---
Chapter 8
Saint Agnes Basilica Training Ground, Sancta Vertias
Jeremiah stood in the middle of the vast training ground, a sprawling plain of emerald grass that felt oddly alive beneath his feet. Kaiky's vague instructions echoed incessantly in his mind, a chorus of confusion and frustration.
"'Create and condense,' my foot," he grumbled, plummeting to the ground with a thud, landing unceremoniously on his backside before reclining on the cool earth, his gaze fixed on the retreating sun, its golden rays slipping behind the distant hills.
"It's no use," he sighed, extending his arm toward the horizon as if he could pluck the sun from the sky. "But I can't give up. If I want to be as strong as Micah, I can't stop now."
A glint caught his eye—the reflective shimmer of the bracelet Kiqutu had given him. He traced the intricate inscriptions with his fingertips, feeling a warmth emanate from the charm.
"She said this helps reduce Lucifer's malevolent energy from leaking out of my body," he murmured, his brow furrowed in thought. "Maybe this is what's holding me back." With renewed determination, he sat upright. "But the last time I let his energy out, I almost died," he reminded himself, shaking the thought away like a bothersome fly. "I have to take risks."
With a deep breath, he slowly removed the bracelet, hesitating as he studied his hand, now seemingly unadorned and vulnerable.
"Nothing? Perhaps all that training with Miss Karlee and Miss Karin has finally paid off. Now, let me try again."
He sprang to his feet with a newfound vigor, inhaling deeply. Swirls of black flames began to emerge around his body, coiling and flickering like the whispers of a long-forgotten tale.
"The color even changed. Cool," he exclaimed, marveling at the transformation. He extended his arm, and the flames danced obediently along his skin, flowing into his palm. Beads of sweat dotted his brow as the flames began to condense, drawing together in a vibrant, pulsating sphere. A giggle escaped his lips, his eyes scanning the area for a target—anything would do. He instinctively supported his hand with the other, feeling the growing heat.
"What's going on?" he cried as the flames in his hand spiraled wildly, a tempest of fire and fear. "Help! Someone help—"
Suddenly, Jeremiah's eyes flew open, and he was transported back to a scene he knew all too well, where it all began...
"What is this? Where am I?" he asked himself, the air thick with memories as he approached the looming figure of his mother, her foot raised in anger. "What is this place?"
The scene shifted abruptly, and Jeremiah found himself in a desolate landscape beneath a blood-red sun, surrounded by the ruins of collapsed buildings. An unseen presence bore down upon him, heavy and oppressive.
"Eosphoros," he called into the silence. Eosphoros emerged from Jeremiah's shadow, his posture straightening, making him appear taller and more formidable than before.
"Did you have a growth spurt?" Jeremiah quipped, a nervous chuckle escaping him.
"It's the malevolent energy entwined with the atmosphere here that allows me to access my true form," Eosphoros replied, his voice deep and resonant.
"So, what is this place?" Jeremiah inquired, a chill creeping up his spine.
"Hell."
Jeremiah shielded his eyes as a figure descended from the sky, draped in a flowing red robe. Its long, platinum-blonde hair cascaded down its back like a river of silk. The figure landed softly a few feet away, its six bloodstained white wings giving a final, graceful flap. Eosphoros fell face-first to the ground, bowing before the entity as its malevolent energy enveloped the area, reducing the shattered buildings to dust. The pressure weighed heavily on Jeremiah, cutting a searing line across his cheek.
"Who… what in the world is this? This energy… it can't be… the Father of Lies." The pressure abruptly lifted, and Jeremiah gasped for air.
"It's been a long time since I've been called that," the entity spoke, its voice soothing yet chilling. "I sensed a piece of my soul return here, and look who I find... the child of Judith Mason, Jeremiah, my failed vessel, and a prince of mine, Eosphoros."
"How do you know who I am?" Jeremiah demanded, a mix of fear and defiance surging within him.
"Are you deaf? You have a sliver of my soul, but it's quite insulting to see that amount of power go to waste," Lucifer said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I also know that you…" Shadows swirled behind Lucifer, materializing into a grand throne. He reclined, crossing his legs and propping his chin on his right fist. "...are planning to become an exorcist."
"Yes, I want to become an exorcist," Jeremiah affirmed, the words bursting from him with unexpected fervor.
"And why is that?" Lucifer prodded,
"Because… because…" Jeremiah stammered, the weight of his intentions pressing down on him.
"Because you were told to?" Lucifer quizzed, a sly smile creeping onto his face.
"No!" Jeremiah retorted fiercely.
Lucifer chuckled darkly. "So why then?"
"Because I want to prove that even though I am a devil or demon-possessed, I still want to save my world," Jeremiah declared, his voice steady now.
"Save your world? Don't make me laugh. What has this world ever offered you besides rejection and stigma?" Lucifer interrupted, his tone dripping with disdain.
"And I want to right the wrongs my parents committed because of you. I heard how she adored you, how she viewed you as the bravest and most beautiful yet contradictory being she ever encountered. She sacrificed everything for you because she believed that man should aspire to be like God. I don't fully understand her, but I know that everything she believed in was a lie, and I will become an exorcist to purge those ideas from everyone's mind."
Lucifer slowly applauded, a mockery hidden beneath his praise. "I like you, kid." He rose, the throne dissolving into shadows. "Return to your world, but remember this: nothing can stand in my way." With that, Lucifer vanished into the darkness...
"Jeremiah… Jeremiah, do you think he's dead?"
Jeremiah blinked awake, his senses slowly returning as Kaiky and Karlee's anxious faces blocked the moonlight, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.
"What happened?" he murmured, bewildered.
