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"Finally, after four years of us serving Priest Carlos, I managed to become the commander of the Temple Knight of St. Varos church in Nova Mesto with Priest Carlos who is now High Priest. Meanwhile….", Raul muttered to himself as he glanced at Morrigan who was busy casting spells.
"Morrigan had a successful life because her dark magic was much sought after by the nobility. It was not in vain that High Priest Carlos opened up connections for her. Now she managed to enter the upper-class circles. Even her patron is an important noble."
"What are you thinking, Raul? Your face is so serious."
Morrigan, who had finished casting her spell, approached Raul.
"Is the spell a task your patron asked you to do?"
"That's right. He very often requested my services. Sometimes I feel like he's obsessed with my magic or he really has a lot of enemies."
"Hmph."
Raul looked irritated at Morrigan's answer.
"Why are you suddenly annoyed?"
"I don't like you still talking about him during our time together."
Morrigan smiled happily as she held Raul's face.
"You're not jealous, are you?"
Knock! Knock!
Before Raul could answer, there was a loud knock-on Raul's door.
"Commander Raul, we need you. There is an emergency situation right now."
"What situation?" Raul shouted from inside his room.
"We caught the intruder, Commander. And we took her down to the basement."
Raul opened the door.
"Take me to her. I will interrogate NOW."
When it comes to the dungeons. A woman appears to be bound by chains in each hand.
Raul held the chained woman face and noticed something on her shoulder. He brushed the chained woman's hair away. A tattoo appears on her left shoulder.
"Are you a spy? What are you looking for? Who sent you?"
The chained-woman didn't answer and looked away.
Raul held the chained-woman face again to face him.
"You are quite beautiful with your blonde hair and blue eyes for a spy."
"I have nothing to tell you!"
Then the chained-woman turned her face away again.
"Commander, do I need to inform High Priest Carlos about this matter?"
"No. No need. It is late. It's just a minor problem. I can handle it myself."
Raul motioned for the knight to leave them.
"So, how's Sister? What should we do with her?"
After Raul said that, Morrigan suddenly appeared beside him.
Morrigan grinned then began to chant a short incantation. Instantly a flash of electricity grabbed the chained-woman.
The chained-woman screamed in pain. Bruises began to appear on her body
"How? Still don't want to say something?
Raul pulled the hair of the chained-woman.
But the chained-woman only lowered her head weakly.
Morrigan continued to cast her spell. This time a stronger flash of electricity electrocuted the chained-woman longer. Smell of burnt skin faintly smelled.
The chained-woman seemed to be trying to endure the pain.
"You're stubborn. Okay. I'm going to ruin your pretty face."
Morrigan cast a spell. A black flame appeared in her hand. And she was ready to hold the cheek of the chained-woman.
The chained-woman looked terrified as Morrigan's hand drew closer to her face.
"Stop! I will say everything!"
"Good."
Morrigan extinguished the black flames in her hand.
Raul crossed his arms.
"First, tell me your name and who you are."
The chained-woman looked scared.
"My name is Roselle. I am a member of Secretglaives. A mercenary organization."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I'm in charge of finding information related to Seraphine Aile."
Raúl looked surprised.
"How did you know about Seraphine Aile?"
"I-I don't know. I only received orders to find information about it."
With cold eyes, Raul and Morrigan looked at the chained-woman.
"Please, let me go. I don't know anything. I only take my orders. If you let me go, I will comply with your wishes."
Raul gestured for Morrigan to move away and whispered to her.
"We can use her, Sis. To work for us in secret. If I could get Seraphine Aile for me. We can be free from High Priest Carlos."
"Raul… but isn't that dangerous? High Priest Carlos was a smart and very careful person. Plus, he has a lot of strong connections too. You just happened to overhear about the Seraphine Aile. Otherwise, maybe we'll never know."
"Yes, you're right. I have to be careful when I move. That's why we need someone like her."
Morrigan stared at the chained-woman with a sharp gaze.
"Don't tell me you don't want to because you were jealous when I said she was quite pretty?"
Morrigan glared at Raul indignantly.
"Fine. If that's what you want."
Raul smiled happily at Morrigan's reaction.
Joshua opened his eyes and woke up from his dream. He held his head, which felt dizzy.
