Paradox Breakers

2: Inquisition and Han

They stopped in front of Johann's house, a small cabin on the edge of town. He panted, but Emilia hadn't even broken a sweat. She's a Holy Knight through and through, alright. Pheles appeared in a puff of pink smoke.

"You are seriously out of shape," Pheles said.

"You vanished into thin air because you didn't want to run!"

"I did not! I merely made myself invisible and rode on your back." She puffed her cheeks.

"So that's why I felt so heavy!"

Emilia planted her sword into the ground. "Hello? What about an explanation for me?"

Johann scratched his head. "How do I say this? The unique abilities we were talking about earlier... We have them."

"How did we even get these abilities?" Emilia twirled the Durendal around, then examined its hilt. "I've never even seen a sword like this before, so there's no way I could've done it."

Johann looked down to Pheles.

She crossed her arms and sighed. "I guess I have to do the explaining. I expect some good bread. You're right that you didn't think of that sword. I did. I awakened your ability."

"Awaken?" Johann said. "But that implies..."

"She already had the ability. It's not entirely untrue. What she had was a unique potential. I shaped her ability according to that potential."

"Then what about Johann?"

Pheles shrugged. "Ask him. I merely answered his call."

"Apparently my ability awakened on its own, and I can contract with higher entities."

Emilia stared at Pheles. "Then you really are a demon?"

"That's right."

"We've been fighting the demon army this whole time...To rely on the power of a demon..." Emilia gazed at the ground.

"No, on the contrary. With a real demon right here, it proves without a doubt that the demon army we know is completely human," Johann said.

"They're different from us somehow though. Why do so few of us have unique abilities and so many on the other side?"

Heavy footsteps approached them. Emilia raised her sword in a defensive posture. Johann took a step back. A Church man in black robes lined with golden patterns approached them. His tall figure imposed on them. He observed them with deep-set black eyes.

That shaved head... Is he a monk? Johann's fear sealed his lips though.

"Emilia Solstian. Johann Noctvell. You are hereby under arrest for heresy," he said.

"Heresy? We haven't done anything," Emilia said.

"In accordance with Innocentis Edict thirty-nine, I shall read you your misdeeds." He drew a parchment from his pocket. "Emilia Solstian. You stood on water and cast a demonic spell to defeat the Eidolon. Johann Noctvell. You stood on water. Standing on water is a privilege that solely belongs to Lord Zero."

The accusations were specific enough that he could potentially talk him out of it. "Sir, the other Holy Knights also traversed across the water. We were following Crusader protocols."

He glared at Johann. "Do you believe that you can fool me with your verbal trickery? I am Inquisitor Lucius! Body fortification magic allows men to run fast enough to stay afloat. I observed you two standing still on the water. Please come with me quietly." Lucius reached for Emilia.