Chapter 3: An Old Acquaintanc.

Anna and her scouting party returned to the camp and reported to the rangers.

Anna: “Squad, I found traces of ancient magic near the battlefield. There was an idol symbol from one of the Voices. Now we can be certain a necromancer was in the area.”

Butcher: “Yes, we already suspected that, but goblins don’t have that kind of knowledge. I doubt any witch made a pact with them, and the Volny raiders never come to the northern part of the country.”

Anna: “I might have an idea of who could have done this. Even though this area is abandoned, someone I know still lives close by. What I wonder is why she did it.”

Butcher: “You’re talking about Yuna, aren’t you?”

Anna: “Yes. I’ll take the girls with me and we’ll conduct an interrogation there. No need to send the scouts with us, just secure the area to prevent any possible new invasions.”

Butcher: “Good luck. I doubt she still lives there.”

While Anna reported the situation, Helena was talking with Isz.

Helena: “That battle was tough, wasn’t it?”

Isz: “Yes, like all the others since I joined the academy. I feel we’re making progress, but I suspect these sudden campaigns are a bit desperate. Last year, we spent months planning an infiltration through the sewers of a district near the capital, and even then we received strong support from the Royal Guard’s central academy. But in this battle… it feels like we were abandoned. I’ll admit, for a moment I was afraid I’d die.”

Helena: “I’m sorry, Isz. I wish I could’ve been here with you.”

Isz: “It’s alright, Helena. I’m not blaming the Shields, you guys aren’t at fault for what happened. I just needed to vent to someone I trust. Thank you for listening.”

Helena gives a small, gentle smile and says:

Helena: “Sometimes I remember Sister Jun, who cared for us on the streets. She was a great woman. I’m glad I met you and Alphonse through her. I had nothing, and then suddenly I had people who were important in my life wh—”

Helena is interrupted by Mary.

Mary: “Helena, the master has called us. We leave for a mission in five minutes.”

Helena: “Alright, thank you very much.”

Mary: “Good evening, Isz. Long time no see.”

Isz: “Hello, Mary. I see you’re doing well.”

Royal Guard: “Sir, I brought the Freedom Gun you asked me to retrieve at the end of the battle. If you want, I can take care of it.”

Isz: “Thank you, Commander, but I think this is a task I should handle myself. I’m off now, everyone. It was good talking with you.”

Helena and Mary wave at Isz, wondering what he plans to do with that weapon.

Royal Guard: “I thought you ladies knew the process of preventing someone from turning into an undead.”

Helena: “What do you mean?”

Royal Guard: “When soldiers die on the battlefield, there’s a chance their souls linger on this world due to resentment or unfinished business. In those moments, malevolent entities can corrupt their bodies, turning them into vengeful undead soldiers. To prevent this, some commanders carry a weapon imbued with an exorcising relic and fire it into the heads of the dead. It’s cruel, as some may still be alive, but it is considered an act of mercy and liberation for their souls.”

Helena and Mary are shocked by the cruelty of battlefield realities. Mary says:

Mary: “I knew Scouts’ training was harsh and the risk of death high, but I never imagined the weight they carry after a battle.”

Royal Guard: “You are still young, ladies. Even if you’re part of the Shield unit, sooner or later you’ll face this reality, especially those chosen to guard the priests. That’s why you haven’t seen this before; up to now, it was just training. Scouts, from their very first week, are sent on high-risk missions. I’m still surprised we have so many aspiring knights in the Scout division, but it makes me proud. We, the Royal Guards and Scouts, are the spear of this kingdom, willing to die for those we love and for future generations.”

Helena and Mary feel a heavy sadness, but they depart with Anna to locate Yuna.

Anna: “Girls, we’re looking for someone I know. Do not let your guard down at any moment. Understood?”

Helena and Mary: “Understood.”

Along the way, they encounter ancient ruins and hear a whispering voice.

Unknown Voice: “What are you doing here, Anna?”

Anna: “You know very well, Yuna. The only one who lives near the wall and has great knowledge of magic is you. I didn’t expect you to have stooped so low as to become a servant of the Voices.”

Yuna: “What a charming way to greet an old acquaintance. I’m afraid I have nothing to do with your damned war, and I don’t want to get involved with these carnage-bringers.”

Anna: “Yuna, I’m serious. These creatures are everywhere, growing stronger by the day. I just want answers.”

Yuna: “I understand, Anna, but you know I would never make a pact with any of the Voices, especially the Voice of the Abyss, it only brings disaster.”

Anna: “Please, Yuna. Do you know what happened before the Scouts arrived?”

Yuna: “To be honest, the goblins only started inhabiting this region a little over a week ago. I even found it strange that the Church and the kingdom decided to reclaim this area only now. No one has lived here for years, even before I came to this beautiful place, now stained with blood because of your campaign.”

Anna: “So you’re saying that on that day we actually won the battle against the goblins and devilhands?”

Yuna: “Yes, that’s why you were able to evacuate so many people. But I don’t know why King Londor refused to retake this territory. Later, he had the soldiers spread stories that this land was cursed, along with many other lies. If you want to know, yes. I sensed some alchemists performing rituals in the area. They weren’t the Midnight Witches; that was definitely Church alchemy magic.”

Anna: “Thank you for the information. I knew it had nothing to do with you. Take care, Yuna.”

Yuna: “You too, Anna. It was really good to talk to a friend I haven’t spoken to in a long time. Are these girls your apprentices? They’re adorable.”

Anna: “Yes, they will be excellent warriors in the future. Farewell, Yuna.”

They leave, and Anna orders the girls not to mention what they heard.

Helena: “But Master, this is serious. If we report this to the Church, they might discover who did it.”

Anna: “That’s not how it works, Helena. If we give out this information, the traitor could be among those who receive it. I’ll report to the Butcher, and we’ll draft a letter to the alchemists. They’ll have the answers we need.”

Anna discusses it with the Butcher, and they send a letter on a magical scroll made of special paper, written with a phoenix quill. This process is called instant message, and the message arrives immediately.