"Looks like it's our turn to take over," said the man carrying a flamethrower.
"Haha! It's been a long time since I've smashed these little things," commented another man, who was holding a straight sword in his right hand and a pistol in his left.
"Come on, let's smash those wasps! Whoever gets stung should eat a raw egg!" a young-looking paladin carrying a rifle shouted, eager to fire.
"Paladins are... well, they're always a curious bunch," commented Élodie, who was still not used to the men's enthusiasm for using their weapons.
"They're a mixed bunch. There are warriors, normal people, and even the odd wizard among them. Look at that old man. He's about to cast a spell." Séraphine pointed to an old man who made a slashing gesture with his palm. From it came a jet of sharp aether that quickly split the Killer Wasp in two.
Sure enough, as the giant bug's green blood splattered on the floor, its brethren remaining inside the house were drawn to the scene. Under the incessant buzzing of its wings, many of these hungry creatures emerged from the cottage, seeking to devour all the flesh present.
"Nuns with light powers and paladins bringing together diverse groups of people—it's strange when you think about it. Luckily, the Tower doesn't meddle in other matters except those that concern them," muttered Élodie, watching the men laugh as they tore apart, hacked, and burned the creatures that constantly emerged.
Though they looked rowdy, the group of men was extremely orderly. They encircled their enemies to prevent escape, attacking the more aggressive ones with preemptive fire. When their numbers were down, they charged with everything they had.
This demonstrated how meticulous the paladins could be despite being a diverse group. Though they laughed constantly and made off-color comments, they did their job effectively.
"Don't look down on them. They're usually under control. But they rarely encounter such promising targets," said Sophia, defending her companions. However, the girl sounded doubtful because she didn't quite believe her.
"I've always had a question, but no one ever answers me when I ask it. Why isn't the power of Mother Light toxic to the real world and humans?" asked Élodie. Her words made Sophia narrow her crimson eyes as she looked at the police with scrutiny.
"You're very curious," she said. The jovial atmosphere between them suddenly tensed.
The blonde had heard this question before from other nuns and priests, so she waved her hand, trying to play it down.
"You don't have to answer. It's a question I've had since I was a child. For example, why is there no religion in Shattercrown and much of the world? It's a little strange to me, you know?
In that country of the Iron Continent, Orinthia? They seem devoted to Mother Light, yet they never use the term 'religion,' even though it exists." The blonde continued prying, accelerating her speech to avoid possible interruptions.
Sophia's lips tightened. The nun felt the urge to touch Élodie's head with her cane to see if it was hollow. Didn't she notice the strange atmosphere that had been generated?
Séraphine even patted her face, feeling that her headache had worsened significantly by simply listening to the police. However, it was the elderly wizard among the paladins who answered the blonde's questions.
"Because unbridled worship is dangerous, brat! Why do you think we deal with cults and cultists? A religion would be awful. That country, well, let's say they did well not to call themselves a religious state, though they have all the makings of one." The old man had overheard some of Élodie's questions and couldn't help but answer her.
"Haven't you read? There are books on this subject! You can look in the library. It's common knowledge that religion wiped out the elves thousands of years ago.
Have you ever seen any remnants of the elven lineage in humans? There's nothing left!" The old man raised his voice, attracting the attention of his companions who had already finished dealing with the wasps.
"Although we borrow words like 'nun' or 'paladin,' we only have the same cultural appreciation for Mother Light as everyone else does. Building temples or worshipping her image?
Don't forget that she's a spirit world being! A benevolent one, but still from the spirit world," said the man holding the flamethrower.
"True. But aren't there other powerful beings, like the Scarlet Moon or the Lady in Grey? Even that bastard Whisperer! But even their cultists don't want to found a religion on these beings!" The man with a sword and a gun said this with a mocking tone and a disdainful smile.
"Does that answer your question? It seems that being in the army doesn't allow you to become more educated," Séraphine joked with Élodie, whose face blushed as she realized her questions had already been answered; she just never bothered to look for the answers.
"Don't scold her. The most important thing is to leave ignorance behind. There are no stupid questions, only stupid people who don't ask," Sophia commented in defense. However, from the laughter on her face, it was obvious that she was teasing the police, too.
"Okay, I'm going to read more. Sorry, I just had some questions." Élodie lowered her head, trying to hide her flushed face and her urge to smash everyone with her hammer.
"But I still don't know about Mother Light's power," she muttered. Sophia looked at her companions, who shrugged.
"Come on, it's not a secret. Even the witch here should know that," said the aged wizard. Séraphine nodded since she knew that information.
"Wait, you're a warrior of civilian origin?" the witch asked suddenly, causing the others to look at Élodie with astonishment.
"That explains why she doesn't know something so simple. She's first generation," said the paladin carrying a sword and a pistol. He looked at the blonde with a certain touch of respect.
"What's wrong with me being a civilian? I joined the army and fought! Now I'm a cop!" exclaimed Élodie, touching the badge hanging from her neck.
"They weren't referring to that, but rather, to the fact that talented civilians generally live their entire lives without being able to use their abilities," Séraphine pointed out, calming the police and getting them to pay attention to her.
