NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: The Fall of the Paladin
Luysia doesn't know what to think anymore.
Ever since she met that man, Strauss Wagner, all her certainties have begun to crumble.
She, who spent most of her life preparing for the sacred duty she was chosen for, is now uncertain.
Her senses and abilities don't deceive her.
Strauss Wagner is clearly malevolent.
The darkness in his eyes is the darkest she's ever seen.
But technically, he hasn't done anything wrong.
Luysia has a sense that he's done something reprehensible, but she can't prove it.
What was that intense and malevolent aura that he and now even Rero Sansanti emit?
So oppressive and unsettling that it made her vomit.
Luysia had to renounce her oath with Wagner after accepting the duel.
This goes against her principles, but she couldn't let such a malevolent being live.
That's what her instincts tell her.
But can she really kill someone without evidence?
Isn't that an evil act? Is it evil to kill a murderer before they commit a crime? Or a serial killer?
Luysia has never found herself having to doubt her actions.
In the church, everything is simple, dogmatic, certain.
Black or white.
They point her in one direction, and she follows it.
There's not much to think about, not much to reflect upon.
After all, she was chosen for this task, to be the weapon of the righteous gods.
She has prepared her whole life for this duty.
It's not easy to be born so gifted. Being at the top also means being alone.
No one can understand her, and no one can get close.
Even Rero Sansanti abandoned her. She thought she was her friend.
Luysia has felt increasingly lonely and oppressed by her role as a sacred Paladin.
She knows what's right, but it's painful.
Sometimes she wishes she could be a simple girl, like many others.
Maybe find a boy to fall in love with.
Have friends to share joys and sorrows with.
Have fun, even in a silly way, without being accountable for her actions.
Without taking on responsibilities.
But that's not possible for her.
She is Luysia Camclair, the future first Paladin of the Church, chosen by the righteous gods.
She must set aside her doubts.
She has to seek advice from her superiors.
Ask them how to deal with Strauss Wagner.
He clearly did something to her.
She couldn't hit him, even though she wanted to with all her might. Is it a curse?
Like when he paralyzed her the first time they met?
She should be able to see it with [SEE EVIL], like when she saw the mysterious label [FAKE CLASS] while scanning Strauss Wagner's status. But now, nothing.
No signs of the curse or the [FAKE CLASS].
And what about Rero Sansanti's unnatural strength?
When she blocked her blow, Luysia felt all the difference. She had never felt so powerless.
Yet the statistics haven't changed.
The only thing that's different is that oppressive aura.
In her heart, Luysia still considers her a friend.
She must save her from that man.
Her phone vibrates.
A new message?
Luysia opens it.
An unknown number.
< It's time to settle the score. I'll tell you everything. 8:00 PM. Come to these coordinates.
-S. >
'S.' could it be Strauss Wagner?
What is he up to? Is it a trap?
Or maybe he finally wants to explain his dark aura, provide a sensible justification.
The woman has to acknowledge to Wagner that, up until now, he has never sought confrontation even though he had the opportunity.
And it was he who proposed a duel in which they would face each other, and if he lost, he would tell her the truth.
Luysia Camclair truly wants to believe that her impressions are the result of a misunderstanding.
This could be a clarifying and reconciling encounter.
Even though the church is dogmatic, one should always seek the path of dialogue if possible.
Luysia admits she needs to improve on this.
Alright, she will try to listen to what Wagner has to say.
In the worst case, if it's a trap, at least she can be sure he's an enemy and he's evil.
She has divine protection on her side.
***
The coordinates attached to the message led her to a desolate and abandoned place.
An old abandoned industrial complex. The location seemed ideal for an ambush.
Luysia isn't afraid, and she is confident that she's prepared for any eventuality.
The place is clearly isolated. Luysia moves among the buildings and doesn't see any signs of living souls.
She walks briskly, trying to spot any potential enemies.
It feels like she's in a world apart, far from the civilization and safety of the academy and the church.
She's surrounded by silence interrupted only by her own breath.
As she ventures further into the complex, her footsteps echo like a ghostly whisper.
At one point, a sudden noise from a room startles her.
Her heart starts pounding even harder as she cautiously approaches the source of the sound.
A small mouse has fled in fear, but that brief moment of tension has heightened the adrenaline in Luysia's veins.
She realizes how vulnerable she is in that isolated place.
Luysia's mind continues to wander between doubts and hopes.
Is she really ready for what she's about to face?
She wonders if she made the right decision in accepting Wagner's invitation.
Despite her courage and dedication to the church, fear and uncertainty linger within her, making her human amid all that mystery.
No, she must be resolute.
She's a paladin.
[LIGHT]
She casts a spell to illuminate the path, and the magical light comforts her.
*SWISHH*
A hiss.
