On the high tower of the great Cathedral of Karastea, Hadon waited in his room for a position from Cardinal Minoras XXIII to mobilize the legions and take the Duchy of Saladon. The room was austere, with stone walls and few decorations, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. The wind howled outside, bringing a feeling of urgency and tension.
"Master Hadon, we have been in Karastea for almost two months now. I received news that Saladon's army has already departed for Nannu. We must get the Cardinal's answer as soon as possible," said one of Hadon's servants, his voice heavy with concern.
"I am also in a hurry, but convincing the council of cardinals is not an easy task. I have known Minoras for over 20 years, I believe in him!" said Hadon, trying to remain calm.
"But sir, imagine how Zoarlath is now that the army is not in the city!" the servant questioned.
"That city is already rotten to the core, but we can do nothing without certainty that the legion of paladins will come with us to Zoarlath!" said Hadon, the frustration evident in his tone.
At that moment, Minoras entered Hadon's room. "I have good news, my old friend," said Minoras with a satisfied smile. "In a close vote, the council decided to send at least one legion to Zoarlath!"
Hadon, with a look of desperation on his face, replied: "Only one will not be enough to take the capital of the Duchy. One legion is not strong enough to deter Saladon's golden-eyed soldiers."
"Forgive me, my old friend, but this is all I can do. The other cardinals think the Duchy of Saladon is a lawless, lost country. I will not get anything more!" said Minoras, his expression somber.
Hadon then sat at a table and put his hands to his face, sweating with a look of terror. "Forgive me, my friend, but I did not tell you the whole story..."
Minoras became curious and sat next to Hadon. "What do you mean by that?"
Hadon sighed deeply and began: "You know why I have strived to save and still strive to keep the Seeds under my control? Because I am one of them myself." Minoras widened his eyes in surprise as Hadon continued: "I am a descendant of Astarion, the fourteenth king of Tenai!"
Hadon rose from his chair and continued: "The eugenic practices of the kings of Tenai began with the ninth king Yorion, who is said to have received a prophecy that a very powerful being would come from his lineage. Impressed by this, he chose wives with unique abilities so that this heir could receive the best qualities of all. As you already know, many of these 'tests' went wrong, and babies that were not born with the best characteristics were discarded. One of those babies was my father, who managed to escape thanks to the connections of my grandmother's family!"
Minoras, still processing the revelation, asked: "So you too are an heir of this warped lineage?"
After hearing all this, Minoras suspected that Hadon was only seeking the throne of Tenai for himself. "After hearing this, I cannot allow the Paladin legions to depart for the Duchy. You know we do not take part in kings' wars. If you expect me to help you sit on the throne, you are very mistaken, Hadon," said Minoras angrily, his face hardened by distrust.
"I do not desire the throne, old friend!" replied Hadon, raising his hand in a calming gesture. "I have seen too much of this life to wish for such an omen. Let me finish the story and you will understand!" Hadon looked straight at Minoras, his gaze full of sincerity. Minoras, who had stood up from his chair, sat down again, still skeptical but willing to listen.
"One day, when I was 15 years old, I was training fencing and, in a fit of uncontrolled rage, I killed my teacher. That marked me profoundly. I have always been calm and timid, I never harmed anyone, but that rage I felt was not inherent to me. I felt powerful, I felt big, I felt like a king!" said Hadon, his voice trembling slightly at the memory, leaving Minoras even more shocked.
"Since that day, I have never touched a sword again. That is why I bring servants with me!" Hadon pointed to his servant, who was standing, observing the conversation with concern. "For ten years, I studied and dissected the lineage of the kings of Tenai, and what I discovered was macabre and terrifying!"
Minoras, feeling the tension rise, stood up again, impatient. "Continue!" ordered the cardinal.
"King Yorion hoped his descendant would have something like seven essences in his spirit. Each of these essences was unique, with diverse personalities, powers and majesties to receive something divine. However, even if the children were born with the best characteristics of their parents, the spirit would only generate two essences: its original one and a distorted one. When this distorted essence emerged, it transformed the person into someone completely different from their original self. Basically, those who have this cursed lineage are closer to being demons than humans," explained Hadon, his voice heavy with a somber weight.
Minoras was silent, absorbing the revelation. He felt the gravity of what Hadon was sharing but still had doubts. "So you carry this distorted essence within you?" asked Minoras, his eyes fixed on Hadon's.
"Yes, and that is why I avoid direct conflicts. I fear what I may become if I allow that essence to take control again. It is a burden I carry, and that is why I do not want the throne. My goal is to prevent others from suffering the same fate as me. The war with Saladon is more than a struggle for power; it is a struggle to prevent the demons created by Saladon through the blood of the seeds from destroying the entire country and perhaps the world," said Hadon, his voice firm and determined.
