"What the hell did this?"
"To think Physician William would be one of the cult worshippers."
"Keep searching for clues on who or what caused this, do not miss any corner!"
Shout Viscount Demacia to his personnel.
"What the hell is going on in this kingdom?"
Right now, Viscount Demacia is still investigating the mansion of Royal Physician William Diaz.
William Diaz himself is known as a humble man who lives the way of goodness. Though he's a man of high position, he's never arrogant about it. He even sometimes visits bunches of orphanages to donate his medicine and herbs.
"Demonification, and not an imperfect one."
The one who did this was no joke. In order to gain the Blood of Transformation, one needs to at least become a First-Pawn of the Demonic Cult, they could easily match or even surpass some knights in the kingdom.
And if it's a bishop, even he would be having a hard time.
Or so Demacia thought.
Was it the same person who annihilated the bandit camp from before? If so, there's a huge chance the Demonic Cult is involved in the scheme of Princess Charlotte's kidnapping.
"Captain, the Demonic Cult hasn't made any moves for the last two decades, what do you think makes them so active now?"
"It's not like they're not making any moves, we just don't realize they're moving all this time."
'The research files that I got in my office room were definitely sent by the same person or group who did this.'
Demacia has sent the files to the intelligence group for them to be decoded, surely they contain some clue as to what is going on behind the scenes.
'When I'm still sleeping, the chaos caused by those who're hidden happens in the dark. I'm such a failure for letting this happen.'
"Keep searching for tracks, there has to be something we can use for clues."
"Yes, Captain!"
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"Santiago has been killed?"
"Yes, Your Ladyship. The Knights are still undergoing their investigation as we're speaking."
"Hmm... Shame. Well, he's already past his prime anyway. I do think it is time to find me a new bishop."
"Your Ladyship, what are your plans?"
"Hmm... Do you want to be my bishop, Scarlett?"
"It would be the greatest honor for this lowly one."
"Hmm... Yes, yes. You've served me beautifully for years to earn the title of the First-Pawn, and I do believe a promotion is in order."
"Then-"
"But, of course. You still have to prove yourself."
"Your wish is my very command."
"Yes, yes... You see, there's a prophecy given by Lord Azrael."
"Prophecy, Your Ladyship?"
"Yes, yes... the prophecy foretold that a new hero would appear in this era."
"...I see. So the time has come, Your Ladyship."
"Indeed, the time has come indeed. Scarlett, I believe you just picked up a new promising disciple, no?"
"What Your Ladyship meant by Natalia?"
"Natalia, Yes... What a cute name she has, how old was she again?"
"She's currently eight at this moment."
"Fufufu... beautiful, truly beautiful."
"Your Ladyship?"
"Bring her to me, Scarlett. This cute, innocent creature of yours will be the key."
"Understood, Your Ladyship."
"Beautiful, truly beautiful."
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"Ethan, Emma!"
"Sister Anne!"
Emma jumped for a Sister Anne hug.
"Where've you both been?"
"Sorry! I'm sorry!"
"It's okay, child! As long as you're safe! I was so worried!"
"Sister Anne!!"
"Emma!!"
The two start to cry while still holding each other's arms.
"Let's go in first! You must explain what happened overnight thoroughly!"
"Yes. Hiks-hiks-..."
'I feel invisible.'
Ethan thought.
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"One more time!"
"Y-yes! Hyaahhhh, agh-"
"You can't just lunge straight toward your opponent like that!"
"Ouchh, yes, sis. "
"You must learn how to trick your enemy, Finn! Use feint, side-step, and don't close your eyes when I'm attacking, your eyes must be kept wide open.
"But~"
"No but! Once more!"
"Y-yes!"
Finn tried once more, but it ended the same. Valentina is just too strong for her brother.
"I told you to not just charge straight in!"
"B-but, stopping midway is really hard."
"Today you have to at least get a hit in before you can rest! One more!"
"Ehh~"
This process repeats over and over again for a whole hour.
"Hyahhh!!"
Finn charges, but this time he manages to stop mid-way and side-step to Valentina's left.
"That was not bad, but still too slow."
Valentina sees this completely and blocks Finn's blow easily.
"Change of direction is fine, but you still have to combine it with other things in case your opponent sees it coming."
"Yes!"
"Good. Now try again!"
Finn tried once again, and this time with a feint to the left, but he side-stepped to the right.
"At least try to hide it, your eyes are giving out your intention too much!"
"Aggh-"
Finn got blown back by his sister's force.
"Here, let me show you!"
This time, Valentina is the one who charges at Finn at high speed.
"Don't close your eyes!"
"Y-yes!"
Before Valentina reached Finn's blade, she stopped her step and tried to trick him into blocking left, and then he would fall the moment she stepped to the right.
But,
*CLANG*
"Wha-?"
"Hiii, I'm scared, Onee-chan~."
Valentina looks shocked at how Finn blocked her. Was it luck?
The planning should be perfect. She will leap into him at her full speed, stop mid-way, and feint to the left with all her movement, even her vision gives clues that she will go the left way for sure, then how did he block it?
"Finn, how did you block that one?"
"E-eh? I don't know."
'Was it truly luck?'
