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Theon raises his sword above his head, eyes locked with the rat necromancer crumpled on the floor. He adjusts his grip on his gilded blade and widens his stance, and with one decisive strike its skull is cleaved in two. Black smoke and ooze leaves the mages shriveling body as it rapidly ages and decays, succumbing to nature now that it's longer held together by its dark magic. In seconds all that is left of the foul wizard that had terrorized the local villages for generations is bones and ashes. He looks around the room, tables full of disgusting experiments and bookshelves filled to the brim with dark tomes and scrolls. Defeating Krozius is what the townspeople will reward him for, but what will really make a difference in this world is destroying these materials before they fall in to the wrong hands.

The sun is almost set by the time he has thrown everything out of the tower, Theon dripping with sweat and utterly exhausted. He hasn't been a paladin for long, yet he has dedicated his life to smiting the darkness for the commoner; sure it wasn't as lucrative or glorious as other work, but it kept him fed and his heart content. He rummages through his pack for his matches, fiddling and fumbling with the box...

“What's going on?" The voice startles him, the paladin nearly falls back over the log he'd sat down upon, quickly scrambling to his feet and placing a hand on his sword, releasing once he saw her. He stands across a short, pale furred vixen with long black hair, wearing a well worn dress with a red scarf about her neck, and a strange look of shock across her face.

"Oh! Young maiden, worry not for you're safe now! I've just rid the world of the foul necromancer that once ru-"

“You killed him?!" she cuts him off, her fur seeming to go paler. The girl drops her basket, spilling all sorts of odd mushrooms and roots all over the floor. She looks down at her hands, then back to him, up at the tower, and finally back to him.

“Yes. That's a good thing, no more undead, no more blighted soil..." he clears his throat, sensing something off about her. “Are you alright?"

“Of course! This is joyous! I..." she thinks over her next words, trying to read his face - only seeing genuine concern and good intentions. “He kept me in the tower, and bound me with his magic. He said if I didn't do as he said or if he died, I'd die too."

“Don't worry, you're safe with me. And I'm glad he was wrong." He approaches slowly as not to startle her, resting a gauntlet-clad hand upon her shoulder. “The only thing that dies with him are the living dead he's raised," he gestures off to a pile of bones that used to guard the tower, his reassurances not doing much to calm her. “You have nothing to worry about now that he's gone... Now, how about we burn this heresy and get you back home?"

“Yes... Yes of course!" she stammers, joining him on the log as he fiddled with his matches again, the fox feeling utterly dwarfed next to him. “Here, let me..." Her slender hands take the box out of his clumsy gauntlets, quickly striking a match to life and throwing it on to the pyre. The flames slowly smoulder and singe at a old tome before finally catching and quickly spreading, the pair sharing a grin as the evil goes up in flames.

“So, my name is Theon. I'm a paladin, though I don't visit The Order much these days. What about you?"

“Maria! I'm just a farmers daughter. Well, I was before... You know."

“Are they still with us?"

She shakes her head, a paw going to wipe a tear that isn't there, the human putting a arm around her for comfort.

“I know it's hard to believe but the worst of it is behind you now. I have a lot of friends in the town of Rattay, not far from here, I can help you find a new roof over your head."

“Rattay? That little hunting outpost in the woods? There's nothing for me there but squirrels and berries."

“..No, Rattay is a town, hundreds of people, full of traders. I heard they'll be building a monastery there soon. Good work to be had for someone young like you!" He wondered if she'd hit her head or something, he's in his mid 20s but certainly older than her, Rattay had been bustling since he was a young lad. Before one of them can speak the flames roar wildly as purple sparks snap and pop from the mound, Maria huddling up to him. “Don't worry, it's harmless. Hexes and curses being destroyed."

“Well I... I guess we can go there. There's nothing more for me here." They watch the fire until it's all but embers before finally making camp, the human struggling with his tiny tent before finally giving up choosing to sleep under the stars, offering a spare blanket to the vixen.

“Are you sure you know where you're going?" They had packed up at the crack of dawn, the sun now at its zenith. “It's been hours and all I've seen is woods woods and more woods!"

“Just over this hill and you'll see it!" he reassures, earning a sigh from his travelling companion.

They break over the crest of the hill, revealing a massive clearing in the center of dense woodland. They can see loggers at work, grazing cattle and of course the town of Rattay itself. The town is largely flat with wooden buildings loosely packed together behind a circular log wall, and cleared grassy plains around that. She'd never seen a settlement so big, exciting tripping in to anxiety and back again all in seconds. “I - Wow! What's it like? What is there to do?"

“Well, why don't we go find out?" They pick up their pace as they descend the hill, running past cows carts and cabins, slowing down at the near the entrance. The guardsmen at the front gate gives Theon a friendly nod and waves them in, the human clutching the fox close as they enter the bustling streets. Every which way they look something is happening; a shopkeeper arguing with a shrewd customer, two workers unloading bales of grain out of a cart, and children of all species screaming as they kick a ball around. The young fox is enthralled in all the commotion, it's the most activity she'd seen in her entire life! “I have a meeting first, I'll show you around after, alright?"

