Astrid waited for a half second, then spun to confront Phantasia one last time. Brushing her hair back, she sneered. “I guess I won’t have to look at your pasty face again, Heretic freak,” she spat. Lifting her skirt off the floor, she waltzed out, Elizabeth and Vespa following, giving Phantasia victorious smiles as they passed. She was thankful she could defend herself better against their unintentional psychic attacks.

Once they had left, slamming the large doors behind them, Bishop Wotan sat down again. Compared to her first encounter with the stern-looking man, his appearance had softened somewhat. In a way, he almost reminded her of Rembrandt Payne, only his aura was more ragged, as if it had been dragged through the dirt.

“I apologise for my daughter’s behaviour,” he said, “It is rather ingrained, thanks to the dogma of Godhand. I had hoped Payne’s lot would have eroded her harsher side somewhat, but it appears to have made things worse,”

“So, you sent her there on purpose, even though you have your own private school?”

Wotan chuckled to himself. “They said to infiltrate that place, so at the time I figured that was the best option. I’d never have imagined she’d turn out like this, though,”

“You’re her father! She’s your responsibility!”

Wotan shook his head. “You underestimate the power of the teachings,” he said, “I have to act as is expected of me.”

“Well,” said Phantasia, relaxing, “To be honest, you’re not acting as I expected.”

“Did you expect a villain?” asked Wotan, “Just because I am opposed to your headmaster? Payne is no saint, let me assure you, and nor am I, of course.”

Phantasia scuffed her feet on the carpet. That last thing she’d wanted was another debate on human morality! “I don’t understand why you fight each other!” she said, “Why can’t you and Mr Payne work together?”

Wotan laughed. “If only things were that simple, child! I would much rather not associate myself with Payne, nor the people he works for. That ‘Academy’ of his is one of many scattered across this continent that publicly states it is helping teach our children to ‘deal with the outside world’,”

“Well, at least it’s not teaching them to fear everything!” said Phantasia, “You teach people to shut themselves away from – even destroy – everything that threatens your idea of order!”

Wotan stood and swept his robes aside. “And Rembrandt Payne turns children into soldiers for war!”

Chapter 14
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