Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

A day past the murder of an angel, the streets of Lantherem were flooded with the gurgling of zombie nuns. Dragging those poor dead souls through the streets, Aria with the help of her necromancy paraded them around. With their destination, the bay and their eyes set on the elven girl, the nun followed her slack-jawed to their own burial.

Many locals, mostly the farmers on the outskirts of the island gathered around the streets, watching, even recognizing the many faces of the women, forgotten to them thanks to a schemer grandeur.

Some cried out to their mothers, the others for their daughters and sisters, and as they learned the truth behind the march, the reason why they hadn't seen them for so long, their grief turned to anger, and for once in their mortal lives they cursed an angel and they god they presumed that monster to be a servant of.

'Thankfully, they had their own doubts due to how much their god had neglected them…' Looking around at the many faces surrounding them on both sides of the road, Raven felt glad that the news of Lantherm's death was taken far better than anyone could've expected. 'Or maybe it's just Erika's charm that has them believing already.'

Glancing over to the priestess, helping the devastated many with a spell of lion's heart and a prayer to Athenia to cure their bodily miseries, Erika was slowly but surely converting the minds of many. As for Athenia, the goddess was proactively breathing lives in the farms of those who'd gained even the slightest faith in her already. Discover exclusive tales at empire

"Not sure if this is the best time to fly yer goddess's banner on this island," his attention broken by Reina's voice, Raven turned to look at her walking by his side. Darting at him a sideways glance, she squinted her eyes and wore a frustrated expression. "These idiots will accept a clownfish for their idol if it would help them right now, but beyond that?

Their loyalty to your goddess would be as good as their previous god."

Looking around some more at the grieving faces as well as many others attempting to rush to their zombified family members, Reina couldn't help but make a connection between herself and those people as she too had just recently lost an ugly family member. However, just like Mel's conjured vines were keeping them at bay, she too was kept from drowning in her sorrows by herself.

'I've done enough crying.' Were her thoughts right before she turned her attention to yet another person walking alongside them.

"Did the witch ever explain who that girl was that was after her?" Staring at Linkle's back, Reina nudged Raven lightly.

"She doesn't know," the mage responded, quickly.

Eyeing him with doubt again, Reina pushed further.

"She to told you that and you bought that explanation? Not everyone goes around randomly attacking other people, the girl must've had a reason." Although her words contained some level of truth, Raven still didn't believe that the witch had lied to him about the matter.

"She can't afford to lose our trust at this point, Reina," glancing at her as well, Raven squinted his brows and wore a tense expression. "Because if she does, she loses a lot more than you realize."

Not aware of the exact deal between Linkle and the party, Reina–much like Raven wasn't convinced otherwise. She'd worked with Linkle long enough to know that nothing was beyond her especially if she stood to make a profit from the situation.

"I hope you're right, otherwise I'll bash her face in with the next sword she enchants for me back at Athenia," Reina sighed, shaking her head.

The rest of their journey to the bay continued in silence. Those who needed to make peace followed Erika, and she led them to the site of the burial where with a spell of cleansing she turned the undead into what they were meant to be, dead.

And while the ceremonies continued and the families paid their respect to their dead, far back into the church, unaware of what was happening at the bay, Amedith and the rest were getting some rest.

Finally feeling better with his magic working once again, the warrior picked himself up from the bench as if nothing at all had ailed him for a whole day. Will-O had begun to feel much better, and with her wings fluttering through the air, a smile crept up Liliyana's lips, all the while, Asmodia yawned before resting her head on one of the many benches.

"You two feeling okay?" Liliyana asked, her eyes still gleaming with worry.

"My magic works again and I don't feel any pain anymore," looking himself over, Amedith nodded before lifting his eyes back at Liliyana. "It was that weapon messing up with my magic after all, either way though, I feel as good as always."

Smiling at Amedith's response, Liliyana turned to Will-O next. Having turned into her wisp form, the fairy jingled excitedly to let her daughter know that she was fine. However, reaching forward to touch the wisp, Liliyana hoped to know how exactly the fairy had teleported all of them away from danger.

For as far as she knew, Will-O had little grasp of magic, her body was far too dainty to hold enough mana for anything complex.

"How did you–"

"I'll tell you later, okay?" Interjected Will-O's familiar voice from within that ball of light.

"O-okay…" Pressing her lips shut, Liliyana held back her curiosity, she didn't wanna push the fairy especially after she'd just recovered from what could've been a life-threatening injury.

Things were finally looking up again and the chaos of yesterday was mellowed by today's silence. There was no more a girl holding a rifle against their chest, the angel was defeated and the cult of a dead god had come to a surprising quick end. Yet there was something lingering above those who've stayed behind at the church, something not visible to the naked eye yet certainly present.

'What am I supposed to do now?' Thought the spirit girl as there were no signs of her salvation in sight. But deep in her worry, she hadn't noticed the warrior looking right at her. With his magic restored Amedith could see her as clear as day and having heard her story already, he would soon invite her for a meal even though she couldn't eat anything.

There she would reveal her dilemma, between wanting to see Baylee dead or taking Erika's help and finally moving on.