The gathering of bishops – Holy Kingdom

“So. The messenger reached me…” the prophetess sitting on platform over the table of bishops started “…that you have some joyful information to share. I am really happy to hear it out, especially that lately things were going as we planned… I am all ears.”

The bishops remained silent for couple more seconds. They already knew what happened.

“My lady…” one of them started “… I am afraid that joyful news pretty quickly turned into horrible one. With hands of paladin Amelia Scarlet we managed to catch abomination you wanted dead…” “Catch? I don’t want it captured! I want it dead! Taking it into custody only gives it possibilities to free itself, and that’s a risk I won’t stand. I hope you already ordered it to be killed.” “My lady… as we heard it hate it’s evil existence so much, we wanted to make its execution a public event…” “No! It must be killed now…” “And I am afraid I already managed to… ran away.”

Prophetess turned pale

“If that’s a joke… that would be best moment to tell me about it and hand me over its head!” “No my lady, we underestimated its cleverness… we think…” “Send Scarlet again! She defeated it once, she can do it again!” “My lady, Amelia Scarlet described another attempt as futile. She said that she managed to capture it because she found it off guard. She also said that he is kind of a man that never makes same mistake twice… And even more… the abomination found a measure to stop house Scarlet from interfering – he captured her sister and use her as hostage…” “Bloody fools! This is why I tol… Wait, by her sister do you mean Elana Scarlet?” “Y..Yes, my lady…” “Elana Scarlet – the only one that survived planting of The Seed? The one from [Living Saint] project? THAT ELANA?! What kind of other calamity happened when I wasn’t paying attention!? I am sure you have ten more!” “The tomb of King Balthazar has been opened by abomination. Nothing was found inside. Whatever was [greatest love] and [greatest evil] of Kind Balthazar, it is gone…”

Prophetess hide her face in palms

“My lady…” “Save your excuses, I am not the one that will listen to them…”

A person that until now was staying behind the prophetess in grey coat moved forward. She took her hood and the room was taken over by light forcing bishops to avert their gaze.

“Why do I even bother?...” the creature made of light asked sadly with purest voice “…I came to warn you of what is approaching. I gave you knowledge, tools and measures. Do you know why? Because he will bring end to old order. He learns fast. He is barely more than one year old, yet he managed to fool you, released something that was kept shut since times so old, that even those who perished could barely remember it, and even take away from you blessing that I bestowed upon thee. In next year her will be equal to Amelia you cherish so much, in next year he will surpass her, and year after that no human in any number will manage to take him down. You had this one chance to kill him. Now, you must work fast.” “But… My lady! How? The seed was taken?” “The difference between me – the daughter of fire, and you – sons of clay, is that I predicted every outcome – even your incompetence. Listen to your prophetess. She was given my instructions.”

The light perished, and from person standing near the head of the church not even trace remained.

Capital of Neira - factory

Once again I was dealing with Elana most urgent symptoms – those that needed to be taken care of immediately

~ He slowly moved his palms over her chest. Her bared, pink skin responded under each of his touches sending shivers down her spine. Each of his caresses were like electrocution drawing moans from her parted lips…

… Luuuust. Stop it. I am trying to focus on..

~ Come on! I am bored! And that lil’ lady is quite eager to have some fun with you!

Even if I wanted to - her condition is bad. She may literally DIE during the act

~ That’s sweetest kind of death! Come on! She is completely into you!

She is not

~ Host, where the hell do you have your eye? Wanna bet? Stop doing what you are doing right now, and look her in the eyes. Do nothing, just don’t stare away.

Why?

~ Do it!

I needed to do what she wanted, or she wouldn’t stop yapping. I stopped my hands and look at her. She was staring at me all this time and as soon as our eyes met, she blushed and looked away.

~ Seeeeee?

She is like a puppy that after being fed is following human. That’s no affection – just admiration

~ And? Why should we care? Sex is sex, also – you are right. She is just like a dog. A female dog. So – technically a bitch. I will tell you more! She is a good bitch! A very good bitch! And do you know what good bitches deserves?

Don’t finish, please…

~ They deserve a bone! Nya-hahahaha!

You are sickening me. She is still a kid! Look at her!

~ Oooh trust me, I do. She told that herself! In a year she can get married! Also – LOLI IS JUSTICE! Big chests! Small chests! They all are equally wonderful!

Greed. Can I ask you a favor?

~ I WILL NOT BE SILENCED! WHY MY NEEDS ARE NEGLECTED! This is not just! I demand equality of sins! If you won’t I shall start a strike!...

Ho? And what would you exactly do?

~ I will stop talking to you! It will be silent strike!

THANK YOU! THAAANK YOU! Do it!

