The door Vim had broken was fixed already. It shut rather smoothly as I hurried over to stand beside Vim, ready to shout angrily if I needed to… since I knew he wouldn't.

Unlike last time we'd visited the Chronicler didn't ignore us outright or be haughty. She put aside a letter she had been reading and frowned gently at us. "You're fine, but she's not. What is the matter?" she asked gently, sounding almost kind about it.

I stepped forward, clenching my fist as my tail squirmed beneath my pants. "Have you seen your monarch lately?" I asked before Vim could.

The Chronicler shifted a little, turning her head as she glanced at Vim… then back to me. "No…? Not since last night, I think. But she comes and goes, why…?"

"You don't know," Vim said plainly.

I groaned as I realized she didn't. Her dimly glowing eyes narrowed at us as she sat up a little straighter. "What… what are you saying?" she asked, sounding far too convincing to not be believable.

Great! It was wrong of me to think so, but I had genuinely wanted her to be the cause of the poor little creature's death. As to justify hating her… yet now…

Stepping away, I huffed as I reached up to cup my face. I was so horrible sometimes!

"Your little monarch has died. We found it in the mansio, collapsed with a hole in its chest and side," Vim explained.

For a few moments there was silence, so I turned to study the woman I was trying really hard to hate with justification, and found her staring at Vim with more shock than even when we had confronted her a few days ago. About far more serious matters.

A little surprised to see such emotion upon her, I returned to Vim's side. "We took it to Hands… but it was too late," I added.

"That's not possible," The Chronicler said simply, as if making a simple factual statement. As if she just told us the sun had risen today.

Glancing at Vim, I found him frowning at her. In a way that was rather telling.

"You sincerely don't believe it," he said gently.

For a long moment the Chronicler only stared at him… and then glanced down. Vim shifted his hands a little, to display the blood still staining his hands. The stuff was dried now, though dark.

"That's… No!" The Chronicler stood, her eyes glowing a little stronger as she did. "Vim! That's not possible! Mapple!" she added, and then shouted Mapple's name at the end. I flinched, since she had genuinely shouted it. As if for her life.

A little worried over her outburst; I shifted and wondered why she had screamed in such a way. Did she feel in danger all of a sudden…? As much as I would like her to feel such pressure, it wasn't like I actually wanted her to feel such a way. Until we had actual, verifiable, proof that she's done something worth such a punishment at least.

The door opened half a moment later as Mapple ran in… skidded to a stop, and gaped at us. She flinched at the sight of Vim, and hurriedly grimaced as she clenched her fist.

Oh no… Did she think she needed to protect her master from us…?

"Hurry and gather everyone. Have Tenure and everyone available search for the monarch or hint of it. And immediately summon a Society wide meeting, I want everyone counted for. Now," The Chronicler ordered as she rounded the table.

My ears shifted under my hat as I glanced around, and then watched Mapple nod and run out of the room… not even questioning the order.

"The monarch is with Hands," I said gently, reminding her.

"I know. I want them to think it's still alive, as to see what kind of response I get from them. If you would Renn, please go tell Hands to keep his possession of its body, and the knowledge of what happened to it a secret. Until we get to the bottom of this," she said.

Oh…? I nodded gently as I glanced at Vim, as if to make sure he was okay with me doing so.

"What kind of wound killed it, Vim?" she then asked softly, likely since the door to her office was still opened.

"It was stabbed through. By something with enough force to completely separate its heart and a part of its spine. Honestly I'm not sure what had hurt it, Hands thinks it was hit by something with great velocity, and I agree with him. As if it was hit by a large bolt or something," Vim said.

She frowned as she pondered that, and then sighed. "This is not good. At all. Is there any hope of saving it?"

"No. It's likely already growing cold," Vim said.

The Chronicler reached up, to cup her face. "So many things going wrong, too quickly…" she groaned.

A little surprised to see her act, and say so, I wondered what to say or do. I know I had to leave, to make sure Hands didn't make a mistake… but…

"This was not supposed to happen, Vim. That creature had a purpose. One that it now won't be able to fulfill. This isn't good," she then said.

"I'll go handle Hands. You stay with her, Renn, until I return," Vim then said as he stepped away.

"Vim!" The Chronicler and I both said his name, but he ignored us as he left the office.

I sighed at him, as she did… and then smiled softly at her since we had been in sync for a moment.

