The Ordeal

Commander Vilg Han, his arms and neck were in chains, guarded by the Agents of the church. His clothes were tattered, his hair was unkempt and he looked like he wasn't fed for days. He was the person who got accused of killing his coworker the other day. Luckily, the authorities didn't know of his status otherwise there was no need for a trial.

They were walking on the main streets of Lemorio. There was a crowd of curious people watching on the sides.

He would be judged where thousands of people would bear witness.

Celine and Shira were wearing brown robes and hoods covering their faces. They were silently observing the commander.

"Shira, what's the first trial again?"

"The fire ordeal, the Commander will be forced to walk on a wooden platform being lit on flames."

According to the plan they have no room to interfere, all they could hope was for the commander to get through this alone. However luckily, the survival rate for this ordeal was high.

The event was done in the open at the middle district of Lemorio. A wooden platform highly elevated was seen standing still. There were already hays wrapping the platform.

One city's guard walked up to the platform with a torch. He then lit it up causing the whole platform to be ablazed on flames.

The people watching were cheering. "Judgement! Judgement! Judgement!"

The way they cheered were like fans cheering for their favorite sports team. But it was too revolting since a person's life was at risk here.

At one end of the platform, Vilg Han was standing, he took a deep breath. The path before him was in flames, though right now the fire was not that strong. He then dove right through, running for his life.

He managed to run across the platform but at the moment he reached the end, he yelled. "Ack!"

His next leg was burnt. A portion of his skin was seering in red.

Some of the people watching began laughing it was as though the result was expected. Nobody expected those at the fire ordeal to die so soon, but only get injured.

Celine wanted to help the man writhing in pain but it was not yet the time. Though he could vomit from the people watching. "What's wrong with them?!"

"Miss Celine, this is how it goes during the ordeals. It's a place where people can get their entertainment. The fire ordeal is just a set-up to weaken the judged, the next big deal is what's coming next." Shira said.

"Then on normal circumstances, these people have no chances of surviving, huh?"

"I think so."

Celine gave a nod. They then walked towards the alleyway with no people. She met up with Sister Stella.

On her arm was the UZI, a military weapon of Vesna that would be overpowered during this period. She was hesitant to let some stranger borrow it but it was the President's orders.

She gave out the UZI and gave a tutorial on how it's gonna be used.

"This thing can kill a person instantaneously? Huh?" Stella was amused while also confused.

"This is called a gun. Vilg Han will need this if he wanted to survive the next ordeal."

The next was the beast ordeal. This was where most of the judged bite the dust.

A mini-dungeon was found in the underground, the passage was located close to the church. The entrance was now being opened by the city guards. It was a wide clay concrete double door.

The audience from the sides cheered. It was obvious from their faces that they were thrilled to see if Vilg Han could survive and appear on the exit. He wasn't even handed out a weapon. It would be now all based on luck.

Commander Valg Han was now released from the chains, but around him were the church agents with their tall daggers. He was then kicked causing him to fall in front of the dungeon door.

"Now commence." Said the church agent.

Vilg Han groaned from the burns on his leg. He pushed himself up and approached the door.

His goal was to walk through the maze and come out to the other end. He would be fine if not for the wild hyenas roving the dungeon. Their senses were sharp and they would come sooner or later.

From the sides, a portion of the wall came off. Vilg Han was surprised.

Through it, a person with a hood and robe crawled through the hole and then approached him.

"Who are you?" Warned Vilg Han.

The person took off his hood and revealed her face, it was Stella her daughter. "Father." She approached and hugged him.

Vilg Han hugged back. "I'm happy to see you but why are you here? The hyenas could come sooner or later."

Stella showed the UZI, to their eyes it was a mysterious artifact. Vilg Han was amused to see the tiny details on this object. It was wonderfully crafted and a bit unusual.

"My daughter, what is this?"

"I'm not sure but this will save you to get through the ordeal. It's a powerful weapon. Make sure to use it wisely since its only limited." Stella explained on how it was used.

When everything was done, she then left. "See you in the next ordeal father."

Vilg Han gave a nod. He was perplexed with his daughter's explanation. There was no way he could believe he could one shot the enemies instantly with a click of the trigger. Even mages need time to cast their spells.

