Seraphine, the High Inquisitor of Lumina

Damn it, no, my HEMA practice did not pay off! I am being pushed back each time I barely block her onslaught! Is she even human?! I knew people in this world are crazy strong, but it's the whole another level, even compared to physical strength powerhouses like Alaric!

I can somehow parry the attacks, due to being 4 times faster than normal, and my holy poker holds on, but... every single strike pushes me backwards. Moreover, knights who formed a circle around us, close in... just a few more meters, and my back will have more wholes than a piece of swiss cheese! I need to do something... I can't use magic, and whatever strength I got from double Haste is clearly not enough... I need to run, but it doesn't seem possible either!

Despite the time around me being effectively slowed by 4 times, and I am supposed to see everything in slow motion, the swings of that enormous hammer still seem as fast as even strongest boxers can't punch. However, I noticed that after each parry she needs a bit of time to recover before swinging her weapon again. It's not enough for me to strike, but... it may be enough for something else.

I am forced to make a step back again... and here comes my chance. The inquisitor right behind me couldn't take the tension and snapped – he rushed at me, while Seraphine was still recovering after a parried swing. The knight's sword movement is way slower than Seraphine's hammer attacks, so I sidestepped it, grabbed his by the arm and pulled forward. Normally, in fencing, you grapple when you face each other and happen to be too close, but... it also works. Inquisitors are fully iron-clad, which means their movement is constricted, so once he lost his balance, he felt on his belly... giving me a gap in the wall of knights to run. So, I turn around and run, Seraphine's hammer barely missing my back. 

Now what?! I barely know this city, and she doesn't seem to care if she destroys something chasing me... if I will try to run from city, then what? I'm still in Lumina, where inquisitors probably hold a lot of power. I could probably use "Alter Self" to change my appearance and assume fake identity, but... first of all, I don't know if I can use it, and I can't even test it, since I can't make a sound! Moreover, my lack of knowledge about this world would eventually give me out if these fanatics will be persistent enough...

I've been running on this small, narrow street for quite some time, but now I've come out to a large street. It's almost empty, as most people heard sounds of a house collapsing, and decided to run... wise decision. I should do so too. I take a sharp turn to the right and... Aaaa! I can't help but scream!... or, rather, want to screaming, because I can't make sounds under Silence! Something pierced my left foot and nailed it to the pavement. I trip, my face colliding with cobblestone. My foot is still staked, and agone drives me crazy. Not just from the bolt, but also from likely broken bones in my leg. I look at what it is, and see an extremely thick crossbow bolt... are they insane?! If it hit my torso, I would probably be dead on the spot!... although, it is probably what they want. 

I couldn't even realize where the shooter was when I was already surrounded again. My eyesight was fading, and my ears – ringing. I could hear that Seraphine was saying something, but I couldn't remember a word. She raises the hammer, ready to turn me into a pancake. Is that really the end of me?! My consciousness is fading. Probably a defense mechanism to prevent the incredible pain from having all bones of my body crushed... damn it! I don't want to die! Not like this! Not in this world! Not now! I close my eyes tight, instinctively. 

Suddenly, I feel the clearness of mind, as I hear the large clang, as if metal hit metal, and then started scratching. I open my eyes, just to see a person I probably wanted to see the least if the situation wasn't that dire – Alaric's back was turned to me, as his blocked Seraphine's swing with some sword he was holding. One hand on the handle with its thumb on the flat on the blade, another – pressing elbow against the flat of the sword, to strengthen the defense. If I was as I normally am, I would probably criticize his guard, but... I'm not in that condition.

Not only did he manage to withstand her attack, but also, after a bit of struggle, his sword moved, throwing Seraphine away. The 2-meter-tall High Inquisitor flew some meters back and then stopped, breaking against the ground with her armored shoes. Seeing that she was repelled, one of knights who was on the other side, raised his sword, preparing to cut my life short... literally. However, I wasn't afraid this time. Turning around, Alaric blocks the hilariously telegraphed attack of the knight by holding his blade horizontally, slightly above his head. Right after the parry, the hero swings his sword... I can't believe it! It may be a simple zwerchhau, an "across cut", but I'm shocked that Alaric actually could do it without any practice, considering a simple overhead slash took him so many tries!

Alaric's new blade goes around itself and around knight's sword, slashing through their helmet, dropping them instantly... I just hope he doesn't decide that his ultimate move will be the "feared" zwerchcopter from now on. Seraphine lowers her hammer and speaks. Due to my mind becoming clear again from that miraculous – miraculous, because I didn't expect Alaric to be competent – salvation, I could understand what she was talking.

