Mauri and I traveled down the rocky path with an unconscious Havik in tow for about half an hour or so before we found any kind of shelter from the rain. Everything since Mauri and Havik's fight had gone rather smoothly all things considered. My fears about whether or not the other bandits were still looking for us had been confirmed when Mauri spotted two of them wandering the cliffside a little ways behind us.

Thankfully they couldn't see us from where they were as the slope from earlier had straightened out into an almost completely vertical cliff-face. We were able to throw them off by simply pressing ourselves against the rocky wall below. That had been the only close call we had, and the rest of the trek went without a hitch. Well, it did start to rain before we reached the cave we were now resting in, but it hadn't been too severe and Havik hadn't woken up even once.

At some point, I began to wonder if Mauri hadn't actually killed her, but the occasional groans I heard from the woman were enough to calm those fears. Mauri still wasn't happy about my suggestion to keep her alive and it wasn't like I couldn't understand where she was coming from. It was my life she was after, I understood that, but even if I didn't want to admit it, I killed her comrades.

Of course, I wasn't going to just lay down and die at her hands because I felt guilty, but I couldn't bring myself to do to her what I did to her friends either.

I can't do it... not while I'm sane enough to be horrified by the notion...

I still shuddered when I thought about that night and bile rose in my throat whenever I reminded myself of that sensation. I had some time to reflect on it and I realized I could still feel echoes of that heady sense of satisfaction as I practically disemboweled the red-headed woman. I remembered the ecstasy of crushing that zealot's head into pulp beneath my boot. And the last man...

I could still see the look on his face before I rent it in two, a strange mix of agony, terror, and hatred. These were all things I wanted to forget—emotions I never wanted to feel in that kind of context again, but I knew I would never forget. I couldn't be sure, but I also couldn't help but feel that deep down inside me that overpowering bloodlust and those sadistic voices still existed somewhere.

Those were the kinds of thoughts on my mind as we entered the cave roughly half an hour later. I would've said we were lucky to find it, but in reality, our path kind of made the discovery inevitable. As we walked, we eventually came to a large ravine with tall cliffs on either side of us and a small river in between. With our clothes growing damp from the rain, we traveled alongside the surging river until Mauri and I noticed the cave's entrance at the top of a gently sloping and rocky incline.

I was relieved at first, but that relief evaporated when a massive bear-like creature emerged. It looked like a bear, it had the physique of a bear to be sure, but the face was all wrong. If asked to describe the beast, I'd say it was like a mix between a bear and a large wolf. It must've been extremely territorial because it came charging out of the cave the moment we started making our way up the incline.

The reason I didn't count that encounter as a close call like the last encounter with the bandits is that, unlike the bandits who could still track us if they found us, the bear-like creature was an immediate threat that Mauri was able to make short work of. As soon as it came literally roaring out of the cave, Mauri had me take Havik in my magic and met the beast head-on.

I did so and watched on as the much smaller woman easily sidestepped a vicious swipe at the last moment and brought her sword down, lopping off its head with one swift and precise motion. The creature continued its charge for a few more steps, stumbled, then fell over dead. And just like that, the battle was over as soon as it had begun. Mauri had acted so quickly I hadn't even seen her draw her weapon.

Shortly after that, we entered the cave and used both my resources and what we could find nearby to set up a small camp. Mauri somehow managed to drag the bear-thing's body into the cave on her own. When I asked her why she would even bother, she told me it might attract the wrong kind of crowd—by which I assumed she meant the bandits. As she took the severed head I asked about the blood but she assured me the rain would take care of that issue.

Looking over our surroundings I understood her reasoning; the heavy downpour would wash the still wet blood down the rocky incline and into the river below. The problem was that if the bandits had gotten close enough to spot the creature they would've seen and searched the cave anyway. I was about point this detail out to Mauri but then I figured she probably already knew that was a possibility and wasn't too worried about it, so I left well enough alone.

