They say god please have mercy on us but the one who is making you suffer is your mind, your hell. When you remove this hell you will be in heaven.
Hestia gazes over the imperial garden lost in her thoughts. Her brother lost the tournament and her dear brother Rian is missing. Where does it leave her? She is a fighter and also a good leader but changing the fate of her territory seems hopeless. Her thoughts were interrupted by a Riona who strolled in the garden. Finding Hestia alone she approaches her with a smile.
"Hello, Hestia. You look sad?" asked Riona. They had known each other for a year yet there was always this detachment from each other. It's between all the heirs. They were taught to be greater than others so their ego won't allow them to get close to anyone else. But today Riona seems in a good mood, unlike Hestia who misses her brother.
"Everything is going bad. Looks like a storm is over the corner," said Hestia.
"Why it's a mess? I mean things went pretty well." Riona said in confusion. Hestia glanced up at her.
"Aren't you sad, your brother lost? And the Aide will be a woman."
"I am proud of Jade, I like her. The stunt I was never able to pull was pulled by her." Riona whispered to her. Hestia can barely contain her surprise. She didn't think someone else would be proud of Jade like her.
"I like her too. She was amazing and I admit far stronger than me." Hestia whispered back.
"Oh, my goodness, you like fighting too?" Riona exclaimed finding someone similar to her.
"And leadership. Both. Are you?"
"fighting. Wait why did we never talk about it?" Riona said in disbelief.
"Due to our family invested in power, I guess." Hestia chuckled.
"Right, Being a woman is such a curse."
"Being a woman is not a curse, holding your potential back due to other people's belief is a curse," Hestia said firmly. Riona smiled as she agreed with Hestia.
"So tell me why are you sad? Maybe I can help." Riona offered. Hestia contemplated but let it out because Rian wasn't here to hear her complaints. All she wants is for her brother safe and back.
"My second oldest brother, he left and we can't find him anywhere. His spirit beast isn't awakened so we can't even feel him. I am worried that something will happen to him."
Riona nods understanding her burden. If her brother was lost she would be most worried. An idea came to her mind.
"Then let's sneak out tonight and try to find him." Riona offered. Hestia stared at her like god sent her angel.
"I didn't think about it before," Hestia grumbled.
"Our family won't know and our girl's night out," Riona smirked.
Bonds are formed in unexpected ways, truly and so are the dangers.
...
When Jade left the Emperor's Quarters she found the other heirs waiting for her. Lance called her.
"We got the task how about planning and getting more into the situation?" Ruel suggested. Jade nods.
"There are evil spirits, you can't hurt them. You have to destroy or purify them or they will rise more evil spirits." Jade explained. She gazed at Damian. "That means you can't help."
"I see then let me help with another task." Damian smiled. Jade nod. She didn't forget about the discovery she made with Zebulon last night. Keeping him near seems most suitable.
"How bad they can be?" Ezio asked.
"Lower aren't much worthy to fight but there are higher levels too and fighting them will be difficult for you. We don't know the root cause of the problem."
"You had dealt with them so Jade tell us where we should start," Ryu asked.
"About it, I don't know," Jade admitted. "But I know the person who will guide us," she added not linking the looks they faced her.
"Who?" Lance asked.
"He is here. Let's head to him instead."
Jade said feeling him nearby. Jade led them to the office. Zebulon didn't even glance up from the documents he was reading.
"Welcome, love. And other heirs." Zebulon greeted. Jade approached him and sat beside him. Zebulon glanced at her and smiled.
"If it weren't for you then I wouldn't have gotten into this mess," Jade said to him in disbelief.
"You passed the Emperor's test, You won again."
Jade pointed her sword at his neck, and Zebulon chuckled in response. Jade took her sword away remembering they weren't alone. Others look at Zebulon curiously. He glances up at them.
"You both seem close. But what are you doing in the royal palace?" Damian asked. Zebulon showed them his royal seal.
"I am Emperor's investigator. Zebulon." He introduced himself. There others didn't know what you say anymore. Everyone knows his name but his face. The person who is praised by the whole country and even leaders of the other families. He is known as the secret weapon of the Emperor.
