Naya was stunned.
Not only had Loriel hinted at knowing her past transgressions, but she even used her real name.
That could only mean she had a link to Aleria within the last year.
"This entire thing was a farce to her," Sophia walked up to Naya. "She had a teleport prepared, linked with the environment, and everything had already been abandoned."
Rula joined them, "But she did tell us who the witch was, right?"
Sophia looked doubtful. "A noble witch would explain how she's going unnoticed, considering nobody would dare accuse one, but..."
"They would suspect it because it would have a reputation for being unable to use magic," Naya spoke coldly, her stare still directed where Loriel had vanished.
"It is possible to hide that using artifacts or just pretend you have an ability." Sophia touched her chin. "Hmm~"
"So we'll finish the entire quest in one night!" Rula added optimistically.
Sophia nodded. "But the Witch is up to something. I only hope it isn't something stupid like trying to build an undead army." She said with a smile.
Rula eagerly nodded.
"Right, what's Nayalisia?" Sophia tilted her head.
Naya snapped back with a vicious glare, "Don't ever call me that!"
Sophia met her glare and didn't back down, "So that's your full name. I thought it was odd you were only referred to as Naya."
Naya looked away. "Not anymore, so don't call me it."
"How cruel," Sophia muttered. "But nobody can take away your name, Naya.
"Right!" Rula nodded.
--As I said, nobody can take away the name Nayarali gave you.--
Naya started to feel embarrassed, so she turned toward the exit path, "Let's go kill the witch."
Sophia smiled. "Sure."
"I'm ready!"
Naya began walking quickly forward, and Rula and Sophia followed right after.
The damage caused by the rain of stone was immense, and Naya was left again shocked by the level of control and power Loriel displayed.
All she could see most of the path was craters from the jagged rocks and broken wood.
It didn't take long for them to reach the familiar tunnel leading toward the exit.
Once they climbed the stairs, Naya stared in shock at the dead body of the thief who led them there. His throat was slit cleanly, and it oddly had no blood pouring from it. A pink slip of parchment was held on the ground next to him, "Nobody likes traitors! ;)"
"Wow," Sophia muttered as she climbed up and saw the body. "He must have been killed almost as soon as we entered."
Rula glanced at him once, then snapped her head away.
Naya didn't care; her duty to him was gone when they entered the building. However, she did feel some blame for failing to kill Loriel.
Which reminded her of Loriel's words that killing another Elf is a grave sin. Would she be willing to kill an Elf? Even if it was a halfling, Naya lashed out at that moment without considering it. She wasn't sure if Aleria would forgive her if another died by her hand.
--I never liked how your race and any worshipping a god pretend to understand how they feel about everything.--
Naya was tongue-tied; she hadn't spoken with Aleria, nor had she read anything save for what her teachers taught her.
[I... I suppose. ]However, Naya's entire journey was based on how she expected Aleria to react. If it wasn't true... she didn't want to think about it.
--She will definitely like what you're doing; Devil's are not just a mortal enemy.--
[I am surprised you were allowed to say that.]
--It's not an unknown fact; you just weren't taught enough. Devils can be just as powerful as gods. You're lucky you get to take advantage of them in the mortal world to kill them.--
[Sure.]
Naya knew that, considering they warped the world around them to fit their desires. That was an act of a god.
"Done talking?"
"I wish I could hear Lia"!
Both Sophia and Lia were staring at Naya, and her ears twitched. "Yes, we can go."
Sophia chuckled, and Rula released a light giggle.
--I would love to speak with them, too. --Lia sounded happy.
It made sense. From what she told Naya, Lia hadn't had any social interactions in a long time.
--Yet I still am better at socializing than you!--
[Unnecessary.]
Naya walked through the burned-down house and exited. Nobody was around to look at the body, and even those staring when Naya arrived appeared deeply hidden. Moreso than before, she could barely feel gazed on her.
"I hate it here," Rula whispered. It seemed just being in the slums plummeted her mood.
"Reasonable; I wish it didn't have to be like this." Sophia ruffled Rula's red hair.
