Chapter 56: Change(3)

The Holy Kingdom. A dungeon cell.

‘Almighty and benevolent Goddesses.’

Kyle knelt in prayer, his pleas unanswered.

The Goddesses existed, but rarely responded. Selenoxia, the eldest, was silent. Lumia and Asteria, her younger sisters, only answered their chosen apostles.

Still, Kyle prayed, his fervent desire echoing in the cold cell. He prayed that the miracle he witnessed wouldn’t be tarnished by human folly, trusting that the Goddesses had a plan he couldn’t yet grasp.

“…He’s completely lost it.”, “Why else would an Insight Knight return to the Holy Kingdom with such a nonsensical story?”

The guards, watching Kyle, who hadn’t eaten or drunk anything in three days, were unnerved.

“This is making Sir Valderick look bad.”, “…He cares too much for his student. He should have ignored Kyle’s ramblings.”

Kyle had returned claiming to have witnessed a miracle. No one believed him, until his mentor, High Paladin Edgar Valderick, voiced his support. Edgar was a powerful figure within the Holy Kingdom, a respected leader among the paladins.

But some saw this as an opportunity to undermine Valderick. They declared Kyle a heretic, imprisoned him, and sent knights and an Inquisitor east.

Valderick’s protests were met with, “Kyle’s fate will be decided upon the knights’ return.”

Kyle’s claim, true or false, was irrelevant to those pulling the strings. With the Goddesses silent, they decided what constituted a miracle.

Even if a true saintess had appeared, the Inquisitor could erase her, manipulating and brainwashing a simple village girl.

“…His prayers are so fervent, they’re almost contagious.”
“Don’t say that outside. You’ll end up in here too.”
“I know, I know. It’s just… Kyle wasn’t like this when he was younger. Has he become a fanatic in his old age?”

Kyle’s prayers continued, a fervent plea for the girl’s protection.

“…So, you came to this village to torture us into confessing to a fake miracle?”
“Precisely. Miracles don’t exist. And even if she is a saintess… it doesn’t matter. We’ll extract a false confession, take her back to the Holy Kingdom, brainwash her, and then we can still use her power.”
“This is because of… Sir Valderick?”
“Yes. Edgar Valderick’s influence has become a problem. Kyle was his student, and Valderick himself is too deeply involved. If we handle this correctly, we might even be able to remove him from his position.”
“And these orders came from ‘higher up’, and you don’t know the details.”
“Correct. Everything I’ve said is… speculation. But I highly doubt I’m wrong.”

The Inquisitor fell silent.

Avalli frowned slightly and turned to the others. Lucy and Arsene were frozen, their faces pale. Lucy, knowing Avalli’s power, was slightly less terrified, but Arsene looked like he might pass out.

An Inquisitor of the Holy Kingdom. The very title inspired fear. But to see him subdued by Avalli, forced to reveal his secrets, was beyond shocking.

“Chief.”
“…Yes, Avalli.”
“This isn’t good for the village, is it?”

Arsene nodded.

“…I’ll be lucky if it only affects me. They could destroy the entire village, branding us all as heretics.”
“I thought the Holy Kingdom was full of good people like Kyle. It seems I was wrong.”

Avalli’s tone was casual, deceptively so. But Lucy and Arsene, who knew her well, sensed something different.

“…What… are you planning to do, Avalli?”, “Quiet, Teacher. I’m thinking.”

Lucy immediately fell silent at her cold tone. Arsene’s suspicions were confirmed.

‘…She can control the Goddess’s blessing.’

That was the only explanation for Lucy’s deference.

Avalli paced the room, lost in thought. It didn’t take her long to decide.

“The Chief is innocent.”
“…What are you—?”

Arsene started, but she wasn’t addressing him.

“Avalli used dark magic to deceive the villagers and Insight Knight Kyle. Thanks to their cooperation, we were able to apprehend her without incident, and we are now escorting her to the Holy Kingdom.”
“Understood.”

The Inquisitor replied in a monotone.

“Teacher Lucy.”
“…Yes, Avalli.”
“I’m going on a trip.”,
“…I don’t think that’s wise. Challenging the Holy Kingdom directly, even for you, is—”

Avalli chuckled and shook her head at Lucy’s concern.

“I’m not going there to fight. I have some business to attend to in the Holy Kingdom.”
“Business?”
“A simple errand. I received payment in advance and felt… obligated. This is… convenient.”

Arsene was lost. This was clearly beyond his control.

“Chief,”, “Yes, Avalli.” , “Please explain to the villagers. I’ve just gone to… resolve a misunderstanding. Tell Hans and Camelia especially.”
“…Will you… be safe?”

Arsene thought she was sacrificing herself. But he was mistaken.

“Of course. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Avalli chuckled, went to her room, packed a small bag, and returned, her demeanor so casual that it seemed like she was just going on a trip.

“Let’s go, Inquisitor.”
“Prisoners should be restrained.”
“We’ll do that just before we arrive.”
“Very well.”

The Inquisitor obeyed. Arsene and Lucy wanted to protest, but they remained silent, having never seen Avalli this angry.

“I’ll be back. Don’t worry.”
“…If we don’t hear from you… we’ll come looking for you.”

Lucy finally spoke, while Arsene just nodded.

Avalli left. The spring air, filled with the promise of new life, was tainted by a dark, oppressive mist. Beneath the mist, arrayed in perfect formation, were the knights.

A formidable force, completely under her control.

“The criminal has been apprehended. We will proceed to the Holy Kingdom.”

The knights prepared to leave at the Inquisitor’s command. But the ‘criminal’ was casually riding on the same horse as him. And no one questioned it.

“Inquisitor, I have a quick errand before we reach the Holy Kingdom. I need to pick something up.”
“Very well. This is a one-time courtesy. Be grateful.”
“Sure. Thanks.”

Avalli replied dismissively, leaned back against the Inquisitor, and folded her arms. Though her first time on a horse, she was perfectly comfortable, her enhanced physique negating any discomfort.

After half a day’s ride, they reached the Halfling village.

“…What… am I seeing?”
“It’s fine, Gail. She’s a client. Did you finish the commission?”
“The staff is done… but the rest…”

Gail, dumbfounded, handed her a black staff streaked with red. It felt perfectly balanced in her hand.

“Take your time with the rest. I only need the staff for now.”

Gail struggled to reconcile this powerful, green-eyed girl with the seemingly ordinary Avalli he had met before. She shrugged at his unspoken question and, with the Inquisitor’s help, remounted the horse.

“Just a quick errand. I was planning to come later…”

She gripped the staff tightly.

“…but something came up.”

With that, Avalli and her entourage departed. The oppressive mist surrounding the knights lingered, a silent testament to her power.