The Nun, the Assassin, and the Shared Crossroads

A long dirt road stretched ahead of Maria after departing from the village. A coat of sweat glistened on her skin, and it hadn’t even been more than a couple of hours since she began her journey.

It was a rural stretch, nothing to see apart from untamed grassy plains and the silhouettes of distant hills. But a familiar figure paced ahead of her, a healthy distance away. It had been for some time, though neither acknowledged the other. Maria hadn’t planned on catching up. She honestly hadn’t planned on ever seeing him again. But there were only so many forks the main rural road took, and they’d yet to even reach the first.

Cloaked in full black, even under a high sun, the figure was unmistakable: Kaelan.

Maria ran an arm across her forehead, wiping away the building sweat.

She stared at Kaelan from a distance while he glanced back for the sixth time. With each turn of his head, his annoyed expression grew ever more prominent. Maria wondered only if he ever felt uncomfortable with the biting sun. Was he really that stubborn to wear his hood down?

By the seventh annoyed glance back, Kaelan stopped in his tracks until Maria naturally reached him.

“Why are you following me?” he asked.

“I’m not.” Maria didn’t pause her steps. “If anything, you’re the one following me.”

A remark that was enough to keep him from standing still. Kaelan quickly matched her steps.

“What? I fail to see how you’d come to such a conclusion. Considering I was the one ahead of you.”

“Then you acknowledge you were aware of my presence.” Maria said with a grin. “Whoever led or not was of no influence.”

“It’d be hard not to be aware with you trailing. Even a frightened wild prairie dog would hear your heavy panting.”

Maria glared at him. “Here, have some fresh air.” With a swift wave of her hand, she slid down his hood. His tousled black hair was drenched. His sharp eyes widened slightly. “The heat is making you imagine things,” she said.

“Hey!” Kaelan protested, yet his hood remained down.

“When I said there was only one way out of the village. This is the road I was referring to.”

The rural road truly stretched from deep in the village, and far off until the main kingdom roads intersected.

“I’m aware.” Kaelan said.

“Yet, you disappear at first glance.” She narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you the one who said, ‘What’s a few more minutes?’‌”

“It’s been hours!”

“Same difference.”

Kaelan turned his head. “But it isn’t…”

“Am I that much of a bother to share a walk with?”

For a moment, a silence opened between them.

“If anything, I was trying to do you a favor,” he said.

Their matching steps crunched the loose ground underneath. Maria understood perfectly what Kaelan was trying to say.

“Very well then,” she said. “It’s only until the first fork in the road. I will tolerate you until then.”

In truth, for the past two weeks, she’d grown to expect the looming presence of this brooding man.

Maria could infer from what little he’d shared, and most of all, everything he didn’t, that there was more to Kaelan the Assassin than just routine bloodshed.

The way he complained about the rowdy children, yet would help a little one when no one looked. The way he’d say things that contradicted his actions. Did things without expectation. Maria doubted whether even Kaelan himself was aware of it. Maybe he just didn’t want to be. But she noticed, quietly, off to the side; she saw a side to Kaelan he’d surely never admit to possessing.

The rural road dragged between slight bickering and unadmitted chuckles, and before realizing, they’d reached a crossroads. They stood before it with a subtle silence, before Kaelan’s voice finally broke it.

“Then, this is where we part. I bid you well, Sister Maria.”

“And you the same, Kaelan.”

The two turned their backs and headed in opposite directions. The assassin to the west and the nun to the east.

Maria always believed that people appeared in one’s life for a reason; she just never expected an assassin, and couldn’t even fathom the reason. But regardless of the circumstances, a small, strange sensation lingered within her. One that questioned if the reason for Kaelan to have appeared in her life truly resolved.

She didn’t dwell on it. There was a goal to achieve. “Now, to go talk some sense into High Inquisitor Vane!” she blurted out.

Behind her, the sound of Kaelan’s distancing steps came to a halt.

“Talk some sense into… what?”

When she turned, she nearly jumped as Kaelan had closed the gap between them. He faced her with blinking eyes and a vacant gaze.

“Huh?” Maria gathered herself. “Oh, well, yes. After what you said.”

“I gave you a warning to disappear. That’s the best choice. I know that best. Done it plenty of times.”

“But disappearing won’t fix the issue.” Maria tilted her head. “And besides, if I do that, I won’t ever be able to return to the children.”

“You’re not thinking of—?”

Maria cut through Kaelan’s words. “Which is why I’m going to the Holy Capital to talk some sense into High Inquisitor Vane.”

“...So the heat really isn’t getting to me.”

“There must be some kind of misunderstanding.” Maria narrowed her eyes.

Kaelan shook his head, clearing his empty stare. “No. There is no misunderstanding. I thought I was quite clear when I told you.”

“You were.” Without notice, Maria had already built some distance between them as she went into the road heading east. “I don’t doubt your words, but I must bring them to resolution.”

