The morning after the incident at the fortress, the surrounding streets were covered with fire soot, as well as many bodies belonging to the local guard and those who were locked up.

The people of Eastfront were shocked by what had happened, and so was the Order of the White Flame.

The following day, the essential members of the city detachment went into the place, looking for answers to what had happened. Regent Revom Gran was accompanied by his assistants and the soldiers of the Inquisition. The bloodbath was impressive, but at the same time, it was acceptable; clearly, in that slaughter, there were marked ones involved.

"A dozen of our brothers have died," exclaimed one of the regent's assistants, grieving over the situation. "Poor souls..."

"They died in the line of duty, Herdel," the regent said calmly. The look of the elderly man was that of someone who had seen this before. "Did all the prisoners escape?"

"No, regent," exclaimed the boy, "some are still here; they are among the bodies of those killed last night."

The boy pointed to a pile of bodies being carried out of the compound without appreciation. At the same time, the members who died were given a couple of words. Then, after a small ritualistic ceremony, they were incinerated with a conjured incandescent flame. Finally, the bodies of those guilty of treason were dragged to the fortress's central square, where they would be burned with the rest of the bodies in the place.

Revom sighed, shaking his head in denial at all that had happened, "What a mess, how barbaric."

The regent was there to find out what had happened. In the mid-morning, his acolytes came with a pair of thieves who had hidden amidst the chaos.

Both men had been taken cautiously to a secluded spot. Then, finally, they were away from the prying eyes of the guard's captain, who, after having been barricaded all night in his office, was to answer to the region's council.

The men were surprised at the excellent treatment they received from the Order. Instead of being thrown bread and some water, they were handed hot drinks and freshly baked bread in the room where the priests were.

"My sons, thank you for waiting," Revom exclaimed as they entered, smiling kindly at the pair of thieves.

The stoutest of those men, seeing that gray-bearded, light-eyed man enter, feared the worst.

"Will this be our last meal?" asked the man.

"Only if it is what you wish. Otherwise, it will only be the first meal of the day." Said the man with some mischief. Herdel quickly pulled a chair over to his master so he could sit down.

"They just want us to tell them what we saw, relax." Said the other bandit, drinking something hot for the first time in days.

"You two broke in here for robbery, didn't you?" the man asked serenely. Then, both robbers, preferring to remain silent, Revom urged them on. "Gentlemen, I'm not here to judge you. But, if you're thieves, it means you were close to where all the trouble started.

"It's hard to tell what we saw, sir!" exclaimed the stoutest thief.

"We don't even know what we saw," added the younger thief.

"Why do you say that?"

They met each other's eyes between the two thieves, silently wondering if they should say that.

"Well, we saw a giant cat."

Revom looked at both of them quizzically, unable to comprehend what they were saying.

"See, I told you they wouldn't believe us..." said the thinner thief.

"Maybe it's because they must be crazy," exclaimed one of the priests accompanying Revom and his assistants.

"I swear by the name of Lithal that it is true!" exclaimed the stoutest of the thieves. "He was huge! He opened the cells and let us escape. The cat could talk and told us we were free as long as we could get out."

"Sir, it's just an excuse," added that skeptical priest.

"On the contrary, my boy. It all makes sense..." the man began drumming his fingers on his skirt and then hastily rose from his seat. "Attend to these men. Herdel, alert the guard about them. They were helpful and may need a new opportunity."

The thinner boy saw his companion with a smirk.

"Where will you go, sir?" asked the boy.

"I must clear my head."

Revom left the room and soon searched for a high, peaceful spot. The fortress paths led him toward one of the still-standing towers and had barely been affected by riots. Revom ordered to leave the guards still holding positions there with a couple of words.

"If you couldn't handle those bandits in the night, what's the point of you all here? Out, now."

Revom's tone was imposing in the face of the orders those men had, and the symbol on the tabard of his armor made those men doubt whether they should disobey him.

Then the regent reached the top of the tower, and from there, he once again beheld all the chaos.

"A giant cat, interesting..." the old man uttered aloud.

A soft tremor occurred, Revom's ears were plugged for a few moments, and he felt a great heaviness in his body.

"What happened?" a voice was heard to say.

The regent opened his eyes in astonishment and then turned around. Behind him, the hooded and masked figure of one of Tisvar's martyrs appeared a short distance from him.

"My lord," exclaimed Revom stunned, "what are you doing here?"

"Incidents of this style fly very fast in the Order, Sir Gran." exclaimed the fellow, taking a couple of steps towards the man.

Revom backed up a couple of steps, bumping into the tower's edge.

The figure opened his cloak and rested both hands on the edge, close to the old man. The black, crystalline eyes of the masked figure hid the Watcher's gaze, but

"So, what happened?"

The man rubbed his hands together nervously. Then, finally, he regained his composure after that sudden appearance. "The official version is that a gang of thieves raided the place, extracting several vitally important members who had been imprisoned."

"How do you know it was them?" asked the martyr.

"Rats are their symbol, and they left several tied to the door of the captain of the guard, who had barricaded himself in his office."

"Curious, it seems they even had time to do something like that." expressed the masked man with irony. "And our side of the story?"

Revom leaned on the edge, close to the martyr, and then explained.

"Yesterday, we brought in various suspected traitors from various parts of Mizuna and, in the evening, proceeded to interrogate them. Of the ten we brought here, we believe that at least four had some interaction with demons."

"Are you sure?" asked the man behind the mask.

"Yes, the last one we apprehended. Girl's husband and companions watched as she saved a couple of demons in a forest to the northwest.

"A forest, a feasible place for entry points." exclaimed the man, "Did she die?"

"No, I would have recognized her among the bodies," denied the man confidently, for he had been the one who had seized her and her attendants.

