The Outergod's Avatar-Chapter 58: Traitor (2)

"Sophia," Raynoel stammered as he staggered backwards.

"You are also alive?" His eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face.

"Of course I am, now say the truth, you treacherous bastard," she cursed as she pinned him to the wall with surprising strength. Her fingers dug into the fabric of his uniform, and her eyes—wild with fury—searched his for even the faintest hint of remorse.

It seemed like the Druids had fixed most of her major injuries, only leaving a few scratches. But her rage? That was untouched—burning hotter than ever.

Raynoel showed little resistance. With the truth stacked up against him like this, there was nothing he could do. He was cornered.

He buried his head.

Flavius did the same, though his was not guilt—it was disappointment. A deep, aching kind of sorrow that weighed down his shoulders.

"So it seems like everything they said was the truth," he sighed, the words almost too bitter to speak.

"Why did you do it?" Flavius asked, his voice low and heavy. There was no wrath in it, just confusion and heartbreak. But Raynoel remained quiet, lips sealed, eyes to the ground.

"What a disgrace you are. To even call you an Argenthex hurts my pride."

His voice shook slightly as he turned toward the guards standing at the entrance.

"You shall answer for your heinous crime. Take him to the hold cell."

Two soldiers entered the room. The clinking of their armor echoed against the stone walls as they approached Raynoel. They didn’t speak—they didn’t need to. Without protest, they took him by the arms and began escorting him out.

Izikel watched in silence, his arms crossed, expression unreadable as the once-proud captain was led away like a common criminal.

"What’s going to happen to him now?" he asked quietly.

"No matter what he did, he is still a member of the noble family and a captain in the 17th Legion," Flavius said, rubbing his temples. "So he has the right to a trial. We’ll have to wait until the Inquisitors come."

"But Commander," Sophia interjected, clearly still boiling. "We don’t need to wait for the Inquisitors. You can find him guilty and—"

"And what, Sophia? Execute him?" Flavius cut in sharply, though not with anger, more like weariness. He slumped into his seat behind the table and let out a long breath.

"An attempt on the life of a Priest is a crime against the whole nation," he said. "I know he’s not escaping execution... but I can’t bring myself to kill the child of my own brother."

He looked down at his hands—strong hands that had seen decades of war—but in that moment, they trembled.

"You have to understand," he said softly, "Raynoel was like a son to me... I still find it hard to even believe everything I just heard... I just can’t understand why he would do such a thing."

There was a long silence, and then he raised his head, looking between Izikel and Lyzah.

"I apologize for everything you both had to go through. I’m sure you are both aching to get home."

"You can go and rest now," he added, his voice more gentle. "Sophia, that includes you."

"I’m glad the goddess brought you all back safely."

For the first time, Izikel didn’t question whether the Legion Commander meant his words. It was clear—etched into every line of his face—that the man truly did. It was almost as if it wasn’t the same man he had seen in his dream.

After a while, Izikel was finally back home.

"Master Izikel, welcome back," Dremlin greeted with his usual warm smile, bowing slightly at the door.

"Thank you, Dremlin. Please, can I get something to eat?"

"Of course, you both can come inside and freshen up while I prepare the food."

’Both?’

Izikel turned to see Lyzah standing behind him. He blinked in surprise. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"You? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you go home?"

"The Legion Commander said I should follow you home," she said flatly, arms crossed. "And why are you complaining like your house isn’t big enough?"

"I’m not complaining," he said defensively. "I just thought... you’d want to let your father know you’ve returned. He might have been worried."

"My father..." Lyzah’s tone dropped. "I doubt that man even noticed I was gone."

She looked away. "The only person I had was Felvin, and now..."

Her voice cracked just slightly, her arms falling to her sides.

"And now, I have no one," she said. Her words were barely a whisper. The little girl struggled to keep her tears in—if she even had any left.

Izikel felt a pang in his chest.

’I guess we really do have a lot in common,’ he thought.

"Well, you’re free to stay as long as you want," he said quietly. "I’ll tell Dremlin to prepare a room for you... come on."

He took her hand gently and led her inside.

Even though she had the strength of two grown men, it turned out she was still just a girl after all... one with a very sad life.

---

After eating, Izikel made his way to his room. The air was calm, the scent of warm and clean sheets greeting him as he entered. He laid on his large, comfortable bed.

By now, the sun was already going down, spilling a warm golden light across the room.

’If anyone had told me I would ever see this bed again, I wouldn’t have believed it.’

Just two nights ago, he was sitting in a broken-down shed, expecting to be eaten. And now, here he was. Safe and sound.

The thought brought his mind back to Felvin.

Although he hadn’t known him too well, they’d been stuck together and were forced to survive together.

They say the strongest bonds are made by people who endure together—but since Felvin didn’t even make it out, Izikel wasn’t sure what he was feeling anymore.

To be honest he was just thankful that he was alive. He was relieved that he would get to see another day, and that relief felt wrong but it overshadowed every other emotion he was feeling.

It was sad to admit but it was the truth.

He was so tired that he didn’t even know when he drifted off to sleep.

---

In the early hours of the night, the iron gate of the dungeon in the Saint Quarters rattled open.

Raynoel stepped out.

His wrists were red from the chains, but his eyes—his eyes were cold and sharp.

The guards who freed him stood in silence, not questioning. Loyal to the end.

"First Captain, what do we do from here?" one of them asked.

Raynoel thought for a few seconds, then turned toward them, expression devoid of hesitation.

"We go and kill that imposter child, of course," he said. "Now that they already know the truth, there’s no need for games. We can just walk right in."

He took his swords and placed on his back.

"Let’s go."

The soldiers obeyed without a word.

And they marched, more than thirty of them, moving silently in the dead of night—like shadows with steel.

Their destination: the house perched quietly at the top of the hill.