He then moved on his path. He then encountered the first hyena. This was his first target. He aimed well and fired.

Bang!

The hyena suddenly fell on the ground, bleeding.

Vilg Han got startled for a second due to the sudden flash of light and the pushing back of the weapon. It seemed to have worked however.

Now there were many more hyenas. It must have lured them from the gun noise but he then shot them all down.

Situation for him now was relatively easy. He mowed through the maze until he was close to the exit. From his surprise, a giant minotaur was blocking the path. It had a giant axe, iron plated armor and it was three times as tall as him. Its nose was flaring.

Vilg Han then aimed his weapon again and clicked the trigger but he noticed it won't fire. He was worried. He just remembered the bullets he could fire was limited. Just when he was close to the exit. Worst of all it was the storm minotaur.

Vilg Han heard rumors of the storm minotaur roaming the dungeon for the beast ordeal and couldn't believe it was true.

These beasts were found in the second ring. They could be tamed to be used against an army and fight a hundred soldiers. He had no idea it was kept here by the church.

Vilg needed to run away and flee the minotaur, but the burnt on his leg started to ache, he lost focus of the minotaur.

The storm minotaur gripped its large axe tightly and performed a strong swing. Just in time, Vilg stepped back and the axe brushed in front of him. The strong air from the swing even pushed him away.

He groaned and slammed on the wall. It was terrifyingly strong.

Vilg Han now thought of escaping away but if he ever does move forward, he would get swung by the minotaur. One hit from that axe could slice his body into two.

He had to think about something. When Vilg saw the loose structure of the floor, he had an idea.

He ran towards it, took a stone and threw at the minotaur. "Hey hideous bull, come here."

The minotaur roared, shaking the dungeon. It then stormed towards him.

Vilg Han stayed at one location. He waited, then the minotaur posed to strike. With a vertical swing, Vilg Han leaped sideways.

The axe struck the floor hard, causing it to penetrate deep. The minotaur was trying to pull the axe away, but it was stuck.

Vilg Han grabbed the oppurtunity to run as fast as he could. When he went through the exit. He was greeted by the church agents.

The spectators and the churches' men couldn't believe that he survived. They thought he was a dead man.

Reaching the exit of the dungeon meant that he passed the ordeal. The church don't even have the power to question it.

From the sides, Celine sighed, knowing the commander survived. Now it was the last trial, the pain or endurance ordeal. It was the most painful test.

Seeing Stella, she was even in tears. Celine never expected to see this side of her. She didn't even want to sympathize but she was starting to feel bad. "Come on, let's go to the next ordeal."

"I'm afraid that even that weapon won't be able to save my father."

"What do you mean?"

"Unlike the beast ordeal, this ordeal is in public. We can't pull off the same trick. The pain ordeal will ensure that the death of the judged if by some miracle they survived the two first ordeals. That's how this church works."

Celine was frustrated. "Damn this church. They make me lose the little faith I have."

Later on, it occured on a court yard. There used to be more people now watching the ordeal.

Vilg Han's arms were chained to the wall. His legs were being tied with a rope which was linked to a starving giant hound.

On a safe distance from the hound, there was an Agent with a fishing rod with a raw rabbit meat as a bait.

Celine understood how the ordeal will be executed. The hound would chase the meat thus pulling Vilg Han's body with the rope connected to his leg. In the process tearing his body.

With a signal, everyone watched closely. The hound rose and began salivating. It growled as it chased the rabbit meat which was manipulated by the Agent with a fishing rod.

The hound kept on pulling but it was now stuck. Vilg Han's body was being tugged, he screamed from the pain.

Celine aimed her gun but around her there were too many people. Stella warned her that if she fired and people were to see her, she could get captured for interfering with the ordeal.

She felt worried. "What should I do?" If she were to fire from the distance away from the public, she had no time.

Seeing Vilg Han's state, it would only take minutes for him to bite the dust.

Then out of nowhere, there was a distant bang. The beast groaned. Blood coming out from its side, it then fell.

Celine's eyes widened. It wasn't her, it couldn't be Melvin or Rederick since they were busy with the Grand Meeting. Then who?