Amrita ascended the steps of the Grand Cathedral of the Goddess Reborn, a massive building connected, albeit with some distance, to the Goddess Reborns own Sanctuary where she lived and held court with those who were high enough of rank to earn such an honor. The Grand Cathedral was as large as its name implied, but while it was both wide and tall, most who entered it for weekly mass did not know the true extent of the building. The main hall was where Mass was held, where the high priests, bishops, and Archbishop and the like prayed, guided the masses and preached. It was a single, simple wooden door to the immediate right of the main doors, hidden underneath the balconies above, shadowed by a lack of torches, and guarded by a Dawn Templar that was her direct objective however.
Stepping up to the Dawn Templar she silently held out a hand, allowing Amrita to pull out a silver medallion and give it to her. The Dawn Templar looked it over for a second, taking note of the markings, the design, and the engravings upon it, before nodding to herself and stepping out of the way while opening the door.
Amrita gave a nod of thanks and entered, instantly turning in the narrow hall and ascending the stairs that were the only things in front of her, heading up to the second floor of the Cathedral, a place where only those of the Clergy could enter.
When she reached the second floor she was met with the sight of many clergy members moving about and doing their business is near silence. Some did talk with others, but none of them raised their voices beyond a certain level so that any of the populace who might be below in the main hall could not hear them.
Walking around the balcony and the majority of the second floor she came to a flight of stairs that led up to the Cathedrals third and highest floor, ascended them, and then began crossing the third floor. Unlike the second, where there were many people moving about and working, the third floor was mostly devoid of people and noise. It had no opening below to the main hall, and the marble columns and tiles along the floor made each step echo far louder than she liked. Eventually she came up to a door, similar to the rest, but made different by the fact that while it was made of wood, it was exquisitely polished and the wood itself was banded in thin silver bands covered in holy inscriptions and protective runes.
Taking a moment to steady herself, she rapped on the door with her knuckle only once. A second later the door clicked and slowly swung open, reveling a space that appeared to be an office.
"Enter," Beckoned an old sounding woman's voice.
Amrita entered as she was told the door swinging shut behind her by magic as she cleared it, and allowing her to take a second to look upon the room. As an office it was simple and utilitarian at first glance, not as gaudy as much of the rest of the cathedral. A desk sat at the back of the room, while lining both walls were shelves covered in books and other items, while a single door also sat between two shelves on the right wall. It was a further glance that truly made the rooms excessiveness stands out. The shelves were all made of Polished and stained Walnut, while the floors were not just covered in marble tiles, but the space between the tiles was filled with what appeared to be either Ivory or some other similar lustrous stone. The books on the shelves were all covered in strong hard covered with engraving and inlay on the spines, while scroll tubes of ivory and jewelry boxes of silver sat in other places. And as if to enhance all of it a chandelier of silver and crystal floated above the room by magic, covering everything in a scintillating glow that, personally, Amrita found very distracting.
At the back of the room, behind a desk seemingly made of Polished Rosewood and decorated with a brass and silver lamp, was the Archbishop of the church of the Goddess Reborn, the highest ranked Clergy member in all of the Seven Shields Alliance, held only below the Goddess Reborn herself. She was a very elderly Elven woman with hair that had long since turned from its brilliant blond to a dull grey, but her bright green eyes still held a strength in them that was hard to look at. She was garbed in a simple white robe, while her more regal robes and vestments of her station were hung perfectly upon hangers behind her. She must have been considerably old for an elf to look as old as she did, but as she spoke, she did not sound as old as such her tone holding power that she was clearly at home commanding others.
"Amrita of the Scholastic and cleansing branches, formerly of the inquisitorial and healing branches. Why are you here before me?"
Amrita had to hold back a shudder. She hated being reminded of her past, of the things she had done. Being a healer had never been bad, but she much preferred being a scholar, teaching people the skills they needed, and cleansing people of both physical and mental ailments. Being part of the inquisitorial branch of the church had been, difficult.
"I am here upon orders from Princess Knight Claudia of Ansur," Amrita said as she took out a folded letter from her robes and held it out.
With a wave of her hand, the Archbishop lifted the letter from Armita's hands with a bit of magic and levitated it over to her. Without a word she broke the wax seal, unfolded the letter and began reading through it, he body unmoving while her eyes went back and forth. After many minutes she put the letter down on the desk and rested her hands upon it, leveling her gaze at amrita. "Are you aware of what this letter says?"
"I would presume that it is a copy of the orders that the Honorable Princess Knight gave to me. Perhaps alongside some explanation from her upon why she gave me such orders. I have not read them, so I would not be able to know for sure however."
"A possible answer, and very proper for one of your current position," The Archbishop said with a slight smirk. "You are partly correct. This letter details the Honorable Princess knight of Ansur's reasoning for taking you from your position in the city to accompany a pair of individuals that were traveling with her convoy. It also details what they did, and for what reasons she wanted you to watch over them. Tell me. Do you believe the Princess Knight of Ansur is aware of your prior positions?"
