Moving through the city of Alsenia, Thomas and Adella could tell that people were worried. Some were worried about the economic situation a war would put them in while others were worried that they or their children might be drafted. There were other reasons as well but these were the big ones on the minds of residents of the capital. Even so, people were as lively as they usually were as well as all of the shops lining the brick streets.

Walking through the streets Thomas watched not the stores around him but Adella so that he might notice if she saw anything she liked. Though she seemed a bit mentally preoccupied for her to notice anything in the streets. Thus, Thomas decided to lead her to the nearest nice-looking clothing store. By the time she realized that they had entered the store, Thomas was already picking out outfits.

“What kind of store did you take me to? Adella asked with a concerned tone as she looked around and only saw modern Alsenian clothing. Most of which were a mix of flat colors with a white or black background fabric. It wasn’t that odd of clothing to her but for some reason, it seemed way too fancy for her. Especially since Natvallian style clothing usually consisted of one color fabric with another color of string holding it all together.

“One in which we could buy clothes. You didn’t seem interested in any of the stores so I took us to one which had a wide variety.” Thomas stated before holding up a white sundress with blue lace. “What do you think of this?” He asked with a smile.

“I think that this is a waste of time.” Adella replied before crossing her arms and turning away. He knew that she was still mad over the issue earlier but he actually wanted her to see him as a friend.

“It is a waste of time. Though I still think you would look good in this.” Thomas said. She ignored him but stood where she was. “Would you at least try it on?” he asked.

Taking the sundress from his hands, Adella walked to the changing room at the back of the store without saying a word. Thomas waited as she changed from her white and purple sleeveless robe to the white and blue sundress. Once she was done she walked out to show Thomas. Thomas looked at her with enamored eyes as she approached him.

“What do you think?” she asked with a mixture of embarrassment and dissatisfaction. Thomas couldn’t help but blush in response. He may have been a priest but even he couldn’t deny that she looked beautiful.

“I think you look stunning.” He replied honestly.

“You think so?” she asked as she wasn’t quite sure if he was telling the truth.

“Of course. Would I lie about something like this?” Thomas replied without a second to delay. Adella couldn’t help but blush before scurrying back into the changing room.

“We need to find something for you as well.” Adella said once she was in the changing room.

“I agree. Though you need something new first. That sundress would be nice.” Thomas replied.

“Alright, I’ll get it but you need to let me pick out what you get.” Adella replied hoping that he would refuse.

“Agreed. I expect that you’ll find something nice for me to wear.” Thomas said with a happy tone.

After a couple of hours rummaging through clothing and picking Thomas out various pieces of clothing that obviously did not fit a Priest. Most of which, Thomas had to put back despite telling Adella that she could pick out his outfit. A promise that he was starting to regret. However, she didn’t seem like her mind was wandering anymore and she seemed to act as she trusted him again. That was all he needed for now.

Once they left the store, the two grabbed some lunch. Which the two of them ate readily as they had not eaten since the night before. After eating the two sat at their table for a good hour much to the staff’s disdain. Though they paid their tab and left a rather large tip for letting them stay longer than they should. Then they wandered around the city for a bit and took in the sights.

“There are a few things that I need to ask you.” Adella said as they strolled through the city.

“And what might that be?” Thomas asked in reply.

“Why did you bring us back to Alsenia? And if you could teleport then why didn’t you just teleport to Hutch from Alsenia in the first place?” Adella asked.

“I brought us to Alsenia because it’s where we need to be at the moment. As for why I didn’t teleport? Well, I had no idea that I would find the hero in Hutch. I was just told to go to Islandhand. That, and it is less strange for someone to take a cart somewhere than just blipping out whenever they want.” Thomas replied honestly.

“That makes sense I guess. Though why do we need to be here right at this moment?” Adella asked as she was unsatisfied by his answer.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Thomas replied. He knew exactly why they were here. It was because someone else was here that they needed to meet and they were running out of time.

“What does that mean?” Adella asked before they walked down an alleyway as a shortcut.

“It means you’ll find out soon…” Thomas said as they walked down the alleyway only to notice that Adella wasn’t moving. She had stopped dead in her tracks with a look of sheer terror on her face as she looked at the ground below her.

