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The Grove of Agony

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Chapter I – An Innocent

Her hands bound; Helena slowly made her way across the small meadow. Although she could not see them, she could sense the icy presence of vile wraiths that captured her while she was traveling. Even in the midst of summer, Helena felt chills through her bones. She had managed to dispose of several wraiths using holy water before being subdued and brutally flogged two hours ago. Helena was keenly aware the vile spirits wanted blood and expected to be drowned in a bog or thrown into a pit, but she severely underestimated the vindictiveness of the wraiths that held all the living in great contempt. Once she spotted the wooden beam and several bloodied nails laying atop it, Helena froze, falling to her knees, fully comprehending the painful fate that awaited her. Suddenly, without any warning, cold, long dead hands gripped Helena's bound arms and dragged her forcefully before pinning her arms to the wood. There was no hammer in sight for the creatures possessed otherworldly strength. Helena gritted her teeth in grim anticipation as her heartbeat rapidly intensified.

- Aaaaaah!!! Uaah!!! NOOO!!! AAAAH!!!

Ear piercing screams rang across the meadow as thick cold iron spikes were being driven into the girl's forearms. Helena thrashed, kicked, and howled in pain and dread as the spikes made their way through her delicate flesh. Nothing in her nineteen years of age had prepared her for the true agony of the nailing she was being subjected to. The wraiths took their time pushing the nails through flesh and into the wood, being careful not to tear the veins and end Helena's ordeal prematurely. Once the wraiths had affixed her arms to the beam and as her adrenaline faded, jolts of searing pain caused Helena to scream even more, to the indifference of her executioners. Disbelief was quickly mixed in with the pain as Helena could not bring herself to look at the nails protruding from her arms. Instead, she gnashed her teeth and anticipated the horror of nails piercing her feet. However, the wraiths' plans were different. Several dead hands picked Helena up, forcing her on her feet. Helena wailed as nails pushed against her gored flesh but lacked the power or means to defy the spirits.

"Beam. Walk." The long-dead cursed voice whispered in Helena's ear, causing her to recoil. It was a voice of an accursed soul denied a proper burial and left to linger in its miserable evil in the world of the living. In great pain, walking slowly to the large upright beam, Helena could not help but wonder whether a similar grizzly fate awaited her.
 
Chapter II – A Girl is Crucified

Once she reached the tall wooden beam and was about to fall over, wraiths grabbed the plank to which Helena was affixed and slowly started raising them against the beam, indifferent, as before, to Helena's screams and groans.

Nailed to the wood, being raised, Helena moaned and gritted her teeth in pain as the spikes in her arms pushed against the bones of her wrists. After what felt like minutes of raising, the wraiths tied the patibulum to the cross yet devised no support for Helena's legs as she was left hanging solely from the nails in her arms in all its agony. As if the nails weren't enough, the callous wraiths also tore several thorny branches from a nearby dead bush, fashioning a cruel parody of a crown. Indeed, Helena was a lovely young woman bearing some resemblance to the youngest of the emperor’s daughters. Trickles of fresh blood ran down Helena's forehead after the wraiths placed the wreath of thorns on her head, further adding to her misery. She instinctively knew the end was nowhere in sight and attempted to somewhat prepare herself for what was to follow but to no avail.

With a mixture of horror, suspense and disbelief, Helena watched as the nail held by the being invisible to her mortal eyes slowly inched closer to her ankle which was being held against her cross by another wraith. Helena's young strong heart once again raced as if it wanted to escape her chest.

AAAAAAARGH! AAAAAA! AGHHH! -

Helena's already spent throat once again released heart-piercing screams as the vicious iron nail was being driven through her ankle, slowly and deliberately, shattering the small bones and pushing the fragments into the tortured flesh. Screaming from the top of her strained lungs, Helena could not believe it was possible for a living being to endure a such a pain, far, far worse than what she had felt half an hour before, when her arms were being pierced. Soon afterwards, Helena's right ankle met the same fate as the left, firmly affixed to the crossbeam, sending torrents of pain through Helena's entire body. She could no longer remain still, and the violent convulsions forced her body to begin a horrific "dance" on the cross borne out of unimaginable agony.

Fully crucified, Helena quietly sobbed while attempting to shift as little as possible to avoid unnecessary additional pain. Yet her brain's survival instincts would once again betray her as it forced her to push upwards using her tortured arms and legs just to get half a lungful of precious air. Each such lift further sapped Helena's strength and caused her to wail in pain. Helena could not imagine who could have first devised such a torture. The intermittent rhythm of Helena paying a painful toll just for some air continued well into the afternoon and the evening.

- GODS WHYYYY!!! - Helena screamed with a ragged voice, knowing full well no divine intervention would be coming to her rescue as she died alone, crucified.
 
Chapter III – A Painful Night

Eventually, the cool summer night fell. A small part of Helena was glad that here were no insects which the icy aura the wraiths radiated must have chased off. The pain was nowhere close to ceasing but Helena could sense it would not be much longer until life left her. Exhausted and with her wounds now inflamed, Helena could barely push herself upwards to fill her lungs with a small amount of oxygen. Again, unfortunately, she underestimated the callousness of the wraiths. One of the spirits' unique senses was that of life. During the night, when their strength was at its peak, they could see Helena's life force draining just as clearly as a mortal being could see the sun during the day. So far, Helena had been crucified for nine hours, since five in the afternoon. They wanted her to linger for a while longer.

Helena suddenly felt a chill behind her tortured legs, wincing as she heard the nail tearing through the wood. The other wraith affixed a small rectangular thick piece of wood to the nail. Helena winced in pain as cold skeletal hands wrapped around her feet. She wailed as the wraiths separated her feet from the wood, slowly, with the intention of causing more pain. Fresh blood and liquid oozed out the holes made by the spikes as Helena was once again left hanging from the nails in her arms, pushing against the strained bones of her wrists.

"Finally... this... is it." Helena thought as she expected to, at last, asphyxiate without any way to push herself upwards again.

Sadly, she was wrong, which she truly realized when the wraiths cruelly pulled the nails from her ankles, discarding one, and placing her wounded feet on top of the piece of wood they had affixed to the beam. Helena now realized the footrest's true purpose. She would not die immediately and linger at least until the morning thanks to one infernal piece of wood. Her mouth agape and tears pouring from her eyes, Helena watched as the nail was placed over her feet, which had been placed atop one another.

Helena yet again screamed in absolute agony in spite of her, now agonized chest and lungs, as the nail pushed by the wraith once again pierced her delicate feet, crushing yet more small bones doing so, firmly securing her feet against the piece of wood which would ease her breathing and extend her suffering by a day at most. Thankfully, a little grace of the gods must have reached her as the unimaginable pain in her feet finally overcame poor Helena's brain, causing her to faint lest she experience the initial spreading torrents of agony. Helena's ordeal was far from over but at least she would spend some minutes in peaceful sleep before the pain resumed.
 
Chapter IV – The Shield of Hykage

It was at the break of dawn that the sun, emerging from its nightly slumber, shone upon the two figures walking an unbeaten goat path, their polished steel breastplates and helmets glistening beautifully in the morning sun. The area was that of a placid, if unusually quiet wilderness, not far from the barony of Rúdenweid and its walled capital of Hykage. The same city doubled as one of the Empire's frontier towns due to its prime defensive position at the confluence of two moderately sized rivers and its thick, forty-foot tall, crenelated walls, lined with a number of towers. One of the soldiers trudging along the path was one of the guard captains, Entirelle "Enty" von Hykage.

