I’m not doing either of those things. I’m not lying, Father.”

“And that’s what makes this so hard to take!” Father Lena was not a violent man. But Viktor did nothing as he struck him across the face.

“I deserved that.”

“And much more.”

Viktor flinched at the disappointment and pain in the older man’s voice and nodded. “I know.”

“Is this like what happened with Vlad? But that can’t be. Sister Aura’s words were callous, but you’ve dealt with worse insults and never raised a hand. Why would you…”

Viktor watched as Father Lena finally accepted the truth with a groan. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you? This… this isn’t right, Viktor. You need help. I should never have taken you out of that cell. Was it really you and Nadia that night?”

Viktor tilted his head to the side as he thought about it. Would life have been better in a cage? No. Nadia would never have let me stay locked up, and even if she did. That wouldn’t stop her plans. She doesn’t need to be in the same room to kill people. Father Lena was still staring, but Viktor only shook his head.

“We need to leave.” I don’t want to see any more bodies tonight. Father Lena shook his head.

“And go where? The only reason I was allowed to take you was because I promised to keep you in line and help you start a new life. All of that will be impossible if you run now.”

“It already is, sir.”

Viktor tapped into the gems, but Father Lena was faster. A knife flew from his sleeve, cutting through Viktor’s robe and belt, freeing the pouch and sending it flying into the darkness. Sonne reared and ran away, but neither man looked at her. Viktor slowly raised his hands above his head, making Father Lena hesitate.

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“Are you really surrendering after a single attempt?”

“I never planned to fight you, Father. I’m no match for you, even if I had an army of spirit orbs to assist me.”

“Then what were you”-

A thump sounded beyond the wall, making Father Lena tense as he backed away with the dagger raised warningly. Viktor didn’t follow.

Nadia must have seen me, but where is she? “Don’t attack me again, Father. The two of us have fond memories of this place. We don’t want to destroy it.”

Father Lena shook his head. “I’ll admit I have no idea how she’s doing this. But I assure you I’ll deal with her in due time. Nadia cares for you, so taking you as a hostage will make her stop.”

Viktor opened his mouth, but Father Lena struck again, this time swinging the dagger before him, sending a shockwave of mana to push Viktor back. He hit a tree hard enough to hear something crack as his vision blurred. I knew I didn’t want to fight him. He’s too strong.

And he wasn’t done yet. Viktor could only let gravity help him slump against the tree as another wave connected and halved the tree where the top of his head used to be. Viktor blinked in surprise and rolled to avoid another strike. I can’t fight like this. He’ll kill me before I can stand!

He couldn’t hear anything except Father Lena’s calm footsteps as the older man regarded him. “Do you know why I’m not using a more complicated spell?”

“Because there aren’t any spirit orbs to ask for help?”

Viktor reached for a nearby boulder but jerked his hand away as it shattered instantly. “You rely on the dead too much, Viktor. All living things possess mana. How can you be so strong and yet forget this simple fact?”

Viktor made it to his knees and scowled as Father Lena stood over him. “Because I’ve always had the dead to help me.”

“That’s right, but they’re gone. Your future wife did that, didn’t she? Do you know how many souls once called this area their home?”

“No.” I didn’t see any… Viktor’s eyes widened. “Are you saying what happened at the village wasn’t the first time souls have disappeared?”

Father Lena nodded and gestured for Viktor to rise with the dagger pointing at his chest the entire time. “That’s right. And it’s not just the area around the ranch. I’ve traveled this land many times, and I didn’t see most of the ghosts while I was bringing you to the ranch… You didn’t notice?”

Viktor shook his head and stayed on his knees. “Nadia had nothing to do with it.”

“Didn’t she?”

“No!” If she’s absorbing souls instead of waiting until Zum demands more, then… Then what have they been doing?

Something akin to pity filled Father Lena’s eyes as he snapped his fingers, making chains of mana appear, and said. “I wish I could tell you that everything will be alright. But I can’t forgive you for killing Sister Aura.”

Viktor said nothing.

“You don’t know who she is, do you?”

“No.”

“How many people have you killed, Viktor?”

“Two humans. I don’t know how many souls Nadia has…”

“Do you regret it?” Father Lena’s words were sharp, but Viktor only shook his head.

“I promised to help Nadia.”

“And is that promise worth the blood you’ve spilled?”

“I…” I don’t know. “I’ll do anything for her.”

The chains wrapped around Viktor, pinning Viktor’s arms to his sides and looping around his feet, giving him enough room to walk before pulling him up to stand before Father Lena. “Is that so? You’re willing to walk away from everything you’ve dedicated your life to for the sake of a woman you’ve known for less than a year?”

Has it really only been a matter of months since she came into my life? It feels like I’ve known her forever. And that both pleased and scared him. “Yes. I am hers. She is mine. If someone kills me, then so be it. I will continue to follow the Path I’ve chosen.”

“Even though she might be lying to you?”

Viktor didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

“Do you think you’ll forget everyone you kill from now on?”

“I don’t completely forget them.” Viktor didn’t know why he needed to make sure Father Lena understood that, but he did and watched the older man’s eyes become cold. There would be no going back from this. Our relationship is done.

“But you don’t remember enough about them, even now. I’ve brought up Sister Aura several times, but you haven’t looked the least bit guilty. Did you know that?”

“No.”

“Do you feel anything about killing her?”

“I regret it but she wouldn’t be reasoned with.”

“So you killed her and left her body behind like a broken toy?”

Viktor winced and nodded. Perhaps I should have brought her corpse back after all. “Father Lena… Do you have the time to waste on these questions?”

The older man said nothing, but he didn’t attempt to gag Viktor, either. Can I reason with him? It was a faint hope at best, but Viktor couldn’t get out of the chains either way. I lose nothing by trying. “Would you like to know what happened that night? Why no one could find any mana at the sight?”

“I’d rather hear you beg for forgiveness. But I’ll listen to what you have to say…”

Viktor started to grin when Father Lena snapped the chain tightly, making him step forward so his nose was inches from the older man’s. “... after we’ve restrained Nadia. I’m going to gag you, boy. Don’t make me knock you out.”

Viktor tried to twist away, but Father Lena pulled out a piece of cloth and shoved it into his mouth. He waited for Father Lena to tie it behind his head, but the older man merely stared at him for a moment before pulling the chain forward. It was time for the most powerful Death Cleric to face Nadia, and Viktor was powerless to interfere.