Chapter 10: Conflict

The sun was beginning to rise, dyeing the clouds over Aquila red. Lyne carried an unconscious Kaega on her back, his body feverish and heavy. Every step she took was a struggle, searching for a hidden corner, a safe rooftop to hide them from the prying eyes that were scouring the city. The old cloak they had bought from the blacksmith was draped over them both, a flimsy disguise in a city descending into madness.

Along the way, the remnants of the previous night's escape were clearly visible: collapsed sewer entrances, destroyed roads. The whispers and gossip of citizens and clerics echoed from every alley.

– Damn it, the Silver Masks are always so noisy. But this time, it's an insult to this sacred land!

– They may have offered benefits, but destroying two major roads is too much of an infringement.

– We can't let them operate freely here.

– You should also find and get rid of those chosen brats who are hiding. If they resist, just kill them. No need to show the Silver Masks any face!

After last night, the God's Faith Guild had suffered the most direct damage. Two of their vital routes had been destroyed, and they had decided they would no longer stand by and watch the heretics act freely at night. Security was tightened to a suffocating degree. On every street, corrupted clerics patrolled, their fanatical eyes scanning every nook and cranny. Even Rat Alley, a notoriously lawless place, was being searched.

This was part of Kaega's initial calculation. Drawing the hostility of the God's Faith Guild towards the Silver Mask Guild would tighten security, but in that chaos, the two of them would be able to hide more easily.

"Everything he planned was perfect... but the variable was me."

Lyne felt a bitter self-reproach. She was hiding on a rooftop, with strict patrols below. If caught, there were only two options: fight, or leave this place and face an even more ferocious attack from the "hounds." Both options were suicide.

After a while, she found an abandoned attic, a temporary shelter. Lyne carefully set Kaega down and checked his condition.

– "He's useless now... abandon him..."

The voice whispered again, more persistent since she had encountered the Head Measurer's mimic. Though her head no longer ached as it had in the ruins, it still bothered her.

"Why didn't you leave me and run then... Kaega?"

In her impression, Kaega was a pragmatic and ruthless person. He was willing to trap even her to achieve his goal of survival. But all his plans, with or without variables, were terrifyingly effective.

– "Don't trust him too much... He is not someone who can be trusted..."

Lyne no longer wanted to react to it. She used her left hand to unbutton Kaega's shirt to check his wounds.

And then, she froze. Kaega's body was thin. Although he still had the muscles of a street dweller, it was clearly not the physique of a warrior. Both his arms were covered in countless old scars, most of them from burns. The newest wound was on his chest, a large, dark bruise forming, the result of that devastating blow.

– This wound is too serious. His bones seem to be cracked... Wait...

Lyne realized something was wrong.

"The wound is severe, but not enough to kill him, at least not today... but why?" The blow from the fake Head Measurer was incredibly powerful. Even someone who had undergone rigorous training like her wasn't sure she could take it without serious injury. For someone of Kaega's build, it should have been a fatal blow.

"There's no time to think, I have to give him first aid."

While bandaging him, Lyne noticed something else.

"His sternum seems to be cracked, but luckily none of the ribs are broken and piercing his organs. But his shoulder bone is broken; it needs to be set or treated with healing magic from a cleric."

Lyne suddenly remembered the cleric, Elina.

"If only she were here... but I don't have enough money anymore..."

– Ha... ha...

Kaega began to pant, his face flushing, his body growing hot.

"Is this... a fever?"

– "This weakling... so useless... get rid of him..." – The voice occasionally whispered.

– I don't need you to tell me what to do. – Lyne retorted under her breath.

– "Haha, you'll realize it soon enough..."

"That voice is appearing too often... although I don't feel controlled anymore, this can't be a good sign..."

Lyne dipped a cloth in water with her left hand, wiped Kaega's body, and placed a damp cloth on his forehead.

"I hope he recovers quickly... though with this body of his, I don't know if that's possible..."

