Cindy Lou's body trembled as reality sank in, her golden eyes wide with unease. She stepped back from Rem, her tail stiffening from the movement, as her voice dropped to a whisper. "Rem… you just cast holy magic on me. You can't let anyone know you can do that. That's an exclusive skill of the Holy Church. They loan their clerics to the Adventurers Guild sometimes, yes, but in the end those people always answer to the Church. If they find out you're able to use their magic without their consent or their authority and control over you, things will get complicated the church is kown to be violent. They may even send the Inquisition. They burn people as heretics for the unauthorized use of holy magic."
Rem's eyebrows furrowed, the faint glow of her wine-red eyes tightening. "What I used is only basic healing magic, not holy magic Cindy Lou. What makes you think the Holy Church has some exclusive monopoly on healing magic? If they have convinced everyone they alone can wield this power, then I wonder what their actual 'holy magic' looks like. This is just another curious development I will have to investigate about Elsera. " Rem tilted her head slightly, already filing this thought away.
Cindy Lou pressed a hand to her chest, still trembling with anxiety, but Rem did not linger on her concerns about the Holy Church. Rem straightened her shoulders, her voice cool and commanding. "Enough about that Cindy Lou. The Guild has abandoned this city, and I see no reason to continue the Adventurers Guild in its current form. After we deal with the monster horde bearing down on Darkgloom, we need to speak about the future of the Adventurers Guild here. Perhaps it's time for a new version to be formed. If you're still passionate about it, we can discuss placing you in charge Cindy Lou. But for now, come with me. We need to confront the City Lord's Manor and learn the true intentions of the Frostfire Kingdom. My suspicions are that they want the monster horde to wipe out everyone here. Then, after the massacre, they will step in, to kill the monsters, and then blame the death of the citizens on the Dark Elves. This will give them the perfect excuse to launch another campaign against the Dark Elves, to seize ore and minerals for their kingdom."
Cindy Lou's breath caught in her throat, and her tail flew out behind her like a stiff spike. As her ears twitchedas she stared at Rem. "You would seriously consider taking over this city yourself… and even allow me to form a new version of the Adventurers Guild?" Cindy Lou shook her head as if to chase this thought away, her voice rising with urgency. "Never mind that for now. Are you truly saying that the Frostfire Kingdom wants to use this city as bait to reignite a war with the Dark Elves? We only regained peace fifteen years ago after the last campaign. What makes them think they will win again? The new Dark Elf queen is incredibly powerful, and she's strengthened their military beyond anything they had before. Just because the Frostfire Kingdom triumphed then doesn't mean they'll triumph now. Not since she came to power."
Cindy Lou hugged her arms to herself, her tail moving with unease. "And if you take over this city Rem, it might be easy at first. But you will have to face the Guild once they return and the Kingdom once they realize Darkgloom still stands. And then the Holy Church, too, once they see me, healed in a way no one else but they can accomplish. They will know what you've done then."
Rem, however, only reached up to pluck Ciara from her shoulder. The little fox curled into her arms as Rem cradled her against her chest. She stroked the creature's soft fur, eyes narrowing with amusement. "Hahaha, that's right. I'll do this. And I'm not just doing it because there's an incredibly cute cat girl in this city…" She hugged Ciara closer, scratching beneath her chin. "…but also because of the fluffy foxes and other adorable creatures that live within these walls."
Cindy Lou flushed deeply, her ears shooting upright as her tail flared with flustered embarrassment. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Amaia, standing behind her lady in crimson armor, let out a long, weary sigh. She pressed her gauntleted hand against her face. "My lady," she muttered, voice tinged with exasperation, "must you give your true motivations away so easily? You're throwing away all the mystique you try so hard to maintain."
Rem froze for a beat, then blinked and straightened, realizing her slip. "Oh. Right. That never happened. Officially we are saving the populace. Officially we are creating a new bastion for humanity on this world." She adjusted Ciara in her arms and looked squarely at Cindy Lou, her lips curving with determination. "That's the reason. Nothing else. Now—onwards to the City Lord's mansion."
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