Velvet Abyss

Shinobu

Night had fallen by the time they arrived in the village, she didn’t know the name of the village nor why she was here not that it mattered, her lady had bid her come and she obliged as was her pleasure.

Accompanying her on this impromptu expedition were Lady Setsuna, her older Brother Seijuro the Arch Bishop of the church, Lady Norn an Elder Sister and Seijuro’s fiance and a small handful of the churches inquisitors.

In the centre of the village were a plethora of humans men and women young and old even a few children rested among their ranks, they were bound with shackles around their hands and chains fastened to their malnourished legs

“Hey Mr Bishop, give us some food.”

“Yeah please, we’re starving.”

“Silence! You dirty heretics!” Norn barked.

“There’s no need for that Norn, these people are famished what’s it been a week since you were captured?”

She had been informed by Norn that these people were charged with treason against the kingdom and additionally were heretics blaspheming about the goddess Nero and that was a heinous offence under the laws of the Flanade Church.

Her Lady had a sullen look on her face clearly she wasn’t pleased with their purpose for coming to this village, but that reason mattered little to her for if her Lady gave her an order she’d follow to the letter.

“You relinquished your human rights when you chose to become a heretic.” Norn scowled.

Lady Norn’s disdain for heretics and those who defiled the churches precepts was more intense than the other sisters, she seemed to delight in branding others as heretics or felons for the most minuscule violation deriving some kind of sadistic glee from it all.

“The Arch Bishop will address you now so bite your tongue and listen”

“There’s no need for such callousness Norn, these people have been through a lot.”

“But, Your grace...”

“Heretic or not they’re still human, let’s hear their demands.”

“If that is your wish, Your Grace.” Norn bowed.

“You may now speak without restraint, go ahead.”

“I’m hungry, Mister Bishop.” A little girl said her voice hoarse.

Seijuro waded through the crowd with a slow and methodical place making her way to the little girl, she was thin and her skin coloured blue from the beatings, her lips dry and cracked, her sky-blue hair dirty and tangled into thick knots.

Seijuro knelt so that he was looking the young girl square in the eyes, the girl lowered her gaze while trembling like a leaf, “What’s your name?” The girl twitched reluctant to raise her gaze, she hesitated before squeaking out a name.

“R..Re...Renne.”

“What a beautiful name you have, Renne.”

“Here let me get you out of those chains.”

A searing hot beam of light fired from Seijuro’s finger severing the little girl's bindings in a surprising turn of events he scooped the girl up in his arms and returned to us, before snapping his finger and giving her the signal she’d been waiting for.

She turned her gaze to her Lady and Setsuna nodded giving her approval and that was all the permission she needed to carry out her duty, Shinobu extended her arm stretching it out towards the chained heretics.

“Don’t look, Renne,” Seijuro said softly covering the girl's eyes.

“Wait what are you doing? No wait, please don’t.” The heretics pleaded

“Conflagration Magic: Cerberus”

At her command, a great ball of black fire appeared in the palm of her hand as Shinobu launched the sphere of flame at the powerless heretics it enlarged assuming the form of three fiery hounds that tore them asunder.

Bloodcurdling screams and the crackle of searing flesh gave way to an unpleasant quiet as the heretics were reduced to piles of thick white ash, As Shinobu turned to leave she couldn’t help but fixate on her own feelings.

That was the third village in as many weeks and she was pleased to see her ability was growing strong over time, the more powerful she became the better she could serve Lady Setsuna.

“Damn that was even cleaner than last time, you’re improving Shi.” Norn praised.

“I only did as expected, nothing worthy of praise, but thanks Lady Norn.” Shinobu bowed.

“Ugh, you’re always so rigid and stiff lighten up a little.”

“I’ll endeavour to improve on that as well.”

“Hey Sei, why are we adopting a little girl?”

“Forgive me Norn, I acted capriciously yet again.”

“You’re the boss, I was just curious is all.”

Lady Setsuna is always silent around others always keeping her sentences short and her words succinct, except for me whenever we’re alone it feels like a great weight has lifted from her shoulders.

My true identity is Shinobu Hyogo, the adoptive child of the royal family, I serve as Lady Setsuna’s attendant, additionally, I’m a Heretic Hunter, Xenovia The Conflagration. I’m content yet I still can’t shake this lingering hollowness in my heart like I’m a puzzle with pieces missing.

I get flashes of a girl with streaks of silver hair, eyes like lilacs and the widest smile, she’s always smiling, who are you?”