Artoria floated through the night. The cowl over her face obscured her identity; she did not need to be seen, only to see. Yet, as she passed the noble mansions, Artoria did not gather much information. However, there was one commonality.
Each mansion had enslaved persons. Of course, the indentured servants were the women who were raped by the nobles and their guards; Artoria acknowledged such abhorrent behavior and killed the nobles inside their mansions and the guards.
Those who had been enslaved were spared to go—guided to lower-class areas—and they did. But Artoria was livid. She knew where to go next.
"Help! Please help me! Let me go!" A childlike voice cried from the shadows in one of the back alleys. Artoria entered without a second thought. But what she beheld was disgusting. It was now a place of horror. Bodies.
Bodies decaying, bodies half alive—Artoria surmised they were the ones doing the torture. Even to the little children. "For our lord! The evil within you shall be defeated!" A noble yelled as he deformed the little child.
Artoria gritted her teeth and took one step; she instantly appeared before the noble, who widened his eyes and opened his mouth as if to protest.
He would not get the chance. His torso was now decoupled from his lower half.
She nearly wept. This little one—this little boy, quaking in his boots and clutching his hold to her legs—was small and terrified, staring up at her with wide eyes that seemed the size of saucers.
Artoria huffed out in irritation and determination, a breath of compassion as if she'd do anything to keep this little one safe.
"It's all right," she said, kneeling to his level and brushing stray hairs behind his ear.
"It's all right. You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you." She affectionately ruffled his hair and stood. She peered over the alley of bodies.
Some were breathing. Some had one second left. If she could cry for them all—for life so unfairly taken—she would, but she couldn't stay. Over there was a woman on the ground.
Her pulse quickened; if she was just unconscious—breathing shallow and low—maybe this one was savable. She knelt beside her, hand going to her neck to assess a pulse.
"What do we have here...?" But before she could get an assessment, she was interrupted. "You killed the nobles—who are our people—so it's only fair to kill you." Artoria raised her head and tried to take hold of her sword at her hip. But no one was there.
The voice came and went as if some spirit was playing tricks on her. She was cautious and bewildered, and the voice declared, "Bye-bye." A second later, magic circles opened up in the air before her, flickering with a breathless hum and evil intent. Artoria's breath caught in her throat.
-BOOM
Artoria was sent flying out of the ally but quickly landed with the child in her arms, who quivered in fear.
"Go and hide quickly!" She pushed the child away, who ran away; Artoria turned her attention to where the alley was as a skinny man walked out joyfully.
Multiple magic circles appeared, aiming toward Artoria, who took out her swords, ready for battle.
-Boom
Artoria was startled by an explosion far more enormous and sent debris everywhere.
"Looks like your friend is having fun."
Artoria's eyes widened as she turned to see the man wholly gone; without wasting time, she ran to where the explosion happened.
-
Julius appeared before the priest, slamming his fist into the man's head and sending the priest flying into a brick wall.
The crowd roared in anger as they rushed toward Julius, but the next moment, they were encased in ice completely.
The lanky smirked as a book appeared before his hand; opening it, the pages turned themselves before stopping.
"Let's play, shall we?" The man said as black giant ominous serpents lunged towards Julius, who ignored them and flew towards the skinny man
The man raised his hand and chanted coherent words to Julius, but a black magic circle appeared below him.
-Boom