Celeste, Marcus, and Lizzy arrived at a desolated village. Numerous houses had broken down doors and a few corpses littered the street. When they arrived at the village centre the rest of the villager corpses were there. Celeste spotted the Peddler and other familiar villagers that had welcomed her warmly when she first arrived at the village.

Celeste clenched her fist as she inspected the wounds of the corpses. She deduced the villagers were gathered up, encircled then executed by spears. Not even the children were spared.

Marcus frowned at the sight while Lizzy was indifferent and went to check out the insides of the empty houses.

The atmosphere was solemn as Celeste requested for these corpses to be buried. Stating innocent villagers deserved to rest in death. Marcus nodded and asked Lizzy to help create graves. Lizzy was at first slightly annoyed at having to do the chore, but softened at Celeste’s sincere pleading look.

Lizzy made graves with her magic as Marcus moved the corpses into them with his shadow magic. Celeste gave a prayer for the dead.

“Kind of ironic praying to the same Goddess that let them die.” Lizzy said.

Celeste said nothing in response. Her faith was in a state of uncertainty. But praying for the innocent souls to have rest was something she felt she had to do.

Celeste knew the Goddess hadn’t abandoned her as evident by her divine powers still being functional. Though the same can’t be said for the temple, who excommunicated her during her imprisonment.

Marcus looked at Celeste and spoke in an empathetic tone. “It is not your fault. You couldn’t have known.”

“Yeah, it sure isn’t. If anyone is to blame it’s probably this one here.” Lizzy said casually as she slapped Marcus’ back.

Marcus looked at Lizzy and a touch of guilt rose from within then was quickly suppressed.

Celeste frowned. “It’s not Marcus’ fault Liz.”

“You know what I mean.” Lizzy shrugged.

Marcus noticed Lizzy was wearing new boots and sighed. “Lizzy can you please have some respect for the dead.”

“Come on Marco, It’s not like they are going to still need it.” Lizzy grumbled.

“I don’t think it’s necessary nor appropriate to loot the dead’s belongings.” Marcus said.

“I think they would appreciate that someone will be putting their boots to good use. I’m sure Celeste will agree.” Lizzy said boldly.

“I don’t think the dead care and demons shouldn’t need to follow human customs.” Celeste said.

“Looks like you been outvoted. I keep the boots.” Lizzy smiled as she paraded around with her new boots.

“I kind of miss when you thought I was the Shadow King.” Marcus sighed.

“I’m glad your not, truly. That guy was a real piece of shit.” Lizzy stood up and patted Marcus on the shoulder. “So fine, I suppose a little hardship like this is better than serving the old Shadow King.”

“Are you going to track them down?” Marcus asked Celeste who was looking at the graves solemnly especially the one for the Peddler.

“Do you want me to?” Celeste replied without moving her gaze.

“I believe we should find them.” Marcus spoke. “Lizzy can you go back and look after the children.”

“And miss the fun?”

Marcus gave Lizzy a look.

Lizzy grumbled. “Fine. But don’t make me the designated babysitter.”

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“Appreciate it Liz.” Celeste said.

Lizzy left for Celeste’s house while Celeste started tracking the footprints of the bandits. The bandits weren’t too concerned with erasing their traces and they were fairly easy to track. There were roughly a couple dozen bandits which normally would have caused military intervention. Celeste frowned at the thought of a possible bandit army gathering.

Celeste looked at Marcus and said: “best we stop this group before it gets out of control.”

Marcus nodded.

Marcus and Celeste eventually tracked the bandits to a small ruined fort that was half-destroyed during the Shadow King’s invasion. There was a large hole in the fort and a couple bandits posted watch on the roof. The parapet was heavily damaged and the torso of the bandits could be seen. The two bandits were yawning and lacked discipline, however they were surprisingly well armed. They wore chain mail shirts and held crossbows.

“They must have looted the fort.” Marcus said as he observed them from afar. Marcus and Celeste was at the edge of the forest 500 paces away.

Celeste quirked an eyebrow at Marcus. “You know I can’t see them clearly from here right?”

Marcus coughed a little and apologize and explained their equipment to Celeste.

“After you.” Celeste gestured.

