The sun rises over a battered cityscape. Life returns to the streets outside as civilians clear the debris and soldiers resume their patrol. Within the safety of my inn room, I kneel beneath the morning light and clasp my weary hands. Fatigue sets in as I savour the sun's warmth, but I allay my need to rest to offer my heartfelt prayers.

“O benevolent God watching from heaven, I thank you for guiding us in our time of need.”

Indeed, there is much to be grateful for after last night’s ordeal.

After parting ways with Enbos, I managed to guide a large group of civilians to the relative safety of the bazaar. However, the safety was brief as stories of a bloodstained cultist drove everyone from the marketplace. I then lead the frightened crowd to one of the buildings in the warehouse district, which later became an evacuation point as the previous scattered guards assumed control. After comforting the scared souls and offering prayers throughout the night, I was finally found by Maximillian’s Holy Knights and then escorted to this inn. I know not how much freedom I have after sneaking away from them before, but I have half a mind to leave and continue God's work.

Knock, knock.

“Please come in.”

“Lili!”

“Minna, Sen and Norf! Thank God you are all in good health.”

“We were more worried about you,” says Minna. “After all, we heard your accommodation was attacked by cultists.”

“I was still out sightseeing before everything descended into chaos. By the way, what has become of Hachirou? I seem to remember he was accompanying you.”

“I’m not sure how you know that, but Hachirou is safe,” assures Sen. “To be honest, we were attacked by cultists as well, but a holy knight came to our rescue. Hachirou is with Maximillian’s men, but before we parted ways… we spotted Enbos.”

“You did...? D-did he appear well?” I ask. However, in the back I spy Norf slowly shaking his head.

“He did not,” replies Minna. “We briefly saw him leave the Office of Passage. Although he appeared able, he was covered head-to-toe in dried blood while being led away by Sir Iudico.”

“Yeah, and Enbos’ terrifying aura was still in effect as well. I have no idea what happened, but he looked especially enraged. Something abominable must have pushed him over the edge again.”

“Oh no…”

Judging by what I’ve heard, the core has evidently been lost to the cultists. It’s a terrible development, but the more pressing concern is that Maximillian is clearly making a move against Enbos.

“I-I have get to him immediately! In his current state of mind, he might say something rash.”

“Yeah, that’s what we thought. That's why we came straight here. I have no idea how helpful we’ll be, but let us go with you to the city garrison.”

“That would be more than enough, Sen, but we mustn't dally. Maximillian is surely interrogating Enbos as we speak!”

We nod to one another and immediately make for the door. However, before I can touch the handle, I’m startled by several knocks on the other side. I barely finish my invitation before the door swings open to reveal a large, fully armoured holy knight.

“Good morning, Lady Ascleson.”

“G-good morning, brother. What business do you have to see me?”

“I regret to inform you, milady, but you are no longer permitted to leave this room.”

“Wha-! On what grounds!?”

“It is for your own safety, milady. After last night’s events, we have no choice but to limit your movements. As for your friends, they will have to vacate the premises and seek approval to speak with you from here on.”

“You dastards! That’s not what it’s about. You’re clearly trying to-”

"Sen, hush!" interrupts Minna, although her sidelong glare reveals the same suspicion.

“… I understand your intentions, brother, but neither you nor Sir Iudico possess the authority to deny my freedoms. The most you can do is to accompany me and report to your prior.”

“While that is normally true… it’s no longer on Brother Maximillian’s authority.”

“H-huh?”

“We received this transcript from the Lysium Theocracy at first light. It’s a high priority message sent on the fleetest line…”

Reaching into his bag, he pulls out a sealed letter before presenting it on one bent knee. Judging by its many mana-scorched seals, the message has clearly crossed dozens of mana streams, and transcribed just as many times. The resources and authorisation required to do so in a single night beggars belief.

Unless…

“I-It cannot be.”

“What’s wrong, Lili?”

With unsteady hands, I turn the envelope over and identify the emblem embedded in the centre: the crest of the Ascleson House.

Four stone walls and a smooth tile floor. A cast iron door bolted on the other side. Two holy knights around a heavy oaken table, sharing it with an incredibly irate skeleton. Although the environment is supposed to pressure me, the situation has completely turned on its head as I’m the one glaring at the unforgivable sack of meat in a silver can sitting opposite. To my ever-growing annoyance, the pretentious knight brushes aside my ire and proceeds as normal.

“Seventh hour, twenty-eighth day, fifth month, sixteenth year of Pope Othniel. I, Inquisitor Maximillian Iudico, sit before the subject who identifies as Enbos Novuseus. Our location: the Catorrem City garrison. Our intent: to inquire of the events on the first night of the Primera Carro, and of the cult called “The Order of the New Dawn”. Enbos Novuseus, are you ready?”