The twenty-three-year-old captain was the true pride of Hykage, born into a family of lower nobility. Following her parents' deaths from an outbreak of cholera, sixteen-year-old Entirelle joined the city's militia. Although male-dominated, women were by no means excluded and would usually serve in the support units or as crossbowmen. Entirelle was one of the few who managed to rise through the ranks of the regulars, eventually being granted the rank of captain after she rallied the wavering troops to victory against the trolls which attacked Hykage's surrounding villages three years ago. Much to the dismay of male militiamen, Entirelle never showed any signs of wanting to marry or settle down despite reaching the end of her 7-year military contract. Having made a name for herself, Entirelle's salary had increased, allowing her to afford a finer armor made of blackened steel and decorated on its edges with brass as well as a sharp, slightly curved sword forged by the traveling blacksmith from the north. Aside from infrequent troll and bandit raids, the garrison of Hykage mostly just enforced peace in the streets. Some, more adventurous guards would frequent the town hall. On one of the hall's walls stood a public board where almost anyone could make a request, as long as they provided monetary compensation. The requests ranged from assistance with tree cutting to more exciting ones like bandit clearing. An unusual request had been posted last afternoon. A man, traveling the southern road had heard terrible screams and wails from a large thicket off the beaten path and quickly fled the spot. The man, who turned out to be a merchant, offered 30 silver guldens (a sizeable sum) just to investigate the area and deliver a report on the findings. The folk of Hykage (including the guards) were superstitious and firmly believed the merchant had heard a banshee. Those spirits were far less dangerous than Wraiths but could still cause people to go deaf with their screams. For some reason, they were particularly aggressive towards men, while only trying to shoo or scare off women. Due to that, the potentially lucrative quest remained unclaimed into the evening. Entirelle had returned from an afternoon patrol of the northern villages and laughed upon seeing the quest. Being a woman herself and well-armed, she saw no reason not to take the quest and quickly finish it in the morning. Still, she would not go at it alone just in case a pack of wild animals or several stray bandits occupied the location. Entirelle knew just who to pick.

Kaori von Seydlitz was a new recruit to the guard, having just reached the age of eighteen six months ago. She was a fresh face to Hykage, having come to the frontier from a smaller town of Seydlitz where her family lived. Kaori's parents had two young sons and three older daughters, including her, the youngest, and were quite poor so Kaori regularly sent a portion of her salary to them rather than waste in on gambling like many of the guardsmen. The guards enjoyed having her around for her sense of humor and occasional bouts of naivety amused everyone. Entirelle respected the girl and enjoyed her company even if Kaori was a bit too talkative for her own good. Entirelle had all the money she needed, and she wanted Kaori to take the entire sizeable reward for herself. That evening, Entirelle visited Kaori in the barracks and presented the quest to her which Kaori cautiously accepted. She wondered if the two of them could fight off a pack of bandits but was reassured by Entirelle that the mere sight of two fully armored guards was enough to deter many a bandit. Over their shared time in the guard, the two girls had become quite friendly with each other, with Entirelle asking Kaori to just call her "Enty" if she so wished. Enty instructed Kaori to get a good night’s sleep and be ready in full battle gear, in front of the barracks an hour before daybreak. Once they rendezvoused, the two mounted their horses and headed off, through the town gates and down the southern road.
 
Chapter IV – The Unsettling Discovery

High spirited, Kaori von Seydlitz proudly walked alongside her captain. She could hardly believe her current situation. Two months ago, she had arrived to Hykage poor, and without much to her name other than her will and determination. To her surprise, she had been accepted into the militia after a simple test of strength, never mind little grumbling from the grizzled male guards who could not believe a girl could fight on par with them. Kaori's father, Boren, was a veteran of the great Litherian War and had taught her the basics of soldiering and spear-wielding (out of all her siblings, she was the most eager to learn) so Kaori found the daily life as a guard easy. Still, she had never been on a mission, let alone a quest far outside the walls. Her standard-issue steel armor, similar to Entirelle's but undercoated and plain had yet to prove its worth.

"Kaori, you seem nervous. I hope you did not feel forced to join me on this quest" - said Entirelle, gazing at her companion, noticing her flushed cheeks and a slightly rigid posture.

"Lady Entirelle... I..."

"Just Enty is fine, Kaori." - Entirelle reassured the girl. Among the militia, she was the closest to her in age and Entirelle yearned for a companion to talk to informally.

"Madam Enty, I do not feel forced. Not at all. In fact, it is an honor. I'm just a rookie yet you chose me for this task. And I get to possibly fight alongside you!", Kaori spoke in quick succession. She had looked up the Entirelle ever since joining the guard, the woman who rose through the ranks on her own and earned the respect of her charges. Seeing the girl's beaming smile many a man would swear to protect on the spot, Entirelle felt her heart beat a little faster.

"We'll be back to Hykage soon. This is just a routine mission. A few more under your belt and you'll start finding them dull..."

"...Halt!" - Suddenly, Entirelle outstretched her arm to stop Kaori. It might have been the wind, but Entirelle was certain she heard rustling from the thicket. She communicated the finding to Kaori.

"Captain, I heard it too! There!" - Kaori pointed her spear at the small thicket behind which they could see a small wooden cabin. The two women quickly dashed to the location of the sound. Would they find bandits, a beast or was it just the wind, Kaori wondered, tightly gripping her short spear in anticipation as she ran.

Entirelle and Kaori hastily circumvented the thicket, arriving to a quaint meadow behind it, that was home to a small wooden shack. The richly decorated curved sword and the short spear fell from the girls' hands as they stared petrified, horrified at the sight in front of them. It was that of a girl, every inch of her outstretched nude body covered in bloody gashes and lacerations of varying sizes. Worse yet, from the girl's delicate forearms and feet, thick iron nails protruded, having been driven through her flesh. On her forehead lay a crudely made thorny wreath from which thin trickles of blood flowed. Firmly affixed to the two wooden beams, her heels on the footrest, the girl was crucified.

Kaori placed her hand over her mouth lest she empty the contents of her stomach while Entirelle stared in disbelief. She knew about the terrible practice of crucifixion, reserved for the most heinous of crimes but had, to this day, never seen it in person for which she was grateful. In fact, in the entire Barony of Rúdenweid, only one person had been crucified in the last forty years - a horned demi-human servant suspected of killing their master and their whole family. Entirelle fell on her knees, her legs giving way, while aghast Kaori slowly approached the crucified girl. Looking at her soft smooth skin and gentle face, Kaori instinctively knew the girl was an innocent. She looked to be around Kaori's age. Kaori slowly raised her hand and brought it up the girl's leg, gently touching it.

The gentle touch once again brought Helena to her fading consciousness. Her entire body was sore and in pain. Her arms and feet throbbed but Helena managed to limit the agony somewhat by moving as little as possible. Crucified for some thirteen hours, she could no longer push herself upwards using her hands, her shoulders long since dislocated. Helena gazed weakly at the young, armored soldier below her causing her to recoil in shock and step backwards a few yards. Helena knew she had to warn the two guards who had come. She knew yet knew not if she could produce a sufficiently audible sound anymore louder than a pained whisper.

"Y... You... mst .... run.." - uttered the girl with the last ounces of her strength, before her head slumped the side and her consciousness was only again lost.
 
A very different perspective. I don't usually like this sort of fantasy, but this is GOOD.
 
Chapter V – The Stand of the Courageous

"Captain Enty, we have to help her!!!" shouted shocked Kaori, her eyes welling up, upon realizing the crucified still clung onto life. Yet Entirelle gently shook her head.

