Elissa sat astride her horse, staring across the battlefield. The bodies of ratfolk lay scattered among the trees, many of them sporting so many arrows they looked like pincushions.

  Someone with a powerful archer class had made short work of the creatures. As she watched, a crow alighted on the nearest corpse and began to peck at the body. She knew from experience the eyes would be the first parts of the ratfolk to be devoured by the birds.

  Yet the bodies barely kept her attention. What drew her interest was the shattered tree in front of her horse. Someone—or something—had used an immensely powerful spell to turn it into little more than kindling.

  She’d arrived earlier this morning by ship, weary and still green around the gills from her bouts of seasickness. Traveling by ship did not agree with her. Yet when the local augur had sensed a powerful ripple of infernal magic from this direction, she’d set out immediately with a dozen sisters from her order.

  Imilce leapt down from her horse and hurried over to inspect the broken stump. While the tree had been smashed, there was no sign of any burning or charring. This was a strange type of magic she’d never encountered before.

  Elissa frowned as her gaze swept the countryside. The road leading to this area wasn’t one of the main highways, and few traveled it during the day. It would be difficult to locate witnesses, should any even exist.

  As she examined the broken bodies, she felt her sense of puzzlement grow. Why would a powerful infernal caster annihilate a burrow of ratfolk? Had the caster inadvertently walked into an ambush?

  No, that didn’t make any sense. Anyone with even an ounce of common sense wouldn’t leave the safety of the roads this close to the foothills at the base of the Dragonspine Mountains. Far too many monsters called this place home.

  While the battle perplexed her, the fact an infernal caster had used magic this close to an Imperial city baffled her completely. Every citizen of the empire knew that the Dawnward Host stood ready in every city to smite heretical casters.

  There were only two possible answers as to why an infernal caster would risk exposure this close to the city; they were so powerful that they weren’t concerned with being discovered; or they were freshly awakened and incredibly foolish.

  Hopefully, it was the second option, because the first one filled her with dread. While most of the history of the Dawnward Host had been expunged from common knowledge, her order kept detailed records of every battle fought against heretical casters.

  Deep in the bowels of her abbey, in a vast dusty library, she’d read bone-chilling accounts of ancient battles between sisters and casters from the Ascendant Realms. She’d poured over passages detailing murderous hordes of demons wiping out entire cities. Of infernal casters who could destroy groups of nuns with a flick of their wrist.

  Any of those passages should be enough to condemn every last infernal and celestial caster to the purifying flames of judgement. Yet that was not why Elissa hated them with a burning passion.

  No, their greatest crime was serving realms that had sided against the Undying Emperor and the Thirteen Sovereigns during Thronefall. For that, she would ensure every heretic caster would burn in the flames of judgement.

  Turning, she pointed at Imilce. “I want every record in the city searched. If anyone was near this location today, I want to know about it.”

  “As you wish, sister.” Imilce inclined her head slightly.

  “Now,” she said, clapping her hands. “So that this trip wasn’t wasted, what reports of heresy do we have in this area?”

  Another sister, who she vaguely recalled was named Adara, cracked open a book and flipped through the pages before stopping. Running a finger down the sheet of parchment, she pursed her lips. “There was an account from a tailor about a girl wearing the symbol of a false god in the city.”

  Elissa frowned. “That is most concerning. However, I meant suspected cases of heresy near our current location.” She’d only arrived in the city today, but she wanted to remind the locals that no heresy would be tolerated.

  “Hmm…” Adara stopped with her finger about halfway down the page. “A local farmer claims that his neighbour is using an altar dedicated to a false god. He says, and these are his words and not mine, that his cursed neighbour is blighting his crops.”

  “That should do for now.” Elissa took one last look at the sight of the battle and then strode back to her horse.

  Lifting the hem of her robes slightly, she pulled herself up into the saddle. As any good lady should, she sat sidesaddle, letting both feet hang over one side. She’d been disgusted to see many of the local sisters ride horses like men. Still, she could correct that abhorrent behavior at a future date after she’d settled in at the citadel.