A sharp, piercing sound that fills the air.
*Thwack*
"Argh!" she exclaims, jolting in pain.
She's been hit in her right arm.
An acute, localized pain seizes her.
Luysia raises her arm and realizes that a dart has pierced it.
The woman quickly takes cover behind a pillar.
She swiftly casts protective spells.
[SHIELD OF FAITH]
[BLESS]
[PROTECTION FROM EVIL]
[PROTECTION FROM POISON]
Then she removes the dart from her arm.
She whispers a prayer to muster courage:
"O Chand, with candles, we implore,
In your radiance, we explore,
Bless us, guard us evermore,
Darkness flees when you restore."
*SWISHH*
*SWISHH*
*SWISHH*
*SWISHH*
She can hear more hisses, but the shots miss her.
"Show yourself, coward!" the paladin shouts.
*SWISHH*
Another hiss, this time very close.
*Thwack*
"Argh..." She's been hit in her left thigh.
She cast [PROTECTION FROM POISON], so she should be immune to poisons.
At least she doesn't have to fear being poisoned.
"You want to kill me like this, Wagner?"
"Wagner? Who are you talking about?" an unfamiliar voice asks.
Figures emerge from the shadows, grinning.
The paladin is surrounded.
Six men.
They wear the school uniform of her Academy.
"This is the end for you, Camclair," the apparent leader of her assailants says with a laugh.
"Who are you? You're from the Academy, you're wearing the same uniform as me. But I don't know you. How dare you attack me?"
"It doesn't matter who I am, A-girl. What matters is that you're trapped."
[HALBAIRD OF FAITH]
[DIVINE BLESSING]
Luysia prepares to fight.
"Why are you attacking a church paladin? Are you servants of demons?"
"I don't know much about demons or the church. What I do know is that you've angered the Master. And when he's angry, it's terrifying. Believe me, I know."
"Who is this Master?" Luysia asks, determined to uncover the truth.
"You'll meet him soon."
*Swish* *Swish* *Swish* *Swish* *Swish* *Swish*
The enemies are armed with crossbows and they shoot darts at her.
Luysia tries to dodge them, but two hit their mark.
"URGHHH..."
She wants to attack and fight back, but she feels sluggish.
Her movements are slow and dragging.
She should be protected from poison, so why does she feel impaired?
"Wow, you can tell she's a rank A. Four doses and she's still moving," one of the men says, the one with red hair who looks like a junkie.
"Let's be careful, even with the drugs, she's still dangerous," the presumed leader remarks.
"Chand, give me strength..." Luysia prays.
With an immense effort of willpower, ignoring the numbness and weakness that are starting to afflict her, she hurls herself at her attackers.
She swings her halberd of light, but her movements are slow, predictable, and ineffective.
The men laugh as they evade the paladin's desperate attack.
In the meantime, she is hit by more darts.
The situation is dangerous, but she can't give in.
The delinquents wield wooden clubs and engage in melee combat.
They start beating her, all while laughing.
Blows come from every side.
She's too stunned to defend herself.
She's still standing only thanks to her defensive buffs.
*SBAM*
A club to her back almost takes her breath away.
She falls to her knees.
She shouldn't have come alone.
She was stupid.
She should have alerted the church.
*SBAM*
On one side, the pain that wants to express itself by screaming; on the other, the numbness that prevents her from moving.
Maybe she still has a chance.
She reaches for her phone.
She must warn them.
Ask for help.
*SBAM*
A club strikes her hand, making the phone fly and land at the feet of one of the men.
He picks it up.
"I'll take this."
Luysia is now completely at the mercy of her assailants.
"Look at that body... she's a pretty little bitch.... hehehe."
"Why don't we have some fun?"
"Yes, I really need to empty my balls..."
"Look at that expression, it looks just like a cum hole... ahahah..."
"I want to fuck her!"
They undo their pants.
Luysia is surrounded by cocks.
They are ready to violate her.
Luysia is terrified.
"Have you all gone mad? Do you want the Master to kill you?" a shout interrupts the wicked intentions of the six delinquents.
Another figure emerges from the shadows.
Rero Sansanti.
So Wagner is behind all of this.
If Sansanti is here, it's very likely that the man sent her.
"Do you want to defile the prey chosen by the Master?"
"No, no, we apologize! We got carried away." the leader says.
"We apologize!"
"Forgive us!"
"I'm sorry!"
Rero Sansanti stares them down, terrifying them.
Her gaze allows no room for argument or further insubordination, and judging by the men's expressions, they seem to have understood the concept perfectly.
"R-Rero S-Sansanti... please... help me..." Luysia implores.
"I will," she looks at her mercilessly.
"Soon, you will receive salvation," she sincerely replies.
Then she takes the smartphone and sends a message.