They were called the Auroran Servants.
In ages past, Arawn, god of the otherworld, bestowed upon them the power over the life force known as aura.
In a sense, this gave them dominion over the ego, as every living being's sense of self is formed first from aura.
One's aura is not extinguished by death, either; when the time comes, it escapes its husk and hunts for another host.
The Auroran Servants were to see that these wayward auras did not bring harm to living beings the world over.
And so they did. Centuries passed, and the clan performed mission after mission with little deviation from its routine...
...until that day.
Everyone, quick, to the square! Darkhan's lost his mind!
No! Please... You can't die!
MOTHEEER!
The village had fallen into chaos.
Darkhan, who had just returned from a mission, was wildly attacking all who came near.
Some unknown energy had woven itself into his aura. None who approached could hope to stop his new, maddening strength.
One. Two. Ten. By the time he buckled to his knees, it seemed the ground was more bodies than earth.
Standing before him were three of the clan's survivors: two petite, now-orphaned girls... ...and a man who was swift to mask their eyes from such visions of horror.
What is this...? Is the aura leaving him?
Darkhan, prostrated before them, did not move as his body disintegrated into dust.
E-Elder... I... I didn't...
He did not finish before all that once made him was scattered to the four winds.
...
Seven years later...
Want to help me with the trap? We could practice draining the auras of the fish I caught while we're at it.
The girls who lost their parents in the past now stood vibrant in the present.
Lethor, still brimming with energy from her practice, turned with interest upon hearing the comparatively tired girl's proposal.
You made a fish trap? Is there anything you can't do, Lije?
Lije retorted with a delightful snort.
You can do anything I can do as long as you put your mind to it! You'll see for yourself in a few years when you start going on all those missions for the clan.
I don't know if I can handle that much responsibility... unless you're willing to share the burden with me, that is.
So we're a package deal, then? I'll have to double down on my practice starting tomorrow, but I think I can work with that.
Lethor wasn't expecting Lije to be so receptive to the idea... but what a pleasant surprise that she was.
...
TWO more missions, Master? We've barely had time to settle in from the last one!
Lije bemoaned their growing workload with a wide smile as she tucked away the order somewhere on her person.
Year after year, Lije and Lethor were dispatched to absorb auras by the will of the clan.
I know. I wish we had more people who could go on these missions. It's a lot for two to carry, but know that each successful mission leaves the world a better place than it was before.
As long as it's for the greater good, I'm satisfied.
Haha! Good to hear it, Lethor! It gives me peace of mind to know the both of you are taking charge.
The first mission is set in a village that worships—worshiped, rather—cats. They've had to curb their practices entirely ever since the Pontiff's Court sent an inquisitor there.
Those accused of heresy have had their lives taken. Inspect the villagers' auras carefully before deciding how to handle this.
"Yes, sir," Lethor mumbled. Lije listened quietly for further instructions.
Now, go over the second mission's details with a fine-toothed comb, because Colhen isn't like any other place you know. You see...
Not long after reviewing both missions with their master, Lethor and Lije departed.
They soon arrived in Hanoc. Though the village was forced to abandon its beliefs, cats freely roamed its streets.
An ominous feeling seemed to lace Hanoc's very air. Lethor chose to distract herself from this feeling with the cats, while Lije worked to put a smile on the locals' faces.
Yet they could not afford to be distracted for long; there was work to be done.
Lethor and Lije made their way to the town's shrine, which was now occupied by the papal inquisitor. There, he rounded up dozens of so-called heathens and put them to the sword.
Most of the dead had their auras absorbed back into nature—but some lingered.
The two observed without a word for some time. It was Lije who at last broke the silence.
Lethor... the inquisitor will also brand us as heretics if we're caught.
Mm-hmm. Our orders are to hide if we can sense their aura approaching.
If it came down to completing your mission or saving an innocent... which would you choose?
Pardon?
Lethor didn't know where to begin answering. You take missions. You complete them. The question felt entirely foreign to her, whose entire life had been lived in service of the clan.
Actually... never mind. Maybe I should answer that for myself before asking someone else.
It was a rather awkward way to end a conversation, but Lethor accepted it and moved on.
Some days later, an elderly man with a cat bundled in his arms had been seen at the worst of times.
It is clear to me now that you are a heretic.
The inquisitor stood in judgment of the villager caught praying to the cat for a plentiful harvest.
To think there are still heathens skulking about this place when the pontiff has been so merciful with his warnings.
The imposing figure then drew his sword and declared that the trembling old man be put to death.
Slowly, step by step, the inquisitor approached with his blade raised...
No!
...when Lije, who had been watching the scene develop from a distance, raced forward and threw herself between the two.
