Imperatrix Fallen: Alith's Cradle

V

Empress County (Muliebris Vult Rue): Highly religious people, they claim to be governed by the very Angelic Goddess Michael through her apostles, a group of Cardinals all excommunicated by the Holy Inquisition a generation ago. They proclaim themselves as bearers of the Unique and Direct Word, following the writings of the Old Bible as their guide, rather than the Sacred Bible. Previously, it was considered a secular county, and like the Victrix, a family monarchy ruled without much opposition; the Tamer family. This lasted until Illia Uldrich, grandmother of Quinta, ordered the last great inquisition on the Rue, known as the Peculiar Inquisition, as it lacked the support of the Ferrata Legion. The result was the abdication of the Tamers, the abolition of the monarchy, and the establishment of a regent dependent on the Sacra. The situation became corrupted, and the new Rue gained its independence by expelling all interference from the Sacra, while retaining its regent, who swore allegiance to the Cardinals who provided internal support for the rebellion.

Notes by Flora from the book "Contemporary History of the Great Counties."

Makia stood, still searching in his bag, while a gun was aimed at his head. Behind that gun was the person who had shot him earlier—a young soldier with black eyes. He didn't wait for any orders. Frustrated by his previous failure, he fired a second shot. Makia turned his head, and the bullet grazed and shattered his cheek. The soldier, fed up, reached for his saber, but he was too slow; Makia moved first. A draw and a slash. An arm fell to the ground with a dull thud.
The soldier, in shock, knelt and lifted his half-arm.
Makia looked at Anastasia, who was still lying on the ground with her back to him. He looked at her, smiling, with a grin that now extended behind his left cheekbone.
"It hurts, everything hurts. Please, don't make me do this..." Makia said.
"Take him down now!" Kirk ordered, stepping closer to Anastasia.
Three shots rang out. Two hit the wall, the third struck Professor Tom in the neck, who collapsed in agony into the arms of a teacher and a student. Makia sat down quickly, just in time to dodge the shots.
"Only swords, you idiots!" Kirk growled.
Attack from three fronts.
Makia charged at the first. He blocked the attack, spun to face the other two, then leaped over them, sweeping his saber in their direction. They stepped back, gasping, while he knelt—"What a damned pain..." he groaned, covering his face with one hand.
The stares around him cut through the silence, each gaze fixed on a different part of his body. The soldiers fell, each in more than one piece, to the floor.
Makia walked upright to his bag, opened it, rummaged inside, and took out a vial, chugging its entire contents.
Chaos ensued. Half the students ran for the exit, while the other half pressed against the wall by the door. In any case, no one wanted to be near the fight. The wounded professor lay dying in the arms of a student next to Roy, Flora, Max, and Isaias, who remained in place, silent, torn between fleeing for their lives and trying to understand what was happening to Makia. Kirk ordered the soldiers to fire into the air to disperse the crowd.
Makia picked up a chair from the floor, set it upright, and sat next to the young woman captured by Kirk's group, who remained in the middle of the room.
"Why did you do it? Why did you do it? I don't want to do this anymore. I want to go home." Makia's voice trembled as he looked at Kirk, his eyes hollow, devoid of hope. His hand rested on the girl's shoulder, seeking some comfort, some reason to hold on.
Kirk left Anastasia where she was, quickly walked to Flora, grabbed her arm, and pressed his gun to her temple. Makia kept his gaze fixed on Kirk.
"Alright... Who are you?" Kirk asked.
"Makia."
"Allegiance?"
"Please, I don't want this anymore... I don't know what you mean," Makia replied, loking down.
"Is she with you?" Kirk pointed at the captive girl.
Makia hesitated, staring at the girl. He lowered his head and answered,
"I don't know her. I just want to go home..."
"Mmm... Why don't you die?"
"I don't know. I don't know, it hurts, it hurts so much. Please, I want to go home. My parents..."
Kirk saw Makia writhing in pain in his chair and found no point in continuing the interrogation. He looked at Anastasia, who shook her head, knowing there was nothing she could do—Makia had to die. Kirk released Flora, who had been praying to the Ancient Goddess with her eyes closed, and slowly approached Makia, who still had his head bowed, as if resigned to his fate.
"Please, STOP!"
The student who had been holding the professor after the gunshot impact stood up, leaving him lifeless on the floor, and screamed with all her strength.
The shout caught everyone's attention, causing the student to hesitate, but she quickly regained her composure and pulled out an identification booklet from her clothing. She approached Kirk, ignoring the armed soldiers blocking her way, and showed him the booklet.
"Isn't it me you're looking for?" said the young student.
Kirk examined the insignia and the girl's face. Brown hair, black eyebrows, and a fair complexion with slightly rosy cheeks. She was tall, almost as tall as Kirk.
"Princess Carlota... Anastasia, so this was your mission..." Kirk said.
Anastasia, now standing and pointing her rifle at Makia, shook her head. Kirk stepped away from Makia and approached Carlota. Makia remained motionless in his seat.
"Our mission was only to secure this area and wait," Anastasia confirmed.
"Wait for what?" Kirk asked.
"Just wait. New orders," Anastasia replied irritably at his insistence.
"Forgive my lapse earlier, Anastasia, I apologize. And obviously, you're in charge of this area. My sincerest... apologies," Kirk said, making an exaggerated bow toward Anastasia.
Kirk signaled one of his men to retrieve Makia, who remained motionless, watching.
"What are you doing here, dear?" Kirk asked Carlota.
"Studying, like everyone else," Carlota replied, her voice trembling as she instinctively covered her abdomen, fear creeping into her eyes.
"Why so far from Poisson City? Who's with you?"
"I wanted to attend this institute... I'm alone..." Carlota answered.
"Well, this attack might be because of you... You're now our gift to the Rue, do you understand?" Kirk looked at Anastasia. "What do you think?", he asked her.
"Let's report it and see what happens," Anastasia replied.
A guard took over for Kirk, lifted the princess, and led her to the back of the room, where he blindfolded her and left her kneeling against the wall.
Two guards grabbed Makia and dragged him before Kirk.
"And what about him?" Kirk asked Anastasia.
"Don't kill him..." she responded.
"Guys," he addressed Flora, and Max, "I want you to watch..."
The guards holding Makia began beating him, taking no turns. They struck him on the ground with their rifles as if they were chopping wood. Flora wept, Max and Isaias just watched, terrified. Roy looked at the princess. Kirk communicated with headquarters via radio, "HQ. We have Princess Carlota from the Victrix County... We're bringing her. Over and out." The voice on the other end responded, "Negative, we're on our way, we need her unscathed. Over and out."
"Get the bitch up and bring her to me..." Kirk demanded, referring to the unnamed prisoner.
Kirk, standing before the girl who was lifted by two soldiers, grabbed her hair to reveal her face.
"Anastasia! What do we do with her?" With a tug, he stripped her naked. "We have about 30 minutes. What do you think?"
"Enough, Kirk!" Anastasia protested, her voice laced with fury. "I order you to stop!"
Makia broke his inertia. He rushed at Kirk, struck him in the heart, and Kirk fell to the ground, dead, instantly.