“You know, a thought occurred.” Ren says.

  “And what’s that?” Mona asked.

  “In front of the Iron Church, there are food stalls and people to fetch water and towels, but no nearby bathhouses.”

  “I see. So there is a single minor inconvenience.”

  “Well a new one nearby would’ve helped.”

  Ren and Mona were leaving a familiar bathhouse. Ren had just gotten clean after she massacred some people trying to stab her for working out. It also appears that something happened at the temple, but Ren and the voices in her head weren’t paying attention at all. One of the voices was just glad to be drenched in fresh human blood.

  “I’m sure the staff here did their best, but I can still see bloodstains.” Mona says.

  “Thank you for getting me red mage robes. Now it isn’t a problem.” Ren says.

  “You should still clean it before the bloodstains turn black.”

  “Okay.”

  “Gods, if it isn’t Mackamer, it’s Parnidot.” Mona thought on her own words for a moment. “They’re not connected, are they?”

  “I don’t know.” Ren shrugged as she spoke in her usual tone of voice.

  “If nothing else, they’re colluding to piss me off.” Mona begins to massage her brow. “Hey, Ren. I’m going to take a look around town for a bit. Will you be back in your room at the inn?”

  “Yep!”

  “Great. I’ll see you later.”

  Ren waves off Mona as she vanishes from the street in broad daylight.

  “Bye! See you later. I’ll leave my window unlocked for you.”

  A small group of priests and nuns have hidden themselves under a bridge in town. Blue Pine town is built along a river. The Cerulean river that comes from the ice capped mountain peaks to the south before melting and flowing down and northward up through Blue Pine town. The river cuts across the town and it’s walls. Of course, there are also bridges in town to help the townsfolk cross the river. This is one such bridge.

  “What now?” a priest asked.

  “I don’t know, but I’d rather not stay with a man who so casually orders the death and persecution of your neighbor.” another said.

  “Then let me make a suggestion. Although you may not like the idea or are unwilling to take up it’s risks.” a nun said. “We go to the capital. To Longcrest city. We can talk to the capital church about this afront. If not, maybe the Queen herself will hear us out.”

  “Pfft. That’s one idea.” a priest scoffed. “That’s a long walk to the capital. And I have no doubt that the church in the capital will hear us, but you have to admit, it’s a long trek and I hear that there are some bandits running around between us and the capital. Not to mention any monsters that may lurk about.”

  “Would you have us stay here? After Parnidot ordered our deaths?”

  “I’m sorry to say, but I’m not brimming with enough wealth to hire a carriage.”

  “Or the strength to walk to the blasted capital.”

  “Maybe we can find kind souls to help us.”

  “This town is a trade hub. No one with a cart and horse does anything for free.”

  “It might be rough, but maybe I can ask a contact for help.”

  “What contact? Are you a nun or an assa- Woah! Mona!!!” a priest shouted and startled everyone gathered under the bridge.

  Where there was once no one, Mona stood there amongst the crowd. Everyone stared at her wide eyed before they calmed down.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “When did you get here?” a nun asked.

  “Just a bit ago.” Mona says.

  “Right well, thank you for what you did back there, but now what?” a priest asked.

  “I can try to get you out of town. I know someone. There are also a few options.” Mona says. “You could pose as men and women of faith heading somewhere for charity work and you can leave with a caravan. You could also put the cloth aside and say you are regular traders to get past the gates. Another option is that I speak to one of my contacts and they may aid you.”

  “Alright. Those are sound ideas.”

  “If we say we’re doing charity work, the more pious or perhaps even charitable, dare I call it that, of the merchant caravans might take us along with them to the capital.”

  “I myself am not opposed to putting on more common clothes and leaving town.”

  “This contact of yours, if you mean to put yourself in their debt to save us, I must refuse.”

  The others gave a heavy sigh.

  “Look, Mona, I appreciate the thought, but maybe you shouldn’t.”

  “Yeah. Let’s just try one of the other ideas.”

  “But I haven’t said anything.” Mona says.

  “Were you going to accrue a debt with this contact of yours?”

  There is a long pause in the conversation before Mona speaks again.

  “Maybe.”

  There are a series of heavy sighs and face palms.

  “Let’s just see what we can do.” a nun says.

  “For now, this place might be safe.” Mona says. “I’m going to see if I can’t find other people. After that, I want to check in on Ren.”

  “Ren again, huh.” a nun chuckled. “You’ve really changed after meeting her.”

  Mona gives her a confused look. The other priests and nuns beneath this bridge nod in agreement.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mona says.

  “You’re always looking out for the kid.” a nun teased. “Kinda like a big sister.”

  “It’s because she met someone as bull headed yet somehow more irresponsible than her.” a priest says.

  “Oh! Is that it?” another says.

  “Yep. There aren’t many people who can get along with her so well and could use Mona’s care.” a nun nods as he speaks.

  “What are you all on about?” Mona asked quizzically.

  “Nothing, Mona.” a nun says. “Just take good care of little Ren.”