Lyne was also exhausted. She hadn't rested properly since they entered the library in the ruins. Now, without Kaega to keep watch, she had to be vigilant on her own, trying to catch some sleep while listening to every sound from outside.

Elsewhere in the city...

Clip, clop, clip, clop... The sound of galloping horses. The shouts of men searching everywhere. The goal was to find the participants of the Bloodbath Ceremony hiding around.

– There's a brat over there! Get him, get rid of him!

– Damn, I've been spotted!

A large, burly man was discovered. He tried to run from the patrol's sight.

– Damn it... which bastard destroyed the structures here! – He cursed as he ran, but a squad of cavalry blocked his path.

– To avoid unnecessary conflict, get the hell out of this holy land.

– You think I'm running because I'm scared of you? In your dreams! I can even kill the monsters from the Silver Mask Guild, you think I can't kill you fanatics!

– Insolent fool, how dare you insult our faith!

– You deserve to die! A heretic like you will die for your dis–

Thwack!

Before he could finish, a sword flew through the air and embedded itself in the cleric's forehead. The burly man charged, knocking over a horse and throwing the formation into disarray, then retrieved his sword and began to slash wildly. But his momentary burst of strength was no match for an entire army.

– This man dared to defy the defenders of the faith! This is the fate of the disobedient!

The burly man's head was now mounted on a spear, paraded through the area. The crowd below cheered, whether out of genuine reverence or fear, it was hard to tell. On their way, they were blocked by a man in shining armor.

– Who is that, daring to block the guild's march?

A long-haired man, wearing a set of shining silver armor stained with blood. In his hand, he held several heads with various expressions: fear, cunning, anger... but they all shared one thing in common: their expressions were frozen at the moment of death, as if they were still alive.

The soldiers quickly dismounted and bowed.

– Oh, Holy Knight Crambell! Why must you trouble yourself with this, my lord.

Holy Knights, those who fight for faith and justice. But the man before them, with the heads in his hand, was smiling with satisfaction.

– Hunting these heretics is a pleasure I cannot pass up. Let me join you in expelling these people and beheading those who resist!

He spoke with a grin, signaling another bloody night for the Bloodbath Ceremony.

Two hours passed. The sun was about to set. Kaega was still unconscious and his fever was high.

"Even though I expected it, this is still so difficult."

– "Tired, are you... leave him... it will be better for you."

Lyne ignored the voice in her head, then carried Kaega on her back, searching for another safe place to hide from tonight's hunt.

Three hours later, after sneaking past patrols, she had climbed to a high rooftop near the pyre where the woman had been burned yesterday. From here, she could survey the entire area.

"Today has been really hard... if I had acted then, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way..." Lyne still felt a sense of self-blame, but this was no time for that.

"What the hell...?"

Lyne was stunned by the scene unfolding before her. To the south, where the Silver Mask Guild's territory bordered theirs, an army of over six hundred was advancing. More than four hundred with smiling masks, one hundred and fifty with crying masks, and fifty with... masks of rage?

"Is tonight even a hunt anymore...?"

Instantly, the church bells began to ring, a toll that signaled the coming of a great war.

"Damn it, did that bastard know this would happen..."

Lyne prepared to carry Kaega and leave again. The sound of horses and running feet was everywhere. Under the moonlight, a bloody outcome was already foretold. Crambell had spotted something fleeing across the rooftops.

– "The hunt has begun."

– Heretics like you are not welcome here from this day forward! If you take another step, the God's Faith Guild will not hesitate to start a war in Aquila!

– "You have killed our prey... now you are the prey."

With that, a fireball flew from behind the Silver Mask army into the midst of the clerics, but it was quickly neutralized by a magic barrier.

– You bastards will pay for this!

– "LET THE HUNT BEGIN!!"

The smiling and enraged masks charged forward, starting a massive battle. Some of them broke off and ran into the city to hunt down the remaining fugitives. Lyne, caught in the chaotic battlefield, was carrying Kaega, trying to run towards the city gate...