Aura of the Moon - Chapter 10-12 (Patreon)

Chapter 10

For the rest of the night, and the entire day after Hans was racked with horrendous pain. It felt as though his blood was boiling and his stomach was twisting inside his chest. Haron was not present for most of the day until she returned late, near sundown. Though, Hans had no concept of time. Every minute felt like an eternity. When Haron returned she placed several gathered herbs next to a bowl on the floor. Carefully she plucked leaves and parts while measuring the quantities. She placed those in piles on an unfolded cloth. Hans watched. The odd precision she was working with, coupled with the certainty she showed caught his attention and distracted him at least enough to hold his gaze for a moment. It did not last long. His eyes shut tightly.
“Aaagh!” He whined through clenched teeth.
“Hng... It hurts. Why are you doing this to me?”

“You were interested in what I was doing?” She continued to work steadily as she spoke. There was no reaction in her steady hands to his sudden shouts and cries, as if she was weathered against such things. Her calm words caught his attention, pulling it away from at least some of the pain, like a child distracted from a shot by being told where to look. It still hurt, but he was panting and trying his best not to scream, because even that hurt him.
“People think that all you have to do is throw herbs in a pot and mix them... The truth is, there are hundreds of different herbs and with those herbs, different qualities and different processing methods exist and within those distinctions we have the issue of how much to add. Not all mixtures require heat, but those that do require precise heats for exact amounts of time, at the right times. You can not simply boil something and expect it to have the effect you want. So, we add precise amounts-” She stops.
“Oh, but it has to be in order. Because some products react together, but the effect of another will change or neutralize the reaction. So, the product must first be created-” She finished grinding two of the measured ingredients together. Then slowly she added the others.
“It is like cooking. I am not a witch, but all witches tend to be cooks or bakers. It requires a similar amount of patience, and an eye for detail. I respect bakers a lot in particular.” She added water, mixed it all together with a wooden spoon and brought it close to him.
“Here.”

“Is- Is it poison?” Hans asked.

“Yes!” She responded brightly. He whimpered and recoiled.

“Dammit Haron!” One of the men scolded.

“It is a poison, technically.” She glanced back at him and pouted a little before clarifying.

“For the senses. Hans, it will lessen your pain and help you sleep.”

“Fine- Fine just give it. Even if it's poison.” He closed his eyes and let his mouth fall open. His hands were shaking too much to hold a bowl. Haron lifted it to his lips and let him sip it. Once he had drank half she pulled it away.

“If you are still hurting, feel free to ask for more, but you should start to feel less pain.”

He felt relief slowly spread from his head, down his neck and spine, then out to his limbs. He could think clearly, but he could not move. He felt like a log.
“It will also paralyze you for a little bit but I think the trade-off is good. Don't you?”

“Why do you-” He breathed, feeling tired.
“Why do you care?”

She looked at him sympathetically. “Believe it or not, Hans, we do not want to see you suffer. This was not expected. The change was thought to occur the moment you drank the reagents mixed with blood.” She leaned back on the heel of her palms.
“Or... Did you think we poured piss and shit over ourselves for fun?”

“Maybe you did?” He wondered out loud, feeling a little braver while drugged.

The two men both laughed. “Good one.”

Hans clutched his chest over the spot where the ring was and closed his eyes, but even shutting them tight did not stop tears from forming and dripping down his cheek.
“I wanna go home...” He opened his eyes and looked at her with a sad and fearful gaze.
“Haron I wanna go home, please.” He was sniffling, close to sobbing.

Haron frowned. “I know.” She lifted her head and thought of something to say.
“I met Dame Ayla again today.”

Hans was immediately distracted and stopped short of sobbing. “Dame?”

“See... Since it is the middle of the day I went out without robes and a mask, as those would be more suspicious. However, I am a naturally suspicious woman, so Dame Ayla stopped me on my way back from the woods.” She once again slid under him so that he would use her lap to rest his head. She stroked his hair affectionately, as a mother would.
“So sleep and maybe the next time you wake up you will see her face instead of mine. Wouldn't that be nice?” He closed his eyes and drifted off. The drug had finally kicked in fully.

“Haron... You ran into that same Knight again?” One of the men asked.

“Don't you think that could be important?” The other stated in frustration.

“This child needed some medicine. It was more important.”

“Fine...” He relented.
“But, what are the chances she can use where she saw you to track us?”

“Oh... Quite good I would say. In the most fortunate circumstances for them I was seen on the edge of town which places our little hideout within a small search radius. That is if she deduces that much, and guesses that we chose a vacant building. If she is good, we have about twenty minutes. If she is not, we will have moved him and everyone else within the hour. Even if she comes, our Mercenary Captain is quite strong.” Haron winked.

“W-wait, twenty minutes from now or-” The man looked startled.

“From when I entered.”

“Dammit Haron, tell us that sooner!” They both rushed out to start packing and alerting the mercenaries.

She shook her head, continuing to sooth Hans in his sleep. “Kids. Always in such a rush. Hm...” she tapped her lip.
“I'll feed you the rest so you can sleep through anything that happens.” Haron lifted the bowl and let the remainder seep slowly into his mouth and down his throat, careful to not let him choke.

- Earlier -

“We can spar. Maybe it will spur you to want to improve a little.” Ayla placed her hand on the pommel of her sheathed sword. She planted her feet an appropriate distance apart.
“Come at me as aggressively as you want, you wont hit me.”

“Seriously? Aren't you being a bit...” Miller trailed off.

“Cocky.” Samson finished what Miller wished to say. He was seated along the sidelines with the soldiers.

Ayla glanced over. “You all can feel free to leave us. The Patrol ended and we'll meet you at the Wintergreen in a little bit.”

“I kinda want to see.” Samson admitted.

“Same.” Hadley nodded.
“It's not often we get to see sparring between Knights.”

“Fine.” Ayla made sure her hair was tied tight and everything was strapped neatly as preparation. A ritual before fighting someone, since her movements were typically so precise that anything could throw her off in a moment.

“Okay, are you ready, Ayla?” Miller asked.

“I'm ready. Start whenever.” She waited. As soon as Miller pulled his battle-sword from his back, Ayla drew her thin long-sword.

`It is a bad match, objectively, but I just need to not take a strong hit, or a direct hit when I parry. Miller's strength is predictable so there's no actual way to lose here.` She exhaled.

“By the way, when you attack I'm going to attack back. I'll stop short of hitting you but keep in mind each time it happens what the result would've been if we were fighting for real.”

“Got it, got it. Let's go!” He began with his hands spread out wide over the entirety of his long handle. Ayla nodded. Miller began to analyze.

`I'll use my reach to start.` He decided, inching forward just enough that the upper quarter of his sword could contact her, but hers could never reach him. She did not move except to turn her body sideways and extend her sword forward with her arm bent shallowly. Miller lifted his sword above his head and caught movement in that instant. Her body lowered and while her back foot remained planted she used it to push herself towards him, instantly making it so her reach could hit him. She extended her arm quicker than he could react and the tip of her sword found his stomach.

`Dead!` He grunted, lowering his sword to defend. But she had already withdrawn.

“Dammit...”

“I'm faster than you, but you're stronger than me.” She hinted.