"That dream again…. "
The scent of jasmine that smells faintly. He looked in the direction of the scent.
The innocent face of Iris sleeping was before him. Iris seemed to be sound asleep holding St. Varos book.
It seems Iris stayed up late to read St. Varos book.
The sound of her breathing slow and regular from her nose that is high. Her pink lips look beautiful and attractive.
Joshua stared at Iris without blinking. His heart fluttered softly. Causing a strange feeling for him. And the scent of jasmine from Iris' body which was smelled at such a close distance made his mind drift even more.
Joshua blinked trying to control whatever came to mind. He slowly got out of bed so as not to wake Iris up.
It looked like it was still dawn outside. Joshua decided to get up and go hunting. Joshua slowly closed the door on his way out.
======
Malcolm is enjoying his breakfast in Isabel's room. As usual, he always sleeps on the couch in Isabel's room.
Isabel was enjoying her coffee after breakfast, when the door that connected her room with Leon opened.
Leon frowned when he saw Malcolm.
"Ah, you love birds just happen to be here. We will leave now. You guys go down first. I'll be following soon."
"Very well, My Lord."
Isabel immediately got up and prepared to leave. Malcolm quickly finished his breakfast and followed Isabel out.
Isabel and Malcolm waited outside the inn. From a distance, Leon approached them with several Lindheim knights accompanying him.
"They will be joining us in picking up Iris."
"Why be with them? Aren't we just picking up Iris?", Isabel asked with a surprised face.
"You're kidding, right? We will catch the kidnapper and free Iris from him.", answered Leon while entering the carriage.
"This was not what I promised Joshua. You can't do this, My Lord."
"We'll be leaving soon, Isabel. Or do you prefer to wait here?", Leon replied impatiently.
Isabel sighed and had no choice but to get on the carriage.
The three of them went in the direction that matched the information Joshua had given them yesterday.
=========
That day I was busy giving directions to the mages in dealing with attacks from the enemies of my King. When suddenly a messenger brings a message from Orifiel that the time has come for him. He asked me to meet him immediately at the Sanctum of Ixenar.
After finishing my business, I went to see him. It appeared that Orifiel was lying on the bed with Cassiel beside him. His body began to show signs of decline, namely black spots began to appear on his body and hair. The stain already covered most of Orifiel's body.
"My time has come, my friend. Remember your promise to take care of Cassiel.", Orifiel said in a weak voice and then coughed.
I nodded with a concerned face. But my feelings are also mixed with joy because finally what I've been waiting for has arrived. A transfer incantation from The Chosen Vessel.
Orifiel stroked Cassiel's head.
"Remember whatever happened. Father loves you, Cassiel. You will carry on Father's legacy. Take good care of it."
Cassiel nodded while crying.
Orifiel motioned to me. I nodded and gave instructions to the priests and nuns in the room to take Orifiel to the Altar of Ydon.
After laying Orifiel's body on the altar. And Cassiel at the other altar. The priests and nuns left the three of us. The transfer process can only be done between old and new vessels and Archamage. During the process, the door was tightly closed and heavily guarded so that no one could enter it.
Both I and the priest guarding outside held the key.
Cassiel had been given sedatives during the process so she wouldn't feel any pain. Weakly, Orifiel called out to me. Tells me to take paper and pen. Then he whispered a transfer magic incantation in my ear. I listen to it while writing it down.
"Remember you have to burn this paper after you're done. Because this incantation is too dangerous.", Orifiel held my hand.
"My friend, I will definitely do it.", I replied quickly to convince him.
Orifiel smiled in relief and looked at me.
"Thank you, Varos for being my friend all these years…. Goodbye."
I stood in the middle between them and started to chant. At first it was slow but I kept getting louder and louder.
Orifiel's body shook violently and it looked like he was enduring the pain he was experiencing. I pointed my other hand at Cassiel. The black aura that was coming out of Orifiel started to transfer to Cassiel and entered her.
Even though she was asleep, Cassiel felt the effect. She seemed to have a bad dream while occasionally groaning. Seraphine Aile who was in Orifiel gradually started to disappear and moved to Cassiel. Until finally all moved to Cassiel.
The transfer process was successful. I looked at Orifiel. He lay lifeless. Then I checked Cassiel. She seems fine and just sleeping.
