The [Obedient Doctrine] effect wears off, and as soon as the pain wave subsides, Jimbo regains the capacity to think and see. Waiting to find more danger, the unexpected image of Arrax with his chest crossed by Hilda's sword leaves him mute.
Two blood threads run down the corner of the wizard's lips, who slowly shakes his head to face Hilda and dedicate a pair of curses. She, with an imperturbable countenance, does not allow him to speak, and swings the sword around with the wizard still wedged in the blade, jolting Arrax and throwing him against a pillar, where the wizard's body bounces before lying face down on the floor.
Marnie, her back pressed against a wall, moves slowly toward the secret shortcut, trying to slip past unnoticed to escape. When Hilda's eye locks on her, the disciple startles and shrieks. Hilda points a finger at her and Marnie understands the silent command: Stand still until I say.
The captain approaches the crystal and faces him. Jimbo remains frozen by the situation, for a second thinks he will be the next to be cut. Hilda speaks in a calm but firm tone.
"Arrax revealed his true face. Not only showed clear intentions to seize a valuable kingdom tool... But also to destroy a servant of our majesty"
Jim's gaze travels constantly between Hilda and Arrax. It makes him a little nauseous to have a corpse lying so close, it's a brutality that his modern sensibilities still need getting adjusted to.
"You received the king's protection, Arrax knew, he didn't listen... Actions have consequences, especially actions committed by fools" Hilda says loud and clear, as if to make clear to the world the unimpeachable logic that mobilized her actions.
She turns her back on Jimbo and returns with Arrax, stopping when she notices Dowmy near the corpse, kicking him until she loses the breath. Hilda elevates an eyebrow, places a hand on the imp's small shoulder, and pushes her away without a word. She raises the longsword overhead and...
Both Jimbo and Marnie close their eyes. Dowmy on the other hand does not look away. Metal can be heard cutting flesh and bone, and liquid splashing.
When Jim looks again, sees Hilda carrying Arrax's body over one shoulder, and holding the head by the shafts in a hand. As she walks, blood soaks the floor. The crystal pales from the dizziness caused by the situation.
"Come on," Hilda says to Marnie.
The disciple kneels down and puts her hands together to beg.
"I don't want to die!"
"Show composure. You are innocent, and a witness... You will probably have to testify in front of the oracles, like me. The king will want to know what happened"
"I'll say anything you tell me!"
Hilda frowns.
"You will tell your side of the story, nothing more, nothing less"
"Exactly! I'll be honest! I'll cooperate, not that I liked him either!"
The captain snorts through her nose, but doesn't insist any more. With a master like Arrax, she assumes that the disciple must be used to playing her role correctly. The women get ready to retreat, but then Jimbo's voice stops the warrior.
«Thank you... For saving me»
She looks over a shoulder at the glass, observing it silently for several seconds, then nods and steps back with Marnie. The secret shortcut door closes.
Jimbo lets out a long exhausted sigh and approaches Dowmy to ask how she is.
"I'm much better now, Master," she smiles. "But thanks for worrying about me"
«Damn, this was all pretty intense! My ether tank is down to zero, but at least it all ended well, and we have one less headache to think about!»
Jimbo looks at the blood trail, the burnt stone, the spikes breaking the aesthetics of the core room. Since he has no ether, will have to ask Dowmy to clean up the blood on her own. Afterwards, he will give her a well-deserved rest. And Hilda...
«Maybe I misjudge her»
Dowmy the Imp has been boosted and raised to LV 7! Magic qualities unlocked!
Jimbo jumps for the bell ringing and the warning.
Dowmy finishes chewing and swallows.