The wind blew coldly, sending chills to Sven, his youngest apprentice who sat beside the dying man and managed to sip tea, despite not tasting anything, nor even feeling its warmth.
"My time..." he glances at the hourglass on top of the table beside his bed and chuckles. "Perhaps I can only see the light of day in a few days." He said, smiling as he glanced at the beauty of the full moon. "Might as well enjoy it."
Sven glanced at the moon too through the window. "You don't seem to be sad that you're dying... Perhaps Gods told you about it and you also seem prepared."
"Mhm... I am. Always has been, ever since I've become an Exorcist."
"Does that mean... I should also be prepared to die anytime?" Sven glanced nervously at Cillian.
"You're still young, I think you still have a long time to prepare yourself to go to the afterlife."
"You know, you're the wisest, kindest, courageous, and humble person I've ever known. I have no doubt that you'll end up in heaven." Sven said with an excited face.
Cillian chuckled, then laughed a while later. "Am I, really? I don't think so."
"Why is that?" Sven frowned as he asked.
"You see..." He glanced at the moon once again. "Perhaps let me tell you... What I really did... and then you decide if I deserve to be in heaven or hell." Cillian smiled at Sven.
Sven looked at him in confusion.
"I've thought of... taking these with me from the grave... yet you remind me of my young self. I think I should tell you, so you'll know what to do."
"Tell me what?"
"Tell you my secrets."
"Your... Secrets? Do you really... think I should know? I mean, they're secrets after all." He felt like he had to gulp, but then he thought that his master trusted him.
Cillian nodded and smiled. "It doesn't really matter if you'll tell anyone. Yet, one of my secrets is that... I've had a contract with a demon."
Sven looked at him, shocked. "A... A demon!? A-aren't we, as exorcists supposed to banish t-them? Why would you have a contract with one!?"
"Shhh... Listen to my story, and you'll understand each of my secrets."
~•~
Lightning flashed and the sound of thunder was deafening. Little Cillian was running, crying, and fear could be seen in his eyes. Despite his wounds, he ran through the forest, it was thanks to adrenaline that he had such energy to run fast, stumbling a couple of times, and panting; he knew he must not stop until he reached his destination: the monastery.
He hugged his mother's veil, where there was a box inside. He ran, he knew that if he stopped, he'll be caught. Caught by the demons. The memory was fresh in his mind this morning when he saw his father acting really strange and speaking in weird voices. He was only five, and he didn't mind it, not until his mother arrived and looked surprised as his father looked at her, grinning. He didn't think of it much, not until his father started speaking in a different language and his mother too, until finally, his mother pulled out a cross. And that was the time he thought it was serious.
His father then grabbed him, his father was drooling, his eyes had turned white, and it was a true horror when he saw his father's shadow, it wasn't his father's, it wasn't his father anymore but a different one, it was a demon. It occurred to him, that his father was possessed.
He couldn't understand the rest. His mother kept praying words he couldn't understand until his father stopped and let him go. He cried and ran to his mother and watched as his father stood again and cried, he hugged him and his mom, and there was a crack. His father's neck broke and their eyes widened as the demon showed itself. Though Cillian only sees a dark wisp of smoke, the shadow is what he can see; it has seven horns.
He passed out after seeing that figure. And when he woke up, he was outside their burning manor. Her mother was wounded in her gut, and he himself had scratches.
"Cillian..." His mother called, hugging him as she gave him her veil. "Run... Run towards the moon. Follow the moon, and run straight until you reach the monastery. No matter what, don't look back. Don't look at your reflection until you reach the monastery. Don't ever look in the water, nor walk on it. And do not open this box on the veil until you reach the monastery. Do you understand?"
Cillian was crying as he held and hugged the box covered in a veil.
"But mother... What about you? Where's father—" his mother kissed his forehead.
"Run now, I don't have much time to live... And this is all I can do, my dear child... Please, save yourself. The Gods, pray to them, they will guide you, and they will protect you. Please run..." His mother helped him up and made him face the moon, and he realized, from the shadows made by their burning manor, a shadow of a figure walking towards them. "Run! And don't ever look back!" His mother shouted and pushed him.
Cillian ran, he wiped his tears as he recalled the scene. He kept running, looking up at the moon, following it until he reached the streets of the city. As he ran straight, not taking turns, he managed to reach the monastery. It was closed, and he shouted. "Help! Please! Please help me!" He cried, hoping someone would hear him through the tall wall and gate.
"Please let me in!!! Please!"
The feeling of fear, sadness, and confusion overwhelmed him. But all he can do is pray that someone would let him in.
"Please let me in, help me!" He cried once again, until finally, two young monks opened the gate.
"What's wrong child... Oh my! What happened!?" Asked the other as he looked at him.
"Let him in" the other monk exclaimed as the other carried him inside. The other closed the gate shut.
"This... That veil... Come, I must take you to the high priest! You, you wake the high priest and tell him!" The monk commanded the other.
"Help me please, my mother, my father, they're—"
"Shhh... Calm down, child. Let's head inside first." The monk insisted as they went inside the monastery's building.
Though it was painful, he explained everything to the monks and priests present what he witnessed.
"You're such a brave child... The fact that you managed to run here..." A priest patted his back.