The cave itself was moist and cold, but it wasn't long before we had a warm fire going and a couple of lightly used mats to rest on. Not having eaten nearly as much as Mauri during the breakfast Qaedis had provided in the manor, I decided to partake in one of the leftover loaves of bread and an apple. I offered Mauri the same, but she was still full from the aforementioned breakfast so I ate alone by the fire.

All the while, I kept a worried eye on the still unconscious Havik propped up against the cave opposite myself. Mauri stood over by the cave entrance leaning lazily against the wall as she kept watch for any sign of our pursuers. We'd spoken very little during the trip so as not to give ourselves away, but now that we'd found somewhere safe for the time being I couldn't help but speak up.

"I feel like she should've woken up by now," I said, frowning at the bound and unconscious woman. I turned to give Mauri a disapproving look, "just how hard did you hit her?"

Mauri, who'd been staring out at the pouring rain, shrugged and replied without turning to look back at me.

"The bitch should have been awake ages ago," she finally threw Havik a nasty smirk over her shoulder, "she is likely faking it, waiting for us to drop our guard... is this not the case, princess?"

"Wha—"

I whipped around just in time to see Havik... not make any kind of move at all. At Mauri's words, I half-expected the bound and gagged prisoner to leap into some kind of action, but she remained seated up against the wall, arms and legs just as restricted as before. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief and was about to tell Mauri off for scaring me like that when Havik opened her eyes and glared at me.

It was Mauri that had given her away, but evidently, the blonde woman only had eyes for me. I couldn't exactly say I was flattered given the vehement hatred in those brilliant golden irides. She started to struggle and I started to scramble away in response, but then she paused and her gaze flickered over to Mauri for a second. After a moment she seemed to think better of whatever she'd been planning and settled back against the wall with a frustrated grunt. She returned to silently staring daggers at me and I swallowed.

"Um... Mauri?" I began, my tone growing nervous as I stared back at Havik, "should I, uh... y'know... remove the cloth gag?"

"I would advise against it, but I will not stop you," she answered, turning once again to stare out at the rain with yet another dismissive shrug, "if that is what you want to do, go for it, just do not be surprised when she has nothing nice to say."

I considered that for a moment as I looked over the ropes binding Havik's arms and legs. My eyes settled on the gag in her mouth and I was brought back to when I'd been captured by her and the rest of her group. It hadn't at all been a pleasant situation to wake up to and something like sympathy pulled at my heartstrings. Making up my mind, I carefully move closer to Havik until I was standing right in front of her.

Her eyes followed me the whole time, rage and indignation written into every detail of her expression.

"I'm gonna remove the cloth, okay? So just..."

I reached out tentatively and paused. When she didn't make any sudden moves I continued, plucking the cotton cloth from her mouth. I was about to let out another sigh of relief, but the moment the cloth was free she gnashed her teeth, opened her mouth, and—

"Eat shit and die, you fucking witch hag! Whore! Fucking devil bitch! When I get free I swear on my mother's grave, I'm gonna f—phmmmff?!"

"Okay, I believe that is plenty enough from you," Mauri chirped as she yanked the cotton cloth from my hands and shoved it back into Havik's mouth, "you can have your speaking privileges back when you learn to behave like a proper prisoner."

I was so shocked at the sudden outpouring of profanity and insults that I hadn't even noticed the smaller woman's approach. For a good few seconds, I couldn't do anything but sit there and blink stupidly as I tried to process the violent vitriol directed at me. I don't think I'd ever encountered anyone who hated me so much, not even back in the world I came from.

It hurt far more than I was expecting to hear those words come out of Havik's mouth, but at the same time, I felt something... else. I couldn't quite pin down specifically what that sensation was, but I knew it was cold. Raw. Dark. What's more, the feeling wasn't entirely unpleasant... and that unsettled me more than Havik's verbal abuse ever could. It was as if the 'me' from that night was still in there somewhere, watching and waiting as it smiled that nightmarish smile.

