24: A Captain's sentiment

Bearing witness at the witch's desecrated body, the woman marveled at the horrifying fate that had been cast upon her.

Taking an even closer look, all doubts were confirmed, and this was indeed the Witch of the Wretched Flames, Matilda herself, one of the Empire's most wanted criminals who was on the run for three years now.

Well, she won't be running anytime soon, given how her intestines were left bare for everyone to see.

"Matilda…" The woman frowned, "To think that you would end at such a pitiful state. Perhaps a fitting end for someone as depraved as you truly are. No question that someone found your wickedness unwanting and they took matters in their own hands."

While she contemplated on the implications behind Matilda's brutal death and the rest, one of the soldiers interrupted and she quickly turned her attention to the source of the voice.

"Captain Meridia!!"

"What is it, soldier?" The woman whose name was Meridia inquired while keeping an eye on the bodies.

"We found what it seemed to be some kind of a graveyard located nearby." The soldier answered and pointed at the graveyard's location.

"A graveyard?" She took one final look at Matilda before turning her back from the dead, "Very well, lead on then, soldier."

Upon their approach at the graveyard, Meridia's reaction bore no change as she eyed the entire area with calm.

The graveyard looked clean, a clear indication that either someone was maintaining it, or it was recently just built. Whoever was responsible for this, made it with great effort and care, as evident by the makeshift crosses and stone tombs that were arranged meticulously in proper order.

"Hmm, what a strange predicament we found ourselves in." Meridia crossed her arms, and her mind was in deep thought, "On one side we find criminals hanged and brutalized, and on the other, a graveyard right here, a clear symbol of respect to honor the dead. Our dear culprit displayed extremes on both sides, being inhumane and cruel to the criminals while showing remarkable respect to whoever is buried here. Well, assuming if this was indeed the same person who was responsible for all of this."

Meridia decided to remain for a moment and ordered her subordinates to investigate the whole area of the camp for any anomalies or clues. While the search for the wanted criminal Matilda was now at its conclusion and came as a surprising bonus, it was not their main objective. The third daughter of the Count was still nowhere to be found. Meridia could only hope that she was not among the casualties and one of the bodies buried right in front of her.

"Captain!!!!"

Meridia's thoughts were interrupted upon hearing a familiar female voice. It was one of her soldiers, one of the scouts to be more precise.

A young lady with brown hair tied in a ponytail made her entrance to the camp and came running rather quickly right in front of her superior.

The urgency that was displayed raised one of Meridia's eyebrows and she wondered what this was about, "Calm down, Erica. Report."

"S-sorry, Captain." The girl, Erica, panted frantically before straightening up her posture, "I… I found her, Captain. I found the lady."

"Truly?" The anticipation killed Meridia, and she quickly asked, "Out with it, then. Where is she?"

"She… she's dead."

The news did not bode well, and Meridia's expression turned instantly sour.

"Dead?" Merida gritted her teeth and was not amused, "Are you sure about it?"

"Yes, Captain." Erica nodded with a sad look, "I found the poor lady's body buried together with her guards, located not too far south from here."

"Buried?" Merida's suspicion grew deep, and she pointed the graveyard that was behind her, "You mean like this one?"

"Ah, yes. Wow, quite remarkably so." When Erica saw the graves, her eyes widened with surprise at the similarities, "It was also like a graveyard. The guy sure had a lot of time in their hands in burying and even making their own improvised crosses."

"Fascinating, so it is the same person, then." Meridia nodded. But her expression quickly shifted back to a grimace, "Regardless, this mission of ours is a failure. We were too late, and the lady's death was the price to pay. The Count will no doubt be devasted by the loss of one of his precious daughters."

"Yeah, it's sad, indeed." Erica shook her head, "Then by your leave, Captain. Shall I order some of the men to accompany me so we can retrieve the bodies?"

"You do that." Meridia agreed with the scout's initiative and motioned for Erica to leave. The scout saluted before doing so.

With their mission effectively failed, Meridia could only clutch her head in stress at how she was going to deliver the news to the Count. This failure also proved to be a stain for her and her soldiers, no question, and the honor of one of the Empire's finest elite companies tarnished.

"Captain." Another of her soldiers approached, "We found some kind of hidden entrance inside the tent, and here, a journal from the tent as well that should prove useful."

"Good job, soldier." Meridia praised the soldier while receiving the notebook, "I'll catch up shortly after I'm done here."

"Yes, Captain." The soldier saluted before making his way back inside the tent.

After eyeing the soldier's retreating form, Meridia turned her attention towards the notebook that she was now holding. Opening the book, she quickly scanned for its contents and what she found was utterly disturbing on her part.

"Blood Magic, experiments?" Meridia felt disgusted while she eyed Matilda's corpse from a distance, "Still up to no good, after all these years. How disappointing, Matilda."

Still, Meridia could not help but wonder as to how Matilda was defeated and slain without any dignity. The Witch was incredibly powerful in her own right, and her moniker as the Witch of the Wretched Flames was not for display. Her Fire Magic was matched only by a very few and would leave nothing in its burning wake. Not even ashes remained as her enemies' flesh melted while Matilda smiled in utter delight at their suffering.

Plus, she also knew Matilda back when they were students at the academy. Meridia was quite aware of the Witch's power and her... less than desirable personality as well. After graduating, Meridia still kept tabs on Matilda when the latter was working with the Sorority while the former joined the Empire's most elite company of soldiers. It's not farfetched to even say that she even considered Matilda as one of her friends, once upon a time.

Still, no love was lost for the Witch's passing, especially when Meridia came to know of Matilda's evil.

The culprit was no doubt someone to be not trifled with. If they were capable enough to defeat the infamous Witch of the Wretched Flames and her many followers, then it would be in best interest to search for them and determine if they are a friend or enemy of the Empire.

Meridia could only wonder what kind of individual this person was. They displayed extremes on both spectrums and can either be your most loyal of friends, or your most violent of enemies. Frankly speaking, she preferred the former and would dare not to cross blades with them should she meet them along the fateful path.

With a deep sigh, Meridia closed the notebook and kept it on her for the time being. On a bright note, the culprit at least was generous enough to leave such vital information at the scene of the crime, and their arrival in this encampment was not all for naught.

Meridia clapped her hands and gave a silent prayer of her own to the dead, before departing and making her way towards the tent to join her soldiers to investigate the dungeon that was discovered.