"Step aside, hero Alaric. Kyle is a walking blasphemy and we both know it. A chosen hero shall not associate with human garbage like him."

Ouch.

"Perhaps you are right about how a chosen hero shall not be around him..."

Oh, so you agree with me being called "human garbage"?

"...I, however, am not a hero of prophecy, it seems."

Huh?

"Are you sure this is what you want to say? Even if you are His Benediction's adopted son, I will not hold back against you, if you are not the hero we need."

"Try me."

He holds his blade at the level of his head and points it forward. Ochs guard. Since when does Alaric look so... cool? His stance was steady – blade leveled, weight balanced between his feat. No flourishes. Just efficiency. Even half-conscious, I could appreciate that much.

Seraphine's grip on her hammer tightened, her armored fingers creaking under the strain, as she was taking steps towards Alaric. I felt the same disdain, same desire to crush whoever was in front of her, as I did back when we met in the capital. But now, it was directed at Alaric. The air between them crackled with tension that was destined to break in any moment. Seraphine exhaled, slow and deliberate. The ground beneath her boots cracked like thin ice.

The High Inquisitor struck first. Her hammer came down like a falling star, a brutal overhead swing meant to crush flesh and bone... and, considering how fanatical she was, probably soul, too. It was much stronger than the swing she used trying to end my life before... Seraphine doesn't even take me for an enemy, huh?

Alaric didn't try to block it head on – idiot's errand against a weapon like that – instead, he sidestepped, pivoting on his lead foot. The hammer stopped right before it hit the cobblestones... and it was centimeters from my head. Yeah, I should probably remove the bolt that still stakes me to the ground, no matter how painful it will be.

I pull it with all my strength, and barely, just barely, manage to remove it. It hurts! I wish I could use Cure Wounds, but... god damn it hurts so much! Not only I broke my ankle, but now there's a hole in my foot! But it was still worth it, as now I could crawl a bit back, so that I won't be caught in the crossfire.

Naturally, other knights weren't just standing still seeing it. They closed on me, but... I can't believe I'm saying it, but... I am so glad to see these guys! 

Boldwyn, who sneaked behind the inquisitors, plunged his daggers into backs of two of them. I bet he would go for the throats, but... he is a dwarf, and his height is not the best. As the other knights were distracted by Baldie, a curved wall of fire appeared, engulfing the rest. Elaina was here, too!

"Kept you waiting, huh?", said Boldwyn.

I would like to respond, but Silence's grasp on my throat was still strong... although I could feel it becoming weaker. Probably, it wears off. I turned back to look at the fight between Alaric and Seraphine.

They were a bit away from us already. Maybe, a hundred meters or two. However, their silhouettes were still clearly visible. Alaric voided, sidestepping yet another of her devastating downwards attacks. This time, the hammer collided with the pavement and... holy shit! The cobblestones vaporized, the impact cratering outwards in a spiderweb of destruction. Dust and debris geysered into the air. Nearby buildings collapsed, as if the place of her hit against the road was the center of explosion. I can't believe that, despite all that overwhelming strength I felt in each clash... she was holding back against me.

Then, while the dust was still restricting combatants' view, Alaric struck. A zornhau this time – a diagonal cut from high right to low left. I couldn't even realize when he switched the stance. This cut is one of the most fundamental strikes in HEMA... and he executed it with terrifying precision. Alaric's blade carved through the gap in Seraphine's armor at her shoulder, biting deep. Blood sprayed, black in the dim light. High Inquisitor roared, swinging her hammer backhanded like a club. Like an agonizing animal. 

Alaric ducked, the hammer passing so close it ruffled his hair, and countered with an upward-slicing cut aimed at her wrist. The strike wasn't meant to defeat her in an instant, though – it was a disarm. The blade screeched against her gauntlet, and for a split second, her grip faltered...

Then she kicked him.

It wasn't a technique. It was just raw, stupid strength. However, when you are this strong... sometimes, brute strength is enough.

Seraphine's knee collided with Alaric's stomach. I can swear that, at the moment of impact, time halted for a brief moment and world gone monochrome. It was just that powerful. If it were me, I would die in an instant. 

Behind Alaric, the road, the buildings, the huge part of the city was destroyed. Crumbled, with no hope of rebuilding. It was almost as if a huge beam of energy appeared from Alaric's back, demolishing everything behind them. But no. It was raw kinetic energy that, after hitting Alaric, traveled through his body, spreading destruction further. And only then, he flew.

There wasn't any building behind him in seemingly few kilometers. A huge layer of earth was annihilated. Poor Alaric's body fell on the ground and, spinning, flew a few more meters. However, his grip on his sword didn't become weaker. He stuck it into the ground, using it to stop... creating in even deeper crack in the ground. Both of them are goddamn monsters...