“I know that!” He uttered in frustration. They were equal lengths apart again, but that was not accurate. He quickly adjusted his way of thinking.

`I thought that her reach was the range of her sword and her arm, but it's actually longer. This is a dueling stance? She can make her reach longer than mine by moving like that in an instant, and then pulling back before I can do anything. Big movements have to come last. Take her off her center of balance with lighter attacks to reduce her reach and her movement.` He breathed, extending his grip onto the blade.

Ayla smiled in approval of the move. “Good.”

He inched into range, it was still longer than hers, but she would need to extend her body to actually hit him still, and his range of movement with his sword was more precise with the way he was wielding it.

`I can move my sword in any direction in front of me and around me. I can stab farther without moving, so as long as she's in front of me I can-` Ayla lunged forward, going for a jab. Miller quickly parried down, then turned his sword with his wrists and swiped up at an angle.

`It'll catch her under her arm, should I slow it down so she doesn't get-` As he was wondering if he should go easy, Ayla had already bent her upper body out of the was already attacking again. According to his vision her sword was bending like a snake towards his neck, but as the attack stopped she had merely changed position and curled her arm in a way to move around any possible small adjustment he could make.

`Hurt...` He finished his thought before that line of thinking trailed off.

`I was thinking that, but I'm dead again. If this doesn't work then I'll move into her space to surprise her, and bowl through her.` Miller charged through. She looked surprised for a moment, exactly what he wanted, but her eyes darted around rapidly. As he tried to shoulder check her while restricting her sword with his she moved around. The blade was close to his neck but she stopped.

`Dead.` He wheeled around to follow where she dodged but she stayed ahead of it and was already behind him. She pinched the back of his neck. Miller shuddered.

`Dead.' He began to sweat. He felt her behind him last so he did not hesitate and swung around in a horizontal arc. As he turned he realized it was a narrow miss. She looked faintly impressed, but his eyes really lit up when he saw what position she was in.

`She had to dodge back by shifting her weight, the center of her mass isn't over her feet anymore, so it'll be hard to move. The only choice is to block so I win!` he released the part of the blade he held for precise movement near the guard at the apex of his horizontal swing. It picked up speed as he swung it around over his head. Then, when he was about to bring it down again he gripped the top of his pommel near the guard again for control and used the added leverage to drive it down even harder. He let out a yell from the exertion.

`Got y-` He watched her body change direction in air to place her feet under her and before the blade could hit squarely like he desired she planted and struck his sword near the center with both hands, sending it off course with just enough force to allow her to dodge narrowly as the sword struck the ground and sent dust up around the impact.

“Fuuuck!” He whined, looking over to see her sheathing her sword.

“That's good enough. You're very talented. You have good eyes and you adjust what you are doing on the fly as needed.”

“It's over?” Mayson complained.

“That was barely a minute, right?” Hadley observed.

Samson scratched his chin. “Wow.” He would not say it out loud, but as someone that could somewhat follow the exchange he was wondering what someone like Ayla was doing in Castezin as a personal Knight.

“What was that at the end?” Miller asked.

“I used my Aura to create rotation in my body in mid air so that my feet could touch the ground. Your attack is strong enough that I can't use it to stop the attack, so I needed to do a combination of things in order. But-” She held out her sword hand.

“It's ringing. You still did quite a number on me my bones are weaker than yours.”

“Everything I did felt pretty useless. I didn't believe you when you said I couldn't catch you. How does that even work?”

Ayla explained. “If Bone Alignment is strength, and Heart Alignment is an average of stamina, strength and speed-”

“Your alignment is speed.”

“No.” She corrected, tapping the side of her head.
“It's reaction, and to a lesser degree speed. Strength, in reality, is also speed so you actually have more potential for explosive, fast movement than I do. The alignment for nerves begins in the brain, so all of those parts are improved before anything else. On top of that, I've completed that and also improved my senses.” She waved her hand in front of her.
“When I concentrate, everything around me looks like it's moving in slow motion. I could see all your attacks, and the difference between us is not too big, so I can always avoid anything you do.”

Miller held his head. “Slow motion? God damn... If I get stronger will I eventually outpace you?”

“No, because I also haven't hit my upward limit with Soma, and I still have Aura as well. You would need a trick to catch me.”

He chuckled. “Ryan, did you know she has Aura?”

Samson shrugged. “Don't most of the graduates have Aura? We're the odd ones for training here instead of the capital. I think most Knights are stronger than us.”

“That's not true.” Ayla claimed. Miller perked up.
“Miller, you're about as strong as ten regular soldiers combined and you have the mental capacity and situational awareness to fight at a higher level than you are at right now. So long as the opponent isn't like me.” She clarified before turning to the other Knight.

“Samson, you are intelligent. Even if you didn't say it, you knew I had Aura already and you tend to know a lot more than you let on. Even though you hit your limit, if you become an Aura-Knight that intelligence will convert to a sort of 'strength' in combat with almost no limit.”

“I've already started sending out messages. My wife just wants me to make sure it isn't a woman.”

“Not a... Woman?” Ayla looked at him strangely.

Miller grinned. “His wife doesn't even know his squad-mate is a woman. She'd get super jealous.”

Samson  hid his face. “If I bring an Aurar over to teach me, they'll have to live on the estate. I'll have to handle meals and living and my wife wouldn't like it if it was a woman because she loves me too much to see me around other ladies.” He stared at Miller pointedly.
“That's different from jealousy.”

“Sounds like jealousy...” Ayla stated flatly. Miller bent over and cackled.

“That's not true!”

Miller placed his sword in the holster at his back. “Then we should have a dinner one night and invite Dame Ayla.”

Samson dragged his hand from his eyes down over his mouth. “That...” He seemed to be thinking. He looked at Ayla for a moment as she stared back at him cluelessly, then adopted a relaxed smile.
“Yeah. Ayla is fine. I'm sure my wife will be fine having her around.” Samson got the sense that his wife would understand immediately that Ayla is not available as a partner, and how he could relate to her.

Ayla's lips parted as a small gasp escaped. “Really? You want to invite me for dinner one night with...” He face became bright to the point of glowing.

Miller got close and pointed to himself. “I'll be there, too.”

“What about us?” Mayson, Grayson, Hadley, Tallow and Mark each pouted at Samson.

“What about you all? I'm not gonna feel sympathy for a bunch of brats that still have their residences listed as their mother's and father's. Go eat a home cooked meal with your own families!” Samson shouted.

“So cruel... This is the true personality of a landowner. Looking down on us common folk.” Hadley moaned theatrically.

“But I'm also common folk.” Ayla commented.

“That's right!” Tallow shouted.
“Dame Ayla is one of us! I'll bring you home to my-”

“You what?” Miller's head turned on a swivel to Tallow. He stared at him pointedly..

“M-maybe not.” Tallow chuckled.

Ayla laughed. `I don't really get what's going on, but it's funny.`

Chapter 11

Ayla rode alongside Miller. There was still a few things she could not quite sort out in her head. She could not understand why he would not have an interest in becoming stronger if he was so invested in his comrades well-being. It made no sense to her. They reached the entrance to town as the sun was setting. The lamps were already lit. She spoke.
“Miller.”