"I warned you, did I not?" Mauri lightly mocked.

"Yeah, I... guess you did," I muttered, trying to pull myself out of my own thoughts, "I just... I don't know. It wasn't really all that pleasant when it happened to me, so..."

"Ah, so that is what it was," Mauri shook her head sadly, "you are a kind and sympathetic soul, Sparkle, but such sympathy is wasted on this one."

"I can see that," I replied, noting Havik's baleful gaze, "so what do we do in the meantime? Just wait until she's ready to talk?"

"We will hold out here until the rain lets up," Mauri grunted as she stood up from where she'd been crouched in front of Havik, "I doubt the downpour has driven off that woman's friends, and even if it has, they will likely be back on our trail the moment it stops."

She stretched and groaned before making her way back to where she'd been standing watch earlier.

"In the meantime, yes, we will wait until she is ready to act like a civilized human being and not some foul-mouthed ape," she waved a lazy hand in my direction, "we will likely be here for some time, so why not start on some of those books you got from the old man?"

"Oh, that's right!" I replied, my mood brightening considerably at the idea.

With the ambush and everything else that happened afterward, I had completely forgotten about the books I'd received from Qaedis. Scrambling over to where I'd set my bag down, I eagerly pulled it open and fished around until I found what I was looking for. I ignore both The Bestiary and Hestenia: Understanding Our World for the moment and removed the text I wanted to read the most.

The personal journal of Requis the Wise.

As I looked it over my mind wandered back to the conversation Mauri, Qaedis, and I had just before we left the mansion. Something Mauri had said pulled at my attention and I frowned. I tried to ignore the stray thought and focus on the journal but, the accusation Mauri had made continued to nag at me until I couldn't take it anymore. So, unable to hold back my curiosity I looked over to Mauri and asked.

"Hey, Mauri?"

"Hm?" she replied somewhat distractedly.

"When we were talking back at the mansion you implied that Qaedis might be part of some cult," I paused, then, "...what did you mean? What kind of cult were you talking about?"

Maybe the reason I couldn't let the question go was because of how Qaedis had reminded me of something or someone I might've met in the past. I reasoned that if Qaedis was part of that cult Mauri mentioned it might not only explain the sudden change in his behavior but also provide a clue as to why he suddenly seemed so familiar to me. It looked like Mauri was lost in thought but at my question, she snapped out of her apparent reverie and turned to me with a bitter grimace.

"Cultum Nigrum Papilio," Mauri intoned, "the Cult of the Black Butterfly."

I heard a sharp intake of breath at Mauri's words and looked over to see that Havik had tensed up. Her eyes were wide and she seemed to be looking in Mauri's direction, but from where I was sitting it seemed more like she was looking past Mauri. Her face had grown slightly pale and her eyes were unfocused. Evidently, the name had triggered something in the blonde woman, some dark memory maybe.

I furrowed my brow in concern and considered having Mauri explain another time, but my need to know more overrode my concern for whatever Havik was going through. Mauri, either not noticing or outright ignoring Havik's reaction, continued on.

"They are a group of twisted individuals who worship Khathaloto, a being said to be the god of primordial chaos and anarchy," she explained, "they believe that chaos and madness represent the true and natural state of the world and that all must be returned to that true and natural state."

"I see," I replied with a thoughtful frown, "so those that worship this Khathaloto would be in direct opposition to the Goddesses and Celestianism as a whole then?"

"They do indeed oppose the Church," Mauri confirmed with a grim nod, "and what is more troubling is that the cult has become large enough to properly and openly do so and have done so time and again over the course of the last decade or so, at least that is what I have heard."

"And you think Qaedis might be one of them?" I asked, "one of those Black Butterfly cultists?"

"Honestly, I do not know what to think of that man," she sighed, gazing out at the rain yet again, "but take heed, my little Amethyst. If you see someone with the brand of a black butterfly burned anywhere on their skin, you would do well to stay far, far away from them. Those people are... dangerously mad."

