86 Life and Death, Black and White

"Thank you for your patience, the Mayor will receive you shortly." The male employee left the group of merchants in the hands of a beautiful employee. With the time, they were used to this and happily took a more comfortable position on top of their designated seats. As for the woman, she expertly dealt with all their grievances and complaints as it was nothing serious at all. Usually, those powerful men only enjoyed seeing her shape and gorgeous face, but today, was a bit different. None of them could really put their fingers on it, but she seemed more … happy?

In fact, it was true. For the first time since her sister and her mother died, Gwendoline was happy. Not even her friends or the acquaintances she made when it was dark in the night managed to achieve this. And, if in a very remote part of her brain, her conscience desperately tried to make her realize it was just an illusion, she didn't care. She embraced the mirage with all her might, fearing that it will leave her alone like she was.

This feeling of happiness was highly contagious, and those men weren't spare either. Without noticing it, they suddenly were in an excellent mood. Without knowing the reason why they were here, one could think that they were celebrating a joyous occasion. In fact, it wasn't necessary to talk about grave subjects, but more about a certain apprehension of some of their friends concerning the general movements of both Avenio and Massalia. Because Archet was quite close to the border, they hoped that the Mayor could give them a feeling of security in the near future.

When the male employee came back to inform them that they could finally come in, he was perplexed by the joyous mood. Most of the people present in this room were shrewd merchants, and while they were friends in appearance, it was just good business. If anyone of them asked another to help him do something that would make him lost even a single gold coin, it would be immediately refused. But now, they were happily chatting like they were blood brothers. Even the female employee was doing the same thing, forgetting her status.

Even after coughing two or three times, they didn't stop and he had to raise his voice to finally be heard. Sending a peculiar gaze at Gwendoline, he only questioned inwardly the strangeness of the situation. However, as the hours passed and the numerous visitors came, the mood was never bad. Even when an enemy of the mayor approached, asking for compensation, he still succumbed to the jovial mood. Leaving before even meeting him, he excused himself, saying that it was nothing and that it could wait a few more days.

By now, one needed to be stupid to not notice that Gwendoline was radiating an energy so strong that one couldn't be mad after receiving it. The other employees, especially the female ones that had to suffer the constant harassment and improper touching, pressured her to admit what happened to her. But all they received was a radiant smile and a very strange sentence. That she finally was happy. As for what or who provoked this sudden change, one could only wonder.

Far from this calm and peaceful city of the Republic of Avenio, another woman was currently dealing with the aftermath of meeting an escapee of the Demonic Empire. But unlike the lucky Gwendoline, she had received a fate far more constraining. After the massacre of the Academy, like it was later called, Muirnë never really had the time to rest. Even with her father and her brother defending her, the princes, and especially Ferrod, never stopped suspecting her.

As for her poor and frail sister, Istuienn, she locked herself in her room, inside the Gwendhir manor, and never left it. She was still traumatized by Leilade, especially after knowing that she was not human at all. The young child felt threatened, fearing that the monster will come back and kill her in her sleep. Remembering all the things she did and said against Leilade, she could only shudder at the inhumane torture she would receive if she ever was captured by the dark god.

Facing this, both her father and her brother were helpless, not knowing what to do. With the absence of her mother and more generally of a maternal presence, the family was in dismay. If someone learned that the Sword Saint, someone capable of fighting an entire army by himself, was helpless against a little girl, Idhrenil Gwendhir would be ridiculed. But the clumsy father could only knock softly on the door of Istuienn, inquiring whether she felt better or not.

Only Muirnë and a few maids could enter without receiving an unstable [Fireball] on their head. The wall was darkened by the numerous impacts of that magic, but past the initial shock, even the maids were now used to this. They did try one time to clean it, only to be threatened of death if they dare do such a thing. The head of the family could only shake his head after learning this. After taking care of her sister and trying to comfort her, Muirnë left without a sound the manor and headed toward the city.

Her white armor was easily noticeable, and with the two knights following her, none dared to stop her for even a second. The usual citizens that walked in this part of the city knew very well who it was, as for the others, the menacing armors deterred them from having any idea. Naturally, a path was formed in the dense crowd and the princess managed to reach her destination without any worries.

The imposing building that stood in front of her was one that only a few people sought in their lives. Comparing it to the crowded streets where people had a hard time to walk, the surroundings of it were so empty that it was even hard to find someone willing to walk on it. The numerous guards patrolling didn't help on that side.

Entering the prison of Teldil, neither Murinë or the two knights following her needed to present anything at the entrance. All the guards in their path quickly dashed to the side and saluted them. Not even the entire prison reunited would have the guts to make the daughter of the Sword Saint angry. And the commandant in charge of it was no exception.

"Princess Muirnë, your presence honors this humble establishment. What does the family Gwendhir need from us?" The man bowed lowlier than even the entrance guard, visibly worried by her sudden apparition. As for why she didn't even want to know. The only thing the population and the crown cared was whether someone escaped or not. Since the answer was no, the entire prison could become a small kingdom that no one would battle an eye.

