Chapter 7: A Divine Inquiry
The Cathedral of Eternal Light was bathed in the glow of sacred flames. Inside, beneath its towering arches, the bishops and archbishops of the True Church gathered. The council chamber buzzed with unease as whispers echoed among the clergy. At the center of the room, a grand table carved from celestial stone bore the insignia of their god, Solaris, the deity of light and order.
Seated at the head of the table was Archbishop Valerius, a man whose presence radiated authority. His silver hair glimmered in the light, and his piercing eyes surveyed the gathered council. "Brothers and sisters," he began, his voice steady but grave. "For the past year, troubling reports have reached us from the Cubi Isles. Darkness shrouds the land, and the faithful have spoken of unnatural occurrences. It reeks of corruption."
Bishop Aldric, a stout man with a fiery temperament, leaned forward. "Could it be the work of an Evil God? A new one, perhaps? Such darkness cannot be ignored. It threatens the sanctity of our world."
A murmur of agreement swept through the room.
"We cannot rule out the possibility," Valerius replied. "But we must proceed with caution. The Isles have long been insignificant. For such a phenomenon to arise now..." He paused, his tone darkening. "It may signify something far more dangerous."
High Priestess Seraphina, known for her wisdom, spoke next. "The fog of darkness over the island is unlike anything we've encountered. If this is the emergence of a new Evil God, it must be dealt with swiftly before it spreads. However, I suggest we first send a reconnaissance party to investigate."
Bishop Aldric frowned. "A reconnaissance party? If this truly is an Evil God, we should eradicate it immediately!"
Valerius raised his hand, silencing the room. "Patience, Aldric. Recklessness will only lead to unnecessary loss of life. Seraphina is right; we need to understand the threat before we act."
The council deliberated further, their voices rising and falling as they debated the nature of the darkness. Finally, after hours of discussion, Valerius made his decision. "We will send a team of fifty. Led by Paladin Commander Darius Greylock, one of our finest."
A ripple of approval passed through the room.
---
Assembling the Expedition Team
Darius Greylock stood tall, clad in radiant armor that shimmered with divine light. His reputation as a fearless leader and unparalleled swordsman preceded him. In the courtyard of the cathedral, he addressed the assembled expedition party.
"Brothers and sisters," he began, his voice carrying authority and conviction. "We venture into the unknown. The Cubi Isles are shrouded in darkness, and our mission is to uncover its source. Remember, this is not a battle—yet. We are here to observe, gather intelligence, and return with answers."
Standing behind him were his lieutenants:
Captain Alaric, a battle-hardened warrior wielding a colossal warhammer, known for his unyielding strength.
Cleric Mirielle, a healer of great renown, tasked with protecting the party's lives through divine magic.
Mage Kaelen, a master of elemental spells, his robes adorned with runic symbols.
The rest of the party consisted of 12 Elite Crusaders—veterans skilled in combat and strategy—and 36 Holy Warriors, formidable but less experienced soldiers.
Darius turned to Alaric. "We must tread carefully, Captain. The fog itself may be a trap. Maintain defensive formations at all times."
Alaric grinned. "Don't worry, Commander. Whatever's out there, we'll handle it."
Darius nodded and addressed the group once more. "May Solaris guide our path and shield us from harm. Now, to the Isles."
---
Meanwhile, in the Cult of Ural
Far from the cathedral, deep in an underground lair, the cult of the Evil God Ural convened. The room was dimly lit by crimson torches, their light casting eerie shadows on the walls. At the head of the table sat Malchor, the high priest of Ural, his face obscured by a hood.
"Our agents report a rising darkness in the Cubi Isles," Malchor rasped. "It has the markings of an Evil God, yet it is unfamiliar to us."
Acolyte Lythis, a thin man with sunken eyes, leaned forward. "Could it be one of ours? Perhaps a dormant god reawakens?"
Malchor's eyes glinted. "Unlikely. We would have felt its presence long before now. This... is something else. Something new."
The cultists exchanged uneasy glances.
Lythis hesitated before speaking again. "Should we investigate? If it is an Evil God, they may become a threat to our domain."
Malchor smirked. "Let the True Church do the investigating for us. They are already assembling a party. We will observe from the shadows. If they fail, we shall strike."
The cultists murmured their assent.
---
The Expedition Begins
As the church's party sailed toward the Cubi Isles, the atmosphere grew tense. The sea was unnaturally calm, and the closer they came to the islands, the darker the sky grew. By the time they reached the shores, the island was enveloped in an impenetrable fog.
"This is no ordinary mist," Kaelen muttered, his fingers tracing glowing runes in the air. "It's laced with malevolent energy."
Darius narrowed his eyes. "Stay vigilant. Spread out, but remain within sight of one another."
As they moved cautiously inland, the eerie silence of the island was broken only by the rustling of the dead trees. The ground beneath their feet felt wrong—unnatural.
They soon stumbled upon a clearing where remnants of rituals were evident. Dark symbols were etched into the earth, and the air was thick with an oppressive energy.
Mirielle shivered. "This place is cursed. We should leave."
"No," Darius said firmly. "We press on. We need answers."
---
The Island Watches
Unbeknownst to the church, the island itself was alive with the Void's presence. The Servants of the Void had been monitoring the party's arrival, their shadowy figures hidden among the trees.
Lyra, now a high-ranking Shadow Priestess, watched from a distance. "They've come sooner than expected," she said to Gaelan, who stood beside her.
Gaelan smirked. "Let them come. They will learn what it means to challenge the Void."
---
A Tense Conclusion
As the party ventured deeper into the island, the fog grew thicker, and their unease mounted. Darius called for a halt. "We've seen enough for now. This darkness is unlike anything we've faced before. We'll report back to the church and plan our next move."
The group began their retreat, but the island seemed reluctant to let them go. The shadows writhed, and faint whispers echoed through the air.
Darius gritted his teeth. "Stay together. Whatever this is, it's watching us."
As they boarded their ships and sailed away, the fog seemed to follow them, lingering on the horizon like a silent threat.
From his vantage point in the Void, Allen watched the events unfold with amusement. "The pieces are moving," he mused. "Let's see how the mortals handle this game."