“Yeah?”

“Why don't you care about getting stronger? Don't you want to be strong enough to be able to defend everyone here?”

“Well, if you put it like that isn't it because I feel like I am strong enough to defend all the people here?” He noticed her unsatisfied expression, then smiled.
“What? There aren't many battles out here. Monsters are handled systematically, so it's not like any one Knight needs to be overwhelmingly powerful. We work in groups for a reason. I think that where strength is needed is in situations like last week. You were sick and not telling anyone. I'm glad I made myself the type of person that would push you to reveal that, otherwise something bad might've happened. Keeping those guys back there safe seems easy to me with the strength I have so I just don't see a need to.”

“I see.” Ayla fell into quiet contemplation.

`From Miller's perspective he's right. If things stay as they are now he is as strong as he needs to be... No. He's stronger. For an army in a peaceful time Miller is the exact type of person that is needed. But he doesn't know what's going to come over the next few years. I need to consider whether I should tell him or not. If I can't help him get stronger he wont be ready. He'll probably be fine, as he was in my past life, but the people he wants to protect will start dying, and there's nothing he will be able to do.`

“Ayla...” Miller said.

“Huh?” she looked up.

“I called your name a few times. That woman has the same eyes as yours. I've only seen them twice, so it's a bit rare.” He pointed the woman out.

Ayla looked over, rode up to confirm what Miller was talking about and hopped off of her horse to get in front of Haron. “You.”

“Me.” She was holding herbs in her apron like a basket.

“You aren't wearing a mask.”

Haron touched her face curiously. She acted surprised. “You're right!” Ayla narrowed her eyes at the strange attitude. It felt like Haron was some type of Alien. Now that she could take in Haron's features, the strange woman looked a bit like her. The hair and the eyes at least, and she was older that Ayla expected.

“What can I do for you, Dame? I have a sick child at home that needs some attention.”

“Where do you live?”


Haron thought for a moment. “Actually, I live at a vacated building not too far away. It's the only one with the windows boarded up so it's pretty easy to find.” Once she was done explaining, Haron smiled widely.

“Uh...” Ayla eyed Haron up and down, feeling a little stone-walled. She caught a bit of graying hair on her apron, but did not think much of it, since she was an aging woman. The non-suspicious factors filtered through her mind. She was in regular clothes. She was old and nice. Sick child at home and herbs to corroborate what she was doing and...

`She's suspicious to me, so I was expecting her to not answer but she literally told me exactly where she lives.` Ayla stepped back awkwardly.
“O-okay. Bye.” She turned around and mounted her horse.

“Bye!” Haron waved. She began humming as she continued on her way towards the safe-house.

“What was that about?” Samson asked.

“I thought she was suspicious.” Ayla explained.

Samson huffed. “You can't just go around questioning people...”

“Can't we do whatever we want because we're Knights under Duke Castezin.”

“No!” Miller and Samson said at the same time.

“This girl...” Samson held his head in disbelief.
“These are our people, and the Duke's people. He's not the kind of Lord that wants to trouble the people in his land. We also feel the same way. Was it like that in the capital?”

Ayla blushed. “No, not really. Sorry, I was wrong. I'll keep what you said in mind.”

Samson looked at her. “I believe you... I don't know what you're life was like before but you don't have to do that stuff here. We exist to protect all these people. You don't have to bully or intimidate anyone and you shouldn't, even if you could.”

“I promise. I was just wondering.” Ayla said nervously.

“Like I said, I believe you.” He looked at her strangely, noticing right away the way she was acting, like a guilty child. The older Knight felt strange. He had a daughter of his own at home that had just hit six years and so much of Ayla's unexplained behavior felt like a kid without a compass. It was something he had to deal with often and it confused him to have to deal with it in a grown woman.

“Treat it as a slip of the tongue.” Miller interjected.
“Ayla doesn't believe in that sort of thing, she was just asking.”

Ayla felt dejected. She could not get the exchange they just had out of her head, because she did not fully believe her own words, but Samson did. Ayla could tell that he thought she understood and agreed. She wanted his faith to be warranted, she truly did.
“How...” She gulped, feeling sick to even ask, since it was very revealing.
“How does one go about changing?” The two Knights looked at her. The soldiers were listening, but pretending not to. They were pretending not to look as well.

Samson considered what to do next carefully. Why she was asking. What it meant to ask after such a talk. He inhaled deeply.
“Private talk between Knights.” Samson announced.
“You all go ahead.”

The soldiers reluctantly made their way up the street without them. Once they were finally out of sight Samson and Miller left their horses nearby on the street and pulled Ayla into a quiet alleyway.
“What do you mean? Why're you trying to change?” Samson asked seriously.

Ayla felt nervous. Extremely nervous. It could all come crumbling down in the moment, but if she left her own thoughts and her guilt and doubt to fester it would simply be a slow burn to the same result. She did not think it in those precise terms because she could not understand those feelings easily, but she did feel that way.

“Ryan, is this necessary? Look how uncomfortable she is...” Miller observed.

“It's necessary. She asked us with that serious look. That means she's probably asking about something she really wants to know.”

“Asking her to just lay all that out now is a bit-”

“I am a... I was a bad person. Maybe I still am. I don't know.” She volunteered. Miller quieted down. Samson stood in front of her, a neutral expression was worn as he loomed a little taller over her shrinking form. Her hands were folded in front of her lap.
“That's why I want to change.”

“What did you do?” Samson asked evenly.
“It's not enough to say you were a bad person. I can't understand that without reason.”

“I've done the things you guys scolded me about. I've intimidated people and bullied people. Badly. Most of them didn't deserve it.” She stated assuredly.
“No. Let's just assume they all didn't deserve it. I was thinking about that.”

“Was it the Crown Prince?” Samson asked.

“Partially? But I was the one that did it, so it was still me, right?”

He softened, becoming relieved at the answer. “I dunno what I would think if you tried to push the blame onto someone else.” He looked at her closely.
“Is there more? Have you killed.”

“Yes.” She admitted while looking down to avoid their gazes.

“Innocent people?” Samson probed.

“No. Ryan-” Miller spoke up before Samson shushed him to let Ayla finish, if she could finish.

“I...” Her pupils dilated. First and foremost their faces were in front of her, as well as the forefront of her mind. Many more flashed by. Hundreds. Thousands unseen. Tens of thousands as a result of things she had done. A butcher. Murderer. The words 'Yes. I have. I am a killer' caught in her throat. They were things she was too afraid to say. She felt cowardly as she tried to think.

`How many... How have I killed so far in this life? The people that came after Caelin during the hunt. They were mercenaries.  Who else? What was my first? Oh, those boys that bullied me. It was self defense. If I told them that story they might feel bad for me. I don't deserve that.` She stopped overthinking and looked up. They were staring at her. Miller seemed a bit taken aback, but sympathetic. Samson looked more hawkish.
“There was a time when I joined a hunt as a Squire in the Academy. I signed up to attend a Hunt because I was interested. The royal family always hunts on the full moon to show dominance over the Night. Though, the hunt is always meant to end as the sun is going down so it's a bit of a farce.” She closed her eyes and cursed her wandering mind.