"Although there is no direct relation between using aether and lineage, families with people who can use this energy tend to produce talented individuals. At the very least, they make it easier for their descendants to discover their talents," the witch began to explain. This topic was one of the first things someone had to learn, regardless of the path they chose to pursue.
"Although civilians are aware of the supernatural world, they lack significant knowledge. They may be aware of the existence of aether, but do they utilize it? Unless they are geniuses or this power manifests itself in times of danger, they will never realize that they can use it." Séraphine's words caused Élodie to recall the first time she felt the searing heat of her aether coursing through her body.
Her memories were fleeting, but everyone could see her shiver slightly and begin to breathe in short, shuddering breaths. Sophia rested her staff on the blonde woman's head, and a soft glow washed over her.
The light's power permeated her being, easing her discomfort. When she realized what had happened, the police nodded to the nun but remained silent, waiting for Séraphine to continue.
"In a family of people who can use aether, it's easy to detect talent. Depending on their abilities, they can choose one of three paths: Warrior, Wizard, Witch, or Alchemist.
My parents are one warrior and one alchemist. I was trained by a witch known to my family. She taught me many things." Séraphine finished her narration, making Élodie nod.
"No wonder those rich kids in the army looked at me with contempt at first. Was it because I'm from a civilian background? After one mission, though, they stopped, and now we're friends," commented the policewoman, who smiled and seemed to have come out of her earlier sadness.
"So, Mother Light's power is different. No, it's spiritual energy with different rules. That's what differentiates those powerful beings in the spiritual world from the rest; they wield the power of rules and concepts." Sophia decided to reveal the answer the blonde wanted so much, making her blue eyes sparkle with emotion.
"Mother Light embodies purification, protection, and, broadly speaking, light. Other beings... It's not good to talk about them too much. That's why we give them nicknames. Their names have power, and knowing their true names is dangerous.
That is why you will never hear the true name of Mother Light. It is better never to know it. However, it is because of such subtle concepts that certain individuals are capable of harnessing the artifacts of Mother Light to channel their power. They earn the nickname 'monk' or 'nun,'" Séraphine continued, picking up where Sophia left off. Séraphine was familiar with this particular subject due to the indescribable things she usually observed in the in-betweenness of reality every time she activated her special Vision.
"Although there is some controversy, those 'Taoists' in the East also call themselves monks. There is even a variant of the warrior in those lands with the title of monk, so we usually call them priests to avoid confusion." Sophia finished the story in a soft voice. At last, Élodie's doubts were satisfied.
"It seems that I really must read more," said the policewoman, making the paladins laugh because, in a way, they could relate.
"Reading is boring! You have good muscles, girl. Why don't we train one of these days?" asked the man who fought with a sword and gun. But Sophia whacked his head with the staff in her hand.
"Jonah, stop picking on the girl. Can't you see she's exhausted?" Sophia scolded in exasperation. Then she began to criticize her fellow paladins' unprofessional attitude.
"They seem to be getting along quite well," said Élodie to Séraphine in a low voice as they watched the nun beat her men's foreheads with what should be considered a holy artifact.
"They're a fun bunch. You'll get used to them if you keep dealing with supernatural subjects. By the way, welcome to Blume, Officer Duval," the witch said with a mischievous smile, holding out her hand to the blonde. She looked at it for a few seconds before smiling with her full set of teeth.
"Thank you for working with me. I hope we will continue to be good partners in the future. Consultant Rohan" Élodie reciprocated the handshake, and thus, they both recognized each other as future allies.
After going through so much together and fighting side by side, they had developed an understanding of each other, finding a certain trust in each other, especially because of the synergy they had demonstrated during the conflict against Mirian.
This simple moment would become a priceless memory in the future, and the gesture between them would become a true bond that would unite them for a long time, perhaps forever.
𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝
"Do you want to lend me your books?" asked Élodie curiously as they rode in the car, being transported by Tania.
"Yes, if you want to be a police officer, it's important to know. I don't want to be the typical witch who acts like an encyclopedia every time we work together," answered the witch, who was sitting in the passenger seat with her legs crossed and her eyes closed.
The policewoman sitting in the backseat puffed out her cheeks slightly in a childish gesture. Tania looked back using one of the rearview mirrors and burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA! Finally, someone feels the same way I do!" the brunette scoffed. This caused Élodie to roll her eyes.
"Did she make you read or something?" the blonde asked. Tania nodded as she focused on the road.
"Séraphine doesn't like being asked about things she knows; you know? She gets exasperated." The girl's answer reminded Élodie of the times Séraphine scolded her for various reasons.
Sometimes it was due to her impulsiveness, but the policewoman recognized that at other times, it was because of her lack of knowledge. It was obvious that the witch didn't like having to deal with those situations.
"Looks like I won't be able to listen to that program on the radio tonight," muttered Élodie sadly.
"Reading nourishes the soul. It's good for improving your strength. Take it as an exercise," said Séraphine, cleverly hiding the fact that it was an extremely slow process that hardly caused noticeable changes over time.
Technically, though, she had not lied. This was one reason why wizards and witches were so obsessed with knowledge: they believed they could improve their souls through learning.