“…”

“I will take your silence as "no objection". Now then, do you mind explaining what you were doing outside the city garrison?”

CRACK!

“What was I doing? What the hell were you doing, Maximillian!? Not only did you fail to protect the core, you almost killed an innocent bystander and carried on without a shred of remorse!”

Although pointless, I hammer the table with such force that it makes a cobweb of cracks all the way to Maximillian’s lap. Infuriatingly, he ignores my outburst and carries on with a placid expression.

“One of our brothers was found incapacitated outside your “accommodation”, and nobody saw you nor your apprentice leave the building…”

“How do you sleep at night? It sickens me that you dare call yourself a knight when you’re willing to blast holes through anybody that gets in your way.”

“… You were later spotted at the bazaar, covered in blood and chasing two masked figures presumed to have had the undead ravager’s core…

“Are you paid on commission, or will you only protect those with a great, big Path of Eden logo stuck to their back?”

“… We later traced trail of blood to the Faun Theatre, where we found an atrocity beyond compare. Do you mind explaining-”

“It’s no wonder Lili finds your existence so abhorrent. She was right to call you, “The Bloody Hand of the Church”.”

“… Enbos, we are not assassins but servants to the Greater Good. I, too, would have preferred no harm befell the poor damsel, but given the circumstances, collateral damage was almost a certainty. Nevertheless, we will provide an apology and generous compensation.”

“Collateral damage? Compensation? You almost took off her whole arm! You’ve scarred her physically and emotionally, and you DARE find it acceptable!?”

“You know as well as I do that if I hadn’t had intervened, she would’ve been dead at your feet,” he snaps. “No matter what bargain you may have tried to strike, the heathen would have “delivered” her the moment he was sure his objective was complete. Of course, I took steps to minimise the damage, but in the end, I could not guarantee her full wellbeing.”

“... Bull. If you were really minimising the damage, you would have waited for an opening. Moreover, you attacked from behind, a position where the cultist would be least aware, but also where the hostage would be at most risk. Deep down, you didn’t really give a damn about whether she lived or died.”

“And yet, she still breathes and the cultist is no more. Even you must admit it could have been far worse.”

“Choosing to save her and choosing not to blow her to kingdom come are entirely different things. You can’t absolve yourself of all responsibility just because you managed to kill that cultist. What the hell happened to preaching the sanctity of life?”

“Indeed, as humans, we must always treasure the gift that is life.”

“Then-”

“However, we are the Priory of the Cleansing Swords. We are not men inclined to violence, but God’s steel manifest in flesh. We do not dither. We do not doubt. We act by His will and do what is necessary for the Greater Good. In the end, we are no different from a bolt from the heavens or a shuddering of the earth: a divine intervention.”

If I weren’t an undead, I would have burst a vessel out of sheer anger. In the end, he — no, his priory and perhaps the Church’s entire armed forces — justify their existence by dumping all accountability on their all-knowing god, binding themselves to an archaic code. It’s a convenient excuse to allow the Lysium Theocracy to field a military force while massaging their flimsy morals. I’m inclined to write off the entire Path of Eden as a corrupt bureaucracy, except…

“God doesn’t need a weapon like you,” I say with undisguised disgust. “I may not be a believer, but I’ve seen tortured husks regain their hearts. Panicked crowds rally in force. Doomed men find hope in the most desperate of situations. I’ve seen firsthand the very best that the Word of Eden has to offer… and none of it requires swinging a sword.”

“… I see. You speak of Lili.”

“Who else, you damn zealot.”

“Nevertheless, we all have our parts to play. Where the Iranors shall spread His Word and the bishops shall lead the flock, we are the silver edge that clears the thorny Path. As divine as Liliana’s actions may be, her duties are wholly different to those bestowed upon our priory.”

“Don’t you dare…! Don’t you dare demean her acts of charity just to justify your own actions. You know damn well she doesn’t do half the things she does in the name of duty, but because she wholeheartedly believes in the good the Word can bring.”

“As do I, Enbos. As… do I.”

Unable to sway the opinion of the other, we both fall silent as my boiling rage turns to simmering magma. A moment later, Maximillian picks up the sheathed sword by his feet before depositing on the table: Bloodletter, my accursed weapon. Letting out a quiet grunt, I retrieve my sword with white knuckles as he attempts to resume the interrogation.

“Out of consideration for last night’s events, I’ll forgive you for speaking out of turn. Now then, I believe I was asking about the massacre committed in Faun Theatre?”

“I’m not saying a thing until Lili arrives.”

“Regrettably, Liliana Ascleson will not be joining us. You will be representing yourself.”

Damn it, so he really did do something after all. Just how much more deplorable can he get? Moreover, I’m worried that he hasn’t brought out the Chain of Sincerity, and that Agnes isn’t using that three-strike system. It’s more than likely he has some kind of trump card that completely disregards what I’ll say. I best focus on damage control.