"We cannot. Just by taking her down we'd cause her great pain and likely kill her.", said Entirelle somberly.

"There has to be something. We could try to keep her alive and take her to an army surgeon! Or... or... quickly go and get help!", cried Kaori, grasping at straws, her voice cracking.

"Even if we were to take her to a healer, we would only prolong her suffering...", said Entirelle gently, a lump forming in her throat.

"There is only one thing we can do. Kaori, please go behind that thicket. I wouldn't want you to see this.", instructed Entirelle while slowly raising her sword. In the corner of her eye, Kaori suddenly noticed a glint of steel, her eyes widening.

"CAPTAIN!!!", cried she, quickly and unexpectedly shoving Entirelle to the ground. lest her shoulder be pierced by the long steel blade appearing seemingly out of thin air.

Where there had, moments ago, been just one blade, five new ones appeared. Half expecting a banshee before departing, Entirelle and Kaori had visited a church, and soaked their weapons in holy water. They could have easily equipped themselves with silver weapons, but Entirelle would not risk it. Silver was far softer than steel and Entirelle was wary of armored highwaymen or a group of mercenary raiders from one of the neighboring countries. Kaori quickly picked up her short spear and took a battle posture behind Entirelle.

"Blast it, we have encroached upon an execution ground.", Said Entirelle with resignation.

"Those wraiths only appear if someone is denied a proper burial or a pyre. A lot of people must have died here. Cursed bandits!" Entirelle muttered loud enough for Kaori to hear. Entirelle quickly rose to her feet, holding her trusty longsword with both hands. Inside, she cursed herself for endangering Kaori like that on her first real quest.

"Or it could just be horrid luck, just goes to show how easily expectations are crushed...", reasoned Enty with herself. She would buy Kaori something once they returned to Hykage.

The wraiths attacked suddenly but Entirelle and Kaori successfully blocked and parried their attacks. One blade hit Kaori's chest, bouncing off her steel breastplate. Kaori pushed it off with the full force of her body and lunged forward, piercing a wraith with her spear. The evil spirit let out a chilling screech before dying. Entirelle fought steadily and calmly, deflecting the wraiths' blades with her own. This was not the most perilous fight she had ever been in, but her concentration was lessened by the desire to keep an eye on still green Kaori, lest she get separated. Entirelle swiftly cut down one wraith and stood back-to-back with Kaori, both girls solely focused on surviving. Unfortunately, this was just what the wraiths had been waiting for, swiftly encircling the girls.

"Careful Kaori, do not leave your lower body exposed.", shouted Entirelle, noticing Kaori holding her spear in a middle guard.

"Thanks! Will do capt... OOH!"

Kaori was in the middle of thanking Entirelle when she felt three hard hits on her back. Although her armor protected her from harm, the impact still pushed her forward and forced her to bend, breaking her posture. Entirelle couldn't do anything as she herself was fighting two at the same time. Kaori attempted to stab another wraith but misjudged its location and missed by half a foot. Before she could recover, two blades struck the spear from above at its center-point, knocking it out of shocked Kaori's hand as another blade approached her from behind. The wraith quickly struck with its sword, piercing cleanly through Kaori's right thigh. Kaori let out a scream of pain and terror as she looked at the tip of the blade poking out of her inner thigh. It did not cut her bone or sever an artery, but the pain and the loss of balance caused Kaori to ignominiously collapse to the ground. Entirelle was just about to finish off a wraith whose sword she had pinned under her foot when she heard a scream of pain and terror to her right.

"Kaori!!!", shouted Entirelle, quickly turning towards the remaining wraiths. But it was too late. Before she could even begin her attack, the wraiths had subdued Kaori, tightly gripping her arms above behind her head and holding a sword at her throat. Entirelle's rage and grief nevertheless caused her to lift her sword, challenging the wraiths. Yet they were not stupid. The blade at Kaori's neck, inched closed, lightly cutting into her skin. Kaori looked at Entirelle, her eyes tearing up. She was aware she let her guard down and had to pay a price for it. Kaori did not want to sacrifice herself but knew it was the only way her dear captain could save her own life. Doing otherwise would go against all her principles about responsibility that she was taught by her parents. Kaori had no doubt Entirelle would continue to help her family back in Seydlitz which further steeled her resolve.

Entirelle breathed heavily even though she had made an instantaneous decision once she saw the blade bite into the skin of Kaori's neck. The longing looks in Kaori's innocent blue eyes further reinforced her decision. Entirelle speculated that some kind of torture and/or imprisonment awaited them both and, in and instant, resolved to help Kaori escape bondage even if it meant she would have to sacrifice herself. She was the one who accepted the quest and took Kaori with her, after all. With a pained sigh and to Kaori's shock and horror, Entirelle released her grip, letting her sword fall to the ground in surrender.
 
Chapter VI – The Final Tenderness

Neither Entirelle, nor Kaori yet fully believed the fate that befell them. Less than twenty minutes ago, they were walking side by side, fully armored, chatting about their quest and what to do afterwards. Now they were side-by-side once more, laying, bound to wooden posts, their outstretched arms behind them in irons. Their boots had been taken - an ultimate shame for a soldier, as well as their helmets, which the wraiths dumped into the small pond on the edge of the meadow. The wraiths, having beaten them, stuck their swords into the ground and, for the moment, departed.

"Captain Enty, what will happen to us?", asked Kaori fearfully yet Entirelle couldn't answer. She didn't want to impart false hope or dread onto the girl.

"Whatever happens, we're in it together. I'm not leaving you!", said Entirelle resolutely, somewhat reassuring shivering Kaori.

Kaori wanted to reply but her words remained stuck in her throat as she once again felt the aura of the wraiths. Cold hands grabbed at the pieces of Entirelle's and Kaori's armor, tearing it off, one piece at a time. Entirelle attempted to kick a wraith with her foot once they had started to tear at her clothes. Her skirt was ripped, and her coat cut open, leaving only a black lacy bra to cover her breasts - they had already removed Kaori's. Entirelle's ripped tights were next and she pulled her thighs closer together, looking downwards in embarrassment as her panties fell down them along with the tights. Entirelle dreaded that savage rape was soon to follow but was, luckily, mistaken in her assumption. Once the wraiths divested both her and Kaori of their final pieces of clothing, they once again left. Completely nude and with no way to cover themselves, Entirelle and Kaori felt waves of embarrassment washing over them.

Although military life was harsh, little to none of it could be seen on Entirelle's lightly tanned skin which gleamed in the sun. Her breasts were of perfect size, neither too large, nor too small, while her wide, shapely hips indicated she would have no issue birthing a healthy baby if the occasion came. Kaori couldn't help but feel a tiny prick of jealousy. Stupefied, she suddenly realized she was staring and instantly looked down.

"I'm sorry C-Captain. I st-ared.", stuttered she, clearly embarrassed. Entirelle slowly turned her gaze to her.

A little on the thin side, and with a lack of a large bust, young Kaori was nevertheless exquisitely beautiful, her dark-pink nipples in stark contrast to the milky-white skin of her people who lived in the Empire’s cold northernmost region. Despite being a woman, Entirelle found herself blushing looking at Kaori. She wanted to hold her closer and tell her everything would be alright while gently caressing her skin. Just the thought caused her to blush a little more, a thought forming in her head.

"I don't mind, Kaori. I might be guilty of the same.", confessed Entirelle, her cheeks flushing as much as Kaori's.

