As expected, he used his magic to keep from falling into the rubble, but Kire didn’t pay him mind for now. She stepped into the chapel, its gods and symbols unfamiliar to her, but it was clear that it had been a place of worship. While she hadn’t yet gotten much of a look at the rest of the city, it was apparent that anything left standing was an aberration. She didn’t hold out much hope that it was a significant clue, but the anomaly was enough for her to investigate. She heard him speak to her, but her back was still turned to him, scanning the inside of the temple instead. 

She proceeded as if he had already given her express permission. [i]What did they do in here?[/i] “Well, ungracious hosts deserve ungracious guests,” she called back, poking her head back out the wall she had knocked down. [i]This place has seen blood.[/i] Despite her words, she did feel a little sorry for the display earlier, even if she knew knocking down one more building didn’t matter a whit at this point. “And come now. The gods have abandoned you to your fate. Do you still believe in praying to them? With that attitude?” She knew that last was a tad spiteful, but she couldn’t help herself. She had asked that question of herself too, several times, over the past six months. 


“If you’re going to give me more lip, we can do it in here. I have questions.” Not that she expected him to be civil, but she was eager to move on. Kire sighed and went back in, heading to what looked like the altar. As self-important as her prey was, she imagined Ikegai would have liked the view from there, watching whatever desecration he had orchestrated play out in the pews. [i]More blood.[/i] Was it all indiscriminate killing? He was a blood mage, after all, and he learned and twisted the art from her family’s sworn enemies, too. She closed her eyes for a moment and touched the bloodstained altar, her lip curling as strong, sharp sensations made her fingertips itch. [i]Ritual. Was he making more dolls? Or taking raw material?[/i]