“… I did not witness the atrocity. I was giving chase over the rooftops but was lured into the amphitheatre within. There was nobody left to save; everybody was already dead. It was horrific to say the least, and as I was stunned, they used the blood from the bodies to ensnare me.”

“So it would seem, although judging from these reports, a ritual of that size would have been powerful enough to restrain a large ogre with ease. Why would they take such precautions to detain you?”

“I don’t believe it was for me,” I ad lib. “They were probably expecting a holy knight to pursue them, which explains why they were unprepared for my magic when I broke free.”

“And what manner of sorcery did you use, per chance?”

“Custom magic. I apologise but I cannot divulge the details of my research.”

“Yes, of course,” he says in a flat tone. “No matter. The important detail is that they weren’t targeting you; you were targeting them. And in your efforts to seek out the cultists, it appears you knocked out one of my men and evaded the city guards. Did you already know the attack was imminent, or were you searching the city for something else that the cultists happened to procure first?”

“Firstly, you can’t blame me for you man’s “dereliction” of duty. Secondly, if you’re insinuating that I was trying to snatch the core, then you misunderstand. I was enjoying the Primera Carro up until the chaos started, which is when I noticed the cultists hiding in a suspicious float.”

“An incredible coincidence, especially when we consider that the heretics you were chasing most likely had the core.”

“And yet, if I wasn’t enjoying the parade at the time, I wouldn’t have even spotted them.”

“Perhaps, unless you knew exactly what they were planning and exactly where they would be. You waited for the perfect moment to intercept and whisk away the core while we were none the wiser. Unfortunately, they lured you into a trap, and you couldn’t regain the advantage since. That’s why you relented. Perhaps the entire incident with the hostage, a hostage you don’t even know, was just a ploy to waste our time and keep the core out of our hands. That way, you may later snatch it from the cultists whose movements you already know so well.”

“Enough! I am sick of your farfetched accusations. If you’re looking for a scapegoat to distract from your incompetence, then you won’t find one in me. Yes, I gave chase. Yes, I would have liked to have taken back the core, but I would’ve returned it to you all the same. I may not be a saint, but I am not one to break my word, especially to those I call friend.”

“*Sigh* And thus lies the heart of the matter: I do not know what kind of man you are. You are no adherent of God and you are clearly not bound to any righteous code. Your actions have demonstrated nothing but a puerile dedication to your craft and a desire to claim powerful artefacts, regardless of risk or consequence. You have nothing to prove your creed outside the word of week-long acquaintances, and yet you dare speak with moral supremacy. Tell me Enbos: what kind of ethos do you bear? What insight do you possess that can challenge centuries of dogma that has steered our priory true?”

“…”

“…”

“… Nothing,” I finally say. “I have nothing to claim moral authority. I want to believe it’s common sense, and yet time and again, I’m forced to re-evaluate my values. I wish someone would tell me what to believe in, but there’s no one. Not Hachirou, not Lili, and certainly not you. I stumble, I search, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I had finally found something to anchor my moral bearing… until very recently.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maximillian, the only thing beyond all reasonable doubt are my feelings of hatred. And if there is one thing I despise most in this inane world… it’s a bunch of fanatics who belittle human life, betray their inherent good, and brush it aside in the name of an imaginary figure!”

“Watch your tongue, Enbos Novuseus!”

“Oh, I’m sorry sir. Clearly, I was referring to the cultist menace. Did some other unsavoury group come to mind?”

“… If I were you, I wouldn’t be so glib with my words. Not whilst the sentence is still being determined.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lieutenant Gregoria, if you may?”

Responding with a stern nod, she reaches for something in her bag before putting it atop the table. It takes me a while to recognise the spherical object, but I involuntary freeze the moment I do.

It’s “Mr. Kell’s” broken communication orb from Tiel Plains, and if it has the feature that I think it does…

(*Crackle*… see. So, you’re the mage who *Crackle*… retook Kasseus village…)

(Indeed… am…)

Hearing those first few lines, I mentally shut my eyes and brace myself for the entire session. Fortunately, most of the words exchanged between Tascus and myself have been muted by distance or buried in the sound of rain and battle. However, there was one moment when everything was quiet, and our voices bellowed across the plains…

(… H-how can you, an Acolyte…?)

(Don’t any *Crackle*… a muscle! Don’t any of you dare think of ticking me off…)

Damn it.

(… Compared to the lives of me and all my companions, I hold the meaning of your life, your Prophecy and your entire order *Crackle*… my ultimatum: get out of my sight or else I WILL break it.)

(You wouldn’t dare. The unleashed energies will destroy you and all your companions *Crackle*… a hundred years. You would never harm them, willingly.)

