"I agree to your proposal, Your Holiness," I replied, my voice carrying no hint of resistance.
The child’s head jerked up, his wide, frightened eyes darting to , but I continued. "However," I added, my tone steady and unyielding, "I believe it would be far too dangerous for the Saint to accompany you to the Holy Place, especially now that the Holy Lake has vanished."
"Pardon, but-" the Pope spoke up and I continued interrupting him.
"I felt the Holy presence in the lake, Your Holiness so, it’s only right for myself to be there to investigate what had transpired in that place." I explained.
The Pope’s brows twitched, the subtle movent betraying his displeasure. He asured carefully before speaking, "But, Saintess, you have been around people, so, you might be able to reassure their safety. The Saint is still young for that,"
I allowed myself a soft smile, one laced with feigned consideration. "I understand, but he has to start sowhere right? Besides, I’ll be worried all the while about our Saint here," I said as I looked once at the child tenderly.
"I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if sothing happened to him,"
The Pope’s smile thinned, his patience clearly wearing, though his words remained pleasant.
"Please don’t be worried, Saintess. I can understand that you’ve grown attached to the Saint but, he shall be safe with and the Templar knights."
I maintained my serene expression, though my thoughts simred beneath the surface. I knew the kind of man the Pope was. It was only his position that kept him alive. Were it not for his standing, I would have already ripped the deceit from his flesh and left him to answer for his cris.
"Very well, then," the Pope concluded, his gaze sharp and calculating. "Saintess, you will investigate the Holy Place, while I and the Saint will address the townspeople to reassure them."
Sothing about his words gnawed at , a strange unease brewing in my gut. His actions felt deliberate, as if I was stepping into a ga whose rules he thought only he understood. And yet, I found myself more intrigued than alard. If he was intent on making his move, I would gladly play along.
"All right, Your Holiness. We shall follow your instructions," I replied, masking my suspicion with a gracious smile.
The visit was scheduled to be three days later and as per the plans, the Saint and the Pope would go to address the masses while I would investigate the Holy Place with the Knights and the High Priest. I almost laughed at the aspect of being escorted by Benedict. It made my work all the more easy.
Yet, what I didn’t expect was the unexpected guest that ca looking for . It was two nights before we were supposed to set out.
I was fast asleep when I felt the oppressive presence of a dark entity pressing down on . My chest grew heavy, and the air around seed to thrum with malice.
[Shield of Invulnerability has been activated.]
The notification popped up and I narrowed my eyes feeling the pressure being lifted but there was pitch black darkness in front of my eyes making wonder if my eyes were open or not.
But then I felt the darkness stir causing ripples in its being.
Ah, so it’s here to pay a visit.
I saw as it looked down at , I couldn’t see its eyes but I knew it was looking at . It didn’t have a face or a proper body, just the blob of darkness which hovered over my body.
My blood sizzled, the urge to destroy it was imnse but I held back, I wanted to know what this thing was. It was a dark presence, all right, but what exactly and what it wanted from was still a mystery so, I couldn’t get rid of it right away.
I saw its black tentacle like appendage reach out towards , its tip sharp and nacing. My eyes followed its movents until it stopped only an inch or so above my right eye. Its pointy tip hovered over my right pupil and I waited for it to try its luck. I would blow it away right now if it just did it.
Co on, I dared silently. Try your luck.
But its pointy appendage retracted and insteadof impaling my eye, it slowly floated away from before disappearing completely.
I sat up looking at the space where it had been and wondered just what it was and what it had wanted from . Well, this was the second ti that it had appeared in this space so, maybe it ant to threaten .
I was intrigued. If this thing wanted to play like this then, I would love to play along after I was done with my work.
The next morning the child ca to my room to play but instead of playing it seed like he had so other agenda.
The child was on edge after learning the way the things were going to be, he kept clinging to my side with a pleading look. His wish was clear on his adorable face and if kind of made want to screw my plans but I had to resist the urge. I had endured this look for two days but today the effect seed to have grown ten tis and I was starting to rethink the possibilities.
He was currently in my room standing near my armchair with the ga of chess having slight changes and him trying to make to change the plan sohow.
"Listen here, child." I said as I crouched down on his eye level, holding his hands on mine.
His eyes seed to glisten with unshed tears as he stared at . His pleading gaze was having full effect, I closed my eyes once before inhaling deeply and then reopening my eyes looking straight into his.
"This will be the last ti you have to deal with this," I said and he blinked looking slightly confused.
"This is the last of you will be suffering at their hands, okay? Go with them for this one task and you will be free."
His lower lip quivered and I sighed, I might have to explain him everything.
"All right, I’ll tell you everything so, listen carefully, hm?" I said and he gave a slow nod.
So, I explained it to him, the entire plan that I had for saving him. He listened with wide eyes, his lips parted creating a gap in his mouth and his pleading look disappeared leaving behind the light of awe.
"So, now that you know everything, will you help carry this plan out?" I asked and he looks at with slight uncertainty.
I smiled and placed my hand on his head, ruffling his soft hair.
"Don’t worry, child. You don’t have to do anything much... You will be safe, I promise." I assured him and he pursed his lips before he looked down.
"What’s wrong?"
He then opened his mouth showing the mark on his tongue and my eyes hardened as I saw the tendrils of the enchantnt etching further over his tongue curling and swirling before disappearing in his throat. The incantation had sohow grown.
"How-How did this happen?" I hissed and the boy closed his mouth.
He hadn’t uttered a word since he had co in the room, he hadn’t even made any sound.
"Boy, can you say sothing?" I asked holding his shoulders and he pursed his lips.
"May your life be filled with the grace and blessings of our Holy Saintess and the strength of divine Dragons."
The child’s voice echoed, repeating the blessing like a chanical chant, devoid of life or will. Each word sounded hollow, as if soone had stripped away his spirit and left behind only a puppet reciting its preordained lines.
He repeated the phrase again, and then again, each iteration stabbing into my consciousness like a jagged blade. His voice quivered slightly, betraying the tears that had begun to swell at the corners of his wide, frightened eyes. The glistening drops clung stubbornly before cascading down his soft cheeks, cutting silent trails across his pale skin.
My blood froze, and a sharp, unforgiving chill spread through my entire being. The oppressive cold seed to extend outward, the very air around us dropping in temperature as a reflection of the icy fury churning within .
My hands clenched into fists, nails biting into my palms as my mind roared with a singular thought:
How dare they?
A storm of cold rage surged through my veins, threatening to drown in its overwhelming tide. The very air around seed to chill, the oppressive fury within twisting the atmosphere into an unbearable stillness. My mind scread to tear down the walls of this accursed Temple, to destroy every trace of the corruption that had ensnared this innocent child.
But amidst the chaos raging within , I felt a soft warmth against my hand. It was a faint, hesitant touch, like a flicker of light in the darkest abyss. My burning eyes shifted downward, and I t his gaze.
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