"Let's try once more."
"Y-yes, sis!"
This time Valentina will fasten up her speed even further. She will stop midway, feint to his right, and then strike his left.
Finn tries to block it again, but this time she combines another feint and will spin toward his front as soon as Finn raises his sword to block the feint attack.
*CLANG*
"...!?"
"Sis, let's stop this~"
"How did you do that?"
Valentina stood in shock, there was no way it was luck. She planned a complex strike with multiple feints from three directions. Any normal boy would fall for the second feint, but how does her little brother see it?
"I mean... Sis told me to watch out for my eye movement, right?"
"Yes, I do. But there's no way my eyes give out anything. In fact, I'm trying to trick you with my eye movement by giving you the wrong direction."
"That's why I know, though?"
"Hm?"
Valentina tilts her head.
"Because I know Sis is smart, I was sure that Sis would try to lead me to block in the wrong direction, so I just did the opposite."
"...You sometimes come up with the most ridiculous ideas, aren't you?"
"Ehh~, Ridiculous?"
"Huft... enough. Onee-chan needs some time to think; you can go rest in your room."
"Eh? Hoorayy!! Less training for today!"
Finn hurried back with no hesitation.
'Haahh~, that boy. I can't really get a grasp on him, if only he put more effort and focus into the training, I know he will be great in the future.'
Valentina redraws the mock battle they had in her head.
"So one's strength can also be one's weakness, huh? He knows I'm trying to lure him by faking my eye movement, so he just does the opposite. What kind of absurd idea was that? Where did he learn that from anyway?"
Valentina feels proud of her brother, she's for sure her brother is the type who could do it when he was putting his mind to something.
But for now, she still have to look out for him!
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"Hmm... so The Demonic Cult has finally been detected once more after disappearing for decades."
"Yes, Mentor. According to our intelligence, the found body was the body of two unnamed cultists, Royal Physician William Diaz, and someone unknown who most probably is their leader."
Two gray-hooded figures are having a conversation deep inside the wood: a man and a woman.
"Is there no more information about these so-called leaders then?"
"We've done what we could, but it seems like his identity is deeply protected by the cult. Since there are no tracks of his past movements, no matter how deep we dig, we suppose that the individual is really skilled. Thus, the possibility of him having the rank of a bishop is certainly high."
"So you're telling me, someone as skilled as this bishop murdered behind the scenes? now of all times, after decades of operating undetected?"
"I'm afraid so. The culprit's motives are still unknown, though after further investigation, a couple of children's footprints were found around the halls. If it weren't for the 'Track Whisperer,' we would've never found it. They cover it well."
"Have you found out where or whom these two children are?"
"Unfortunately, the track got messy after the children got out of the mansion, covered with other resident steps."
"Two children, so was it a rescue operation? But to be able to track down someone like the Bishop, who moves so subtly. Who in the world? Where is he coming from? No, where was he hiding all this time? Why move now after decades when the cult disappeared?"
"We'll need to investigate further for that, Mentor."
"Yes, do so. Report to me immediately when you find something intriguing."
"Understood, Mentor Eduardo."
"You're dismissed, Grace."
"For the rise of the Brotherhood, for freedom."
"For freedom."
With that, the woman turns into smoke and vanishes.
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"Leon, it's already dark. Come inside!"
"Yes, Mom!!"
A kid with blonde hair and green eyes can be seen playing around in the field with a wooden sword.
"Huft, you're really liking that sword of yours, aren't you?"
"Yes! When I grow up, I want to be a magic knight and protect this kingdom!"
"Fufu, then Mum is looking forward to that."
"Looking forward to it!"
Walking hand in hand, The Wives and The Boy reach their home, which is a small, humble shed on the outskirts of the Kingdom.
"Mum, when I become a hero, I will buy you a big, big house! A Castle!"
"I see. Leon is a good kid, isn't he?"
The wives smile and start to pat the boy on the head.
"Let's go! Tonight, Mum, make your favorite stew for dinner!"
"Really? Yayy."
"Ah, don't run like that; you'll fall. Also, wash your feet first, Leon!"
"Yes!!"
Opening the door and entering the kitchen, Leo sees his father already preparing the food.
"Ah, Leon, you've returned."
"Yup!"
"Go sit and wait for a while; your food is coming soon."
"Here, dear, let me take it from here."
The wives walk toward their husbands.
"It is fine, I'm almost done anyway."
"Let me, dear, how about you prepare 'That' instead?"
"Hmm, very well."
The husband walked out of the kitchen and went to his room.
"Mum, what's 'That' you're talking about?"
"Hmm? You'll see my child."
"Hmm..?"
The man came back with two steel swords in his hands.
"Leon, since you're liking the sword so much, We're thinking of giving you this."
"...! Dad!!!"
Leon leaped for joy and started hugging his father.
"Hahaha, The Small One is for you now to train, don't injure yourself with it. The big one is for you when you grow up and sign up for the Academy of Lionroar!"
"...! Lionroar! Thank you, Dad! I will be the strongest Magic Knight ever!"
"Hahaha, now go hug your mom too."
"Yes! Mooom!!"
"Here, My Child."
The three families hugged each other with happiness.