Therizo 16, Imperial Year 1644
The Free Cities – The Class's Camp
The class had been on the road for three weeks, moving from village to village, searching for leads on the remaining reincarnators. Vesper was recovering slowly; Hikari tended to her daily. Grom had settled into the group, though he still spoke little.
They camped in a grove of elm trees, the fire low. Elara sat apart, reading a broadsheet she had bought from a traveling merchant.
"You need to see this," she said.
The headline read: BLACK KNIGHTS STRIKE AGAIN! MERCHANT ORIN VEX EXECUTED FOR ATROCITIES!
Roderick took the paper. His red eyes moved quickly. "Rape. Demon cult. Organ selling." He handed it back. "He deserved worse."
"They executed him," Reinhard said. "That's justice."
"Is it?" Rosalind asked. "They're not a court. They're not a kingdom. They're vigilantes."
"They're the only ones doing anything," Grom said. His voice was rough. "The nobles won't touch their own."
Kaito read over Elara's shoulder. "It says they scattered evidence at the scene. Ledgers, witness lists, even a map of the cult's hideouts. The city guard arrested a dozen associates."
"They're thorough," Daiki said. "Whoever Zero is, he doesn't leave loose ends."
Miku shuddered. "Organ selling. I didn't know that was a thing in this world."
"It's a thing in every world," Hikari said. "Evil finds a way."
The class debated late into the night. Some argued the Black Knights were necessary. Others worried about their methods. No one knew about the torture – the broadsheet only mentioned execution.
"They're not heroes," Gregor said. "They're killers with a code."
"Aren't we all?" Roderick asked.
"We don't execute people without trial."
"We killed slavers at Ironfast."
"That was in combat. This was an execution."
Elara held up a hand. "We're not here to judge the Black Knights. We're here to find our people. But we need to understand who Zero is. If he's a reincarnator, we need to know why he's doing this."
Reinhard nodded. "Then we keep asking questions."
Therizo 17, Imperial Year 1644
The City of Velathri – The Class Splits
The class entered Velathri in small groups, to avoid attention. Elara, Roderick, and Reinhard visited a tavern near the docks – a place where rumors flowed like ale.
A one‑eyed sailor was holding court at a corner table.
"Black Knights," he said, slurring. "They're not the only ones. I heard the Holy Knights of Dike kicked out one of their own. An inquisitor. Refused to heal a noble."
"Refused to heal?" another patron asked.
"The noble was fat as a pig. Dying of his own excess. The inquisitor said the gods don't waste miracles on gluttons. The order dismissed him."
Elara leaned closer. "What was his name?"
The sailor shrugged. "Didn't catch it. But he was good. Real good. Healing magic that could close any wound. They say he's been seen around the Free Cities, looking for work."
"Healing magic?" Reinhard asked. "Can he restore organs?"
"Don't know. But he can keep a man alive through anything." The sailor drained his cup. "If the Black Knights are smart, they'll find him."
The class exchanged glances.
"A healer who can restore organs," Kaito said later. "That's rare."
"If he was an inquisitor, he had a strong spark," Hikari said. "The Holy Knights of Dike only take the most faithful."
"And he was dismissed for refusing to heal a corrupt noble." Roderick's eyes narrowed. "That sounds like someone Zero would recruit."
Elara nodded. "We need to find him. Before the Black Knights do."
"Or after," Reinhard said. "Either way, he's a lead."
Therizo 18, Imperial Year 1644
The Road – Decision
The class gathered at a crossroads. Vesper was strong enough to walk now, leaning on Hikari's arm.
"We split up," Elara said. "One group searches for the healer. The other continues looking for our missing people."
"Which group gets the healer?" Rosalind asked.
"I'll lead it. Roderick, Gregor, Kaito, and Daiki come with me. The rest of you keep searching."
Reinhard frowned. "You're going after the Black Knights' potential recruit?"
"I'm going after a healer who could save lives. If he joins Zero, that's his choice. But I want to meet him first."
"And if he's already joined?"
"Then we learn more about the Black Knights."
The group split. Elara's team headed east, toward the Free Cities' interior. The others went south, following a rumor about a dwarf brewer.
End of Chapter Forty‑Eight