"He knows I know better than to bring up prophecies, yet he still acts like that. And he wonders why we have been leaving him in the dark. I swear Renn, your husband has more issues than he solves sometimes," she said.

Well… "You're not entirely wrong, I suppose…" I admitted.

She nodded. "Quickly, before anyone else gets back… anything else I should know about its death?" she asked.

I slowly shook my head. "We found it downstairs, near the bathroom. I think it had come in through the window of the bathroom, either to escape its attacker or maybe to get help… I think it was heading for the stairs, as to come to our bedroom. It was a little odd though; there were no blood stains or signs of its struggle anywhere around the area. Its wound was so great you'd think there'd have been a lot of blood everywhere," I said.

"An oddity, one that makes it clear there's something amiss," she stated as she stepped over to her desk. She picked up a small book and opened it, and quickly went to writing within it. I stepped over, glancing at what she was writing down and realized it was information. She was taking notes, of what Vim had said and what I had said.

She had said she wanted to see what people would say, concerning the monarch's death. She likely planned to compare everything, as to track the perpetrator.

"Hands tried to save it. I begged Vim too, but he said it couldn't be done," I said softly.

She nodded. "Vim's not cruel, and Hands has a duty. Neither would have allowed it to perish if they had the ability to save it. I have no doubt there," she said as she kept writing in the little book.

Really…? It was so odd, that so many members could… seemingly hate or dislike Vim, yet at the same time trust him so unequivocally like that. It made me wonder if I was slightly misunderstanding the fundamental issues of the Society.

Probably was.

"Your Holiness," A woman entered, alongside a man. They looked human, and I didn't recognize them, so I stepped back a little as they stepped over to her. The Chronicler ignored them for a moment, and then stopped writing and nodded, telling them to go on. "Mapple and Tenure are mobilizing the whole cloister. We will find the little divine beast shortly," she said.

"I hope so. When was the last time either of you saw it?" The Chronicler asked calmly.

The two frowned and glanced at one another. I studied the man more than the woman, since I noted the way he was frowning… it was one not of confusion or thought but instead annoyance.

"Two days ago for me. I fed it a piece of an apple," the woman said.

He nodded. "About that for me. I saw it run along the banister near the second floor kitchens. It avoided me though, as you know your Holiness," the man said.

"Hm…" The Chronicler nodded, and I shifted a little.

"Why'd it avoid you?" I asked.

The Chronicler glanced at me, but said nothing as the man and woman turned to address me. The two studied me for a moment, and then the man gently smiled… and the woman answered for him. "The divine beast does not like men, young lady. It avoids them, even sometimes nipping at them if they get close," she answered.

Oh.

Really…? I'd seen it with Vim many times, though.

Though he wasn't really a normal man, I suppose.

"I see…" I said in response as I glanced at The Chronicler. She was giving me an odd smile, as if amused with me.

Though I did note she and him spoke of it as if it was still alive. Something still here and not a memory of the past.

I wonder who had hurt the poor little creature. It had been adorable, and hadn't seemed dangerous at all. Even when it had tried to eat my ancestor's heart, it had only nibbled upon it and stuff. It wasn't like it stole it or broke anything as far as I was aware. It had even slept with me a few times, never bothering me or anyone at all.

Would someone have killed it in an attempt to get its heart… I wonder? If so why not take it from it? Or did it escape before the attacker had been able to do so?

Hopefully Vim and the rest could find whoever had hurt it.

"Go help oversee the search. While you're at it, may as well conduct a full review of the Cathedral. Let's begin our review, since we'll be scouring the place anyway," The Chronicler said.

"Understood," the man nodded and turned, leaving without hesitation. The woman though waited a moment, and then coughed as to clear her throat.

"Would you like me to summon anyone? Or have Mapple return?" she asked.

"No. I will be fine, I have Rennalee here if I need help, thank you," The Chronicler said as she turned back to her desk, and book, and went to writing in it again.

The woman nodded, bowed lightly, and then left as well.

Waiting until her footsteps were far enough away that I knew she wouldn't be able to hear me, I stepped a little closer to the Chronicler as to whisper. "Did she think I was dangerous or something?" I asked.

"What's in your hand, Rennalee?"

Startling, I glanced at it.

"Um… a spear," I admitted.

Did she recognize it?

She chuckled at me. "You don't even register it's there do you? Here I had thought all this time you were not the type to be so calm and adjusted to violence and all that it brings. But I suppose it's of no surprise… many of our greatest saints had been war maidens," she said as she kept on writing.

