“Commander? Commander? I—don’t think he’s breathing…”
While the poor retired Holy Knight lay unconscious, Finn stood frozen, fumbling awkwardly, unable to meet her eyes for a long while. Finally, he forced out a word.
“…I didn’t think you’d follow me all the way here.”
“And you thought I’d just stay put? Really?”
A faint, simmering anger and hurt flickered beneath Betio’s sharp gaze. It wasn’t her rare fury that struck Finn’s chest the hardest—it was that tiny glimmer of wounded disappointment.
His heart dropped.
But he couldn’t stay silent. The Pope of the Church of the Goddess vanishing without a trace was nothing short of a full-scale disaster. The fact that Verduke had fainted on the spot was proof enough.