"Are you the one who helped Jade to enter the tournament?" Theron the heir of the Lynx sect asked for the first time.
"That's me. I know you will disappoint so I got her in." Zebulon said not caring at all. Being an emperor's man has some perks. Jade tried not to hit him, hard.
"You think you are stronger than us." Theron mocked him.
"I don't think," Zebulon replied.
"Good, you know your limitations."
"I know I am stronger than all of you combined."
Lance chuckled while Theron glared at Zebulon. Deja vu, Lance thought to himself remembering Jade's previous encounter with the leader of the the demonic territory. Theron didn't like his attitude. Jade leaned towards Zebulon and pat his things enjoying the drama. Zebulon tried not to focus on it much but failed.
"First you made her fight us and now this arrogant attitude. You will fall hard," said Theron.
"Many prayed but here I am at the top with them under my feet." Zebulon's answer made him mad.
"What is so special about her? She didn't even have a powerful family. No one knows her and now she is an Aide of the crown prince who never shows up. Pathetic."
"I suggest you don't go on Jade and her family. And if you think she doesn't deserve the position then go on and defeat her." Zebulon taunted him. Jade smirked, she liked people like Zebulon.
"Let's focus on the current matter." Ryu cut the argument.
"Go on give us a solution. Let's see if your arrogance is more intelligence." Said Theron.
"Right, since all of the heads are here that dog a.k.a Evil spirit will attack any of your territory. Good luck if you can protect it alone."
All of them halted their moments, Zebulon's words hit them hard. Damian looks at him in utter annoyance. They know Zebulon is right so without wasting any minute they leave to save their territory. Once they are gone Jade lays her head on the table while staying at Zebulon.
"I think you already know the area of attack," said Jade. Zebulon chuckled and leaned down towards her.
"Who do you think will get attacked?"
"I don't know and I don't care but which one?"
"Demonic territory." Replies Zebulon.
"Then shouldn't we do something or there is something else we need to take care of?"
"Leave demonic territory, it won't affect them much. We are taking a break since I took care of most of the things. There is nothing more to do."
"Did you plan something out?"
"There is one more thing I need to check, would you like to go now?"
"Fine. I have nothing else to do and I want to find out Great evil."
Jade doesn't like meeting new people but Zebulon never felt like a stranger. It feels like they have known each other for years.
"Then let's head to the holy temple," said Zebulon.
"They will let me in?"Jade asked.
"Who said Royals need permission to enter Besides we are sneaking in," Zebulon smirked.
Getting changed they put on clothes of the assassin. Jade opened the portal and they entered inside the temple. All they can feel is thousands of gazes of Evil spirits. The presence of evil is high here. Jade didn't say anything knowing well Zebulon already knew about it.
Zebulon signaled her to follow him. Passing through the various statues of Gods they reached the room with the biggest statue and the holiest place considered. The place was supposed to be pure but Jade could feel the Evil spirit. Zebulon glanced around at the statue in disbelief. Everything is wrong here.
"Evil spirit in the temple, interesting," Zebulon said.
"Can't purify this foul place, destroying it seems valid," Jade responds.
"Don't dare to touch this place, foolish humans, " The statue's lips moved on its own. "You will die today."
Jade and Zebulon gazed at the statue with their palms on their swords. They knew of facing evil spirits here but this one was aggressive and protective of the temple.
"Many said the same words to me, they are dead," Zebulon responds making the evil spirit angry.
The dark enveloped them, the last thing they see is each other's bodies pooling in the blood.
You will find things in the most unexpected places, But you never thought about finding Evil in a holy place just causes you to think God is great and all-powerful. Maybe he is powerful that's why the Evil still exists. Maybe you were wrong about God, you never know him at all.
Tell me who made religion when only one creator exists, Evil liked power so he created his religion, manipulated the world, and made himself great. Evil is God. He manipulated humans.
Maybe the creator left us with the task of handling our problems and solving the errors.
You were wrong all this time.