The Scarlet Paladin

If Claire felt like her body was moving on its own before, this was that to the extreme. Her own voice and mind seemed to be out of her control now. Her Goddess’s thoughts, Her anger, were flowing through Claire as if they were her own. But she felt like she was watching it all like a spectator.

It was on a whole other level of surreal.

She watched Her Goddess fight the black werewolf with her own body. Their exchange of blows shook the entire fort, almost like an earthquake beneath them. The stone flooring cracked beneath their power. It was crazy to see the wolf stand its ground against a literal Goddess inhabiting Claire, but she guessed her own body was holding the Goddess back. If Claire were stronger, then this fight wouldn’t be so evenly matched.

Luckily, Ursa and Jasmine were still able to help. Ursa was fighting alongside Claire in her werewolf form, while Jasmine was slowly attacking its weak points. They were slowly gaining ground on the werewolf, meaning this fight was almost over.

“No more words?” Claire’s mouth moved, but Her voice spoke through it. “You were so arrogant before. Wanted to take Toni and Samira for yourself.”

The wolf snarled at Claire, but it was currently losing the contest of strength. Ursa’s axe was pressing dangerously close to her flesh. It knew to fear the axe, but not why it should. It shoved the axe away from its shoulder, just to be struck from behind.

Jasmine kicked off from the werewolf, just in time to dodge its strike. She left her poisoned dagger within the beast’s back, letting the poison slowly drain its life away. She still had her Lethality skill to use. Jasmine just had to find the right time to finish this monster off. Now they just had to weaken the werewolf down until she could finish it off.

Which was a lot harder than it sounded.

“Where did all that confidence go?” The Goddess taunted the werewolf once more. Claire could feel the overwhelming anger fueling Her. “I thought you were unkillable? You look quite killable to me.”

The wolf's regenerative abilities were quite insane. A strike from Jasmine’s knife could be healed by the time she struck again. Her poison only slowed the healing, but didn’t stop it. Even now, her knife was slowly being pushed out of the wolf’s back by its healing. The only wounds that stuck were from Ursa’s axe.

“No wonder Rava wants to eradicate you all. You’re a scourge upon her name.” The Goddess continued to goad the wolf.

It was a war of attrition that they couldn't fight for too long. Claire’s body was holding for now, but it wouldn’t for long. Though the Goddess knew when to leave. She could see the strain She was putting on Claire’s body, so She could leave just before inflicting lasting damage on Claire.

Still, that was a bit away. Claire’s body was holding quite well, given the situation. Her aura was helping to alleviate the issue just a bit. The Goddess was quite surprised by just how well Claire’s body was holding out, given what happened last time.

“I grow tired of this battle.” The Goddess spoke again. She wasn’t lying either. Claire could feel the letdown within herself. The Goddess really wanted a punching bag right now after the threats these women made. “Just die quickly already.”

The battle was mostly exchanging blows with the wolf. The Goddess was able to move much faster than Claire, so She could use Ursa’s axe to block almost all attacks. When the two clashed, Jasmine or Ursa would step in to attack. This repeated for several moments until Jasmine’s poison was taking over. It was slowing the werewolf down bit by bit.

Until Claire landed a blow into the beast’s shoulder. It howled in pain before kicking Claire away. All that did was open her wound, since kicking Claire unlodged the axe from its shoulder. The bleeding only made Jasmine’s poison spread faster. The wolf was now on a timer and backed into a corner.

But there was a reason you should never back a monster into a corner.

Its movements got wilder and more aggressive. Its attacks became more unpredictable, making it harder for Ursa and Jasmine to help. Ursa was swatted away when she tried and Jasmine wasn’t able to get close without risking getting hit. That left the fight largely up to Claire.

“Can’t even die properly.” Claire’s Goddess spat at the wolf.

She exchanged blows with the wolf once more. This time, fully overpowering the wolf with the help of the Goddess. Its gangly limbs fought with all its might, but the divine power flowing through Claire was too much. Ursa’s axe was pressing into its flesh once more, driving it insane.

Ursa pounced, biting and ripping at the wolf’s neck. She tore the flesh and fur from its neck. But still, the wolf was fighting. Its bright yellow eyes were full of fear and hatred, its arms holding back the axe as much as it could while its feet clawed at Claire’s armor. They had pinned it against the ground and weakened it just enough.

“Good girl.” The Goddess whispered to the white wolf. Claire could feel the immense satisfaction the Goddess felt upon saying that. It was the one calming moment in the sea of anger Claire was feeling from Her.

Jasmine used her Lethality skill once more. The world slowed to a crawl around her as their bodies were shrouded in shadow. The Goddess’s divine light cut through the skill’s vision, but did not obscure her target. Several red lines covered the wolf’s black mane. She just needed to cut them.

In a flash, she struck. Slashing at the wolf’s neck.

Before the blood from Jasmine’s strike even landed, Claire was raising the axe once more. She slammed it down into the wolf’s chest, cleaving into its flesh and collapsing its ribs. She wasn’t done either. She swung again and again, sending blood and flesh flying all over the floor. By the time she was done, the divine power of the Goddess had left her body.

It took Claire a moment to even realize she was in control of her body again. The moment she did, she lost consciousness. Unknown, familiar hands caught her as the world faded around her. The only thing she could feel, besides the overwhelming fatigue, was the burning sensation all over her body. It felt like she was on fire internally.

