As the duo approached the inn, there was one thing they noticed.
It was too empty...
No, if it were merely empty, it would have been fine, but as they entered the Inn, there were multiple Paladins of Chrunus standing guard.
"Step back, this place is off limits." The armored man raised his hands, stopping the duo.
Aurelia bit her lip, drawing a small amount of blood.
"What happened here?" Her voice was shaky and tinged with anger.
The Paladin shook his head, "Heretics were gathering here. We were sent to clear them out and make arrests."
The moment his words left his mouth, both individuals' presence grew in his eyes.
While the girl's presence felt like a dragon was about to consume him whole, the man...
The man's presence felt like staring at Chrunus himself.
He took a step back before reaching for his sword.
However, instead, he found his arm missing, a bloody fountain gushing out.
"How dare you... I... worked so hard for this! AND YOU DARE RUIN IT?! Where is Anna?!" Aurelia fumed.
"In the cathedral dungeon..." His eyes widened as he fell backward, fear plastered on his face.
After so much effort of getting Cedric to go alone with her, the damned paladins of Chrunus dared not only ruin her chance, but also arrest Christians?
She held Zenith, her draw even faster than Cedric's own.
Something that apparently shocked the hero more than what the paladins had the audacity to do.
The Paladin screamed, drawing the attention of others.
She took the lead, her hands shaking in anger, "You, idiots. You absolutely, Imbecilic gnats!"
They wished to fight, but it was not possible. [Divine Charm] had gripped them tightly.
She swung Zenith at the helpless man, cutting his head cleanly off.
She raised her arm before gripping her cloak and throwing it aside.
Cedric, despite his fury, let Aurelia take the front this time.
It filled him with pride that Aurelia was purging these Infidels of her own.
"The Apostate queen..." The shock spread over the paladins.
"I, Aurelia, the First Star and the Queen of Valar, sentence you all to death for daring to disturb my date! I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU!"
They were not to be given a chance to plead.
No matter what, these fools, no, these infidels were to be purged.
Aurelia understood it now.
She understood Cedric's conviction to purge those who defy God.
Until now, she had only vaguely gotten his wish to send them to hell.
However, after what they had done.
"I will purge every single Paladin of Chrunus, I swear my name on it!" She shouted before plunging the Zenith into another Paladin's chest.
She dashed, instantly finding herself behind the trio of Paladins.
"Die..." She swung her blade.
Swish
Like through paper, their bodies were dissected.
As the final Paladin fell, she took a deep breath.
She frowned, "We need to save Anna..."
"Of course, I will not allow a Christian to be held by Chrunus. That Infidel said Cathedral dungeon, we should get going." Cedric turned before walking out of the Golden Cup, leaving disappointed Aurelia alone.
She took a deep breath, "I was so close... You will pay for this... no matter what."
In her mind, she imagined what she would do to those responsible.
They would be minced, healed, their bones broken, teeth pulled.
Their limbs cut and fed to themselves, their heads would be kept alive while being planted on a spike.
Sheer torment she wished to inflict upon them would make them wish for hell.
However, it was not all bad; Cedric still would allow her to see him without armor. That promise was only thing keeping her from rushing out and killing everyone in that damned Cathedral.
She slumped down and, with a pout, mumbled, "I just wanted a date... It wasn't even lustful... Maybe a little."
She slapped herself before focusing.
'No, Aurelia. You have to go rescue Granny Anna, you will have to wait next chance to go out with your handsome hero!' It was more important to rescue her than Aurelia's wish to get a date with her hero.
She looked back at the bloody corpses of the Paladins she had brutalized before turning towards the exit.
They would regret this.
They would die for this, no, they would be sent to hell for this.
She prayed in her mind for a moment before exiting the inn and rejoining Cedric.
"Cedric, I know that your mission is to purge the church..." She took a step forward before stopping right in front of Cedric.
"However, I want to be the one to kill whoever was responsible for arresting Granny Anna." She straightened her back as she stared with seriousness befitting a queen.
Cedric stared at her, an act that made Aurelia fidget.
"Of course, it is fine if you do it..." She averted her gaze.
Hahahaha
A loud laugh reached her ears, She forced a smile as she stared at her hero.
"Of course, I do not have a problem with that." He took a step forward before placing his hand onto Aurelia's head.
"On the contrary, I am incredibly happy at your willingness to do so. You aren't the little scared infidel girl that you were before."
Aurelia slowly opened her eyes, her eyes almost tearing up, but she held them in.
They weren't tears of sadness, they were that of happiness.
The happiness that her Hero praised her once again.
Before he could remove his hand, she reached up and held it on top as tightly as she could.
"I love you... So much... however, I will patiently wait for the day you see me in the same light." She smiled with happy tears rolling down her face.
Cedric stopped for a moment.
He felt no lust in her voice.
For the first time since he knew her, there was no sin of lust driving her words.
He let go of her head before pulling her into a hug.
Aurelia yelped as she found herself in her hero's embrace.
His armored hand streaked through her hair, although it wasn't the best for her combed hair, she did not care.
She fully relaxed, letting Cedric gently pat her.
"You are glorious, Aurelia. Don't misunderstand me. I am not against marriage, but you have to be patient and let God decide if it is to be so..." He patted her.
"You have proven yourself more than worthy in the eyes of God, and in turn in mine. However, both of us have an important mission to do."
Aurelia stopped for a moment, her eyes widening.
'My hero really has a soft spot for me...' She couldn't help but giggle before shortly burying her face again.