Though she had had her fair share of suitors, Entirelle was, as of yet, completely inexperienced regarding romantic matters. Kaori had once had a significant other, but her father shattered that relationship before the boy could take his daughter into bed. Marriages in and around the Seydlitz duchy were generally arranged and political. Kaori's father had hoped to marry at least his youngest daughter into a nobleman's family but due to his status as a commoner and an overabundance of other prospective marriage candidates of far higher status, at the age of 17, Kaori was still nowhere close to a betrothal, let alone a marriage. This was one of the reasons she decided to enlist and help alleviate her family's monetary woes that way.

"Kaori, would you perhaps let me touch you?", Entirelle asked to which Kaori instantly nodded. It was abundantly clear she was thinking of doing the same but couldn't put it into words.

Although their hands were bound, Entirelle knew they could still use their feet whose soles were much more sensitive. In fact, ever since one particularly long march and patrol early in her service that left her with pained soles full of calluses, Enterprise had always worn an extra pair of socks over her tights. This had kept her soles from being hurt or hardening and helped retain their softness. Entirelle's foot inched closer to Kaori's, their toes intertwining. Entirelle then placed her feet on Kaori's left calf, gently running her soles over it, enjoying the warmth of Kaori's leg. In spite of pain in, Kaori lifted her right leg with the gored thigh and stroked Entirelle's calf herself. Both girls smiled, breathing a little faster, enjoying what could well have been their first and final physical exchange before they would be separated or taken who-knows-where. Following the physical exchange, both Entirelle and Kaori outstretched their aching bodies, absorbing the gentle morning heat of the still rising sun. The moment of peace was not to last.
 
Chapter VII – The Kiss of the Talons

The wraiths returned even sooner than Kaori or Entirelle had expected. Without warning, they unshackled Entirelle's arms and forcefully dragged her away from Kaori and towards the cross upon which another still struggled, repeatedly losing and regaining consciousness. The wraiths grabbed Entirelle's arms, pinning them to the timber behind her head, and securing them with a strong rope. Other wraiths unshackled Kaori, only to change her position.

Kaori, her outstretched arms bound in front of her, was at a complete mercy of the wraiths, their icy aura chilling her back and spine. Despite their otherworldly strength, their claws were powerless against even padded armor, which they could only scratch and lightly damage. Against exposed skin, however, they could do considerable harm. Two wraiths swished and scratched at Kaori's back, leaving bleeding gashes with each strike. Kaori yelped and winced every time her skin was cut and hit, gnashing her teeth so as to not scream or cry. The lashing stopped after what felt like an hour, leaving poor Kaori quivering in dread and pain.

Still, Entirelle had it worse. Her exposed front had no defense against the wraiths' talons. Although they no longer felt any arousal at the prospect of touching the female body, the wraiths were strategic in their lashing, deliberately aiming for Entirelle's breasts, nipples, and outstretched soft abdomen. It took all of Entirelle's willpower not to scream as the talons cut into her soft skin and flesh. Kaori's front fared somewhat better than Entirelle's with the wraiths seeming satisfied with the still bleeding wound in her thigh. Instead of a prolonged brutal lashing, the wraiths, instead, directed only a few lashes and mostly hit Kaori's breasts and abdomen, as well as poke at her wound which caused her no small amount of pain and to almost scream through her gnashed teeth. At the same time, the wraiths treated Entirelle's back to another whirlwind of suffering, leaving it eerily similar in appearance to a tiger's coat, with the black stripes replaced by shockingly crimson ones where the skin had been flayed. Several times during the lashing, Entirelle fell on her knees from the pain only to be forcefully lifted by her bound hands back to her feet. By the end, Entirelle was on the brink of crying from the pain, tears already gathering in the corners of her eyes.

Yet neither girl could ever have prepared herself for what was coming.
 
Chapter VIII – The Passion of the Damned

Their bodies aching, Entirelle and Kaori heard a sound of something being dragged. Their hearts sank as they watched in horror at the two T-shaped beams slowly inching towards them.

"What foul fate...", Entirelle grimaced, her heart skipping. She no longer had to guess what the wraiths had in store for them.

Kaori's eyes widened in shock as her entire body went limp. She was astounded and in disbelief, half expecting still that all of it was just a strangely lucid dream. No, a nightmare. Kaori wanted to call for help; anyone; but a lump formed in her throat prevented her from uttering anything other than a low whimper. The day fully broke as the wraiths placed the two crosses in parallel, close the first once still maintaining its unfortunate, dying occupant. The wraiths opened the shackles, releasing Kaori's hands and untied Entirelle's. Kaori's petrified body had seemingly ceased to function, so the wraiths roughly grabbed her under the arms, hoisting her up on her trembling legs. Kaori's heart raced, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she stared in bewilderment. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. This couldn't be happening to them. A cold hand pushed Kaori's lower back

"Walk.", spoke the undead voice, causing Kaori's entire body to shiver in terror even more as she languidly made her way to the cross, her wounded and pained right thigh throbbing. At the same time Entirelle was being forcefully pulled by her right arm, her attempts to dig her heels into the ground and resist futile, and in vain.

Suddenly, perplexed Kaori's scourged body found itself embraced in soft warmth. Entirelle had broken free from her captor and hugged Kaori in a tight embrace, gently caressing her back while crying inconsolably into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry!!! I'm so sorry Kaori!!!", cried Entirelle, tears streaming from her eyes and onto Kaori's bruised skin. Internally, she loathed herself for surrendering and damning both herself and the innocent Kaori to a horrid end instead of a merciful death for at least one of them. In response, Kaori hugged Entirelle even tighter, both girls wincing from pain due to their wounds.

"We have precious little time...", whispered Entirelle into Kaori's right ear. Kaori grasped the meaning and the intent behind the words clearly and instantly. She was in the arms of her beloved captain and a friend. No, far more than just a simple friend. If now was not the time, when?

Kaori's and Entirelle's lips connected in a passionate kiss, while Kaori's hand cupped Entirelle's breast, gently stroking her areola and nipple with her thumb. The girls sighed in pleasure, extending their tongues to intertwine with each other, feeling the taste of herbs they had used to brush their teeth in the morning as well as flowery brandy they used to wash out their mouths. Almost as if moving on their own, both Entirelle's and Kaori's hands found their way to each other's warm and moist womanhoods, just about the only part of their bodies remaining wholly unmolested by the wraiths. Both girls moaned in pleasure, antithetic to the burn of their wounds. They remained in the same position for a few moments, both Entirelle and Kaori wishing they could remain that way for hours. Kaori fully relaxed, falling back, her back in Entirelle's arms where she was, for the moment, safe. They could both feel the chill creeping towards again.

"Be brave... my sweet.", uttered Entirelle with great difficulty, a wide tearful smile appearing on her fair face just as she felt the undead hands grasping her shoulders.
 
Chapter IX – Married to the Crosses

"Entyyy!!!", wailed Kaori, outstretching her left arm to try and pull Entirelle back, even as she herself was being pulled to the side and the second cross by her right arm. Her arms outstretched and behind her, Entirelle could only look, tearfully, at Kaori's desperate attempt. Slowly and steadily, the wraiths dragged Entirelle to and onto the timber, its rough wood further tearing at Entirelle's lacerated back as it was pulled over it. Kaori suffered an identical fate and soon enough, both girls' arms were positioned on the horizontal beam, held firmly by the wraiths' strong hands. Sweating profusely and her heart skipping, Entirelle watched as a long iron nail inched towards her right wrist. In anticipation of the coming agony, Entirelle gritted her teeth so hard she was sure she'd heard a low crack.

As the nail slowly broke the skin of her arm, just below the wrist, Entirelle was momentarily perplexed. The pain was actually not all that great. Still, Entirelle knew the bulk of the pain would set in when the nail was pushed deeper, and she struggled futilely against it. "DO NOT STRUGGLE KAORI!", yelled she frantically a mere moment before the wraith pushed the nail into her arm.

