They begin to make way through the twisting path.
Ash bumbled behind them yelping every now and then. Oriane stopped once or twice to help him but after a sharp glare from Sylvester she left him to his devices.
They slowly tumbled forward till they saw a light coming in front of the jungle. "We don't know what it is so stay sharp," Claudina said grasping the hilt of her sword. She glanced back at Ash who went rigid. "Um d-do you have to go there?" 'Is there something there?'
"If you don't know we are investigating the demonic attacks. We came here to scout remember? You could have left then when you had the chance," Claudina snapped. "The place may have a clue so we have to go there."
"No no I didn't mean that! I was just thinking if we could avoid that place…." His voice trailed away
'Hmm~ So there is something. All the more reason to go there now~'
"Let's go." Ash grumbled silently.
They trudged forward. The dim light from Oriane's torch was only allowed them to see what's in front of them.
When they neared the light it briefly blinded them. As soon as the light entered their eyes it also eased up. Blinking up Claudina looked around the bright clearing.
Here there was no tree canopy. Instead there was a single large tree in the middle. Yet there were red fruits growing out of leafless branches. The branches themselves reached up wards like crooked bony hands trying to grab at the clear sky. Surrounding the tree was a circular paved platform that had grass shoots poking out from cracks. A large stone table was on top of the platform. Leading up to the platform were skulls and bones of various sizes. Some of the skulls had strange letters written in them with dried blood. Glinting off the stone table was a knife.
"Would you look at that? A place for demonic rituals."
Turning to them Claudina said. "Let's search up this place. If anything is of interest we will take it back." She slyly glanced at Ash who was quaking in his clothes. "Try to be discrete. The person operating this place will come back and we want to catch them red-handed after all."
She walked towards the platform. A skull fell of form the pile and rolled to her feet. 'Let's see if he revels himself if I break this.' She stomped her heel on the skull instantly shattering it. She resumed walking. She pulled herself on the platform. There were red letters on the white bricks as well. Careful on stepping on walking over them she went to the table.
She noticed that the table had a slopping surface. There was an open drain that also slopped had connected the table with the tree. The bricks on the other hand gave a smooth surface. She looked from the tree roots to the drain. 'I think I get it. A sacrifice is placed of the table and their blood that falls of the table is collected in the drain. The tree is then grown using the blood.'
She gazed up at the blood red fruits growing from the branches. On closer inspection they resembled beating human hearts. She turned back to the table. While Sylvester examined the skulls, Oriane busied herself on the writings on the platform.
She picked up the knife and examined it. It had a bit of dried blood stuck on the sharp blade. It has a golden hilt encrusted with diamonds. As she turned it over her eyes caught something on the blade. A word was curved into the blade. She raised t up to see it properly.
'Southern language? Let's see now. If there is a line on top of the second letter than that's 'L' and if there is a circle with a line in the middle that's 'A'. So it's B-L-A-K-E. Blake. The owner of the sword is Blake.'
She lowered the knife and pressed her hand to her chin. 'Blake, Blake, Blake. Someone from the south with the name Blake. No one in the royal family has the name Blake so from the nobility? Maybe it's a nickname? Hmm. The only one that comes to mind is Count Anderson. I believe he had an illegitimate son that he sent away to a villa in the countryside. He came back to the county six years ago in my timeline. It caused quite an uproar when he was alive after all those years.'
She sneaked a glance at Ash. He was still standing in his spot muttering. His eyes rolled all over the place trying to stay calm. Her eyes held a twisted malice. 'Let's try it shall we?' Then in a loud voice; "Sylvester! Oriane! I found a clue!" Ash looked up in horror as Sylvester climbed up to join them.
She showed them the knife. "I believe this knife belongs to Blakeley Anderson."
Sylvester looked up from the knife. "The illegitimate child of Count Anderson from the south?"
"Yes."
Oriane frowned. "But why would he do this? He has nothing to gain from this. What could be his moti- KYAAA!"
A knife grazed past her cheek. The graze left a thin cut while the knife got stuck on the tree with loud thud. Claudina swiveled around. Ash had his hand raised as he panted lightly. "I'll kill all of you!" he yelled.
Before he could move Sylvester had already come behind him his sword pressed against his throat. "Move and your throat will slash open," he threatened. Ash gritted his teeth as he quailed under the sword.
Claudina climbed down. "Sylvester make him kneel." She sneered as he glared at her. "Even an illegitimate noble has some sort of pride."
"I will kill you!"
"How many times has it been I have been told that someone will kill me after I arrived here?" she chuckled. She clapped her hands once. A magic circle tightly bounded his hands behind his back.
Removing his sword Sylvester forced him to his knees with a dull thud. "Ugh!"