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"War maidens…?" I asked. That was a new phrase to me, though I obviously understood its meaning. She was correct, also. I had been so focused on the poor creature that I'd neglected to even consider the spear in my hand.

"Most saints are born for war, or become the cause of it. So it's only natural most become accustomed to such a thing. I was lucky, of all us sisters only I and Mapple's mother were able to avoid ever having to step foot onto a battlefield," she told me as she put her pen into the little pot of ink nearby, and turning to face me.

"You… all fought on battlefields? Even though you had Vim?" I asked.

She smiled at me. "Vim couldn't be everywhere all the time, Renn. He's of course the perfect soldier, but can only fight one battle at a time. Plus there were fights even he won't permit himself to participate in, so sometimes we are left to our own devices," she said.

"What… kind of fights?" I asked, a little surprised to hear so. I had thought Vim would always fight for our members, no matter the reason.

"The ones not for the Society or its members, of course."

Oh. I see.

That meant she spoke of things that the Society hadn't been involved in with at all. I wonder how that worked, since that mean members had been involved with them. Where was the line drawn, I wonder?

"I'd have preferred you to carry a sword, Renn."

I perked up at that. "Really…? Can I ask why?" I asked. Vim's told me a spear was better for war than a sword was.

"A sword can go into a sheathe. Such an act has many purposes. It allows one to not broadly display a weapon, while also it can be decorative and impactful. A spear is… well, it reminds one of war. A sword can remind someone of justice, or duty. A spear doesn't remind people of such things," she explained.

Although I had just thought something similar, I wasn't really sure what to say to that. I mean… what did it matter if I carried a spear and not a sword? "You mean it'd make it easier for me to blend in, than this," I said.

"Well… yes, it would. But I had not meant that directly…"

"You're… worried I'll be seen as dangerous?" I asked.

"In a way. For now it is of no matter. We can discuss such things another time," she said as she turned… right as Mapple arrived.

Frowning at her, I watched Mapple close the door behind her. "Everyone's searching for the monarch, and they've begun to let everyone know it's time for a review. It was started haphazardly, and they're prioritizing finding the monarch though," Mapple said.

"That's fine. Did you hear anyone say anything as you gave the order?" The Chronicler asked.

"Just that they don't understand why we need to search for it. I mean… it does sometimes hide for a day or two, doesn't it? Probably just curled up somewhere, sleeping," Mapple said with a shrug.

Oh? She seemed to really believe so. And…

I smiled gently at her as she once again glanced at me. She noticed my smile and shifted, looking away.

Now that I had been reminded of the spear, I knew now why Mapple was acting so odd. And likely why she had panicked upon running in earlier. It hadn't just been because of The Chronicler's shout. It had been the sight of me and Vim, and the spear I carried. I wonder how I could tell her she needn't worry, without just outright saying it. I pitied the poor woman, and even though one day we might be standing against one another instead of alongside, we technically weren't at the moment enemies. So…

"Did you harm the monarch, Mapple?" The Chronicler then asked.

"Huh…?" Mapple startled, and then glanced at me again, only to look back at her. "No…? Is it hurt?" she asked, with a little worry.

"It is. Vim and Renn found it. Collapsed," The Chronicler said.

Oh…? She trusted Mapple enough to tell her such a thing, but yet didn't reveal that it was dead? Or maybe that was a sign she didn't trust Mapple at all, and was using this moment to test her?

Mapple glanced at me again, this time with a face full of questions and not worry. "Really?" she asked me.

I nodded. "In the house we're staying at."

Mapple shifted. "I… don't understand. Who'd hurt that thing here? It only stays within the Inner Cathedral, and rarely even goes near people as it is," Mapple said.

"Thus our search."

"Oh. It ran off did it? It is a skittish little thing…" Mapple nodded, as if now everything made sense.

I bit my tongue, as to not correct her, and was glad I did. The Chronicler nodded, seemingly happy to allow Mapple to make such a misunderstanding.

So she really didn't trust Mapple… or maybe she just wanted Mapple to firmly believe such a thing, as to see what those she spoke to about it would then say or do.

Mapple though didn't seem to notice, she only sighed in relief. "Here I thought you made Vim angry again…" she mumbled.

The Chronicler ignored her as she gestured at me. "While we have a moment alone, Renn, we should speak," she said.

"Hm…?" I shifted at that, and gripped my spear a little tighter.