`Focus.` Ayla breathed.
“So, there I was as a guard when a notice was sent out that the Crown Prince was lost. He was lost in the woods before nightfall. Once the sun went down in that forest things could get bad, so people were worried. Everyone went out to look for him. I as well was ordered to add to the search. So I searched. I was actually well-positioned to find him. My senses had been developed alongside my Soma Alignment so I was already with keen sight that could see in the dark and spot things others couldn't. Eventually as the moon was rising I found him, fending off a gang of mercenaries.” She stopped, trying to think about how to explain the next part. She had already left so much out and it was killing her to do so.
“Uhm... During the full moon I always get a little bit strange. Not to a degree where it's worrisome, just, I have a bit of an itch and an urge. It's- I do kind of lose my mind a bit. But it isn't something where I am totally out of control.” She argued.
“Everything in my head just feels bolder and all the feelings are better and worse all at the same time. I don't feel like a different person, I just feel like a different version of myself. When I am like that I am driven by all my desires and my worst qualities.” She began to explain the events as she saw them to the two Knights, then her relationship with the Prince, also as she saw it.

- At That Time -

“What're you waiting for!? Help me kill them!” He had seen her at the Academy. She was second to him only until she completed her Alignment, then she never lost. He knew her talent, but he simply did not care, because she was a commoner. There would be nothing for her after graduation except joining a Lord or an Order, so he did not need to worry about her.

She held her head. “Is it really okay?” She felt warm inside. No, she felt hot. Her head was completely alert and she was gripping her sword so tight that her hand was going numb.

“Yes!”

“So...” She panted, a smile crossing her lips. She was almost salivating.
“What you're saying is I- I can do whatever I want to these people?”

“Y...” Caelin stopped and saw her expression. It frightened him. The Mercenaries were beginning to notice it, too. He could not do anything, however. They had caught him in the leg and arm. He was struggling to stand. Struggling to defend himself. But, in the back of his mind he could not help but shake a small detail he noticed. She was acting for permission like she needed it, but the girl was already covered in blood. Her sword. Her boots. She killed before she got there and looked excited and crazed to kill again.
“Yes! Do whatever you want to them.” He felt a sense of calm wash over him. It was a relief as Ayla began her hunt. If she was a monster he could fathom her. A beast would bite and maul and show raw power without control. It would tear through them without sense or reason. Ayla was not like that.

Her sword moved methodically. No effort was wasted as she struck down the weakest men first. Without any show of hesitation she painted over their bodies with her sword, drawing red where ever it touched. When it came to the skilled Mercenaries she became more crazed in expression, but never ceased her fluid and calculated movements. She practically appeared in their space exactly where they needed her to not be like it was choreographed for them to lose and she was simply playing a part. She was close as she killed them. She looked them in the eyes as she killed them. She struck fear through her calm cruelty. It was not something a squire could do. It was not something a normal Knight could do either. Even still, the thought crossed Caelin's mind that there was no monster in front of him in the shape of a girl. She was worse because she showed all signs of sanity and still danced in blood before him between the men with elation written on her face. He knew it once he had seen the joy she took in killing that when she was done he would be next. It was so frightening that it was funny to him.

“I hope Nealin makes a good Emperor.” He uttered bitterly, closing his eyes to accept the inevitable. He  smiled as he heard dwindling screams and orders that faded into a drop, and a gurgling nearby. His  turn soon. After all the noise there was a notable silence. He opened his eyes once he heard ground crunching in front of him. She was bent down with an outstretched gauntlet covered in blood.

“Your Highness...” She panted. Blood and sweat were mixed on her face, forming a macabre mask over her beautiful features. Only her silver eyes stood out clearly.

“Many people are worried about you.” She said in a dutiful, yet sweet tone.

It was the moment he realized he could use this person.

-

.“You... Get urges on the full moon? The Prince saw that and he wanted to make you his bodyguard. Because he knew he could use you?” Miller questioned to clarify, not accuse.
“From what I heard you killed Mercenaries to protect the Crown Prince. That's not so bad. If you were his Knight it would be something you were duty bound to do, regardless. You didn't lose control when it came to him. In reality, you saved him and stopped him from being harmed, so... You aren't completely wild, right? Ryan, what do you make of this?”

Samson scratched his stubble. “That incident... The one where the Emperors Consort, the Second Prince's mother got found guilty the next day and  was executed for the plot. There was a Hero that was said to have saved the Crown Prince and that was you, Ayla?”

“Miller.” She began, trying to think of the right words to say. She could not tell, but he was looking to her for reason to find innocence, not fault. He was on her side, but she still felt sick and worried.
“When I... Get an urge to do something, it does not have to be on the full moon. I can control myself to an extent, but if I find a reason to not hold back I can no longer help myself. It turns from a want to a need. Just a reason...” She admitted ashamedly. It was all she needed in her past life.
“Samson. It was me. That can be confirmed in official records.”

“You want to change.” Samson reiterated suddenly.

“That's right.”

“So.” He began to think out loud.
“You came here to escape your enabler. If you stuck with the Prince you felt like he would encourage you, rather than respect any desire to restrain yourself. The way you talk about him, it sounds like he did not care about your problem. He liked it.”

“Correct.”

He shifted uncomfortably. “With the full moon coming up, who knows what could happen. If you have a reason, you will go in on someone. A reason doesn't have to be good. There can be bad reasons so it's still an issue, even though the kills you had weren't necessarily bad.”

“Should we lock her up?” Miller asked.

“Maybe.” Samson said honestly. Ayla cringed.
“But, if she gets locked up every full moon does she have a chance to change?” He stared at her.
“Ayla!”

“Y-yes?” She stood at attention due to the sudden sternness he showed.

“Do you go out and hunt for people on the full moon? Are there times when that night passes uneventfully?”

“Many.” She shrugged. She loved the hunt, especially on the full moon, but there were indeed times when she would simply stay in doors and do nothing do to circumstance.

“You aren't driven the same way a monster is. You have a problem, but it isn't something that can't be solved. You need to be tested to change. That's the real answer at the end of all this.”

Her eyes widened. “Tested?”

“At some point you're going to be faced with a scene where you have every reason to kill. You think you should, but instead you don't. Look at me.” Samson demanded, looking Ayla in the eyes. He gripped her shoulder.

“Yes?”

“I believe in you.”

Miller chimed in. “Ayla, over here.” she glanced over at Miller and made eye-contact. He smiled.
“Ayla I believe in you, too.“

She began to tear up. “This is...” She gulped and choked up a bit but managed to fight the urge to cry.
“New to me.” She admitted, rubbing her eyes. Even though she would not cry, her eyes became puffy and wet and her face was hot. She inhaled and exhaled consciously. When she was collected, she spoke.
“Thanks you guys. Really.” There was still that uncomfortable lump in her throat.

`These people... I think I'll be able to tell them eventually.`

Samson was  relieved. He let go of her and shrugged. “Miller, sit with her. I'll guard the entrance so that nobody can wander in and see... What is happening Dame Ayla.”

