Nova Mesto, Temple of Varos, 16.00 P.M
Joshua, Isabel and Iris walked up to the surface. The location of the temple of Varos is at the north end of the city of Nova Mesto. They cross the streets of the city. The city looked like it was normal because the undead were hiding in the buildings. It seemed that the Undead avoided the sun and were not as active at night so they had no trouble walking around the city.
Iris leads Joshua and Isabel through alleyways full of symbols like the ones they see in underground cities. Unlike the Great Cathedral, the Temple of Varos is where the followers of St. Varos since the beginning. The building is older and ancient, so it's no wonder many ancient symbols are different from the great cathedral which is magnificent and more modern. The passage runs to the side of the temple of Varos. In front of the temple of Varos they saw two temple knights on guard. They slid through the side door. Inside only a few temple knights were visible. It seemed that Raul was leading most of his temple knights to search for Seraphine Aile at various places in the city. In the atmosphere of the temple is dim, making it easier for them to infiltrate.
When they arrived at the main hall of the temple, there was a statue of St. Varos with the symbol. Iris pressed the symbol, there was a sound of the statue creaking softly down below. Then seen a secret door behind the statue. Iris grabs the candle near the statue and beckons Joshua and Isabel to follow her.
They walked in the hallway until they arrived at the hall, from behind the wall they saw two temple knights.
Iris whispered while pointing to the center of the hall, "They are there."
Joshua and Isabel nodded and then advanced to attack. They defeated the two temple knights as quickly as possible.
"Father Carlos" Iris immediately approached the priests in the middle of the hall.
"Iris ... you're back ... are you okay?" A very old priest in white wearing a golden robe was different from the robes of the other priests who welcomed Iris.
Iris immediately took her hand, "Father Carlos, they saved me. We have to get out of here immediately… Dark magic and the undead are everywhere… Nova Mesto is gone. Father Carlos only you know how to break the seal. "
High priest Carlos looked at each other with the other priests, "Iris… actually… we tried to break the seal but failed… but there is another way…."
High Priest Carlos grabbed Iris' shoulder and looked at her, "You can open the barrier because you can ...control dark magic ..."
Iris looks shocked, "I-me? But how could that be. I do not know how. I've never learned dark magic either."
High Priest Carlos sighed for a moment, "It's true ... but from the start you can, because you've been prepared..."
Before the High Priest Carlos had time to finish his words, suddenly an arrow pierced his chest.
"Father!" Iris immediately grabbed it and tried to heal it but High Priest Carlos's wound was too fatal.
Several arrows followed injuring the other priests. Isabel immediately recognized it as the same arrow in Golmore woods.
"Iris... only you can open it ..." High Priest Carlos breathed his last breath.
"Isabel! Get Iris out of here!" Joshua shouted as he turned the table to protect them from the arrows.
Isabel approached Iris trying to pull her away but her steps stopped. She felt a familiar chill. A shadow flashed past her. The shadow turned into a creepy creature… the same creature that killed Father Juan and now it's after her. Isabel wasn't ready to face the creature's attack.
"Watch out!" Joshua tries to help Isabel but it's too late.
!!!!
"Isabel !!" Someone suddenly pushed Isabel away until she avoided the creature's attack. They both pushed to the corner of the room.
Isabel immediately tried to wake up and recognize who her helper was, "Dumar! Are you okay?"
Dumar groaned for a moment then got up. "That was Phantom Manifest! They are summoned from very strong dark magic. They are usually summoned upon to kill their target. "
"Then how do we stop it?"
"Can not. They will only stop when their target dies or the one who calls them to stop them." Dumar glanced around the hall, a glimpse of the shadow disappeared.
"We can't possibly fight it! That was dark magic. Go!" Dumar yelled at Joshua on the other side to take Iris away.
Joshua ran over to Iris and pulled her away. However, this time the Phantom pursued them. Joshua tried to block the phantom attack with his sword but the phantom attack was too fast. He couldn't avoid it.
!!!!
Suddenly the phantom attack stopped. Everyone in the room stared at Iris. Iris stood in front of Joshua staring at the phantom with white eyes. The tattoo on Iris' back glowed with a dark aura. Iris slashed her hand which was emitting a dark aura as if telling her to leave. The Phantom turned into black powder and disappeared into the air.
Joshua immediately grabbed Iris, who sat limply. "Iris!"
Iris looks at Joshua in confusion, "I-did I do it?"
"Are you okay? Can you stand?" Joshua looked worried.
Iris forced herself to stand up but shook, Joshua immediately grabbed her again.
Isabel looked at the corpses of the priests, "We better get going. I know this arrow. There is a dark magic spell. "
The corpses of the priests started moving.
"Let's go now."
Joshua immediately picked Iris up and ran. Isabel and Dumar immediately caught up with him. They went down the hall and came back to the room where the St. Varos statue was. They hurriedly closed the door.
