On the other side of the portal, Marie emerged first, under the admiring and joyous eyes of all the slaves who had just been freed. Then came Aria, her pale face standing in stark contrast to the radiant happiness of her tribesmen, who welcomed her with warmth and affection. Their heartfelt embraces and bright smiles spoke volumes about the depth of their bond.
However, the celebration was abruptly cut short when Logan stepped through the portal, carrying Elie's lifeless body in his arms. A heavy silence fell over the crowd, and a deep sorrow took hold of everyone present. All eyes turned to this heartbreaking scene, incomprehension and grief etched upon the faces of those who had hoped for a happy ending.
The members of the Lunaria tribe froze in stunned disbelief as sorrow slowly began to take hold of them. Murmurs of incredulity rippled through the group, and the faces that had just been lit with joy turned into masks of pain.
With great care, Logan gently laid Elie's lifeless body on the ground, his movements filled with a tenderness laced with anguish. A heavy silence enveloped the group, broken only by the held breaths of those witnessing the tragedy.
One by one, the tribe members rushed toward Elie some kneeling in quiet mourning, others releasing their grief in muffled sobs.
"No, my lady!"
"Please, wake up!"
"We still need you!"
The cries of despair and the tears of the Lunaria tribe quickly filled the air, creating a symphony of sorrow that seemed to shake the very foundations of the ruined place.
Meanwhile, the other freed slaves could not help but be deeply moved by the scene unfolding before them. They had each endured countless moments like this times when cruelty and injustice had torn their loved ones away in brutal, merciless ways. Painful memories resurfaced, reopening old wounds that had never truly healed.
It was a moment when collective grief transcended the differences between tribes and individuals, a reminder of fate's cruelty and the harsh reality of their struggle for freedom.
Logan watched them briefly before deciding to leave. He took a path that led into the forest, where only the shadows reigned, faintly illuminated by the glow of the twin moons. He distanced himself from the scene of sorrow, venturing into the calm of the surrounding wilderness, seeking a moment of respite a moment of solitude to face Elie's loss. And above all, to escape the piercing cries of Aria, whose voice echoed louder than the rest, unbearable in its anguish.
He stood there, motionless for several minutes, lost in thought, until the sound of footsteps reached his ears. It was Marie. After a brief moment, she appeared at his side. A heavy silence hung between them, until finally, she broke it.
"Are you all right?" she asked softly, her expression filled with understanding.
"Better than Aria right now," he replied sadly.
"We can't save everyone."
"That's true... but this time, I wasn't good enough."
"You were. You defeated Vengus and his men all on your own. But... why didn't you return instead of fighting them?"
Logan then explained in detail what had driven them to fight rather than flee.
"I see."
It was impossible for her to find any fault in him, for in truth, the only one responsible for this tragedy was Aria herself. She had lost control of her emotions, and that had led her into this disastrous battle. The most painful part of it all was that, without a shred of doubt, Aria must have known that the full weight of this tragedy rested on her shoulders.
"Tell me where are we?" Logan asked.
"This is a forest near the border, within the Kingdom of Ria," she replied. "It used to be a small village. But after a monster attack, the people abandoned it, and nature reclaimed the land. You can still see a few small houses and buildings around, like that warehouse, for instance."
"Are there any monsters nearby?"
"Yes, but low-level ones. The queen herself took care of the threat, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"All right."
"For now, we have to let things unfold and keep a low profile. We'll watch from afar and see how the situation develops."
"Understood."
"Good. I'll go report to the guild master and return when the time comes."
She summoned her power to open a new portal. With one last melancholic glance, she stepped through it leaving Logan behind once more, alone with his thoughts.
As the restless night dragged on with no sign of ending, the priests and soldiers of the Church made their way back to the grand cathedral at the heart of the Kingdom of Sigma. The blue moon, radiant in its nocturnal splendor, bathed the nearly all-white stone structure in its ethereal glow.
The priest who had confronted Logan entered the magnificent building solemnly. As he crossed the entrance hall, a lavish carpet of deep blue and gold stretched out before him. Each of his footsteps echoed through the vast chamber, while the light from the polished bronze chandeliers cast dancing shadows across the ancient stone walls.
This hall standing as a threshold between the restless outside world and the sanctified heart of the church radiated solemnity and grandeur. The intricate patterns woven into the carpet seemed to tell the story of the kingdom itself: shades of blue symbolizing peace, and accents of gold representing majesty and divinity.
Finally, the priest stopped before a grand dais and knelt in deep reverence. Above him stood a man wearing robes far more imposing and ornate than the others. His garment, pure white as untouched snow, was trimmed with shades of blue and adorned with golden embellishments. Around his neck hung a gold medallion shaped like a crescent moon, encrusted with dazzling blue gemstones that seemed to capture the very light of the moon itself.