"Mapple, prepare some tea," The Chronicler said as she gestured for me to follow her. She was heading for the door.

"Oh…? Hm…" Mapple nodded, with that look of slight pain she got when The Chronicler was mean to her, and she hurried to open the door for the old woman. The Chronicler didn't say anything as she left her office, and I sighed softly as I went to follow her.

She hadn't told me why we were leaving, or give me a chance to agree or not… but Vim had told me to stay with her for now.

"Thank you Mapple," I said softly as I left the office, since Mapple had waited for me to leave first.

"Hm!" She perked up at that and nodded. I followed The Chronicler down the hallway, to a stairwell. She walked up it, slowly, and I followed her. Thanks to how slowly the old woman walked, likely thanks to the stairs, Mapple arrived, rejoining us, right as I was entering it. I held the door open for her, since she carried a platter.

We were a floor up, and not far from the stairwell. We entered another room that looked like an office, though this one had more chairs and even a couch. It did seem better suited to sit and have a conversation at least; it even had a nice window… which I realized overlooked the courtyard where the house we were staying was located in. I couldn't make out the entire of the house, but could see it well enough to know that someone could stand here and see who went in and out of it.

While The Chronicler situated herself in one of the chairs, Mapple put down a platter of cups and a pot and went to pouring the tea for us. There was a fireplace here, but she hadn't used it for the tea. And since she hadn't taken long to get it, I assumed there was some kind of kitchen nearby.

Did we just come here so she could sit comfortably, or was it for another reason?

"I'll be blunt Renn, since Vim will likely return in a few moments. I would like to give you a few letters. For Light, whom you will be going to see here shortly," The Chronicler said.

Shifting a little, I ignored Mapple's tiny groan she made inside the back of her throat as she went to hand the Chronicler a cup of tea. One that was sitting on a small blue plate.

"Sure? I'll be honest I don't know when we're going to leave… I think Vim had planned to leave today, but now who knows," I said.

"Yes. He'll stick around long enough to ensure there is no threat to the rest of us, and to find the perpetrator if able. I've already got most of them ready, I'll finish them up this afternoon just in case," she said.

"Okay then…" I agreed as Mapple then readied another cup of tea. She turned to look at me, hesitated and then gently smiled a little worriedly at me.

Ah. Right.

I went to sit down, across from the Chronicler, and then accepted the teacup from Mapple. I allowed my spear to rest against my chair as I did.

"Also I'd like to tell you of a prophecy. One that you now need to know, I think," The Chronicler said.

Mapple groaned again as she stepped back. "You got to be kidding…" Mapple mumbled.

Glancing at Mapple, I noticed the way she looked like she wanted to run away. She was on pins and needles. "Judging by Mapple's reaction, maybe I don't want to hear it," I said carefully.

"You did agree to hear them, last time, didn't you?" The Chronicler pointed out as she took a sip of her tea.

Well… "Yes… I did…" I admitted.

And in truth, I actually wanted to hear them. I knew Vim's aversion, and how much he hated them, but I myself wanted to know them. If anything so I could possibly know how to avoid such subjects, as to keep Vim happy.

Maybe if I knew the prophecies he wanted to avoid, I'd be able to help him do such a thing. At least, that was one of my reasoning's behind wanting to know.

Mapple though didn't seem to agree. "Can I… uh… leave then? I'll go take the census you wanted," Mapple asked.

The Chronicler nodded. "Yes. You may go."

Mapple hurriedly nodded, and with obvious relief she hurried out of the room. She shut the door to the office, and I heard her breathe a huge sigh of relief as she hurried away.

"At least she doesn't think I'd hurt you anymore," I said softly.

"Mapple knows you won't harm me. In fact she really doesn't care if you or Vim would anyway. What she fears is having to die trying to protect me, since to her it's a wasted death."

I frowned at that. "Then why even allow such a worry or thought to enter her head? Why make enemies out of us?" I asked her.

The Chronicler chuckled as she went to take another drink. "We're not enemies, Renn. No matter how much Vim wants us to be," she said, then took a drink.

I had a hard time believing that, but kept my thoughts to myself.

Taking a drink as well, I paused a moment as to appreciate its taste. It was… a little bitter, but it felt good going down the throat. It was a taste I'd never had before, and one I'd like to have again someday. I'll need to remember to ask what kind of tea it is, or how Mapple had made it, once I see her again.

The Chronicler likely knew, but I didn't want to ask her.

I wanted to be Mapple's friend. Not hers.

