Tower of Souls IV

Brain matter showered the trees and grass, akin to confetti painting the schene a chilling bright red, leaving only a deafening silence that made Aurelia stand still as her head twisted to the individual who shot his arrow.

"You!" Aurelia barked.

Vesryn smiled and arched his bow high, "Did you all see that! That bitch head went boom!" He cheered as the party of seven behind him screamed in joy. "HEADSHOT BITCH!"

Emotions flaring, Aurelia sucked in a sharp breath of air and snapped her head away, ready to leave, when Laris Fillian, a third-year knight, shouted.

"Don't you know how to say thank you?"

Aurelia did not even respond as she approached the corpse releasing a dry sigh at the pointless killing. While she was open to killing the nymph, she had felt no killing intent—only a curiosity mixed with caution.

"Aurelia Morningstar, the whore of Duke Blackwater, I've heard much about you," Laris added, finding fault where there was none, only rumors that had no base. "Where are our thanks, or are you so entitled you think you don't need to thank your upperclassmen. We just saved your life!"

Aurelia's calm gaze slid from Laris to Vesryn in an instant. "Leave me alone."

Walking off, Laris could only smirk, eyeing the delicate hourglass figure Aurelia had developed, "She's cute, ain't she? A little young for my taste, she seems to be aging slowly, but I don't mind hitting that."

"That's the duke's piece of ass." Another nearby remarked, shrugging his shoulders, " You still remember the bloody scene we saw with the Duke when those fully trained knights approached him. He's on another level."

"That doesn't mean shit to me. I fucked like seven bitches, and none of them spoke about it. These whores know how to keep their mouths shut." He said with a proud expression, "You know what I say, 'It's not rape if they don't say no,' so don't give 'em a chance."

"What the hell are you saying!" Vesryn barked, snapping his eye to Laris with a look that could kill. Never before had he heard something so depraved; he felt like he needed a shower. " The fuck is your problem? Shut the hell up. You may not like her, but she's a member of Trinity. And I hope you're ready for a full-on investigation when we return. I hope to Azalea. You were jesting."

"Of course," Laris seamlessly said with a large smile. "Investigate all you want. I'm as clean as a baby's ass."

"Bro, they shit themselves all day! It's not clean!"

"Fuck, you know what I mean."

"Do we?"

"Fuck you guys!"

—

Listening to the words spoken by Laris fade the further she walked, Aurelia's expression couldn't have shown a more profound disgust, as she had heard every word. Her body was stronger, faster, and more resilient than most people could imagine. Listening to a group of teens speak without trying to mask their voices was as simple as breathing for her.

"My lady, by the confidence in that boy's voice, it's safe to say he's done something like that and is prepared for an investigation if one hasn't already been had,' Said Eldritch.

"I don't even know why people do such things," She whispered in response.

Eldritch didn't speak; he had much to say, much to reveal but held his tongue. He hadn't wanted to tell Aurelia but wanted her to find out why for herself.

He'd seen many such people in his life and knew the answer was never a satisfying one. How could it be?

"I want to kill him." She whispered.

"So you're a hero now?" Eldritch inquired, unable to hide the contempt. "Master Zariel may be a little fucked up in the head, but Heros die."

"So I am supposed to let this go?"

"My lady, I support you always; I just hope you understand the consequences of your actions. You are strong, and you've got Master Zariels protection, but your friends not so much. He will not bat an eye if that boy's family kills them. Look at what took place a few weeks ago. Do you know where Zariel was throughout your entire battle? Surely he could have sensed you in danger? The Price of a hero is a high one." He warned. "Then do you have proof of what that boy has actually done?"

"Eldritch!" Aurelia snapped, "He's guilty. "

"And you know this how? I may say he's guilty, but that might not be true. You could be killing an innocent man. Is it worth the risk? To make an enemy out of someone who hasn't done anything to you yet?"

Aurelia's footsteps halted, and a myriad of conflicting emotions seemed to flicker through her mind. Was she in the right to kill someone who was just a creep? Was it alright to murder someone without any evidence? To slay someone who looked at her wrong?

Morningstar pulsed, releasing a mist of golden light that swirled through her veins like blood, calming her emotions.

"It's fine." She softly said, bringing a dark smile to eldrich mind. "I won't feel guilty; I'll just do it in a way no one finds out I was the one who killed him. Is anyone watching me?"

"They are, but I can show you how to hide your presence."

"Aurelia is going to chop him up! Chop-Chop-Chop!" She childishly whispered with a bit of excitement.

A light chuckle escaped from Eldritch, "A few kilometers away; you should find a gate that leads to the next level. I suspect each pocket realm will have unique creatures; this realm seemed to have nymphs and other weak creatures that haven't developed their skills. These monsters, however, would have done some damage to Vesryn and his gang had you not distracted it."

"Really!" Aurelia blurted out, "How?'

"I'm sure you've felt the pressure on your soul, which should be light, due to the Astral Essence having already tempered your soul, but those brats are just normal teenagers. Their souls are still underdeveloped. So if you wish to kill Laris, it must be done sooner than later. And it must be done by a soul attack."

Aurelia smiled evilly with a single fang hanging over her plump cherry lips, "Oh, I can do that! And I'll make it look like Dumb-Dumb did it! Hehe!"