Lethor had been watching beside Lije, but she was left in shock as a heated argument raged between Lije and the inquisitor.
What did Lije just do? Why would she jeopardize their mission? Her mind swam through the possibilities till it dawned on that awkward question from a few days prior.
Saving lives. Our mission IS to save lives...
Lethor was forced back to reality when she saw Lije only just avoiding the inquisitor's swings.
Lije! You can't win against him!
Indeed, the inquisitor's strength was far beyond theirs. Lije knew, but she remained firm in her desire to save the old man.
Lethor could only chastise herself for being so slow to react when her friend was in peril.
However, just as Lethor readied herself to enter the fray, a black and white light erupted from Lije's right hand.
She had called upon their gift as an Auroran Servant.
Gaaah!
The woman screamed as loudly as her enemies.
No! Did she just absorb their auras? While they're still alive?
Lethor could only watch as the auras of the inquisitor and his soldiers were stripped from their bodies... ...and absorbed into Lije's hand.
To the surrounding villagers, it would have looked like they merely collapsed. All who witnessed this were stunned.
Lije! Lije!
What... did I just do...? Hah...
Lije, too, collapsed. Lethor dived forward to catch her friend, tears welling in her eyes.
I... That was so stupid... I'm sorry.
Lethor opened her mouth to comfort her friend when she noticed a change. Something foreign—something tumultuous—had muddied Lije's aura.
We need to get back to the village. Come on. Up you go.
Her partner's weakened condition forced Lethor to act as a crutch, but still, the two were swift in their exit.
She shortened their trip further by renting a wagon and ship. Money be damned, she thought.
Lije couldn't stand on her own even with rest, so Lethor chose to carry her on her back the rest of the way.
Lethor cried for help the moment they reached the village square.
Master! Master!
Lethor! Lije! What happened?!
The townsfolk flocked to help Lije. Lethor was overcome with relief... and exhaustion.
For two days, she had carried her friend on her back. She could barely manage to stand now.
When she saw her master running toward her, however, she willed—with the last of her strength—herself to move to him.
The rest happened so very, very suddenly.
As she was being supported by her fellow clansmen, Lije uttered in a foul tone:
Execute the heretics.
A void was left in the wake of her words, but only for seconds.
What...? What?!
Lije's hand then swung rapidly outward. The villagers began to scream.
Lethor froze again as she was forced to witness a new atrocity.
One just like the last atrocity from all those years ago.
How... did his...?
Shrouding Lije's body was the oppressive aura of the inquisitor.
Lethor struggled with what to make of this. She was far too weak to fully understand what was happening.
As Lethor worked to collect herself, the inquisitor's will felled those around them. One. Two. Ten...
...until the only people left were Lethor and their master.
Lije will perish soon. Her aura is weak.
That was enough to encourage Lethor to keep pushing past her fatigue once more. If only to reach her master, who dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.
Lethor held him in her arms, but she knew. She saw how much blood he had lost. He was beyond saving.
As her eyes swelled with tears, she was careful to listen to his last words.
Caring for one another... and helping this world... is more important than one's faith. One's devotion to the clan. That... is what makes us who we are.
Live true to your path... as a good person... who brings the good out in others...
He closed his eyes.
Much as she wished to grieve, she forced her focus back to Lije. Something was gradually changing.
After she placed her master's body on the ground, Lethor watched as the inquisitor's aura left her friend.
Lije!
Her fragile body, devoid of aura, was beginning to crumble.
Lethor leaped forward to cradle her.
Though Lije could not even manage to open her eyes, she still eked out a weakened whisper:
It... wasn't me. Lethor... I'm so sorry. Because of what I did... everyone...
How could you think that? I'm the one at fault! I made you stand alone in Hanoc! I did nothing!
At last, she shed the tears that she'd held back for so long. Drip. Drip. Over and over she wiped them away, but still they fell.
It was the only thing she could do in her friend's last moments. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.
And so she cried as all that once made Lije was scattered to the four winds.
...
As she left behind her friend, her master—her home—Lethor made a promise to herself.
"Never again will someone die due to my inaction."
"Even if my meager strength amounts to nothing, I will not stand back and watch atrocities unfold."
Her destination after making this resolution: the small town of Colhen.
Are you a traveler?
The oracle, who was standing next to a building near the village's center, approached.
Where's your mercenary unit stationed?
Ah, the Crimson Blades. You can find them that way.
After thanking the oracle for her help, Lethor straightened her outfit and continued to make her way to the unit.
She stopped just before the entrance. Before entering, she closed her eyes and thought:
Lije, please watch over me. I promise you, I will save the innocent.
