Heretics

“Here he is, my lord.”

“Excellent work.”

The golden Knight, Silvester spartano d'artagan, paragon of virtue and chivalry stared down at me with cold, unfeeling eyes.

Aiju and Cassandra where indeed released as promised, but Sanakia took immediate control of them. The same for Beatrice and Fisti. She didn't tell me as to why that was. Only that her Lord had requested it. And so we sat in our dorm room, waiting the golden knights arrival.

“This is the witch?”, the golden knight answered, gesturing towards Beatrice.

“Y-yes”, I replied. I did not like where this was going.

“She looks different when I fought her”, Mueller of the Iron Shield commented.

“Why, I guess I do.” Beatrice said with a cocky smile. “I lost all my magic thanks to Mari here.”

“Don't think for a moment that this will save you, witch. You are a heretic, an abomination on this land and as such you will be judged.”

The rest of us could only look upon the scene dumbfounded, but before anyone could even speak Beatrice led out a glorious cackle. “An abomination, is it? I really should have seen this coming! This obedience magic truly is irksome! No matter, I already made my peace with it.”

“I will suffer no trickery. Nor will I allow you the chance to escape.” Without a further word, the golden knight readied his lance. “Beatrice, the witch. I hereby sentence you to die.”

I was on my feet before I even know what happened. I brandished my dirk and jumped at the golden knight. But before I was able to reach him, a shield slammed into me from the side crashing me into the wall. I tried to move but Sir Mueller held me safely pinned.

“What are you doing, you imbecile?”, d'artagan snarled at Sanakia. “Tell him to stay put!”

“Y-yes, of course, my Lord!” Sanakia addressed me. “Don't move, villain!”

And just like that all strength was sapped from my body as I was frozen in place. “Stop!”, I screamed instead.

“How stupid”, Beatrice cackled and closes her eyes. “This moron has nothing to do with me. Now get on with already. Give me the **** that the witch of miracles deserves!”

“HELL NO!”

A black void opened beneath Beatrice and swallowed her whole.

“W-w-what is this witchcraft?” Sanakia cried out, looking frantically around here.

“This is no mere witchcraft”, d'artagan narrowed his eyes. “This is the handiwork of a devil. Show yourself, fiend!”

“No, thanks. Would you kindly not try to poach my clients? I know this is a free market and all, but wow, talk about underhanded!”

“Do not think you will escape me devil” d’artagan shouted towards the disembodied voice. “Your fate and all of it’s kind will be assured!”

“Love the enthusiasm. Not gonna happen, tough. Anyways, love to chat, but gotta jet. Taking Bea with me. You know client relations and all that. Don't worry. I give her a good spanking for you. Toodles.”

And that was the last we heard of Femto. Or saw of Beatrice. For a moment everyone just stood around dumbfounded.

I breathed a sigh of relief. It looks like in her own way, Femto still somewhat cared about her former master.

“Well, shit sucks and all that...” Cassandra was the first to find her composure and shrugged. “That's that for your witchhunt, I guess. Can you kindly let the rest of us decent folk go now?”

“Decent folk?”

I noticed a flash of light, and next thing I saw was Cassandra's chest pierced by the golden knights lance.

Fisti screamed.

“While your crimes may be less egregious, you still participated in slavery. That makes you a sinner that needs to be purged. I hereby sentence you to die.”

Cassandra looked down at the bloody ruin that used to be her chest with a puzzled expression.

Then she laughed.

“D-damn fucking hypocrites...F-fuck....Fuck...If only I didn't...what...a life.”

Then she died.

Aiju started to hiss. Fisti was openly shaking now.

“She was a sinner”, spoke Mueller with a cold, impassioned voice. “How many innocents where sold into slavery because of her?”

“S-she...she wanted to sell me as a ****...” Fisti sputtered out. “I...I know...s-he...she probably....deserved this.” Then she hurled and vomited all over the floor.

I felt numb. Cassandra was certainly not a good person. But this, this felt not right at all.

“Now then”, the golden knight spoke turning to me. “It is time to judge your sins, Mari Beta.”

“Mari isn't bad!” Aiju screamed. “Leave him alone! I kill you! I kill you!” But this time Sanakia was quicker on the ball and told her to stay put.

The golden knight shifted his attention towards Aiju. “I suppose we should get rid of the distractions first.”

I couldn’t breathe. No..No..this...this is a dream. This is not happening.

“Sir d'artagan”, Mueller spoke calmly. “I am not aware of any crimes these two committed.”

The golden knight regarded Fisti and Aiju cooly.

Then he nodded.

“You may go”, he said. “The human at least.”

He looked at Aiju.

Then he took his lance and...and...