She laughed while more tears formed. “Thank you.” She sunk down and lowered her head while waiting for it to stop. Miller sunk down beside her. He seemed unsure what to say, but just having him there was strangely comforting. She sniffled.
“Ugh... It sucks when this happens. My face muscles get all sore, even though I'm a trained Knight.” She continued to breath steadily, in and out.

“Hey!” He finally spoke. She looked over. He waved at her with a wide grin.
“I can't believe our partner is a famous Knight. It's so cool!” He said cheerfully. Ayla nodded, beginning to calm down just from his demeanor alone.  
“Uhm...” He scratched his cheek.
“I said I didn't have a reason to improve but maybe that's wrong now.”

“What do you mean?” She had fully calmed down.

“I don't want you to feel like you have to become what you described in that story to protect me or Samson. I'll make sure you wont have any reason to be that anymore. Not at any point. So...” He exhaled shakily, looking up and pausing his proposal.
“That could be a reason.” Once he had said that he lowered his head back down, looking to her for confirmation.

What do you think?”

She was simply floored. “It is a really sweet reason.” She realized she was so flushed, even more than when she was tearing up, so she hid her face in her hands.
“Uuuuugh.”

Miller did not let up. “Now I just gotta work hard to catch you.”

She was able to feel cocky again. Normal. He had a way with words. More than that he had a way with people. Naturally. He had what she lacked in ample amounts. Ayla giggled, showing a genuine smile for what may have been the first time. As soon as he saw it he felt he was hooked. Even her words, as coarse as they were, drew him in.
“That's not going to happen. Promise.”

Chapter 12

They finally reached the Wintergreen. As usual, Miller decided to take the horses while Samson and Ayla walked in together. Even before they entered the open front of the Wintergreen they could tell that it was particularly busy. Men at several tables were complaining about not getting drinks. One of them shouted that it was the second night in a row and that they should get their shit in order. Ayla thought nothing of it and looked to find the table that the soldiers had occupied. Samson walked ahead to lead her there. Once they were close Grayson stood up and waved.
“Looks like Hans isn't here so the service is slow... We're all still on our first round and already sobering up.” He complained.

Ayla stopped on a dime and turned on a swivel towards the bar. The owner was struggling by himself to get the drinks out.
“Damn... I was looking forward to this.” Samson grumbled.
“Ayla?” He questioned her as she walked up to the front. She found the scruffy owner and stole a bit of his time. He looked at her in annoyance.

“They'll be ready when they're ready! Sit down and wait like everyone else!” He shouted her down. A few people around her laughed and jeered.

She ignored his tone, as well as the people around her. “Where's Hans? What happened?” Her heart was beating quickly. She had many presuppositions in her mind. If it was easily explained it would be great, but she had no idea, so worry and anxiety began to build. If after everything she managed to change nothing, how would it feel? It was the first thing that she had tried to change in the new timeline after coming back. If it kept going as if she did nothing, it seemed to suggest that she would never be able to change things.

`If I can't change that, then how can I...` She looked up. The owner had left her to go serve a table. As he was on the way back he stared her down.

“You're still here? How should I know! He just disappeared. Haven't seen him since two nights ago so unless you want to help-”

“I'll track Hans down. Where does he live?”

The owner relented and offered her the general location of his building, and the name of it so that she could find the exact one.

“If you find him, kick his ass back here.”

`They're complacent. Do none of these people think that anything bad can happen in town?` She frowned deeply and turned around.

`I have to find him. I-` She glanced over to see Miller sitting down at the table with Samson and the others. She turned back to the exit and was about to continue but she could not allow herself to. She froze. Uncomfortably, she approached them.
“Miller.”

“Yeah? What's-” He started speaking before turning around. Then, when he saw her and read her expression he got up.
“What's wrong?”

“Hans is gone.”

“Yeah? It's rough but-”

She clenched her fist. It was hard to explain things when there were still things she wanted to remain unsaid.
“I know something that makes me more worried about him going missing. I have to give it extra consideration but I can't explain it.” She gulped, glancing away awkwardly.
“I-I was about to leave and look for him without saying anything, but then I remembered what you said when I was sick and I thought about how you would feel if something happened and I didn't say anything. So I'm telling you now.” Miller stared at her blankly. Ayla turned towards the exit, free to move once she said her piece.

`They have no reason to care. At least I told him. They wont just immediately go out of their way to follow me when I can't even-`

“Sorry guys, I gotta go.” Miller said suddenly. He pushed a few coins onto the table.
“That should cover it.”

Samson bent over the table, reached for Tallow's drink and took it before he could do anything. He downed the last bit with a sigh.
“H-hey!” The soldier complained with a shrill voice.

Samson stood up as well, wiping his mouth. “Well, I might not get a chance to drink tonight. Let's go.” Ayla was touched, but she did not have time to feel emotional. She lead them out. As they were grabbing their horses Samson asked.

“Any more details? Do we know what would've caused Hans to disappear? What can you tell us?”

“I can only tell you that for him of all people to disappear it is bad. It seems like he never told anyone he would be missing work, so it was sudden. Too sudden. I have reason to worry, but I don't have ideas... This doesn't actually make sense since he told me himself he would never leave town. He's a person that is scared easily according to him.”

Miller added. “Well? How do we know he wouldn't just skip town without saying anything?”

“I gave Hans something special, and he was very grateful to me. If anything, he should have stuck around to say something to me.”

“I see...” Miller seemed particularly affected by that statement. He wanted to know what she gave him, but set his feelings aside. Ayla was clueless to the misunderstanding. There were other things on her mind.

“He disappeared some time between the night before Training day after we left, and the night he was supposed to work. Otherwise they wouldn't have called it a disappearance. He didn't quit and he didn't even show up. Was there anything strange that night we were there?”

“There-” Ayla's eyes widened.
“Was.” She remembered the conversation. The woman. Her eyes, her knowledge. She was present just after Hans left that night and spoke to her. Then, the next time she was seen Ayla remembered her appearance. Saying she had a child at home that needed attention. A Stray gray hair on her apron. Herbs. She remembered the exact location the woman said she was living it.
“There is a place we should check.” They rode off.

After a few minutes they arrived in front of the darkened entryway for a long, tall wooden warehouse that sat between two solid stone structures. It was a block from the edge of town, and just a little ways away from the main road. The lamps were not lit.
“She said she was in the abandoned place here with boarded up windows.”

“You just believed her?” Samson asked.

“Well... There's nothing else to go on right now, right?”

He shrugged. “Fine. Miller, go knock.”

“On it.” He hopped off his horse and walked up to the house. There was a set of steps leading up to the front curtilage where a flimsy wooden door blocked the way. The windows were boarded. Ayla stared at them and saw movement inside. Then, her eyes caught people moving around in the darkness of the alley from the back of the warehouse. She spotted a sword. She drew before thinking.

“Miller! Get back!” She shouted while pointing out the movement to Samson.

“Shit!” Samson remained on his horse and began rifling through his pack.
“This is real...” He thought that out loud as men in dark clothes and masks poured out from the alleys. The front door was kicked open from the inside.

Ayla saw the movement in slow motion as a man behind the front door stepped out with a loaded crossbow. She moved as soon as she saw it. He had it raised to get it through the door, then lowered it to aim squarely at Miller.

