Fucked up world

"Administer hypnoserum."

The baron's command rendered all other discussions mute. The Knights who were bickering about the method to use, fell silent. 

Hex, who stood behind the Knights with Althea, was the only one who dared to ask questions. 

"What is hypnoserum?" 

"It's a potion that puts a person in a trance. The person ingesting it wouldn't be in control of his thoughts and actions anymore." 

Hearing Hestia's description, Hex felt awe and wariness.

"The things people can make," he said with a chuckle. "But why didn't we use this earlier?"

If such a potion existed why not use it on the whole town? It would take one day to solve the whole problem.

Seemingly understanding what Hex was thinking, Althea turned to him.

"The potion is very rare and only a few drops are made each time. But more importantly, only a Templar is allowed to administer it."

When she spoke about the Templars, Hex saw her glance at the baron.

"I will take responsibility for it," the baron said, as soon as she was done speaking.

Hex looked around, noticing everyone having a wry look on their faces. 

"Templars?" He asked, confused. "What rank is that?"

"It isn't a rank," Hestia replied. "It's the title of an ordained Knight belonging to the High Temple. They are the most tested and trusted faction, loyal to serve and execute at the command of the Temple."

Althea gave a nod and continued. "They are similar to the Paladins of the Royal faction and Warlords of the Warriors factions. They are the three greatest factions of the world. Belonging to any of those is proof you are one of the greatest geniuses in the world."

Lady Briella chuckled from the side. "Just so you know, our little miss here is a candidate for the Paladin faction. But even she isn't allowed in, before at least reaching the Knight rank."

Hex was surprised to hear about the different factions. Just the thought of having so many geniuses gathered in one place was too stimulating. 

"Those things can be discussed later. Let's give him the hypnoserum," Hestia interrupted, clearly impatient to interrogate the captain of the town guard.

On the baron's order, Wallen brought potion. It was a colorless liquid but when

Hex watched fascinated at the liquid being forcefully poured into the guard captain's mouth. The man's blank gaze seems to glaze over. 

"Who will do the questioning?" Hex asked, signaling hard at Hestia to take over. He didn't want the baron to do it.

'If the baron remains as cryptic as always, his questions might solve the greater issues but won't be of any help to the smaller details.'

Luckily, Hestia understood him immediately. She stepped forward at once. 

From the corner of his eyes, Hex saw the baron remain still but he caught the baron giving him a side-eye.

Pretending to not have noticed it, Hex looked at Hestia and the guard captain.

"What's your name?" Hestia started with the easy questions first. They also served to test whether the potion was working or not.

"Anol Sloan Aug," the guard captain replied. 

Hex tried to ignore the discomfort he felt seeing the man reply with a calm voice whilst staring with dead eyes into the space.

'It feels like two different people are talking from the same body.'

Hestia continued her questioning. She asked about his family and job. These were things she and the others in the room already knew about the guard captain. 

After verifying his answers and observing him, Hestia finally started to ask the questions they were waiting for.

"How did you meet the Dawnbringers?"

Hex felt the room tense up. Everyone was focused to the extreme. 

"Herman came to me. After losing Sloan, I visited his memory stone daily," Anol said but chuckled then as a drop of tear rolled down. "I say visited…but I was practically living there. Losing my son ended every wish and desire I had. I worked so hard so he could have a better life. I was strict so he wouldn't get complacent. If only I had spoiled him. He might not have achieved greatness but at least he would be alive…"

Despite the blank look and calm voice, Hex somehow felt the man's pain and regret. The expression of the whole team was solemn as they listened to Anol.

"As I wallowed in regret, Herman came to me. I knew the things he promised wouldn't be allowed by the Heavens but I stopped caring about the Heavens when it took my son for wanting a life of his own.

Under Herman's guidance, I met my son once again. I know he is not his old self. But when the Divine Lord conquers Heaven's vault, He will return my son to his former self. But now…now that hope is gone…for good."

Hex clenched his fist at the sight of Anol's face. Tears streamed down as his expression remained calm and unmoving. 

'He is in pain yet isn't allowed to express it fully. And we are doing this to him. I need to beware that fighting evil doesn't end up turning me evil.'

"Who else is part of the Dawnbringers?" Hestia's question pulled Hex out of his thoughts. 

"Apart from the others present tonight, I don't know others. Only the Herald knows everyone. But I never met him. Everyone remains hooded in greater gatherings."

"Hooded figures like Ronan and Clannad," Hex said, already suspecting it. He had seen enough of the Dawnbringers in cloaks to have suspicions about the group of hooded figures under Ronan's lead.

"They did show up suddenly and haven't shown interest in anything else, so far." Hestia nodded with a frown on her face. "I have never seen that fellow around."

"Ronan is a former Templar," the baron said suddenly. "He was removed by the High Temple after killing a prince who allegedly killed palace maids.

No proof was ever found against the prince but neither was there proof of Ronan's crime. To appease the King, the Temple chose to remove Ronan."

"What a fucked up world," Hex exclaimed. He knew he would have done the same as Ronan. In fact, he felt a little admiration for the man.  

"Is the world fucked up or are humans fucking the world up?" The baron asked in his usual even voice.

"Are you saying that humans caused all the problems, so humans have to pay for it?" Hex asked with a frown. It didn't seem like the people who caused problems were paying for them.

"I am not saying anything. I am asking. You need to answer it for yourself." The baron's reply was cryptic but this time Hex felt like he understood him.

'Basically, he means I need to be able to judge which part is Heaven's fault and which is due to humans.'

In the meantime, Hestia continued her questions. She managed to get some names of people involved and some who recently converted. 

Most names were part of the council or close to Clannad's family. 

Everyone turned toward the baron. They wished to know what they were supposed to do.

"It's simple," the baron said as he pushed his sword back into the sheath. No one had seen him getting it out and using it. 

Woosh.

With a start, Hex saw the headless body of Anol burst into bright white light. In a blink, both the body and head turned into dust.

"We start to kill them, one by one. The Knights will go after the names of the council," the baron continued calmly. He turned towards Hex and Althea. 

"You two should try to kill that boy if you meet them during the second round."