They walk past wonder after wonder, the vixens wide amber eyes looking all around as she struggles to keep a mental note of everything she wanted to visit here. A store with beautiful gowns in the window, the furniture emporium, the sweetest smelling flower shop - oh, and that quaint little book store between two cozy townhouses! Eventually they find their way to a busy tavern, their entrance largely unnoticed by the rabble of drinkers, eaters and gamblers. “Stay close." he says in to her ear, holding her hand firmly as they sneak and scoot by tables, chairs, barmaids and spilled drinks. The air is thick with pipe smoke and reeks of cheap ale, Maria covering her nose and wrapping her tail tight about her leg. Finally they make it in to a moderately quieter backroom – there's no drunken chaos here, just small booths with what looks to be traders, nobles and the like can talk in relative peace. They walk by the row, until Theon spots his mark.

“Gracie! Did you miss me?" he exclaims, dropping in to the booth across an older woman dressed in a luxurious black coat with silver adornments. She keeps her head down to her book, only gazing up at him through her short grey hair for a moment. With a heavy sigh she meticulously set aside her book, and topped off her long tobacco pipe.

“It's Grace," she states, her tone as cold as her pale-blue gaze, piercing through him and then looking up at the standing fox for an uncomfortably long time. “What do you want?"

“I think you'll find I have vanquished the foul, villainous necromancer Krozius. All by myself, might I add!" Her expression doesn't change, it's as if she'd been read the soup menu. “And... And I destroyed all of his manuscripts. Everything, in- infact!" Nothing again, both him and Maria looking to her for a answer.

“You killed some novice rat that barely knew how to assemble some bones and harass cow farmers. What of it?" She pauses for a long drag off her pipe, seemingly never blinking. “Why here to tell me what I already know? Have you forgotten I can see this evil for miles?"

“I – I have not forgotten. I know you were blessed with truesight, but... Can't you see I've done a great good here? Now those 'cow farmers' you care so little about can sleep easy and safe! You should recognize my good deeds and skills and have me reinstated in The Order!" By now he's breathing heavily, leaning forward in his seat as if getting closer will somehow convince her.

“No. Now stop wasting my time and get o-"

“He's right, you know!" Maria butts in, fists clenched and teeth grinding. “That rat killed my parents! And... Heavens knows how many other people! Why can't you see that?" Her barking shocks the two humans, especially the elder.

“How dare you continue to operate after being excommunicated The Order. And how DARE you bring this - this thing here to insult me!" She reaches for her book, her patience long run out. “Leave. And kill that thing before it gets away."

“She's not a thing! Her name is Maria and I saved her from that rat!" He's standing by now, far too furious to stay still. “Why would I kill her?" He clutches her close, they hadn't known each other for long but he didn't take threats against her lightly.

“Did you already forget?" She reminds him with a quick glare, her steely blue eyes going all white for just a moment. “Maybe if you'd paid attention you'd have some truesight of your own. Your sword is still blessed, right? Have her hold it." He stares at her in disbelief, then to Maria.

“You're not.. There's no possible way! Surely! She's not evil, we camped together, she could have killed me, she... She just isn't!" His argument fell on deaf ears, and only served to raise his own doubts. A shaky hand unbuckles his scabbard from his hip, holding it firmly and presenting the handle to Maria. “Prove this lying bitch wrong" he whispers. “Just hold it. It's blessed, it can't harm the living." The fox is stiff as a statue, eyes locked with her saviours, hands nervously toying with her scarf. She doesn't even want to admit it to herself, let alone say it to him. The only action she can muster is a slow, slight shake of her head. His heart drops, slowly he sets his scabbard back on his hip.

“Alright. I will... I will deal with this" he grumbles, grabbing the fox's forearm firmly and yanking her along with him. She barks and yells to be let free, not that anyone can hear her among the singing and merrymaking of the messy tavern.

“Stop! Stop! Let me – let me GO!" she begs and pleads, her cries getting louder as they exit the tavern, yet no one came to her aid. Out of options, she bites down on his leather-covered arm with all of her might.

“I'm not going to kill you! I said that so that bitch would think I would!" he snarls in her ear, leading her down in to a quiet alleyway away from the bustle and prying eyes. “I know you're not evil. You could have slit my throat in the middle of the night, and no one would've known. I want you to tell me what you are, and now." They stare at eachother for a moment, the fox finally letting go.

“I don't know what I am! He... He killed me. Then he brought me back. But I wasn't like the others, I never decayed like they did. I could think for myself. They were just puppets." Not a single tear drops from her eyes, but her distress and emotions are clear. She looks down the alley to make sure its clear, pulling down her scarf for just a moment. There's a large, deep cut right through her neck, her flesh a pale pink as if it was cut and drained of blood mere minutes ago.

“Why didn't you tell me this at the tower?" he mumbles, wincing at the sight of that fatal wound,

“I thought you'd kill me if I told you." She re-affixes her scarf, wiping her face on it for a moment. “I'm a monster. You're some knight in shining armour. It's what you're supposed to do."

“I'm no knight. I haven't been in The Order for a year now" he taps one of his bare shoulders, where a pauldron denoting his rank should be. “And if they think some sweet, kind girl like you is some inconceivable evil, then maybe I'm better off without them." He opens his arms wide to offer a hug, the fox nearly knocking him over with how enthusiastically she accepts. “I already told you things are only getting better from here. And I told you that you're safe with me. Nothing has changed."

“Thank you"