"What do you mean they are gone?! Bodies don't just vanish into thin air, Stella." Aurora rushed over, freezing when she saw the same sight. "What?"
How!? There's no blood trails or drag marks. It's as if they just stood and walked off. "What about the first one we killed?" Aurora turned to Stella as she spoke.
"Gone as well. I circled back since I forgot to check his body for evidence, but it was gone when I got there. It's why I took so long to catch up." Stella sighed, holding the side of her head. "Once we get to town, I will try to speak to my Lady. Perhaps she has something she could share."
"Sounds like a plan. Let's get out of here. I don't like this feeling I have right now." Camilla's eyes scanned the treeline. I could have sworn I felt like someone was just watching us. Her focus was broken when Aurora elbowed her in the side.
"Come on. It's time to get moving." Aurora turned, heading to catch up to Stella. Camilla followed just behind, sparing one last glance at the forest. The trio made their way slowly back to the road, talking as they went.
"So Stella, how did you become an Apostle?" Aurora tilted forward slightly, looking past Camilla, who was in between them.
"Hmm… let's see. It seems like it happened forever ago, so I don't fully remember everything. I was a solo adventurer back then, but what I do remember was finding a glowing item hidden in a ruin." Stella cracked a rare smile as she thought back.
"That was when I first met Lady Lune'itas. I remember feeling utter despair just standing in her presence for the first time. It felt like my body was slowly withering away even though nothing happened." She shivered slightly, recalling the feeling from back then.
"So what happened next?!" Aurora looked at her with stars in her eyes, making Camilla sigh. Stella giggled at their antics before she continued. The storytime lasted until they finally reached the road.
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Lune'itas sat on her throne, her elbow resting on the arm, her cheek resting on her palm. Her gold eyes watched boredly, her Apostle and companions chasing another group. She stared blankly at the action until she watched Stella decapitate the man.
She almost turned her attention away before the corner of her vision caught some movement. What is that!? She watched in horror as the man's head rolled back towards his body, reattaching itself.
What ungodly power is this? She snarled and gathered energy in her hand, forming it into a spear, and hurled it towards the man. It had barely left her hand when a barrier blocked it, expunging it from existence.
"Fria. What do you think you're doing?" Lune'itas snapped her head to the side, glaring at the new goddess. The small girl was dressed in formal saintess attire, a small smirk on her lips.
"Stopping you from making a mistake you would come to regret." She placed her hands together as if in prayer, bowing towards her.
Lune'itas growled at her. "Why would you do that!? You know exactly who that power comes from."
"I do know. That's exactly why I stopped you! We can't make rash moves against that thing!" Fria raised her voice at her, making Lune'itas flinch. "If you can't control yourself, then I will be forced to summon our sisters to stop you."
"Haa… fine, I'll behave. Even I can't fight all of you at once, after all. Now go, I have things to attend to." Lune'itas waved her hand, expelling Fria from her domain. With another wave, the scene in her mirror changed, no longer showing her champion.
It slowly focused, showing a hidden grove that appeared empty. Lune'itas was able to see the barrier that hid whatever was inside. Her gaze pierced through the barrier with ease, revealing the hidden mansion. Her eyes were drawn to a room she couldn't see into.
How amusing, to see someone master barrier magic to this extent. Lune'itas easily peered through the barrier, finally seeing the mastermind, an elderly woman sitting in a rocking chair. Her eyes remained closed as she rhythmically rocked back and forth. She's even mastered Illusion magic, I see.
The youthful girl beneath the illusion was glaring up, right towards Lune'itas. How perceptive. I wonder if she serves one of my sisters. She turned her head, looking at the pissed-off elf in the corner, tied up on a chair. Her rage was clearly directed at the other woman.
Lune'itas observed them for another few moments, yet with nothing else happening, she withdrew her gaze. She returned to her realm, heading over to a bookcase. She looked over her collection, slowly running her finger along the top, until she reached a red-covered one with chains around it.
She pulled it out and vanished into dust, heading to visit her elder sister.
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Aurora laid on the bed, resting inside the inn they had chosen upon arriving in Rizenfort. She stared at the small silver band resting around her pointer finger, a gift Camilla had gotten her back in Southtale. She must have gotten this while I was bedridden, huh?
She smiled, lifting her hand into the air above her, and spread her fingers apart. To think she could pick out something this nice. She slowly sat up, stretching out her back with a yawn. She looked around the room, seeing no one was back yet.
"They should be back soon, they are only getting some rations. What's taking them so long?" She quickly pulled on her boots and began to pack up their belongings, ready to leave once they returned.
She wasn't waiting long before Camilla walked into the room, carrying a large sack full of supplies. Stella was just behind, holding her own sack. "Quite the haul there you two. Isn't that far more than we need?"
Camilla shrugged. "Better safe than sorry, Aurora. I see you finished packing. Shall we go?"
"Sure," Aurora grabbed the sack of their belongings and followed them out the door. She stopped at the main counter, the other two heading outside to wait.
The young man behind the counter looked up as she approached. "Checking out or extending your stay?"
"Checking out. Room 17." She placed six silver coins on the counter to pay the cleaning fee.
"Please come again, madam," He collected the coins and returned to his other duties. Aurora turned and left the building, rejoining her party outside. As they strolled through the streets, Aurora kept darting her eyes around, wary that the cult was still following them.
Camilla's hand landed on her shoulder, making her flinch. "Aurora, they aren't here. Relax."
Aurora smiled weakly. "Right… relax. I'll try." She took a deep breath, calming herself as they continued moving. The smaller size of the town allowed them to quickly arrive at the main gate, heading for the stable just outside. They walked up to a middle-aged, bearded man that sat on a bench.
"Excuse me sir, are you a carriage driver by chance?" Aurora struck up a conversation.
He opened one eye, giving her a sideways glance before closing it again. "An elf huh? Rare to see your kind so far south, but yes I drive carriages for a price."
"I would like to hire your services then."
"Why me? There are plenty of others over there." He pointed with his stick to the other end of the stables.
"Intuition? You are the most skilled driver here, are you not?" Her doubt was evident in her voice. He let out a hearty laugh. The elf in question was the most intriguing person he had met recently.
"Alrighty, lass. I can drive you, but I don't come cheap." A glint of greed was visible in his eyes.
"That's fine with me." She pulled out four gold coins and held them out towards the man. "I'll pay half in advance and half once we arrive. If you perform better than I expect, I'll even include a bonus."
"You got yerself a deal." He accepted the coins, stuffing them into his pocket, before leaving to ready the carriage. Aurora turned back towards her group, motioning to a nearby bench.
"Let's sit and wait."
"Good idea." Camilla agreed, taking a seat next to Aurora and leaning against her.
"Sure." Stella's reply was short as she watched a group of three adventurers whisper amongst themselves. They kept glancing over and turning away to talk to one another. Their rude behavior irked Stella, who tapped her foot on the ground, sending a wave of dust in their direction.
They tried to shield their faces as they got covered, their anger reaching a peak. They began to storm over, wanting to put Stella in her place for mocking them. Before they could take three steps, a carriage arrived between them. The trio quickly climbed aboard before the driver snapped the reins, urging the horses forward.