`There's too many outside, I need to tell Samson to go. First, there's only a second before he aims that at Miller. He doesn't have Aura to stop projectiles so a bolt can still kill if it hits vitals.` Miller looked like he was caught off guard. His battle-sword was too big to draw on the upper deck in the narrow space surrounded by wooden pillars which held up the awning above, and the platform he was standing on. Ayla was already reeling her sword back and gathering her Aura around it for an attack. She was bellow the Crossbowman and Miller. She found the angle that would hurt him and not Miller. She swiped her sword in a shallow diagonal, aiming for the man's upper body and his Crossbow at the same time. Blue Aura licked out from her sword like a crescent edge and cut each pillar on the front in a slant pointing down towards her. Both the string of the weapon, and the bolt, and the man's upper body were cut cleanly, telling her he did not have adequate Soma. She saw movement on the deck and kept moving as the whole thing began to slide down and collapse. She dragged Miller into the doorway of the building as the whole front came down and blocked the way. There was a gap she could shout through into the street.
“Samson, get help!”

“On it!” He glared at the men that were beginning to surround him and pulled a string attached to a long cylindrical tube while he aimed it vertically. There was a loud bang, followed by a screeching sound as an orange, flickering fire was shot up into the air with a smoke trail. Once it rose a significant distance it popped again with a loud bang, lighting up the whole street. As Samson's stubbled face was lit the men that wanted to surround him and take him off his horse saw his grave expression and paused. It was pity, mixed with anger.
“You guys know you fucked up, yet?”

“Don't let him get away!” One shouted.

“Good luck! Ever try catching a knight on a horse?” He reared back, turned and broke through their line to begin riding towards the Manor. In his mind he felt bad for leaving, but the front was blocked so he could not reach Ayla and Miller. He knew Ayla was strong, and Miller was not weak, so if those two were together he argued in his head that they would be fine. He needed to argue that in his head because there was nothing he could do otherwise. The best chance he had to help them personally was to find the people that came to respond to the signal and lead them exactly where they need to go. He glanced back.

“Looks like they can't follow-” He felt something was wrong and looked straight ahead. Two of the men had already got ahead of him and were gripping a wire. It was too late to tell his horse to jump. They gripped tight and pulled hard, tripping the horse and flipping Samson off of it, onto his back. He wheezed as the fall knocked the air out of him. His eyes were wide, bulging out almost. He was wide awake. He looked up and rolled as a sword hit where he fell. He raised his arm-guard as the only thing he could do to deflect another oncoming slash from the second man aiming for his neck. He slid back and drew his sword with his right hand. The left that he had blocked with felt off.
“Fracture... Good job. I guess there were some guys that could use Soma. Strong enough to stop a horse at full speed with two men.” He calculated it in his head. They were stronger than him individually, and definitely when combined. The two men moved to surround him like hyenas circling a wounded animal. Samson let out a gravelly chuckle.

“What?” one of the assailants finally spoke through his mask. Samson named him One in his head.
“Going crazy knowing you'll die in a second?”

Samson rolled his shoulder a bit to loosen up. “I was just thinking that I'm glad you guys are Mercenaries. It means neither of you are that smart. You just learned out to fight a bit and now you're here thinking you can beat a Knight.”

“Bullshit!” The other man he named Two in his head yelled, lunging at Samson from behind.

Samson turned quickly and did something unorthodox. He parried in an inefficient way that hit the man's sword, hard. He nodded, noting that Two's hands were ringing from that.
“Weak bones.” He teased.

“Weak flesh on your end, and you got a broken bone.” Two rebuked. It was obvious he was just trying to distract Samson, however. Rather than turn around Samson rushed forward and checked the man, avoiding the lunge from behind with a shoulder tackle that sent Two back a few feet. Once Two was staggered, then he turned and slashed at the merc's sword as it was about to make contact, making a loud clang. He kept hold of his blade.

“Are you stupid?” One asked.
“You said we weren't smart, but-” he slashed at Samson, not the least bit deterred by the counter Samson tried..
“You can't even aim for my body and not my sword! They teach you that as a Knight?” Samson stepped back to avoid a horizontal slash from One, then kicked the man in the gut to deter him from a second attack, then on the third horizontal slash Samson again blocked while striking as hard as possible to create another loud clashing sound.

“Haha... I admit, to an idiot, this seems pretty dumb, huh?” Samson turned on his heel only to have the merc he had neglected, Two, catch him in the side with a stab from his sword. It went through to the other side. He groaned, but still found it in him to grip the blade that went in tightly. Samson did not allow Two to pull out, instead he leaned forward and head-butted the man. As Two let go Samson held the sword in his side as his only lifeline and staggered back. One showed no mercy and piled piled on the pressure right after the Two reeled back from Samson's attack. Samson used the last of his strength to slap his sword ineffectively towards One's in mid swipe. It made a loud clashing noise, but Samson's sword was struck from his hand.
“Ahh... That's probably enough.”

“Any last words?” One lifted his sword once more.

“Nah.” Samson shook his head.
“I made enough noise already. Time to rest.” He fell on his ass, then laid back, panting. The two mercs looked at each other, Two holding his Nose and One holding his sword. Both laughed at the man they thought was a crazy idiot.

“He knew how to make a lot of noise, I'll give him that.” Two uttered in a Nasally tone.

One stopped and listened carefully. “Hey, you hear-” The man's world turned upside down as his head flew off. Eldrich rode past, taking the heads of the two men before stopping and dismounting.

Before Eldrich could say anything Samson pointed down the road. “Abandoned warehouse. Collapsed front. Ten to fifteen seen outside with possible Soma users among them. We need-”

Eldrich stopped him and offered a nod with a promise. “It'll be fine. Captain Rast is on his way. And his Grace.”

“Seriously!?” Samson laughed, then looked ill with pain as he continued to clutch the sword stuck in him.

“You made a lot of noise. That was an incredible thought to attack like that to make loud clashing sounds. I thought it was a larger battle with how loud it was. I was able to pinpoint your location perfectly.” Eldrich patted Samson, applying a makeshift wrapping around the wound in the meantime to stop as much bleeding as possible.
“I think the Doctor is coming out directly.”

Samson's looked at Eldrich seriously. “Could it be anyone else that comes?” He coughed, keeping a hand over the wound in his side.

- Minutes Ago -

Ayla and Miller were faced with a long entry corridor. At the end there was a room. There were also rooms along the side.
“The actual warehouse area is down below. They build the storage below ground to keep a cool temperature in case it's food being stored.”

“That's interesting.” Ayla said genuinely, walking forward.
“None of these doors on the side open.”

“Wait!”Miller stopped her. She turned around.
“I should lead.”

Ayla looked around, then responded logically. “You can't even draw that sword in this hallway so I should lead.”

Miller agreed reluctantly. “Fine.”

They took a few steps forward. The room at the end of the hall opened. A large man ducked under the door-frame to exit. Ayla, with her heightened senses was able to see through the door for the brief moments it was open that Hans was laid down in that room with the woman she had seen before. After seeing that, Ayla then had time to notice the face of the Mercenary.
“You!”

The man took a few more steps forward, then stopped and placed a hand on his sword. “Fuck! It's you!?”

