Chapter 56: Chapter 55: Of Old Debts

Far, far away from the trails of Normadia, back in the rainy and misty Dogenbandr Isles, there was a small farm. Hastily built in a plot of land abandoned and considered by many as completely useless, it had finally started producing at a nice and reliable pace a few years ago. The many little girls working the fields and selling in the local town were prouder than ever, happy that their efforts had effectively proven everyone wrong.

 

It was a small community, the one running the farm. All refugees from a tragedy with echoes still reverberating in the Isles even six years later: the tale of a broken, abandoned church lost near Gwynedd, and the Heartless Witch that burnt half of it to the ground in a single night. The rumors had spread that very same night, whispers too loud to be ignored, stories of a creature of red hairs waging vengeance against an innocent group of nuns.

 

Of course, the refugees themselves knew the truth of that night, at least some of them did. Some of them had witnessed the falling lightning, the death of many, the torture that had been going on for oh so long… but none dared to speak up, to clear up the lies or even try to correct details of those malicious rumors, for they knew talking too much and too confidently about these matters could attract even bigger issues.

 

They were happy now, away from the dark days of the chapel. None of them wanted to have the Genesis Corps on their trail again.

 

But among them there was one who simply could not rest in their new, easier life. A restless soul that, ever since that fateful night six years ago, had been tirelessly consulting her one lifeline with the hopes of finding an old, lost friend.

 

Sister Arianna, or just Arianna since voluntarily stepping down from the service, simply could not sleep in peace knowing that Gabrielle could still be out there, facing a world that hated her. How was it possible to simply disappear without leaving a trace in the world? The ex-nun feared the worst had happened, but couldn’t simply accept that possibility without proof.

 

Every day, after checking and making annotations on the farm’s accounting books, Ari would open the old tome she used to work on and check on its pages for new messages. After all, she may have walked down from the Church’s ranks, but she still held to that direct line with the Chamber Priest. She would ask again and again about the redhead’s whereabouts, and over and over she would receive the same negative answers.

 

Until that very day.

 

“SHE LIVES.” the book announced, wide open on Arianna’s desk.

 

The tired black-haired lady would open her eyes oh so widely, the day feeling so sunny despite the rain pouring outside. Ari could practically jump on one foot, but no. She needed to focus and keep calm, not to make a huge fuss and celebrate before things were even clear enough to do something about it.

 

So she wrote her answer.

 

“WHERE. HOW. IS SHE OKAY?”

 

The ex-nun held her breath, hands already trembling as she waited for more information…

 

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 But the old Chamber Priest was not sure how to really start. Sitting all alone in his study, staring at his own Tome of Communications while caressing his own chin. Giovanni hated lying, and yet he had been withholding information from this poor woman for at least a year now.

 

But how to tell Arianna that her dear little girl was now a faith-criminal?

 

The Genesis still didn’t have enough pieces of evidence to proclaim her a wanted faith-criminal, but her presence had been acknowledged by them. Every time something went wrong in an operation, every moment another Demiurge popped up somewhere in Normadia, there were sightings of the “red-haired Witch” prowling in the vicinity.

 

It had happened way too many times to be a mere coincidence.

 

And with the upcoming raid closer than ever, knowing what was at stake, the old man had finally realized it was time to speak the truth before things escalated even further.

 

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… At least part of the truth.

 

“She is okay, she has been seen on the way to Caen. If you move fast, you may be able to catch her trail.”

 

Giovanni sighed, slowly shaking his head and begging the saints that, indeed, the woman moved fast enough to catch Gabrielle before getting into more trouble than any of them could manage.

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The decision was taken as soon as the words appeared in her book. Arianna nodded to herself with determination burning in her eyes, standing from her desk and quickly rushing back from the study to her room. She had to move swiftly, to pack as light as she could, and then run straight out of the barn and to Caen! It was a little far all things considered, she would need to get a ferry ticket and all, but with enough luck Ari would be in Caen within a few days.

 

She was so excited about it that she almost trampled people on her way out of the house… only to be stopped by Alejandra’s strong, tall frame. The bigger woman had noticed Arianna’s rush and simply elected to wait right on the exit, arms crossed and eyes narrowed, while the girls quickly hid around the house to get an earful of the gossip.

 

“You seem to be in a rush.” Said Ale. “Did you need to go somewhere, comrade?”

 

“They found her, they found Gabi!” Arianna answered quickly, moving around to try and find her way by the bigger woman. No dice. “I’ll be gone for a few days, let me through!”

 

“Ari… you can’t just leave things like this, all of a sudden. What if no one saw you go? How would we know where you went?” Alejandra’s frown only grew. “What will you do anyways?”

 

“I will go for Gabi and bring her back with us.” 

 

There was some whispering going on around the house. Gabi, the witch? Why would they bring that girl back, now that things were finally peaceful? Even if the girls were no longer resentful of the redhead, they had grown very protective of the life they had secured on the farm.

 

“Ari… I understand you are worried about her. I am too, trust me!” Ale took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. “But you can’t rush things like this. We are barely scraping by as we are, do you think we can take another person?”

 

“We left her behind Ale, and she had to fend for herself all this time because of it.” Ari frowned and crossed both arms. “Now, will you let me go or not?”

 

Alejandra knew better than to antagonize that tiny and feisty woman for too long. If she didn’t let her go now, Arianna would simply find a chance to escape during the night and, well, that would make things even worse for everyone. So, with a defeated sigh and a shake of her head, the powerful ex-nun simply walked out of the way.

 

“Please be careful, that is all I ask for. And come back. Don’t you dare disappear too.”

 

“I promise I will be fine, don’t worry.” Arianna smiled, reaching over to hug the taller woman and sneaking a kiss on her cheek before letting go. “Take care of things while I am gone, I trust you know how to count at least.”

 

“Saints above, just get out already!”

 

Alejandra sighed again, rubbing her cheek slightly and just, trying to pray for the first time in six years. Praying to the saints, to the old gods, the Creator, to everyone! Please.

 

Keep that idiot safe.

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