This wasn't the first time I had seen a heretic. Arthur and I actually met in the Northern Forest. Back then, in that burning forest, it almost felt like hell had descended upon us. I had hoped I wouldn't see any of these sick people again, yet here I was.
And he's strong.
I could tell from his eyes, his demeanor, and the pounding in my chest. I had fought them before, but never this close, never face to face like this.
I struggled to maintain my composure as I took a step back, my mind racing for a solution. But nothing came to mind. I cursed myself for not considering that it could have been the heretics.
The man at the door slowly opened it. As he stepped in, I couldn't hear a breath from either me or Mary. We both instinctively knew we were much weaker than him. We had only just awakened our Pathways, and we weren't yet accustomed to even using them.
When he came fully into view, I could see the rest of him clearly. He wore a dark robe, simple yet surprisingly clean compared to his appearance. What stood out was an insignia on his robe, placed around the chest area. It was a black sun, dimly glowing in the light of the room. I now knew exactly who he belonged to, as memories flooded into my mind.
"You're a member of the Cult of the Black Sun, correct?"
I tried to ask with confidence, but it felt as if every inch of my being was being examined, like I was an intriguing test subject before a scientist. His eyes, still deranged, held a flicker of curiosity as he studied me.
This isn't the first time in front of a cultist, but hes... strong. He's probably the leader of the group.
"Hmm, my little angel sure knows a lot. Yes, I am! You'd do well to remember that; it'll be your new home from now on."
Before he could do anything, I kept stalling, praying Mary was doing what I hoped she was. With a strained grin, I mocked the man.
"The Nameless Ones were exterminated a year ago. Are you here for revenge? I don't remember you heretics ever being—"
Before I could finish my sentence, the man's hand quickly grabbed my neck, lifting me up with such speed I couldn't even react. I felt no divine energy emanating from him, just raw strength as I struggled to breathe.
T—two times today? Are you serious?
The man below me slowly tilted his head, his rotting eye now focusing on me. With a horrifying frown, he stared at me for a few seconds before his voice grew into a deep growl that shook me.
"I'd be careful with your words, little angel. He who follows the false prophet is granted only one mercy in front of me. I don't want to have to clip your wings."
He continued to stare at me, tightening his grip while I struggled for air. Instinctively, I tried to grip his hand, but nothing worked as I fought against fate.
When I felt my consciousness slipping, he finally dropped me to the ground. I immediately started coughing hysterically, gasping for breath as I came to, my mind struggling to think.
"But I'll make an exception for you, my little angel! After all, you two are too precious to us."
As he said this, he crouched down and lovingly stroked my hair, as if I were a small puppy. Despite his gentle actions, his face still held the same deranged smile, and his eyes reflected a milky blackness.
He pulled me into a hug, stroking my back tenderly. I could feel his gaze on Mary, almost as if he wanted her to see if he was lying. He whispered in my ear, uttering a sickly sentence that made me shiver.
"Originally, I was here to burn and kill all the pigs in this place, but you two are worth more than this whole city. Who would have guessed her prophecy was correct!"
Suddenly, the crazed man sprang to his feet, his movements hurried. Just before I thought he was going to target Mary, he grabbed her hands and began dancing with her. Mary looked both shocked and terrified as she was forced to dance to his whims.
"Ahhh, I'm so happy! Maybe we believers work better together, despite our differences. Then again, the Nameless Ones were always a bit annoying, so I'm glad they didn't join us."
Wait, working together? And what does he mean by 'her prophecy'?
Just as abruptly, he stopped dancing with Mary and cupped her face with his hands, staring intently at her.
"Don't you think so too? Little An—"
Before finishing his sentence, he looked at Mary's face, which now bore a bloody imprint on her right cheek, then glanced at his hand, which was now covered in blood.
Shit.
One thing he failed to realize in time was that both Mary and I had turned our eyes back to normal, and the bustling of the hall, where Arthur was giving his speech, had grown unnervingly quiet.
I saw Mary, on the verge of collapsing. The man stared at his hand for a moment before slowly turning his gaze back to Mary, his face contorting into something grotesque.
"Show me your hand."
Any second now.
I offered a prayer to whoever would listen as he gripped Mary's hand. What he saw was a magic circle glowing brightly in gold, drawn over the blood.
Before the man could react, he suddenly...
Vanished?