Aaaaah!!! Aaah!!! AAAAAAAAAH!!!

Entirelle screamed like she had never screamed before. Indeed, nothing she had ever experienced had even come close to the true agony of the nailing she was now being subject to. Entirelle thrashed around, unable to prevent it, screaming from sheer shock and pain as the nail made its way deeper through her arm and into the wood. With Entirelle's right arm secured by a nail stuck between the bones of her forearm, the other wraith immediately began shoving the other nail into her left. Entirelle's eyes widened from the shock as she once again screamed due to the blinding pain. Her lower body slipped from the timber, desperately and futilely trying to escape the ordeal. Her other arm pierced and secured, Entirelle rested her head on the beam her arms were nailed to, gritting her teeth furiously so as to not scream and tear her throat further.

As the undead hands held her head in place, Kaori was forced to watch the gruesome scene unfold. The squelching sound of nails piercing flesh and wood, and the tormented screams coming from her beloved captain burned themselves into Kaori's mind. Kaori's dread pushed her stomach further upwards as she braced for the inevitable. She would do her best not to struggle as Entirelle advised.

Unconcerned with her agony, the wraiths raised Entirelle's limp legs, placing her feet one atop the other on a second, lower horizontal plank. Staring at the sky, Entirelle hadn't noticed when they positioned the nail above her left foot.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

Entirelle screeched as the nail broke through the skin and bones of her feet, shattering the latter. Her delicate soles, unmarred by calluses, that, less than an hour ago, had enjoyed the warmth of Kaori's leg, now felt nothing but agony as the thick nails tore at and through the sensitive flesh, pinning Entirelle's feet together and to the wood. Entirelle's back arched, pushing her pierced feet against the nail driven through them as she writhed in pain, screaming in spite of her valiant effort not to.

Kaori stared in horror, unable to move or defend herself in any way as the wraith positioned the iron spike upright, just below her wrist. No warning of any kind was given before the wraith began to slowly push the nail into Kaori's arm. Any remaining resolve to resist had shattered in the instant her skin was pierced.

Aaaaaaaaah!!! Aaaaaaah!!! Aaaaaargh!!!

Kaori screamed from the top of her lungs as her soft skin was being pierced. The wraith was careful to avoid the bones and push the nail through softer tissue, wholly undisturbed by the horrifying shrieks coming from the young girl. She had tried not to struggle but it turned out to be impossible due to the sheer volume of pain. Kaori's legs spread, her feet trying to drag her away from the cross as the wraith pushed the other nail into her right arm.

A tiny fraction of Entirelle's mind, dazed by sheer concentrated pain, was glad it couldn't fully register the agonized screams coming from Kaori to her right. Suffering on the cross to the Entirelle's left, Helena turned her head in revulsion. She just couldn't look at the horror below her, having experienced the same the day before. Kaori, her forearms burning, hyperventilated panickily. She'd caught a glimpse of yet another nail, only for it to disappear behind her knee. The sudden jolt of extreme pain was all the proof needed on what was happening.

AAAAH!!! AAAAH!!! AAAH!!! STOOOOOP!!! PLEASE STOOOOOP!!!

Kaori could hardly believe she remained conscious as she yet again screamed in agony, begging the implacable wraith to cease torturing her so terribly. Going through the foot, the nail shattered the small bones, pushing the sharp shards into Kaori's tender flesh. Desperate and crazed by the pain, Kaori attempted to pry her arms off the beam to which they had been nailed but by doing so, only caused herself more unnecessary pain. Kaori's other foot was nailed soon after, positioned next to the left. Prior to the nailing, the wraiths had bent her legs in the knees which now partially blocked Kaori's view of her pierced and bloodied feet as she gritted her teeth due to the waves of pain radiating from her forearms and feet. Instinctively, she looked to the left, seeing her beloved captain Enty who must have been suffering just as much as she was judging by the rigidity of her whole body.
 
Chapter X – The Dance of Agony

Her cross being raised, Entirelle retained the same dazed and broken expression. "Mama..." Kaori, on the other hand, sobbed, calling softly for her caring mother, who was still in their poor yet warm house in Seydlitz. As the cross she was nailed to was being raised, Entirelle slowly and steadily slumped down the beam. Entirelle grimaced from the resulting pain as the weight of her body pushed her downwards, stretching her arms, which pushed against the nails driven through them. The thud and the resulting shake when the cross fell into a hole dug by the wraiths for that purpose yanked Entirelle from her dazed state and back into the painful clarity.

Ahh.. ahh... ahh... aaaargh...

Entirelle panted and moaned as her abused forearms and feet continued to radiate unending waves of searing pain. Hanging from her arms and having little in terms of support other than the plank upon which the heels of her nailed feet lay, Entirelle had decided to move as little as possible. Very soon, due to the pressure on her lungs, however, the pain became unbearable and Entirelle was forced to push herself upwards using her pierced arms and feet, just to grab a mouthful of fresh oxygen her lungs greedily craved. Entirelle's body shifted and wiggled against the nails which caused her yet more suffering and to scream pitifully in anguish. "Cursed be whoever invented a torture like this!", Entirelle's pained mind mused as she mentally prepared for another battle with her damaged nerves and the upcoming inevitable "dance" her body would have to perform on the cross.

At the same time, Kaori breathed rapidly, her heart racing. Her arms and legs had been bent and nailed in a way that gave her significantly less support but more flexibility albeit at the cost of a new jolt of pain whenever she attempted to shift her weight. It was the reality of the crucifixion the unfortunate girls were subject to. A comfortable position simply didn't exist - remaining in one position would cause escalating pain in the other part of the body while moving would cause their flesh to further tear itself against the nails driven through it.

Mustering her strength and resolve, Kaori decided to push herself upwards to relieve the pressure on her lungs. Doing so, all four points of agony intensified simultaneously, the blinding pain almost knocking Kaori unconscious. Kaori gnashed her teeth as she practically stood on the cross, both her arms in V-shape and her legs fully outstretched. Her head was now above the horizontal beam and while she had an easier time inhaling and exhaling, she paid a painful toll for each moment she remained in that position. Crying and moaning, Kaori attempted to rest her head on the beam, the risen sun blinding her eyes as she gazed upwards. Sadly, Kaori's pain receptors could no longer tolerate such acrobatics. The pain in her feet had reached intolerable levels forcing Kaori, against her will, to change her position. She attempted just that, but instead of a slow and careful reposition to avoid jerking at the nails, Kaori instead slipped, slumping hard to her original position.

Hnnggh!!! Aaah!!! AAAH!!!

Kaori screamed as the nails tore her pained flesh thanks to the awkward way in which she fell. Her screams and wails once again broke Entirelle's heart. Though she suffered just as much, the gaze now turned towards the wailing girl in indescribable pain, was that of utter sorrow. Though she had decided to not attempt such a stunt again, Kaori simply couldn't remain in the same position for too long. Entirelle was already forced to begin her "dance" anew and the sound of her struggle once again pained Kaori's ears. Somehow, some clemency managed to reach her, however. Inhaling deeply and attempting once again to lift herself (not as high up as the first time), blackness fell upon Kaori's eyes and her mind went blank. Her beautiful head fell to the side as her consciousness was finally lost, granting her some merciful oblivion.

"Oh Kao...ri. I'm so s... rry aaah...", whispered Entirelle. In her mind, she thanked the gods for granting a little mercy to her friend even if, waking up, she would once again enter the domain of living hell.
 