"You don't have to worry about whatever shenanigans you were up to. Even if you dealt with the White Hands, that wouldn't matter to our family. I heard that you caught the serial killer of the southern area, is it true?"

The old man finally breathed a bit after hearing the pardon granted by Muirnë. As for the serial killer, it was true that he was caught and sentenced to die in a few days, but how was it related to the princess? Looking at her, he couldn't even saw her expression between her helmet. Cursing inwardly the princess for not even being agreeable, he answered meekly.

"Of course, princess. This madman was trying to take out the eyes of his last victim when the latter managed to injure him. Screaming, the poor man caught the attention of the nearby patrol and they managed to capture the killer. This … this beast in human skin never stopped trying to escape. Even right now, he is more watched than the royal treasury. There is absolutely no way that he will escape."

The commandant proudly straightened his back, looking very proud of his prison. It was very rare for such an establishment to not have any escapees, but in the twenty years that he ruled it, that never happened. Of course, the man never was in charge of dealing with the most dangerous criminals, but that still was a proof of his capability.

Seeing this, Muirnë slightly nodded. She despised a bit the man for his underhanded deal with numerous criminal organizations, but it was found out to be the very reason why he was so capable of controlling the mass of criminals. Since it was harmless and just a bit of corruption, no sanctions were ever enforced.

"Very well, so, the criminal was probably already judged. Was he sentenced to the Lake or not?" At the mention of the Lake, both the knights and the commandants shuddered a bit. The old officer quickly denied that possibility.

"Of course not. Only the maddest and violent lunatic would be sent in that place. And, unfortunately, he was not strong enough to be deemed useful for the lunatic knights of that place. Eh… I meant the noble and proud knights that served this cou…"

"Yeah, I know, I know. You have the utmost respect for the member of the 1st Legion stationed in that place. And since they don't need him, I will take that prisoner with me."

She cut the afraid speech of the commandant. It was not right to say that the entire army was looking down on the warden of the Lake. But, anyone that ever met one of them would know that the difference between them and a cultist was just the fact that they were not slaughtering the innocent. Otherwise, why would they remain near that damned and cursed place?

But the commandant was unsure about the request of Muirnë. It was not usual for a member of the Gwendhir to casually pick up a criminal for no reason. Thinking that it was way above his grade and probably something that he shouldn't probe, he agreed with it. It was still a good thing for him in the end, one maniac removed from his prison.

"Of course, princess Muirnë. I will accompany you to the prisoner personally."

Then, the group of four entered the depths of the prison and the dark corridors within it. Neither she or her followers even looked at the hungry and pitiful prisoners behind their iron doors. The usual mess created by an external visitor was spread among the residents. Numerous criminals and convicts tried to grab the princess, only to be violently suppressed by the guards. The more knowledgeable, on the other hand, quickly tried to step aside and not be part of it. Anyone that didn't seek death wouldn't dare to hurt a single hair of Muirnë Gwendhir.

"Open the door." Inside a single cell, a man visibly dehydrated and thin was enchained on the wall. The number of chains on his body would have been enough to suppress five normal prisoners, but none of the guards felt that it was too high. Even his mouth was closed by an iron mask, preventing him from even biting someone. That was the harshest treatment one could receive, but since he was sentenced to die in a few days, nobody cared.

"Unlock the chains." The guard looked at the commandant like he didn't want to do it. Losing a bit of patience, he repeated his order. "I said, unlock his chains." The process took a few minutes, but in the end, the prisoner was encircled by two wardens, not even letting him move. Bowing once more in front of Muirnë, the commandant gave her the man. "He is all yours, princess."

After hearing that word, the prisoner went mad and tried to push away the two wardens. The princess simply walked behind him and grabbed his neck with such a strength that his spine nearly broke. Grabbing him like a cat, she left the building by the same path. However, unlike the loud travel she experienced at first, it was deadly silent this time. The reputation this prisoner had was enough to show her strength, and by now, her identity was known. Even the most lustful rapist had a sense of survival.

Using her two knights to open a way, she left the city. Ordering the two to stay put, she found a remote location where no one could bother her. Even if it was later known that she killed that man, it would only have seemed as venting her anger on a criminal. That's why she chose such a scum, someone no one will miss.

As for the former prisoner, he didn't understand a single thing. But he realized that he was alone with a woman, and maybe he underestimated his opponent. Thinking that he will have the advantage when they were alone, he tried to attack her. "STOP." However, before he even managed to get close, he felt his entire body not responding. Falling lamentably on the ground, his muscles were still frozen in the same state.

Moving painfully his eyes in a desperate effort, he saw the helmet fading away in front of him. She didn't grab it and remove it, no, he saw the white metal disappearing like a vapor. The pupil of the beautiful woman in front of her where dead, without any traces of light inside them. His last vision before he died was her terrifying smile and way she was licking her lips like she was staring at a generous piece of meat.