342. The Immortal and the Mortal (11)
“Damn it, such terrifying magic…!”
“The Great Seal has been breached. Inside must be hell right now.”
The Heretics whispered lowly, their faces masked. The entire Dragonspine Mountains were shrouded in a dense, surging magical fog.
Deep within the St. Bartholomew Monastery lies a sanctuary where demons are sealed. A sanctuary that holds relics used to trap demons—the Great Seal. The current situation could only be explained by the destruction of that sanctuary.
As they glimpsed twisted shadows through the fog, the Heretics swallowed hard.
Trees. But these were no longer just trees.
Even the sound of the wind brushing through the leaves or the occasional creak of branches became whispers that gnawed at their minds.
-Memory…
-We remember…
-Cassidor burned…
A Heretic’s eyes glazed over for a moment before he slapped his own cheek and shook his head frantically. He stumbled back and spoke.
“Retreat. All of you must head to the nearest monastery and undergo the purification rites.”
“But Brother Albert…! Beyond there…!”
Just a slight lift of their gaze from the forest’s edge revealed traces of fire beyond the fog. Even through the late night and thick magic, it was unmistakable. Temptingly clear.
That direction, deep into the slopes of the Dragonspine Mountains. There lies the monastery. The St. Bartholomew Monastery. The direction of the Inquisition Keep, the Inquisition Office.
The thought of it engulfed in flames, and his brothers dying within, made Albert bite his lip hard. Fierce anger surged within him, making him want to rush in immediately.
-Crack!
The handle of the torch he was holding shattered. Startled by the sensation, Albert noticed the veins on his right arm writhing like snakes. This wasn’t just anger. It was something more sinister—a demonic corruption influencing his emotions.
“Retreat.”
“Brother!”
“No second thoughts, brothers. Suicide is not martyrdom. Brother Chirilo, how long has it been since the last request for reinforcements arrived?”
“Five hours have passed.”
“Brother Barsimeo, you will now request all Heretics near the mountain area to retreat and regroup. We need the Brothers of Diemonica. Brother Dermot, find the Brothers of Diemonica… no, find Brother Fabiano immediately. Everyone will regroup at the rendezvous point after the purification rites. I’ll give you five hours.”
“Yes, brother.”
The Heretics quickly left the forest. Albert was the last to retreat, slowly backing away while keeping an eye on his brothers ahead. Just before leaving, he glanced at the red smoke rising beyond the mountains.
-Cassidor burned…
-We remember. You killed us…
“Thus, we are the foremost sword.”
-Why didn’t that prayer save us?
-You are a murderer. You are a murderer. A murderer.
-Please save me, Father. I know nothing…
-Cassidor burned…
Flames erupted before Albert’s eyes. Flames shaped like the face of a dying young boy. Tears of blood streaming down, his cheek rubbing against Albert’s leg, pleading.
His lips were torn from biting them too hard. Albert spat out blood and quickly turned to run.
-We remember…
Albert didn’t stop until the whispers faded. When he finally crossed the forest’s boundary, a dry, maddened laughter echoed behind him like an auditory hallucination, growing distant.
* * *
“Brothers, this is a Class 1 heresy uprising. The monastery is burning.”
The city closest to the Inquisition Office was Merlin Port. While there were villages scattered between the city and the headquarters, the infrastructure of a major city was necessary for the priests scattered across the Eastern Kingdom to gather.
Thus, the Vaitas Church in Merlin Port was now filled with an unprecedented number of Inquisition Officers. Enmagika, Heretics, and even Diemonica. With this many, they had the power and authority to confront an entire nation.
But the priests showed no such morale. Heavy sighs and sorrowful prayers followed one after another. For them, the monastery was more than just a place.
The St. Bartholomew Monastery was a home, a sanctuary, a place of learning, and a symbol of faith. The Inquisition Officers were those who dealt with perhaps the most horrific places and cruel events in the material world, and for them, the headquarters was their only cradle.
The loss of the headquarters meant the loss of their last safe zone. The priests, unusually for Inquisition Officers, were offering prayers in despair.
But for the Class 2 officers, the senior Inquisition Officers in command, this situation had to be interpreted differently. They had no time to grieve. Their reality was colder and sharper than that of the priests.
“Brother Marco. Can we consider this situation as the loss of the Great Seal?”
“Indeed, Brother Fabiano.”
“In that case, where should we draw the boundary line?”
“For a week, until the hellish magic dissipates, Merlin Port will be a danger zone. After a week, we must evacuate the entire Phaeirn region.”
“Lord…”
Fabiano made the sign of the cross and sighed. He held his forehead and tapped the table.
“Is there any way to stop it?”
“All Enmagika must seal the Dragonspine Mountains. We can prevent the hellish magic from spreading into secular society, but…”
“But we can’t stop the demons that have already escaped.”
“Exactly. Someone must eliminate the demons inside. Not a single one can be allowed to escape.”
“There are thirty Brothers of Diemonica gathered here.”
“It must be complete eradication, not just repulsion. Half should be stationed at the boundary of the seal, and the other half must lead a strike team inside.”
“Wait, brothers. Entering the inside is impossible.”
A sharp-faced man interjected between Fabiano and Marco.
“We have lost the [Holy Grail of St. Antonio]. We can no longer nurture the Brothers of Diemonica. At this point, there’s no reason to sacrifice the Brothers of Diemonica to eliminate the demons inside.”
“Brother.”
“Brothers, hold on. We must think more coldly. After sealing the entire Dragonspine Mountains, we must…”
“If demons escape from within, it’s reasonable to intercept them.”
“Let me correct Brother Marco’s words. We are not a strike force. This is not a sweep operation.”
“Then…?”