Amrita swallowed as she thought about the question and then slowly shook her head. "No, I do not believe she was aware of such."
"And why is that?" The archbishop asked. "You are free to answer truthfully, of course."
Amrita paused, unsure of how to answer for a moment. "Because, the honorable Princess knight of Ansur tends to mostly focus her attention upon the Templars, and the working of the city, not the past of one that worked in the local church teaching as I have."
"I see," the Archbishop said before pausing, as if thinking on something before suddenly dismissing it. "Then please, tell me what you reported to the Princess Knight about the two guests she brought along to meet the Goddess Reborn herself?"
"I did not," Amrita answered before pausing and then further explaining. "She asked me to alert her to anything they did that seemed dangerous or untoward, and I did not witness anything. Most of the time traveling was spent in conversation."
"And what did you speak of with these two? A foreign mage and a freed yet unpardoned criminal?"
"I spoke of our lands, of how our governments and the church operated as the civilian populace understood it, as well as a small amount of baser information upon the Princess Knights. The mage, named Ainz Ooal Gown, spoke mostly of magic as he tried to explain his lands magic to myself as the one he took in as his apprentice. They also spoke of their opinions on many thing related to magic."
"I see. That is an informative answer for a teacher. Now, as one who was once an inquisitor, and one of the best, answer again."
Amrita twitched and found a lump forming in her throat and stomach. "That person is long gone, and so I cannot answer in such way," She said nervously and quietly.
The archbishop shook her head in disappointment. "Foolish girl. You did good work, and running from such a thing is a waste of your talents. You will understand eventually that you never did anything wrong, and I will look forward to when you realize as such and return to where you can do the most good."
Amrita said nothing to the Archbishop's words, causing her to shake her head again.
"Goodness. Very well, I shall leave it at that for now. I thank you for bringing me this information, but I believe that will be all. If you are unwilling to accept your old position and its merits you may return to Ansur and continue teaching brats."
"Thank you," Amrita responded seemingly unaffected by the Archbishops words as she bowed. "I will take my leave then." Amrita turned toward the door and stepped up to it, but as she reached out her hand toward the handle, she froze as a strange feeling, like that of a bone chilling wind, seemed to pass through the room, making both women flinch. "What, what was that?"
"The Cathedral's new wards," The Archbishop stated as she very quickly got up and began donning her proper public robes. Robes that from the way they moved, Amrita could tell they had protections of some kind within them. "Those wards, that shiver of worry, tells that one whom is touched by dark magic's has entered the cathedral. Head down quickly, I shall be behind you presently."
Amrita did not say or do anything to make it clear she hear the order as she rushed out of the room and across the third floor to the stairs. As she began descending them she could hear shouts and murmurs, and as she broke out into the second floor she could see many member of the clergy gathered at the balconies edge. Some held staves, others held bows in their hands that were drawn, and all of them were pointing down into the main hall. As she moved to the balcony she felt a sigh of relief pass over her as down there standing in the main hall surrounded by a couple armed priests and a dawn Templar, was Sir Ainz and Hara.
"Stand down!" Amrita called out as loudly as she could as she began circling around the balcony to head for the stairs down. "Stand down; they are guests of the Goddess Reborn herself and of Princess Knight Claudia. Stand down!"
Murmuring and statements of shock and denial followed as many clergy members were unsure what to do. When Amrita arrived on the bottom floor and came out into the main hall, she could see that most of those on the upper balcony had indeed listened to her, at least party, and were not pointing their weapons at Ainz directly. The three priests and Dawn Templar that surrounded him and Hara however, had not.
"I said stand down, these two are guests of the Alliance leadership!" Amrita repeated as she walked over.
Only for the dawn Templar to spin and glare at her. "Lies, this one I recognize as the greyed knight of Ansur. They are not allowed to enter this holy place, and as they are not wearing their proper gear, I can only assume they have broken free of their ordained punishment!"
"Their situation is complicated. As I understand it, she has been partly absolved of her punishment to be this mages Apprentice as a reward for his protection of Ansur days ago. He is also here as a guest of Princess Knight Claudia, and was supposed to be meeting the Goddess Reborn herself!" Amrita declared as she stepped to the side so that she could properly see Ainz and Hara, who was standing behind him looking highly uncomfortable. "Sir Gown, you did meet the Goddess reborn, did you not?"
"I did, yes," Ainz spoke up, seemingly unaffected by the weapons pointed at him. "As well as the other Princess Knights. I spoke with them for a time, before speaking with Celestine in private, where after a time she requested I look into something for the seven shields alliance."
"Absurd lies!" The Dawn Templar declared as she pointed her sword at the back of Ainz's head. "The Goddess would never accept the help of some random mage!"
