Lona sat in a cell, waiting nervously for her time to be interrogated, the iron around her wrists and neck felt almost as heavy as her body felt currently. She didn't even dare glance at the cell across from her, instead focusing her sight on the stone flooring she sat on, the filth of dirt and human excrement staining the light gray color. The bile crept up her throat, but even then, she felt too paralyzed to even vomit. If she had kept track of time, then she had been in the cell for three nights, three nights more than she was comfortable with.
Finally, Lona heard a voice.
"Alright, out of your cell now. Follow me," Sophia ordered, her gaze piercing. Despite the creeping fear, Lona nodded. As she began to walk, each step felt heavier than the last, her restraints causing more noise than she expected. Sophia led Lona up a set of stairs, until they had finally entered the first floor.
The first floor was rather rudimentary. There was a desk, with a chair on either side. On the wall, weapons and shields were displayed, and on the desk itself, a book. There were four doors in total in the room, one in which they had entered from, and one leading outside. Lona wondered where the other two lead, but her mind swiftly focused back on the matter at hand.
"Sit," Sophia said, keeping her sharp tone. Lona tentatively sat down as Sophia sat down soon after with an exasperated sigh.
"Alright, so tell me from your account, what happened that led to Guille fighting."
Lona's eyes locked onto Sophia.
She seems… tired. But she doesn't seem that bad. Lona could feel all of her tension evaporate. She had feared that Sophia would have done something horrible for interrogation.
"W-well," Lona began. "The two men, they antagonized Guille. Told him they'd have a sparring match, and that if they lost, Guille would receive their guild cards, but they'd get me if they won, and…"
Lona paused, the perverted eyes of the taller man still unnerved her.
"... And?" Sophia asked, her tone stern, but not unkind.
"Well… I just was scared, what the men would have done had they won."
Sophia lets out a small sigh, followed by a slightly forced smile
"Guille wouldn't have lost the fight, and had he lost, Erris would have stepped in."
She clears her throat before continuing, "In any case, given what you, Guille, and Erris had all said, you're free from suspicion. You'll be allowed to leave soon, but first…"
Sophia reached for one of the drawers of the desk, before pulling out a piece of parchment. Lona soon becomes tense again, as Sophia pauses.
"Do you have any relations with the woman in this drawing?"
Lona looked at the parchment. A woman who had long straight hair, pointed ears, and bright eyes.
"No, I do no—"
Lona freezes. Her mind flooding back to one of the dreams she had recently.
"The one whom you gaze upon, a troubled child, the Queen of Ruin. You shall meet her soon enough, as with the others. Such as fate has ordained in this world"
The words resonated deep in her skull, her muscles becoming paralyzed once more.
"N-no. I d—"
"Bullshit. Were you not to recognize her, you wouldn't have hesitated." Sophia spoke, her voice much colder, her gaze felt lethal. Sophia rose from her chair slowly. Lona's heart raced as the woman circled the desk, each step deliberate, measured.
"W-wait! I can ex—"
Lona soon doubled over, bile and blood projecting out of her mouth. Without hesitation, Sophia's fist connected with her stomach.Then, a sharp pain. Sophia kicked Lona into the wall. Lona was beyond frightened, her thoughts static.
Lona was soon in more pain as Sophia grabbed her hair, dragging her outside. Soon enough, she was tossed into a solitary cell, exposed to the elements. Sophia crouched down, forcing Lona to look her in the eye, "I will find out the truth, and until then, you aren't going anywhere. As far as I'm concerned, anyone with a connection to the Queen of Ruin has no human right."
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The night was cold and bitter, Lona remained curled in the corner of her new cell, her body shaking uncontrollably as the freezing wind swept through and pricked through her body. She curled up tighter, her thin robe doing little to help her from the elements. The guards who'd pass by her cage looked at Lona as if she were nothing more than a diseased animal.
Why…? Why am I being punished because of someone else? What's going to happen?
