Chapter 56 - Towards The Danger

Luckily, the woman above them did not have enough attention to spare as Silinth started to hurl large flaming projectiles that sailed through the air before exploding.

Mila peeked behind the corner of the now-ruined building and searched for Oscar. That boy was dangerous. The bombardment of Mana bolts had ravaged the ground and killed many. But it also had allowed the Temple guards to locate the boy’s now unconscious body and pull it away from the battle.

It was too late for Mila to strike. Instead, she turned towards Isabel, who gripped her sword’s hilt painfully. Her knuckles whites were showing in the fiery blaze that was ever-present in the city.

Mila searched for words, but they came slowly and were insufficient to mend her girl’s innocence. She hugged Isabel’s side, trying to offer her girlfriend a comforting presence and acceptance.

“I killed them, huh?” Isabel looked down at her hands. “Me.” She whispered, her voice finding its way through the chaos.

“Thank you.” Mila squeezed Isabel tighter. “I-”

“Don’t.” Isabel stopped Mila. “I came here with resolve.” She smiled grimly. “Isn’t this just the start?”

“Isabel-”

“I know.” Isabel interrupted Mila once again. “But we can’t deal with it now. You know we can’t.”

The blaze around them grew in strength. It was held back only by the whispering voice that seemed to keep the surrounding dangers minimal to allow citizens to escape.

“Mila!” Viola closed in on them, followed by three of her comrades as they pushed past the last struggles, who had yet to run away. “You got what you needed?” She peered up to see if the woman would attack.

“Yes,” Mila admitted. She didn’t ask where the missing person was. Their faces told her all she needed to know. “That boy they are carrying away-” Mila waited for Viola to find him. “He will be a danger if allowed to grow.”

“Why?”

There was a simple explanation. Viola already knew they were different. “He is similar to us.”

That was enough to make Viola move. She gave quick signs to her team members, and they headed out. “I’ll try to get to him. Or at least get his smell.” She left a simple explanation behind.

This was the best option Mila currently had. She didn’t think Viola would succeed. Oscar was clearly important to the Temple. The chance to strike the boy down was likely gone, at least for now.

But as it was, Mila had other things to worry about. Silinth was still battling against the Inquisitors. Their battles were dangerous for her and even Isabel.

After checking for the woman that had been above them, Mila noticed she had been pushed down by one of the explosions Silinth threw about.

It was enough for her to move. Mila unwrapped her hands and was stopped by Isabel. “I am going with you.”

Mila wanted to deny this suggestion, but when she looked around, there was only destruction on the path towards the place that called for her. Once she started to move, she would become a target.

After weighing the options, Mila chose one. “Cover us in a barrier. The strongest you can. Then we move.” she instructed Isabel, then raised her voice. “SILINTH! MAKE US A SMOKE COVER!”

And then they moved. The place they had been hiding was devastated by a lightning strike followed by an invisible mana bolt.

As the splinters bounced off of Isabel’s barrier, the premises suddenly filled with familiar smoke. Just the same as back when Silinth had fought against Kaldiro.

One of the mana bolts still managed to find them. Isabel’s barrier trembled, and while it held, both of them were thrown back by the impact.

The landing was painful. Mila was saved by Isabel, pushing herself beneath and taking the brunt of the crash.

It didn’t seem Isabel’s robust body had suffered any. She was back on her feet immediately and helped Mila.

“Thanks,” Mila whispered. It was so fascinating how Isabel’s slender body could be so powerful. She wanted to explore it.

“What now?” Isabel was oblivious to Mila’s musings.

After putting her desires aside, Mila turned her head where the calling was. “We head there.” She started to move, and Isabel joined while still holding the barrier.

Stray spells still were flung about. Even now, it looked like Silinth was gaining ground. His mad laughter echoed through the battlefield as his onslaught grew more savage.

But there was a big question on Mila's mind. Where was the third Inquisitor? She moved through the smoke, pondering on their plan.

Things had gone worse than planned but better than expected. For one, they were still proceeding.

And Mila’s first goal was achieved, even if it had resulted in unexpected complications.

Silinth was likely weakened as well, albeit not enough, judging from the hell he was raising. And from how he had chosen to engage, there was a chance his self-restraint was gone.

But Mila was getting a feeling she was missing something. What had she forgotten? Was there a variable she had not accounted for?

The foreboding feeling grew more pronounced. “Isabel?” Mila was hesitating. Should they leave?

“What is it?”

There was an exclamation of pain as Astra seemed to have suffered by Silinth’s hand. A whisper followed, focusing on suppressing their enemy in Silinth. But it was futile.

“We move on.” Mila decided.

This was likely their only opportunity. After the mess this operation was, it was likely that what she sought would be moved and impossible to find again.

For their own sanity, they had to finish the operation. A repeat of today could not be tolerated.