"She did. And I am here to deliver this message and acquire the aid of one from the church, for my mission," Ainz said as he took out an envelope the color of the sun, with a silver colored wax seal upon it.
Many visibly looked shocked from the sight, but the Dawn Templar simply stepped forward and hopped up, snatching the envelope from Ainz's hand and looked it over for a second. "I will be the one to decide that you-"
"That will not be necessary!" All eyes turned up to the Balcony where the Archbishop now stood, the brilliant silver and gold inlaid robe and vestments making her station clear as she held a large staff topped with the symbol of the goddess Reborn atop it. "The only ones allowed to open anything marked with the Goddesses Seal, are the Goddess herself, the Princess Knights, and myself. Do you intend to subvert such a rule yourself?"
"N-no, of course not your holiness," The Dawn Templar quickly said. "I merely could not believe that such a cad of a man could be asked to carry something so important!"
"Even if you believe such a thing, it is not your place to question it," the Archbishop stated coolly. "Bring me the letter. Now."
"Y-yes, of course Your Holiness," the Dawn Templar exclaimed before making a beeline for the doorway to head up to the second floor.
The Archbishop shook her head a second later. "The rest of you, return to your business and posts. It seems the wards simply showed us a false reaction. And you, mage. Stay where you are, I will be done presently," The archbishop finished just as he Dawn Templar reached her and handed over the letter before disappearing.
The Archbishop then deftly broke the seal and began reading over the letter as those around the balconies began nervously shuffling off to return to their previous duties. After a few minutes of reading in silence she seemed to nod, before walking away from the balcony and out of sight. A minute later she walked out of the shadows area to the right of the main hall where the stairs were, her grip upon her staff tight in her grip as she approached.
"Mage. Were you given an understanding of what is written in this letter?"
"I understand that it is a short explanation of my being a guest, of the mission I am taking and the request from Lady Celestine for one of the church's people to accompany my apprentice and I to make our mission more official."
"That is, rather correct," the Archbishop admitted.
"Then I would request that Amrita be the one to accompany us if possible," Ainz said suddenly. "On the grounds that we already know each other."
The Bishop was quiet for a moment before she spoke "I will consider it. I do however, need to look over who would truly be best to send with you, and make sure they are properly equipped for whatever journey this mission will take them on."
"We already have traveling supplies, so whoever is to come with us will only need their own personal affects," Ainz stated suddenly, causing the archbishop to turn an eye to him warily.
"I see. Would I be correct in then assuming that you are intending to leave immediately?"
"You would be, yes."
"I see. Very well I will expedite my search and have them sent to you. Please wait in the Grey River Tavern. It is the large stone tavern down the fourth street to the south of the main boulevard of the city. It is a well-known haven for adventurers, and is one of the better respected locations. I will send the one I choose to send to meet you there."
Ainz was quiet for a moment before he shifted slightly and turned away from the archbishop. "Very well. We will be there waiting. Kindly do not make us wait too long; I would hate to depart while the sun is down." He then began walking toward the main doors, Hara following close behind him until the two of them were out of sight and the doors closed behind them.
"Amrita, Follow me, and say nothing," The Archbishop then said as she turned and began heading for the stairs.
Amrita obeyed and followed the Archbishop. Up the stairs to the second floor, around the balcony, up to the third floor, and right past the door to the archbishop office where they stopped in front of a door that was different than every other in the Cathedral. Instead of being made of polished wood it was made of solid wrought iron, and instead of it having a lamp near it to help mark its location, the area around it was devoid of any lighting, making it difficult to see from a distance.
Amrita knew the room well.
"Your Holiness i-"
"Do not speak, not until we are within," the Archbishop interrupted Amrita's attempt at arguing her entry to the room as she stepped up to it and took out medallion and slid one particular edge of it against an inset edge of the door. The sound of multiple click and clunks came away from the door as she did, before the door then was pushed open and the Archbishop walked in.
Amrita, uncertainly and fearfully followed and closed the door behind her before she turned around to see the inside of the room she had not seen in many years.
Marble floors polished to an almost mirror finish and marked with arcane and holy symbols were the most normal part, as both walls to either side of her were covered in Dark wooden shelves covered with grated locked doors overtop of them, each door marked with a name. Inside each individual shelf were a variety of items, but almost all of them had distinct similarities. Armor, armored vestments, gauntlets, bracers, vambraces, and every form of protection possible, alongside weapons. Bows of all sizes, swords, axes, spears, maces, hammers, sickles, even strange foreign weapons. Every single piece of metal was a dull reddish gold in color, while every piece of cloth was a dark gray on color. The only items that did not follow these colors were folded travelling cloaks, and every item except the cloaks were stamped with a rare crest that few ever had seen in their life, but that all people of the Seven shields alliance knew.
The mark of the Inquisitors.
"Ma'am, I am retired."