Joshua places Iris on the chair. Iris looks still shocked and devastated by the incident just now.
"So why did you get to Nova Mesto Dumar? Shouldn't be all things related to Seraphine Aile is in my charge?"
There's something I need to take care of and it's… personal." Dumar answered while looking in the other direction.
Isabel followed Dumar's gaze and realized his sad expression when he saw Iris.
Joshua held Iris's trembling hand trying to calm her down.
"Why can I order the Phantom earlier? This feel ... it feels so empty and ... like it's been torn apart."
Isabel sighed, "Because Iris is… Seraphine Aile. Isn't that so Dumar? "
Joshua and Iris look at Isabel in surprise, otherwise Dumar is just silent pensive.
"When I saw the tattoo on Iris's back. I remembered where I had seen him. I thought it was just like the symbols in undercity. But not only that, the tattoo is exactly the same as the symbols I saw in Father Juan's journal. Now I understand why no writings ever mention its shape because Seraphine Aile is not an object… but a human?! And how is the ancient artifact that is hundreds of years old is Iris??! " Isabel turned to Dumar with a questioning look.
Dumar approached Iris and looked at her, "What Isabel said was not wrong ... Seraphine Aile itself is a tattoo on your back and Iris you are part or ... more accurately called the owner of Seraphine Aile ..."
Dumar sighed and continued his words, "And I have a mission to take you home ..."
Suddenly Dumar threw the knife into the corner of the room.
"TZING!"
Dumar's knife appeared to be parried and fell to the floor.
"I never thought you would notice my presence."
Someone appears from behind the pillar.
"The death of the informant in Golmore woods is suspicious but I never thought you are the one who did that Roselle." Dumar glared at Roselle
In the midst of the dimness, Roselle smiled as she pointed her crossbow, "You are indeed great Dumar. You can tell that I was the one did that. I'm sorry but… Commander Raul has a more future offer for me and I'm just helping him. After all, how long do I want to risk my life for Secretglaives?"
Isabel looked furious, "You betrayed Secretglaives. They will definitely hunt you down. What did Raul offer that you want to help him?"
"Isabel… Isabel… even now you don't even know what Seraphine Aile is. Even though you are looking for it endlessly. Seraphine Aile grants the power to control dark magic and grants immortality to the user. I'm only helping my lover to achieve his dream of building his empire. I just chose to have a better life," Roselle whistled to summon the Temple Knight.
The temple knights entered and surrounded them.
"Bring the child to me. I will take her straight to Commander Raul. Convey my message that I'm waiting for him at the Great Cathedral. "
Iris is forcibly taken by Roselle and several temple knights.
"Kill the rest." Said Roselle before leaving the room.
Joshua, Isabel and Dumar are surrounded and have no choice but to fight the temple knights. Dumar tried to break into the crowd so they could escape but one of the temple knights managed to injure his hand. Joshua immediately carried him away while Isabel continued to attack. Their efforts were not in vain. They managed to escape from the Temple of Varos and hide in one of the houses in the town center.
"Looks like they lost track of us. We're safe for the time being. " Joshua peeked through the window.
"Now what are we going to do? Our only way out is gone and you are hurting. Shall we just hang in here? " Isabel said while bandaging Dumar's wound.
"No! We have to help Iris!" Dumar balked. "I have to take her home."
"Bring her home? We might not be able to go home ourselves, let alone take Iris home!" Isabel looked annoyed.
"Go home, to her father! She's ... she's Duke Barrington's daughter. " Dumar looked sighed.
Isabel glared while tightening Dumar's bandage, "Ok Dumar, give me an explanation and preferably a good explanation."
Dumar sighed while rubbing his hair, "10 years ago the carriage carrying the Duke's wife and daughter to their rest home outside Nova Mesto was attacked. The Duke's wife was found dead but the body of their baby was never found. Duke ordered all his soldiers to find her. But no one has ever been able to find the whereabouts of his daughter. The Duke had given up thinking that his daughter could not possibly survive. But a year ago, the Duke received information that the daughter he was looking for was still alive. And that information leads us to Seraphine Aile."
Joshua folded his arms, "If what Roselle said is true, then we must hurry to save her. Because I believe they definitely won't let Iris live to get Seraphine Aile."
"It's been a long time since the Duke's health has deteriorated so much that he has to be bedridden. When he got the information that his daughter was most likely still alive. His last wish was to be able to meet his daughter before he died. That's why Isabel…. Please help Iris. She has to know! Who is she really is and meet her father " Dumar looked at Isabel with a pleading look.
Isabel fell silent then nodded slowly, "Looks like I have no other choice. Anyway, where can we now other than being cooped up in this cursed city. You can still fight?"
"Just calm down. I can still survive. You don't have to worry about me." Dumar smiled and rose to his feet.