~Are you suuuure? I won’t say a word!

Splendid

~ Nothing shall be heard from my side! Not a yell not even a moan!

…

~ You will see, that silence – it will be unbearable. No one can withstand being ignored as much as you will be ignored! You will call me! You will beg me! You will crawl in dust under my feet! [Please, beautiful and wise Lust, talk to me! I mean nothing without you!] – those will be your own words! It will be so bloody quiet that…

FOR FUCK SAKE! I CAN’T HEAR MY OWN THOUGHTS!

~…

THANK YOU!

Once again I started treating Elana.

“Just wait bit longer, sweetie, just bit longer and I would stop bothering you” “Y..You are not bothering me! I am the one being a burden… I am just using your kindness…”

After words [kindness] Clarice choked.

“… You are so good to me…”

Marianna dropped a vial which shattered

“I… I just can’t thank you enough… I just can’t believe that this is happening, you are like an angel that came down to help me…”

Two other girl that were walking while looking in our direction bumped into each another

“… girls, I think someone kidnapped our teacher and sent a usurper in his place. It is impossible for teacher Zariel to be nice…” one of my students started “Yes, in the moment he would said a nice word his black heart would split into two…” another followed “Don’t even tell me! I became sexually frustrated because of him! As foreplay I am making my man to tell me how much he loves me, how important I am, that my life matters… When he told me that for the first time after week of studying under teach Zariel I burst into tears! I just couldn’t comprehend that my life could hold any value!” “My ladies!” I addressed them. They jumped into air.

They were whispering to each another as they were sure that I couldn’t hear them. I appraised the woman that said the last sentence. Mostly because I already forgot her name

“Anna!? You need me to boost your morals? You want me to tell you how much I treasure you, do you?” my voice was sweet, so Elana was easily fooled. Yet my girls, oh they knew what that meant “Girls… I think he heard us…” Clarice whispered even quieter “That would be correct!” I called from the other side of the room. “… Hm? Are you girls… perhaps… resting?”

They rushed all over the room beginning to start working over potions again. Yet that didn’t stop me. I started my usual lecture

“Do you know, my loves, which animal is most wonderful in this world?” in the meantime Daralon knocked. With gesture I let him in, yet told him to wait a moment “… It is a bee! And do you know why? Have you ever seen a bee going on sick leave? A bee asking for the salary raise? Have you ever seen a bee slacking?! NO! Exactly! That’s what I want you to be! Be a bee!”

I moved in direction of dark mage to say my greetings.

“I missed you!” he said “There was no one who would understand me around! Even more – those fools from council didn’t give any quest worth of mentioning! Now, I hope you have something challenging for me!” “Yeah. If you would like taking a look at her…” I pointed on Elana

Yet in same time Ay entered the room.

“Zari! Jason got drunk, Pyrox is showing his tricks to everyone in the factory… burning two of your plants in the process and twins are yelling that they want to snuggle with you are refuse going to bed… Oh. Hello Daralon.” She said with cold tone.

Daralon also lost some of his humor

“Greetings, Aielle.” He responded “I thought that friends call you just Ay…” I said with smile “That’s correct” They said in unison “Ok. What is going on between you two? I mean – you two are the craziest people I know. I thought that you two would get along.” “At first we do, but he…” “… but she…” “IS COMPLETELY INSANE!” once again – perfect unison

What?

“Imagine – we are doing a mission…” I just looked behind me to see if Elana was listening up, but apparently she fall asleep again “… things are going smoothly… Everything. We got inside facility, every magic trap is being opened, every lock picked… and then – our target. We were supposed to get information from him! I wanted to ask him in old-fashioned way – by slowly cutting pieces of him away…” “EXACTLY!” Curse speaker yelled “Like a savage! Like a barbarian! With knife and needle?! These things are good when you want your target dead! Instead, I suggested a small curse that would play with his mind…” “RIGHT! As if I was letting him destroy him mind! When he would turn insane he wouldn’t be able to tell us everything at all!” “A-ha! Cuz he would tell us something if you would bleed him out?!” “So, let me guess…” I stopped their quarrel “… both of you were interrogating him in same time, torturing his body and soul making him die because of shock?” But that was his/her fault!” “Zari! Tell me! You love me more than her, right?” Dar-dar asked “Ho-ho! Jokes on you! He already told me that I can be the one to use his poisons! Check if they work…” “Are you sure he didn’t ask you to swallow them?!” “GUYZ! Stop it! I love both of you! You are my bread buns and I am a sausage! Together we make a hotdog! Don’t ask me to chose only one of you, cuz then I simply wouldn’t be full! My life would lack something! There would be a hollow in my heart that only two of you can fill!” “That’s…. the most fucked up thing I heard for a long, long time…” “Aww, but it was sooo sweet of you! Creepy as hell, but sweet!” “Ok. Zari, what were you talking before that savage rushed in without knocking disturbing you in the middle of the speech?” “AH, yes. Look at her. I think she is cursed, yet I can’t locate the source… it is simply beyond my appraising skills. I thought that if I would ask the greatest expert on fields of curses than…” “Did you hear?” he asked looking at Ay “Me – an expert. He – needs an expert. Me – usable. You – not even mentioned…” “Stop it! Focus, dar-dar, focus!” “Ok, ok, let me take a look.” He put her hand of her chest focusing “… where did she hid her boobs? They were supposed to be somewhere around here… Yet they are gone…” “DARALON!” “I am just toying with you. Already looking… are you sure it is a curse? Because I feel nothing. Really. Not a tiniest source of darkness..” “Maybe if you would look for nature or light?” “Light curse? Kid, that’s not how it is supposed to wo… Holy… moly…”