The moon soon became obscure by the clouds above, and Lona felt a drop. Then another. It had begun to rain.
I'm going to die, I'm going to die, please, someone, help me, I don't want to die, it hurts, it's cold, I'm scared, please anyone help!
Lona swirled into a panic as the ground beneath her softened. Her hair was soon sullied by mud, a puddle formed beneath Lona, and yet, her body was too numb to move.
Someone… Please…
Her consciousness was slipping. Even as she tried to fight it, she became certain she'd die here, a cruel death from a misunderstanding. As her eyes slowly shut, she could only plea for help in her mind.
"Ah, for a moment, I wasn't sure if you'd awake from your slumber."
Lona's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, all she saw was light. A soft, golden hue bathed the space around her, too bright, too warm. She shifted slightly, and instead of the cold iron beneath her, there was plush velvet cushioning her back.
Her breathing hitched. The scent of damp earth had been replaced by faint lavender and the soft creak of wood wheels turning. This wasn't the cell. She was then welcomed by the sight of a beautiful looking woman with golden hair. Her deep blue eyes filled Lona with warmth.
"I must apologize for Sophia's actions towards you. It's hard for her, being a commanding knight. I assure you that she meant no ill will," the woman's soft voice spoke, contrasting the actions of Sophia.
"Who… where…"
Lona looked around, she was in a rather luxurious carriage. For a moment, Lona thought she might still be in the cell, that the warmth brushing against her skin was imagined. Her eyes darted around the carriage, uncertainty gripping her tighter than the iron collar she had worn just hours ago.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Adhara, the saint who serves under the King in this country."
Adhara moved gently, helping Lona sit up within the carriage.
"Now then, Lona. I understand you're frightened, but I just wish to ask a few questions. Will that be alright with you?"
Hesitant, Lona nodded, and yet, the kind smile Adhara gave Lona eased her tension.
"Now, you've been through a lot, haven't you?" Adhara gently placed her hands on Lona's.
"I… I have, but I don't know why… I…"
"It's quite alright, dear. All that matters now is that you're okay, right?" Adhara spoke, her voice continuing to fill the air around her with a soft melody of warm words. "I was told from Sophia, she presented a picture of the Queen of Ruin, and you hesitated. May I ask why?"
"I…" Lona hesitated for a moment. Would Adhara believe her? However, looking back at her, the maternal care that Adhara gave, Lona relaxed once more.
"I… Had a dream. There were many shadows, but one of them… Looked similar to the one in the drawing Sophia showed me. But, I never even met her."
Adhara's fingers lightly brushed through Lona's hair, tucking it behind her ear with practiced ease. The gesture lingered just long enough to blur the line between comfort and authority.
"Dreams often speak louder than we realize," Adhara murmured, her tone soft but resolute. "They pull from truths hidden deep within us, even if we've never met the people they reveal."
Lona's heart steadied at her words, though a flicker of doubt remained.
Adhara rose gracefully as the carriage slowed to a stop, offering her hand to Lona.
"Let's not keep her waiting," she said, her voice tinged with reassurance. "I believe facing her together will put things right."
Lona hesitated, staring at Adhara's extended hand. The idea of standing before Sophia again made her stomach twist, but Adhara's warmth anchored her. It was as if the saint's presence alone could shield her from whatever awaited outside the carriage.
Slowly, Lona took her hand. "Alright."
Stepping out of the carriage, her hand in Adhara's, they walked towards Sophia, who leaned against the building. Lona felt Adhara's grip tighten just slightly, grounding her as they approached Sophia. The knight's arms were crossed over her chest, her gaze fixed on the ground as though weighing what to say.
"Sophia," Adhara began, "I can guarantee Lona's innocence of all suspicion. She does not know of the Queen of Ruin, but simply had a dream with a figure who looked similar."
Sophia fidgeted, sighing in frustration, "Good."