"Not anymore. You are being Reinstated," the Archbishop declared as she strode down the hall and stopped in front of one case that was full of gear, a case that had Amrita's name upon it.
"Is that not my choice?" Amrita asked with a tinge of venom in her tone.
"It would be normally, however I cannot let anyone lesser deal with this situation."
"Then why not have someone more qualified, such as Lady Marianne or Ser Cassoland?"
"They are dead," the Archbishop said, causing Amrita to stop and stare for a moment.
"W-what? Dead?"
"Yes. When you were last active, do you recall how many of you there were?"
Amrita was silent for a moment. "There, were thirty two of us, thirty two inquisitors operating across all of Eostia."
"There are now nine, including yourself, who still live."
"What? In five years? How?" Amrita demanded to know.
"We do not know," the Archbishop admitted. "But in these past years the numbers of the inquisitors have dwindled. We know some organization or group is hunting them down, but we know nothing more than that. Of those who yet still live, you are not only the most powerful user of holy magic and in combat, you are also the most proficient in discovering the truth. That is why you are being reinstated, and are the one accompanying that mage."
"My accompanying him does not require being reinstated to a position I have absolutely no interest in even being near," Amrita said stoically, causing the Archbishop to spin around from facing the shelf to facing amrita, clutching the letter angrily in one hand.
"Yes it does, for the Goddess Reborn herself believes that that man, that masked mage of all things, could possibly be a Reborn deity just as she is!"
Amrita stepped back from the Archbishop, literally overcome by such a statement as she leaned against a shelf to steady herself for a moment. "W-what? That sounds . . . . . . . . . Like it, would actually explain a few things."
"Does it now?" The Archbishop asked with a strangely gleeful look on her face.
"A bit. . . May I see the letter?"
"Do you realize what you are asking?"
"I do. If I am being forcibly reinstated, does it matter?" Amrita asked, her facial expression shifting ever so slightly and making the Archbishop smile.
It seemed she was already slipping back into her old self. "Very well. Take a read," The Archbishop said as she handed Amrita the letter.
She took it and began reading it over with a discerning and serious gaze. "God of knowledge, magic and death, she believes. That is, quiet the focus," she muttered to herself as she continued to read for a moment before sighing. "So she is specifically asking for an Inquisitor to accompany sir Gown to help ascertain, or make him agree, that he is as she is then," Amrita said with a sigh as she handed the letter back to the Archbishop. "Does the Goddess Reborn know of the inquisitors dwindles numbers?"
"She does not," the Archbishop replied instantly. "As was first intended, she only knows the organization exists under my command, to do the things the Princess Knights are unable, unwilling, or incapable, of doing."
Amrita took in a deep breath and then slowly let it out before walking toward the locked armory cabinet. The Archbishop took out a small, yet very ornate key, but instead of taking it Amrita simply grabbed the handle of the armory, braced her other hand on its side, and tore the door right off its hinges, dropping it to the ground with a thud.
"I am glad to see your strength has not waned while teaching brats how to count," the Archbishop declared as she put the key away in the same pocket in her robes that she put the letter.
"Officially, what will my mission be?" Amrita said stone-faced as she began taking equipment out of the armory and setting it down on a pull out bench by her knee's.
"Officially you will have two. To assist the current mission of that Mage and his apprentice and to ascertain the truth or lies about his identity as a reborn Deity."
"And unofficially?"
"If you can, I want you to try to find anything in regards to who is preying on our people, and your former allies," the Archbishop stated darkly. "I expect that that mage will not be quiet where he goes, and where three is noise, there is trouble that is invariably attracted to it."
"I understand," Amrita said in a cold tone before taking a deep sigh. "Please leave me to prepare, and once ready I shall depart."
"Of course, First Rank Inquisitor Amrita, I shall leave you to your work. Please report regularly if you can," The Archbishop said as she walked off, a few second later leaving the inquisitorial armories and laving Amrita alone.
After a few minutes of cold silence Amrita gently took the last piece of equipment out of the Armory. A Meter long Hexagonal Rod of burnished gold colored metal with a red rope handle. She held it in both hands reverently before she rolled it around until she found the one side of it with inscriptions and read them. "Do not draw me without reason in mind; do not wield me without Valor in the heart." Amrita ran a thumb across the inscription and let out another heavy sigh. "I am sorry old friend, it seems I again must wield and stain you with the blood of the unworthy."
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The Grey River Tavern, Ainz Discovered, was better than he had figured it would be considering the Archbishop of the churches short description of it. A large building made of solid wooden logs, with smooth stone floors, lit by numerous oil lamps, and with tables amply spaced apart as to not cause issues between them if someone stood up suddenly.
The Taverns clientele was a mix of regular patrons from the city itself, who seemed to loosen up and relax vas soon as they sat down, and of adventurers and mercenaries who mostly kept to themselves, but were as rowdy a bunch as Ainz had figured they would be.
