Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Lilith the Wise

"She was faking it, I'm telling you."

So said a paladin of a certain vibrant long hair and crystal blue eyes, sitting atop a theater's balcony with a few other guests as an otherwise unrelated spectacle carried on for all to see.

"What about that moan?" Asked the one next to her. "It almost sounded a scream."

"You answered your own question. There was nothing wild about it, it was forced. Subtle hints you could have picked up had you paid attention. The poor lad is gonna be heart-broken when he realizes..."

"I don't know, Lady Druella... If she put the effort of even faking it, then surely she at least cares a bit--"

"There can be many reasons someone does something." Interjected the one sitting behind them, leaning forward. "She might've just not wanted to put up with the reaction had she just laid there. Maybe we should pay her a visit and see if we can figure something out, maybe give her a little help to enjoy things..."

"I have my hands full already, so you two can focus on that if you want." Said the paladin. However, steps closing in caught their attention, silencing them all till they found a certain guest arrive to the paladin's side.

"You wanted to see me, chancellor?" She asked.

"Yes, Wilmarina, come closer. I have good news." Greeted the paladin, prompting Wilmarina to kneel beside her seat. At the same time, the paladin leaned on her armrest towards Wilmarina. "Our intelligence units have discovered the location of one of Druella's subordinates. She's hiding, in the eastern fringe of Lescatie."

"At last." Suppressed Wilmarina a cheer. "We'll be able to capture that monster and be one step closer to ending this mess."

"I would worry about the collective wisdom of the inquisition if they didn't select you for this assignment. You are the best choice," she said, turning then to see her in the eyes, "by far."

The words struck Wilmarina by surprise. A compliment, evoking a strange mixture of both happiness and melancholy; of ability she had worked her life for now noticed by someone, yet still not by those who could put it to best use. Rather than a smile, it only left her with a puzzled expression.

Returning her head forward, the paladin took a few seconds as thoughts crossed his mind.

"Sit down." She invited Wilmarina with a welcoming tone, before turning to the others with her. "Leave us."

Without complaint nor delay, the paladin's companions stood up and marched away in unison. Though left uncomfortable over possibly being the cause for others to be made to leave in the middle of a theater play, Wilmarina remained silent and made her way to the seat beside the paladin.

"Wilmarina." She said, tone falling low and slow. "You know I'm not able to rely on the inquisition. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"You must sense what I have come to suspect. The inquisition wants control of Lescatie... They are planning to betray me."

"I don't think--"

"Wilma..." Said the paladin, slowly turning to see her in the eyes. "Search your feelings. You know, don't you?"

Wilmarina found it hard to answer. She opened her mouth, but words refused to come out in the stressful situation.

"...I know they don't trust you."

"Hm. Or the senate." Added the paladin, turning forward once more. "Or Lescatie. Or theocracy, for that matter."

"I have to admit, my trust in them has been shaken."

With interest piqued, in intrigue the paladin turned back to Wilmarina. "Why?" She asked, to receive no response other than Wilmarina locking eyes with her. "They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn't they?" She added, to still receive no response. Words would not be needed, as seeing Wilmarina avert her eyes by looking forward once more served more as an answer than a thousand words. "They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?"

Struck silent, Wilmarina's mind went blank. She could think of nothing. "I don't..." She said, as if every precious second to think felt a blessing against the crushing weight laid upon her. "I don't know what to say..."

"Remember back to your early teachings, Wilmarina. 'All those who gain power are afraid to lose it'. Even the inquisition." She said, turning forward once more.

"The inquisition uses its power for good."

"Good is a point of view, Wilma. The Order and the Monsters are similar in almost every way, including their quest for greater power."

"The monsters rely on their passion for their strength. They think inwards, only about themselves."

Raising her brows, the paladin slowly turned her head to Wilmarina, prompting her to meet her. "And The Order doesn't?"

"...The Order is selfless. They only care about others." Said Wilmarina, to then avert her eyes.

After gazing for a few seconds, the paladin followed suit, both watching the performance before them if only as a little distraction from the oppressing atmosphere.

"Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Lilith the Wise?" Asked the paladin.

"...No."

"I thought not. It's not a story the inquisition would tell you. It's a monster legend. Lilith was a succubus ascended to the throne of Demon Lord, so powerful and so wise that she could use the energies to influence the monsters in the age of bloodshed, to create... love."

Wilmarina slowly turned her head, hypnotized almost by the words themselves, not creating a mere noise in all her attention to the paladin's tale.

"She had such a knowledge of the energies," she continued, "she could even keep the one sent to kill her... from leaving her."

"She could actually... save people from loneliness?"

"The demonic side of the energies is a pathway to many abilities some considere to be unnatural."

"What happened to her?"

"She became so powerful... The only thing was was afraid of, was losing him."

"...Him? Not 'it'?"

"When two people find true love in each other, would everything else not be secondary? Nothing was ever heard of them after that, most concluding they're in their lands spending their time with each other. Unfortunately, she taught her daughters everything she knew, one of which is haunting us. I guess that's the Tragedy; not a tragedy for her, but a tragedy for us..." She paused. "Rumors has it Druella has yet to find someone. Ironic... She can save others from loneliness, but not herself."

Aimlessly gazing from one side to the other, Wilmarina found it difficult to keep up with the flurry of thoughts pounding against her mind. Still, only one voice in her head spoke loudest, a mere question.

"...Is it possible to learn this power?"

At Wilmarina's question, the paladin quietly turned her head with a faint smile.

"Not from The Order."