Derek, as a military commander, proudly observed his two thousand soldiers after the successful initial assault. The atmosphere was tense, but the conquest was evident.
Lady Elyssa approached Derek, subtly kneeling to report, "The capture mission was a success, my lord!" declared Lady Elyssa.
Derek nodded in satisfaction with the operation's outcome. The Inquisitor approached to inquire about details. Curious, he asked Lady Elyssa how many creatures had been captured.
Lady Elyssa confidently responded that over five hundred creatures had been imprisoned.
The Inquisitor, in turn, sighed deeply, expressing a mix of satisfaction and concern. "Not bad, but not good either!" muttered the Inquisitor. He then invited Derek to accompany him toward the captives.
Derek followed his Inquisitor with vigilant eyes as the turmoil unfolded in the village of Girtablilu. The sight of crying children tugged at Derek's heart, even though these creatures were not human. A spark of empathy persisted within him, contrasting with the brutality imposed by his leadership.
However, something caught Derek's attention, halting his steps. One of the creatures, half-human and half-scorpion, screamed in desperation, as if its very existence was about to shatter.
The creature frantically pointed to another, a small offspring of the same lineage, being cruelly whipped by one of the soldiers. The soldier had noticed the stubbornness of the little one, who had refused to join the line and, as a result, was suffering the consequences of her insubordination.
The cries of the half-human, half-scorpion female creature echoed in a desperate tone, as if each scream were a plea for help for her daughter.
Surprised by the scene, Derek felt a pang of compassion. The Inquisitor, noting Derek's hesitation, seized the opportunity to question, "Do you know why we perform the Excommunicatio?"
Derek shook his head negatively, awaiting an explanation. The Inquisitor smoothly unsheathed a sword from his scabbard.
The blade was a blend of elegance and power, adorned with intricate magical runes that seemed to pulsate with arcane energy. Moonlight reflected on the runes, casting an ethereal glow.
"These are runic weapons!" declared the Inquisitor, his voice echoing with a mix of admiration and authority. "Forged from Mithril with magic and purpose, each rune is a seal of its power!"
The Inquisitor continued explaining as Derek's eyes fixed on the sparkling runes. "Runic artisans weave spells and enchantments into the sword's structure. Each inscription has meaning, a function. Some grant strength, others speed, and there are those that bestow mystical abilities!"
The Inquisitor, gripping the weeping Girtablilu mother, then with inhuman speed, cut her jugular, allowing a thick stream of blood to flow toward the runes.
Along with the blood, an energy emanating from the creature flowed directly into the intricate runes on the Mithril sword, creating a visual spectacle of luminosity and mystery.
Derek, unable to look away, marveled at the intrinsic beauty of the intertwining energies. Moonlight seemed to dance around the blade as the Girtablilu mother's life faded away.
The Inquisitor, noticing Derek's fascination, continued with his explanation, "We all carry a certain amount of mana within us. This weapon not only absorbs some of the creature's mana, but there is also a small chance of absorbing a runic echo of the deceased. However, absorption is rare, with a probability of 1 in 1,000."
Shock remained etched on Derek's face as he processed the revelation that the inquisitions were, in fact, a group of plunderers.
Shattering the noble conception of his mission in Derek's mind.
Almost as if anticipating Derek's thoughts, the Inquisitor responded emphatically, "The Excommunicatus for lords is a plundering move, but not the Holy Church!"
The Inquisitor then gestured with his hand, and a magical rune appeared on the forehead of the bloodied creature, which began undergoing a gradual transformation.
The half-human, half-scorpion form slowly disappeared, giving way to a humanoid figure, devoid of a nose, mouth, or ears.
Its eyes, now like two black stones, lost any shine or emotion, revealing a void that reflected the absence of consciousness.
Heavy chains appeared around its neck, symbolizing complete subjugation.
"This is an Excommunicatus!" proclaimed the Inquisitor firmly.
Immediately, that horrendous creature bowed.
Derek remained open-mouthed, his heart pounding rapidly at the astonishing scene unfolding.
The Inquisitor, unfazed by Derek's reaction, continued with his task, coordinating the Excommunicatio using the line of peasants that the soldiers had organized.
Johnny watched in silence, meticulously absorbing every detail and explanation, storing it all in the depths of his mind. Suddenly, a realization sparked in his consciousness, drawing a wicked smile on his lips.
Johnny remembered that the Lord had gifted him with a runic sword!