"Sophia. I believe there's something you should tell her."
Lona watched as Sophia flinched, her ears budding a tinge of red. The usual sharpness in her expression was absent, replaced by something quieter. Something Lona couldn't quite place.
Sophia's eyes locked onto Lona for a brief moment, before looking away, her cheeks now slightly reddened.
"I…" Sophia shifted once more, clearing her throat and finally looking at Lona, "I misjudged you, Lona. I acted harshly towards you, when I should have taken time to assess how you must have felt in your situation. For that, I apologize, and I assure you that I won't make the same mistake again."
Lona blinked. A part of her wanted to accept Sophia's apology, but her body still ached.
"It will be difficult for me to amend my mistake, but should you need anything, I will do everything in my power to provide it."
Lona couldn't think of words to say, so instead she gave a nod of acknowledgement.
"Now that this is all cleared up," Adhara began, "I think it may be best for you to stay here for the night, though not as a prisoner."
"I believe that's the least those of us under the Holy Guard can do."
Lona turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Erris stood with her usual grin, though Guille's eyes remained fixed on Sophia, his expression far more rigid.
Guille stepped closer to Lona's side, speaking softly. "Are you alright?"
Lona nodded, "I-I'm fine," though Lona kept thinking back to the night before, the bitter cold, the freezing rain.
"I must say, you look rather well for someone who was locked up hours ago. Though I presume our saint here is to be thanked for that?" Erris chimed.
"Why are you acting as if nothing bad happened to Lona?"
Guille stepped forward, finally walking towards Sophia, "She could have died, you know! If not for Adhara showing up when she did, you would have killed an innocent!"
Sophia didn't flinch beneath Guille's glare, though her fingers curled faintly against her gauntlet.
"I did what I had to do," Sophia said, her voice tense, "Perhaps you weren't there when the Queen of Ruin decimated half of our army, but I was."
Guille's grip on the hilt of his sword tightened, his knuckles faintly pale against the leather. "Lona isn't the Queen of Ruin, Sophia," he snapped, his voice sharp but low. "She's just a girl. You can't keep justifying—"
"I don't justify it," Sophia interrupted, her gaze hardening as she met his eyes. "I live with it." She exhaled slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing only slightly. "Every day."
Lona shifted awkwardly between them, unsure whether to step in or let the argument unfold.
Adhara's voice cut through the rising unease, smooth and calm. "Guille, Sophia acted on fear rooted in experience. That does not excuse what happened, but it explains why it did." She placed a gentle hand on his arm, her touch barely noticeable yet grounding. "We are moving forward now. Let that be enough for tonight."
Guille hesitated for a moment, before walking away. Lona started to catch up with him, but Erris placed her hand tentatively on Lona's shoulder, "Just give him some space, he'll be fine."
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"I swear, she's always too hot headed. And she wonders why men are too scared to date her," Guill slurred, drinking his fifth cup of ale. Adhara giggled slightly, "Well, you know how Sophia can get, but enough about her for tonight. Just focus on enjoying yourself."
Lona took a bite of the steak in front of her. Her eyes widened, as it was the first real meal she's had since waking up in these lands. The meat was tender, juicy, and carried such a savory flavor.
The tension in her shoulders slowly unraveled with each bite. She hadn't realized how tightly wound she had been until now. The warmth of the hall, the soft flicker of lantern light against the stone walls, and the idle chatter around her felt like a world away from the rain-soaked cage that had nearly become her grave.
"You like it?" Erris asked, nudging her lightly with an elbow. "I'll have you know, checkpoint food isn't exactly the finest cuisine in the kingdom. But anything tastes good after what you've been through, huh?"
Lona nodded, swallowing another bite. "It's… really good. Thank you."
Erris gave Lona a half smile. It was evident, even to Lona, that there was tension. The previous night, all the soldiers here were treating her as if she were something to scorn. Many of the men and women didn't even dare turn to face Lona after her name was cleared.
