115 Vesta

LATER AFTER THE FUNERAL CEREMONY

Dry and tidied up in a metal pauldron over an aquamarine tunic, Vesta roamed the palace's dark and empty corridors which has been quiet ever since she returned. The rains never stopped falling from then. The lightning and thunder exchanged frequently, hurtling and streaking in the bleak and cloudy sky. After finding out that General Rowan is a traveler, the general's tribute didn't finished as traditionally planned and everyone else left the burning pyres one by one. His wife couldn't catch her tongue as a stranger, who was under her husband's skin previously, gets devoured by the flames. She was eventually carried out by some knights, as her friends have left her in the cold. Thereafter, Rowan's ashes were scattered on the ground like a person of no single importance. He's a traveler after all.

Lady Vesta, who's been suspicious of everyone, watched the lunch being served to the separate chambers of the queen and the king. She checked, smelled and tasted the drinks and meals before they were allowed to pass. She continued to make her rounds all over the palace. As she go, she can't help but inspect the palace servants and warriors for seula on their bare skin.

Earlier while she was changing, she stared at her reflection on the mirror checking herself for seula. Wondering how Rowan kept his physique despite a traveler have possessed his body, Vesta wondered if there could be some sort of forbidden magic being involved. With Yereah dead, the paladin suspected another witch might be in the palace mixing potions and breaking spells. And now, she's dying to find out.

Confirming no seula on her, Vesta sighed sharply as she lowered her blue eyes with a certain relief. The paladin crusader was never cruel amongst the travelers, unlike Lady Octavia and the other crusaders. She believed that the travelers are better left alone since they also deserve a life to live. However, in a kingdom where the coexistence with travelers is formidable, she stood against the kingdom's mortal enemy out of her duty as a paladin - a choice that isn't hers.

Disturbed and uneasy, Vesta ran down the grand staircase near the queen's chambers as she observe for anything unusual. No one is allowed to visit the palace without an announcement, her knowing and her approval. Today, only Lord Callaghan will visit that palace as requested by the queen. Apart from him, no one else is permitted to enter the palace, under any purpose.

The cold fleets in the desolate halls, while the wind whistled through the windows. The curtains flew in volatile flaps, high and low. The paladin alerts herself at every creak and each tap that echoes. Not too long, Vesta heard faint whispers that were too inaudible from where she stood. The crusaders who were guarding nearby seemed nonchalant at the whispers she's hearing, as if the paladin is the only one who heeds to ghastly murmurs. She went down the halls, checking each room until she could clearly hear where the voice is coming from.

In the corner of the foyer at the end of the hall of staterooms, Vesta found a woman in white dolman sleeved-dress crouching on the floor facing the wall. She approached with caution. The paladin called as she hear the woman sobbing. By the looks of the lady, she seemed unfamiliar and definitely not permitted to hang around. "Pardon me, you are not allowed in here", she said.

"Help.. me", the woman whimpered as she slowly stood, still facing the wall. As soon as Vesta draw nearer at a close proximity, the woman faced the paladin and threw a small pebble at her. Vesta was able to dodge aside, but the woman threw three more that hit Vesta's forehead making the paladin fall on her back, flat on the floor.

"Mutatio Animarum, Mutuari Corpus", the woman who was actually Celeste whispered a command to allow a traveler to enter the paladin's body. Instantly, Vesta opened her eyes, which have turned ocean blue, brighter than the paladin's original eye color. She stood up in wonder. And then, she flexed her arm and leg muscles, as she grab her butt cheeks.

"Paladins do really have strong physique, I'm never going back to the servant's body", the paladin chuckled amusingly.

"Enjoy it while it last. As what you said, they are strong", Celeste said firmly as she wipe the blood trickling out of her nose. With the use of one of her strongest dark magic, she enforced a soul traveler in the paladin's body like what she did on Rowan, keeping the paladin's physique at the same time. "She's fighting", she said as she gasp shakily. Soul traveling enforced by dark magic doesn't switch souls. The umbra of the paladin stay locked inside while the passenger takes hold of the body.

Paladins are powerfully built from the layers of their skin down to their core, that Celeste had to struggle to keep Vesta on a leash. The paladin's eye color shifted from shades of blue, while her wrists flex and her fingers curl. "Ma..nere In..tus!", Celeste breathlessly uttered as the paladin crusader's body relax. Vesta then drop to her knees as she breath heavily.

Once again, the traveler's blue eyes glimmered brighter as she snap back to reality. "Damn. She is strong," the traveler inside the paladin's body said as she wet her lips. She stood one foot at a time until she got a hold of herself.

"She is. So do your job perfectly until I finish my spells. The life of the Queen is in your hands, make sure she's safe all the time.", Celeste ordered as she walk away with trembling knees.

"With pleasure", the traveler in Lady Vesta's body answered. As Vesta gets trapped in the ravine of the lost souls, the paladin crusader have realized that the enemy is among them all the while, and the travelers were not the only adversary they all have.