"Noted," I replied softly, doing my best to ignore the irony of those words.

I checked to see if Havik was okay but she'd turned completely away from me and I couldn't see the look on her face. I let out my own small sigh and returned my attention to Requis' journal. I tried thinking back to all the people I'd met since coming to this world, but I couldn't remember any of them sporting a brand like that. I certainly didn't remember Qaedis having one, but then again he could've been hiding it.

I shook my head at the idea and decided not to dwell on the matter anymore. Instead, I took a deep breath, moved a bit closer to the crackling flames, pulled open the journal, and began to read from the first page...

6th of Lunti, 1127

It has been just over two months since my mentor dismissed me as his student.

I would have liked to say that I left of my own volition, but that would be a laughable prevarication on my part. No, the fault lies entirely with me and I blame Master Alrik not in the least for my failings. If anything I should thank the man, for without his guidance I would have likely wasted many a year pursuing a path that did not exist for someone like me.

I admit I was more than slightly upset at first and acted quite foolishly when Master Alrik first announced that he would no longer teach me the ways of the sword. Ah, but Alrik's wrath is truly something to behold, and beneath that very wrath, it did not take me long to see reason. The Goddesses may have granted me a mighty gift, but it is all too clear to me that it was not the gift of swordsmanship.

I do wonder then why it was a blade that I was given and not something more befitting of my own skillset. Granted it is a most unique blade if ever there was one, but the question still remains. That question is but one of many that I have yet to find the answers to—though I will find them. I must. The Goddesses gave me a mission when they granted me this sword and I cannot hope to fulfill that mission without unlocking the secrets of this holy weapon.

It is for that purpose that I have decided to travel the world. It has been a grueling two months, but I finally have all that I need to truly begin my journey. I believe I may have discovered where my talents truly lie, but I am yet a novice and a fool who still has much to learn. Thus my first order of business is to find a new mentor, one trained in strange and arcane ways. Failing that, I will do whatever else it takes to develop this cryptic power on my own.

I have chosen to chronicle both my occult findings and progress in this journal I received from a kindly old woman back in Dyathan. I have since made it to the port city of Kakaelou and am scheduled to set out to sea for the continent of Palimus come the dawn. I sit here now alone in the musty old room of a rickety old inn by the sea. The night is hardly silent, as I can hear the constant crashing of waves against the distant shore.

It is not an unpleasant sound I admit. Indeed it is quite soothing to the ears, but it does little to lull me to sleep. For all the conviction I have put into the words upon this page I find myself ill-at-ease when I think of setting out to lands unknown. I know all too well how unkind the world can be, and that knowledge keeps me awake still. And so, bereft of proper rest I sit here writing this, my very first entry, by the dim light of a candle.

This will likely be the only entry in which I divulge such personal feelings in this journal. From here on out, I plan to keep my records as detached and clinical as possible so as not to muddy the academic integrity of my discoveries. I embark on this journey not as a warrior, for I know now that path was never meant for me. Instead, I will move forward as a scholar—as a student of the arcane and occult arts.

Pray for me, Mother, Father, Master Alrik, for I will need all the strength and wisdom the Goddesses are willing to provide if I am to succeed.

I finished the first entry and was more than prepared to dive into the rest of the journal, but I was gripped by a sudden realization. It was something I hadn't really given any consideration to looking back, and now that it was staring me in the face I was rather annoyed at myself for forgetting to ask about it.

"Hey, Mauri?" I began, slightly embarrassed at having only just now asked, "I know this is kind of coming out of nowhere but... what's today's date? And what year is it?"

Just as I'd feared, Mauri looked at me like I was an idiot, and I didn't blame her. I certainly felt like one. Thankfully she seemed to get it after a moment's thought and simply nodded in understanding rather than get on my case about it.

"If I remember correctly, the human calendar marks today's date as the 4th of Ignolis," she answered, "and the current year is 1815."