"A monarch will attack Light. One you will have to save her from," the Chronicler then said.

I groaned as I lowered the teacup. "I hadn't said I wanted to hear it yet," I said.

She nodded. "I know. But it might make the difference in Light surviving or not. Plus, if I don't tell you it now I might not get the chance to again before it's too late."

Wonderful. I had been hoping, expecting even, that it would have been a prophecy about something else… maybe about me and Vim.

But Light? The woman I was right now more upset with than the one in front of me?

"Is that… all you're going to tell me about it?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

"Then why tell me at all? Seems so… vague and unhelpful," I said.

"Because now that you know, you'll make sure you and Vim stick around her long enough to fulfill it. Had you not known, you would have allowed Vim to take you away from Light and risk her life. The rest is of no concern. It will arrive. You will help save her, and then all will be well," The Chronicler said simply, as if it was as simple as making tea.

"I think I'm starting to understand why Vim hates it when people speak of such things," I said as my tail squirmed.

She chuckled at me. "I've no doubt over the long years you will come to be similar to him. Or well, maybe you won't? Who is to say?"

Shaking my head at that, I took another large gulp of my tea… and licked my lips once I finished what was left in the cup.

Yes. I liked this a lot.

It almost made up for the headache that wanted to attack thanks to this conversation.

"Did you really not expect the monarch to die?" I asked her as I studied the teacup. It was the same blue as the plate, and had little patterns in the color. The swirls were pretty, though dull with age.

"I'm still processing the sudden surprise, to be honest Renn. I'm old enough to know that this happens, but even still when it does I almost don't know what to say or do about it. No. I had not expected it. I still don't want to believe it. That monarch had a real purpose. One that will now need to be addressed, if it is has actually perished," The Chronicler said.

"You don't believe Vim and me?" I asked her.

"I do. I just don't want to."

Ah… that made sense.

She sighed as she lowered her cup, putting it on the plate and her lap. Her dimly lit eyes seemed to focus on me as she ran a thumb along the cups rim. "The question now is who had done it. Was it one of our own? A human? Another monarch? Or just a simple accident? It's a little concerning that it had happened after Light left, while also happening while Vim is here," she said softly.

"Because it shouldn't have with him here or because now he will be accused of doing the deed himself?" I asked.

The Chronicler smirked at me. "You defend him passionately, Rennalee. I like it. But yes. It's odd that someone was able to kill the monarch right under Vim's nose without him noticing something amiss. Some will use it as further proof of his lack of focus, while others will claim he did it intentionally. His hate for monarchs is very well known, so it's not a far cry to assume he did it himself," she said.

Shifting a little in my seat, I wondered what to think of the way she was talking so… calmly. It made me realize that all this time I probably could have been talking to her, if anything just so I could understand why and where she and the rest have done the things they're doing. Plus it'd likely help me understand better how to…

My eyes narrowed as I remembered Vim's warning. His words.

He had told me to use the knowledge we had against them. That their misconception, their misplaced belief that he and I had already consummated our relationship, was a tool we needed to use to face them. As to find out the truths they were hiding from us.

"The monarch… you said it had a purpose?" I asked as I focused on the same thing Vim had found so interesting.

She nodded. "It was meant to find an object. One that we desperately need. It was why we've kept it here all this time, keeping it safe. Light will not be happy with me, for this failure," she said with a sigh.

Oh…!

She just proved Vim was right!

Their prophecies were wrong. Ones they firmly believed in.

And also, that she… this old saint-like woman was not the leader at all.

She was obeying Light. Or at the very least, saw Light as someone above her.

Although glad to have verified such things, I still found myself a little upset and longing for more tea. I glanced at the pot Mapple had used, and stood as to check it. While I poured myself more tea, I hid a small smirk on my face from the dimly glowing eyes of the woman nearby.

Vim was right. As usual. Which was annoying in its own way… but was also upsetting to learn the prophecies could indeed be so drastically incorrect.

Did that mean there was a chance I wouldn't have a daughter…?

I didn't like that at all.

"So… what was it supposed to have found?" I asked as I turned around, as to offer her some more tea too, yet right as I did the door opened.

Vim stepped in, glared at me… and then glared at the elderly woman who was ignoring him.

"Come on Renn. We have stuff to do," he said.

I huffed at him. "I've wanted you to be possessive Vim, but this might be a little much," I teased him.

The Chronicler laughed so hard she spilled her tea.

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