  In fact, there were many things about the local abbey she disliked. When she got a chance, she’d have to sit down with the local prioress and set things straight. Before too long, she would ensure everyone here stood in the grace of the Undying Emperor.

  Elissa glanced over at Adara. “Are you familiar with the location of the farm?”

  The nun nodded, looking uncomfortable. “Yes, Inquisitor.”

  “Good. Lead the way, then.”

  With a snap of the reins, Elissa set her horse into a trot. While she could complain about many things here so far, at least the beasts were well trained. It carried her regally, as all beasts should for their betters.

  She left the forest behind, riding across the crop field, and then splashing through a shallow irrigation ditch. Emerging on the other side of the water, her horse climbed the steep incline to reach the road.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The thirteen of them trotted down the dirt path in silence, any travelers they encountered giving them a wide berth. The reputation of the host meant that few would ever dare trouble them. Heresy was everywhere, and few wanted the eye of an inquisitor upon them.

  As she rode down the rutted path, Elissa turned her gaze toward the mountains. She knew, as did every other sister in the order, that the greatest heresy of all existed amongst the dark peaks.

  Within the mountains, the Black Pyramid had been constructed by foul demons during the final days of Thronefall. While no one knew its purpose yet, the empire had spent centuries sending in groups of adventurers to uncover its secrets.

  Unfortunately, none had succeeded yet. However, with every attempt, they grew closer to learning the truth. And hopefully someday they would uncover a way to destroy the foul structure.

  Perhaps when her eyesight dimmed, and her back bent with age, she would attempt the Black Pyramid herself. There was no nobler end for one of her order than to die fighting demons.

  After nearly an hour, they arrived at a farm, though she could barely call it that. The crops were stunted and brown. And most of the irrigation ditches were little more than mud puddles.

  If this farmer had blighted his neighbour's crops, then he seemed to have blighted his own as well. Her hopes of making an example of him to the locals faded slightly. She doubted there was any heresy here. Yet she would dutifully investigate.

  Adara led the way down a narrow path, the riders moving single file. A woman in simple peasant garb caught sight of them and raced toward the house. The building had been built using wattle and daub and had a thatched roof. Several outbuildings of similar construction dotted the property.

  The woman disappeared inside and then emerged moments later with an older man. Both peasants stood outside the home, fidgeting as they waited for her arrival.

  Elissa kicked the side of her horse and cantered ahead of the others. Upon reaching the farmer—and what she assumed was his eldest daughter—she leapt down from her saddle. Holding the reins of her mount, she advanced on them.

  “I am Inquisitor Elissa,” she said coldly. “You have been accused of the following: worshipping a false god, spreading heresy, and blighting the crops of your neighbour. What do you have to say in your defense?”

  The man’s bushy black eyebrows shot up. “Heresy? None here. We’re loyal to the emperor.”

  “If that is the case, then you have nothing to fear.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a tiny face peering out from a barn. Turning back to the man, she scowled. “Assemble your entire family immediately.”

  The man pulled off his beaten-up woolen hat and twisted it in his hands. “No need to involve the children in this, miss.”

  “You shall refer to me as inquisitor,” she said in a steely tone. “Moreover, that was not a request.”

  “Yes, Mis— I mean, inquisitor.”

  The man hurried around until he had collected a gaggle of children. A total of four girls and three boys were arranged in a line in front of the man. When the youngest one tried to speak, the eldest daughter shushed him.

  “This is all of them, inquisitor,” he said. “As you can see, we worship the emperor right proper here.”

  Elissa sighed. “His proper title is the Undying Emperor.”

  “Right.” The man grimaced slightly. “The Undying Emperor.”

  Elissa gestured at the other nuns arrayed behind her on their horses. “Search the farm. Leave no stone unturned.”

  The man stepped forward. “No need for that.”

  She arched her eyebrow. “Now why is that?”

  “No-no reason.”

  Elissa’s eyes narrowed as she watched the man nervously shift his weight from foot to foot. Perhaps she’d been wrong. With the way the man was acting, there might be heresy to be found here after all.

