Raiden closes his eyes and holds the sword in front of his face. "Cypress, pour thyself with Absideon and destroy the darkness thy blade touches. Purify the tainted souls and deliver them to Elysium!"

Vines sprout from his broadsword's rain-guard and enwrap the lost spirits, covering them in holiness and melting the darkness that surrounds them.

"Vines of purification!" he bellows. Before disappearing, the vines emit a bright light. The purified souls flicker and then vanish.

Raiden tightens his grip on his sword's hilt as the bodies on the floor glow and vanish, light particles floating through the area like fireflies.

"Rest in peace," Raia whispers. She steals a glance at Raiden and frowns as she notices his crumpled face.

Then a girl their age emerges from beneath a table, her dark eyes wide open as she stares at them. She's wearing a plain white blouse and overalls. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail.

"Outcast?" Raiden asks.

"I'm not sure," Raia responds.

They take a defensive stance as the girl takes a step forward and then stops. She sweeps her gaze over them, inspecting their attire and the swords in their hands.

"You're priests," the girl says, relieved, and tears well up in her eyes, accompanied by a sob.

She poses no threat, so they soften their stances.

"Priests?" Raia inquires, a frown on her face.

"That's what some people call us," Raiden explains to dispel her confusion.

"I'm Lunet, and I've been waiting for you," the girl says once she calms down. "Darkness has descended on this town. Many people committed suicide, including my brother." Lunet bursts into tears once more. "Do something, you're supposed to be saviors, right? Save this town. Please help me save my beloved home."

"What's going on in this town?" Raiden asks as he approaches her.

Lunet clenches her quivering fists. "My brother . . . He started acting strange ever since he went to this particular tavern."

Raia walks towards them, her brow furrowed. Their Blessings emit light and vanish from their hands, only to reappear as silver cross jewelry.

"Can you tell me where that place is?" Raiden asks, a determined expression on his face.

Lunet's face hardens, her puffy eyes blazing with rage. "It's about to begin."

Lunet leads them to Dennisse, a small street in Marietta lined with wine shops and half-timbered taverns. The dim light from the houses and streetlamps flickers as if to warn. Surprisingly, the street is deserted, despite the fact that it is still too early for the stores to close and people to retire to their beds.

As they walk, their footsteps echo sharply throughout the area, sounding loud against the unknown stillness, like the next victim's booming heartbeat. In comparison to the main street, the atmosphere here is darker and more intense. Every step they take brings them closer to the darkness that awaits them.

"Is this the place?" Raiden asks, his voice barely above a whisper as they come to a halt in front of a looming tavern.

"Lilith's Tavern," Raia reads as she examines the letters engraved on the wooden plaque, which are barely legible due to the shadows that have crept around it.

Lunet nods. "Yeah, and the owner was one of those who committed suicide a week ago, so someone else took over this place."

Inside the tavern, a faint sound can be heard, like muffled cries of agony disguised as a gentle lullaby.

"I-I'm sorry if I can't be there with you inside," Lunet says, shuddering and wrapping her arms around herself as if she's cold. "Standing close to this place gives me the creeps. And I don't want to end up like my brother."

Raiden's expression softens. "Don't worry, we've got this. We swear to save this town."

Lunet smiles back at him. "Thank you. Please save us, priests."

Raiden and Raia watch as her figure fades to a silhouette and then vanishes into the darkness. They then exchange glances.

"Well, let's find the source of this town's darkness," Raiden says.

Raia nods. "Yeah."

They both take a deep breath before pushing their way through the tavern's door. The spacious room is surrounded by long wooden tables with people seated at them. Lanterns are lit on the walls, providing light and warmth in the midst of the frigid night.

Raia wrinkles her nose at the strong perfumes wafting through the air, mingling with the sweet and citrusy aromas emanating from the untouched glasses of wine on the tables. A soft and melodious sound envelopes the space, creating a gloomy and somber atmosphere.

As she sweeps her gaze across the people in the tavern, a crease forms on her brow. Her pupils constrict to slits as she examines their features. Their faces are devoid of any expressions, and their eyes aren't even blinking.

They are in trance.

It must be a Black Art, Raia concludes, shifting her gaze to follow their line of sight.

"What's going on?" Raiden asks, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"It seems that we have found the source," Raia mutters, her gaze fixed on the lady on stage.

Raiden frowns as he follows her gaze, then freezes. A woman stands on the raised platform, pouring her lovely voice into the microphone in her hand. Her body sways in a slow, rhythmic motion, and her rosy-peach satin gown moves in sync, like an ocean wave. She's got a silver bejeweled frontler that highlights her long raven hair that cascades down like a waterfall.

She is undeniably beautiful, and Raia may believe that is why the customers are sitting motionless. However, when the woman brings her knees to the floor, the audience's eyes well up with tears, despite their stoic expressions.

"It's her voice, she's inserting despair," Raia hisses.

Raiden nods, his face hardened. "A Cimmerian, yes."