The Scarlet Paladin

It was decided the villagers would use the stronghold, at least for now. They had been fortunate that there were no storms the previous night, but that luck wouldn't hold forever. As for the Scarlet Seraphs, they decided to help clean up the stronghold. It was the least they could do before leaving.

Claire and Elsie had to face their actions from the previous day. Despite both being sore and emotionally exhausted, they helped however they could. That meant assisting in cleaning up the bodies.

It took all of her willpower, but Claire was able to fight the urge to vomit. Dragging the lifeless bodies of the bandits made her already aching heart worse. She knew these women deserved justice, yet she couldn't help but feel remorse.

Elsie wasn't strong enough to deal with the bodies, but her magic proved useful. Mainly, her fire magic.

None of them wanted to take the time for graves or even a mass grave. So, despite initial protests, the bodies were dragged far from the stronghold and piled for burning. Their items and clothing were stripped from them, meant to be used by the villagers.

The sight of it made Elsie freeze. She was supposed to ignite the pile, but she couldn't. Just like Claire, guilt ate away at her resolve. No matter what crimes these women had committed, ending their lives still left a mark..

The two leaned heavily on their lovers, Ana especially. She wasn't able to help with much reconstruction, so she helped by preparing water and food. She also spent time comforting the two struggling Seraphs. It was the only way the two could carry on.

The other members had an easier time. Ursa and Jasmine had seen the aftermath of too many battles, killed too many women. This sight didn't even faze them, while Lily had experienced many deaths through her alchemic work. People who were too far gone for her potions. The three picked up the slack of their struggling lovers.

Lily had been tasked with organizing information, any letter or any contact was brought to the alchemist. She was slowly piecing together the operation that Reyna had run.

Lily took a moment to clean her glasses as she mentally sifted through the information. This was indeed a drug trafficking operation, but it wasn't for the nobles. No, it was for their harem. A powerful aphrodisiac and hallucinogen combined to make the men more submissive.

"Paranoia, hypersensitivity…highly addictive…" Lily muttered as she read the recorded effects and side effects. The hypersensitivity made sense since most men in harems were purely sex objects, but the paranoia and addictiveness didn't. "Who could enjoy something like this?"

As she scanned the side effects again, something clicked. Her eyes widened.

They needed test subjects.

She rushed out, knocking over the chair and ignoring her fatigue. She scanned each of the villages with her analytical eye skill. She was relieved to find no signs of withdrawal. She raced through the stronghold, scanning each of the women she passed. None.

Not a single woman or the few men had any signs of withdrawal or symptoms. Then a cold realization gripped her. "What use would children be to bandits?"

That thought struck her with a heavy weight. Her knees nearly buckled and she held on to the wall beside her. She shook off the concerned women who flocked to help her. She needed to get to the top floor.She needed to check on the children.

She ran into Ursa, who was carrying a young boy in her arms. Lily recognized the symptoms immediately. He was sweating profusely, his face was pale and his body was shaking.

All signs of the withdrawal.

"Lily!" Ursa cried out. "I-I don't know what happened. I was playing with them on my break, and he just suddenly collapsed."

Lily nodded her head. Her voice sharpened with conviction. "Everyone! Gather the children downstairs, they need to be examined immediately."

She gently touched Ursa's trembling arm. "It'll be okay, I'll explain the issue later. Right now, let's get him to the carriage."

Ursa nodded obediently and followed Lily downstairs. Lily could feel the Divine Fatigue still affecting her, but she pushed through it.

"Get me Ana." Lily told one of the women they passed on their way out. The woman nodded after examining Daren's state. She raced off to find the younger twin as fast as she could. "Ursa, bring him inside and lay him on the bench."

"Yes, ma'am," Ursa obeyed, placing the boy down and letting his head rest in her lap. She stroked his hair in a soothing motion

"Hold this on his forehead, it'll help with the fever." She handed Ursa a cold washcloth

She then turned back to her workbench. Her flow of mana was sluggish due to her fatigue, making it harder to synthesize the concoction. She pushed through the best she could.