  She watched as the nuns dismounted. Nine of them spread out to search the farm, while two remained behind to hold the horse’s reins. Several of them entered the outbuildings, while the rest moved into the house.

  After a short time had passed, one woman with hair like spun gold stepped out of the barn. She waved Elissa over, her red robes swinging with each motion.

  At the sight of the nun emerging from the barn, the man’s face went pale as a sheet. He took a step back, glancing over his shoulder at his daughter nearby. The young woman’s mouth pressed into a straight line, her eyes darting around like a cornered animal.

  A slight smile played across Elissa’s face. She already knew what she would find inside the barn.

  Elissa handed the reins of her mount to one of the sisters. Then she strode over to the barn and entered through the broad doors. Once inside, she wrinkled her nose. The one thing she would never get used to was the terrible smell of the world outside of the nunnery.

  The nun with the golden hair brought her over to a corner where it looked like several floorboards had been removed. Underneath was a tiny room with a shrine in the corner. Mounted on the shrine was the unmistakable mark of the false god, Infernus.

  “Heresy,” she gasped, holding a hand up to her chest. It was always good to ensure others knew how much heresy horrified her personally. “This family has strayed from the Undying Emperor’s path.”

  Behind her, Adara had entered the room. “I will arrest them immediately.”

  “No need,” Elissa said. “I will handle this matter myself.”

  “I don’t understand,” Adara said, frowning. “They must be arrested for their crimes and brought to trial.”

  “Under Imperial Law, a person waives the right to trial if found in possession of a heretical object.” Normally, she would have done what Adara suggested. However, she needed to make an example of this family. The citizens of Kalmyros must learn that heresy had consequences. And unlike her most recent cases, there was no question as to the family’s guilt.

  Adara’s eyes widened as the meaning of Elissa’s words sank in. She shook her head vehemently. “Such things have not been done here for centuries. The local magistrate usually only imposes a fine…”

  “Perhaps I should speak with the magistrate then.”

  “I will not allow this travesty to occur,” Adara said, stepping in front of Elissa.

  Elissa stared at the nun with steely calm. Then she motioned to Imilce standing nearby. “If she interferes with the holy work of an inquisitor again, kill her.”

  Imilce drew a shining dagger. “As you wish, sister.”

  Adara glanced at the other nuns in the barn, but none of them met her gaze. Finally, she turned back to Elissa. “They’re only children,” she whispered. “Please spare them. They shouldn’t suffer for the crimes of their father.”

  “They have been infected with the taint of heresy. All must be purged.” Elissa waited to see if any others would object before she marched out of the barn. Upon leaving the structure, she saw that the man had both hands on his head and looked stricken.

  “I only built it in the hope of rain,” he cried out. “No one else in my family knew anything about it.”

  “If you needed rain, you should have prayed to the Undying Emperor,” she said coldly. “As you know, any heresy must be removed root and stem.”

  “Please!” He dropped to his knees and extended his hands toward Elissa. “Have mercy!”

  “This is all the mercy you deserve.”

  Raising her hand, she cast [Firestorm]. A tornado of flames descended on the family, engulfing them in its burning coils. The screams from within were like music to her ears, but like everything else enjoyable, they were short-lived.

  Congratulations! You have slain a Human, Level 185.

  More notifications followed, but she ignored them. As the purifying flames incinerated the heretics, she turned back toward her horse. She noted that some of the nuns had fallen to their knees while others wept openly. When she returned to the Dawnward Citadel, she would have to discipline them severely. They should rejoice at the purging of heretics.

  As she mounted her horse, she mentally listed the things she would have to do upon her return to Kalmyros. First, she needed to investigate everyone who had been in the vicinity of the ratfolk. Then she would enjoy herself by taking some time to hunt down the girl who dared wear a symbol of Infernus.

  Elissa was going to have a wonderful time in Kalmyros. And once she was finished with her holy work, she would have brought the entire city back into the Undying Emperor’s grace.