Crowds ran through the street, shouting out for help from the Heaven that remained silenced above their heads.
"To the north gate!"
Knights guided the residents out through the opposite gate, away from the danger. Luther discerned the crimson embers floating from the south gate of Resville. He hastened his pace. None of his men could defend themselves against the sinner. After his defeat previously, he himself was incapable of taking one down, let alone his own men.
I should at least give them some time to escape.
Upon arriving at the east gate, his men stood between the sinner and Resville as the last defense. Blades and arrows melted around the sinner. Some of his men retreated to the back, wailing at their crisped black limbs. Hartwin, one of the oldest members in his order, led the knights on the front-line. A relief replaced the knight's tense face upon seeing the luminary. Luther faced the same sinner once more.
"I wish not to harm your men, but they jumped over me first." Wrath raised her arms. The knights flinched, taking their stance, ready for an incoming attack. Luther held his sword tight. "I came here to offer my head. You may take me away to the Luminary of Valor."
Luther furrowed his brows. She can't possibly have walked here to surrender.
"This could be one of her tricks," Hartwin stated.
She's playing with us.
Crimson eyes lowered tirelessly. "Please let me return to my slumber."
Luther approached her. He held his hand to his knights to keep them away. The sinner stayed where she was, making no movement, only shutting away her eyes from the blade he carried.
I'll bring the Heaven's will upon your sin.
As he swung it down toward her head, a bell rang a loud peal. The blade snapped before it touched the sinner. Luther stunned at his broken sword. The sword was an ancestral heritage passed through generations' luminary of voice.
Chimes of Heaven's bells returned louder, resonating with his spirit and body. He wobbled on his knees. Vision trembled as he thought the world was shaking.
"Captain!" Vincent tried calling him back.
Hartwin and the knights stood in front of their luminary, shielding the light from the touch of the abyss herself. "What have you done, wretched sinner!?"
The sinner remained silent. Luther's gifted blue eyes found her crimson eyes.
Listen! Listen! Listen!
The Heaven sounded the Final Bell.
Sewn mouths shall finally sing,
Blinded shall find their way back home,
Deaf will know the truth,
Amend the broken wing,
Amend the broken fate,
Heed the oath thee forged,
A promise unfulfilled,
And the promised hope shall be delivered.
Luther held the sword tighter. Fury shocked his body. As if noticing the anger raising inside him, the sinner spoke out. "It was not my doing that broke your sword. Only the Valor and Justice can claim my death. I too thought you could cut the abyss, but I was wrong. A graze is as far as you can give me."
Luther shoved the broken sword against her neck. Yet, he could only feel a stone. The sinner remained unfazed. Vincent and Hartwin tried pulling him away, but he wouldn't move no matter what. The bell kept on ringing. Heaven chanted out the same message.
She held the broken blade. "Please ease your anger. It wouldn't be a pleasant sight for your people."
Vincent grabbed his arm, holding him still as his eyes locked on the sinner's movement. Hartwin squeezed himself between Luther and the sinner, a shield guarding the mortal's light.
"You're blessed to be surrounded by such good people." Her long black eyelashes lowered. She held out both of her hands. "I won't harm a single soul. I'll follow you out to meet the luminary."
***
The Heaven's voice went silence. Luther gazed down at the Wrath sitting inside a rusty cage. After the chaos, Luther had the sinner locked inside. The same cage they used to lock up the faithless and criminals that barely posed any threats. Bells imbued with his own miracle prayer strung around the cage. He glanced at the broken sword laid on the table, snickering at the thought of those bells would be enough. Yet, she remained quiet and still.
"We must make haste and return to Lovidel."
"With that sinner? We'll be dead if we travel with the devil." Vincent argued.
"So we just wait here. The people have been feeling unrest knowing that a sinner is in Resville. That unrest will only bring in more enemies."
"That sinner could kill us the moment we let our guards down. We can't trust a sinner who just waltzes into the cage without resisting. It could be a trap to bring her to Lovidel and bring chaos inside the heart of Order."
The two knights have been going on circle about the sinner. Hartwin was right in getting the sinner to Lumina for the Valor. Still, Vincent made it also clears the sinner's presence only brings death closer on their side.
Luther shifted his attention to the map of Erdalia. A land of four kingdoms blessed by the grace of Heaven: Endellion, Thezia, Lovidel, and Asteria. Kings and queens used to rule these lands. Now they are nothing but stories from the past. Great kingdoms turned into deserted ruins of legends. Sinners conquer and destroy everywhere they go. They left the stolen land barren as an intimidation to the helpless. In this ruined age, only two kingdoms of old remained standing.
Luther traced the Resville to Ashendel. The closest town near the east shore. He took a paper and a quill placed beside him. Luther knocked on the table to get the knights' attention.
Ashendel is where the Luminary of Justice stays. Cael is there.
"It will take at least a week to arrive in Ashendel if the Heaven watched over our journey," Hartwin said.
We need to end the sinner as soon as we can.
"The journey won't be easy."
If I had to go alone, so it'll be my fate.
Hartwin slammed his hands. "You will not carry the burden alone. Dying beside a sinner is the last thing we want to happen to you."
Luther turned his gaze to the broken sword. He failed to execute the sinner with his own hands. How can he possibly protect those around him with a sinner beside him? He wished to keep them out of a cruel fate. Then, the heaven's will was another problem he hadn't raised with them.
This is a safer choice for everyone. Ashendel is where the Justice lives at the moment. It is his territory, and there should be no citizens in the area. If the sinner reveals her treachery plan, she'll have to deal with the one who can cut her head.
Hartwin nodded after reading. "We just need to take a few men for the journey. Leave the younger ones behind. It'll be faster and we won't attract too many attentions. For the sinner, we'll have to keep the sinner inside the cage throughout the journey. Take turns in fortify a barrier to keep her presence unknown."
"The journey won't be easy, and this is Ashendel that we're heading." Vincent wrapped his arms around.
Brows furrowed and lifted as a piece of information dawned on Luther's face. Ashendel is your home.
"Yes, Ashendel has its history with the very sinner inside the cage now." Visible sweats formed around the young man.
"Is it the right choice to bring the sinner to Ashendel?" Hartwin asked Luther.
It took him a moment to arrange his thoughts about the plan. He raised the quill and wrote.
Prepare for the journey.
Something slithered out of the window. He ran to where it disappeared. His eyes immediately went to the sinner inside the cage. She was still sitting inside quietly. With no roof to protect her from the sun hanging above her head, her pale skin sizzled. Yet, a smile cast over her face as she took an afternoon nap under the Heaven's gaze. Knights frowned at her. Spears readied between the fragile iron gaps of the cage.