Chapter 289: Alice’s Greatest Fear

Mark sat on some rubble alongside Aria and Alice, watching in silence the scene unfolding in the center of the village.

At first, everything seemed to be going exactly as he’d anticipated.

However, it wasn’t long before the situation took a turn Mark definitely hadn’t expected.

In the center of the plaza, the three demi-human generals remained tied up and exposed before the crowd, completely defenseless while the village’s elves descended on them without the slightest restraint.

What was supposed to be a public execution transformed within seconds into a genuine collective outburst of violence.

They beat them, tore off their limbs, and ripped out their organs with unrestrained fury, as if each blow could return, even just a small part, of the pain they’d suffered from losing their loved ones.

Screams, sobbing, and rage mixed together throughout the village while the three demi-humans were reduced to little more than unrecognizable masses.

Mark watched it all, eyebrows slightly raised.

"Wow... I wasn’t expecting things to get this intense," Mark murmured, not looking away.

"I’m a little surprised too, if I’m honest," Aria admitted, making a face while watching the scene. "I never imagined elves could be this sadistic... I always thought they were a much more refined, stoic race."

Alice, however, didn’t seem impressed at all.

"This is nothing out of the ordinary," she said calmly. "This kind of behavior is completely normal in wartime... and it’s not exclusive to elves, not by a long shot."

"Really?" Aria asked, turning to look at her.

"Yeah... humans aren’t the least bit different from demi-humans or semi-humans in that regard," Alice replied, frowning. "We might think we’re more civilized, but when the moment comes, we’re just as capable of this."

Her tone cooled slightly.

"When I worked for the Inquisition, I saw scenes like this more times than I’d like to remember... and some much worse."

Aria turned and looked at her steadily, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

"Now that you mention it, I realize you never talk about that," Aria said, moving slightly closer to the taller woman. "Your time in the Inquisition, I mean. When you were the Grand Inquisitor."

She tilted her head, watching her with curiosity.

"We’ve lived together for a long time, and yet we know so little about that part of your life."

Alice stayed quiet for a moment.

"Because it’s not worth talking about," she replied finally, in a tone that made clear she’d rather change the subject. "Those days are a Chapter of my life I’d prefer to leave buried where it is... there’s nothing good that comes from digging certain things up."

But Aria, true to her nature, didn’t give up that easily.

"Come on, don’t be like that," she insisted. "Now you’ve got me curious. What did you actually do? What was it like?"

She gave her a little nudge with her elbow.

"Besides, I’m sure the Master’s curious too. Right, Master?"

Mark, who had been listening in silence up until then, suddenly found himself at the center of the conversation.

He hesitated for an instant, not quite sure what to say.

"Well, I won’t deny I feel a certain curiosity," Mark admitted, choosing his words carefully. "It’s a part of your life I don’t know about, and naturally, I’d like to understand you better."

He held her gaze for a few seconds.

"But that doesn’t mean you have to talk about it. If it’s a topic that makes you uncomfortable, or if you still don’t trust us enough to share it, I won’t force you. Talk about it when you’re ready... and if you decide not to, I’ll respect that too."

Alice watched him for a few seconds, and the expression on her face shifted slightly.

"It’s got nothing to do with trust, Master," she was quick to clarify. "You’re the person I love and trust most in this world... so please, don’t think for even a second that’s what this is about."

"Then what is it?" Mark asked gently.

Alice lowered her gaze, and for a moment that imposing warrior seemed strangely small and vulnerable.

"It’s just that..." she hesitated, clenching her hands slightly in her lap. "I’m afraid it’ll change how you see me."

"Why would you think that?"

"What I did in the name of the Inquisition... isn’t exactly something I can be proud of, Master," she murmured, eyes down. "I committed terrible acts, and to this day they still haunt me."

She swallowed.

"And I think that if you found out what I was truly capable of, you’d stop seeing me the way you see me now, and start seeing me for what I was back then... a monster."

Silence settled between the three of them.

Mark watched her for a moment, and then spoke, with a firm, calm steadiness.

"Alice, look at me," he ordered seriously. "There is absolutely nothing you could tell me that would make me see you as a monster."

She looked up, uncertain.

"And that’s because I’m not exactly a saint either," Mark continued, holding her gaze. "I’ve done terrible things, made decisions that cost lives, and I’d make them again if I had to. Who am I to judge your past?"

"Master..." Alice said, moved, a faint smile forming.

"You really do overthink things, don’t you?" Aria cut in gently, resting a hand on her shoulder. "We all have a past, and we’ve all done things we’re not proud of."

"..."

"So don’t worry too much about it... after all, we’re a family, remember? And families accept each other as they are, shadows and all."

Alice looked at both of them, and something loosened in her expression.

The tension, the fear she’d been holding in, began to give way little by little under their genuine support.

"Alright... I’ll tell you everything," Alice said finally, letting out a long sigh. "But I’m warning you, it’s not a pleasant story, and I might need to stop partway through."

She closed her eyes for a moment, as if gathering the strength to unearth something buried for a long time.

"But if there’s anyone in this world who deserves to know the truth about who I was... I suppose it’s you two."

Alice stayed quiet for a few seconds.

And then, her gaze lost on some distant point, she began to speak.

"Let’s see... where should I start?"