Chapter XI – The Final Solace

As she slowly descended, Entirelle noticed something in the corner of her eye. The crucified girl to her left was still alive, albeit barely, thanks to the infernal footrest. She noticed the girl was somehow still awake to boot but hadn't said a word. Entirelle turned her head towards her, shame washing over her. Even before, when the girl had woken up after Kaori's gentle touch, Entirelle had completely neglected to ask the girl's name. She had almost ended her life, yet couldn't spare the decency to even ask her name... Though agonized, Entirelle resolved to rid herself of that regret.

"H-ey. Ah ah, ah. What ah is y... r name? Uaaah!", asked Entirelle with great difficulty, once again submitting to the pain. The girl barely cocked her head to the side, looking Entirelle in the eyes.

"H... elena. My na...m was Helena.", said the girl, her weak and ragged voice barely more than a whisper.

"Y... Shld hate me.", spoke Helena in a strained, tearful voice, gazing weakly at Entirelle whose brows lightly raised, indicated she had heard her.

"Didn...t… tell of them. Fell un...., unc... Aaah!"

Entirelle understood the girl well yet did not blame her in the slightest. She just couldn't. It was chiefly her mistake, mused Entirelle anguished. A terrible sound, however, interrupted her thoughts. It was a horrible, ragged sound Entirelle had heard once before, when the novice hunters she was accompanying failed to deliver a quick death to their prey. This time it was Helena who produced those sounds, hanging from her arms which were high above her head, fully outstretched and with only the nails holding them in place. The sight of her ribs pointing through her stretched skin nauseated Entirelle. The pain the poor girl must have been feeling in her last moments must have been horrific.

"Shh, aah, shhh, don..t fight. R... Uuah...", uttered Entirelle barely, trying to somewhat comfort Helena as she slowly asphyxiated.

"All ov...er soon. It'll... be... Ov...r soon..."

Tears gathered in the corners of Entirelle's eyes as she spoke to poor Helena with as soothing a voice as possible considering the circumstances. At death's door, Helena's body started to convulse, thrashing miserably against the infernal nails. This lasted for a few moments before Helena once again turned her head to the side, gazing at and through Entirelle, her eyes crimson from the burst blood vessels and her forehead painted with the fresh streaks of blood.

“C... n I die?” pleaded Helena arduously through the tears. The fact she was even able to utter those words at that time was astonishing.

"Yes.", replied Entirelle gently. "Yes y... may..."

Helena let out a final pained sigh of relief. "Th... nk y...", her final words left unfinished, Helena's head fell to the side and her body went limp. The girl who had suffered for a little less than a full day was finally released from her torment. Tears flowed from Entirelle's eyes with an even greater vigor as her entire body trembled. The sobs began as barely audible, gradually rising in volume until becoming drawn out wails. Despite the pain she herself was feeling, Entirelle wept for Helena and for still-unconscious Kaori both, tears wetting her breasts where they fell. She would give anything in her power to free either of them, even at the cost of her own life yet she shared their miserable and excruciating fate. Crucified innocent. No end could possibly be worse.
 
Chapter XII – The Strength Sapped

"En...ty, En...ty", a soft voice belonging to a young girl reached Entirelle's ears. Momentarily unable to utter a word, Entirelle laboriously turned her head to the side, locking eyes with the beautiful girl who still shared in her pain.

"My fa...mily, ...'ll they be help...d? aaah!", mouthed Kaori with great difficulty, struggling once again to breathe.

Having never read the fine print in her enlistment papers, Kaori had no way of knowing the Empire regularly paid a recompense to the families of soldiers who died during their service. 250 silver guldens if the fallen was a son and 200 if they were a daughter (for rank-and-file soldiers), rough equivalent of a five-months’ pay. This was partially recouped by the reselling of the deceased's equipment, so the Imperial state's coffers were at a minimal loss.

"Y... yes, Kao...ri. They will... aah... aah...", replied Entirelle with as much confidence as she could muster before being forced to lift herself upwards so as to fill her lungs with air. She did not fully believe the sincerity of her own words but took some solace in the fact she wasn't Kaori's only friend in the guard. Several others, such as Hana were even familiar with Kaori's situation. Entirelle only hoped Kaori's parents and siblings would never find out the true way in which their youngest daughter died. Though she wholeheartedly wished for Kaori's eyes to close forever, a small part of Entirelle did not wish to be left alone.

"Than...k you Capt... ain, th...ank you..." In spite of the agony, Kaori's face bore a placid smile. It reminded Entirelle of Kaori's beaming smile of innocence that graced her face several hours ago. The thought of it being lost forever pained Entirelle's heart greatly.

The thought remained in Entirelle's head as her vision blurred and darkened. Entirelle let out a long sigh, exhaling the extra air a moment before her head slumped. For the moment, her mind allowed itself a break from the tortured reality.

"C... aptain? ... Enty? Plea...se don't le...ave, don't leave me!", wailed Kaori, attempting in vain to extend her arm to embrace Entirelle.

The effort unfortunately caused her to lose what concentration she had on not swaying. Her hips and buttocks escaped the beam of the cross, their weight pushing Kaori's whole body downwards, contorting it, while causing her nailed arms to adiate fresh jolts of searing pain. Kaori gritted her teeth to not scream as she used her remaining strength to reposition herself into a slightly less painful position. Looking upwards, Kaori whimpered. She could no longer endure the pain. Not for another minute or even second. Luckily for her, her brain had come to the same conclusion. Kaori's head fell as her consciousness once again mercifully left her.
 
Chapter XIII – Mercy

The orange sun of the sunset gently illuminated three grotesquely outstretched figures. One of them, a gentle-faced young girl, was deceased, having passed around noon, while the other two still struggled pitifully. Entirelle breathed laboriously, moving as little as possible despite the burning pain in her dislocated shoulders. Recovering once again from her dazed state, Entirelle attempted to lift herself upwards only to fail and not for the lack of effort - her dislocated shoulders wouldn't allow it, forcing Entirelle to use her legs. Digging her heels into the plank her feet were nailed to, Entirelle managed to lift her agonized body, grabbing a mouthful of air. Just before mustering the resolve to return to her
prior position, a terrible squealing sound diverted her attention.

It was Kaori, her arms fully outstretched. Like that of a fish gasping for air, her mouth opened and closed repeatedly. She had to lift herself upwards like Entirelle but it
was evident her arms lacked the strength for such a feat. Though the nailing of their arms and feet were equally cruel and brutal, Kaori still unjustly toiled more. As much as it pained her to think, Entirelle took some solace from the fact Kaori would not last much longer. She only hoped Kaori's passing would be more peaceful than Helena's, whose pale, broken body still hung from the nails. Sadly, Kaori's brain would not allow her to die just yet, resulting in Kaori managing to push down unto the nails with her feet, lifting her body and relieving the crushing pressure of her lungs and diaphragm. Kaori wholeheartedly wished for death to take her and for the agony to stop but couldn't bring herself to hang until she asphyxiated. She simply couldn't leave Entirelle alone. Thanks to the footrest, Entirelle would doubtlessly outlast her but until then, she could at the very least commiserate with her by sharing in her torment.

After hours of torture, another toil now befell Kaori - thirst. Though she and Entirelle had had breakfast prior to setting out and had drunk plenty of water, the searing midday heat and the resulting sweating dehydrated both girls. Kaori wanted to converse with Entirelle for as long as possible, for the time seemed to pass particularly slowly when they both just hung, surrendered to the agony. Her throat as dry as a bone, Kaori could no longer stop herself.

