Isekai: The Eight Soul Fragments

Gayle, after travelling mostly on foot had arrived to a river near the Preeliance castle to clean herself. After cleansing off all stains from her clothes and body, she quickly changed into a different set of clothes using her [Interdimensional Storage].

She then started walking towards the entrance of the city's entertainment district.

After walking around for some time, she was met with Tiffany and Aaliyah, both of which were not happy with her arrival. "Gayle, did you hear what had happened while you were away?" "Hmm...?" Gayle was confused, as she did leave a letter that she will simply return the next day. "Josh had been arrested! It's because you left him and decided to go around by yourself! Did you know how worried he had felt? He thought that you had fully abandoned him!" "Huh?! I left a letter that I'm just heading out for a bit!" Gayle was shocked as she never expected that her leaving for a day to do something herself was seen as a sign of abandonment. It was clearly interpreted as something else than what she had intended to do. "What do you mean? What exactly happened?" Gayle was starting to feel annoyed as she asked them what happened, but both Tiffany and Aaliyah, also clearly annoyed simply just told Gayle before leaving. "See for yourself! You clearly are blind towards everything but yourself." Gayle was annoyed by how they behaved, but after learning that Josh had been arrested, she wanted to know what happened.

"What the hell did Josh do to get him arrested?! Is he that stupid or what?!" Thoughts crossed into her mind, as she rushed towards the Preeliance castle. She was worried, at the same time very annoyed as to what Josh had been doing.

When she arrived to the castle gates, she immediately spotted Jevil and Wesley, both of which are absolutely pissed. When she noticed that their auras were much more intense, she decided to move away from the castle for a while.

But just as she left, Wesley and Jevil's conversation reached the point. "Gayle's here, seems like she wants to check on Josh." "Yeah, though I can't believe someone like Josh would do something like that out of desperation. It's like Draxus all over again but now it has magic." The two of them left and went to the castle to find Pauleen and Juniper who had been staying in the Hall of Sentinels for the time being. "Do we tell Draxus?" Wesley was concerned as Draxus would not be happy with what had happened. "Not now..."

Gayle moved towards the back of the adventurer's guild, where she had taken the bounty. There she found the same hooded person and she immediately showed a picture of Francis beheaded completely. "Good, for you to be able to do this quite quickly, I'll increase your pay to ten platinum coins." Gayle was handed her bounty money. "If you'd like to do more bounties I'll be here, bounty hunter." After Gayle looked at the money she returned to the Preeliance castle hoping that the bounty money was enough for remunerations.

"G-Gayle?" When Gayle arrived to the castle gates again, Pauleen found her asking to enter through the Guardians who are acting as guards. "Pauleen, can I come in to check on Josh? Please I just want to see him." Pauleen could sense Gayle's impatience, so she asked the guards to allow her in.

"Pauleen, what happened while I was away?" Gayle started asking about what had happened while she left, Pauleen was nervous as she explained the situation. "When we woke up, Josh was already starting to snap out of control, Keith came by to try and bring him back to normal but to no avail. It resulted in the two of them fighting, with Josh nearly killing Keith and Keith using too much power, resulting in him going into a coma." Pauleen told her the summary of what happened. Gayle then immediately felt major dread. With Keith's state falling into a coma because of the fight against Josh, she knew that Draxus will not remain silent on that. Pauleen knew this as well, which is why she was nervous on what may happen to Josh. They arrived to the underground dungeon, which contained the prison cells for any troublemaker. The place was still quite luxurious and at the very least livable. Josh was there awake and immediately noticed Gayle. He quickly rushed towards the bars to try and reach out to her. "Gayle!" However, just as he touched the bars, he immediately let go of it due to electrocution. Looking at his state, he was not harmed that much, he had a bruise on his neck, which may had been from Keith, and seemingly purple lines all over his body. Pauleen realized what may have happened to Josh, as it was not the first time Pauleen had seen those lines.

"Those lines... That's Serkyrio's magic..." Hearing what Pauleen had said, Gayle felt a bigger sense of dread, which she realized that the emperor is involved. "Hey Pauleen... Do you think I can simply pay with remunerations...?" Pauleen shook her head sideways, feeling a slight bit of dread on her as well. "No... It's possible that this will result in execution..." Gayle closed her eyes, Josh felt terrified as he realized that he would be punished with death. However, Gayle thought that there is still a chance when it comes to the courtroom of Preeliance. But before she could think of what to do she seemingly had decided.

"Josh, I think we should actually break up. I think this is too much even for me. I'll help you out in the court, but after that, we're done." Josh sank into despair, as he was officially cut off by her directly. He tried to argue, speaking about all the things he had done for her. His expressions slowly changed from despair to rage. "After everything I've done to you this is how you repay me?! I've allowed you to do whatever you want and what do I get?! Nothing?!" Pauleen simply closed her eyes and look away. Gayle stared right into his eyes and stayed silent. "Ah... He's trying to guilt trip me again..." She just continued to watch him lose control of himself, trying to make use of his power but is stopped by the purple lines on his body from unleashing it.

The two continued to watch Josh continue to speak out in wrath and despair before finally exhausting himself and knelt down, not moving as he was too exhausted. Gayle decided to accept every insult that he hurled and simply watched him until he was seemingly done. She then left the dungeon prisons with Pauleen, where they were met with Jevil who had his arms crossed waiting for them.

"Jevil..." Pauleen muttered, as she noticed that Jevil was there as if expecting Gayle to appear from the dungeon. "Josh's trial begins in a week. I suppose you'll be acting as his lawyer?" Gayle nodded to Jevil's question, sensing the pressure that any lies that she makes will be easily seen through. "Draxus will not be present in the trial, but once he learns of what had happened, you could expect Josh to be executed." "I know... I already broke up with him." "Tch, you think that would help your case? I still utterly despise you for what you did to Draxus. Now that Keith was almost killed, I'm compelled to just kill you here right here, right now." Gayle was shaking, as Jevil had his scythe which is much larger than him prepared. Against opponents who rely less on magic, Gayle struggles against opponents like him. But considering they are in the castle, Jevil refrained. "I'll await the judgement of Preeliance to both of you. Until then, I won't do anything."

Gayle and Pauleen then left the castle for the time being.