The Clientele was however, very obviously split. The cities regular patrons, those who were not adventurers, and who simply wanted to have a drink and socialize, seemed to gather exclusively on the right side of the main floor, where there were stairs that led up to a balcony that again, only covered the right side of the main floor and allowed those upon it to look over at the left side. The side where the adventurers and mercenaries appeared to be sequestered.
Ainz and Hara had been forced, or requested the barkeep would say, to sit in the mercenary area to the left. He agreed, mostly to not cause issues, and for the first amount of time it was not bad. Their table was one that was in the front corner of the left, allowing both he and Hara to sit with their backs against the walls. He sat and enjoyed the ambience of a truly fantasy tavern, while Hara partook of a surprisingly large meal of hearty stew and almost fresh bread.
It was after an hour of them being present that trouble seemed to rear its ugly head as a trio of mercenaries approached their table.
"Yo! So what are your stories?"
Ainz looked up at the three men. The one who had spoken was a lean but athletic man wearing pants and a loose vest. He could see a short sword on his belt, and this man's eyes were ones that gleamed in a way that Ainz did not like. The two men behind him were larger, but seemed to be following the leaner man, weapons on their belt, and eyes drifting toward Hara off and on. Something that she seemed to notice.
"I am sorry, but I do not believe I caught your name, mister-?" Ainz said, leaving the end of his sentence hanging to make it clear what he was requesting. He expected the man to answer, for who wouldn't, but instead the lean man looked at him in shock.
"You, don't know who I am?"
"I would not ask if I did," Ainz responded.
The two other men seemed to take this badly as they stepped up to the table, one of them slamming a palm don on it, and almost causing Hara's drink to rock. "Hey, stop being ignorant, everyone knows who we are, and who this is!"
"Yeah, you're talking to the second in command of the entire lands biggest and most successful mercenary Company!"
"Hey hey, let's not get too loud and ruin people meals," The lean man said as he raised his hands in front of his comrades before smiling. "We're all mercenaries here, if they don't know us, it's simply a case of introducing ourselves," He then said as he moved a chair and sat down right beside Hara, motioning for his allies to do the same. "Name is Hicks, Second in command of the Black Dog Mercenary Company. These are a pair of our captains. Olu and Ulo."
The two now named men each nodded as they sat down, the trio now covering the opposite side of the table in a way that could be considered challenging. So Ainz challenged them back.
"I see. Thank you for introducing yourselves. I am Ainz Ooal Gown, and this is Hara. Now that we are acquainted, please leave us to our meal. I do not recall inviting you to sit with us."
"Hey, you can't' just-" Olu began to say before Hicks raised a hand and stopped him.
"No need to yell men, and there's no need to be so unfamiliar, were all the same here and I just want to talk is all. After all, never seen you before, and it's rare for a mercury to bring along their woman with, and to arm them as well."
"I am not his woman," Hara spoke up as she glared at Hicks. "I am his apprentice."
"Oh? So that means your mages then, yeah?" Hicks asked as he leaned back in his chair as if he was right at home. Before either Hara or Ainz could answer though, he continued to speak. "So if you're mages, and we don't recognize ya, I'm guessing you are new to the mercenary line of life? Need a company to join? We're always recruiting, and you look like you can pull your weight even without magic," Hicks said as he gestured toward Ainz, then fixed his gaze to Hara. "Could always use a few more on logistical duty too."
"You-"
"That will not be necessary, as we have no interest in joining a company," Ainz spoke up, interrupting Hara and making her scowl before going back after drink.
"That's not smart," hicks stated. "Just two people won't be able to get any good work contracts, and I'll tell you now a lot of other mercenary bands don't care for letting mages join them."
"That's fine, we already have a job," Hara said in a grumble as she hunched over a bit as she noticed that Ulo and Olu were staring at her chest.
"Oh, who for?" Hicks asked curiously.
"That is our business, and not yours," Ainz stated, now becoming slightly annoyed by the man's presence. He just did not seem to get the hint. And if he continued not getting it, he might need to be shown it.
"Come on now, that's not very nice, who knows, we might have information that could help you out. No reason why fellow mercenaries can't help each other, right?" Hicks asked before something by Hara caught his eye. "Hello, what is this?" He then asked as he reached for the wall behind Hara where her Naginata was leaning.
In an instant Hara spun in her seat and grabbed her Naginata's handle, just before Hicks had reached it.
"Oh, that yours?" Hicks asked causally, not retracting his hand.
"Yes," Hara snapped in reply.
"But why?" Hicks asked with a grin. "If you're a mage you have no need for such an interesting looking weapon. Let me give it a whirl and maybe I'll buy it off of ya."
"No," Hara replied instantly as Hicks tried to finish reaching for it.
"Come on, it's not like you can use it properly, "Hicks claimed as he brushed off Hara's answer and continued reaching for it.
