Gisele was sitting next to bar with glass of vodka in front of her rumbling her fingers on the desk. Her eyes were looking in direction of guild door.

- “I bet 5 silvers that she will try again in next five minutes…” one of the adventurers said.

- “Nooo, she tried just now, I doubt that she would do it anytime soon.”

- “Then bet 5 silvers…”

- “Ok, so be it.” As soon as he put those coins on the table the door to guild opened. Somebody entered the guild. The door stared shutting behind him…

And then Gisele raised from her chair and bolted in that direction. She moved past chairs and tables, pushing few adventurers out of her way, she moved past counter with Mike sitting behind it, who only sighed sadly.

And in the moment when dragoness almost run outside of the guild… chain attached to her leg straightened up saying far and wide that there were no links left. Dragoness fall on the floor shaking the whole building.

- “DAMN YOU JERICHO! YOU CAN’T JUST TAKE AWAY MY WEAPONS, GOLD AND CHAIN ME TO THE GUILD!”

But that was exactly what he did. Right now, Gisele was tied with few dozen meter long chain to the center of the guild, she could with ease get access to every part of the building… But she couldn’t even take a step outside.

- “YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME! You can’t… you can’t…” she started sobbing. “… Please, I beg you… we have to do something...”

- “We did Gisele…” Somebody said “… we trusted Zari. I mean, that’s Zari! He always finds a way. Maybe amoral, almost evil, but for sure the one that would work. As far as I know Guild Master contacted some smuggler in that matter, also Neira recently started regrouping near the border… that should keep Holies occupied. Tell me Gis – do you trust Zari?”

- “NO! I TOLD HIM TO BE CAREFUL! That bastard got captured day after he swore me to be god-damn-it careful! How could I trust somebody so… so… incompetent.. and… and…lying… and…”

- “Somebody you love?”

- “… I swear, if that asshole didn’t die yet, and would come here as if nothing happened… I WILL KILL HIM MYSELF!”

Adventurers in guild smiled. That was their old, good Gisele

Holy Kingdom

I was sitting under the totem with an orb of miasma floating near between my palms. Creating a life wasn’t difficult, as a druid I could make a huge tree within a day. The problem was creating more complex life forms… Oh, no, pardon me, wrong word, no complex, but serving another purpose. Creating a seed required no skill, only some mana. Every druid had ready pattern of few plant’s seeds in their heads. But when you had to create something new, despite that what you were working on was supposed to be very simple… it required quite a focus.

But I shall not complain about the difficulty of the task. I am Wrath of Aira, fangs of the forest. Spreader of plagues. And this is what I was doing right now – creating my very first plague.

- “…Zari… have you finished it yet?” Jason asked but inpatient “… I don’t mean to hurry you… but please, hurry, that wolf is creeping me out…”

Indeed. The phantom of the forest was floating around photomancer all the time. For last couple of hours he didn’t avert his gaze even for a second.

- “That’s probably because of your light affinity. He could mistaken you for members of church that came upon those lands and forced people into abandoning worshiping the nature…”

- “Mind telling him it wasn’t me?”

- “Useless. For spirits mortals are mortals, they can barely recognize two of us as different individuals. As if you were looking at bunch of ants. Could you tell which one of ants is named Jerry and which one is Jack?|

- “Why would we even name ants?”

I stopped by job for a moment just to look in his direction

- “Exactly.”

He gulped loudly

- “Also…” I continued “… would you mind letting me focus? Do you know what bacteria is?”

- “No clue.”

- “A life form. Very small. It is impossible to see it with current tools. It is enough to say that there are millions of them living on the head of the nail. There are everywhere. In the air, water, soil… even in you. Like for example in your stomach. There are many kinds of food that you can’t digest by yourself, they are doing it for you, but as you would die and your immunity system would be no longer fueled… they would start digesting you. They are responsible for rotting. There are one that protects you, helps you with your ever day life… and those that are killing you. Lots of diseases are their fault. This is what I am doing right now. I am creating a new bacteria that would spread diseases and kill whole village and everyone that would approach it. Do you get it? Weapon of mass destruction, pretty much uncontrollable. Tell me, do you fancy dying while bleeding from every hole as your whole body would get covered in blisters?”

- “…Can you do something like this?”

- “No. bacteria I would make would die before reproducing thus wouldn’t do any casualties. That could be possible if I was nearby to the target and kept feeding it with my mana… still, chances of failure would be huge… But with our new friend – the one you are keeping busy – that should be more than possible. He is a source of life and mana just big enough to fuel one or two calamities.”

I focused back on the screen of plague design. Yes, I got that. As soon as I started playing with plagues a few screen covered my visions. I got a list of every symptom I could add to the disease. It was a bit like more advanced puzzles.

Again and again I kept failing. Sometimes when I added symptoms in wrong order – the whole DNA of bacteria would collapse, when I was balancing lethality and infectiousness and I would cross a certain line, the whole structure would collapse and I had to start from a scratch.

Ah. Fuck this. I was trying to make it a silent killer. The one that would make people die in their sleep, looking as if they die from being too weak… I wanted to give painless death… Should I hit randomize button? Nay, that would be too lazy, even for me.

