Jiang stepped forward, feeling a strange pull as he looked at the rod. This was their chance.
Aylin's eyes lit up as she rushed forward, her excitement palpable. "I see these all the time in my world!" she exclaimed, grabbing the rod before anyone could stop her. "This is... familiar."
Without hesitation, she stretched out her hand, conjuring a small flame from her palm. As the fire touched the rod, it flickered to life, the flame suddenly spreading up the wooden surface. The priests gasped, scrambling in panic as the rod began to smolder.
"Put it out!" one of them shouted, grabbing a nearby cloth to smother the flames. Jiang quickly jumped in to help, his hands moving faster than his thoughts.
As the fire was extinguished, the priests stared at the now singed rod in disbelief.
"How did—what—this has never happened before!" one priest stammered, looking at the slightly charred surface of the rod. "That's impossible."
Aylin, unfazed, shrugged casually. "Where I'm from, we use magic all the time," she explained, as she opened her hand to demonstrate, flames dancing lightly across her palm. But as the fire flickered, her face paled, and she swayed slightly.
Jiang reached out instinctively, catching her arm before she could fall. "Aylin, are you okay?" he asked, concern filling his voice.
She shook her head, confusion clear on her face. "That's... never happened before. Magic is supposed to flow naturally. But here, it's—" she paused, taking a deep breath. "It's harder, like I'm trying to pull it through something thick."
The head priest, watching intently, stepped forward. "You say you use magic freely in your world, but here it weakens?" he asked, his tone curious but cautious.
Aylin nodded. "Yes. Back home, it's second nature. Here... something is different."
Jiang frowned, a thought gnawing at the back of his mind. He couldn't help but wonder if this strange shift in Aylin's magic was somehow connected to the god-like figure he'd met when he'd briefly died. That being had spoken of systems and tests, and though the memory felt hazy, it now seemed like there might be more layers to whatever this world—or whatever world they were stuck in—was. Is this because of what happened to me? Is the system interfering? Jiang wasn't sure, but it nagged at him.
The head priest cleared his throat, clearly processing what Aylin had said but still struggling to grasp it. "If what you say is true, that your magic flows naturally in your world but is limited here, it might explain why these… supernatural forces are having trouble manifesting. But that's a hypothesis—nothing certain."
The younger priest, still looking pale from the fire incident, added cautiously, "We... don't normally deal with magic here. We believe in faith, in prayer. But if—if this... power exists, then perhaps what we're seeing is the result of your worlds clashing."
Aylin raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet. Jiang could tell she wasn't sure how much these priests could help with magic, but it was clear they were at least trying to come to terms with the strange events unfolding.
The head priest continued, "As for this rod, it is not inherently magical—at least, not in the way you describe magic. It's a tool of faith, used to channel blessings. Whether it can aid you against this entity remains to be seen. But if your situation is as dire as you say..."
He paused, glancing at the now slightly singed rod. "Perhaps there is still hope if it is blessed by someone with greater authority."
Jiang, gripping the rod, nodded. "We'll take that chance. We don't have much time left."
The head priest sighed. "Rome, as I mentioned earlier, may hold the key. If you seek Cardinal Martelli and Duke Vincenzo, they may be able to offer insights beyond what we can provide here. But again, this is all based on what you've told us. We... can't promise anything."
Jiang exchanged a quick glance with Aylin. Time was ticking, and though the priests were hesitant, they were giving him what he needed: a lead, however uncertain. He couldn't ask for more.
The younger priest stepped forward, handing Jiang a card. "This is for identification. Present it when you arrive, and they will know you've come through us. They'll help... if they can."
Jiang took the card, pocketing it with a nod of thanks. "We'll head out as soon as possible."
The head priest folded his hands, his expression serious. "I'll pray for your safe passage, though I'm unsure if prayer alone will be enough. Go quickly. May you find the answers you seek in Rome."
Jiang turned to Aylin, her expression unreadable but determined. She glanced at the rod in his hand, then back at him. "Let's go. We've got a long way to go, and not much time to get there."