"Wa...er, wa...er, please...", pleaded Kaori weakly, wishing for the wraiths to hear her.

Entirelle gnashed her teeth in anguish upon hearing Kaori's weak voice. Why? Why would she lengthen her torment? Entirelle somehow knew the wraiths would oblige but even as small a mercy as a few drops of water would require a price to be paid. Though her own throat was just as parched, Entirelle had decided not to ask for anything that could prolong her miserable existence.

The wraiths heeded Kaori's pleads, ripping off a piece of her discarded shirt and soaking it briefly in a small pond on the meadow's edge. Kaori watched with heavy anticipation as a long wooden pole made its way towards her cross. The wraiths stuck the pole - no doubt the remnant of a pike carried by a previous ill-fated adventurer - into the ground just in front of Kaori, placing the still-dripping cloth on top. The position of the cloth, just beyond her reach proved yet another tribulation for Kaori, whose eyes longingly gazed at the cloth dangling from the pole. Though she knew it would cause her great pain, Kaori's thirst was greater. Groaning in pain, Kaori once again lifted her body upwards using her legs and leaned forwards, her forearms pressing against the heads of the nails driven through them.

Having succeeded, Kaori sucked on the moist cloth as her pain rapidly intensified. The first few drops felt as if she had lit a match in her throat, but Kaori didn't care. At that moment, all she cared about was to suck as much liquid from the cloth as possible. Alas, as the weight of her unsupported body pulled her downwards, she instinctively bit into the cloth, pulling it instantly from the pole. Kaori watched, helpless and distraught as the white fabric slowly fell past her body and onto the ground, far out of her reach. Tears appeared uninvited in the corners of Kaori's eyes as her body shook from the sobs she attempted to suppress. The sobs intensified, quickly becoming cries of anguish as Kaori stared at the rare "mercy", now useless and squandered.
 
Chapter XIV – The Rose and the Rod

Not long after, it had become clear no "mercy" came without a price. The pole, now pulled out from the ground now pointed not upwards, but horizontally at Kaori's loins. Instinctively, she squeezed her thighs shut, lest she be even further degraded. The wraith, however, did not persist, moving the pole away from Kaori which elicited a pained sigh of slight relief from her. Kaori couldn't have guessed that the attempted prodding with the pole was not in itself a price for the water, but an indication of what was to come. Slowly returning to her original position after yet another struggle to get air, Entirelle heard a terrible sound of tearing flesh to her left. Her head hurting almost as much as the rest of her body, excluding the four searing points, Entirelle could not bring herself to look at the source of the sound.

Helena's dead body now hung only by its outstretched arms, the long nail having been extracted from her feet, which immediately slumped from the footrest to which they were no longer affixed. The bloodied nail now floated in the air near Entirelle, yet it was the sight of another thing that truly filled her heart with dread. Next to the blooded nail levitated a crudely constructed wooden object decorated, on one end, with the long, cast-iron phallic rod. The wraiths must have taken it out of the shack where it was stored. "Oh gods!", cried Entirelle out breathlessly, her gaze fixed on the cornu nearing her. Even at twenty-three years of age, Entirelle was still a virgin and she dreaded to think what that rod could do to her.

Entirelle, however, was not the one the cornu was for. The sigh of slight relief elicited when the cornu passed by her was immediately replaced by a gaze of horror. Entirelle felt disgusted with herself for even feeling relief when Kaori would be denied passing for many more hours. Acting on pure instinct upon seeing it and disregarding the blinding pain in her entire body, Kaori rapidly lifted herself upwards, as far as possible from the cornu the wraith was nailing to the beam between her bloodied thighs.

"NOOO!!! Do... it t... ME!!!", screamed Entirelle desperately, spreading her legs, as tortured sighs coming from Kaori intensified.

"I... B... Beg, Don...t!", pleaded she weakly as her vision once again began to fade.

Despite her inhuman effort to keep herself lifted, the agony and her weight were taking their toll. It was but for a moment as Kaori's broken body belied her wishes, finally conceding a bitter defeat. Unable to stop herself and her remaining strength draining rapidly, Kaori whimpered in horror as her loins neared the cast iron rod, an inch at a time. Just before making contact with the cornu, Kaori attempted to push herself backwards to avoid it but to no avail as nothing would force her body to move. Horrified, she felt when the tip passed her vulva, beginning to burrow into the most tender part of her body.

As her buttocks touched the rough wood of the cornu, Kaori let out a heartbreaking shriek. She could feel the cold iron inside her, pushing against the soft flesh it had damaged on its way in. Trickles of warm blood flowed down Kaori's velvety thighs. Completely broken and her virginity taken in the most dreadful way possible, Kaori hung from her cross, sobbing inconsolably. Her virginity had been taken not by a young man following romantic courtship or the gentle hands of her beloved captain, but a rough iron rod. Adding insult to injury, although she would no longer have as much difficulty breathing, the oxygen would now demand a more degrading and no less painful toll. Every time she would attempt to get air, Kaori would have to lift herself slightly, rubbing the interior walls of her womanhood against a terrible rod violating her. Just the thought of it appalled Kaori.

At the same time, Entirelle also sobbed, her gaze turned away from her friend. She was the one who invited Kaori on the ill-fated quest. She was the one responsible for their scourging, nailing, hanging under the sun for hours, and lastly, the violation of an innocent girl who had been entrusted to her care. Feeling vile, sick, and disgusted with herself, Entirelle no longer possessed the resolve to look Kaori in her ocean-blue eyes, hanging her head down in shame.
 
Chapter XV – The Twilight of Their Lives

The evening slowly gave way to night, cooling the two, still writhing, agonized girls, their crimson, sunburned skin itching incessantly, adding another layer of misery. Still maintaining some degree of lucidity, Kaori could no longer hold back. Roughly two hours ago, just after the cornu violated her, she wanted to apologize to Entirelle but the sight of her clearly averted gaze terrified Kaori. She still firmly believed the blame lay entirely on her. Had she been more careful and not left her legs exposed, they would have fought off the wraiths and perhaps even rescued the crucified girl, or at least given her a painless passing.

"My... f... ault. So... sorry...", muttered Kaori, to which Entirelle simply shook her head, looking Kaori directly in the eyes warmly, instantly shattering Kaori's fears.

"H... ow much lon...ger?", asked Kaori weakly, straining to keep her head turned to look at Entirelle.

Entirelle wanted to reply but couldn't force herself to admit the truth. Crucified as they were, and with Kaori now supported, they could only hope for the thirst to finally overcome them. Entirelle's heart rate had slowed considerably as the deep gashes from her scourging continued to ooze blood and the translucent liquid. Kaori's scourging hadn't been as severe as hers and the cornu, however painful, supported her body and allowed her shallow breaths.

"S... oon.", uttered Entirelle barely, deciding not to burden Kaori with the truth she might have been aware of. Seeing Kaori's eyes closing once again, Entirelle let out a sigh of relief. There was no pain while sleeping. That was the only mercy they could hope for.

"My... sweet. P... lease die first.", moaned Entirelle, her feeble voice cracking.

The wraiths, at the very least, remained idle, for which Entirelle quietly thanked the gods. Had imperial torturers been in their place, her and Kaori certainly wouldn't have been allowed to remain unconscious for long, or even asleep if it was even possible. The thought faded with the setting sun just as Entirelle's consciousness, too, fleeted.