  The group wave Mona off as she turns to leave. Mona gives them a confused look, but uses her skills as a phantom assassin to disappear from their sight. As she was moving impossibly fast between buildings and out of sight, Mona thought about their words for a moment. She imagined Ren giving her a hug and calling her “big sister”. At that thought, Mona bumped into a wooden crate left haphazardly next to a building and fell into the river. As Mona emerges from the river, a feminine voice whispers in her ear.

  “Ah! A little nun with the desire to grow closer to a child. Usually, priests do that kind of thing.” the voice says. “But I am nothing if not an equal opportunist. I am Felloice, demon of lust. Offer me your soul and I’ll give you the power to make that little girl-”

  “Fuck off, demon! I swear, I tripped once and then demons think I need to be tempted.” Mona shouts and cusses as she pulls herself from the river.

  “Oh? Well, do know that you’re in good company. It is not unnatural for a man- er- woman of the cloth to think of such young purity and-” the voice is cut off by Mona shortly after.

  “I said fuck off! I’m not a pedophile and I don’t need your first year psychology student bullshit to trick me into thinking I’m one.” Mona spat back at the voice.

  “F- first year?!?! I’ve been working on my psychology for three years now!” the voice said.

  “Well, you’re shit at it.” Mona cussed at the spiritual entity.

  She vanishes from the side of the river.

  “Hey! Hey wait!!!” the voice said.

  Ren was at her desk with a magic tablet glowing in front of her. At the behest of one of the voices in her head, she was making some kind of magic item from a ring. She only stops when a knock comes to her door. Expecting a visit from Mona, Ren goes to answer the door.

  “Mona, I said I left the window-”

  Ren stops mid sentence as a feminine demonic figure with red skin, sharp horns and long black hair stands at the door. She sports a clean suit with ornate buttons, a breast pocket with a chain hanging from it and a monocle over one of her eyes.

  “Hello!” the figure speaks in a refined feminine voice. “I am Praisegg, demon of pride. I was wondering if- OW! WHAT THE FUCK!!!”

  Ren has drawn Warumasa and slashed at the demon. Judging from the physical impact and blood, the demon introducing herself as Praisegg had manifested physically.

  “Oh, sorry.” Ren said. “I was expecting a nun and you surprised me. Please go on. Warumasa was wondering how it was like to be tempted by another demon.”

  Ren sheathed her sword after the demon is left bleeding in the hallway.

  “Devils be damned! This suit is a physical object! I didn't create this thing from nothing, and had to buy it. Now you cut it up and I'm bleeding all over it.” Praisegg lashed out.

  “Sorry.” Ren said. “If it helps you can still try to tempt me.”

  “Bitch! I tried tempting you!” Praisegg stood up and shouted. “I wanted to talk to Warumasa so I dropped by but I couldn’t get any of my words through to you, ya bitter slag of resentment! I even tried whispering into this girl’s ear, but didn’t even get so much as a wink from her! How do you leave the pact and become even worse at talking to demons?!?!”

  “Oh.” Ren pauses for a few moments before speaking again. “Well, he didn’t hear anything. I didn’t hear anything either.”

  “Fuck, man! I had to find some woman dying by a ditch, tempt her with a second chance at life and use her body to come here and talk to you. Then you go and stab the body that I haven’t fully taken over!”

  “I said I was sorry.” Ren said in a tone that did not sound apologetic at all. “Also, small world. I do that a lot too. Although that’s because of some dumb wizard. He’s very irresponsible with me.”

  “What? Is this a contest?” Praisegg scoffed.

  “Ren, you shouldn’t be leaving your window open when it’s night out.” Mona’s voice suddenly came from inside the room.

  Neither the demon or the voices in Ren’s head noticed that a phantom assassin had entered Ren’s room. Strangely, Mona’s clothes were soaked, but no one has heard any squelching of wet clothes and boots.

  “Who is that?” Mona asked.

  “Is that a nun?” Praisegg asked.

  Ren pauses for a moment.

  “Well, that’s Mona, a nun. I was expecting her to come over. And that’s Praisegg a demon. She just came to my door for some reason.”

  At those words, Praisegg and Mona rush at each other. A scythe had appeared in Praisegg’s hands and Mona had her magic dagger drawn. The impact between them had caused the curtains, bedding and other light and loose objects in the room flew off their resting place after the clash. They were about to swing a second time until a spell got between them.

  “Basic Barrier.”

  Ren had casted a spell to separate her guests.

  “I don’t know what you guys are doing, but can you stop?” Ren asked both of her guests.

  “Sure. I can just kill her later.” Mona says.

  “Fine. I didn’t come here to kill anyone anyway.” Praisegg says. “Also, what is Felloice doing here?”

  “You know her?” Mona asked.

  “Yeah, she was part of that pact and conspiracy that the vampire Mackamer was preparing.” Praisegg says.

  There is a long pause before Mona relaxes herself.

  “Let’s talk.”