Minoras pondered for a moment before speaking. "Hadon, I understand the depth of your dilemma, but we still need more than one legion to have a real chance against Saladon. You must convince the council that this is not just a struggle for power, but a struggle for survival and purification."
Hadon nodded. "I will do my best to convince them. Thank you for listening, Minoras. Your help is crucial for the success of this mission."
Minoras patted Hadon on the shoulder. "Let us begin the preparations and do what is necessary. This battle will be arduous, but with faith and determination, we can change the fate of Tenai."
Feeling renewed determination, Hadon thanked Minoras again. They prepared to face the challenges ahead, knowing the road would be difficult but confident they were fighting for a greater purpose.
Intrigued, Minoras turned to Hadon and asked: "But if you, who don't have much Arkon blood, can become this corrupted being, what can happen to those who have more blood, what can happen to the seeds you saved?" asked Minoras, realizing that in addition to Hadon, six other seeds lived under his care.
"That's why I keep them far from the capital, you can't imagine what could happen if one of them allowed that corrupted essence to blossom," Hadon finished.
After hearing the whole story, Minoras lowered his head and contemplated nothing for a few seconds before getting up. "Why did you tell me this, Hadon? I cannot ignore that entities of this caliber roam our land with impunity!" Hadon then said: "I was expecting this, but don't worry. Of all those I saved, none have demonstrated any manifestation of that essence. If anyone has to be imprisoned, it must be me!"
"You put me in a very complex situation, old friend," said Minoras, exhaling a deep sigh. Hadon, however, approached Minoras and said to him: "Let's make a deal. You help me pacify my country, and I surrender myself to the church at the end of everything."
Minoras sighed deeply again. "There is no need for so much. By your attitude, I believe the situation in your country is truly grave. I will meet with the cardinals again and plead that they send the largest possible number of legionaries, however, before this war ends we will talk about this again."
"Thank you, old friend. I hope you succeed!" said Hadon, relief visible in his voice and expression.
Before Minoras could leave the room, he turned to Hadon and asked: "If these seeds with two essences are considered dangerous enough for Saladon to create powerful soldiers with their blood, how powerful would that being be if it were to come with seven essences?"
Hadon, looking out the window at the sky, simply replied: "I cannot measure it, but what I can say with certainty is that in trying to create a god, the ancient kings of Tenai created demons."
Minoras was silent for a moment, considering Hadon's words. He knew the situation was more complex than he could ever imagine. "We will prepare for the meeting with the cardinals. We will have to be persuasive and show the gravity of the situation."
Hadon nodded, his mind already running through the details of what needed to be done. "Yes, we need to act quickly. Every moment that passes, Saladon strengthens his dominion and the situation in Nannu worsens."
Minoras looked at Hadon with determination. "I will do my best to ensure our success. The church must understand that this is not just a political struggle, but a battle for the very essence of our world."
Back in Hwin's arena, Aura was on her knees as Zigga prepared to deliver the final blow. "It's a shame, girl, but don't worry. I won't let you die slowly; I'll give you extreme unction!" Zigga grabbed her dagger and lunged to finish it.
Adonis and the others quickly stood up, frightened, to help Aura, but the magical barrier of Hwin's arena prevented them from proceeding. Adonis, with a furious look, turned to Sahara and said, "If my sister dies, it will all be your fault!" Sahara became worried but could do nothing. "Come on, Aura... come on, Aura," she desperately thought.
Suddenly, the golden stone in Aura's armor turned red and with a burst, she jumped back. Zigga was startled. "How is this possible? The poison should have left you in a near-death state!" Then Aura shook herself and stood up, looking at her friends with a strange smile on her face. "I'm fine, guys. I don't know why, but I think I can kill this woman more easily!" she said, looking at them all and noticing that Aura's eyes, which had been golden before, were now a crimson red, like Set's.
"Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Grandma, but I'm finally ready!" said Aura with a completely different attitude than before. "Who are you?" Zigga asked, confused and apprehensive.
"You can call me Siba Kamin, I am the demon princess Progress!" Aura or rather, Siba Kamin, responded with overwhelming confidence.
Zigga hesitated for a moment, confused by Aura's sudden transformation. "What's happening? You should be on the brink of death!" she said, trying to understand the situation.
Siba Kamin let out a low laugh. "Ah, dear, you don't understand? This golden stone is a powerful artifact, able to channel its bearer's essence and transform them. I am the true force that resides within Aura. And now, you will pay for underestimating her."