Nova Mesto, Great Cathedral, 22.00 P.M
After they had been busy avoiding the undead on their way to the Great Cathedral they finally arrived. The atmosphere of the Great Cathedral seemed eerily desolate.
"We seem to have walked into a trap. Yesterday, the undead crowd was seen a lot but now it looks very quiet, almost non-existent. It is very suspicious." Isabel muttered from behind the wall.
Dumar immediately stepped forward without hesitation, "Iris doesn't have much time. We have to move as quickly as possible. "
Joshua follows Dumar while gesturing to Isabel to follow Dumar and not argue.
Isabel sighed and then caught up with them, "Dumar since when did you find out that Iris was Seraphine Aile?"
"Not long after we parted ways in Golmore woods I went to see Duke Barrington to report on our work including you going to Nova Mesto. When the Duke heard this, he remembered how the St. Varos Church in Nova Mesto was very interested in his daughter because from birth her daughter had shown signs of having magical powers. Since then, we began to suspect that Seraphine Aile is a human who has high magic power. " Dumar stopped walking in front of a black hole that was very deep headed down.
Joshua frowned, as he remembered that before there was no hole this big, "Where does this hole lead? Is it led back to the underground city? "
Isabel looked around carefully, there appeared to be a glimmer of light near the hole and there was a circular stone staircase leading down. "Looks like we have no choice but to get down." Isabel picked up one of the torches that appeared to be burning near the stairs and began to descend it.
They walked slowly so as not to slip because the stairs were steep and not very wide.
"Dumar, do you know what they will do with Iris?" Joshua's voice broke the silence, "You mean how are they going to take Seraphine Aile from Iris?"
"I don't know how they moved the Seraphine Aile but… they gave it to Iris for one thing for sure. She has high magic power so she can receive and use the Seraphine Aile. Maybe to move the Seraphine Aile they need much magic too?"
Dumar grimaced while holding his wound then replied back, "But people who can use that magic are very rare and rare. There's a chance they will force Iris to move it herself."
"It turns out to be this place again." Isabel let out a sigh of relief because it was a place where the undead could not endure.
The three of them also arrived at the bottom which turned out to be the lake Joshua and Isabel had fallen before. There were many piles of undead mixed with the corpses of the "new" temple knights on the lake.
Dumar looked furious, "Raul, he threw his own men like trash!"
Among the pile of undead, Joshua recognized one of them as Robb. Joshua stared sadly at the corpse of his friend.
"Look at this trail. Looks like they brought Iris this way. " Isabel brought her torch closer to the ground.
The trail seemed to lead to a hidden passage that was different from the one Joshua and Isabel had been through.
They walked through many aisles filled with ancient symbols. Several parts of the hallway appeared to have been destroyed.
Shhh
Isabel motioned for them to slow down and not make a sound.
From behind the wall, there was a large hall filled with ancient symbols on the walls and there was a magic circle on the floor with a very deep ditch around it. In the middle, Raul's Commander was removing his armor, assisted by Roselle, and near them, Iris was seen standing with her hands and feet tied.
Someone comes up to them. Isabel immediately recognized her as the graceful woman who was respected by the Commander Raul
"Ah Lady Morrigan you finally arrived." Commander Raul greeted her enthusiastically.
Lady Morrigan then approached Iris and held her face, "So you are the one has Seraphine Aile. Candidate chosen by church to be able to control Seraphine Aile so they can use it "
Iris shook her head, "The church never told me about this. I never wanted this power. This power is creepy… it feels like a blackhole is tearing apart my body."
Morrigan sneered, "It's useless the church chose you because you have strong magic, if you don't want it yourself. Indeed, Seraphine Aile is not easy to control its power but it doesn't matter ANYONE can have Seraphine Aile. Besides, I have given Seraphine Aile many human sacrifices."
Iris looked surprised, "Could it be you ...?!! You were the one who resurrected the undead and sealed the city ?!"
"Seraphine Aile is dark magic whose power is affected by the host's ability. It is said that Seraphine Aile's host can destroy one civilization with its full power. With Seraphine Aile, Raul will have the power and control to become the ruler and own it all. Unlike you, Raul's ambition makes him the right candidate ", Lady Morrigan calmly replied."