"Oh... alright then," I replied, "thanks."

I resolved to look up more information on the different calendar systems of this world at some point. As of right now, neither the name of the month nor the year meant anything to me. Well, that wasn't entirely true. If what Mauri said about the current year was true—and I had no reason to doubt that it was—that meant this journal was almost seven hundred years old.

That would put it somewhere around the time the Order was first founded. I could tell just by looking that the journal was old, but I hadn't realized it was such an antiquated relic. In my hands, I held what was essentially a window into the past as viewed by arguably one of the most prominent figures in this world's history aside from Alrik... or so I assumed.

I didn't know for certain if that was the case, but right then, I definitely felt like it was. My eyes roamed over the journal's worn leather cover with a newfound respect and an odd sense of nostalgia. Reading that first entry, reading about Requis' struggles and conviction to learn more about his magic... it stirred something familiar in me, much like what had happened with Qaedis but far... warmer.

It was something closer to the cherished memory of a friend, or maybe someone I once admired.

"Hey, I hate to tear you away from your precious books," came Mauri's contemplative voice, "but I need you to confirm something for me, my little Amethyst."

Frowning in bemusement, I looked up from the journal to see Mauri eyeing Havik with an expression I didn't like in the slightest. It was a look of a predator deciding whether to give its prey a chance to flee or simply kill it where it stood. At least, that's the impression I got, and it was making me all kinds of nervous. I don't know what changed in the time since she'd answered my earlier question about the date, but I already didn't like where this conversation was going.

"What is it?" I asked tentatively.

"You said this Havik woman was the leader of the bandits, yes?" she asked, taking a sudden and very ominous step toward the bound woman in question, "that she had been the one calling the shots the night you were captured?"

Havik stared back at the smaller woman defiantly, but I could the same nervousness, wariness, and suspicion in her eyes that I felt. I grimaced and gave a slow nod in response.

"Well, yes, but that was just in the camp," I clarified, "I don't know if she's the overall leader of the bandits."

"Well, given her skill with a blade, I am inclined to believe that she is the overall leader of the bandits," Mauri countered, now sporting a wicked smile as she approached a now slightly squirming Havik, "and you remember the offer Qaedis made if we—"

"Mauri, no!" I shouted, tossing the journal aside as I rose to my feet, "we don't know that for sure and you already agreed to have her lead us to the hideout!"

"Come, Sparkle, you and I both know she will never cooperate. She has too much fight in her for such a civil resolution," Mauri argued, her malicious grin widening as Havik's fearful eyes focused on her half-drawn sword, "best to take her head back to Qaedis and be done with this request, I think."

"No," I insisted, stepping in front of the helpless bandit, "I'm... I'm not gonna let you kill her just to make things easier for yourself."

My anger at what Mauri was doing allowed me to stand my ground and hold firm. Inside, however, I was panicking—fearful of what was about to transpire, and more than a little hurt by Mauri's actions. Mauri, for her part, stopped a few feet away from me, her blade still half-drawn and her expression entirely inscrutable. She didn't say anything for a long time and, afraid of a sudden attack, I raised my hands.

She watched me carefully as my hands began to glow with unreleased magic. I didn't know exactly what I going to do if this escalated any further, but I was prepared to do something. I was scared, but I wasn't just going to stand by, not if I could do something about it... or that's what I told myself. In reality, something else was beginning to take hold of me.

Almost unbidden, my eyes flickered toward my own softly glowing sword resting in its scabbard by the fire where I'd been sitting up until a moment ago. Mauri apparently took notice because she smiled and fell into the same stance she took when she fought Havik earlier.

"Do you really want to do this, Miss Sparkle?" she challenged in a low tone, "you may have magic on your side, but you are also within striking distance and I have seen the way your magic works. If we were to wager on who is the faster of us even with that magic of yours, I can guarantee you the odds would not be in your favor. Trust me."

I hesitated at the sheer confidence in her voice.

