Bro, I'm not an Undead!

A familiar dark-skinned woman was sitting on quite the luxurious bed with clean sheets and a warm blanket atop of it.

She was within a small room which was supposed to serve as the jail for her indefinite detainment until a new verdict had been reached on whether her dismissal as a Paladin Champion was the last punishment she would receive or not.

From the open arched window, a soft breeze blew in and rustled her hair, the view of a beautiful city reflecting in her hazel eyes as she then breathed out a sigh and slumped onto the bed.

‘What now? I worked so hard to get this far and yet, it seems like this is where it ends. What will become after this? A Stray Knight? For someone who’s supposed to have a Peerless Spirit, my faith is quickly dwindling,’ Elita thought to herself.

Knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door to her room to which she responded to with a reluctant ‘Come in.’

From the entrance, a young woman entered, donning the same kind of armour that Elita had worn before; shining golden white armour with a three point star at the chest.

This woman had a similar physique to Elita but her overall presence was livid of vitality as she was visibly younger, flowing silver hair draping over her armour and cape that extended down her back, sharp grey eyes and a smile that would make even the best heathens turn to the revelation of the Deities, plastering over the lower part of her face.

As she saw Elita, her smile grew wider and she flashed towards her to deliver a big hug, the bed shaking from the weight of two superimposed females.

“Sister! I’m so glad you’re alright. I came as soon as I heard the news!” the young woman said as she embraced Elita tightly._.

“Alright, alright, you’ll squeeze me to death at this rate, Revia! Have you forgotten just how much stronger you are compared to me?!” Elita said as she slapped the young woman’s armour continously.

Soon, Revia let go and sat beside the bed, taking a deeper look at Elita who, behind her aloof facade, was actually torn within.

Revia knew how Elita could be. She was a Paladin Champion through and through, having the boldness and heart required for such a heavy duty.

She was an expect at even deluding herself that she was fine when she wasn’t.

“It’s been a while, Revia. I thought you had travelled to Emeradis on a mission? How are you back so early?”

Revia didn’t reply as she simply gave Elita a knowing look to which the dark-skinned woman slapped her own face.

“Right! It’s been so long that I almost forgot that there’s a reason they call you ‘She who can’t be caught’.”

Revia giggled.

“I don’t want high praise from you, sister. The difference in our skills shouldn’t be something we focus on. I would gladly be downgraded to your level in that case. I owe you so much, after all,” Revia said with an intense gaze on Elita who scoffed. Not at Revia’s words but at herself.

“You’d still be proud of that after hearing what they are saying about me?”

“Who cares?!” Revia replied, her voice showing the agitation she felt. “Sister, my trip through the three nations has taught me a great deal. The declining faith isn’t at all unwarranted. Besides the fact that the people doubt the Deities, few in the Purity actually deserve to be called pure. I’d trust in your judgement than that of those High Order Priests any day. Acting as their guards as they fumble everywhere sickens me!”

Elita laughed.

“Oh yeah? How was your trip to Emeradis anyway?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it! Sister, the men! I had to fan my face a couple of times in the capital of Emeradis. I don’t know what the Deities were thinking when they sculpted such handsome men! It was rich with dashing potential suitors! I can’t forget their gazes when they saw me pretending to be all serious, walking beside the priests protectively! Kyaaa! The atmosphere was amazing, the communities welcoming! You wouldn’t believe…”

Revia began chattering nonstop about everything she saw while Elita listened to her vivacious account.

To think that this was the same girl from that time, now going crazy for random young men of her age.

Elita was proud.

She had met Revia some years ago while in the service of the Purity. Back then, Elita had been but a simple Purity Knight without renown while Revia was an astonishing prodigy who awakened an advanced class at the age of 17, becoming someone whom the Highest Order in the Purity could not ignore.

Even with all this power though, she was a hollow shell because of her dark past.

She was aimless.

She only sought for purpose as in her dull eyes, no colour or happiness could be detected.

What her hollow self could only work towards was what her body urged her to do. To run.

She was the fastest person that Elita knew.

Elita had befriended her after seeing that she was extremely devoted to becoming stronger but that path didn’t lead anywhere if one didn’t have a goal in mind. And she knew that so very well.

Elita did what she could to help.

The best way to save someone who only looked forward in such a crude way while ignoring their surroundings was to be subtle.

Elita appealed to Revia’s feminine nature. Starting up conversations that only girls could relate to. Things she experienced on a daily basis.

Emotions, physicality, preferences.

She wasn’t an expert but someone had done the same to her way back when, and this trick worked with Revia to.

The broken girl whose history Elita struggled to even inquire more about.

Revia learned the beauty of her surroundings with time, Elita becoming her guiding light through the world until she eventually joined the Paladin Champions, her position initially being ranked as the 7th.

It rose after a few years, with Revia becoming the 5th.

The top 5 Paladin Champions each had a title as their power was far beyond the norm. Compared to the others, they were in a different league and Revia was among them.

“Hah~. But will you be okay, sister? I can get you out of here before anyone finds out, you know?” Revia asked, her expression telling of how serious she was.

“No, no! I’m fine for now. The Purity won’t do anything bad to me. What I’m more concerned about is whether they are acting on what I informed them. Those necromancers are up to something. I can feel it,” replied Elita.

“Yeah. Things have been getting serious actually. Besides being here to see you, I actually have another duty to attend to. I’ve been assigned to protect the priests in the Grand Temples of Isise, just in case something happens. That region is where most of the recent Evenfall activity is brewing. The Highest Order has also deployed quite a lot of Knights to various other places. Even the other Paladin Champions are being deployed.”

Elita sighed in relief.

As long as the Purity was responding in kind, she couldn’t complain.

“Was the undead you fought really that scary? It’s become a huge topic,” Revia inquired.

“Ha. I wish it was that simple. It’s beyond scary. Don’t grow overconfident just because you’re stronger than most people out there. Keep your mind open at all times, you hear? Stay safe.”

Elita tenderly held Revia’s chin, the youthful Champion feeling a brimming joy from the caring words of someone she considered her guiding light.

“Of course I will. Don’t worry. If you’re not out by the time I return, then I’ll whisk you out forcefully, okay?. No objections.”

“Fine, fine.” Elita said as she shook her head. In her head, the image of a certain Discount man and a Knight in a golden cape appeared.

“If worse comes to worst I have someone who’ll be quite the interesting company.”