The Weight of a Paladin

The wind of the Heavenly Chasm seemed to have stilled at that moment, leaving only Orpis's voice echoing in the minds of the four.

That voice was so oppressive it made it hard to breathe.

The enormous Magical Beast lay gracefully on its side, watching them calmly with a gaze that transcended good and evil—a pure scrutiny.

Kade took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"I'll do it." His voice was firm, but Xia Lin could perceive the tension hidden within it.

The Paladin adjusted his armor and traced Iomedae's holy symbol over his chest.

He raised his head and met the Magical Beast's pair of all-seeing golden eyes.

With one hand over his heart, he gave Orpis a standard Knight's Salute of the Iomedae Church.

"Honored Watcher, I am willing to be the first to undergo your test of wisdom." His voice was resolute and clear, trying to inject a thread of mortal courage into the suffocating silence.

Orpis's enormous head dipped slightly, as though approving of his courage.

"Commendable courage." Orpis's voice rang through their minds, carrying a note of approval. "Then listen carefully, Paladin of the successor. My first question is this—"

It slowly rose to its feet, its wings spreading behind it as the starlight across the bridge began to flow faster.

"You swore to use your sword and shield to protect every innocent life. But what if you discovered an innocent person whose very existence was like the source of a plague, destined to bring unavoidable suffering and death to even more innocents? What would you choose? Would you uphold your oath and protect that one innocent, allowing him to cause an even greater tragedy? Or would you, for the peace of the many, turn your blade upon the one you were meant to protect?"