"Capturing a witch.", Cazelia said, "and you were going to help him with that?"
"That's what I told him but..."
"But what?"
Roderick grinned, "I was planning to do the opposite."
"How did you win his trust?" Cazelia continued to question him.
"The relics I possessed. I showed them to him, they were enough evidence of my connection to witches."
"And, are you indeed connected to witches?" She asked. Ariella and Bannard were quietly listening.
"Why should I tell you?" Roderick turned around and waved while walking away. "Nice meeting you."
"Damn it!", Ariella dashed towards him.
"Ariella!" Caziela's shout was useless, the distance was already closed.
When she was just behind Roderick, ready to grab his shoulder, he took a quick step back without turning around and hit her in the abdomen with his elbow.
*Bomp*
"Ugh." Ariella gasped for air before falling to the ground.
"You keep attacking me when you have no reason to. I spared that man's life when I had no reason to." He turned around, an orange glow shone in his eyes. "You questioned me and I answered and then attack me from behind?"
*Howling*
Wolves could be heard. They were running around them.
"If you want an answer. You better start explaining yourself first." Roderick said while showing his teeth.
"This is bad", Bannard looked around while holding his blade, "is this is the effect of the relics? He's almost like a beast!"
"It couldn't be, could it?" Caziela said after lifting her hand, "I can't believe someone would manage to retrieve them!" Ariella was suddenly lifted and pulled back by an invisible force.
"You know about this relic?" Bannard asked.
"Almost everyone does. 'The Cursed Tears of the Wolf King' - that wolf was said to have had orange eyes... furthermore, those howling wolves... I can't think of another known relic that fits the bill."
"What can we do?"
"Leave it to me and take care of Ariella", she took slow and measured steps towards Roderick, "I apologize, we're the ones at fault here. I, Caziela Treya III, am a witch and leader of the Treya faction. Thank you for sparing Rufus and Ariella. He must have been led astray by greed when he found out that you had a magical relic. He joined my faction to find a cure for his sick little sister and must have thought this to be the perfect opportunity to finally save his sister. His only mission was to kill Balthazar, someone who's been enslaving and trafficking people. I apologize for my behaviour and for both him and Ariella, they were out of line." She ended her apology with a formal bow.
Roderick's breathing slowed down as the sound of wolves died down. 'I totally lost control', he thought.
He turned back towards them and said, "I apologize as well, it felt as if I was possessed." He forcefully rubbed his forehead. 'My head is burning.'
Roderick bent his knees and sat on the ground with his hands wrapped around his head. A pained and suppressed groan could be heard. His consciousness faded; all became dark.