Alaric's sword screeched against the ground – there were no more cobblestones – as he dragged himself to his feet. Blood dripped from his lip, but his grip didn't waver. I am pretty sure he flew a good 300 meters from that kick, maybe a bit more. He was way behind me, and if Seraphine was still dead set on killing me, she could reach and destroy me way before Alaric can save me again. However, across the ruined city, she rolled her shoulder. The wound from earlier strike already clotted beneath her armor. The hammer she was still clenching rested casually against the ground, its head cratered into the earth like a meteor. She prepared to lunge again. So did Alaric. It looks like she forgot about my existence, with all of her essence focused on a single thing – crushing the chosen hero.

The air between them warped. 

They didn't just "move fast". Their bodies and weapons became blurs. Even with me perceiving time 4 times slower, I couldn't see them. They united, dancing in a whirlwind of obliteration. Each Seraphine's swing carved craters into the cityscape, sending shockwaves that toppled buildings away. Alaric dodged, weaved, parried when he had to, but even with his newfound skill, he was outmatched.

A backhanded swing caught him mid-leap. The hammer's edge grazed his ribs, and force sent him back to the ground. While Alaric was still laying down, barely managing to turn to face upwards, Seraphine was already airborne, hammer raised high for a killing blow.

"Shield!"

The voice was mine. The spell tore my throat the moment Silence's grip finally broke. Golden light engulfed Alaric, creating a round barrier. Of course, the overwhelming power of her attack broke it, shattered the holy defense into pieces... but it was enough. Her hammer tilted, letting it pass right past Alaric. At the same time, Alaric thrusted his blade forward, despite still laying down. The thrust managed to sneak in the gap between chest plate and helmet... but it wasn't enough. 

The very moment her hammer did collide with the ground beside Alaric, the impact like no other occurred. A huge crater appeared around them, and the two combatants were thrown upwards. Alaric pulled his sword from the gap in Seraphine's armor, and by how she closed the place of the thrust with her hand... he got her. Me, Elaina and Boldwyn were also thrown a bit away, but it was just a few meters... compared to whatever this "explosion" caused.

"Cure Wounds!", I yelled.

My broken leg, as well as other bruises I had from this fight, was instantly cured. But the fight was not over. 

Soon, they landed at the edges of this enormous crater. At this point, I was sure that these two destroyed at least one third of the whole city. Or a quarter, if it was a big city, by medieval standards. I screamed, in rapid succession: "Cure Wounds! Haste! Haste! Haste! Bless! Shield! Uhhh... Holy Weapon!", buffing Alaric to the absurd. Multi-colored light flashed over his body, as both him and Seraphine raised their weapons again, preparing to engage in another storm of annihilation. Alaric's hair started floating, as if he was channeling some hidden power... maybe, he did. And I was sure some aura appeared around Seraphine, too... were they both not going all out all this time?!

I braced to cast Hold Creature – because I barely can imagine her being a "person" – on Seraphine... then froze. A voice cut through this chaos.

"Halt!", someone screamed.

I looked at the direction from where the scream came from. It was... Lord Dyeyong? What is he doing here? Alaric and Seraphine stopped and also looked at the nobleman. Seraphine's aura disappeared, and Alaric's hair fell down. 

"Uhmm... mister silver-eater?", I said to him, getting to my feet.

"Ah, if it isn't the Saint who stopped me from becoming immortal. Well, no matter. You, two, the knight and the swordsman. Both, stop this instant."

"I am here to fulfill my holy duty. In Lumina, Inquisition of the Mother is both the military, and the law. You do not have jurisdiction over me."

She disappeared and appeared right in front of him, looking down due to her height. 

"Pray tell me, Who is worshipped in Othburten, High Inquisitor Seraphine?", said the nobleman.

"The Lord of... no, you don't mean?!"

"I do. Inquisition has no right to chase its victims in my city."

"Wait, you said... your city?", I asked.

"So I did. I am Lord Mayor of Othburten, Mortan Desbet Dyeyong II."

That implies someone before him was also called 3 words that effectively mean "I'm going to die"...

"But my hammer is still the law! You can't-"

"Oh, but I can. I wonder what will His Benediction think, after he learns what you did to my city. Countless houses destroyed! Streets ruined! Property damaged! You are very lucky that my citizens started to evacuate when you started chasing the Saint. Trust me, you wouldn't want to find excuses on why the High Inquisitor murdered an innocent believer."

From behind her helmet, I could feel her wrath growing.

"It is not over, false Adept and fallen hero. You both WILL perish under my hammer... sooner or later."