I spend next hour or two before I opened my eyes and with an orb of miasma floating n front of me I approached the spirit.

- “It is ready, slumbering one. May my gift to you become a blade of revenge.”

- “Tis shall do. Not as perfect as my fangs, no as deadly as my claws.. but may this seed of death become a breath of agony that we shall inflict upon this land…”

I took a step back, then another, and yet another. Once again I attached the drawing of smiling face to the totem and turned back to the group

- “I think that is the best time for us to leave.”

- “We are not ungrateful…” wolf roared again “… we shall let you leave the forest. Our anger shall strike them down at night.”

I looked at the horizon. The dusk was approaching.

- “Guyz… why the fuck DIDN’T YOU START PACKING THE CAMP YET?!”

Everyone started rushing all over the camp, picking pieces of equipment, putting down the fire and preparing to leave. We should leave it in couple of minutes.

The group led by Bishop arrived at the inquisition information office, well, or at least to what remained from once proud facility. Even from here he could see few bodies laying around. He decided to get even closer, and as soon as he approached the gates he saw a piece of paper attached to it. Again – drawing of smiling face. DAMN IT! Always one step before them! As if they knew what they are about to do…

Lack of the office would slow down their examinations of the castle… no, wait… let’s look at this fro different perspective. What did they achieve by conquering the castle? They freed an ancient evil. What did they get by destroying office? They slowed down hunting… no, not only that! They paralyzed information distribution – they couldn’t call for help! Even if they would send a messenger, they would need two days to get to the closest military outpost, then at least three more to get back here… they got five days to do whatever they wish to…

Five days of silence… What big actions could they do in this district that would…

May the heaven protect them!

- “THE VAULT!” Bishop roared “Send messengers to the vault and nearest outposts! Prepare them for attack!”

It is all clear now! They already have freed witches on their side, they have forgotten evil on their side as a symbol of their actions! They are basically an army! What does army need? A weapon.

And vault is filled with grimoires and cursed items from basements to the roof! They could take over the whole province! Oh, of course that they would be pacified in next two weeks or even a month… but what if that is part of something YET BIGGER?! What if they are working for Neira?! Taking over the province would let them relocate the whole army on the territory of the Church without anyone noticing?! Was that their plan all along?! He sent a messenger into every corner of the kingdom, he himself – together with a small squad of bodyguards moved in direction of the vault. They have to be sure… maybe he was just exaggerating? Maybe they weren’t moving south?

Next day – afternoon

We left the forest in a hurry to get as far as possible from the area of plague. I was more or less resistant to diseases, but I couldn’t say the same thing about my newest friends. That night it was a time when both moons were shining strongest – double full moon, thus traveling was almost as easy as in the day. Later, we have woke up with first light and headed north – to Greg’s sister.

HA-HA-HA! Today we shall see whose apple pies are best! And as after fair duel I shall be pledged VICTORIOUS, I will ask a question or two about Amelia Scarlet. My little nemesis.

As much as I hate church, I have to praise them for one thing – their roads are quite splendid. Better than Neira, Bah! Even better than in my previous-life-mother land. Well, to be honest, it is hard to not have better roads than my previous homeland. Yet, traveling was quite pleasant. Another thing that hit me hard was that civilians were really decent people. As we were moving by the road, some old man with cargo stopped by

- “Oy! Lads! Where are you heading? North? Yea? Great, we are traveling same way! Get on the cart!”

How could we possibly refuse?

- “So, lads. What yar businesses on the north?”

- “Visiting friends.” I said cheerfully “Can you imagine, old man, he dared to claim that his sister makes best apple pies in a world! Of course, that’s nonsense, for the one that makes them best is me! And as far as I know I am not his sister, thus we are traveling there to clarify this misunderstanding!”

- “HAHAH… wait, are you, perhaps, traveling to visit Marla?”

- “That would be correct! You know them?”

- “DO I KNOW MARLA!? Yes, my dear boy. You see, every fall every village has a picnic to celebrate the harvest season. And Marla indeed makes cakes. Oh kid, if you wish to challenge her, you better to be one hell of a cook!”

We traveled for few more hours. I used this opportunity to ask for as many details as possible. I described Greg few times to ensure him that he is my friend, I even joked about his crush on Commander Amelia. I received lots of gossip about Miss Marla, also that Greg desperately tries to find her a husband. No, not to force into anything. He just keeps saying [Marla, you are not getting any younger, that’s about the time you would get yourself a husband]

Quite protective brother you are Gorge, great. This will make our negotiations only easier.

- “That’s the village, Lads, say hello to Marla from me!”

We said our farewells to a merchant and moved looking for Marla’s house. As we were approaching I ordered everyone to put on amulets of inquisitors

I knocked on heavy doors

- “Just a second darling! I am coming!” a lovely voice could be heard from other side

- “You are Marla?” I asked in a harsh voice. She gazed over our amulets

- “Yes, master inquisitor, how can I help the Office?”

- “Marla Blaig, you have been accused of heresy.”