"What's your name?" Asked by the High Priest.
"Cillian... Cillian Dario." He said in a low voice as a monk gave him a glass of water. Which he refused to drink. "M–My mother said I shouldn't be in contact with water..."
"It's alright. You're inside now, you're safe here. You can drink it, it'll also ease your mind." The monk said.
"So, you're Cillian... Your mother, Victoria, is my cousin. She was an exorcist. Based on your story... It seems that one of the demons she had banished... Managed to get their revenge on her." The head priest sighed heavily.
"You know my mother...? And we're... Related?"
"Yes. You see, your mother lived here. She was a great exorcist... She left when she met your father, Earl Sebastien. I remember that the young Earl was possessed when he was young, and your mother exorcised him, banishing the demon. And... She never left his side till then... But I'm not expecting that this would happen one day."
Cillian looked down at the box that was covered in viel he was holding, slowly unwrapping it. And when he opened it, he saw a black book and a pendant, a cross with a rose engraved on it.
"I see... It's the family's heirloom. I understand now. The demon... was probably the combination of each and every demon that the family had exorcised." The high priest explained.
The monks and priests exchanged glances. They looked at the heirloom as if it would be bad luck, yet the head priest sensed their worry.
"Worry not, the cross nor the book is not cursed. And this heirloom, it is a family treasure, just like this rosary and book of mine that was given to me by my father. And those demons carry animosity towards my cousin's family." Said the high priest with a heavy sigh.
Cillian wiped his tears and held the cross.
"How do I become an Exorcist?" He asked, which surprised the monks, priest, and the high priest.
"Y–You're seriously... I think you should take a rest, we've prepared a room for you." A monk said.
"I'm serious. I want to be an exorcist. I will face that demon and—"
"Calm now child. Now's not the time for you to decide that. You're exhausted. You should rest. It's almost morning." said the high priest.
Cillian took a deep breath, then nodded.
"We'll guide you to your room." The monks said, the other one offered to carry him.
}•{
And so, the news spread about the manor of Earl Sebastien, wherein everyone, the servants and the couple died, leaving their only son, Cillian at age five, the only survivor.
Cillian, at a young age, managed to survive such a fearsome event. He spent his time studying about gods, their blessings, their prayers, and everything he must know as an exorcist. Every morning, he'd walk around the monastery and help the residents there. Every afternoon, he'd also try to practice some combat. And every night, he'd study and prepare to enter a school, wherein exorcists were trained. He didn't accept his title as the new Earl and donated half of his family's riches to the people, and the other half to the monastery. Though he didn't leave for himself, his relatives decided to leave him funds he could use for his studies.
In terms of being an exorcist, it was known that only priests were allowed to do it. But it changed a few hundred years ago and the duties were divided. Those who serve the church, and those who would fight against the devils. It was usually a choice made by orphans, as those abandoned children in churches would become priests as they grew up and since they were raised by monks and nuns.
They established the School for Exorcists, a place where dedicated people can be an exorcist and ward off demons. People who have a wise, kind heart, a blameless life, courageous, bravery, and humble are permitted and accepted in the school.
Twenty-five years had passed. Cillian grew up into a brave, intelligent, and courageous gentleman. He finally graduated from the School of Exorcism. He was the youngest of them all.
He visited the monastery where he spent his early seven years before entering the Exorcism School.
"Cillian, is that you!? Oh, you've grown into a handsome man! I'm truly honored to raise the young master." A lady said proudly.
"Thank you, Aunty. Though no need to call me young master, I dropped my title many years ago." Cillian said as he smiled.
"Your parents are truly proud of you." Said the lady's husband.
Cillian simply smiled, as if mentioning his family doesn't really hurt him.
"Cillian? Long time no see, I'm glad you visited! The high priest wants an audience with you." A monk told him.
"Uncle? Okay, I'll be there after you."
Cillian addresses everyone in the monastery as his aunts and uncles. After all, they raised him like he was their own family.
"Uncle, you called?"
"Here you are, Cillian. It's been years and I finally get to see you once again. I heard you're at the top of the class eh? We're proud of you." The high priest patted his back as they walked together in the hall.
"Thank you, Uncle... Though, I was a little worried about something."
"What is it that worries you?"
"... I've... Well, haven't even done a real exorcism... It's... Bugging me, they gave me a final exam, to help a village in the north because a demon had been causing them trouble. It's a test for me to obtain my Exorcist license. I don't know why I feel... Overwhelmed."
"That's understandable. The last time you ever met a demon was when you were young. But I believe that the gods will always watch over you and guide you in what you're supposed to do. We will pray for you." The high priest assured him. "Good luck"
"Thank you, Uncle. I know I just returned to the monastery today but I'll leave already. The sooner I get to help the village, the better."
The high priest nods. "Yes, I give you my blessing to have a safe trip." The high priest then placed his palm on top of Cillian's head.
"Thank you, uncle. I pray for the monastery too. Very well, I shall head off." Cillian then bids farewell and leaves the monastery.
Cillian arrives at the village in the afternoon.
It was chaotic, and people looked depressed.
Cillian began to pray for the gods to give him guidance and blessing and then he took his cross which is his exorcist family heirloom, and his book for exorcism.
"It's time to banish the demon." He said as he stood up and braced himself.