(Try. Me. Drag them out, torture them, kill them one by one, and then see just how wrong you really are. I may not be able to kill you, but if it means filling *Crackle*… with regret, then I will gladly do it. You already know what kind of man I really am…)

Damn it all.

“Although the magic core was intact, it took a lot of resources to repair the orb overnight. Still, it seems our investment has borne fruit. So tell me, Mr. Novuseus,” asks Maximillian in a condescending tone, “what kind of man are you again? You certainly didn’t sound like someone who treasures their friends. Moreover, I believe Tascus called you an Acolyte, and yet you’re obviously not one on the Path.”

“Would you really take the word of a cultist as evidence?”

“No, but I do take your lack of objection at the time as confirmation. No matter what excuses you make, this is enough to escalate charges. What do you have to say?”

“…”

“I see. Brother Victor. Come in and take him away.”

Come on, think Enbos, think! Forget about punching him in the face for one second. Maximillian has proof while you have no lawyer. No matter how circumstantial the evidence may be, he no longer has a reason to listen to what you say. From the very beginning, the entire questioning was nothing but a-

No, that isn’t right. That shouldn’t be his priority. Why would he waste his time with me instead of throwing me into a cell until he’s done with Tascus? What was the point of his questions? My intentions, my movements, and…

“… Sir Iudico, you can drop the charade and get straight to the point. You’re wasting what little time we have left.”

Speaking with such assertiveness that surprises even myself, I give pause to both Agnes and my approaching warden. I can almost hear Maximillian quietly groan as I cross my arms and assume a familiar air of egotism.

“And what point do you think I’m trying to make?” Maximillian asks while raising his hand to stop his subordinate.

“You want me to take you to the core, and I’m saying I can do it. That was the point of this entire farce, right? To fabricate a case and coerce me into cooperating?”

“So, you admit you know of Tascus’ designs?”

“I never said such a thing. All I’m saying is that I’m capable of leading you to the relic, wherever it may be.”

“… I see now. You’ve marked the core.”

“Of course. From the very beginning, I’ve said that your defences were inadequate. That’s why I took measures of my own. I’m sure you must have done the same with the box, but evidently, it’s been disabled. However, as the only one who can actually touch the artefact, the cultists won’t be able to detect or erase my spell. That being said, it’s only a matter of time before my sorcery expires.”

“Then allow me to be perfectly frank: tell us the location of the core and we may consider reducing your sentence.”

“Unfortunately, I do not know its exact location, only its general bearing,” I say as I glance towards my invisible ghost, still pointing towards the west. “If you want to stop Tascus, you’ll need my guidance and you’ll need it now. Also, I’m not asking you to reduce my supposed sentence; I’m demanding that you drop all charges.”

“You are in no position to demand that.”

“I’m not the one the who has to worry about a murderous cult on the brink of an apocalyptic ritual.”

“This is an obstruction of justice. If you still insist on this folly, then the punishment will be death.”

“Makes little difference to me. Whether it be lifelong imprisonment or the gallows, I will never have the chance to study the core. Even a temporary sentence will destroy any entitlement to exploring its deepest secrets. I live for magic, Maximillian, and in more ways than I would like to admit… my fate is bound to it. As far as I’m concerned, this is my only way out.”

“By all that is holy, Enbos, do you not know what is at stake? This is an emergency of the highest order. Our way of life is in peril and countless innocents may perish in the coming darkness. Do you feel nothing for-”

“Oh please, now you appeal to my humanity? Ironic, considering how you were trying to characterise me not five minutes ago. And after everything you have heard,” I say whilst tapping my finger near the glass orb, “do you really think I’m the kind of man who will relent to the likes of you? If you really understood what is at stake, you wouldn’t be letting yourself be blinded by your narrowminded pride!”

And with that provocative finish, I hold my breath as Maximillian glares at me with frosty eyes. Everything hinges on his perception of me as an obsessed and reckless mage. It’s a dangerous gamble and I may have said a word too much, but I’m sure he will agree for now, even if he turns around and stabs me in the back later.

Maybe. Probably. I hope…

“… Enbos the Black-”

Slam.

… you truly are a most aggravating individual.

“Are you sure about accepting his terms, Brother Maximillian?”

“As infuriating as he may be, Agnes, Enbos is correct. Time is of the essence and the destruction of the New Dawn cult is more important than the arrest of a single heretic. Besides, he is not out of our custody until the crisis is over and we only agreed to clear all current charges levied against him. Anything we uncover from here on will go on his record.”

“I see. Nonetheless, we are now dependent on his cooperation. What if he attempts to renegotiate?”

“Then I’ll execute him,” I say flatly. “I will deem him impossible to work with, and thus, a liability. I will make sure he understands this well.”