"Maybe there'll be a town around my castle, and nobody will have to live like this," Rula mumbled.
Sophia only gently smiled.
--Her life likely came close or was like this.--
[I am not that dense. ]
--Sorry, I sometimes think out loud; I got used to it.--
Naya recalled that Lia was trapped in a separate realm for untold years and instantly felt bad for her words. [I apologize.]
--Not your fault! --
With no disruption from the locals, they reached outside the slums quickly. The area outside wasn't bad, but few people wanted to be anywhere near it. There weren't many active buildings, and only an occasional guard patrolled the area.
--Probably to prevent them from expanding into the less populated areas around the slum.--
Sophia stepped forward and stopped before Naya. "The Noble District is isolated and heavily guarded; you'd best let me take care of the guards."
"You think I'm incapable?" Naya lightly squinted.
"Yes." Sophia smiled back. "I'd rather we not resort to threats, and the guards wouldn't let us in even if we served the King."
Naya's ears twitched. It was true; she hadn't exactly been nice in requesting access to closed places.
Sophia raised her hand but dropped it immediately. "Gods, you have no idea how badly I want to grab those ears."
"You wouldn't dare!" Naya stepped back.
"I would, but not here." Sophia winked.
"Eww." Rula stepped in front of Naya, obviously feeling better after leaving the slums, or at least hiding it.
Sophia chuckled. "Okay, okay, but seriously, let me handle this, please."
"Fine." Naya reluctantly nodded.
--She's right; you aren't exactly subtle in your methods.--
[I know!]
Sophia led the group from then on, Naya and Rula's hands interlocked behind her. It was something Naya was used to doing at that point; she always felt like if she didn't, Rula would vanish into the massive city. Then, her encounter with the adventurer on her first day told her that some don't like halflings.
The walk to the Noble District was long, but Naya could easily make out the piercing manors dotting hills in a sectioned-off part of the city.
"It's like a different world," Rula muttered.
"The Nobles behave similarly to the Elves; they isolate themselves from the outside." Sophia explained, then, as if sensing Naya's impending rebuttal, "Though, unlike the Elves, they still think they deserve influence in the cities."
Two guards stood on both sides of the Noble district gate, with their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.
"Halt!"
Naya hated it when people stopped her, which was why she didn't deal with gatekeepers amicably. Even if their duty made sense, it was an annoyance for her.
Sophia stepped forward, and the guards tensed.
"My name is Sophia. I am a Sanctum Paragon, and I request access to the Noble District to continue my investigation into the Witch plaguing Rozen." She slightly bowed.
Naya couldn't imagine doing that; even seeing Sophia do it annoyed her. Mere gatekeepers were not worth that level of respect.
--They're just doing their job.--
[They looked like they enjoyed seeing it. Give a human some power, and look what happens.]
"The Noble District is off limits unless invited by a noble." The second guard spoke with his eyes glued to Naya's ears. There was fear in them.
"Lord Rilious wanted us to investigate the Witch; surely you don't want to interfere?"
The first guard looked hesitant.
The second one still shook his head. "Then you'll need to show me official documents telling exactly which Noble you wish to speak with."
"Or I could kill you both," Naya spoke coldly.
Both guards looked at her in fear, and the more courageous second one spoke first. "You'd... start a racial conflict; we are guards of esteemed human nobility!"
"Which means nothing, arrogant human." Naya glared. "Get out of our way."
"Now, now, Naya." Sophia turned around. "Come on, let's just go."
Sophia had a grin, so Naya decided to follow whatever plan she had made.
"Thank you for your understanding, Paragon." The first guard spoke and bowed.
Sophia led Naya and Rula down the road until they were out of eyesight of the guards, then moved to an alley behind a building.
"You knew they would refuse," Naya said.
"Of course, but it never hurts to try." Sophia put her hand against the wall.
"Gate?" Rula excitedly asked.
"Yeah, I'll just open a gate within the walls; just give me a moment to find the destination." Sophia closed her eyes.
