"Well, not unless you count an angry lecture by Saint Justin as a form of divine retribution. But other than that? Not really."
Lilith stood back up, putting her hands behind her back, as she stepped away from Edith.
"And that’s not the only thing you’re wrong about," she said, grinning down at him "I’m not on Hell duty just because I cause trouble. I’m on Hell duty because the Church sees me as a danger to those around me."
Edith’s eyes widened, as the Saintess continued.
"It’s funny. Most people in the Church who eventually find out about their secrets— like the Abominations up until recently— seem to think that that’s all there is to know, and there can’t possibly be more secrets kept from them. They never realize that if the Church can keep a secret from the general public, then they also can keep more secrets from them. Secrets like, say, the Cult."
She paused, then she brought a hand to her mouth in feigned embarrassment.
"Oops, did I let that slip? Ah whatever. It’s not like it matters to a dying man," she laughed again, turning around to leave. "I just find it funny that you were told the big secret that I was a troublesome Saintess, and was given the task to watch over me without letting the other Inquisitors know. But never stopped to wonder whether there was another layer you never considered. Because of that, you were so confident I wouldn’t try to kill you, and look where that led you now? Dead—"
An arrow whizzed past Lilith's face, exploding in the distance where it landed. The girl did not even react as another two came flying at her, only moving her head slightly out of the way from the projectiles.
"Saintess Lilith! What are you doing?!"
Hadi jumped down from a tree, pointing her longbow at the Saintess. But before the Elf could even react, Lilith knocked her to the ground with the butt of her spear.
"Hadi, it’s good to see you. At least I’ll be able to say goodbye before I leave."
"...why are you doing this?"
The young woman blinked, taken aback at the question. Then she giggled, stepping away from the Elf. "You know Hadi, I like you. You’re such a nice, innocent person. I’m not going to kill you, so don’t you worry about it."
Lilith lowered her spear, and began to leave. She called back at Hadi, who ran up to Edith and was trying to stop his bleeding.
"Don’t bother trying to save him. Even if you give him a healing potion now, it won’t work. He’s already dead. So don’t worry too much, and ta-ta."
And perhaps that was true. But as Edith struggled to breathe— struggled to even speak— he gathered all his strength regardless, and with his dying breath, managed to say one last thing.
"You’ll…never…escape." Edith coughed, blood coming out of his mouth and chest. "You… can’t…run…forever..."
Lilith halted midstep. She slowly turned to face the Inquisitor, looking down at him. And for the first time, Edith saw true emotion in her eyes. True, pure hatred in her eyes.
"I know," she said softly. She lifted her right arm up, revealing the iron band wrapped tightly around her wrist.
Then with her other hand, she grabbed the tracker and crushed it. Pieces of metal clattered on the floor as the Saintess made her declaration.
"Which is why I’ll give the Church what they want. Then maybe… maybe they’ll finally let me be free."
And then she was gone. Edith watched her disappear as he died. Hadi tried to bring him back to the camp— to revive him with a healing potion. But it was too late. The man was dead, leaving the Elf Inquisitor alone to bring the news back to the Holy Xan Empire.
That Saintess Lilith had gone rogue.
Part Two: Waning Trust Waning Trust
Chapter 11: The Hunters Guild
I stood, arm outstretched, thumb pointed up. I did not move; I did not run when I saw it approach. I was waiting for it. So I took a step, leaning forwards as it got closer and closer to me. I called out to it—
But the car still drove past me.
I lowered my hand and sighed. Why do you gotta be so rude? Is hitchhiking not a thing in this world?!
I picked up my pack, slinging it over my shoulder, before continuing down the road. There was no point in trying anymore; I wanted to get a lift to the next town over, but no one would stop for me. At least, not any one of the cars I had seen so far.
I managed to hitch a ride on a few different wagons to expedite my travels: it might not have been the fastest mode of transportation, but it was definitely better than walking. And yet, mana vehicles were faster than even carriages, sometimes even surpassing the speed of a single rider on horseback— although still incomparable to what was the norm on Earth. Point was, these cars could cover a good amount of distance very quickly, and I was getting tired of traversing by foot.
Now if only someone would actually stop for me…
I trudged along the gravel road, thoughts flying in my head to distract me from the beating sun. Why wouldn’t you stop for a hitchhiker? This isn’t the 1970’s United States! I’m not going to murder you and your girlfriend for giving me a ride!
I seriously doubted serial killers were that prevalent of a problem in this world; people could perform inhuman feats of strength and speed, which was even furthered by the existence of magic and miracles. So why wouldn’t anyone stop for me?
Maybe drivers in this world are all just jerks? That was perhaps a hasty generalization on my end; my sample size was miniscule and I was making
