Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

A population of two thousand and fifty-two people turned into mindless drones praying to a god that sucked the very life out of them. With him dead, his influence should've been gone, and yet the faithful who truly believed in salvation through their lord had god insane, but unlike Jenna, they didn't laugh like maniacs but instead whispered in prayers.

Erika was the first to notice the problem and although her holy magic helped somewhat, it wasn't until Amedith began helping her that she could bring the intensity of the people's bizarre actions to an acceptable limit. It did make her flinch and she even gave the warrior a sharp look, for what could be the reason that his holy magic was better than hers?

'Magus, what the hell are they anyways?' She pondered with a jealous heart.

In the meantime, Hilma, Astra and Felix all helped gather the people into the castle's back where the two were working their magic. But of course, everyone except the warrior woman was far from pleased to be doing the chores of another hero's gang. Felix, would click his tongue and Astra tried to voice dissent, even lash out to Amedith–whom she thought to be a girl, but after a smack on her face by Liliyana's enlarged hand, both her and the cat-boy knew that they didn't stand a chance against Raven's party.

As annoyed as they were, especially Felix for having lost his only proof as a man, the trio kept quiet and did what they were told, even though two of them in their group were already thinking of stabbing the other group in their backs. Being much older, Hilma was used to change and knew that it was just one of those times that trying to linger in the past would only split her apart like trying to ride two trains with one leg on both sides.

"I know you're angry, but do as they say for now…" She advised the duo, but the two only clicked their tongue in annoyance and ignored her words.

Disheartened by the lack of response, she truly hoped things would get better for them all. Blind as she had been, now that Batimos was gone, she felt happy for once and the reason for that was none other than the fact that these people had taken over, defeated them, and even pulled the citizens out of their nightmare.

'It felt like I was walking through a fog for years, but now that I can see clearly. How the hell did I ever allow anything like this to happen to my city?' She thought, but it was far too late to be worrying about that.

Jenna was still insane, and although there were ways to cure her, Raven–holding the keeper's core in his hand, pondered whether or not it would alter her too much and turn her into a hollowed shell of a person like the rest of the citizens as well. Standing in the infirmary with Maria lying on the bed with her eyes open, Monty sitting at the edge of his and only the helper still lying down with her eyes closed, he wanted to help her, but from what he'd seen so far, nothing could truly cure this madness.

'There's one way but…' Pocketing the core, Raven looked down at his hands and reminded himself of the gift given to him by Athenia. Wiping those tragic memories from Jenna could for sure help her grow sane somewhat, but then what if the others ask him to do the same to the rest of the population? The very same he wished to train into soldiers for horror-hunting operations. 'This is the perfect opportunity to get those soldiers I wanted, curing one will likely have a domino effect and if Amedith or the others knew that I could possibly heal them, then they'll again wanna do…'

"The right thing to do," he mumbled to himself, knowing full well that he could no longer allow for that.

The many war crimes of Helga came to Raven's mind, from using demonic weapons, taking out frustration by taking enemies as slaves, torturing them in front of their families, in an instant, it all made sense to him. Although there was much he wouldn't do himself, rape for example was something he was opposed to without exception, but taking in prisoners? Using the enemy's arsenal as their own? Had to be done.

Thus instead of curing the insane, Raven moved closer to her bed with every present eye following his every step. Looking into Jenna's wide eyes, Raven felt a strange chill crawling up his spine. Just like her mother, the creator of those bracelets, the young blood held something deep within that could creep out even someone like him, who'd fought numerous horrors.

"Jenna, I wanna talk to you," he said, his hand slowly reaching for her shoulder.

Grabbing her, he helped the girl up and sat her on the bed and only then did he look back into her eyes–holding in them still, that eerie look along with the crazed smile. Taking a deep breath, Raven gathered his heart and gave her an intense stare. He had something to test, something that could help them in their ploys without having to cure her at all.

"I need more of the cure you made from the potion, can you do that for us?" Turning his head towards Maria, he had her follow his gaze before adding further. "You see, Maria here she needs them to heal her injuries if she ever gets hurt again, holy magic doesn't work on her because she lacks a soul."

A dull look took over the woman, Maria was confused and so was Monty, but sure enough the crazed look on Jenna disappeared quickly. In its place came a sharp look indicative of purpose.

"Sure, you need to bring me some potions first though, the natural ingredients needed to make them don't grow in our city unfortunately," the first coherent sentence, she uttered right after being given a task.

'I was right then, she was definitely acting more sane when helping us. Maybe we can keep her sane long enough to alter her back into sanity?' Having confirmed his theory, Raven nodded back to the woman before turning his head to the others also present.

"You two come with me, we're going back to port city downhill," he said.

"Why there?" Monty asked in response.

"To get the teleportation necklace back and get to the witch in Athenia." And with that everything made sense in an instant, neither Monty nor Maria questioned him further.

The rest of the party was to be left behind temporarily. A single trip to Athenia, just how much could happen, really? A lot, for Linkle's army with the help of Shamisha as well as that of the Mistress, were both ready.