"Hey, Silverain?" I called out.

"Hm? What is it, Darling?" she replied.

"Why am I training to use a sword? Won't I hurt people with it?"

"That's the point. We use our swords to defend ourselves and others against bad people."

"But why? Aren't the people from the outside world nice?"

"Maybe some, but not all. This world is not as beautiful as you might think, Darling. People are strange. They can smile, say nice things, and appear as angels... but they can just easily turn it around the moment they see an opportunity that benefits them. Have faith in your own judgment. If you feel the need to draw your sword, then do it, but do not trust anyone entirely. Always walk on thin ice."

"Even with you, Silverain?"

"Haha. Yes, Darling. Even with me."

Silverain's words resonated in my head. I realized that she was right all along. Upon arriving at this village, people smiled and said nice things. On the other hand, there were a few who did the opposite. The loggers who tried to assault Lenny, and... these foul Wayfarers of Ignis who now stand before me.

"Four... H-he took out four of us just like that..." one of them gasped. "Hey, kid! Don't you know who we are?!"

"Not a single clue," I said. "But even if I did, I'd imagine I would've done the exact same thing."

"You dare to stand against the Crimsheart Church?! Mark my words, we shall burn you at the stake. Only then will you come to realize what a foolish mistake you've made today."

I can't believe such people exist. They stand behind the name of the Crimsheart Church, using it as a stepstool to whatever foul end they see fit.

Faithful as they may be, they are nowhere near righteous. I've seen it for myself. Their ways, their methods... and their brazen selfishness. Is it wrong... that I want nothing more than to reduce them all to nothingness?

A faint gust of wind, cold and unsettling, brushed past me.

"Your church means nothing to me," I muttered. "Even if I die here today... I will make sure that none of you can ever raise a hand against the innocent again."

From the small group of priests arose a certain man. Although his robe had the same color scheme as the rest, his was much more lavish. That man... I've seen him before. Blonde hair, emerald eyes, and a smile that betrays what true malicious intents linger beneath. He was the one who messed with Blanc and threatened to burn the villagers yesterday.

"We meet again, traveler," he said, still keeping that smile.

"Far too soon, if you ask me," I replied.

"I assume you've given much thought to what I asked of you yesterday. And yet..." He turned to his fallen men. "I fear you've come to the wrong decision. Do you really not realize the gravity of your actions? As merciful as our god is, he will not overlook this blatant transgression."

"Our gods are different. Save your preaches for someone who cares."

Just then, his eyes visibly twitched. "You... You are a Wayfarer."

My answer was silence, which only served to confirm his suspicions. This is fine, though. Silverain told me to never reveal that I follow the Path of Tenebris, but that was it. As long as I don't make it clear, knowing that I am a simple Wayfarer will do nothing for them.

Haha... Hahaha!" the man laughed. "Unbelievable! To think that there was a vigilante playing hero in a shabby village like this. I was wondering why you had such a strange aura swirling around you. Which path do you follow? Clearly, it is not Ignis. Glacies? Fulgar? Perhaps Ventus? You are surely not powerful enough to be following the path of Lux or Tenebris. Go on. Tell me."

"I will answer your question if you answer mine," I said.

"Oh? Are you suggesting a bargain? You aren't exactly in the position to make such an outrageous request."

"It was not a request, but a statement."

"Hah..."

The man bowed his head, allowing his split blonde hair to fall gracefully. When he lifted it, that piercing emerald gaze struck me, but it had no effect.

"I give you my greetings," he smiled. "I am Bishop Kain, devotee to the Crimsheart Church, blessed Wayfarer of the Path of Ignis, and loyal servant to his holiness, Ney Anki, the Logos of Ignis."

"...Noir, a traveler," I said.

"Noir... For a child, you seem to be quite confident in your own abilities. A clean severing of the knee and impeccable precision to cut off an ear. I wonder what questions a naturally born killer could possibly have for me. Proceed, if you will."

"Madam Claire."

His eyes twitched, and so did the crowd upon hearing her name.

"Why would a mere traveler want to know about her?" Kain growled.

"After hearing what I've heard, how could I not? She was a shining star and an angel, as they called her. There was a time when this village saw peace and happiness. Tell me. Is it simply a coincidence that everything fell to pieces upon your arrival, Bishop Kain?"

"Her magnificent powers would've been wasted if she stayed in a small village like this. We gave her a choice, and she decided to ignore it."

"So you killed her. You robbed her of her freedom, held her, tortured her for not submitting to your meaningless crusade, and you ultimately ended her life."

This time, he remained quiet, so I continued.

"As if that wasn't enough, you've also shown that you wouldn't stop even if your target was a mere child. Answer me this, Bishop Kain. This... 'path' you follow... To what end does it lead?"

Kain lowered his head. At first, I held onto hope that he would repent, but that wasn't the case at all. A malicious smirk appeared beneath his hair, and from it... laughter. He laughed at the top of his lungs. Apart from the wind, it was the only thing that could be heard.

"To what end, huh...?" he muttered. "Shall I tell you? Our end is the rise of our Logos, Ney Anki. We are the pillars who will support his reign. Madam Claire's fate was to be a tool to further that agenda."

"That's it...? Is something as meaningless as that supposed to justify your actions?"

"I'll put it like this so that even a child can understand. Madam Claire refused, so we acted. Of course, it is a shame that she had to die, but it was well worth it. The nights were filled with joy and laughter... among her agonizing screams. If Blanc continues to refuse us... then she'll simply have to follow in her footsteps."

Just like that, my body went stiff, my heart was racing, and my breaths hastened. Why is my body trembling so much? What... is this feeling? No... I know it. Now that I'm feeling it again, I think... I've felt it before. I know... this feeling.

'Rage.'

"Now then," Kain spoke once more. "I've answered your question, so you must now answer mine. What path do you follow, Wayfarer?"

I heard him, and yet I did not reply. It's not that I couldn't... I simply refused to.

"What?" Kain smirked. "Did you have a revelation of sorts? I don't blame you. Such a tragic tale would leave anyone speechless. No matter. If you refuse to answer me..."

His hand suddenly sprung a glow with flames.

"Then I'll just have to force it out of you!"

With a powerful thrust, a spiraling pillar of fire was racing towards me. The ground shifted beneath, propelling dust clouds into the air.

Time froze for a split second as a myriad of thoughts plagued my mind. Is this the normal world that Silverain always warned me about? Is this right? Should I be intervening? Would it be okay to just let it go?

No... It wouldn't. Silverain told me to have faith in my own feelings, and right now... My feelings are telling that no matter what, these Wayfarers are not allowed to leave this place unscathed.

I twisted my blade and performed a perfectly vertical slash. Immediately, the bolt of fire split all the way down the center, forming a visible crack in its magnificence. Flickers of flames passed along the edge of my view, softly and gently, before they disappeared into nothingness.

Kain and his priests took a step back. It was clear that this was something they had never seen before, or at the very least, an uncommon outcome. That was to be expected.

As followers of the Path of Tenebris, we must hide our identities and the power granted to us by our Logos. To combat other Wayfarers who seek to harm us, we must use something else.

In the end, the magic of the Logos are powers manifested by mana, a source of energy that exists everywhere. There are few ways to combat magic without magic, but Silverain and those alike found a method... a way to cut through the mana itself.

"You... Just who are you?" Kain mumbled.

For no one's ears but my own, I whispered. "Madam Claire... Can you hear me? I wish for your safety upon the voyage to the other side. Please, do not worry about your daughter. I promise you... I will keep her safe."