Although he professes a deep love for ancient magic, it is my belief his attachment to life is much stronger than he implies. Be it imprisonment or immediate death, he probably realises his life is forfeit if we uncover whatever secrets he has. That being said, he has demonstrated incredible tenacity in the face of death, and it makes me wonder if he’s striving for something greater than self-preservation. There can be no doubt he has cast his glamour over the eyes of his ‘friends’, but until I understand the true nature of his vice, I cannot take any chances. That being said…

“Three fingers.”

“Come again, Agnes?”

“You’re massaging your temple with three fingers. You only do that if you are truly troubled.”

“You mean more so than losing the core and having the city lord blame us for failing to protect his domain?”

“You wouldn’t flinch from such developments, which is why you worry about the most trivial of things. Is it about Enbos’ character?”

“Indeed. I’m having difficulty understanding the ethos behind his conflicting facades.”

“What is there to consider? He covets the power of the core, he is willing to endanger his companions to claim it, and he has experimented with heretical powers. His escapade last night was clearly a failed attempt to secure the relic without ever keeping his word to Sister Liliana, and now he is looking for another chance to steal it.”

“Or so it would seem, and yet…”

“What… the hell… do you think you’re doing… MAXIMILLIAN!”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. This cultist reportedly had an accomplice, and you’re the last person to see where he went. I need you to tell me-”

“Are you freaking blind!? This woman was clipped by your spell and now she’s- Damn it. She’s losing too much blood. At this rate I’ll have to relink her- No, I-I'm still not-”

“Leave her to the clerics, Enbos. They’re already on their way. She will live, but if you do not cooperate, the core may be lost forever.”

“… Heal her.”

“…”

“Heal. Her.”

“Do not misjudge your priorities, Enbos. There is an entire city at stake. Right now, you need to‑”

Whack!

“I SAID HEAL HER, YOU GODDAMNED SOCIOPATH!”

No matter how I see it, those words were straight from his heart. Enbos must have been a good man once. Although life’s trials have distorted his Path, Lili still believes he can be redeemed, whereas toward I…

“Are you injured, brother?”

“Hm?”

“You’re now stroking your left cheek, the spot where Enbos struck you.”

“I’m fine, Nessa. It’s only… skin-deep.”

“… Maximillian, you’re clearly still troubled by the matter. It has been quite some time since you last handled such a situation, and given your disposition-”

“Which has no bearing my decisions as prior. My commitment to our creed remains steadfast. It was far better to act than to entrust her fate to the whims of cultists, and I would do so a thousand times again if I must.”

“Or so you say, but it doesn’t change the fact that you allowed Enbos to hit you. Moreover, you never charged him for assaulting an inquisitor.”

“…”

“Brother, I’ll say this once, but Enbos was wrong. You saved her. If that cultist hadn’t had moved, there was every possibility she could have been spared altogether.”

“… *Sigh* I know. I know, Nessa, and I still stand by everything I have said, however… it’s no different from what we have always done. I want our priory to stand in the light, but to do so, we must do more than focus on our public image. Overwise, I would have left everything to the Church’s Truthsayers, like every prior before me.”

“Then what do you suppose we should have done differently? You’re already offering compensation, which is more than every prior before you.”

“Honestly Nessa, I do not know. Even if we placate her, there will always be a lingering fear that will colour her faith and dye her kin. And across a hundred incidents, those clouded shards will one day become the darkest of reflections. It casts a pall over the past six years, and makes me wonder if the priory — and myself ­— will ever find acceptance.”

Do not falter in the face of evil. You are now an instrument of His divine will, and doubt is the rust along your edge. The is not a crutch, but proof that God now sees the world through you. You must forever polish the window in your heart so that He may judge things as they are. That is what it means to be an inquisitor of the Cleansing Swords.

Ever since I became his squire, my teacher would preach these exact words. This wisdom has been passed for generations, and although not all priors have been inquisitors, it has always been our guiding mantra. However, over the centuries, our justice has been challenged, our gifts exploited, and our purpose misunderstood. We must prove the righteousness of our ways, otherwise disasters like the Cleansing of Aegror or “that incident” are doomed to repeat. That’s why I introduced checks and restrictions on our divine might, and found comfort in the fact I was still blessed with the for God had judged my path was still true. But now, I wonder if He has peered through my eyes and found-

“You’re afraid the view from your “window” will always be that of the gallows.”

“N-nessa, how did you-”

“Why do you look so surprised? Although our disciplines were different, we were both raised under the same wing. You said as much yourself. We carry centuries of dogma that has steered our priory true. Even for the most radical or incompetent of priors, six years or a lifetime of reforms will never change what the public sees and what we are at our very core: a sword that is intended to kill.”

“I see…”

“… Here, brother. There is something I wish to share.”