- “T…That’s a nonsense, your majesty! Who dares to claim that I…”

- “Your brother, Marla…” her eyes widened “… he claims that you are world's finest apple pie maker, which I come to disagree with. I demand a trial by combat – you and me, the one that makes better pie is a winner.”

It took her a moment to comprehend what I said before she burst into the most cheerful laugh.

She was a simple girl, the villager, not dumb, just simple – the one that enjoys small stuff.

- “Your majesty, if I have any devil dwelling within me, then you would have just scared them all away! Please, come in, you know my brother?”

- “Greg? Yes. Decent man. I had a pleasure to be escorted by him and his team recently. Is he here?”

- “No, your maje…”

- “Please, call me Zari, that’s how friends call me…. On the other hand, you, my lady, may call me however you desire. Now I can see why your brother so desperately looks for a husband for you. Such a wonderful, beautiful woman all alone? Tis yells to heaven for punishment!”

- “Did he, perhaps, tried convincing you to marry me?”

- “Perhaps.”

- “And you came all this way, to poor, lonely Marla because of that?”

- “Non nobis domina! I already said the reason why I and my companions came. It is because I wish to prove you, that your apple pie may be, at very best – good, while mine is truly divine!”

- “You talk a lot, my lord, can those words be proven by actions?”

- “May the Goddess forgive me, for despite my vows to do no harm to innocent, I am about to completely destroy you and confidence of yours!” I smiled bowing slightly

An hour later

- “Marla! I am home!” Paladin yelled from the doorstep

Paladin’s sister rushed to greet him

- “Come on! Your friends are already inside waiting for you!” she chuckled grabbing him by an arm and pulling him inside

- “Friends? Which one? Harold stopped by?”

- “No! Your newest one!”

Marla led him to the kitchen, where a white-haired man in an apron was kneading the cake.

- “Ah! Already here, Greg? Good to see you!” as soon as I said that paladin turned pale “My, my! You look as if you have seen a ghost! Or worst! A witch! Fret not! Inquisition is here!” I smiled pointing on amulet on my neck

While holding his sister by an arm he turned around as he wanted to run through the same door he came in, but Jason biting on apple was already there.

- “Ah! My apologies! You don’t know each other! Jason, that Greg that I told you so much about, Greg – Jason, we met in place you escort me to… Also, GUYZ! Come in! Introduce yourself… there we have a Pyrox, Darik and Daria – quite special kids if you ask me, Morgana, please forgive her covering her face and Ay. Friends of mine…”

- “… Why are you here?”

- “Oh! I told you that I would love to see if your sister is as good as you said… for as far as I can tell, I am about to pulverize her into a dirt!”

- “HO?! My good sir, how can you tell so?” Marla decided to join the discussion

- “You didn’t add enough butter. Your cake won’t be moist enough.”

- “Exactly. It will be nice and crispy outside. Then as you would already take a bite you would feel the sweet apple slowly invading your taste buds…”

- “… Impossible… I have underestimated my enemy… Chapeau bas, my lady, quite the idea…”

- “And you, my good sir, why do you need those cherries? Last time I checked we were supposed to make an apple pie!”

- “That’s correct. A cake will have apples, and nothing more. But I am going to add more sugar than usual, yes it will make it extra sweet, almost unbearably sweet… but if we would coat it in sour cherry syrup...?”

- “… My brother, for the first time ever I have meet worthy opponent!”

Same time, previous village

Bishop, moving to the south, found a small village in which he wanted to get new supplies before moving further in direction of vault.

Yet village was… quiet. To quiet. As they moved closer they noticed a single man sitting near the well.

- “Hey! You, over there! Where are rest of the villagers! Call the elder, we have to…”

A man raised his head.

His eyes were completely red, his skin was almost as pale as paper with red veins visible, his lips were covered in cracks and he was bleeding from his nose.

- “Wa…ter…”

Everyone from Bishop group covered their mouth with a piece of cloth. Bishop himself raised his hands to the sky and chanted a spell. He and his team were surrounded by light. Slowly, they started approaching. As they got close to the man, bishop laid his hand on his forehead casting lesser healing magic

The sick must have felt better right away

- “Thank you…. Your majesty… thank you….”

- “Fear not, my child. Everything is all right now…” it wasn’t. he was going to die anyway. He barely made him feel better to get as many information as he could “tell me, where rest of the vill…”

- “Everyone! My Lord! Dead or dying! It was…. Weird. When we were falling asleep we all were fine! But at the morning few of us were so very weak, that they couldn’t rise from their beds… then some started bleeding. Rash and blister covered their body… 10th of the village was dead till noon, in next four hours half… now… now I can’t even get up to count those who survived… Tell me, your majesty… are we being punished by heavens? Weren’t we good enough?”

- “No, my child. How can you even think that such calamity was done by heavens? This is clearly job of evil… tell me, did something weird happen lately? Unusually?”

- “…Yesterday… two travelers – woman and male… came from North. Bought lots of supplies…”

- “Did they tell where they were heading?”

- “S…South. They told… south… in business… but as man said business, woman chuckled…”

… The vault… they were really going for the vault…