The hours of the cool summer night passed slowly. Every now and then, one of the girls would be awoken by their damaged nerve endings, which were expert torturers in their own right. A brief struggle would be ensured before the sleep finally set in again. Entirelle had hoped to pass during the night but the cornu-less sedile affixed to her cross at some point still bound her to the mortal plane. A thin mist appeared during the night, shrouding the sky, whose enchanting blackness filled with radiant stars provided a little distraction from the grim reality for the girls.
 
Chapter XVI – An Angel’s Passing

Kaori once again woke as the dawn was starting to break, turning the sky violet. Kaori, however, paid it no mind. She gazed, instead, at Entirelle's seemingly still chest. Delirious from pain and thirst, Kaori believed her captain had finally passed. Kaori wholeheartedly wished to join her but the support she received from the awful iron rod in her vagina and the rough wooden sedile belied her wishes. Relatively quick death appeared to be out of her grasp. Disregarding the notion, Kaori decided to muster all the resolve she had into one last action, regardless of how painful it would prove.

Pushing herself upwards with her legs, Kaori gnashed her teeth as the sharp ridges of the cornu tore at her most sensitive area. As the wider tip of the cornu existed her vagina, Kaori let out a weak, ragged scream. She would not remain in the lifted position for long. The torn muscles in her arms and dislocated shoulders made it impossible. Instead, as she once again fell, Kaori pushed forward with her hips, managing to avoid the bloodied cornu completely. Even as she fell and the strained bones of her wrists pushed against the nails in her forearms, Kaori could not scream but only writhe.

Kaori's torso burned as her lungs were being slowly crushed by the pressure. Her body jerked and convulsed, desperately trying to keep itself alive despite the agony it had been experiencing for the last 21 hours. Kaori's long-spent throat could no longer scream. Instead, the sound emanating out was but a weak wheezing and rattle.

En........ty., Kaori's last words remained trapped in her throat as she finally expired, her once-beautiful eyes now glassy, gazing at nothingness above.

All that would mourn her passing was Entirelle's weak, barely audible wail which still conveyed more pain than the loudest of screams. She had, of course, expected it, but the sight of her dear angel's limp, lifeless body held in place only by the iron nails that had caused her such misery, still stung Entirelle's weakly beating heart greatly. Yet there was some solace. Entirelle knew her own end was near, hours away at most. Both her legs and arms were completely stiff, all the muscles in the latter, torn. Had she been able to, she would have let go like Kaori, but alas, thanks to cornu-less sedile affixed to the beam during the night, Entirelle remained supported and able to take shallow breaths. It would be up to the brutal summer sun to end her life, something Entirelle yearned for.
 
Chapter XVII – The Restless Captain

Around the same time, in the barrack mess hall, an argument between the two soldiers was taking place. One, Erik, was a halberdier of the regular Imperial Army, while the other, Hana von Leititz, was of the prestigious Imperial Vanguard, longsword wielding troops who, despite their name, preferred to flank the formations of pikemen rather than engaging them head-on.

21-year-old Hana was an oddity in the Vanguard ranks, yet not an unexpected one. Her mother had died during childbirth, leaving Hana's father as her sole guardian. Sadly, he was one of the many to fall during the dreadful Ghirrean War 6 years later, which threatened to destroy the Empire from the inside. Orphaned at a tender age of six and without a source of income, Hana had no way of paying rent (her family did not own a home of their own) and was quickly evicted. Luckily for her, after only two days out on the street, she was approached by an elderly man and his wife. The man, whose name was Martin, was an acquaintance of her father and he had lost both of his sons in the same war. Having no more children of his own and encountering the homeless daughter of the man he knew, Martin adopted Hana on the spot, with the little girl's consent. Hana's life as Martin and Klara's adopted daughter was a happy one. Having been denied grandchildren due to the deaths of her sons, Klara adored Hana, yet was careful not to spoil her too much. Martin, on the other hand, regaled the girl with old stories from his youth as an Imperial man-at-arms turned mercenary. Due to Hana's insistence, he also taught her the basics of combat, much to the displeasure of her wife who often had to bandage Hana's scrapped knees. The lessons stuck with the girl and by the age of 12, she was about as strong as any knight's young squire. Alas, all was not well in the household. 67-year-old Martin's lungs were failing from his heavy pipe smoking, and he died five days after Hana turned fourteen. Hana mourned his loss greatly but knew exactly what to do. Already at 14, Hana was incredibly beautiful, her golden blonde hair contrasted by her aquamarine eyes. Klara urged Hana to find a husband (which would have been a hard task), but Martin's lessons had stuck. With Klara's reluctant blessing, Hana decided to join the city's militia. The only problem was the local captain Dietrich. The man had a reputation for being stern and a taskmaster, which had even spread outside of Leititz. Not accepting everyone, Dietrich required every potential recruit to spar against one of his chosen militiamen.

Hana was easily beaten four times but each time she rose up again, despite the bruises she received. This impressed the captain, who acknowledged the teenage girl's resolve. He allowed Hana to join the ranks of the militia and informed her of the conditions for the acceptance into the regular forces. During her time in the militia, Hana excelled at training, minus the spear practice. Although she was physically weaker than the majority of other militiamen, she made up for it with her agility and quick thinking. 2 years later, having successfully completed all the strenuous tests required to join the Imperial Army, Hana did just that. During advanced arms practice, she discovered her talent for wielding a longsword, the long, sleek blade of a surprisingly lightweight weapon compensating for her lack of height and reach. Honing her skills with that weapon, she gradually became more and more proficient, even winning several small tournaments against her fellow soldiers. It wasn't long until the higherups noticed her talent and Hana was encouraged to join the cream of the regular Imperial military, the Vanguard. During her time in the unit, Hana had gotten her first taste of real battle when she fought against a border raid by the Kingdom of Litria. Though not distinguishing herself in the battle, Hana's swordsmanship was exemplary and because of it, her commanders decided to entrust her with a specific task. She would travel south, to the frontier city of Hykage and help train the local garrison. Disciplined, but somewhat hot-headed, Hana initially protested until she learned it was common practice to send exemplary soldiers to train other army units, especially when the Vanguard was looking for potential recruits.

Hana quickly grew to like her new job as the men and women of Hykage were quick learners. Tired of being called "ma'am" all the time when she was younger than most of them, Hana insisted everyone call her by her given name. Given Hana had never been promoted to the officer rank, the militiamen quickly adapted. While Hana had close acquaintances in the Vanguard, this was the first time she had made actual friends, those being Entirelle and Kaori. It was the absence of those two in the mess hall that bothered Hana and had led to her argument with Erik.

"Listen, they are most likely fine. I've seen captain Entirelle fight.", said Erik confidently, trying to dispel Hana's worries.

"Four hours!", said Hana, raising her voice.

"Only two hours in each direction! Entirelle told me they'd only be gone for that long. It's been a whole day!", Shouted Hana, a mix of worry and anger clearly visible on her face.

Hana turned her head as she heard two men approaching her table. They were regular soldiers, like Erik, but Hana did not know them personally.

"If it's been a day so something most have delayed them. ", spoke the fair-haired musketeer

"Dead or captured more like." added the other to which Erik quietly nodded.

Hana suddenly rose up from the table, her cheeks red with fury. Breathless, and gritting her teeth, Hana reached for the dagger strapped to her back and stabbed it into the table, startling everyone present.

“You... How can you even calmly insinuate that!!! Your two comrades are missing! You should have sent out a search party hours ago!", shouted Hana loudly. Though she was in Hykage to train the local troops, she didn't have the authority to command them.

"I you won't go, then I will!", stated Hana, quickly dashing between the two guards and towards the exit.

“Don't! You'll just get yourself killed!”, shouted Erik but Hana would not acknowledge his warning.
 
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