Reaching deep into her bag, Nessa produces a tightly bound scroll and passes it onto me. Judging by its curl, it is a rather long parchment, with frayed edges suggesting frequent use. I partially unwind the scroll and to my surprise…

“Fourteenth day, first month, twelfth year of Pope Othniel. Unbecoming displays of affection, favouritism toward female suspects, damage to the priory’s reputation… Isn’t this a list of your personal gripes about me?”

“Indeed, and if I were to submit it to the Church, I believe I would have a fair chance at having you dismissed as our prior.”

“H-haha, i-is that so?”

“Please don’t look so pathetic, brother. I have only ever used it for stress relief, and I have no intention of ever submitting it.”

“… Why? You’ve always made you intentions clear, so why?”

“Maximillian, the reason our brothers and I still follow you is because we sincerely believe you are leading us on the right path. While I would undoubtedly make a better prior… it is only by our standards of old. Hunting evil, judging the faithless, greeting heresy with cold steel; it is all I have ever known, and all I can ever offer. But not you.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m the most suitable. Afterall, if the Church were to appoint someone as virtuous as Lady Liliana-”

“We would never accept them. Only a Cleansing Sword can understand a Cleansing Sword, and only you have awakened to our flaws. My former self would never have admitted it, but… the priory has been in decline long before you assumed that mantle. The fault is not ours alone, but if there is anyone who can redeem our priory and bring light to the Church of Eden… it is you.”

“Nessa…”

I see now. My reforms are more than seeking validation from the people; they are also for the sake of my fellow brothers. As radiant as Lili may be, I was not suddenly converted by her goodness, but made aware of my own self-disgust. A self-disgust informed by my upbringing within the priory itself.

Indeed, our methods are not wrong, but at some point in our storied past, our actions ceased to be in service of our noble cause. We allowed ourselves to become the “Bloody Hand of the Church”, and now, my brothers look to me to return their fervour after generations of silent disillusionment.

“… Lieutenant Agnes, regarding the compensation to the victim, I will prepare a letter to clarify our actions.”

“Will you be seeking forgiveness, Maximillian?”

“No. It will be in the same manner I explained to Enbos. While I’m aware it may not shift her disposition… what matters most is that she doesn’t doubt our sincerity.”

“… Understood... prior.”

“Now then, let us review last night’s disaster. Firstly, how did the cultists discover the true location of the core? Not even our brothers were privy to the truth.”

“They didn’t.”

“Pardon?”

“Of the five sites you prepared, there were signs they intruded on every spot, including two unrelated abodes. Nobody abandoned their post, but it appears they were too occupied with the enemies hidden in the panicked crowd.”

“*Sigh* So, they countered us with sheer numbers. It appears we underestimated both their surveillance capabilities and how entrenched they are in this city.”

“Indeed. We believe some of the magical incendiaries used in the attack date back months, smuggled in pieces at a time. They must have been planning to attack Catorrem at some point in the future, but they repurposed their preparations to provide a distraction.”

“Which means the famed walled city was compromised from the very beginning. Dear Lord. In hindsight I should have just kept the relic on my body.”

“You don’t have the authority to do that, brother. You know that.”

“I do. Are there any leads as to where the core could have gone?”

“After you and Enbos lost the cultist at the Office of Passage, we examined the teleportation paths but found no trace. I suspect the culprit used the underground guild’s illegal mana lines to smuggle the core out of the city.”

“*Sigh* Those nobles and their blasted greed.”

“I share your sentiment, brother. At this moment, everything rests on Enbos’ questionable methods. Do you really think he can deliver?”

“I believe he can, but even if it is a lie, the word of a Novuseus mage will still give the city lord much needed assurance. He will be more willing to lend us his men and arrange summons for adventurers from across the land. That being said, we should dedicate more resources toward our search efforts while we muster a sufficient force.”

“As you command. However, we probably don’t want Enbos in chains before meeting the lord, otherwise it will no longer seem as if we have the Novuseus’ backing. If we’re fortunate, we could be leading an expedition of 700 strong.”

“Agreed. Although, if these Kingdom-men truly understood the scale of our crisis, they’d be lending us an army. Still, marshalling a smaller force does make some things easier.”

“Your meaning?”

“Lieutenant, for the coming battle… tell our brothers to take up “The Sword of Culling”.”

“… Are you sure, Maximillian? It will be your first time fielding such a large force, and of adventurers no less. Our chain of command will suffer, and in the worst-case scenario, it might completely collapse. Would it not be more prudent to vet the members instead?”

“The are not omniscient, Nessa. Not all cultists carry a brand. Moreover, from everything I have seen, this “Tascus” is not an opponent to be trifled with. After all, we’ve not only lost the core, but given him the means to exploit it.”