He trashed around Sylvester's grip on his collar. "Now then! Should I say what crimes you committed or will you?"
"We should use a truth serum on him," Oriane suggested. She glared at the kneeling man who scoffed at her.
"Tut tut!" Claudina waged her index finger slowly. "No need to go and buy one," Her green eyes flashed dangerously. "When we already have one at hand."
Claudina snapped her fingers. A crimson magic circle appeared around his throat. "My very own means of sérum de vérité . It's still a prototype but we will manage. Now every lie that you tell the magic circle will tighten around your neck until you tell the truth. The circle will know if you are being honest or not." She smiled. "And by the by don't bother trying to die. I will resurrect you from nothing if I need to."
"Die you blind cattle of a fake god!"
"Suit yourself." She coldly looked over him. He was no longer a meek man but rather a wild beast baring his teeth to someone who can kill him at will. 'I am fond of people like him but now is not the time.'
"These are the following crimes you have committed; performing demonic rituals on the grounds of Chronostis and Gaiarit, human sacrifices, lying to the saints during an investigation, harming a saint on the grounds protected by the gods, refusing cooperation, verbal insult against a saint, and uttering blasphemy. These are the only known crimes against you yet these are enough to give you hundred deaths. What will happen when the ones that are hidden will come to light?"
"Which begs the question; why did you do this Mister Ash? Or is that even your real name?"
He growled. The circle tightened and he choked. She loosened it just before he fainted. He wheezed for breath. "Ha! Ah! Ha!" He glared daggers at her with wet lashes. "You're sick!" She chocked him again. 'It feels like I am training my dogs again.'
"Feel like telling now?"
"Go kill yourself!" he huffed out. She strangled him again and again until Sylvester and Oriane were starting to feel sorry for him.
Hours went by and Claudina kept strangling and releasing him only when he was about to lose consciousness. Night was starting to fall when Ash finally relented. "Fine I'll tell you! Just…just stop." Immediately the magic circle disappeared.
"So why did you do it? Mister Blakeley Anderson?"
He glared at her before exhaling. "Did you hear about the cult that worships the dead god Ri'sh?"
She tilted her head eyes narrowed. "Of course. Why else do you think we are heading for the northern kingdom?"
He jolted up his head. "Hey aren't you an apprentice of the temple? Why do you know so much? And why are the saints taking orders from you?"
She gripped his hair making his wince in pain. "What I am or who I am, is none if your business. Don't forget your place!" She shoved his hard on the ground.
"Um…Claudina?" She looked over her shoulder. Oriane fidgeted. "I think you are being a bit rough."
'Oriane was the youngest wasn't she?' She smirked. 'The others coddled her too much. No matter I will personally teach her how to treat filth then.'
"This is the only way to get a dog to talk." She gripped his hair again and dragged him forward. She dumped his withering body in front of her feet. "You need to drill in it that a single mistake will lead to a punishment. How you punish it depends on how disobedient it was."
She slapped his face. He winced. She slapped him again. And again.
And again.
And again.
She was going to slap him again when a hand stopped her. She looked up in annoyance. "I think you have done enough," Sylvester said lowering her hand. She tugged it free.
Rubbing her sore wrist she first glanced at Oriane. Her hands were clasped together on her chest her face filled with horror. She then looked at Blakeley. Sylvester was kneeling down healing his bleeding cheeks. "I will take over the interrogation."
"Well Mister Blakeley please continue with what you were saying." Blakeley panted. "Course," he said averting his eyes from Claudina's.
He took a deep breath. "My kingdom in the south was a peaceful where people had the freedom to choose their religion. Everything was going well. My life was just as peaceful. Although I was an illegitimate child my older brothers and Father treated me as their family. Until," he frowned, "until that forsaken cult sneaked into the nobility. From there on like algae on stagnant water they spread their roots. First they spread their influence on the more influential people before moving the rest. Within three years the king announced a decree where worshipping Ri'sh became the norm. Now, expect for a few noble families including mine, the kingdom is under the complete control of the 'Arbitrary Abstractions.'"
He took another breath. "Someone then told me there was a way to save the kingdom. If I summoned a demon by using the 'Thousand Blood Human Sacrifice' method and ordered it to cause havoc then the saints will come. And if they come to the kingdom then they can also investigate the cult that is planning to revive a dead god."
"And that's why you not knowing anything decided to summon a demon in the worst possible way. Do you see that tree over there? That is a gateway to the void. Thankfully it hasn't opened yet. Any later you could have summoned a demon all right but at the cost of your life and everyone in this island. You could have pretty much said goodbye to saving your kingdom."
He suddenly looked up at Claudina his eyes pleading. "Please I beg you. Please save my kingdom!"