This man was none other than a Cardinal of the Church an embodiment of faith's magnificence and authority. His mere presence filled the sacred space with an aura of reverence and command. Every movement, every word he spoke, carried the weight of ancient tradition and profound spirituality.
The priest, prostrated before the cardinal, felt both humble and honored to stand in the presence of a man of such eminent stature. Yet, above all, a visceral fear swirled within him, shaking his being to the very depths of his soul. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, and beads of perspiration gathered on his face, betraying the anguish consuming him.
"Tell me," the cardinal demanded in a calm tone.
"Well…" the priest replied hesitantly.
The priest then began to speak, recounting in meticulous detail everything that had happened. As his story unfolded, a suffocating pressure seemed to fill the sacred building. The atmosphere, once steeped in solemn devotion, slowly thickened into an almost unbearable tension. Even the candles flickered, as if the very light itself could feel the weight of the moment.
The cardinal's gaze once noble and dignified transformed entirely. His face twisted with fury, his eyes blazing with a cold, merciless rage.
"To declare war on the Church and the Kingdom… what kind of sick joke is this? A worm who has no idea who he's dealing with!"
The cathedral's massive walls seemed to tremble under the sheer force of his anger, vibrating as though the structure itself responded to his unleashed emotions. The towering pillars shuddered, as if shaken by an invisible power.
Every window of the grand hall, once peacefully aglow with candlelight, now seemed ready to shatter under the weight of his growing fury.
"And that miserable rat even dared to insult our Goddess the one who reigns over this world!" he roared, overcome with madness.
Moments later, all the windows gave way in a deafening crash, the glass exploding into thousands of fragments. The sound of breaking glass echoed like a macabre symphony through the air a heartbreaking melody of destruction. The shards danced in the darkness, reflecting the faint light of the city and the moon.
"Cardinal, please!" the priest pleaded, on the verge of fainting.
"Please? You miserable incompetent fool! How could you let a worthless insect insult our Goddess?"
The cardinal's hatred, like a dark storm, shifted course abandoning its original target to focus entirely on the trembling priest.
"Barely a priest, and already you bring such humiliation upon us!"
The cardinal raised his hand solemnly, and suddenly the priest's body was lifted into the air as if he were nothing more than a rag doll. He hung there, suspended without a touch, his body convulsing as he struggled against the crushing pressure the cardinal exerted upon him.
"Please… it won't happen again…" he gasped, choking.
"I could kill you right now in the most horrible way imaginable!"
"Forgive me… I'll make amends for this affront…" the priest murmured through strangled breaths.
The cardinal stared intensely at the man hanging helplessly in midair, watching him writhe in desperation. After a long, grave silence, he exhaled deeply. The priest's body dropped heavily to the floor, where he lay gasping, each breath a laborious struggle, as if every inhalation required immense effort.
"There will not be a third chance."
"Yes, my cardinal…"
"Now get out of my sight, Priest Samuel," the cardinal ordered.
Without a second's hesitation, the priest fled, stumbling repeatedly like a drunken man—his unsteady steps revealing the aftereffects of his violent ordeal.
"Messenger!" the cardinal barked.
Suddenly, a man clad in brown and gold appeared beside him, kneeling.
"Send this report to the Pope immediately."
"At once!" the man said before vanishing as swiftly as he had arrived.
"If you wish to challenge the Church," the cardinal declared darkly, staring into the void, "then the Church will destroy you."
A similar scene unfolded elsewhere in the royal castle of the Kingdom of Sigma. Zem knelt before the King, who sat upon his throne, with Moses standing at his side. The king, too, had listened carefully to Zem's report.
"The Church must be in turmoil right now," the king said gravely. "And so should we, for we've been openly threatened as well."
"I suspect the next council meeting will come sooner than expected," Moses replied, his tone heavy with frustration.
"Send a letter to the Adventurers' Guild," the king ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" a soldier responded before hurrying off.
"Why did this have to happen now…" the king sighed.
He dismissed Zem, remaining on his throne as he began an intense discussion with Moses. Zem, now relieved of duty, walked calmly through the castle corridors—until he crossed paths with Maïli, drenched in sweat. It was clear she had just finished a grueling solo training session.
"Something happened?" she asked.
"Nothing special."
"Liar. That grin on your face says otherwise."
"Okay, okay, something good did happen," he admitted.
"Judging by that smile, I'd say it's something positive."
"Very positive. Anyway, are you ready for your induction ceremony?"
"It should be fine… though I can't say I'm looking forward to it."
"I don't doubt it, but we've already talked about this."
"I know," she said with a faint smile. "Anyway, I'll leave you to it, Zem a good bath is calling my name."
That night, countless letters were dispatched across the kingdoms, and prominent figures busied themselves with their respective duties. Meanwhile, in his office, Stanislas meticulously examined the towering stacks of documents piling up on his desk, aided by Marie, who helped him sort and organize the overwhelming mountain of paperwork.
"Things are going to move very quickly from here on out," he said grimly.