Human

They walked in silence through the tunnel that was barely lit by a few faintly glowing stones that were fastened to wooden beams here and there. Twists, turns and forks made it impossible for Nia to find her way back to the city.

Going back is suicidal. Or masochistic. Or … I don’t know. It’s bad for me. But why do I feel like I’m doing something bad?

She tried to dismiss the thought but found herself looking back time and again. Could she still hurt Saesquar, now that her magic was gone? Could she even get past the rest of the dark lady’s minions before they killed her a third time?

Probably not. Logic told her that this was the best course of action. But her feelings …

A tremor shook some dirt loose from the ceiling.

It has begun … Goose bumps formed on her skin. Maybe Torax underestimated what Saesquar and her people could do? Maybe we all did?

Part of her wondered, how many people would die, just because she decided to try to escape her fate. Could she have prevented those deaths by giving herself up? Was a takeover by the dark lady really that bad? Then again they did kidnap them and tried to kill them. Without being provoked. She looked forward and steeled her heart. She was no saint. She had to be selfish here.

The further they went through the tunnel, the more the strength of the occasional tremor faded. Finally there was light in the distance. The corridor made of crude stone ended at a wooden door. Erax opened the lock from the inside and they stepped into lush green bushes on the other side.

The smell of burning wood hung heavily in the air. Panicked, Nia looked around, wondering where the city was.

“I have to go back.” Erax ground his teeth. “Good luck.” The twin turned around and left, closing and locking the door behind him.

They walked away from the exit and climbed a few rocks. Nia was breaching hard when they reached a plain several paces above the entrance they had come out.

In the distance, smoke rose from what had to have been the large city they had just left. Several walls were destroyed, houses decimated and fires were raging. So that was Saesquar’s power?A shiver ran down her spine.

“What now?” Sonja stood next to her and stared at the destruction in the distance. They both saw the bright flash, followed by more flames rising into the air, spewing more smoke that darkened the sky above the city.

“It seems that our problem won’t solve itself,” Ralf remarked. “That doesn’t seem like they’re winning against that dark woman.”

Nia bit her lower lip and shook her head. She hadn’t expected that they would win against Saesquar. But she had hoped that they wouldn’t face as much destruction, that most of them would survive the dark goddess’ rampage.

“I-I guess I know what you're feeling right now.” Tina’s voice was barely enough a whisper. The office lady had crossed her arms and her fingers were digging into her elbows. “I believe … Jesus would’ve sacrificed himself.”

I am not Jesus! Nia didn’t say the thought out loud. The comment hurt her. As if Tina had expected her to do the same.

“But I also understand that it would’ve been much, much worse, if she got to you. It’s more a feeling than really knowing, but … I think she’d gain something from destroying you.” The woman shook her head. “I guess what I'm trying to say is this: God will forgive you. He’s forgiven my trespasses of the past, and he’ll forgive yours.”

Nia shook her head and sighed. “I’m not a saint. I’m very much not Jesus. Ever since all of this started, I thought that you’d make the better priestess. A far better priestess.”

Tina shook her head. “I am not. I would've made the same decision as you. I’m no Jesus either, and even if I worship him for what he was, is and did, even if I aspire to be like him as much as I can, I am still the small little girl from back then, that just wants to survive …” Tina fully turned to her and put her hands on Lia’s shoulder, pulling her away from the gruesome sight. “You have to keep on living. You can defeat Saesquar. All you need is touch her. All we need to do is to get rid of her minions. Qiin is gone already, and I am sure we’ll get the rest, too.”

Nia pressed her lips together. She had no idea whether she still had that effect on the dark goddess. But she couldn’t face her alone … She’d have to endanger the others. More flashes in the distance drew Nia’s attention back to the city. Lightning came down out of the smoke filled sky. She had sacrificed the people of this world, already.

“Come,” Tina said and steered her away from that sight and toward the nearby forest. Only after Nia couldn’t see the city anymore without dislocating her head, did she look away.

“Let me tell you the story of a naive little girl from roughly twenty years ago,” Tina began, as if to distract her. “Said girl was a member of a little gang of thieves. They were robbing people, stores and others to stay alive and, hopefully, get rich. One day they set their eyes on the treasures of an extremely wealthy man, one that wasn’t well liked and treated his employees badly. Little did the gang know, that he was an actual crime boss, and of course he didn’t want to part with any of his money. Therefore he secured his home, like rich people usually do. Despite that, the gang of thieves managed to sneak into his home, only to trip one of his many alarms. Guards stormed the corridors and the thieves had to flee, but the little girl got caught in the process.” Tina stopped in her narration, and took a deep breath.

Is she telling me about her own past? Nia was surprised. Why is she doing this?

“The little girl … ratted the other members of her gang out. Just to save herself. But the man didn’t let her go until the last member of the gang had been found and … executed. Right in front of her eyes.” Tina gulped, and there were tears in her eyes. “Her friends … were dead. Just like that. The girl couldn’t do anything to take revenge. The police did nothing, they were bought off. And … Well … In the end little girl had to flee …”

“Did she make it?” Nia whispered her question, reading the words between the lines.

“She managed to get out and hide in a church. The old priest there took her in and taught her about God and Jesus. That stealing is wrong, but also that she would be forgiven.” Her voice shook and tears streamed down her face, dripping onto her clothes. “She stayed there, in the church, helped the priest with ceremonies. He sent her to school, gave her an education. She got a job, but was finally … whisked away into another world.”

Nia reached up to her and put a hand on Tina’s shoulders. She wasn’t really good in comforting people, but she tried. Tina’s story sounded harsh, much harsher than her own past. “I for one am glad that you’re here.”

You've been the first to accept me how I am now.

“Just … with that past …” Tina shook her head. “I couldn’t be a priestess. And much less a saint.”

“Maybe because you know how hard things can be, you could be a good priestess. A saint. Because you are trying to understand what I am going through. Without judging me.”

Tina pulled Nia into a hug. “I guess you don’t realize how much more of a saint you are at the moment.”

Nia didn’t answer. She had abandoned the people of the city. She was no more a saint than anyone else just because she had found some comforting words for a woman that had been nice to her. “I’ve just been … a human,” she whispered.