THE MOMENT
"If I ever see that pink-haired teenager again, I'll make her regret this...," Marius grumbled to no one in particular as he made his rounds. All things considered, being forced on regular patrols around the church was somewhat of a blessing. He'd managed to avoid the more 'slaughter-y' tasks assigned to the other dark paladins by sheer luck. Still, this wasn't what he wanted. It wasn't what he was promised. He was stuck following someone else's orders toward a goal he didn't believe in.
He'd had a month to come to terms that it was partially his own fault. He knew the deal sounded too good to be true; but, the teenage girl in a white-suited seemed so friendly and cheerful that he was willing to trust her. She insisted that he was only signing over 'access' to his soul so that it could be removed from his body; it would still be his. She even helped him 'create a character' to become, supposedly. Marius always loved the idea of Paladins and he was eager to live a new fantastical life in a magical world. But, as soon as he opened his eyes, someone was yelling orders at him. Going along with it seemed to be the easiest way to get by.
As he passed the forest entrance behind the church, movement in the moonlight caught his eyes. He froze for a moment; but, he drew his sword as soon as he registered the figure.
"YOU!" He held his sword ready as he stared down at the girl. It was the same teenager with bright pink pigtails that put him there. He was insulted by her response.
"Me, Justice," she giggled. "I'm glad you remember me, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"YOU PUT ME HERE!" he yelled. He lunged forward with a raised blade. For the first time in either of his lives, he wanted to harm someone.
"Don't do that," she replied calmly. But, a bright crown made of pink crystal and light took shape above her head for a moment as she spoke. Marius stopped instantly; he didn't want to hurt her anymore. He lowered his sword then the crown faded. "Yeah, I guess I did put you here..," she nodded. "I should have asked... why are you still here?"
"I have no choice!" he responded. "I was being ordered around as soon as I woke up!" She laughed at him. The jovial attitude she had when they first met rubbed him the wrong way now. Now that he knew how easily she could lie and manipulate him; it was all an act.
"Are you waiting for them to order you to escape?" she asked with a broad grin. "I can tell you right now that's never going to happen."
"Escape?" Marius asked. "My soul is enslaved with magic, what makes you think I can escape?"
"Have you tried?" Justice asked.
"What?" Marius couldn't hold in a faint chuckle; it was a ridiculous suggestion. "You're just mocking me," he shook his head. "You put me here, you already know I can't leave."
"Ohhhh geez," she rolled her eyes at him. "It's a good thing I came to check on you."
"Check on me? Come to make sure I'm a good little slave knight?"
"Uh, no. I was wondering why you were still here; I see the problem now." Marius began to feel like she was just rubbing it in now.
"WHERE ELSE WOULD I BE!?" he yelled.
"Not where I left you," she shrugged.
"You left me enslaved! That wasn't what I asked for!"
"Alright, let's talk about that. You wanted a new life. A new body in a magical world full of adventure so you could be a paladin, right?"
"YES!" Marius barked the agreement. Justice spread her arms to gesture at both the corrupt church behind him and the enchanted forest next to them.
"Delivered," she said.
"You conveniently didn't mention I'm part of a legion of knights enslaved by a corrupt church forced to do their dark bidding," he grumbled at her.
"You keep bringing that up like it matters," she shook her head at him.
"OH, I think it matters A LITTLE BIT!"
"Yeah, that's why you're still stuck here," Justice replied with a nod. "Look," she pointed toward the church. Another grim knight in black armor was pacing toward them.
"And now you've gotten me in trouble!" Marius sheathed his sword to show he wasn't planning on fighting back. "Brother! I can explain!" he wanted to give a reason for not completing his patrol to hopefully lessen the punishment; but, the knight ignored him and walked past.
"Why is he ignoring me?" Marius asked.
"Because HE is enslaved. He was ordered to patrol and he's doing that."
"That's what I was doing!" Despite the actuality of not wanting to do it; he took offense at the idea that he wasn't doing his job. And, it served as an extra reminder to her that he was also given that order. "You interrupted me!" he said. Justice nodded.
"I did. If you were enthralled, I wouldn't have been able to. You've already been replaced," she pointed at the knight walking around the far side of the church. It struck late, but at last, Marius had an epiphany.
"You mean... I can just.. .leave?" he asked. Justice nodded. "So.. what's even the point of putting me here!?"
"How easy did you want it?" she giggled. "You chose a 'magical world of adventure'," Justice gestured at the forest. "Get going, adventure's waiting on you."