Chương 60: What Have You Become?

Father Leandro climbed the scaffold with steady, confident steps. At that moment, Leah and Xia reached Felicity, pushing their way through the crowd.

"What's going on here?" Leah asked anxiously. Felicity didn't answer. Her eyes remained fixed straight ahead. Father Leandro turned to face the gathered villagers.

"Today, we are here to judge and punish two witches who have committed grievous crimes against this village". He paused briefly before continuing.

"As always, before passing sentence, we will hear from the witnesses. Before God and before all of us, they shall speak the truth about what these creatures have done. Please, step forward". A man came forward, his face twisted with rage and despair. He pointed a trembling finger at the two red-haired twin girls bound to the stake.

"My son spoke to them…and a few days later he caught smallpox". His voice quivered.

"Now he's dying. He's rotting before my very eyes. It's their fault. Those filthy witches". Father Leandro nodded slowly.

"Thank you for your testimony. Next". A young woman stepped forward, her eyes glistening with tears.

"My mother welcomed them into our home. She gave them food, a roof over their heads and the very next day she died. A sudden illness". This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. She covered her mouth, struggling to hold back her tears.

"They cursed her. They're daughters of the Devil!" Father Leandro gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Be at peace. Today, divine justice will run its course". At that moment, Felicity pushed through the crowd and climbed the first steps of the scaffold.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice taut.

"What is this madness?" Father Leandro turned toward her, surprised, though still composed.

"What do you mean, sweet Feli? This is a trial".

"A trial?" she shot back.

"This isn't evidence. These are nothing but coincidences. They prove absolutely nothing".

"Why would they lie before God?" he replied calmly.

"Those two are witches. And as such, they must be punished". A murmur rippled through the crowd.

"What's wrong with you?" someone shouted.

"Are you one of them?"

"She's an accomplice!" another yelled.

"Burn her too!"

"Calm yourselves", Father Leandro said, raising both hands. Then he turned to the executioner.

"Light the fire". The executioner took a torch and lowered it to the piled wood. Flames immediately began to climb. The twins struggled violently, screaming behind the cloths stuffed into their mouths. Leah grabbed Xia by the arm.

"We have to do something! They're going to burn them alive!" Xia remained perfectly still, her gaze cold.

"It's up to Felicity to decide what to do".

"What? Why?" Leah asked, horrified. Xia didn't answer. Felicity looked at the two girls, their terrified faces, their tears, the sheer panic in their eyes. Then she drew her swords. With a single leap, she landed on the scaffold and, with two swift strikes, sliced through the ropes. The twins collapsed to their knees, tore the gags from their mouths and scrambled behind her, trembling uncontrollably.

"What the hell are you doing?!" someone screamed.

"She's an accomplice of the Devil! Kill her!" Father Leandro stared at her. For the first time, something new appeared on his face: disappointment.

"Feli…" he said slowly.

"You are defying the will of God. Why?" She stared back at him, disbelief filling her eyes alongside fury and heartbreak.

"Why?" Her voice shook.

"You were about to burn two innocent little girls alive. What the fuck have you become?!" Father Leandro remained silent for a moment. Then he turned toward the members of the sect.

"Capture her". He paused briefly.

"Alive". The men moved at once, surrounding her. Felicity tightened her grip on her swords, stepped in front of the twins and settled into a defensive stance.