A Malicious Meeting

In the morning, Noah suggested they return to the Hunter's Sanctuary.

"Lady Delish and Miss Sara, you should come with us," Noah said. "The Sanctuary can protect you."

"No, thank you," Dame Delish refused flatly. "The Great Swamp is the true haven of kindness."

"Hmm..." Sara hesitated.

"What are you thinking, Sara?" Dame Delish was astonished. "Do you actually want to go with these two hunters?"

"I dislike the atmosphere at home," Sara confessed, troubled. "There are snakes, corpse flowers, and rotting mud."

"We are witches; we have always been accompanied by such things. Besides, there are fireflies, otters, and sphagnum moss there," Dame Delish tried to persuade her.

Sara seemed reluctant to go against her grandmother's wishes and held back further comment.

"The outside world is perilous," Dame Delish explained to Noah. "We can't continue to stay in Lorman; the situation is unfavorable for us, I'm sorry."

Noah felt troubled, knowing the Sanctuary needed the support of the witches.

"The swamp isn't safe either," Noah argued. "The situation is becoming more tense, as you've said, the conflict is escalating."

"Do you understand the Corpse Swamp, or do I?" Dame Delish was dissatisfied.

"Alright, I regret it then," Noah conceded to Dame Delish.

"Grandmother!" Sara was uneasy. "They helped us."

"And we only have one boat," Maden reminded everyone. "If we don't go together, what should we do with the boat?"

"You take Noah ashore with the boat, then come back for us. We'll head to the swamp," Dame Delish instructed succinctly.

"The swamp!" Maden groaned. "I... well..."

"Are you afraid?" Dame Delish pressed him.

"It's a bit far, at least a few days' rowing," Maden stammered. "I'm afraid of the sea; I can't stay on it too long."

"How did Threetail Bay produce someone who's afraid of water?" Dame Delish glared at him.

"Ah yes! It's out of my hands," Maden admitted helplessly.

"It looks like we'll have to go together," Noah proposed. "Stay at the Sanctuary for a while; we can solve problems together."

"How can you solve them? If the temple's people besiege the Sanctuary, what can you do?" Dame Delish was scornful.

"I may not be able to, but with you there, even thrice the enemies couldn't breach the walls. You should know our Sanctuary; it's a massive, formidable structure, easy to defend, hard to assault," Noah said.

"...Smart boy, I worry about leaving my bones in Lorman, unable to be buried in the swamp," Dame Delish frowned.

"If that happens, I'll scatter grandmother's ashes back in the swamp," Sara volunteered eagerly.

"Ah, that's good," Dame Delish affectionately drew Sara close. "My good child." Then she turned a stern gaze on Noah. "Then you must lead the way for us, check if there's a safe route back to the city, watch for temple spies, guard against assassins."

"I understand; it's my duty," Noah nodded.

They ate a bit, and then Noah and Maden rowed back to the sandbank to fetch the witches, returning to Threetail Bay. Sara dreamed of her new life in the Sanctuary, while Dame Delish was much more anxious.

As the boat neared the shore, the villagers cheered upon seeing Sara, who nodded and smiled back at them, serving as a spiritual leader. No wonder the temple was determined to eradicate witchcraft; they seemed to want a monopoly on interpreting supernatural phenomena. If people turned to witchcraft rather than the gods, the temple's authority would surely diminish, Noah thought.

A spacious carriage was brought to the center of the square, and the witches along with Maden boarded, ready to head back to Greytree Hall.

"Aren't you coming with us, sir?" Maden asked.

"I have some things to take care of here. Once you get back, stay safe and follow Ines's lead," Noah instructed, keeping a watchful eye on the hired coachman.

"Understood," Maden nodded. "Don't worry about us; I know the coachman. He's from the village and won't harm anyone."

With a crack of the whip, the carriage jostled away, the sound of its wheels grinding on the gravel road. Noah watched the carriage disappear from sight and then walked back towards Geoffrey's estate.

"I still want to see that captive, even if he's sick," Noah said.

"Hmm," Geoffrey seemed distracted.

They entered the house, a spacious dwelling with a long corridor leading to a dining room and parlor on either side and stairs to the second floor. The wooden floor was silent underfoot, and the stone walls were neatly plastered, looking almost paper-like.

Geoffrey led Noah to a room at the end of the second-floor hallway.

He placed his hand on the door and said to Noah:

"The cleric has already been ransomed by Shaval. He isn't sick; I lied to you."

"What are you planning?" Noah's hand went to his gray knife.

"I had no choice." Geoffrey opened the door, and Noah saw a man turn around inside.

He appeared very handsome, in his twenties, with fair skin like a living statue, flawless features, a high nose, large eyes, thin eyebrows, and thin lips. His short light brown hair, uncombed, naturally curled.

The presence of such a perfectly featured man in this fishing village was quite odd to Noah.

Who are you? Noah wanted to ask, but seeing the expensive and sturdy full-body armor and the golden sword at the man's waist, he realized instantly.

It was the mysterious knight.

Noah swiftly drew his gray knife, Geoffrey turned and fled, leaving behind a trail of hurried footsteps, but the mysterious knight remained unfazed.

"There's no need to fight here," the knight said, propping his chin with a hand. "As I've said, I prefer conversation to pointless conflict. Fighting is such a tiresome endeavor."

His face was marked with a nauseating arrogance.

At such close quarters, Noah had no certainty of victory, but he had the chance to maim his opponent, so he did not lower his gray knife.

"So what do you want? To chat?"

"I've always felt that when two sides tangle and kill until one's guts are spilled on the ground... it's both boring and cruel," the knight said lightly. "I am Aeos. What's your name?"

"A passerby."

"Your real name?"

"My real name." Go ahead and look it up.

"Alright... 'Passerby,'" Aeos didn't seem upset, his tone normal. "Let's talk about our beliefs. What do you want to do?"

"Take you down, and everything behind you."

"Wow, how brutal, cold, and inhumane!" Aeos exclaimed dramatically. "Is this what 'heroes' of this era are like? It's... so sad. Why can't heroes do good things?"

"..."

"We're different. We're committed to making the world a better place. We give everyone a chance, a chance to reform, including you, Passerby. I believe you have a chance to become a better version of yourself," Aeos said with a strange smile.

"I don't need it," Noah shook his head. "Keep the chance for yourself."

"Are you sure? Such an opportunity is rare. If you refuse it here, you'll surely weep and regret it at some point, feeling frustrated by your failure. Because we are absolutely powerful, and you have no power to fight back," Aeos said leisurely.

This bastard... talks too much. Noah vibrated his gray knife and lunged at Aeos.

Aeos stood up and stepped back, drawing his golden sword, around which flowed an unusual black power, quickly filling the entire room.

Noah stabbed at air, pulled into endless darkness.