Her reaction was clearly not what he expected as she stood up while pulling the Naginata toward her and swung it upwards. The shaft swung up and struck both Hicks inner ankle and his crotch, making him tense and flinch if clear pain, but as he started to bend over from said pain Hara swung the Naginata around back the opposite way. Three was barely enough room by the wall considering the blade of the Naginata took a fine strip of wood off the wall as she swung, but she managed to bring the shaft down against Hicks shoulder sending him to the floor, and letting the blade rest just shy from his neck.
Proving that at the very least that Hara's atrial practice she had been doing over the past days had certainly been worth it. Though Ainz did notice her grimacing slightly, likely from having planted her crippled leg in an awkward position.
In the three seconds the action took place the entire Tavern had become silent, gazes locked in their directions with most being wide in surprise and shock. Even Ulo and Olu looked surprised by the turn of events, though their surprise quickly turned to anger and rage.
"You bitch, you think you can just-"
"Wait, calm down," Hocks called out with a hearty chuckle that seemed highly out of place. "I'm at fault, I understand that. I shouldn't have touched your blade. I apologize."
Hara let out a harrumph as she removed the Naginata's blade from beside his throat and sat down, pushing her chair further away from him and closer to Ainz as she held her Naginata tight.
"Ugh, geez, not often I find a woman who knows how to properly fight," Hicks said as he got up, seemingly in a jovial mood despite what had just occurred. "You sure you don't want to join our company? You could do some serious work I reckon."
"No. thank you," Ainz said slowly.
Hicks just shrugged. "Eh, can't blame me for trying when ya got skill like that. How about some help on whatever job you have? We're waiting on a job and are free anyway."
"That will not be necessary."
Both Hicks, his men, and most people in the Tavern who had not noticed the door silently open, turned their gazes to it. There stood Amrita, but instead of the simple white robes and minimalistic Vestments she had worn on their travels from Ansur, she was wearing a heavy looking dull grey travel cloak with the insignia of the Church emblazoned across it's left shoulder. Ainz could also tell that despite the heavy look of the cloak, whatever she had underneath it was bulkier than her previous robes had been, meaning likely armor, weapons, or some kind of similar equipment.
"Oh, Amrita, so you are being sent with us after all?" Hara asked in slight surprise.
"I am yes, I look forward to traveling with you again," Amrita said as she approached the table, causing Hicks and his men to surprisingly shift away from her. "Perhaps with just the three of us, out conversations will not be interrupted as often this time."
"That would be preferable indeed," Ainz agreed as he stood up.
"Uh, so you're working for the church then?" Hicks asked in surprise. When Ainz simply nodded he took another step back. "Strange for the church to employ mages, but I suppose I will take my leave then,"
Without another word he walked off at a quickened pace, his captains following behind him just as quickly, but doing little to hide the panic they were feeling.
"Were the Black Dogs harassing you for information? Or simply trying to make you join them and hand over the mission you had accepted?" Amrita asked as Ainz began coming around the table, Prompting Hara to stand up herself.
"The latter I would presume. I take it such a thing is common for them?" Ainz asked.
"It is rumored to be, yes. It is said among some groups that they became the largest mercenary company by swallowing others, while also taking their jobs at the time. Officially they are a prominent company, and responsible for the destruction of several smaller forces of the dark queen. Many mercenaries are more than willing to join them if scouted."
"Hmm, hardly important to us then I suppose," Ainz mused before looking to Amrita directly. "Are you prepared to leave? Do you have what you yourself will need?"
"As long as you do indeed have the travel gear you said you do, then yes, I have everything I need," amrita replied simply. "Though I will admit that once we leave the city I would like us to speak on a few matters including the mission itself."
"That was the plan, as I have yet to fully inform Hara of it."
"Despite asking twice," Hara grumbled under her breath at Ainz's comment.
"Then shall we depart? I would like to get a full understanding of this mission across to all of us sooner, not later."
"Yes, we shall," Ainz said as he stepped up and held a hand out for a moment. "Greater Teleportation!"
And in that second, the three of them, and a chair from the tavern, were gone in a flash of greenish yellow light.
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Amrita blinked and glanced around, suddenly realizing she was no longer standing in a tavern, but upon grass with hills to either side of her, and a small creek nearby. She looked over to Ainz and Hara, the former seemingly unaffected, while Hara appeared to be looking around as well.
"This, this is where we camped last week on the way to my village, and where you tested that spell on that tree," Hara stated a few seconds later.
"You, teleported us?" amrita asked in surprise. "How far? Where are we?"
"A few days south east of Ansur," Ainz answered as he rolled his shoulders. "And if Lady Celestine had given me the proper information, only a few days away from our objective."
"I still don't know what that is," Hara said, clearly as bit miffed about the fact.
"That will change, but you may want to sit down," Ainz said as he walked over to a large boulder with a concerningly flat upper surface, and sat down on it. "Hara; our mission is to confront a certain Noble named Baroness Tralford, about her actions that led to the destruction of your home."
