Chapter 70
“You became an inquisitor at an age when you’re still going through puberty? Wait—you’re that rumored prodigy, aren’t you?”
“Y-yeah…”
Their conversation carried clearly into the cell. Virelda let out a sigh, lightly kicked Fay’s leg with her boot, and jerked her chin toward the exit.
“Let’s get out before that idiot gets exposed. Where’s your invoked?”
Fay bit her lower lip and shook her head. She didn’t know where Alnazir was either.
“It doesn’t matter where he is. That man is no longer my invoked.”
“He’s not on the witches’ side?”
“He’s Aldehallow’s enemy.”
Despite the sadness on her face, her answer was firm. There was clearly a long story behind it. But this wasn’t the place to hear it.
Virelda grabbed Fay’s arm and pulled her out of the cell.
“Hey. Where are you taking the witch?”
The guard, who had been chatting with Zynie, called out to them as they tried to slip away. Exhausted from the barrage of questions, Zynie hurried over as if waiting for her cue.
“We’re taking her for further investigation.”
“I get that you’re being pushed around by Lord Andreas and need to bring back results, but I’m responsible for keeping the witch here.”
He whistled sharply, calling over nearby soldiers. He’d been guarding the horn at his waist carefully, but didn’t even need to use it.
As more men gathered, Virelda clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Get ready, Zynie. Let’s drop the disgusting inquisitor act here.”
“Oh, finally! Fay, stick close to me.”
“Andreas…?”
Fay murmured the name to herself, barely hearing anything else around her.
“Go back quietly and report your detailed findings to Lord Andreas. Leave the witch here.”
“Try and stop us.”
Virelda snorted and pulled out her staff. This time, her voice was unmistakably female.
“Wit—!”
Before the guard could shout “Witch!”, Virelda cried out first.
“Hairy peanut!”
It was a code she and Fay had made up as children.
A blinding flash burst from the tip of Virelda’s staff, so sudden and intense that anyone who hadn’t already closed their eyes was struck by it.
Unfortunately, Fay—lost in thought over the name Andreas—reacted a beat too late. She squeezed her eyes shut, but not before being slightly caught in the light.
As the flash faded, Virelda and Zynie shot upward on their brooms. Fay climbed onto Zynie’s broom behind her.
“Fay, are you okay?”
As they left enemy territory behind, Zynie asked anxiously. Fay slowly opened her tightly shut eyes and groaned. They burned as if scorched, tears spilling uncontrollably.
“I closed them too late. If I keep them shut for a while, it should get better.”
Though she said that, she couldn’t keep them closed.
She suddenly thought of the man who must still be somewhere inside enemy lines. Was it really okay to leave him behind and flee alone?
She hesitated. But what kind of invoked ignored a contract? She forced herself to turn her head away, telling herself he was nothing but a traitor.
When they reached the fortress wall, exhaustion hit her all at once and her legs buckled. She hadn’t endured full torture yet, but she had been thrown around and beaten.
Zynie quickly caught her and helped her sit down.
“Thank you… for coming to rescue me.”
“Of course we came to rescue you!”
Just as the atmosphere turned emotional, Virelda cut in, raising her staff and smacking Fay over the head with it.
“Hey! What are you doing?! Didn’t you two make up?”
“Shut it, Zynie!”
Want to take her place and get hit instead?
Virelda glared viciously. Zynie, frightened, stopped interfering and clutched her staff with trembling hands.
“Fay!”
“Y-yes…”
“I don’t care if you throw your own life into the gutter, but are you going to keep making us worry like this?!”
Virelda pointed at her accusingly, eyes blazing with fury. It was terrifying.
“That’s why I told you from the start to stay back! But no, you just had to jump in anyway! Who are you trying to drive to an early grave?!”
“I-I’m sorry, Virelda. I didn’t mean to make you worry…”
“I wasn’t worried about someone like you!”
“B-but you just said you were…”
“Don’t argue with me!”
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