Ana quickly joined Lily, offering her mana to synthesize the remedy. All while Ursa held the boy. He was shaking violently, and his eyes looked vacant. It took all of Ursa's willpower not to completely freak out. Her duty was quickly taken over by Daren's mother, along with the village doctor.

Mara's face said it all. Her face said everything. Fear, sorrow, and helplessness. Still, she trusted the three women implicitly.

Outside, Claire watched in stunned silence. All her remorse and hesitation were replaced with a seething anger. She no longer felt bad about yesterday, at least not right now. Those women deserved worse.

All in all, eight of the fifteen kids were afflicted. All three of the boys and some of the younger girls all showed symptoms.

How could she feel sorry after seeing all this?

She bit back her anger and directed her attention to the panicking villagers. She had faith that both Ana and Lily could fix this situation, but the parents didn't. She, alongside Jasmine, directed the women back inside the stronghold.

"I know you all are worried, but I can personally attest to Lily's skill as an alchemist," Jasmine said, cutting through the panic. She still had a faint limp and low mobility in her arms, but she was standing. "Her potions have saved several villages from plagues. I just ask you to all be patient."

Claire turned to Elise, who was pale and quiet.

"What's Ana saying?" Claire whispered.

"It's bad… but not fatal," Elsie admitted. "They were used as test subjects for the drugs being created here… a new, horrible one."

Claire took a slow, deep breath. She gritted her teeth. "Are they in danger?"

Elsie shook her head. "No just … the withdrawals are… brutal"

"I don't even want to know." Claire grumbled. She took another deep breath before clearing her throat.

All eyes turned to her. "Listen. Your children were used differently from you all while you were under Samira's control. The bandits here dealt in drugs, especially an experimental one. One that needed to be tested."

Claire lost her words for a moment. She looked around at the horrified looks and hesitated for a moment. "It pains me to say it… but they used your kids as test subjects."

An uproar erupted as the villagers processed the news. Righteous anger and sorrow filled the room like an explosion. Claire let them, let them get any emotion out they could.

Then she raised her hand. "The symptoms aren't fatal. But they are extreme. We're doing everything we can to help them."

Any words were either left unspoken or couldn't be found. A chilling silence descended upon the room as they all digested the information. Claire scratched the back of her head, her own frustration beginning to boil.

Then a moment of divine clarity hit her. She could feel the divine power surge within her body as she radiated light. She felt the presence of her Goddess, but it felt different now.

"Here me!" Claire's voice rang out. It was layered, ethereal, a blend of her voice and another. "Using my divine authority and the broken promise of my champion, I've managed to manifest here."

Claire's body ascended from the ground as her hair began to float. Jasmine and Elsie were too stunned to even move.

"I have heard your prayers." Claire's Goddess declared. ""Your children will survive. My follower, Lily, wields my magic. Her remedy is nearly complete. Trust her, and they will recover. Be at peace, villagers of Amora. Whatever peace you can find."

Jasmine took a step forward. "Claire? What have you done with her?"

"Worry not, Jasmine." The Goddess said sofly. "She is safe. I merely borrowed her form… Her oath was broken through no fault of her own. I bear her no punishment."

Elsie gripped Jasmine's hand, forcing her to face the older twin. "Lily's glowing too… the remedy, it's almost complete."

Jasmine exhaled, her body relaxing. The divine light faded as Claire's body descended into Jasmine's waiting arms. She ignored the pain and caught the unconscious girl.

"Jasmine, Claire will suffer no consequences." The Goddess's voice whispered. "Forgive me for scaring you. Upon learning of the drug created here, my anger overcame me, and I had to act."

"Thank you," Jasmine smiled weakly. "Seems you inherited that trait from Claire. Or maybe it was Ursa."

Claire smiled, even with her eyes closed and her body limp. The last remaining remnants of the Goddess left her body, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Jaz," Claire mumbled as she held her head. "I-I heard everything. That felt… so weird. It was like I was watching myself and…"

Jasmine's smile widened, and she hugged Claire. "She appeared. You broke a promise on her name and it allowed her access…"

"Fuck…" Claire whispered as she sat up. "I promised Mara."