“Who's that?” Miller asked.

“Becker. He proved he wasn't involved, even though his company was. Remember the incident we talked about with the crown prince?” She began to raise her voice.
“He should be banned from operating as a Mercenary in the Empire!”

Becker scratched his square, shadowed chin. “Well... Maybe that's true but I dunno who this Becker person is. I'm just a no-name Mercenary.” He claimed unenthusiastically. He bent forward, ready to draw, as he stared Ayla down. He added in an equally unconvincing tone while his sword pulled from it's sheath.
“Oh no. It's the hero that saved the Crown Prince. What will I do?”

Miller tapped Ayla. “Is he strong?”

Ayla nodded. “Sort of.” She tried to appraise Becker, but it was difficult.

`Becker is strong. In my past life he had reached the point where he was on par with a Named Knight sometime after the incident. Maybe a year or so? When he was killed he had Shape to his Aura. If he has that now we're in trouble.` A thought occurred to her.

“Hey, Becker.”

“Yeah?” He answered without thinking.

Miller cocked his head. “You just answered to Becker, 'random merc.'”

Backer's mouth opened and closed a few times in shock. His face became cherry red. “W- You see...” He gritted his teeth.
“Oh who cares! Fine, yeah, it's me. You aren't leaving here so it doesn't even matter!”

“Becker, have you mastered Shape yet?” Ayla asked forwardly, raising her hand as if she were in a class.

“No?” He said straight away.

“Pffft.” Miller wheezed and pointed while holding his stomach.
“You shouldn't have answered that, either!”

Becker's face scrunched up in rage. “Sh-shut the fuck up!”

Ayla felt bad for breaking the lighthearted moment. “Miller. I still don't know if I can beat him. He is definitely stronger than you. But-”

“I follow your lead.” Miller interrupted.
“I'll figure something out.” He whispered from behind.
“The general idea I get is that you need to slip by him to get to Hans before anything bad happens, and I need to occupy him, right? Because neither of us can kill him in a timely manner.”

Ayla nodded. `In times like this, I'm reminded how good of a Knight Miller is.` She felt relieved to have him at her back.
“I have a plan, though. Follow close. It'll give you a better shot.”

“Got it. On your signal.”

“Go!” Ayla rushed straight down the hall at full speed.

“Your speed doesn't frighten me, missy. You can't nick me at all with your noodle arms!” Becker announced proudly. It was a long-sword that could be swung effectively if swung carefully in the hall, so she had to still pay attention to it. He placed himself in the center of the hall with a wide stance, covering as much of the space as possible while covering as much of his body as possible with the blade pointing up diagonally. Ayla glared hard and released her Aura as if she was about to attack. Becker laughed excitedly.
“Try it!”

Just as she was about to reach him, while she had full momentum in her feigned dash forward so that when she dropped down below his guard it was unexpected. Becker looked down, following her movement. He shifted his guard to protect his vitals, but those were not what she was aiming for, since it was useless like he said. She gritted her teeth and kicked up into the pommel of his sword with as much strength that she could muster  from beneath as she slid between his wide stance. Becker blinked and tried to turn around with his blade to attack, but before he could he felt it being held by something.
“Huh?” He looked up and was embarrassed to see it stuck into the wooden ceiling at an angle.
“Are you kidding me!?” As he was about to yank it down Miller came through. Becker looked at him and did not see the gauntleted fist until it collided with his nose and sent him stumbling back. When Becker recovered he had been pushed back from where his sword was stuck and Miller was raising his fists. Becker noticed the big sword on Miller's back and laughed, loosening up.
“Oh! I get it. You got no choice. Haha! Looks like were' both stuck, but I think my firsts are harder than yours. Besides, jokes on you. Boss lady said the girl could be allowed through.” He fanned his face before pointing out his nose. It was a little red but it looked completely fine. “See? Not even a scratch.”

“Body Hardening?” Miller was panting from Adrenalin.
“Nice.” He tried to breath steadily and compose himself.

Becker raised his own fists and began to step forward. “I'm gonna push you back, because a Knight like you doesn't know brawling like I do. Then I'll take my sword and nothing's gonna stop me from cutting you to ribbons, kid.”

“You hoping I'll run away?” Miller smirked.

“Could you?” Becker asked before finally lowering his body and lunging forward to punch. Miller took it with his block, but he was also pushed back just from the force. He was aware that the sword was stuck just behind his left shoulder. If he turned he could be caught. But, Becker landed another blow solidly on Miller's block and sent him back another foot.

`He hits like a horse.` He took one more hit before readying himself again with a lower stance.

“Hey... Did you say that a Knight doesn't know brawling?”

“Yeah? So what?” Becker shifted on his feet and stepped forward again with his right foot, aiming to make it through Miller's guard. He grinned, feeling like it landed through the Knights raised arms, but something was off. When he looked, Miller had leaned back and grabbed Becker by his wrist, deflecting the fist down into his cuirass instead of his face. He then reached forward and grabbed Becker's collar with his other hand and turned his whole body.

“There is a kind we learn!” He slid his leg back, under Becker, then bent his whole body forward and flipped the huge man over his shoulder another few feet away from the sword, just on the opposite side. Becker landed on his back and looked quite angry once he had hopped to his feet from the laying position in an instant.

“Fucks sake! Shoulda done this from the start.”

“Huh?” Miller's eyes widened. He felt a force like a strong, solid wind lifting him off his feet and launching him back down the hall. He landed on his back, but immediately jumped back up while gritting his teeth. He was matching Becker's energy as best he could.
“That's Aura, huh?”

“Yep. You're done. I walk forward and you gotta step back. I can focus it down the hall and keep you away, but...” He lowered his Aura and grabbed his sword easily from where it was jammed into the ceiling. He swung it around in a leisurely manner.
“I don't need to push you, I need to kill you so I can go pick up whatever's left of my employer, kill that bitch, and leave.” He watched with wide eyes as Miller carefully drew his sword in the narrow hall.
“Haha... What? You can't use that. You gonna use it like a rod and joust at me? The range of movement is so small in here that it's pointless.” He kept talking as he walked forward. Miller gripped his blade at the bottom of the pommel and just below the guard as he extended it behind his back and breathed in.  
“I'm telling you. There's nothing you can-” Becker's eyes rested on Miller curiously. He felt confident enough to walk forward within range because there was no possibility of Miller attacking in such a way. That was what he though.

Miller released the air in his lungs with a shout and swung high and long with no care for the space he was in. Becker's eyes followed the sword in amazement as it hit the ceiling and kept going. It cut through a support beam to finally launch splinters down into Becker's eyes. They were stopped close it his pupils by Aura. Becker lifted his sword to block at just the right time and he thought that there would be no way for a battle-sword to swing through that much and still have enough power to do anything. It collided with his sword loudly. Becker held his sword with one hand at first, then as his arm shook he gripped it with both and expended energy to steel himself. He became solid. It was not strong enough to break through his defenses at all. He smirked. Then, as he was feeling confident the floor beneath him cracked and Miller's blade kept pushing down with a driving force. Becker cursed as he was pushed through the floor into the stone warehouse area below. Miller took a deep breath and looked down. He saw Becker staring up at him, still on his feet. He looked ready to jump back up. Miller jumped down and swung his battle-sword in mid air down towards Becker. He dodged that time and the spot Miller struck made a crater that sent stone dust sweeping out from the center.

