A smirk pulls at his lips.

"Nothing can stop me if I want something," he drawls, walking in a circle around her. His hands are at his back, his sword still sheathed at his hip. He makes no effort to arm himself or even muster a defensive stance. "Your king must have also told you the reason for my visit."

"You will not get anything out of me," she straightens her spine in an attempt to hide the tremor of fear racking her body. And I do not blame her. As Commander Azerius, Ze appears frightening even to me.

"That remains to be seen." He shrugs. "I am doing what is best for Aperion. If I entered the temple, a demon could do so as well. You were suspecting her to be related to a son of Tenebreis, were you not?"

She wets her lip, her body taut as she's undoubtedly gathering all her strength to attack him when an opportune moment arises.

"You are a rather half-witted female, high priestess," he drawls in a mocking tone. "You suspected her to be the enemy, yet you opened the doors of your temple to her. If she were an actual threat, she would have annihilated you and your precious temple just as she did that sphere."

"What are you⁠—"

"You know I speak the truth. You have no one to blame but yourself. You invited danger. Well, do not be surprised when the danger strikes."

"What is she? Are you working with them?" the priestess asks, her tone as venomous as the hatred in her eyes.

"She is my person. That is all you need to know." He smiles, a sinister smile that does not reach his eyes. "And I do not appreciate it if anyone makes her anxious."

She narrows her eyes at him.

In the span of a second, he's in front of her, his fingers wrapped around her right wrist. "Was it this hand you used to attack her? Or this?" He grabs the left one as well.

She draws back, seeking to escape his grasp.

To my surprise, he lets her go easily. But it's only for a moment before he withdraws his sword and cuts her right hand in one smooth slice. Blood pours out of the wound, the bone visible where he cut it. She releases a sharp cry as she presses her other hand to stop the bleeding.

Ze doesn't even blink as he wipes the residual blood off his sword before sheathing it.

My eyes widen at the pure ruthlessness rolling off him.

"That is merely the beginning, Priestess," he adds casually.

"You will not get me to say anything. I made a vow."

"I am aware. And breaking that vow will mean death, but you will die regardless. The question is whether it will be peacefully or...violently."

"I cannot. You don't understand." She gasps, her features strained with pain. "No priestess would willingly betray her duty."