As far as I knew, my magic was instantaneous and went into effect the moment I poured my will into it. I had no reason to doubt that I could incapacitate Mauri before she even made a single move, but her words—no, the way she said those words and the look of complete self-assurance in her icy blue eyes made me hesitate. That wasn't the only reason I held myself back either.

There was also that other 'me' to consider. I could feel it trying to worm its way back into my mind and push me to fight. To kill. To feed. My mind was growing fuzzy as I stood there wallowing in indecision and I realized with growing horror that if I didn't make some kind of move soon, what happened next would be completely out of my control.

A beat of silence passed between us as I stood on a knife's edge, then two, then three... and then I heard a muffled shout from behind me.

Against my better judgment, but relieved to have a distraction, I turned to face Havik. The woman grunted and squirmed as she looked back at me with a meaningful glare. For a brief moment, I wondered what her issue was, but it didn't take long for me to grasp what she wanted. I returned my attention to Mauri and saw that she had sheath her sword and was now standing with arms crossed and an expectant look on her face.

"Well, go on," she said, nodding in Havik's direction, "it seems like the princess is ready to talk."

I blinked, then furrowed my brow in wary confusion. The dangerous aura that the diminutive woman had exuded just seconds ago had completely vanished as if it had never existed at all. A sudden suspicion began to form as I crouched down to Havik's level and pulled the cloth from her mouth. I was expecting another stream of insults and profanity, but as soon as I removed her gag she spat to the side and glowered at me in silence.

"You two wanna know where our hideout is?" she said after a long, uncomfortable moment. Her voice was low and dangerous as she spoke, "alright, I'll tell you—no, better yet, if you untie me I'll show you right where it is."

I didn't like her tone, and judging by the way Mauri frowned when I looked at her, she didn't like it either. I turned to address Havik, my frown matching Mauri's.

"How are we supposed to trust that you'll actually do what you say?" I asked, to which she scoffed.

"Your insurance is standing right there behind you, dipshit," she spat before nodding to Mauri, "if I try to fight, she'll kill me. If I try to run, she'll kill me. If I try to shout for help, she'll kill me. Not only that, but you have my sword and there's no way in Tartarus I'm leaving that behind."

I exchanged glances with Mauri and she shrugged.

"Fair enough," she said with a satisfied smirk, "if she tries anything she will find herself a head shorter than she was before."

I groaned at the horrible pun but was relieved at the same time as that simple, stupid joke had all but confirmed my earlier suspicion.

"You never had any intention of killing her in the first place, did you?"

"I was getting bored and the rain has passed for the most part," she replied with yet another careless shrug, "I would rather not stay in one place for too long so I decided to push things along just a bit," she moved closer until she was standing next to me and glared down at Havik, "I meant what I said about her lack of cooperation. This was the only way I could think of to get her to talk and it worked."

"And if hadn't?" I pressed, my frown deepening into a scowl, "would you have fought me to get to her?"

Mauri didn't say anything for a worryingly long time. She just continued to stare down at our embittered prisoner with that same inscrutable expression from before. Eventually, she did speak, though her voice was grave as she turned to look me in the eye.

"Would you have fought in order to stop me?"

The look on her face said exactly what we were both thinking. I didn't have to give her an answer because she and I both knew what the answer was, even if I didn't want to admit it. I opened my mouth, but I couldn't bring myself to say the words. Mauri nodded as if my silence was answer enough and moved to untie Havik's restraints.

"I told you that I would not let what happened before happen again and to that end, I will do what I must. I will act as your shield even if you end up hating me for it, for that is the strength of my vow, Amethyst Sparkle."

She paused in the middle of untying Havik's legs and, though she continued talking to me, her pale blue eyes bored into the bandit's, and her tone grew dark as she spoke.

"If this woman dares to bring you to harm again, she will die."

You all probably noticed, but the latter few chapters in this story underwent a little restructuring based on story events. Sorry for any initial confusion.