'I just hit you and now you want me to save you?' Claudina shrugged. "Sure. We will save your kingdom on the way. But first," she opened her eyes, "tell me who said to summon a demon."
"Yes it was an herbalist with an androgynous appearance. They said they weren't from this place and they came from a land that took nine months to reach the nearest island. They seem to know more than they let on."
"Their name?"
"Yes their name! Their name…" He frowned. "W-what was their name?"
"What?"
"I- I swear I know their name! They told me! I just can't remember it! And their face! I-I just remember it was androgynous but everything else is fog! Please believe me!"
She signed. "Don't worry I believe you. Did they ware anything distinctive?"
"No but they were always smelling like sweets instead of herbs."
She frowned. 'Sweets?' "Well whatever." 'The herbalist doesn't seem that suspicious.'
Afterwards they parted ways back in the jungle's entrance with Blakeley promising that he won't set up any more attacks. They in turn would help him. "However you will be arrested and tried for death. Are you still willing?"
"I am. If it's for my country and loved ones I am willing to die. May my death bring them their salvation."
They left for their inn and Blakeley to his own residence after they agreed on meeting Blakeley in the morning to close the void.
"And so all that happened." Sylvester concluded now in their fire lit room.
"I only saw a void once~ It was so creepy!" Sullivan rubbed his shoulders in mock chill. "Many people got sucked in it too~"
"You sound very cheerful about it," Claudina said while putting down her teacup.
"Well obviously I got to kill soooo many demons~ Tehehe! It was so fun! What about you don't you find it fun when their soulless eyes plead for mercy? But I never show any mercy because their victims also begged for mercy too!""
"I like to hunt wild beasts not demons."
"No way! Hunting and killing demons is the best part in being a saint!"
"Is this is why you are a saint?"
"Yup! What about you Miss Fairy?"
"Me? I guess I am the same as others."
"That can't be it! Ana's here because he lost his honor and separated from his merchant family at an early age because of his family falling into bankruptcy. Ori's here because her brother sent her here to escape from her abusive father while Li-Li wants to save all the orphans or rather never have children become orphans because she was orphan . And you already know why Vessie's here. Because his grandfather was a previous saint he was scouted to be one too against his own will. Of course Lord Chronos gave him an option but his family forced him. Nobody in his family cares about his opinion. All that's matter is that he is out there risking his life."
"Oi oldie, stop using that weird nickname and don't go around saying stuff about us. Honestly you have the loosest lips among us."
"You all have it rough," Claudina said with sympathetic smile. 'I guess different people have different reasons in being a saint. Not just because they wish to bring others salvation.'
Sylvester gave a breathy laugh. "Yes but we have come to enjoy this life."
"It's our norm now and if we had to do it all over again we would probably choose the same path again," Anatole said.
'Huh. They really are saints. Guess that make me one too.'
"That reminds me Claudina," Shulia suddenly said "the sword you are carrying on your belt it's a normal sword isn't? There is no trace of any magic in it. Where is your Holy sword? Don't tell me you fought without one?"
"My sword is in here." Taking of her glove she turned her left hand around to show the red black brand. "The sword is in here." They stared at the brand curiously.
"σπечwert!" The Stars' Blessing materialized with silver light. "The Crowley's Ancient power allows me store the Holy sword." She firmly grasped the hilt.
"Indeed I have heard about Ancient powers but to see it in the flesh." Sylvester said shell-shocked.
Ancient power; during the gods' war humanity suffered the most. Due to the constant hurdles of choosing a god to pray to and the ones that incited the war, humans were left with no other choice but to adapt to the harsh conditions. And in these dire years a latent power awakened within a few humans. Powers to manipulate water, to store weapons, to transform, to jump through dimensions; these were all powers that the gods had but somehow the humans were able to awaken it when they were born. Earlier they didn't have the power to help the gods but now that they do they helped defeat the enemies and the gods founded five different Nations with their closest supporters. However contrary to what most people though that power had disappeared after a few centuries after the founding. It was considered a boon if such a power was discovered.
"The Crowley dukedom had been a supporter of Chronos. Many thought that the Ancient powers no longer exist but is a lie. It is to avoid leaking out secrets. So it is passed on from head of the household to the heir. Naturally since I am the only heir Father entrusted the power to me."
"Then why are you telling this to us if it is supposed to be a secret?" Oriane asked.
"Could it be you want us to be a part of a group secret? How lovely~" Sullivan chimed.
"It's fine if I just show it you as long because I am not saying anything more about it." The sword dematerialized.
"So…do you have a time limit for how long you can keep it out?" Shulia inquired.
"Not telling."
"Right. It's a secret."