“H-Hey!” Kaelan caught up to her. “Do you even know how to reach the Holy Capital?” he asked dryly.

Maria paused, crossing her arms. “Rude. I know my basic geography.”

“So you say.” Kaelan narrowed his gaze.

Maria nodded with a smile. “Apart from home, there’s nearby Verno Village, the neighboring Frowlen region.”

“Go on.”

Maria blinked. “There’s the… great Yargo mountain!”

Kaelan raised an eyebrow. “Sure, those places exist. Yet, you head east when the Holy Capital lies west?”

Maria scrambled. “I-It’s fine!” She rummaged through her pack, taking out a wrinkled, folded piece of paper. “That’s why I have a map!”

Kaelan watched as she proudly unfolded it, revealing missing corners and faded edges.

“How old is that thing?”

“Probably not too old.” Maria grinned. “Mother Martha gave it to me. She was quite the adventurer in her youth.”

“Yeah, that’s not helping the case…”

Kaelan glanced over her shoulder. It made her tense, like when his icy blade pressed against her neck. Yet, the fear was gone. His fear was gone. Somehow she could tell.

“Half these roads no longer exist,” Kaelan said. “You’ll end up in a swamp by nightfall.”

“It’s fine.” Maria folded the map away. “If I get lost, I’ll ask someone.”

“Is it fine?” Kaelan snickered. “Not everyone is as kind as those in your quaint little village.”

"That may be, but I like to believe that people are kinder than we give them credit for."

Her gaze pierced him. “Whatever.”

“And if I truly can’t find my way,” Maria clasped her hands together, “I’ll pray.”

“You think the gods will point the way?” He scoffed. “The gods don’t point north, Maria. They just watch people get lost.”

Maria shook her head. "But they might send someone who knows the way.” Her gaze lingered on Kaelan, who averted his own.

"I wouldn’t put too much faith in the gods. You’ll just end up with unanswered prayers."

“...Did they disappoint you?”

Kaelan remained silent, but Maria understood it as his answer.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

The two found themselves back at the crossroads, caught between the two long stretches heading east and west. A few passing clouds offered some much-needed relief from the midday sun.

“Even if you find your way, you realize you're heading straight toward the man who had hired me.”

“Yes,” Maria didn’t hesitate to reply. There was no need to. She’d come to terms with what transpired, but she needed to confront High Inquisitor Vane. She needed to talk to him. If she were ever to return to her home, she needed to try.

"Then you understand he'll probably try to kill you again."

Maria remained silent because she already knew the answer. Though she’d prefer not to acknowledge it.

“Foolish.” Kaelan shook his head. “You can't seriously believe you can talk him out of it."

"...I don't know. But I won't if I never try."

“And did you forget, more will be after you?”

Maria flexed an arm. Though there wasn’t much to show. “It’s fine, it’s fine. I can protect myself.”

“I don’t doubt your power, but it only takes a moment of defenselessness to bring down a powerful foe,” Kaelan said. “Next time you might not be so lucky. Another might not fail. Another might not hesitate.”

“Yet you did.”

Kaelan remained silent for a brief moment before speaking again. “You’ll hesitate… that’s enough of an opening.”

“...Maybe.”

"And even if you can defeat them. You know what that would involve?"

“...I have a pretty good grasp.” Her expression sank. "I’d rather not hurt someone…”

Kaelan looked away. "Exactly."

“Then… Since you seem so concerned,” Maria clasped her hands behind her back, “why don’t you escort me?”

"Concerned?" he scoffed. “It’s just a waste to see my missed target throw away her life.”

“So that’s a no?”

“Yes. That’s a no.”

“Shame… I wouldn’t have minded the company.” Maria’s grin turned mischievous. “From the person I saved.” She prowled around him like an Ashen Dire Wolf with its prey.

“Ha! Do the gods know of the young nun’s sneakiness?”

Maria tilted her head, feigning innocence.

Kaelan closed his eyes for a moment.

Maria had teased him enough. This was just her way of finally parting from him. Besides, there was no way he’d seriously considered such a request. He had no reason to.

Kaelan let out a deep sigh. “...Just to the Holy Capital,” he muttered.

Did I hear that right?

"After that…” Kaelan continued, “the debt is settled."

For a moment, Maria remained without word. She couldn’t quite explain it, but having Kaelan agree to such a request filled her with ease. She knew it made little sense, even if she’d faintly gotten to know him. Maybe it was because there was still so much more to come to know of him.

She gave him a bright smile. “Thank you.”

Kaelan’s eyes widened.

“What is it?” Maria tilted her head.

“Nothing.”

Maria giggled. “Then I look forward to our travels together.”

"...I'm already regretting this." Kaelan sighed.

Kaelan dragged his feet across the rough ground, while Maria trotted beside him in a cheery hum. The western road stretched before them while the shadow of a mountain peeked over the horizon. A long journey to the Holy Capital began.