As Lona continued to chew on her food, an older man stood in front of her, on the other side of the table. Compared to all the other men here, he was a giant, his hair a long, messy white ponytail, and his beard braided, going down to his midriff.
"Since these cowards wish not to do it," the man spoke loudly, quieting the other knights, he then kneeled and hung his head low, "How we treated you was unacceptable! I am thoroughly ashamed to even think of how I treated you yesterday, as the rest of us SHOULD. From this day forth, please do not hesitate to call upon me should anyone trouble you, it's the least I can do to atone for my grave mistake."
"Y-you don't have to —"
The man immediately cut Lona off, as he spoke once more, "Please, Miss. Even if you wish to say I needn't do it, my soul would be crushed bearing the weight of my sin."
Silence. And then, a few others begin to apologize. And soon, each knight knelt to apologize to Lona.
Lona's cheeks reddened a bit as she clears her throat, "W-well… I accept your apologies. I… I understand how tense it must have been with things not being cleared up."
The soldiers soon get up, some cheering, some clapping, and returning to their seats, with the giant, sitting with the trio.
"So… can someone explain to me exactly why everyone fears this Queen of Ruin?"
The man hesitated for a moment, but soon nodded his head, "The Queen of Ruin, Vese, is something like a folk tale, or a myth. Truth is, none of us has seen her. No one save for our Lord, Morset Indolis. It's said she destroyed the city Dinia, rotting it into a wasteland. And our Lord might have died, had the Gods not blessed him with immortality. His eternal rest won't come until she's slain."
As the man spoke, Lona noticed Erris tense up for a brief moment. Does she know something? Lona thought.
"So then, if she's like a folk tale, how do people know she's real?"
"Because, I'm one of her older sisters, though we share no bond. None of us sisters do," Adhara interjected. The giant bowed his head immediately upon sight of her.
"Each of us were born many years apart. Vese was born two-hundred years after me. Each of us were raised differently, by different social circles, different family dynamics."
"You're… A witch?" Lona said, her blood running cold. After all, if Vese is a nightmare, wouldn't it mean Adhara would be similarly terrifying?
"Indeed, but unlike my sisters, I've devoted my life to help people in need, and punish those who've committed atrocities."
Erris nodded, "She's the kindest of her sisters, rest assured. So as long as you don't fall into criminal activity, there's nothing to worry about."
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"— and you're sure that's all you'll need?" Sophia asked, with a worrying tone beneath her usual cautious and strict one.
Guill nodded, "Of course. Once we get there, it's only a day to reach Imum."
"Then, I bid you farewell, Lona. And Guille, you better stay out of trouble."
And so, the trio set off on their journey towards Sybel's Tree once more. Though, there was a troubling silence between the three, and Lona had lingered in her thoughts.
It's okay even though they didn't try and help me the night before… Right? They're helping me, after all.
Each thought, she questioned how she felt about Erris and Guille.
I mean… Guille protected me against those two men, and Erris… Well, Erris has been there as well.
The more she thought, the worse the thoughts spiraled.
Why did Erris tense up when that man was talking about Vese? Guille used to be a knight, couldn't he have talked sense into Sophia? And speaking of, I appreciate her apologizing, but did she mean that? Or is it because Adhara's a witch?
Soon enough, night had fallen upon the land once more, and the trio had made camp atop a cliff. Sybel's tree was close, and in the distance during sunset, Lona was able to spot a village in the distance.
Guille handed Lona some bread and some water, and as the trio ate, they heard a rustling coming from the trees, and soon, a woman walked into view.
Lona was stunned by this woman, smooth, pale skin, long, silky black hair, and eyes that were an icy blue. She wore a simple black robe reaching down to her ankles. She approached the trio, each step confident and measured, and as she gave a light smile, she spoke.
"Might I ask if you'd be willing to let me rest here tonight?"