"Where is he?!"

Finding himself back into the main hall of the Mayor's manor, Lucas scanned the area for the slender, elder man, calling out for an answer.

"..W-who?"

"Father Karl."

Answering the question of the frightened, trembling mother who held her child close to her, Anna spoke softly, holding a smile to calm the woman.

Even if she's trying her best to hide it, I can see it clear as day--she's hurting inside. I'm going to give that old bastard his comeuppance, Lucas thought.

"He left to the head chamber a few minutes ago...What was that tremor? Was there an earthquake?...Or was it them?"

A man with soft, brown hair approached Lucas and Anna to give them the answer they sought, fiddling with his beige tunic as he looked sickly with his sunken cheeks and dark bags under his eyes.

"Don't worry! Everything is fine!"

With his unshakeable, boisterous voice, Abraham swooped away the lingering fears of the townsfolk, slapping his chest like a gorilla.

"Really?...That's good."

It's only temporary, but he's calmed them. It seems this gorilla is more than just a tank, Lucas smiled.

"Main chambers...Lead the way."

Lucas looked at Abraham, Anna, and Ben, placing his hands on his hips as he waited for them to continue on their set path. They didn't move, only looking at him with worried gazes as they remained silent.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Listen...What're you planning to do when you find the Father?"

Asking meekly, Ben kept his arms nervously folded, tapping his fingers against his bicep as he couldn't seem to keep his eyes on Lucas for more than a moment. Hearing this, the hazel-haired otherworlder let out an exasperated sigh to their surprise.

"I'm not going to kill him, if that's what you're worried about."

"Really?"

"What do you take me for? Some sort of cold-blooded murderer?"

Seeing the questioning looks on their faces, Lucas sighed once more and softly shook his head, "Don't answer that."

His answer was satisfactory for the worried trio as they gave in and began to lead him to the sought-after main chamber that once belonged to the late mayor. As he grew closer to the timber, lavish door that sat at the end of the hall, a thick, bountiful energy became almost tangible.

That sinister energy from before--no doubt, this is the source of it. It's so dense I can actually taste it; stale and sour, Lucas thought.

"Stay back, I'll handle it from here."

Pushing past those who guided him until this point, Lucas put his foot down, knowing full well what was at stake here.

"Huh? This is our problem too, you know!"

As predicted, Abraham wasn't one to kindly sit something like this out, his veins popping out at the slightest hindrance to his desires.

"This isn't up for debate. None of you are mages; you'll simply be in the way if it comes down to a battle of magic."

Lucas' words were sharp, stinging them deep as even Abraham's reddened expression fell to a slump. The cold, emerald that laid behind the short, feminine boy's gaze wasn't one they could deny; it was clear just from his eyes the sort of mage he truly was.

"...If that's what you think is best."

"Anna?!"

"I agree with Anna, Abe...If Father Karl is really what Lucas is saying he is...then we don't have any place getting involved."

Ben seemed to muster up all of his courage to speak up to the loud-mouthed gorilla, nervously fiddling with his fingers as he gulped, feeling the frustration from Abraham almost become tangible at that moment.

Clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, Abraham looked like he was one needle poke away from exploding before a powerful sigh escaped his lips.

"...You're right. You better give him hell if he is a treacherous bastard, Lucas."

"Oh, you can bet I will."

Giving them one last confident smile, Lucas only approached the door once he made sure the three had moved clear of the hall, slowly placing his hand against the cold material of the copper handle.

The coldness it inhabited was unnatural; just touching it for a moment met his skin like ice. Being so close to the source of the daunting energy, the previous heat shifted into a complete chill.

Even being just in front of this door, I can feel it; my body is screaming at me to back away, to leave. It's something that shouldn't be felt, seen, or touched--it's different from reading about it in the books or hearing it from Beatrice--this is true dark arts, born from a place without love, Lucas thought.

His fingers trembling as they met with the frosty handle, finally affirming his resolve as he gripped it tightly. Swinging the door open so that his own doubts couldn't dull his conviction, the cultivated aura of pure despair pelted full force against him as the room behind the door was revealed.

The first thing his eyes caught onto was the seal inscribed onto the wooden floorboards; it was messy work, but the symbols of an unknown language were clear. In the center of the seal were four separate six-pointed stars, emanating with a slight glow.

What birthed itself before his gaze instantly burned itself into his memories and heart--the materials used for the sacred, dark magecraft was on display near the seal; corpses missing their heads and limbs were strewn about the floor.

Standing just beyond the seal was the slender, harrowing figure of a man most sinister.

"...Father Karl…!"

Lucas' utter horror was quickly replaced with rage at the sight of the fake priest's workings.

"I knew it the moment I saw you, mage. You would discover the truth--but it mattered not. Everything was ready by the time you arrived."

"...What's ready?! Are you planning on sacrificing everyone here? Releasing the barrier around the manor?!"

The elder man's expression didn't change in the slightest when being pressed so aggressively by Lucas' sharp words, merely looking at him with his wrinkled, uncaring eyes.

"How childish. This is no "sacrificial" spell nor is it meant to delete whatever barrier you think there is. What you saw outside of the manor was simply a further machination of this craft."

"But the husks--"

"--Simply following their command. I suppose you are right to some degree though--there will be a sacrifice."

Telling him this, the false priest did hold a slight smile as the text he held in his hands was brought back under his gaze.

"You think I'll let you just continue?!"

Preparing a spell, Lucas reared his hand back before sending a blade of ferocious wind towards the harrowing man, only for his attack to be completely stopped by a newly manifested, crimson shield that surrounded both the seal and the man.

"As I said...Everything has already been prepared. Now, I suppose since you're going to stick around, I should introduce myself: I am Kalda, Hand of the Second Bishop of the Belmon Empire."