Roselle laughed happily and hugged Raul, "Our plan will come true my dear. Soon you will have the strength so that you don't have to curry favor with the church officials anymore and I live comfortably free of secretglaives. "
Lady Morrigan motioned to Commander Raul, "Let us begin the ritual. Prepare the final sacrifice. Your dream will come true Raul. "
Raul suddenly stabs Roselle who is still hugging him with his sword.
From behind the wall Isabel, Joshua and Dumar were very surprised to see what happened.
"Raul ... why?" Roselle's surprised face let go of her arms and looked at Raul. Raul just stared coldly and thrust his sword deeper into Roselle's stomach. Roselle staggered backwards.
"Roselle!" Isabel comes out of hiding trying to save Roselle.
But it's too late, Commander Raul pushes Roselle down with his sword into the deep ditch. Isabel looked sadly at her childhood friend who had fallen into the ditch.
Lady Morrigan immediately cast the spell. The palm of his hand gave off a dark aura that binds Iris. Iris screamed in pain and the tattoo on her back started to glow. Lady Morrigan then directed her other hand towards Raul. Raul screamed in pain too. Iris and Commander Raul's bodies seemed to be engulfed in an aura of darkness and their eyes turned white.
Isabel turned around angrily about to throw the knife at Raul. But before he had the chance to attack, Lady Morrigan with her dark magic cast numerous needle shadows to attack Isabel. Isabel managed to dodge at the last second even though there were several needles that had hit her.
Joshua and Dumar immediately come out of hiding to help the injured Isabel.
Lady Morrigan prepared to strike them with her dark magic needles again. Joshua and Durma lead Isabel behind the wall to avoid Lady Morrigan's attack.
"What should we do? We can't stop this ritual as long as there is that witch." Joshua shouted frantically.
Iris and the Commander Raul both screamed in pain while the ritual was still ongoing. It seems that the tattoos on Iris' body begin to move to Commander Raul little by little.
Dumar grabbed Isabel's shoulder and glared at her, "Whatever happens, you have to bring her back to the Duke and… tell the Duke… thank you for raising me. I'm grateful he saved me 10 years ago."
Dumar then ran out of behind the wall and ran towards Iris. He didn't stop even though Lady Morrigan's shadow needles hit him. Dumar uses his body to block Lady Morrigan's magic cast on Iris.
Lady Morrigan screamed in panic, "What are you doing?! NOO!!"
"ARGH!". With all his might Dumar pushed Iris to be free.
Iris released from Lady Morrigan's magic in a fainted state. Lady Morrigan is forced to stop the spell and falls down exhausted because the process of moving Seraphine Aile takes her strength plus she has to attack as well. She looks worriedly at Raul who stands still without a response. Seraphine Aile's tattoo is on his back but only half.
"Are you okay?" Isabel immediately approached Dumar who also fell on his knees.
"Don't mind me! Hurry up and take Iris away from here! " Dumar screamed in pain.
There was a groan behind them. Raul's consciousness seems to have returned. Even so, Raul's condition looks strange. His body was filled with an aura of darkness.
"Seraphine Aile… I must… have it whole… Seraphine Aile calls me…" Raul walked slowly towards the fainted Iris.
"Ra..Raul??? Are you okay?" Lady Morrigan called out to him but Raul ignored her and kept moving.
With his remaining strength Dumar rose to his feet and stabbed the Commander Raul with his sword.
"BROTHER!" Lady Morrigan screamed.
But Dumar's attack meant nothing to Raul. Raul looked at Dumar with his white eyes. Raul's hand blackened and turned sharp and stabbed Dumar back. Raul's attack pierced Dumar's body.
"DUMAR!" Isabel screamed in despair because she knew there was nothing she could do.
"Hur... Hurry go...", Said Dumar last time and with all his might he tried to push Raul into the trench.
Joshua immediately carried Iris, "Isabel Let's Go!!"
Isabel followed Joshua with teary eyes. Isabel turned one last time and saw the shadow of Dumar and Raul falling together into the ditch.