Seeing Nessa’s confused expression, I reach for the communication orb and resume the recording from where it last stopped. After a moment, the sound of maniacal laughter fills the room, followed by a distorted yet unmistakeably sinister voice.

(I see, I see, I finally see! So this is what Maleosis has *Crackle*… I finally understand the meaning behind our encounter, Brother Enbos! Why He has led*Crackle*… you to this very moment. Truly, fate has delivered once again! *Crackle*… begin evacuation procedures. We’re returning to base as of now.)

(What!? A-are you seriously- Tell me, Tascus! What are you planning!? What the hell do you think you realised about me!?)

(You will see. I do not know how much has *Crackle*… but know that everything is ultimately according to His grand designs. I pray you will awaken to God’s truth in time, brother…)

“… I’m sorry, Brother Maximillian, but I fail to see the importance of this exchange.”

“Tascus was unable to touch the core, while Enbos could. Enbos refused to hand it over, but the moment Tascus realised we were coming…”

“It can’t be… Are you saying that we were manipulated into achieving his ends?”

“I’m afraid so. He knew we would use a divine artifact to contain the core, giving him the means to handle the accursed gem safely. Worse, while Enbos appears to have been a foreign element in his scheme, we are clearly not. Our enemy knows our movements and our capabilities, which is why I’m lifting all restrictions on our armoury, effective immediately. Hopefully, they will be caught off-guard by the arms we bring to bear.”

“I see. So you’re finally bringing out Horizon’s Edge… Are you sure, brother? You’re about to disregard a dozen protocols, most of which you helped establish yourself.”

“There is an emergency clause, but now is not the time to dally. The consequences are dire and our ability has already been called into question. We must quickly purge the New Dawn cult for the sake of a clearer Path.”

Our power is a great one, and for the past six years, I have implemented safeguards to put the public at ease. However, now is the time to unleash our full might. Although the enemy is formidable, we also have an opportunity to prove to the world, and ourselves, that we are deserving of this responsibility.

“Understood, prior. Then, I will depart to inform our brothers. I will visit later to retrieve your plans, along with your letter to the victim.”

“… Thank you, Nessa. I mean for before. You rarely offer such earnest console.”

“Don’t get used to it, and don’t think I haven’t noticed all the times you’ve been calling me Nessa.”

“I’m sure you’ll write the exact number of times in that miserable scroll, although I’ll happily give you reason to record our every moment together.”

“Good grief. And this is why I should never have opened my mouth…”

Nessa packs her effects and takes her leave, all while grumbling in an exaggerated manner. It’s almost as if she’s hiding her embarrassment, wearing a faint smile beneath her impassive façade, but regrettably, I know better. I reach for my quill but suddenly pause as I look between the empty envelope on my left and the stack of documents on my right. A moment later, I pick up last night’s report and search for the hostage’s name.

“I hold this quill now, but from thereafter, I shall dedicate myself wholly as your unerring blade. O mighty Lord residing in Heaven, please bear witness to our noble soul.”

Knock, knock.

“Enter, Kory.”

Excusing his presence, the loyal attendant enters his master’s study, and contrary to expectation, he finds the otherwise dark room wrapped in the warm glow of a hundred candles. The hierarch himself is not at his desk, but kneeling before an altar of gold and bone, dressed in full ceremonial garb with his infamous mask adorning his head. Likewise, the attendant is wearing his finest robe as he presses his hooded head to the floor and awaits his Holiness to finish his meditation.

“Report.”

“Your Holiness, everything is in place. Excluding the guards, all our resident brothers and sisters are gathered in the great hall. The communication array is also finished and ready to spread your divine message across the land. We even have a few “guests” from other brotherhoods among our midst.”

“I see. Thank you for your exemplary work, my son. You have done well.”

“I-I am not deserving of such praise, your Holiness. Not when compared to everything you have achieved. Everything has unfolded exactly as you divined and our moment of distress has produced an unimaginable boon.”

“You greatly exaggerate my achievements. All I have ever done is discern His divine will and shown the resolve to follow it. The only difference now is that as we draw closer to the new dawn, our places in His grand design have become all the clearer.”

“It is as you say, your Holiness. The timing of the core’s discovery and the miraculous appearance of the forlorn soul has only added proof to your claim as Maleosis’ champion. Although I fretted when it fell in the hands of the Cleansing Swords, I see now it has bestowed upon you the perfect tool to avoid the artifact's curse. Truly, fate bends its knee to your plight.”

“*Chuckle* Then wouldn’t Enbos — who was unimpeded by the core’s barrier and spared its powerful curse — have an equal, if not greater, claim than I?”

“N-no, not at all, my Hierarch. The mere thought is utterly preposterous!”

“Yes. I suppose it would…”

“Your Holiness?”

