Chapter 61: The Charm Ring
"Alright, guys, this last attack went really well for us, but no doubt the Knights are now on higher alert against us. With that in mind, we need to carefully consider what our next move should be. Any ideas?" Inquired Aster, looking around at the others.
It was the next day, late in the afternoon, and the group had gathered to dicuss their next course of action.
"Hm...this is just a suggestion, but it’s unlikely that the Inquisitors know about Ravella, so maybe she could infiltrate them and work as a double agent?" Suggested Lexia, after a brief pause.
"Absolutely not, I’m very strongly opposed to that," Responded Raven immediately.
"Yeah, I’m not particularly keen on the idea myself...but even if I was, it probably wouldn’t work. The Inquisitors regularly have to undergo questioning under hypnotic Spells to make sure that they’re staying loyal to the church and not acting in their own self-interests. I was only able to get through those questionings because of the collar the Bishop put around my neck, it made me give the right answers to the questions under the hypnosis, otherwise the Bishop’s schemes would’ve been outed.
As for the other Inquisitors that he’d put under his control, from what I remember, he basically brainwashed them into thinking that they were doing the right thing. In other words, none of them believed that they’d betrayed the church, so they had no trouble with getting through the questionings either. I was the only one with a collar though, so he must have been using something else to brainwash the Inquisitors. And I think it’s this...I took it off him after I killed him," Remarked Ravella, as she took out the Charm Ring.
"Hm? Wait a second, that ring looks familiar, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it before...yeah, unless I’m mistaken, the Priest who put me through the Homunculus Ritual was wearing it. I see, the Bishop of Malachite Town must have got his hands on it after I ended up burning down the Ruby Village church and killing the Priest in the process," Realized Raven, as he recognized the ring.
"Huh, that means it survived the blaze when you burned down the church...not that there was much doubt, but this confirms it must an Ancient Magic Artifact, same as the collar," Surmised Celia thoughtfully.
"What should we do with it? It’s dangerous, but it could also be useful, like a secret weapon we can keep up our sleeves," Pointed out Colt.
"I don’t think we should risk using it, especially when we have no idea how it works and just how strong its effects are. At the very least, we know it works frighteningly well, considering how thoroughly those Inquisitors were brainwashed," Responded Tacitus warily.
"I agree, I think it’s too dangerous. We’re lucky the the two people who used it were cautious and only used its effects on the people directly around them...if it’d fallen into the hands of someone more reckless and impulsive who used it on everyone they came across, that could’ve led to disastrous consequences," Replied Lexia in agreement.