"We should be asking you that," Karlee replied, her voice laced with urgency.
---
A rift in space slowly opened, revealing a dark gate.
Rakael stepped through the unstable portal onto a snow-laden track, tugging her coat tighter against the biting cold. As she ascended the hill, she gazed upon one of the world's most breathtaking sights—the place where the barrier between the four worlds was thinnest… the shimmering Aurora Borealis. With a crumpled map in hand, she marked her location before continuing her descent. Faint laughter drifted on the wind, drawing her attention to the ethereal sprites of children, barely visible as they flitted about. A smile cracked her serious demeanor as she watched them. But soon, unease settled in as their movements turned erratic.
Suddenly, a sprite dashed into Rakael, looking up at her with wide eyes, and she took a step back—it was her… before…
Lightning struck nearby, jolting Rakael back to reality. A sprite, crackling with electric energy, approached from a distance.
"You!" she screamed, fury igniting within her. "I won't let you take them from me!" Her demon manifested as two sea dragons that swirled protectively around her. She thrust her hand forward, directing the dragons toward the sprite. They phased past, and the sprite collapsed to its knees, tears like delicate snowflakes falling from its eyes. "Don't, please," it begged as it moved past her. "No… Micah, I'll kill you!" she screamed, rage and despair intertwining in her voice.
---
Saint Agnes Basilica, Sancta Veritas
Micah sat in a dimly lit room alongside his teammates for the upcoming rescue mission, the air thick with anticipation. He sneezed, the sound echoing off the stone walls.
"Bet that was Karlee talking about how cool I am," he said, grinning broadly.
"I doubt that," Kaiky replied dryly, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Micah's gaze flicked to Hana, who quickly averted her eyes, staring intently out the window as if the outside world held all the answers.
"Hope you're not getting cold feet, Hana? You should be confident. You just became an Inquisitorial Captain, and this is your first mission," Micah encouraged, leaning forward earnestly.
"No one can be an anomaly like you, Micah," Fiona chimed in, her tone teasing yet sharp.
"Meaning?" Micah raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence.
"No one in their right mind would be thinking of a failed love interest before a mission," she said, lighting a cigarette, the smoke curling into the air.
"Hey, I'm just trying to lighten the mood! Come on," Micah shrugged, his tone breezy.
"Tyreel, help me out here," he pleaded, casting a hopeful glance.
"You're letting your power get to you…" Tyreel began, but Micah cut him off, a serious edge creeping into his voice.
"Can you guys stop already? That's enough," he said, his usual levity dissipating like smoke in the wind. "You all throw around the word 'power' every time you mention my name."
"Well, that's because you are powerful, and your ceiling is out of sight," Kaiky said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, and you single-handedly took out an entire village of Satanists. I heard even the Prelate envied that achievement," Hana added, crossing her arms.
"I had to kill a bunch of people. If I were powerful enough, that wouldn't have happened."
"Can you hear yourself?" Tyreel frowned, concern etching his features. "That Satanic group placed a sigil on Israel. Death was the least punishment they deserved."
Micah stood up, walking toward the door, casually grabbing a cigarette from Fiona's pack.
"Where are you going?" she asked, curiosity piqued.
"I need to step out," he replied, snapping his fingers to ignite the cigarette, the flame dancing to life.
---
Micah took a long drag as he strolled toward the church gate, nodding to colleagues and juniors who passed by, their expressions a mix of admiration and apprehension. He paused as a silhouette emerged from the shadows, a figure cloaked in darkness.
"Who are you?" he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
The figure stepped closer, hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I come bearing information," it declared.
As it approached, its form solidified into that of an average-height person clad in black, the hood falling back to reveal a button pinned to their coat.
"I'm sure you know by now that I'm from the Insidious Covenant Church, and like I said, I come bearing information about the church's plans," the figure said, its voice low and steady.
"And why should I believe you?" Micah challenged, taking another drag, the smoke curling around him like a shroud.
"Well, I risked coming here alone to confront the powerful Micah Orchard…" the figure replied, a hint of defiance in their tone.
"Stop right there. You must be pretty strong in your own right, able to withstand the high concentration of divine energy and maintain control over your malevolent energy to avoid triggering the alarms here," Micah noted, observing the smirk forming on the intruder's lips.
"The church is after the seven artifacts your God used to separate the four worlds. Veyan, the leader, wants to use these artifacts to merge the four worlds and gain access to the fruit of eternal life."
"And why should I believe you?" Micah pressed again, suspicion still clouding his thoughts.
"Doubt won't get you anywhere," the intruder replied,
"What do you gain from this?" Micah asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Let's just say I enjoy chaos," the intruder said before vanishing into thin air, leaving behind a palpable tension.
---
Rakael gripped the last protruding stone, pulling herself up to the pinnacle of the mountain, just beneath the shimmering aurora. Before her stood a cave, its entrance dark and foreboding. A hooded, muscular figure lingered in the shadows.
"I always thought you were a great addition, Rakael Orchard, but I didn't expect you to go behind my back and seek out an artifact on your own," Veyan said, turning to face her, a cold glint in his eyes as Seraphina emerged from behind him.
"I thought you were smarter than this, but this was all a ruse to get you out of the way, Rakael. You see, there's a prophecy about a demon-possessed angel destined to bring either joy or sorrow, depending on their choices. They are also called the Witnesses," Seraphina explained, her voice smooth yet threatening. "Your insatiable thirst for revenge and hatred makes you hard to bend, so we planned to take you out."
"You bastards," Rakael growled, a wave of malevolent energy surging from her, causing the snow beneath her to sublimate into vapor. "I'll kill anyone who stands in my way!"