She turned around and started to walk away. The other knights, ones that were still alive – apparently, the surviving inquisitors were watching Seraphine vs Alaric fight alongside us – followed her. I feel like it is not the last time we see her... but I wish it was.

"Now, you four", said the Lord Mayor.

Alaric rushed to us, clearly exhausted from this fight, even though Cure Wounds worked its magic and his health was in no danger.

"Normally, for the destruction of this scale, I would fine that 'chosen hero' of yours quite a sum", he started, but I interrupted him.

"I'm sorry, but... most of it was caused by Seraphine."

"I am aware. I will send the letter to the Grand Basilica, for them to cover the damaged. That being said, if you were just to die, nothing of this would happen. So, normally, you would pay for... not dying, and such, causing the fight to happen."

I hate this guy.

"So... normally, you would fine us. But?", asked Boldwyn.

"Well, considering you are a chosen hero," he looked at Alaric, which made him twitch, "and you are the Harmony Adept", he looked at me, "I will instead have you do... a little favor for me. After it, you will be free to go."

I hate the sound of it.

"It doesn't sound like we have a choice", Elaina said sadly.

"You are right. Now, if you were to follow to my house... one that was so vulgarly opened by you, by the way."

He started walking away. We followed him, going through the ruins of Othburten... no, it was in such state, that it was more like ruins of ruins of Othburten. 

"So... what changed?", I asked Alaric.

"Well, haha, it's quite a stupid story, really", he looked down.

"Oh, no, it's a great one, truly!", cheered Elaina, "You see, Alaric... changed, Kai."

"What? How?"

"Well, you may not know, but in the middle of Othburten there is the legendary sword in the stone...", started Alaric.

Of course. The sword in the stone. From this intense fight I almost forgot what kind of world is it.

"I want there to prove to myself that I am still the chosen hero, despite all."

"So you pulled it, and now you use it?", I asked.

"Nope!", he said with a smile.

"Huh?"

"I didn't pull the sword out of the stone. I couldn't. This sword, I just bought from a blacksmith nearby."

Now I finally had a chance to look at his new sword. It was very simple longsword with no accessory. Extremely practical weapon.

"Is... that why you said you are not the hero of the prophecy?"

"Yes. In deep sadness, I left Othburten, going back to Sanctus Spire, hoping to forget my ambitions and become a normal farmer, or mercenary."

His face had a slight smile, but... I can't imagine how he felt back then. His whole world shattered.

"I... I'm sorry, Alaric."

He looked at me in surprise.

"What's that?! Kai... being sorry for something?!", said Boldwyn.

"I already regret saying that..."

"Well, no, no need! It was my fault, truly. Because, you see... it doesn't matter if I am the hero."

"What do you mean?"

"When I left Othburten and already traveled a bit, I encountered a woman being attacked by another of these demonic wolves. Like the one we killed before. Of course, me, Elaina and Boldwyn engaged in a fight, to save her... and we won!"

Without me? Good, at least they don't rely on me for literally everything.

"Then, she said that I was a real hero. Then I realize. I do not need the prophecy. Even as an unchosen hero, I can travel to the east, defeat the Demonlord and bring peace to Lumina... and the entire world."

"That's... surprising of you. But welcomed nonetheless", I reply.

"Well, then I returned to the city, trying to find you... and heard of destruction. Well, you could say I instantly know where to find you."

"Wait, I don't get one thing. Where did you learn how to actually use a sword? We were apart for, what, a 5 hours?"

"'Learn'? Didn't you tell me it was obvious?", he looked at me with genuine confusion.

"Yes, but-"

"Well, after you taught me basics... it kind of came to me itself. It wasn't hard to do all these techniques such as Sunset Decapitation."

Sunset Deca... oh my god. I take my words back. It's still the same Alaric.

"It's called zwerchhau."

"Does it really matter how it's called?"

I guess he's right. It doesn't. It puts a smile on my face.

"But I also want to ask something. What were you doing in these 5 hours?", asked Elaina.

I remembered the entire adventure I had with the hospital...

"Nothing, just wandered here and there."

"I see... interesting", she said and giggled a bit.

"Hey, Kai…"

"What's that, Alaric?"

"Next time, when I'll fight Seraphine… please let me do it alone. No shields, no hastes, nothing of that. I need to defeat her with my own strength."

"I… see. But without my Shield you would die there, you know?"

"I do. And still, that's my wish."

Yeah, it's the same party of the same people. They didn't change that much. However... it's just the beginning, isn't it? There is still a long road to walk, and a lot to learn. For them... and for me. However, what happened after this made the whole Seraphine incident seem like a child's play...