“Now...” Miller breathed out once more before taking in another big breath.
“I have enough room to swing my sword.”

Becker huffed, rolling his shoulder that had held his sword. “Alright. I acknowledge you.” Miller dashed forward and swung while out of Becker's reach. The man bent back out of the way of the tip of Miller's sword easily.
“But.” Becker continued, watching Miller take another step forward while wheeling his sword around over his head to gain momentum.
“Don't you think you're being a bit cocky?” As Miller brought a wrath strike down upon Becker's head Miller felt himself being lifted up again and pushed up and away. Becker rushed forward, not wasting any time to catch the Knight in mid air while he could not defend himself. Just as he was about to get within reach Becker stopped in mid lunge.
“Huh?”

Miller landed on his back again and wheezed. “Dammit.” He realized that he could see his breath. He couldn't before. He felt cool relief wash over him.
“Lucky...”

“The fuck is this?” Becker tried to lift his boots, but they were frozen to the ground. The area around him was beginning to freeze over even more.
“Wait-” He turned his head, looking over his shoulder to see a tall, bulky man in silver armor with black fur lining it. With a neat graying beard and dark, sunken eyes standing at the top where Miller made the hole. He stepped down and landed easily a few feet away.
“A Named Knight now!?” Becker cackled.
“Well damn.” Rast eyed Becker up and down. Passively, his boots were solidifying with ice and it was starting to crawl up the man's legs.
“Not even gonna draw your sword?”

“Frost bite. Starts in the digits. Then the extremities. Usually you die in the snow before it gets worse than that. Feeling yourself being frozen to death while your nerves still work is a terrifying thing.”

“What're you talking about?” Becker stopped smiling as he looked down at his black, freezing fingers on his left hand.
“Sh-shit!” He swung his sword down to break his legs out. He laughed excitedly as his boots shattered, but soon realized that there was no longer a foot attached to his calf. It had shattered as well. Becker screamed and fell backwards, shattering his other leg below the knee.
“No no no! I surrender!” His limbs froze, then his torso. Frost crept up Becker's neck. Like rast said, the pain of nerves freezing was too much. It was worse than burning.
“I-” His whole body froze solid on it's back.

Rast stepped on Becker, shattering him. He walked over the shards towards Miller. “You did okay.” The Captain offered frankly.

“How's Dame Ayla?”

“Safe. That boy they kidnapped is comatose, but also safe.”

Miller threw his head back and grinned happily. “Thank god!”

Rast smiled down at him warmly.

- Minutes Earlier -

Ayla burst through the door. The sight she was greeted with upon entering the room was odd. Hans was sleeping on the floor and Haron was waiting for her in the center of the room with an easygoing smile.
“What did you do?” Ayla questioned.

Haron glanced back, then gave herself a little nod before returning to acknowledge Ayla. “I fed that boy a mixture. A tooth and a claw from a werewolf, blessed and acknowledged by the Divine Beast Reus. On the full moon he will transform into a Werewolf that should have a temperament suitable to infect many people. Also he should be stronger and faster and better in every way.” She cocked her head sweetly.
“Does that answer your question?”

Ayla scowled and held her head in complete despair. “Why...”

“Well, you see our goal is-”

“No.” Ayla swallowed, biting down on her bottom lip hard. Her eyes lit up. Haron stared back at Ayla curiously, her own eyes meeting the glow and matching it. There was confusion in Haron's stare. It was an attitude she did not expect.

“Why did you tell me that!?” Ayla screamed loudly in Haron's face.

Haron's lips opened and closed a few time. She was unsure what to say at first. “What made you care so deeply about him of all people? Did you know? How?” Ayla stumbled forward and effortlessly cut across Haron's neck with her sword. The woman did not move, then turned around as if undeterred at all by the cut.
“He may as well have been a random individual, but you somehow knew to try and protect him from the exact thing he would become.” She kept speaking, her neck shimmering for a moment. Haron followed Ayla with her gaze.

“This is an illusion, by the way. One of my talented students is creating an illusion while the other is sending my voice. This is a very difficult trick.” She watched Ayla drop down to her knees before Hans and bend over him, covering her face and rocking back and forth.
“Who is he to you, really? A Holy Symbol made specifically for you is not something you give away to just anyway.”

Ayla ignored the woman. Hans seemed to not be in pain while he slept. Her hands shook as they left her face and wrapped around his thin neck. It was the test. So soon. But it was not right. Someone she so desperately wanted to protect. Not only did she fail but she had to decide what to do. But it was barely a decision.

“You gave me a reason...” She muttered lifelessly. It was a good one. In her mind she found every justification and impetus to kill Hans. By any persons logic he was gone. He would cause Havoc. He was the source of one of the major problems Castezin would face. He was a monster by all accounts. Though, she was not looking down at a Monster, not yet. Haron stood over them both and observed closely.
“Is it certain he'll turn?” Ayla asked.

“I believe so.” Haron advised.
“There is less than a one percent chance he resists turning thanks to the Symbol you gave him.”

`Bad... Such bad odds.` Ayla shook her head. Her heart and head pounded.

`That's as good as gone.` She choked up as in her mind images of the past flashed by. How many had she killed on better odds? If the percentages were reversed and she were her old self, even a one-percent chance someone changed would have been enough to trigger her desire to kill them and rid the world of another monster.

Haron's silver eyes widened in sudden recognition. “You... Are not in pain because you are hesitant to kill when you know you have to.” She covered her mouth, an audible gasp leaving her pretty lips.
“You are in pain because you are trying desperately not to kill while you are compelled to.” Haron's expression turned to sadness.
“I am so sorry, Ayla. This-” Haron sighed deeply.

“This is my fault.”

“Of course it's your fault!” She glared back at the woman.
“You did this to him.”

Haron was silent for a while, then she spoke up again only to say she was leaving. “I have to go. I am sorry, Ayla. If we meet again maybe we can speak more and there can be more satisfying questions and answers.” Haron slowly dissipated into thin air leaving Ayla and Hans alone. Her hands twitched and her fingers curled as she forced them to be removed from his neck. She rested them flat on her lap and closed her eyes. Even with her eyes closed he was still there. Her blood was boiling and begging. A sweet murder formed and carried out in her mind, replaying over and over again with the many ways to kill Hans quickly. Ways to call it painless as if that is a mercy. She felt disgust with herself.

“Ahh.. Haa.... Haaa...” She breathed, almost hyperventilating, hugging herself while bending forward to stop herself from doing what she wanted to do. A minute passed and a hand rested on her shoulder.
“M-Miller?” She glanced back over her shoulder with tears forming for the second time that day. Instead of Miller it was the Duke looking down at her through his golden eyes. As he stared into hers she stopped struggling and writhing. The strangest thing she felt was a sense of calm, as when his eyes met with hers it was with understanding.

“We will handle everything from this point on.” His voice was not warm, or comforting. It was solid, like a rock. She could tell it would be a reality because he said it. She could calm down and rest because he would handle everything.