Chapter 90: Catch-22

Dita never answered.

She looked away and began playing with a strand of her curly brown hair as if everything was right as rain.

As much as Peace wanted to press her...

’It’ll only make the others more suspicious.’

Of Dita...

And of Peace.

They might suspect he knew this mysterious ’woman.’

The last thing he wanted was to piss off the Imperials by letting knowledge of the Witch’s existence slip out.

’Damn... Can this fucking pain stop! I get it already, you hurt, I’m aware. Now shut up!’

Peace hated pain for all it had done to his sister.

’Pain is so paradoxical!’

It was an alarm system meant to warn the body of injury or danger. Yet it kept ringing long after its message had been received.

And that incessant ringing often led to rash decisions and an inability to act when it mattered most.

’Pain kills! It’s a killer! Kill pain! I need a pain killer!’

Biting his lip, Peace felt tears welling in his eyes as he shifted his legs slightly. Turning towards his companion from their blood-soaked adventures, he strained to ask:

"What now? What are you going to do now?"

Dita looked back at Peace.

"I don’t really know... I want to leave as soon as possible, but it feels kind of wrong to abandon you like that after all we’ve been through. Looking at your party, it doesn’t seem like you’ll be able to make it back out on your own."

Peace studied Dita’s aloof expression.

"Back... out? You don’t know?"

"Huh...?"

Yulis, still eyeing Dita, said:

"Someone triggered the trial. But I think you know that already, don’t you?"

Finally, Dita’s carefree expression vanished, replaced by utter dread.

"The hell do you mean?! Again! I can’t deal with this again! Gah, damn it!"

Yulis’ eyes dropped to Dita’s hand, her fingers curled tightly around the hilt of her blade.

"Again?"

Dita raised her free hand, frantically pointing at the half-dead Peace.

"Did he not tell you?! We had to fight the Stalker last time around!"

Yulis’ expression melted into confusion as he looked at Peace. But seeing Peace’s indifference to the claim, he seemed to accept it as the truth.

Looking off into the darkness, Yulis said:

"Uh... No, he didn’t."

’Why does he look sad?! We aren’t friends! Why would I tell him about that?! Besides... he didn’t even ask.’

Peace grumbled:

"Told you when we met, remember? That I was having... the shittiest of luck."

"I didn’t know it was that terrible. How did you end up on the bank of the Moonlit River?"

Peace lifted a finger and pointed at Dita.

"Long story... If you’re curious, direct your questions to her."

Dita stomped her foot into the ground.

"Now is not the time for some questionnaire! Where is your sense of urgency?! We need to get the hell out of here!"

Maura scowled, breaking her silence.

"We have no sense of urgency? Our sense of urgency is what brought us here... We’re trying to reach whoever’s attempting Synthesis."

The red-haired Healer surveyed her comrades, dismay crossing her face. The sight inspired anything and everything but hope.

Their chances of reaching the altar were abysmal.

Yulis scratched the back of his head.

"So, fess up... Why’d you do it?"

Dita rolled her eyes.

"Oh, shut the fuck up, pipsqueak!"

"Pipsqueak—?"

Dita the diva balled up her fist and slammed it into the ground.

"I didn’t sign up for this bullshit! I should have never listened to that bitch!"

Yulis sighed, the tips of his pointed ears growing red.

"Quit the charade—"

Dita lifted her blade, pointing it at Yulis, his embarrassment instantly giving way to alarm.

As he rose, readying himself for a fight, Dita said:

"Accuse me again, you little shit. I dare you."

Wincing, Peace craned his neck towards Yulis.

"Leave her alone... It seems she’s as sassy as when we last met. You’re better off asking nicely and settling for the first answer you get."

Panic still etched across her face, Dita swung the sword towards Peace.

"Sassy?! Peace, I’ll show you sassy!"

Unperturbed by the blade’s edge, Peace whistled, then said:

"Ooh... I’ve been elevated to Peace again?"

"Shut up!"

Peace managed a strained smile.

"Ah, my bad."

’Good to see that whole debacle didn’t kill her character.’

However...

’This experience just might.’

Getting chased by the Skeletal Stalker, only to wind up trapped in the Light Temple with the Worshipper of Light about to be summoned, was a back-to-back, one-star experience that would make most people blacklist the dungeon for life.

’I’m surprised she even entered again at all.’

Watching their exchange, Yulis’ alarm gradually gave way to suspicion again. Though, this time, it seemed he’d finally realized Dita was as suspicious of them as he was of her.

And perhaps, like the rest of them, she was simply a victim of circumstance.

But...

’Pointing a sword at me makes someone reasonable?!’

The conclusion was beneficial to Peace; how Yulis had arrived at it was a little... disconcerting.

Dita eventually lowered her sword. Looking like she was about to cry, she pulled her knees to her chest and muttered:

"Fuck you."

Peace chuckled lightly.

"Glad to see you’re alright too... I’m surprised you managed to escape."

Dita dropped her sword, the metal clanking against the ground.

"Hmph... I wouldn’t exactly call it escaping. I was saved. Saved at the cost of coming here, apparently."

Peace asked:

"Why don’t you seem too surprised I’m alive?"

Dita’s eyes fell to her thigh.

"Because... she said she’d save you."

’So... it was her.’

Peace let his head dip slightly.

’Ah, no wonder she said "of course you would".’

"I see."

Dita muttered:

"I was right, you met her as well. That woman in a white dress."

"Ah—"

’Shit.’

Coughing lightly, Peace suddenly felt as if the pain had eased slightly.

"But, uh, that woman... wouldn’t killing the Stalker be a more surefire way to save me than letting it chase me?"

"Is that not what she did?"

Peace hung his head.

"No... not at all."

Yulis finally lowered his sword as well and sat back down, the tension easing somewhat.

"Okay... I think it’s only right that we get an explanation."

’Curiosity outweighing fear, eh?’

Dita sneered.

"Didn’t I say now’s not the time for questions, tree-hugger?"