From here, I should have been allowed to go out and announce that the transfer process was successful. But no. I don't stop here. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time.
I opened my robe and stood near Cassiel. I started to cast the same spell as before.
Cassiel's body was shaking violently and she started to scream hysterically. It seemed the pain she was experiencing made her wake up from her sleep. And just like before a black aura came out from her body. Which I point at my own body. I also tried to endure the excruciating pain when Seraphine Aile started to enter my body. I fell to my knees but I continued to chant the spell until it finished…. Until Seraphine Aile moved into my body entirely.
After confirming Seraphine Aile was on my back. I got up and put on my robe. I can feel my magic power has increased tremendously. The small note containing the transfer incantation was in my hand. I stared at it for a moment before I finally stuffed it into my robe pocket.
Then I approached the altar where Cassiel was to check it out. I was shocked when I found her dead. The transfer process that she had to go through twice in a row apparently took the life of this 14-year-old girl.
"Oh, Cassiel…. Orifiel, what have I done…"
I sat down crying. I didn't think that Cassiel would die. The plan was for me to run away with Seraphine Aile. And when I don't need it, I'll return it to Cassiel later. However…. I am wrong.
I started to hear commotion outside the door. It seemed the priests were worried after hearing Cassiel's scream. There was the sound of a key being inserted and turned. I racked my brains fast.
I took a piece of paper and burned it just before the door opened. The priests looked shocked when they saw the situation inside.
With limping steps, I said that during the transfer Cassiel died because her body was weak and I had no other choice but to become The Chosen Vessel. I showed the paper that I burned as a sign that the spell had been completed.
I put on a face of pain and sadness at the same time to convince them of the tragedy that just happened.
Several priests helped me to leave the room immediately. I looked back. Some priests and nuns seemed to mourn the unfortunate fate of Orifiel and Cassiel.
That day I broke my promise to Orifiel...
That day I had killed the child of a close friend of mine….
And that sin will be a secret that I will carry with me to my grave….
Iris closed the St. Varos book she was reading with a shocked face. She had finished reading St Varos book. But in the end, she couldn't find any spells or clues that could help Joshua. Even though Iris knew the truth that St. Varos had kept the spell, he did not write down the spell in the book.
"This book will definitely shock the general public. The secret of St. Varos…. How can Leon have a book like this?"
Iris looked around the house. The house looks deserted. There's no one but her. Iris had finished her breakfast and was sitting down sipping some chammomile.
"He even went out early in the morning to hunt and prepared breakfast for me. Joshua…. Forgive me. Besides for your safety... I also can't look at you and say goodbye so easily."
Her mind drifted back to the conversation she had with Joshua last night.
"I met Isabel today."
Then Joshua told everything that happened this afternoon to Iris.
"Oh, I see…. So, they think I've been kidnapped and they're deploying knights and vanguards to look for me…"
"Yes… and I told Isabel to pick you up here tomorrow."
"I see…"
Iris turned her sad face away.
"Actually, I was hoping that we could still find a way for you to be free from Seraphine Aile…."
Joshua sighed.
"Iris…. you don't need to waste your time here with me. Finding a way to release Seraphine Aile is my business. Take the book with you too. I guess… I don't need it."
Iris' chest ached when she heard what Joshua said just now. But she tried to hide her disappointment.
"If that's what you want… fine. Tomorrow you better not have to accompany me. If what you say is true, it would be better if you weren't here tomorrow. I'm afraid they will catch you if they see you with me."
"There's no way Isabel will catch me. I believe in her words."
Iris shook her head.
"Just like you asked me not to bother you about Seraphine Aile, I also ask that you don't need to accompany me tomorrow when they pick me up."
"Iris…"
"I will be fine. I will wait inside the house."
Iris' reverie was broken when from a distance came the sound of a carriage and the galloping of horses approaching.
Iris tidied up her sitting position and the dress she was wearing. The dress Joshua gave her. She pictured Joshua's face. Her chest felt pounding and tight at the same time. But her little heart said that it was time for her to start forgetting her feelings….
There was the sound of the carriage door being opened and the sound of people talking. And followed by footsteps.
Iris sat quietly ready to welcome whoever would enter.