“… Come, Kory. Let us not test our brethren’s zeal any longer.”

With his loyal attendant in tow, Tascus steps out of his room and enters a long corridor made of ivory stone. Fire and darkness define the passage in equal parts as ten pairs of sentinels made of armour and preserved flesh hold silent vigil. The pair continue towards the majestic gate at the end where a great cheer keeps reverberating throughout the ancient walls. With a tap of his finger, the stone door opens, and thousands of followers erupt into applause from the great hall within.

“MALEOSIS! MALEOSIS! MALEOSIS! MALEOSIS!”

“TASCUS! TASCUS! TASCUS! TASCUS!”

“ASCENSION! ASCENSION! ASCENSION! ASCENSION…!”

As if carried on their fanatical excitement, the hierarch slowly levitates toward the floating platform high in the vast and windowless room. A dozen hovering orbs converge then orbit around him, flashing ghostly faces in the dark glass. He clears his throat with a small cough and instantly the entire hall becomes as silent as a sealed coffin.

“My children. My flock. My fellow servants to the one true Lord. I have summoned you here today to mark a milestone on our Path, and ready ourselves for the final step of the Ascension.

You have all served the Lord faithfully, and together, we have achieved extraordinary things. For in nary a year since He graced us with the Prophecy, we have delivered thousands of souls to His embrace; uncovered this long-lost sanctorum from the Golden Age; and extended our guiding hand to a dozen provinces across the Reinsol Kingdom.

Not all of us have lived to see this day, but they watch over us from His side, knowing that their lives and deaths were filled with so much meaning. Now, we are the grandest order in all the lands, and to everyone, past and present, I say: well done. Maleosis smiles upon us.”

The crowd erupts into thunderous applause. Tascus waits for the ovation to subside, which is not long as they are all keenly aware of his patient and overwhelming presence.

“And for our unity, our blood, our piety, Maleosis has delivered onto us His greatest gift. A sacred treasure not seen in a thousand years…”

As he speaks those word, the stone doors open and a man whose face is covered in runic bindings enters the great hall. It is his loyal servant Colligo and in his open hands, raised above his lowered head, is a small, wooden box radiating with holy magic. The crowd track the box with spellbound eyes as Tascus slowly levitates it from Colligo’s care and into his own waiting palm.

“Behold. The heart of the first Undead Ravager: the core of an elder lich.”

Upon revealing this detail, a wave of hushed whispers spreads throughout the room. For many, it is the first they have heard of their hierarch’s grand prize. Although they do not know of his ultimate machinations, their fervour is reaching a fever pitch. Tascus watches on, but he soon regains their attention as he raises his arm to the air, with the box resting firmly in his palm. His closest followers look to one another with perplexed expressions, evidently uninformed of this unscripted motion.

“My children. My flock. My fellow implements in His grand designs. Today, we begin our irreversible advance towards an Eden for all. Across the world, our brothers and sisters congregate under His name and prepare for the coming age… and yet we are still not one mass.

Our distant kin remain in their disparate clans, abiding by their own customs and sharing only their worship of our Lord’s name. Even now, they still doubt our divine right and seek His champion among their own. Alas:

Only when my one true champion is found

Shall the divided share one heart.

So He has decreed, and so it shall be. Let this be unequivocal proof.”

All of a sudden, Tascus crushes the protective box, unleashing the core’s accumulated curse in a flood of spiritual energy. Despite being at the top of the great hall, everybody on the floor can feel its sinister aura pierce every inch of their skin. Several adherents exclaim in shock, but none dare rush to their hierarch’s side. They instinctively know it would kill any of them in an instant.

However, Tascus remains unfazed. His furrowed brow hidden behind his cold mask. Through feelingless fingers and fading vision, the hierarch steels himself against the hostile object, until finally, the spectral whirlwind begins to ease. Little by little, the spiritual energy dissipates until it is no more, leaving only the prized gem, and a room full of adoring witnesses to the hierarch’s miraculous feat.

“My children! My flock! My fellow warriors of the light! After thousands of years, His return is now nigh! Soon, I shall deliver myself unto Him, and be reborn in undying bone. Soon, we shall emerge from the shadows, and rally our brethren from every corner of this continent. Soon, we shall free the deluded masses from the Church of Eden, and watch the sun rise over a new world!

Let blood be spilt and our prayers answered. I, Tascus, Apostle of Maleosis, Hierarch of the Order of the New Dawn, declare here and now… to be His one. True. Champion!”

The crowd breaks into an applause dozens of times greater than their number suggests. Several have even taken to their knee and begun praying toward their divine saviour. Despite the attention, Tascus is beside himself as he savours the gem's cool touch before its taken by his warmth.

(One more step. One more foe… O mighty Maleosis watching from beyond, please guide me to my ultimate destiny.)