Fabiano looked at Heretica with sunken eyes. He slowly looked around and stood up from his seat. All the priests were watching him at this very moment.
“This is a rescue operation. Our goal is to save our brothers who are stranded inside before annihilating the enemy.”
“But…!”
There’s no way our brothers could still be alive in that hell. Heretica, about to say that, suddenly held her breath and closed her mouth. It was a fact everyone knew, but no one dared to say out loud.
Avoiding Fabiano’s gaze, Heretica lowered her eyes. Fabiano’s solemn eyes seemed to be shouting.
Even if it’s just a thread of possibility, no matter how slim, if it exists, they won’t stop. This isn’t futile struggle. This might as well be the life attitude of Inquisition Officers.
Has the world ever not been hell? In this cruel world, they are the ones who vowed to be the foremost lighthouse of civilized society, the breakwater against the roughest waves.
They are not moths committing suicide for martyrdom. They advance toward certain death because they believe their brothers will be safe through their deaths—
And because they firmly believe that when the last brother breathes his last, the world will be more peaceful. Staking everything on that small hope, they have burned themselves as fuel in the darkness of the world.
Is now any different? Out there, their brothers are waiting. Their haven, their cradle, their resting place. And there—
There are demons. That alone is more than enough reason for these priests to move forward. Fabiano silently removed his robe. The old, worn priest’s robe fluttered and wrapped around his hand.
All the priests inside the cathedral saw it. Those wearing the same priestly robes. They saw the embroidered Keyblade and Torch patterns on the back of the robe. The seal of the Inquisition Office. Fabiano raised the old fabric like a military flag and stepped onto the podium.
“We will tread through the mire and advance toward the darkness. We are the ones who vowed to be dragons, not sheep. Brothers, are we not the ones who vowed to be our own beacons?”
He paused briefly, making eye contact with each priest. Even if it’s Diemonica, these are not the unlearned. Being closer to death than any other priests, they have chosen to be cheerful instead.
All priests must build basic education and knowledge. From the Bible to the history of the church. Fabiano was no different, spending all his time not on missions reading the Bible and offering prayers.
Before being Inquisition Officers, they are all priests of the church. Therefore, one verse from the Bible is more effective than ten words. Thinking so, Fabiano opened his mouth.
“Do not be afraid of the troubles in the world. The Lord has overcome the world.”
“Rejoice, rejoice. Glorious Lord. He works beside us.”
All the priests of the main office knew this verse. The priests quietly joined in the chorus after Fabiano’s words. Fabiano nodded briefly and continued the prayer.
“Do not fear, for the Lord is with us. Do not be dismayed, for He is your God.”
“Truly, the Lord will strengthen you.”
“We are the Lord’s foremost sword, the sharpest sword, the fiercest sword.”
“Only go forth righteously. Truly, the Lord will strengthen you.”
As he was about to continue the prayer, Fabiano met the eyes of the priests. He smiled briefly and recited another prayer. It was the verse from the solemn scripture most favored by all Inquisition Officers.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace. Not peace, but a sword.”
“We are the Lord’s foremost sword, the sharpest sword, the fiercest sword.”
The priests smoothly took over his prayer, continuing the chorus without interruption.
“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. The Lord comes with a sword in hand.”
“Keep us faithful and righteous, and deliver us from evil.”
“There is much evil, disbelief, and temptation in the world. Lord, do not lead us into temptation. We pray endlessly.”
“To those with purpose, the Lord comes with a sword in hand.”
“Lord, we pray.”
The vows of the Inquisition Officers. Before the last verse, Fabiano paused briefly. All the priests sitting in the church cathedral were watching him with blazing eyes.
With burning emotion, Fabiano chose his words. Soon, he took a deep breath and quietly whispered the last verse of the vow.
All the priests simultaneously completed the prayer with him.
“We will burn the demons, the heretics, and the witches.”
-Whoosh!!
The priest’s robe Fabiano was holding suddenly burst into flames. Under the dazzling white brilliance, no one dared to speak. Short breaths, low murmurs of prayer, and hurried signs of the cross were seen and heard.
“…Macto…”
Fabiano stared blankly at his brilliantly shining robe. As the flames died down, what he held in his hand was a splendid military flag with intricate embroidery. A massive flag intertwined with the symbols of the Inquisition Office and Vaitas Church was in his hand.
The embroidery of each pattern seemed to shine on its own, as if made from extracted jewels, and just looking at the patterns seemed to infuse the body with new energy.
“The three elements of divine incantation are origin, prayer, and miracle…”
Enmagika, Marco, exclaimed in admiration and made the sign of the cross. Fabiano calmed his surprise and looked around. The priests had already risen from their seats, kneeling on one knee with hands clasped in prayer. It made sense. Since the Temple of the Gods was sealed, this could be considered the first direct intervention of the heavenly Temple of the Gods, excluding Saint Fernandez of the Great Wilderness.
It was a miracle. Fabiano nodded and raised the flag high.
“The Lord is with us. There is no salvation outside the church (Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus), brothers, march toward your cradle, your church, and your faith!”
“The Lord wills it (Deus Vult)!”
“So be it!!”
The flag fluttered grandly in the windless room. Beneath the patterns, embroidered words on long drapes fluttered. Pectus, Incensum. Ancient Gaelic for courage and sacrifice. Words inscribed at the graves of brothers within the Inquisition Office.
Diemonica, total 34.
Heretica, total 317.
Enmagika, total 173.
Stationed near the Eastern Kingdom, thus immediately summonable to the main office’s troubles, the Inquisition Office’s total strength: 524.
Without a single doubt or hesitation, they turned their steps toward the Dragonspine Mountains, where demons lurked.
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