Necromancer's Descent

69 - Descension

Rosalin's Point of View

I quietly walk back up the stairs from the dungeon. I gave Alexis his food before leaving, and with this I have no more excuses to delay my decision.

"Are you okay with this? Your men will find out."

Theodore, who's carrying his helmet by the strap, quietly walks behind me.

"They already know. They've been going around calling you their Lady since Azzo came back, according to the other ghosts. At this point it would be worse if I still pretended otherwise."

He sounds both sad and happy at the same time. We won't have the time to have a long talk with them after all... we can't let them know he's dead either...

I feel guilty about this... but it's the best plan I could think of.

I see the door ahead, when Theodore grabs my hand gently in his.

"Wait. One last thing..."

I look at Theodore, and find him looking up at me with determination.

"Focus on the knights. I'll take care of the rest, until you're ready."

There's a hint of worry for me in his eyes, but he expresses no hesitation. He did say he believed I would do the right thing.

...but the 'right' thing can be so vague.

I look at the chain necklace, which he pulled out from his gambeson earlier. Now it taps against his chainmail whenever he takes a step. It'll be like a declaration of war against Johannes and Mia.

"Between the two of us, you'll be in the most danger," I say softly in return.

"They'll find it hard to kill me," he answers quite bluntly, but gives me a reassuring smile.

I smile a bit in return.

"They can still deactivate the spell."

"With how much mana you filled this body with, that'll only get them fighting Joshua instead. He's already loudly itching for the opportunity."

Considering his personality when he possessed the high priest, I can almost imagine him taunting them on the other side.

"Then... I'll count on the two of you."

A weird feeling spreads through my body at those words. I never got to count on a lot of people in my previous life. I knew I always had very few people that had my back, but in this situation, it feels like it gets put into contrast again. I still don't really know what kind of person Theodore is, or what he was trying to hide, but I know that he wants to protect me sincerely. Otherwise all the red magic couldn't appear, right?

I've no choice but to find out from now on. No matter what, I cannot keep the knights suffering any longer than they have already.

I turn back to the door, pulling my hand from Theodore's again, and take the last steps up, before knocking on it.

"His highness has received his food."

The two burgundy caped knights open the door with a smile. A smile that fades as they see Theodore. Their eyes wide with recognition, but no words for their lips, who have forgotten how to speak.

I walk out, and without a word Theodore follows behind. Familiar footsteps that have felt like safety to me in this world.

I hear one of the two guard knights scamper off, with his sabatons hitting the stone floors as he runs off to inform Henrietta.

I don't know if or why Henrietta would try to help me see Alexis, but I'm thankful for the chance. I've made good use of it. I don't know for sure what will happen from now on, but this will be the last day in Avenfort... it's time to return to the battlefield.