"…To choose to forsake darkness and embrace the light it proves your nature is good at heart," said the black-robed nun, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her hands folded neatly into her wide sleeves.
That calm, subtly meaningful smile made Su feel as though she'd seen right through him.
"I was just ignorant back then," he replied, voice thick with repentance. "It was only through the grace of a noble that I've been given the chance to renounce the shadows."
When it came to acting, Su wasn't a novice. A seasoned veteran of countless virtual games, he could slip into a role as easily as breathing. Facing the black-robed nun, his performance was utterly convincing genuine emotion flooding his words, the very image of a prodigal son begging redemption. And truly, what better trope was there? Who could fault a sincere sinner turning over a new leaf?
Su was genuinely afraid.
In this world, the so-called "good" factions didn't show the slightest mercy to the wicked. And he, right now, was the definition of a tainted outsider. If this nun suddenly flipped and cut him down on the spot, he wouldn't even have time to scream.
Ever since Fractured had launched its closed beta, players on the forums had never stopped discussing the uncanny intelligence of its NPCs—how frighteningly real they were. These weren't mindless quest-givers. They cried, they laughed, they doubted, they raged. Unexpected emotional responses weren't the exception they were the norm.
Maria, however, gave no response to Su's carefully crafted plea. She simply watched him, the corners of her mouth curled into a smile one that could be either genuine or deeply ironic.
Cold sweat trickled down Su's neck.
While Maria and Su exchanged idle words, a Flame Warrior stomped out of the tunnel's darkness, the massive blade on his back thudding with each step. The moment Phoenix spotted Su, his eyes narrowed, unable—and unwilling—to hide the burning hatred in his gaze. He had insisted from the moment Su was caught that the traitor be executed on the spot.
The only reason Su was still breathing was thanks to Maria's intervention.
"It's about time," the black-robed nun said mildly, tilting her head slightly as she brushed a silver strand of hair aside, hiding the flicker of murderous intent in her crimson eyes.
She understood exactly what the Flame Warrior meant by "he's here." And for the sake of transparency, the information Su had provided was no secret. If Maria knew it, then Phoenix certainly did as well.
Thanks to this turncoat, the Kasath Reclamation Army's plans were laid bare.
"What about him?" Phoenix's voice was cold, proud features twisting into disdain as he looked at the soft-featured Su. Seeing that the nun had no intention of punishing him, his gaze darkened further.
If not for the fact that he respected Sister Maria—both her judgment and her power—Phoenix would never have allowed such leniency.
For doctrine's sake, they could do what others might deem unforgivable.
"Even a black goat, if it yearns for light, deserves forgiveness." Maria's voice was gentle, her tone seemingly careless as she stepped lightly between Su and Phoenix. Clergy were unshakable in their beliefs. Reason had little sway over them. If one hoped to persuade such people, only scripture would do.
She had no intention of letting this traitorous beta tester die.
After all, once Fractured launched publicly, she'd need players like him to form elite raiding units. Those bold enough to make unconventional choices during beta would be powerful assets in the future. If she wanted to build a top-tier strategy guild, she'd need people who dared to defy convention.
"But…" Phoenix hesitated. It was the first time he'd seen the nun this forceful.
His hand twitched on the hilt of his greatsword. Maria's eyes didn't miss the movement. Beneath her wide sleeves, her fingers began to rub together—calculating. In a flash, she thought of at least a dozen ways to erase a corpse and fabricate a story that would placate the Radiant Church.
If Phoenix insisted on crossing the line…
Then she would do what she had to. She was still, in part, a player. And for the future of Fractured's world, she would not hesitate to dirty her hands with blood.
"I… I might still be useful!" Su shouted, sensing that his life now hung in the balance.
He'd worked so hard to gain a foothold with a good-aligned NPC—he wasn't about to throw that away. Since he'd already betrayed his former allies, he might as well go all in! He hadn't accepted the Abyss's power yet. If he could pull off a full redemption arc, his future would be golden.
As for his former comrades in the Noble military? Sorry, but the NPC faction clearly had the stronger leg to hug.
"I can help you ambush him!"
Maria wasn't exactly pleased to hear Su throw out such a ruthless proposal. If anything, it reminded her of the eternal divide: players were still players, and NPCs were still NPCs. Anyone capable of betraying an old ally without flinching was also capable of selling out humanity to some eldritch cult.
"This is your duty, if you truly seek the light," Phoenix said, face softening slightly, though his tone remained harsh.
With a dramatic sweep of his cloak, he turned and strode away, clearly accepting the nun's judgment.
"Sir Phoenix has a rather intense temperament. I hope you won't hold it against him." Maria let out a quiet sigh of relief. If she could help it, she truly didn't want to resolve problems through violence.
"No worries. You really are kindhearted, Sister."
Su was sincerely grateful to this black-robed nun. Without her, he'd be dead a dozen times over by now. This wasn't some good-cop-bad-cop routine. The Flame Warrior had genuinely wanted him dead. He was the embodiment of that classic, uncompromising principle: all evil must perish.
"In a while… lure him into the trap."
"Understood. You can count on me."
To deal with Moll, Maria and Phoenix had deployed every holy scroll they had. Thanks to the efforts of Tyr and Ralph—faithful tools in this operation—the sewer near the Root Serpent's lair had already been transformed into a death trap calibrated to annihilate Abyss-corrupted targets.
Failure at the final step is often the most devastating blow of all.
Especially when it comes by way of betrayal.
Maria had made up her mind: Captain Moll had to die here. That night in Emerald Port had already set them on a path of no return. There was no room for letting such a mortal enemy live. If she failed to bury him this time, he'd come back to haunt her for sure.
Fractured had a real mechanic tied to fate. Especially oaths—swearing something lightly could come with a very real chance of literal, gruesome death if the oath was broken.
"May the Sovereign shield us."
With a practiced motion, Maria traced a cross on her forehead. Her expression turned solemn—deadly.
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