He turned pale

“What’s going on?!” “Kid. You were wrong, yet so very right in same time… that’s not the curse. That’s… a parasite but… I am pretty sure that… no, it is impossible, she would be tore into pieces… but what if… no… but maybe… Nah… still the opportunities that… Duh…” “Stop toying with me!” “Zar-zar, where did you get that wench from?” “Noble family of holy kingdom. You can say she is my souvenir…” “Ok. Now focus and try answering me – what is an angel doing inside of girl from noble house? The one that eat her from inside?”

… Que?

Ravens flew into the library causing quite a commotion.

“SHUSH! AWAY PESTS!” the librarian tried scaring them off with broom “Stop it Abraham. Can’t you see those are familiars? Carrying a letter? And a ring?” “Tsh. That ring is probably supposed to mean that the one that send them has permission to use our resources… still, I don’t like it… what is in the letter?” “Wait, let me see… a list of books… Cult of light, hierarchy of angel… rites of exorcism, uh – few positions from restricted section…” “Absolutely not! Restricted section is called restricted, because it was restricted. Period!”

Another letter dropped on the table

“The hell is that one about?” “If you are reading this letter, it means that you, you stupid old fart, decided to refuse me few books. Listen her you dense fool. I asked for them not because I want to summon a pet angel – so you have two choices. You will give those bloody books, or I will go ask my friend to come here with me. And that friend’s name in Hieronymus Kleir…” “Ok. Stop it here…” “Are you sure? I am not even in half of the letter. In second part he accuse you to be a son of two men and a goat which I find pretty amuss…” “No. I don’t. One – I don’t care what some brat thinks of me; Two – just hearing the name [Kleir] makes me shiver. I don’t want to have anything in common! Last time that mad man told me to change the way I put his books on the shelf, because they weren’t in chorological order – I tried telling him, that we use an alphabetical order – But NOOO, he even send a letter to the rector of academy… just for him we changed the way we stored our books on shelf in whole section! No, thank you but no.” “So, what are we doing?” “Just… just give him whatever he wants.” “Even [The gate of abyss]?” “Yes” “And what with [Lesser key of Solomon]?” “YES!” “And how about…” “YES! YES and YEEES! If he asks about [Omnis Diabolicus] – Yes! If about [Chronica Astrata] yes, if about [Heart of the darkness]… wait, heart of the darkness…” “He asks about that too…” “The hell he want to do? Summon Fiery Avenger?” “Actually… he asks also about [Rites of banishes] and few instructions of opening the second doors of the seconds doors… which would mean…” “Not summoning but banishing? Damn. But those books would mean… I just hope he would do so far, far away from the city…” “I am pretty much sure he will – another one – using energy of mana veins in the ground… In capital there aren’t any veins. The closest one would be…” “The forest of dread?”

I studied the books all night long. It’s not good. Not good at all. Even more I made a mistake. That was something that should draw my attention from very start – her basic condition could be easily made better. Why priests were keeping her almost dead all this time? To not wake the creature.

If there is barely any food – the creature sleeps and eats only as much as it needs to survive, if somebody would treat her condition – there would be more to eat, the more it would eat, the more it would grow and the more it would grow, the more it would eat. This is why she was losing her stamina so quickly! For those past four-five days I made the beast stronger. Much stronger. There was not time to waste. Equipped in knowledge and few potions I moved in direction of guild. My [Hellion] with Elana was waiting in carts near the city gate.

I kicked the gate of the guild open drawing everyone’s attention and yelled as much strength I had in my lungs

“I want to set a quest to the guild! And you better respond quickly, because we are moving out in 10 minutes!’