"And the so-called giant cat?"

"It's not the first time I've heard that here, my lord," exclaimed Revom, alarmed, "In Lastrel weeks ago, we heard the same thing; a humanoid cat prowled the city until he disappeared."

"Then it may be him. Consider that to be true, Regent Gran."

After a few moments' pause, Revom continued.

"My lord, we believe one of Adhaz's stars is here, in Mizuna."

"Who of all is it?"

"Ronan of Vilna," Revom indicated. "It is only a suspicion. However, in Lastrel, one of my men confirmed his presence with a tracker. Is it possible he is here?"

"Yes, it is possible. So, if Ronan is here..." the masked man pondered for a few moments in silence and nodded, "he must have a newcomer with him. It looks like some pieces are coming together, Regent Gran."

"Will I have new orders?" asked the regent.

The martyr reached under his cloak and extracted a sealed parchment.

"Keep your men in the city. Then head with the Southern Inquisition towards the Hilree's border." the man ordered, according to what was sealed on the scroll. Before handing it to him, the martyr feigned to do so, drawing the regent's attention. "I will send a warn to the capital of Mizuna to send some hunters to Lastrel."

"May I ask why Lastrel?" asked Revom, "Ronan of Vilna doesn't stay long in one place, my lord."

"True," confirmed the masked man. "But if he must transport some new arrivals with him, he will want to send them to Adhaz soon. I know his steps and attitudes, regent."

"I understand, my lord."

"Keep investigating; back up the official version. That way, maybe they'll let their guard down. Keep up the good work you have been doing, Revom. We'll meet again."

Once again, the place shook faintly, and his ears pricked up again.

"Did you feel that?" asked Fynn, curious.

"What?" asked Yue.

"Yes, I felt it," exclaimed Ronan, raising his eye to the roof of Lithal Cathedral. "It's nothing."

As had been expected, Lithal Cathedral took compassion on them once they reached its gates. However, Ronan's persuasion went a long way toward getting the one in charge of the place to let them stay. Perhaps it was that or that Ronan had seen the Father of the congregation leaving a brothel.

The children had barely fallen asleep for a couple of hours, leaning against each other's backs on one of the uncomfortable stone benches in the inner garden of the place.

Ronan, once again, hadn't slept; for now, he had to make sure that the girl was all right.

In a moment, one of the Daughters of Lithal, priestesses of the Matriarch, left the room where Idda rested.

"How is she?" rushed Fynn to ask.

"She is well. The salves will reduce the bruises on her face."

"Can I see her?" asked Fynn once again.

"Well, she was asking about you two," the priestess pointed to the dark-skinned boy and the akajsi girl.

They both turned their look to Ronan, who gestured for them to enter the room. Then, if only for a few moments, Ronan would take the opportunity to nap on the bench he was sitting on.

Both children entered the room; Idda was resting near a garden window. Her face was bandaged with several green spots from the medicines.

The girl watched them with the least swollen eye she had.

"How are you, kids?" she asked.

Idda pointed to the seat near her. Yue sat there, and Fynn sat on the bed.

"How are you?" the boy asked, smiling.

"My whole face hurts, but it's better than being down there..." the girl smiled, though she quickly stopped because of the pain on her face. "Thank you for rescuing me."

"It was all Fynn's idea," Yue exclaimed, pointing her gaze at the boy.

"I saw you in the wagon yesterday when you were being taken prisoner," the boy exclaimed in anguish, "I felt I should help you..."

Sorrowfully, the girl looked at him, "I'm sorry I frightened you and threatened you with a knife. I shouldn't have been frightened. After all, you're a very kind boy..."

The boy smiled again, grateful for those words.

"By the way, my name is Fynn."

"Fynn?" asked Idda, curious.

"The man out here called me Fynn, and her name is Yue."

The girl smiled once more despite that strained pain, "Nice to meet you, Fynn, nice to meet you, Yue."

The girl chatted a little more with the children before a priestess sent them away, for she must rest.

Idda watched the garden's view, the clear sky that morning, and after so many horrifying days where her life was turned upside down, she could rest.

Day 4/28/861

I really messed up big time.

Yesterday I arrived at Eastfront with Fynn and Yue. Everything was going well. I was finally able to get people willing to sell armor to some teenagers without the need to ask too many questions.

I was able to buy a couple of supplies and materials for myself. It all looked like I should just visit Lithal Cathedral for some stuff I left in the care of a local kid.

In a procession of guilties, there was a girl that kids met in the woods where they came from. Fynn brought out her stubborn side, which was curious, and Yue brought out her more rational side, which was equally if not more impressive.

Actual, the girl was accused of treason, as she helped them not to get caught, so she fell into the hands of the White Flame.

Obviously, Fynn wanted to go rescue her.

Oh boy.

Fortunately, we rescued the girl, although we left a bloodbath along the way. Shit, I left a bloodbath in my path. What the hell was I thinking?

Was it worth it to have rescued innocents from the gallows? I suppose it was. However, I'm sure the Order will be more active in the area with this. I hope the fake message the kids came up with works.

I met again with Asmund; I thought I wouldn't see him for quite a while after running into him at Lastrel. Still, he was captured at Eastfront, and I got him out of his cell in exchange for his help.

I need to sleep; now, I must also come up with a plan to get this girl out of Mizuna, as I doubt she will be welcome in this country once again.

This delays me more.

Yue broke through a wall. How the hell did she do it? I don't know, she said the whispers told her she could do it. Curious.

I need to...

Finally, Ronan's heavy eyelids drop, and some loud snores flood the inner garden of Lithal Cathedral. Eventually, He just wanted a short nap, but he would fall into a deep sleep.