"wha-what?!" Hara asked in surprise. "How, how do we know she's is the one responsible for it?"
Ainz let out a heavy sigh. "I have confirmed this with The Goddess Reborn herself. It was believed she was responsible for the attack on your village, apparently intending to claim the deed and gain the land your village was on. The ones investigating the attack had suspicions, but nothing fully concrete. Then you dabbled in necromancy, and as a survivor of the attack, and one who could know the location of the deed, the ones in charge at the time and the Goddess Reborn herself, beloved you being tried for such a thing would cause the Baroness to react, allowing them to catch her in an act that would give them the proof they needed. But she did not react, and the investigation went cold, while your punishment was put forth."
Hara stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable until it contorted in anger. "Then, if they hadn't been intending to use me to catch them, what would my punishment have been under normal circumstances?"
"The Goddess told me that it normally would have been you being punished with service to the state and church, and possible moved from the magic academy, to the church itself to work as a nun or something similar."
". . . dammit!" Hara suddenly screamed as her entire body seemed to tense. "Just, dammit all! All those years of being marked as a pariah, being forced to live and fight through all of that suffering in the knights, just because the Goddess and a Princess knight didn't want to go back on a decision when it didn't work out?!"
"That is correct," Ainz confirmed. "The letter we found, the Goddess recognized it as that Baroness's writing, and believes that those bodies we found from forces she sent just a few years ago to clear out the forest, as the year coming up is apparently when the ownership of the land would be revised as, until now, they had no deed."
Hara was silent form any moments before she slid down to her knees, hands tightening over her Naginata as tears fell from her face. "I am going to kill her. I don't care if our mission is to capture her or whatever; I am going to kill her myself!"
"Good."
Both Amrita and Hara's eye snapped to look at Ainz.
"What, did you just say, sir Gown?" Amrita asked carefully.
"I said good," He reiterated. "This is a noble who sacrificed the lives of common people, those who I assume it is their job to protect and care for, all for their own material gain. I do not expect them to simply come with us quietly, even if they do admit to what they have done. Also, they had the money to pay for mercenaries, so I see no reason why they are not likely to have many in their employ. They will resist, and when they do, you may have your vengeance against the one responsible for killing your family and those you grew up with and around!"
"Sir Gown, the mission is to confront them, and to bring them before the Goddess and church for judgment if possible," Amrita spoke up.
"Yes, I am aware," Ainz said with a nod. "I am also aware of what I just said. I do not believe they will cooperate to any degree. If they do, then perhaps I will insist they be executed at their trial, with Hara being the one to dish out the punishment."
" . . Thank you," Hara said sincerely as she tried to stop the tears, now that they were both of anger, and happiness to some extent.
The area was silent for a moment before amrita took a step forward from where they were. "Why would you tell her such a thing while I am here, Sir Gown? You must know that any priest or priestess would be highly against the unlawful killing of a noble of the land."
"There are a few reasons," Ainz said as he held up three fingers. "The first is simple. You are traveling with us, and we need to understand the others intent to work together. Secondly, it is only fair to do so. third, the Goddess Reborn told me that she would be requesting the church send one of their Inquisitors along with us if at all possible, because they would be able to make any action taken lawful in the eyes of the church." He took a second to let his words sink in before chuckling. "I requested you to come with us because I felt it would be simpler than having a church lapdog hovering over our shoulders, but I did not honestly expect you to be the one sent with us. After all, the church would want to have an eye on me, as I expect a portion of my conversation with the goddess was within the letter in question. Of course, that does remind me; you wished to speak of some things, including the mission, did you not?"
Amrita looked at Ainz for a moment in shock, though she did not show it on her face and simply looked curious. Then, much t Hara's surprise, she laughed. " My, I could tell before you were discerning, but I did not think you were this skilled at telling intent and the like," Amrita said as she reached up to her left shoulder and squeezed the metal sigil on her cloak, causing it to unlatch. It fell to the ground below her, revealing her to be wearing an outfit very unlike a priestess's robes.
Pants, high boots, and a blouse of a dark grey underneath sections of gray leather armor with fine but tediously woven chainmail held within it into place and metal plates elsewhere. Vambraces on her lower legs above the boots and on her forearms, a leather and plate Bustier cinched tight with Cloth that hung down from it, sections of cloth that hung over area that plate would inhibit, making it clear the cloth was likely reinforced as well. All of the metal was a dull reddish gold, and all of it was clearly of superior quality in both craftsmanship, protection, and how much of her body it actually covered, for the only areas of skin that she showed was that of her face, a small section of her neck that protected from three sides by a hard leather collar, and around her wrists, for even her hands were partly covered by fingerless gloves. As if to enhance and mystify her looks even more, her left Vambrace was affixed with a small oval shaped shield, while on the left side of her belt was a oddly bulky sheath with a handle sticking out of it, lacking a prominent hand guard.