Isabel didn’t comment. She moved close to Mila, guarding her at all times. Her vigilant stare peered into the fog, trying to discern any danger.

They stepped over bodies and crevices. The ravaged ground and spreading fires were their obstacles. And the path was smooth otherwise. A few prayers and shouts broke through the intangible wall, reminding them of the people who had not managed to run away in time.

Unexpectedly so. Mila waited for something to happen. For a hidden trap to be sprung, but there was nothing.

Oh, sure. The ensuing battle so near them was dangerous, and debris reached them from time to time, but there were no direct hits.

And soon, a wall emerged from the thick fog, stopping their advance. Mila closed her eyes and concentrated.

It was close. So close. Mila… No, the being inside her could tell. And it didn’t warn them. So, was it safe?

Mila extended her senses as far as she could. There was no one inside as far as she could tell, but she probably wasn’t covering most of the walled yard.

Another moment of hesitation made Mila frown. This wasn’t like her. Was Isabel’s presence impacting her decisiveness? It was dangerous to falter at moments as these.

“We go over,” Mila whispered.

Unexpectedly, Isabel swept Mila off her feet and lifted her in a princess carry, pressing the shorter girl against her chest.

Mila felt Isabel gather strength in her legs. She looked up at the resolute expression her charming girlfriend had. It helped her to calm the nerves.

And then they were in the air. Isabel barely managed to jump high enough to step on the wall. The milky smoke covered the whole yard, making it impossible to see what they were getting themselves into.

With another jump, Isabel took Mila into the yard.

But instead of letting her go, Isabel held Mila closer while glaring into the ever-moving witness.

And to Mila’s horror, their thick white cover started to clear. The yard slowly grew visible as the smoke dispersed, carried away by a whisper.

In the middle of the yard was a building with a wooden deck in front of it on which an old, seemingly feeble man sat. His limbs looked like twigs, and his face was torn by the passage of time.

And somehow, the man seemed to be asleep. His lips moved from time to time, letting out whispers and sighs, but his eyes were closed and pose relaxed and without strength or danger.

Mila felt Isabel freeze as well. This was the very man who had helped to control the battlefield and hold back Silinth for a while now. The same man who had called the powerful woman back. He was an enemy.

Another whisper from his mouth declared ‘peace’. In the distance, some of the noise lessened, and, for a moment, there was an illusion of calm. But Silinth was not so easily cowed. The battle resumed immediately.

The sensation of the thing Mila was after came from this man, plummeting her mood further. She was still a bit too far to approximate how strong this man was, but he was clearly more than they could take.

The self-imposed stillness lingered. Mila and Isabel did not move to avoid making any noise, fearing the man would open his eyes and look at them.

All around them, outside of the walls, there was mayhem trying to swallow the world, but inside, there was deadly silence.

They had to get out. Mila looked up to Isabel and signalled for her girl to retreat. Isabel’s hands tightened around Mila, but she didn’t get the chance to jump back before the man yawned.

The sound of the man’s breathing reached Mila and Isabel, making their hair stand. And the Inquisitor started to violently cough. His body trembled in exertion as his leathery palm covered his mouth.

“Sorry about that.” The man opened his eyes and looked at them. “Where was I?” He looked around. “Quiet down, will ya’!” A powerful wave of emotions erupted from the man, washing away the noise.

Mila feared that the man in front of them would reveal his true strength now, but it didn’t happen. His shout was just as effective in restricting Silinth’s might as the whispers had been. It was just the difference in method with the same effect.

“What is Astra doing.” The man grumbled. “What a mess. Is the whole city like this?” His expression grew worried. “CALM DOWN!” He shouted again. “FIND THE CLOSEST GUARD OR SOLDIER AND SEEK THEIR INSTRUCTIONS! THOSE WHO CAN HEAD TOWARDS THE CLOSEST GATES AND LEAVE THE CITY!”

The man’s words echoed over the city, trying to help the citizens find safety.

“Mila…” Isabel whispered. She hesitated to move.

Mila didn’t answer. The man was… Dangerous - yes, but he also didn’t show hostility. What was the right choice here?

“Who are you again?” The man swayed, his eyelids just a moment from closing. “Ah, intruders!” He realised and straightened. “And outside…” His attention wandered. “That Silinth boy.”

“W-We are not intruders! W-We were seeking help.” Mila finally opened her mouth. “The battle was too much. We were so scared.” She tried to act pitifully and tremble in fear. “Big sister helped us to get here.”

Isabel’s expression tightened. She was ready to respond to any danger that could present itself at any moment.

“Is that right?” The man didn’t take his eyes off of them. “SLEEP, DAMMNIT!” He suddenly shouted.

Mila circulated her mana, waiting for the mental suggestion to take place, but… The man’s words washed over them without effect. Had he believed them?

“Now, tell me.” The ancient man spoke. “Who are you really, and what connections do you have with that heretic?”