A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Yet, despite the rage that was slowly boiling over inside, Erik forced himself to remain calm. No matter how disgusted he may be by the actions of the Humanitas Sangh, they were not his priority. His mother was.

In the end, tragedy was everywhere, and while Erik may feel compassion for the victims, and the desire to wipe out the aggressors, he didn't consider himself a hero who needed to save every person he came across.

The fate of these people was tragic, and Erik would eventually ensure the transgressors were wiped out, but he wasn't going to risk the lives of himself, his family, and his mother, just to save some strangers. Especially not when the most mercy he could likely offer these people was a quick death.

Yet, internally, a shift did happen.

Previously, most of his anger and hatred had been focused on Edda. He hated the hunters as well, of course, but in his mind, Edda was their representative, and as soon as he'd killed her, it was questionable how much effort he'd put into pursuing an end to the hunters as a whole.

Perhaps he would have chosen to focus on building his empire with Elora instead, only to eventually subjugate the Humanitas Sangh and force them to accept his rule.

Only now did he realize that was impossible. Even if the hunters went from a paramilitary organization hiding under the church's wing to a proper nation, there was still no way to exist with them.

The only way for Erik and Elora to fulfil their plans, was by wiping out the hunters as a concept. By rooting them out from the source, and purging them from this Earth in their entirety.

Thus, conviction and determination rose. Now he knew, he wouldn't stop at Edda. But taking down the hunters as a whole was clearly an effort that Erik and his family couldn't accomplish alone. They'd need an army.

Regardless, Erik shook his head and focused his thoughts. None of this mattered right now. Turning his eyes away from the wanton cruelty around him, he instead looked at a large, luxurious building in the distance.

"I'm coming, Mom…" he growled to himself, before picking up the pace a little.

* * *

Not much later, he found himself in front of a closed gate with two Arcanist guards standing on either side.

"Let me through, you idiots!" the disguised Erik exclaimed at the guards with impatient fury. "Or do you need me to break the gate down, and you two with it?!"

Fortunately, Aaron's character didn't require him to hide the deep contempt and rage he felt for these obviously complicit Arcanists. Enjoy exclusive content from empire

Yet, despite his third rank pressure, bad reputation, and clear agitation, the guards remained surprisingly calm. "If you choose to do so, Lord Aaron, we wouldn't be able to stop you," one of them told him with only just enough respect to not make him insubordinate. "But I doubt Mistress Lilith would appreciate it."

Unlike the barely respectful tone he took with Aaron, the name Lilith was uttered with just about as much reverence and fear and as one could reasonably expect one human being to feel for another.

Erik narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure how the real Aaron would have reacted at this point, but he doubted he'd just lie down and take it. Still, based on this guard's fear of Lilith, and Aaron's honestly meagre power, he also doubted Aaron would be quick to defy the confessor he served.

Not to mention that he couldn't actually afford to fight these guys. Not because he couldn't easily defeat two second rankers, but because he couldn't use Aaron's mud spells, and it was far too early in the game to give up on his disguise.

"So then let her know I'm here!" Erik snarled threateningly. "As I'm sure you imbeciles have noticed, I'm not in the best fucking state here, and I'd like to speak to her before I collapse!"

The guards didn't react to his behaviour, and still remained calm. Clearly, they were confident in the backing of their Mistress Lilith. "Mistress Lilith knows you are here, Lord Aaron, but, in her own words, she has no interest in speaking to a failure who was only barely able to escape from a second ranker."

Clearly, rumours of Erik's interference and battle with Aaron had spread after the survivors of that battle made it back here.

The guard pointed towards a nearby building, which looked to have once been a luxurious hotel. This was where the third rankers Abigail and Aaron had taken up residence, together with their followers.

"Lady Abigail has returned as well," he continued indifferently while still pointing at the hotel, "and she is currently being treated for her wounds. Mistress Lilith suggests you join her, as she'll expect you both to be ready to march again in a few hours."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

'That metalwind bitch survived?' Erik immediately wondered inwardly. 'I guess I forgot to ask about the actual result of that old man's battle with her… It's a shame, but if she's wounded, she hopefully won't be much of an issue.'

Outwardly, however, he completely ignored this news. Instead, he cried out in outrage, "She expects me to do what?! I nearl—" but then he interrupted himself with a frustrated scoff. "Ack!"

Instead, his lips curled into a sly grin, "Whatever… I actually think the confessor might want to talk to me… I have some interesting information for her that I wouldn't mind sharing in return for having her healer treat me, instead of my own team."

Scowling, he spit on the ground, "Those imbeciles can barely heal a sprain."

Naturally, they had actually thought of a reason for why 'Aaron' wanted to get inside this building. This entire place was, after all, personally occupied by the confessor, and not so easily accessible, even to Deacon's like Aaron.

Meanwhile, during all this theatre, Elora was giggling mischievously, and mentally patting Erik on the back for his acting talent. Erik couldn't help but smile inwardly at her praise, which actually helped him control his turbulent emotions a little better.

The guard frowned. Clearly, he hadn't expected this, so he looked curiously at his counterpart on the other side of the gate, but he simply shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "Lord Aaron is still a Deacon, Jake," he said calmly. "Should at least relay his request. I'm sure the Confessor will understand."

But Jake scoffed and rolled his eyes, "Oh? So why don't you go bother her then? If she's displeased with Lord Aaron's message, she might just take it out on you, too!"

The other guard's eyebrows twitched slightly and said nothing. Jake snorted and turned back to Aaron with a thoughtful and wry expression.

But Erik decided that, at this point, the real Aaron would certainly explode from anger.

Thus, it was time to move this along.