“Adella, what’s wrong?” Thomas asked with a worried tone before turning around and walking towards her. She still didn’t move nor utter a single word. Getting down on one knee, Thomas looked her in the eyes and called out her name to see if there was any reaction. Nothing. Then Thomas felt something brush against his rib. He grabbed it quickly and looked down to see that Adella had stabbed him with a small knife. As soon as he realized what it was she let go of the knife and backed away.

“I’m sorry.” she said under her breath as she continued to look down in fear.

Still gripping the knife to his chest, Thomas stood up and turned to see the old man who had accompanied Adella as Notvallia’s representative. He was dressed in similar clothing to the white and purple robe that Adella had been wearing and he had a wicked smile plastered on his face. Thomas threw his bag of clothing to the side with his free hand and gave the man a similarly wicked look.

“I figured that was you, Ashen one. Took you long enough.” Thomas said with a stern look. Adella stepped back further in shock as she never expected Thomas to know who this man was.

“So, you still recognize me after all these years and changing my appearance? How intriguing. Though I was surprised to hear you were still alive and even more so to hear that you had become a Priest. I figured that would be the last thing you would become after the Church and I had hurt you so much.” The old man replied with a smug grin before walking closer to Thomas.

“Of course. You always smell of ash and blood. There’s no hiding a stench like that.” Thomas stated with a hateful look.

“No less than yourself though. How can you smell anything with all that hypocrisy? Weren’t you the Church’s most well-known assassin till a few years ago? The legendary Prince of Death!” The old man replied with a hearty laugh. Thomas didn’t respond but he did grit his teeth a bit.

Adella didn’t comprehend what she was hearing. Everyone in the Church’s assassination squad knew of the legend that was the Prince of Death. It was said that he was a merciless killer who wiped out entire heretical cities by himself. Though he was said to have died a few years ago. It didn’t make sense for Thomas to be this assassin.

“You’re right, Ashern one. I killed so many people in the name of our Creator. Though I learned the truth and have forsaken that path. I will never kill so long as I live.” Thomas said passionately. Both Adella and the old man were a bit surprised by this but the old man couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You were once my prized pupil. I only came as a representative of Notvallia because I had learned that there was a chance that you were alive and acting as a representative of Lesable. However, the Church doesn’t like deserters and neither do I. I’m sorry about this but by the power instilled in me by my Creator, I sentence you to death by fire.” The old man said before holding out his hand. From underneath Thomas, a cyclone of fire appeared and engulfed Thomas.

Adella stepped back and shut her eyes to avoid the searing flames. She also didn’t want to see Thomas burning to death. Not because she was unaccustomed to it but because she had started seeing Thomas as a friend rather than a target. A friend who she was sent after to track and see if he was a threat to the Church. A friend who she had tagged and led to his death. Had she not have activated a tracking rune in the dirt earlier then he wouldn’t be burning alive.

“You did well Akatsine. I doubted whether you would be able to ascertain that he was a threat but you did well. You killed the Prince of Death. An amazing feat for any Church Assassin.” the old man said with a proud tone. Adella acknowledged the old man nodded and started to walk towards him.

“I think you should shut up. I never expected you of all people to fail in recognizing when someone is dead.” Thomas said in a very condescending tone. Both Adella and the old man stood in shock and stared at the burning cyclone as Thomas walked out of it completely nude.

“How!?!” The old man exclaimed in surprise. Adella was too shocked to say anything as the cyclone dissipated and showed that Thomas was completely unharmed. Only his clothes had been burned off. Not only that but the knife with which Adella had stabbed him with was lying on the ground melted but there were no stab marks on his body at all. The only blemish on his skin was a large tattoo of an Ethereal being on his chest that acted as the stigmata for a Saint.

“I’ve already told you how. I learned the truth.” Thomas said with an overly smug yet serious tone.

“Don’t tell me, you’ve become a Saint. That’s impossible! Only the Pope can become a Saint!” the old man exclaimed.

“Wrong! That is a lie spread by the Church. There hasn’t been a Saint within the Church in nearly two hundred years.” Thomas stated. “Now, stand down and give up your life as an assassin or suffer the consequences.” Thomas continued with a much kinder tone than before.