Of course, things weren’t ending so easily. This was rather the beginning.
A cold expression settled across my face, although with the way my face was currently restructured, I reckoned it wouldn’t have made quite the impression it would’ve on a normal day.
Slowly, I dragged myself towards them, walking one careful step after the other.
Until I reached the one closest to me — the elder sister. The one who had been calm throughout, who seemed like she would have been a challenge.
Well, maybe she would’ve. But there was no way to discover that when she was matched up against someone like Kassie.
It was really pitiful.
But my face held no pity for this goblin of a woman.
Instead, I stood before her mangled body and slowly collected her sword from her loosening grip. She was trembling — more like spasms, really — but I didn’t care.
I stood straight with her sword in my hand, then turned to the Inquisitor.
"This is my message to the Church."
I raised the sword slightly for a moment, and my entire will buckled. I thought to myself:
’Cade, if you cross this line... there’s no going back.’
Levi’s words even came to me at that moment. But I couldn’t care less this time.
’I crossed the line nine years ago.’
I brought the sword down with a satisfying squelch. The lady was not given a chance to scream before the blade sank into her back.
I could feel it tear through squishy organs as I pushed it further, my expression caught somewhere between indifference towards the brutality I displayed and simple irritation.
After I finished, I removed the sword and turned back to the Inquisitor.
"You were quite curious earlier, weren’t you? Asking what I knew and all that." I was already walking towards Judgment. "I can sense a little bit, you know... that you’re slightly different from these ones."
"I can tell that you have a mind of your own and can think. The problem is..." I let the pause linger. "You haven’t had any reason to think so far. You’ve not had a simple reason to use that burnt head of yours."
I paused for a moment. "Oh, wait. I burnt it. My bad."
I turned to him, tilting my head. "You want me to defend myself, to be given mercy. But there’s something you don’t understand, Inquisitor."
I walked over to Judgment and also took her sword. She had passed out cold — eyes still wide open, wild with whatever nightmare had taken her.
I took my time in silence, lifted the sword, and buried it straight into her belly, turning the blade while I was at it.
Her body convulsed. Her eyes snapped back to life, but she didn’t have the time to process before blood started pooling out of her mouth.
I left the sword there and turned to the Inquisitor. I tapped my temple with a finger while looking at him.
"Use that head of yours to think. Think well, and relay this message to the Church. Let them know they better get ready to defend themselves and beg me for mercy." I shrugged with a small scoff. "Not that I’m the benevolent type, but we can’t say... I might be in a good mood and decide to not shove my sword through your assholes and instead shove it through the mouth."
I dropped my shoulders and looked at him, all residues of the smile from before now totally eradicated.
I pointed to the young lady far from me.
"That girl, there..." I pointed to him too. "And you. Both of you. I’m letting you go so you can relay the message." My finger jabbed at his face. "You, that burn scar should be enough for you. If you’ve learnt your lesson, then run away from me as far as you can. Desert the Church before I desert your soul for you."
���Actually, I’m just too tired to go after the third one. And this bastard looked like he could still pull a punch or two. More than that — his damned wyvern.’
He surely would’ve had enough time to replenish his essence by now. He would be able to summon his spirit again.
Kassie and Maggie combined, things should be rather easy, but in all honesty, I wasn’t in the mood to find out how that battle would go. This much should pass a message, and this guy certainly should know I wasn’t your average guy... if he was smart enough.
’He looks smart, though...’
"What’s your name?" I asked him lastly as I stepped forward.
He was looking at me, his gaze heavy and, at the same time, blank.
"My name is Light."
"Ahh... Light." I gave him a dashing smile. "You did mention that the other time at the cave. Didn’t take you seriously. Had a situation then."
The smile remained, but the warmth in it didn’t.
"Well, Light. I’m sure fate has a funny way of messing with you, but please let your story be an exception. Do not cross paths with me, or else it would be the day you regret you were ever born."
I looked at Kassie and Maggie, who had been patiently waiting for me. I beamed to myself with pride.
’My two goons.’
’What a time to be alive, really.’
Taking my time, I walked away from the scene, then paused midway and turned back to him, tilting my head slightly.
"Oh, and how exactly did you... get me?"
He hesitated for a moment.
"When I caught up, the caravan was resting... the security was lacking. I simply moved silently, and when the man close to you left, I struck your neck and took you before you noticed."
I jabbed a finger at him.
"You only had your way because I was busy. Don’t think you scored one on me." My tone sharpened. "So, now — where is this? How far are we from Faeren Heights?"
He was looking at me strangely, but he dare not stay silent. His eyes were wary of Kassie.
"If you keep going north, you’ll eventually come across the last place your caravan laid camp."
"Hmm. Is that so..."
I casually turned around, figured out the north, and started marching, waving him a hand.
"Well then, pretty boy. May we never see again."