[What a ridiculous ability...]
--I don't understand how it works; it doesn't make any sense. I can't apply her abilities to any known system of magic. --
[Loriel seemed to know what it was; she called it the Void.]
--Never heard of it, but there exists a limitless number of realms out there, so that's not unexpected. --
[But for her to know of it speaks of its significance.]
--I'd say ask Sophia, but that's probably her deepest secret. Just depends on how curious you are.--
[I will discuss it with her after; I want to know what that realm was.]
--Just hope you're prepared to give away some secrets of your own.--
"Aaand done." Sophia released her hand, and two black lines went from the point of contact with the wall all around to connect into a long oval. "Quickly enter."
Naya stepped in first.
Once again, she was greeted by the endless expanse of pitch black, with only specks of various lights in the distance. She wanted to know what those lights were. It only lasted a second when she felt like something was pushing her.
She appeared on a grass field behind a brick building and before the tall gate.
Moments later, both Rula and Sophia appeared next to her.
"That's so cool!" Rula whispered loudly.
Naya nodded. It was definitely an experience.
Sophia smiled. "I'm glad I could impress you." She was mostly looking at Naya.
"Where is this?" Naya whispered.
"Finding her home was pretty easy with these eyes." Sophia looked at a spot a little ways away from Naya, "Even now, I can see a malevolent Arcana poking up from below ground in this area."
"What does that mean?" Rula asked.
"Malevolent Arcana means an area has been twisted," Naya explained.
"And it also means the Witch is 4th order," Sophia spoke gravely.
"Fourth... how strong is she?" Rula asked with trepidation.
"It's difficult to say. Devils come in many different domains; most, such as the Reality Witch in Rella, cannot show their real power through mortal bodies." Sophia
"Its power is likely deadly," Naya said while looking at Rula.
She was worried for Rula, and the event in the cavern showcased a situation she feared could happen frequently. She can't offer protection and worry about her battles while protecting Rula. If Sophia hadn't been there, Rula would have died.
"Don't look at me like that!" Rula whispered defiantly. "You're worried about me, I can tell, but even if Sophia wasn't there, I have my own methods!"
--We don't know what drawings she has in that book; we need to give her a chance to showcase what her summons can do.--
"Sorry." Naya smiled and ruffled Rula's hair.
"You're correct, though," Sophia was watching them both. "She will be deadly; I can't imagine what shape her powers will take."
--If she can make undead, it just depends on what corpses she could get ahold of. --
"Let's go. It will die regardless." Naya said.
"I want to find out her purpose." Sophia moved to follow Naya as they walked around the large home. "If it was just getting stronger, she would not be in a city."
"But she's a noble," Rula whispered.
"If anything, that makes it worse. I want to ask her some questions before she dies." Sophia spoke more toward Naya.
"Fine."
Naya wasn't immune to the curiosity. The her of a mere year ago would not be able to feel the same way. However, she learned many things that directly contradict what she learned in Aleria and things that put their position in question within her mind.
The house was massive, at least three stories tall, with towers on the left and right sides. A large garden dominated the entrance with many colorful flowers and bushes trimmed in animal shapes. A neat stone path led to the large front door, and the many windows' lack of illumination painted an eerie picture.
Naya felt uneasy just being near the home.
Rula's grip on Naya's hand tightened, "It... feels off here."
"It does." Sophia's eyes were snapping in various directions around the home and garden.
--I want to see what she sees.--
Naya pushed open the door... but it didn't budge.
"Obviously, it's locked." Sophia smiled.
Naya's ears twitched.
"Cute, but let's figure this out." Sophia moved forward and placed her hand on the door.
The sound of clicking metal signified the door getting unlocked, and then it began to push open with low creaks.
"Well, that isn't eerie at all."
The door opened slowly, allowing vision into a nearly pitch-black, empty room. It didn't look like anybody lived there. Nor did it appear anybody took care of the property during the nobles' absence.
"Okay then." Sophia chuckled.
"Humans are theatrical," Naya said.
Sophia didn't argue.