Jasmine slowly got to her feet, Claire in her hands. She carried the girl towards the others. Her skin burned to the touch, and Claire’s expression was one of deep pain. Jasmine nodded at Samira as she passed her, who was still in shock.

“Good work,” Jasmine whispered to her. “I can only guess how painful using your magic again must be.”

“I-Is she okay?” Samira snapped out of her stupor. She followed Jasmine and examined Claire’s expression. She touched her face, but recoiled in pain. “AH! She’s hot. What is happening?”

“The Goddess’s power.” Jasmine continued walking. She didn’t want to think about the possibilities yet. She just wanted to sit down and rest. “Hopefully, there’s no lasting damage.”

Samira stopped and glanced back at the carnage from the fight. The blood from both sides littered the previously beautiful entrance. Ursa, still in her wolf form, dragged Carle's body away to cleanse it. Then her eyes landed on the wolf she compelled. The deep, unsettling thoughts she had while controlling the creature and its previously human form. A cold feeling settled deep in her chest.

She shook her head. She did that to save her companions. This was different. She pushed the feeling to the side and turned back towards her party members and lovers. They were either passed out or tending to the passed-out women and needed Samira’s help. She could dwell on her feelings later.

Ana and Elsie were barely conscious. Their eyes were half closed as they mumbled to Lily. Toni was tending to his knight, who’d been badly injured by a stab. She’d make it with healing, but was in bad shape in that moment. Samira settled next to Claire and Jasmine, who were both passed out. Jasmine didn’t even last a second after setting Claire down before succumbing to her fatigue.

The only real surprise was Victoria being conscious. The potion that should have left her passed out for days only lasted a few hours. She was watching over the group with a blank expression. She’d just woken up and was ready to rejoin the fight. But wasn’t needed any longer.

She checked on each of the women, then walked out into the main entryway. She kept walking, finding more bodies of the enforcers along the way. Her blank expression turned into relief by the time she made it to the walls. All of the remaining enforcers were accounted for. There was no one left to worry about.

For now.

Her involvement here wouldn’t go unnoticed. Investigators would shortly arrive on the scene, now that the fort was revealed. They’d trace her uniqueness right back to Victoria and Lady Efreit. Then the grueling politics would come next. Her Lady will be crucified for overstepping into another noble’s lands, even with good intentions. At least they took down some truly cruel women and weakened the criminal group in the area. That would be enough to satisfy her Lady enough to endure the painful politics about to come her way.

Victoria turned just in time to see Ursa jump out of the woods. The two stared at one another for a brief moment before Victoria knelt and held out her hand. “Need some help dealing with these corpses?”

Ursa tilted her head and slowly approached her. She sniffed the spy’s hand for a moment before leaning her head forward. In her mind, Victoria had earned some petting despite how annoying she was. Only a few, since Victoria was a true nuisance.

Ursa shook off her hand and raced towards the closest enforcer. She dragged the body towards the forest, returning the wolf’s blessing to the forest, to her Goddess Rava. Victoria aided her as she rethought her entire actions over the last couple of weeks. And her first thoughts upon waking up.

She was ready to grab Master Anthony and run if the situation was dire, like she expected it to be. For the first time in a very long time, Victoria felt a pit form in her stomach. A painful one. One of shame for the thought of abandoning these people for her own selfishness and duty. Victoria was overwhelmed with emotions unlike anything she’d felt since being young. Whatever Lily had given her forced out a lot of old emotions. Or it was the Divine magic leftover from the fight affecting her. Or maybe she was getting soft.

She wasn’t sure. She was just glad to be wrong.

After helping Ursa drag the bodies into the forest, she left Ursa to her divine duties. The spy rejoined the women inside to check their progress. Elsie was fatigued from the sheer amount of potions she had consumed, leaving her barely conscious while her sister was able to sit up. Ana was helping as best she could with Hannah, Jasmine, and Claire. While Hannah’s wound was quickly healed, she’d lost a lot of blood. So she’d be out of it for a while.

Claire and Jasmine were out cold. Neither reacted to stimuli, but they were breathing. Claire was still searing to the touch, but Jasmine was the opposite. Her skin felt ice cold. Had she not been breathing, they would assume she was dead.

“It is best to get them back to Restol,” Victoria said while kneeling over Jasmine. “Stabilize their conditions, and I’ll prepare your carriage.”

“Is that safe?” Lily asked as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Their conditions aren’t great…”

“Jasmine is fine. She’s just resting. Using her Lethality skill just took a lot out of her.” Victoria felt Claire’s face. “I am unsure about Claire. But I’m sure she’d love to see her mothers. Hannah will be fine. She’s playing it up to keep Toni doting on her.”

Hannah giggled. She wasn’t entirely fine, since she was quite lightheaded, but Victoria was right. “Awww. Let me have my reward.”

“Why the rush?” Toni tilted his head. He swatted Hannah’s hand away from his thigh. “Can’t we stay the night?”

“I wish,” Victoria smiled at the boy. “But Lady Myrtle’s guard are likely on their way here. Or maybe even the Royal Guard, given this place just popping up out of nowhere. Longer we stay, the higher the likelihood we run into them.”

There was a silent moment as they all thought about it. Then, they resumed their tasks to stabilize their companions. Ursa returned from the forest and curled up between Jasmine and Claire, finally resting now that her duty was over. That left Victoria to ready the carriage and horses for them.

She’d get them back to their homes, then race back to her Lady for her report.