"When we first met, I introduced myself as being part of the churches Scholastic and cleansing branches, meaning that I was a scholar, and sometimes one who helped talk people through their problems and helped the sick. At the time that was true, as for a many years until now I was retired. However, with the Goddesses writings to her belief that you may be a God Reborn to the world like she is, I have been, rather forcibly, reinstated to my previously held position. "I am Amrita Ichro, of the Churches Scholastic, cleansing and healing branches, as well as being a member of the Church's Inquisitorial branch. I am a first ranked Inquisitor of the church, capable of making decisions only able to be overturned, rescinded or argued by the Archbishop, or the Goddess Reborn herself."
Ainz said nothing as he took in Amrita's new introduction. The information it gave was interesting, making it clear that the clear cut power dynamic in Eostia of the Goddess ruling with the church and the princess knight equally below her, or of the church being below the Princess knights, was not quite as clear cut as the common populace seemed to believe. It meant there would be things he needed to discern and discover in regards to the more subdued and hidden facets of the lands governance.
Hara however, was far more vocal with her curiosity. "So, Inquisitors, do exist then," she said as she turned a bit to look at amrita. "Were, were the inquisitors the ones that failed to bring that Baroness to justice?"
"No," Amrita said with a shake of her head. "I was in the deep south at the time, but when I returned I heard about all that happened. Apparently Princess Knight Claudia insisted the Dawn Templars be the ones to look into it, but I suspected something was strange about the whole situation at the time. Sadly, any evidence they found was hidden away or destroyed. Others and myself who believed the same could not easily look into it. I'm sorry."
"No I, I'm sorry, for trying to push my anger on you," Hara aid as she let go one hand of her Naginata and wiped her face with her wrist. "Um, why did you retire? I've always hear the stories that inquisitors were holy avengers and the like, wouldn't that be preferable for most people to being a teacher?"
Amrita shook her head and let out a long, tired sounding breath. "It is not. Inquisitors are the unseen blade of the church, existing to excise corruption from its own ranks, as well as those of the common people. And I am not meaning a simple difference of opinion. I, have done a lot of things as an inquisitor, many of them good, but some of them very, very bad. I needed time to think over my thoughts, to decide how I felt about what I had done after I realized my mistakes. That is why I was retired. At least, until the Archbishop forcibly reinstated me since your master is one the goddess thinks is like her."
"I knew it," Hara said as she looked to Ainz with a smirk. "So you are a god then!"
Amrita was, admittedly, very surprised by Hara's reaction. She expected shock, surprise, even fear. Not for her act like she had just won a good natured bet. "You, knew?"
"Well, sort of? An ancient spirit from the east we encountered called him as such, and his power seemed too grand for any mage, regardless of how far he came to enter Eostia," Hara said as she tried to get up only to stumble a bit, making Amrita catch her and help her up.
"Hah, just because an old dusty spirit in a rock said I was similar to a god, does not make it so," Ainz stated, sounding rather exasperated.
"The Goddess Reborn states it as well," Amrita spoke up. "You proclaim her wrong?"
"No, merely mistaken, is all," Ainz said as he shook his head slightly. "You wished to speak about something, yes?"
"Yes," Amrita confirmed with a nod. "Aside from the mission parameters, I had initially been intending to hide my reinstated rank, but now that it is out in the open my question is this. " You have teleported us much further than I thought possible, so are we to head to the Baroness's location immediately?"
"No," Ainz said, causing Hara's head to whip around to face him. "There is no time limit upon this mission so long as I carry the proof of their incrimination, but on the chance of them not coming willingly, I shall let Hara deal with them. However, we have not had ample chance for her to study her footwork or martial skills, or continue to try to learn my lands magic's herself, and I would hope for her to be prepared for all outcomes. And as such, if you are not against it, I would like or us to camp out here for a few days to fix that. This will also allow us to learn of your own skillsets, should violence become the prime necessity."
Amrita looked like she wan ted to say something, but suddenly stopped and seemed deep in thought before nodding. "I understand, and I do agree with such a proposal. If we are to work together, we must know the other's strengths and weaknesses."
Ainz nodded and glanced at Hara, as if giving her the final say.
"I want to kill her, if she's responsible," Hara said as she looked down at her hand, and then looked at her partly bum leg. "But I'm going to need more training to do so," she then said as she bowed toward Ainz. "Please continue to teach me!"
Ainz said nothing, but somehow both Hara and Amrita could tell he was pleased as he stood up.
Though before he could speak Amrita did. "It may be overstepping my bounds, but if you would accept it, perhaps I can help you as well. You were a knight, so I can teach you what I may know off of that."
"Well," Ainz said after a few seconds of Hara being unable to respond to Amrita. "It seems we have our plans for these next few days. So let us begin in earnest!"