Marcus nodded and sprinted toward the bandit hide out as Celeste walked behind casually.

The bandits couldn’t even react to Marcus before he scaled up the fort and knocked out both bandits on the roof and made short work of everyone inside. By the time Celeste arrived Marcus dragged out the bandits into open field. There was twenty-six of them total. Half of them were well armed and the apparent leader was armed in a brigandine.

Marcus recognized a few of them from a previous encounter and gritted his teeth.

“Why didn’t you just kill them?” Celeste looked at the bandits with simmering anger.

“I would like to hear them out at least.”

Celeste shook her head. “They will say anything to be granted mercy. The bloodstains on them indicate they deserve death.”

“You’re right. I still want to talk to them.”

Celeste laughed. “I’ll leave it up to you then. I don’t think I could stomach their lies.” Celeste took a few deep calming breaths before leaving Marcus with the bandits.

Marcus interrogated the bandits he didn’t one-by-one. Waking them, asking them questions forcefully, then put them back to sleep. Most of them pleaded mercy and told him some form of story about how they were forced into banditry to survive. That they lost their family during the war and pleaded to Marcus they would never rob or kill again after being released.

Marcus said told each bandit he interrogated if they were to truthfully expose the other bandit’s misdeeds he would consider sparing their life. And every bandit snitched on each other of heinous crimes. Celeste was right, it would seem no one here is worthy of mercy. Marcus was especially disappointed in the bandits he recognized and shown mercy to before. Marcus gave those bandits no third chances. Marcus contemplated directly killing all of them, but did learn that there was a person who quit banditry in the group he spared last time. This gave Marcus pause. He thought there might be a possibility if he spare the twenty remaining bandits there might be one or two that will change to live honest lives.

Marcus woke all the bandits at the same time and spoke to them in a loud voice. “You can choose to kill yourself and repent for your crimes. Or choose to fight until the last man and survive. Those who choose to repent raise your hands.”

No one raised their hand and all of them were looking at each other with murder in their eyes. Marcus sighed as his shadow expanded underneath the bandits.

***

Marcus entered Celeste’s home with quiet footsteps and sat at the table with Celeste and Lizzy. They whispered in soft voices to not wake the sleeping children.

“Where are you planning to head to now?” Marcus asked.

“Probably another remote village to be the local apothecary.” Celeste said as she watched her children sleep. “Would you like to come with me?”

Marcus was surprised. “The amulets should keep their demonic powers at bay, I am not needed anymore.” Marcus explained.

“Well. You know kids they tend to lose stuff all the time.”

“Yeah, I’m not a kid and I lose stuff all the time still.” Lizzy interjected.

“You’re right.” Marcus replied and drew his lips to a line. “Lizzy will stay with you as insurance.”

“I will what now?” Lizzy said in a raised voice and immediately put her hands on her mouth and whispered. “I will what now?”

“I still need to gather people for my cause. As much as I would love to stay with you and the three children.” Marcus said solemnly.

“You mean two children.” Lizzy corrected.

“No I mean three children.” Marcus looked at Lizzy.

Celeste smiled at the banter then looked at Marcus with gentle eyes. “I knew many good ambitious people who wanted to save the world. I used to be one of them.” Celeste put her hands on Marcus’. “We all ended up broken or corrupted. I hope you will be the first person I know who won’t.” Marcus met Celeste’s eyes and they shared a moment.

“You know this is really really weird.” Lizzy said as she looked at Marcus and Celeste’s intertwined hands. “I don’t mean to ruin the moment, but seeing you two hold hands like that is giving me the heebie-jeebies. The former Saint and the former Shadow King joining hands seems like it’ll cause the world to end.”

Both Celeste and Marcus withdrew their hands and chuckled.

Marcus then turned serious and said to Lizzy. “I’ll leave Celeste and her children in your care Lizzy. I order you to protect them well and listen to Celeste’s direct orders and not willfully avoid her.”

“Jeez. Can’t you put a little trust in little ol’me?” Lizzy said in a frustrated tone. “I quite like Celeste, otherwise I wouldn’t have helped her so much.”

“I trust you as far as I can throw you.” Marcus said evenly as he stared at Lizzy.