Rise of the Inquisition (Arc 4-6)

Chapter 105: Talking with Odin

Paladin's eyes were closed, and he could feel a small chilly breeze flowing around his body. There was a sort of calmness in the world around Paladin, different from the world that was below him. Paladin was in the clouds above the Capital City of the Kingdom of Orion, he was laying on top of fluffy white clouds, his hands and legs both stretched out over the clouds. Paladin was still wearing Cesar's armor, the armor still damaged from the Battle against the Great Burning Minotaur. Paladin, while feeling the calmness of the clouds, started to remind himself of the disaster that had occurred.

Ashley

Paladin remembered the betrayal that had occurred from Lord Sparrow, who turned out to be the Altum Chaplain of the Icarus Cult. Paladin remembered and had flashbacks of Snow being strangled to death by Lord Sparrow, and then the execution of Arryn from right across Ashley. Paladin kept hearing screams of death from Ashley, the screams echoing throughout his ears continuously.Paladin, while his eyes were closed squinted his eyes and covered his ears. Paladin was not being given a single break. Paladin started to have sweat going down his forehead, and he started to breath heavily. The flashbacks were continuously repeating through his head, he was seeing Snow and Arryn dying over and over.

Why didn't you do anything Paladin?

Paladin, in his vision turned his head to look at Ashley, who was standing next to him. Her entire outfit was stained with blood, blood seemingly sprayed onto her like it rained and she had no umbrella. Paladin stared at her, seemingly not moving an inch. He could feel the guilt of allowing Lord Sparrow to kill Ashley's friends, feeling the guilt of not stopping it when he likely had the chance in front of him. Paladin's heartbeat then started to increase, picking up because of how guilty he felt.

Why didn't you do anything Paladin?

Suddenly, both Snow and Arryn appeared next to Ashley who had blood stained all over her. Arryn, flesh from her horizontally ripped neck was hanging off the side of her neck, and blood was draining out from her neck still like a waterfall. Snow, floating to the left side of Ashley, had his entire neck broken, and his head was twisted over to his right as he looked at Paladin. Neither Arryn or Snow spoke to him, however he could hear their voices ring throughout his ears.

Why didn't you do anything Paladin?

Paladin blinked, and suddenly the entire army of the dead appeared in the valley. Soldiers, who had their arms ripped off, or their skeletons crushed, eyes missing, or one of their legs missing. The soldiers wore various armor, some of them from House Athena, some of them from the Royal Military, and some of them were from soldiers from houses sent to help. None of the soldiers spoke to Paladin with their mouths, Paladin could only hear their voices ringing in his ear, and he could hear his heart beating louder and faster than he has ever heard it.

Soldiers of the Damned.

Paladin, feeling that his heart was about to burst, opened his eyes and immediately brought his torso up straight in a hurry, he quickly recognized where he was. He turned to his left, and he looked up at Odin. Odin had his hands interlocked together behind his back, and he was looking

out into the Kingdom of Orion. Paladin, calmly turned to look forward, looking further into the blue sky. Paladin looked down at his armor, looking at the damage done to it by the Great Burning Minotaur. All the pieces of his armor was still dirty with mud, and scratches were abundant on his armor. Both his white cape and his cowboy like hat were both ripped.

"Well done Paladin--you defeated the Great Burning Minotaur."

Paladin, hearing Odin's voice immediately stood up and got to his feet. Wanting to show some respect to Odin, for essentially saving all of their lives.