Kneel down

Aurelis stepped through the gate. The two guards that were positioned there when he left were there again. None of them recognized him though. They probably didn’t see him on that evening, as they were looking for the burglar.

“Oh, you forgot something?” one of them said.

“Your party should at least wait for you. These adventurers always go crazy because of the harvesting.”

Aurelis didn’t know what they were talking about, but he assumed they were thinking that he was part of the group which left the borders just a moment ago. He just nodded smiling, as talking against it would not have made any sense.

He was back again. Even though Aurelis has been in this town only for a day before, he felt like he came back home. With Segard, Lumina and Amalia he had people here that he liked. Which already was more than there were in the previous world.

The street awakened a nostalgia in him, as if he hasn’t been here recently. Maybe it was the relief of being back again, when he had given up all the hope after that trip with the phoenix.

Aurelis looked at Lux. “This is where I started my journey,” he said. Lux wobbled around excitedly.

Down the road, he heard a familiar voice. Amalia stood there, talking to Alois, both in white attire. The man seemed strong, similar to Segard, Aurelis thought.

“Amalia!” Aurelis ran towards her. “I have to show you what I have found.”

She turned around, pale as white.

Aurelis slowed down. “Is everything okay?”

“A-Aurelis.” she said. Her gaze wandered over to Lux. She shook her head. Amalia mouthed some words, but Aurelis could not make out what it was. Was the man beside her bothering her?

“Hello young man,” Alois said. “I haven’t seen you around before. You know Amalia?” Aurelis has never seen hair that red before. But more importantly, he seemed to know Amalia, so he was at ease.

Aurelis nodded. “Nice to meet you, sir,” he said. Then he turned to Amalia. “I wanted to show you-“

“How about you go to the tavern first? You are probably very hungry and even more tired. Also, Alois. We still need to visit the guard station.”

Go to the tavern? How did she know that he has been there before? Aurelis didn’t remember telling her. Did she know Segard or Lumina? But Amalias gaze didn’t waver. Something wasn’t right.

“It’s probably for the better,” Aurelis said and laughed. “I will excuse myself.” He turned around.

A firm hand grabbed his shoulder, holding him so tight, that he wouldn’t have been able to take a step even if he wanted to. “Aurelis was your name? I don’t remember you being part of the adventurer’s nor the merchant’s guild.” 

Alois looked Aurelis deep into his eyes. His were astonishingly light blue and complimented his red hair. His stare was piercing Aurelis, as if he was searching for something. Something that he hid.

“I would be very surprised if you could just recognize any person that you just met,” Aurelis said with a faint smile.

“As the master of the adventurer’s guild I should, don’t you think? Since it is my job.”

It was again some higher up. Aurelis clenched his fist. “I’m very sorry, I didn’t try to disrespect you. I am uncomfortably hungry, so my thinking isn’t working to its full capabilities. May I?”

Amalia stepped forward, gently putting her hand on Alois arm. “He just-“

Alois cold gaze turned to Amalia. “Silence.”

Amalia gulped and slowly retracted her hand.

“Nobody would randomly have a devil spirit on his shoulder.” Alois huffed. “That’s why you asked me those questions about the laws, Amalia. I thought you would know better.”

A devil spirit? Was he talking about Lux? And Amalias seemingly asked him about something, which had to do with him. He didn’t want to bring her into trouble. Aurelis had to defuse this situation as quickly as possible.

Aurelis grabbed the hand on his shoulder and lifted it off. “I will no longer bother you, sir.”

Alois raised his eyebrow. “Hey, you aren’t that weak. Who the hell are you?” The air around Alois trembled. “It doesn’t matter. You are arrested. Hand over the spirit, now.”

Lux poked its little slime-arms out and waved them around angrily.

“Arrested?” Aurelis frowned. “What am I getting arrested for?!”

“For breaking the law.” Alois stared even fiercer.

Aurelis looked over to Amalia, but she looked visibly unwell to the ground.

“What law did I break?”

“You are talking to one of the noble seven. You don’t need to know what for, just that you need to do as I say, you little rat.”

In the end, what exactly the reason was didn’t even matter to Aurelis. There was no way he would have been able to change Alois mind either way. He had to leave, but without a fight. About the man he didn’t care much, but Aurelis didn’t want to put Amalia in any danger. He had to prevent the curse from waking up. That was what his head told him. But his heart was another story.

“It is like that here as well, huh. Some higher up pretty boy thinking they are the world because of their rank. I’m done with human garbage like you.”

“Oi, oi. Somebody has a death wish over here.” Alois grit his teeth.

The air vibrated. A golden veil of mana ascended from Alois, shooting out explosively to the sky. The ground cracked and stones rose up. His eyes turned all white. A golden halo manifested over him, but it was different from Aurelis’ or Lilith’s. It did not have a black glow. Instead, it shone in a golden white.

“Kneel down in front of the virtue, you peasant.”