She turned to look at the Church again, it was old but still looked majestic as it was left untouched during the battle, as savage as they were the barbarians had respect for god. She walked from one corner to the other. It has been the better part of the hour. How long is he going to be in there? 

"Did you hear?" She turned to the voice, a group of three elderly men formed a circle just outside the church gate. " The Death Corps are going to clear the outskirts of those savages!"

"My son is in the Death Corps!" The eldest of them announced excitedly, seemingly proud.

 "You must be proud, he's doing god's work." The other two nodded their head in agreement.

She turned to face the door as it finally opened, a red hood covered the knight commander's head but she could see pale blonde hair escaping the confines of the hood as it fell down the shoulders, a cold shiver ran down her spine as ice-cold eyes stared at her. "Who is she?" 

The Knight Commander's voice singsong but it did not wash away the fear that plagued her.

"She is a Lavellan." the Commander smiled as if having her at his side was a boon to them.

Alice bowed her head low in greeting, and the Knight Commander smiled, but it did not make her feel any more comfortable.

"Miss Lavellan, I am sure we will meet again, our fates are intertwined." Alice nodded as she turned her gaze away, refusing to look into her cold and certain eyes. 

The Knight Commander walked past her and she remained still, not following the two to their horses, they glanced at her before the Knight Commander finally cantered his off away. Alice approached Chester.

"Is she always like that?"

"Like what?"

"Weird." 

"Aren't everyone obsessed with religion weird?" The Commander smiled.

"What is your business with a church knight commander?"

"It doesn't interest you."

"Try me."

"It concerns the greater good."

She scoffed, "The church and the greater good don't mix I am afraid." 

She looked at the people around her who were made homeless from the scourge of Ivalice, "The Church hoards as much wealth as the royals you despise, I don't see them helping." 

She turned to face him, "Although you seem to get along well with the church, you are quite the hypocrite."

"You are one of the thirteen noble families, I do not hate you, nor your father." 

She kept walking backward, her eyes locked onto his.

"She is no different, she is one of the few people of influence that is willing to make a change." She smiled, got you, so the Church is involved in this. "You say you don't care, I think you do care, it doesn't sit right with your heart doesn't it?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she turned her back towards him, "I don't care." He chuckled and a sense of guilt built up inside her. "I am just curious, You're playing a dangerous game, Commander."

"I am sure you would know."

She stopped and turned, his eyes fixated on her, "Pardon?" 

He smiled and passed her, does he know about me? Her jaw clenched, anxious.

He turned to face her again and her heart raced, "Are you truly ignorant of the predicament your father is in?"

Relief washed over her, his predicament? you mean my predicament. "Do you think he is quiet without reason? I am sure he is being threatened and that is why you are here away from them, you can trust me." 

She forced a smile.

"As I said, I respect your father, I can help keep you safe."

"It's not me you should be worried about." idiot, "You're the one walking on thin ice." 

Her eyes widened as he laughed, it was the same kind of laughter that Christian had, loud but adorable. Unlike Jon's.

"Do you think I am naive? Do you think the world cannot be changed? Would you leave it as it is?" he walked and she walked beside him. "Do you believe the Royal Family lives up to their duty?"

He adjusted his spectacle as he looked at her, "The people hunger while they feast, they oppress the masses for their gains, how can there be peace and prosperity?" he reached for his horse and brushed at its hair. 

"They are self-serving, they have always been, no one ever cared. Do you know why they care now?"

"Your father cared, many others cared, I expected you to care." he turned to look at her. "Tell me why do you think they care now?"

"You care a lot about people who could not even spare you a moment in their thoughts, they care only because their life changed, if nothing happened to them they would praise the Royal family as they had the years before. Forever blind to the truth."

"I care about justice, you say they were blind, perhaps they were. But they see the truth now, and they choose to act on it, why don't you?"

"If the tables were turned do you think it'd be any different? It's a cruel world, every man for himself, I am no different. They are no different."

"You say that and yet you risked your life to save your comrade, A Death corp's soldier who values the lives of those around her as much as herself if not more." He reached for his saddle and mounted his horse, "A world where everyone stands for good and justice, wouldn't that be a wonderful sight?"

"Wonderful perhaps, but one beyond my weary sight."

"Baby steps, Miss Lavellan, Baby steps."

---

Her room empty as everyone is preparing themselves for their mission tomorrow, she looked out the window as she sat on her desk, a full moon looming in the distance. Mother. She turned to a knocking and rose, another knock as she approached. 

"Have patience. God." She pulled the door open, her scream stuck in her throat as a hand tightly wrapped around her neck.

It was a masked man.