A new mission

With the sun service over, the nuns led Darx to Priest Gabriel’s office. Darx had plenty of questions about the sun service but he decided to save them for when he could ask Neku and Wendy without the nuns around. If it wasn’t for Wendy’s stomach, the trip would have been a silent one.

“Wendy.” Neku said with a chuckle.

“What? I told you I didn’t eat breakfast.” Wendy pouted. “And now we’re missing the feast.”

“Have you eaten, Darx?” Dalia asked.

“No, I didn’t get breakfast either.” Darx answered.

Charlotte stepped forward, “I could fetch food for the Blessed One.” She volunteered cheerfully.

“Yes.” Dalia replied. “Go tell the servers, we’ll need enough food for everyone.”

“Okay.” Charlotte looked around. “Food for nine then.”

“Yes, have it brought here.” Dalia instructed.

“Yes Captain.” The silver haired archer curtseyed slightly then turned to leave.

“Um, Charlotte.” Wendy interjected.

“Yes?”

“Can you make sure they send some of the sweet squash?” Wendy asked.

Charlotte smiled. “Of course.”

Charlotte hadn’t been gone long when Priest Gabriel arrived at his office and found them waiting outside. He was escorted by his usual guards, but also with a man Darx had never met. From his clothing it was clear that the man wasn’t a part of the church.

“Darx, Dalia, please come in.” He said. The guards stayed outside, but the man entered with Gabriel and the others.

“Darx, this is Albert,” Gabriel stated in introduction, “he is with the Royal Guard, he will be representing the interests of the crown in this meeting.”

“A pleasure Darx.” The man stated. “I understand you knew Harold, I was one of his assistants. He spoke highly of you.”

Darx didn’t know how to respond to that. The church had Harold killed, most likely at Priest Gabriel’s command, and as far as the Priest knew Darx was still operating under his suggestion that the royal family was his enemy. Fortunately the Priest interjected and Darx didn't have to say anything.

“Sadly time is short, let us get down to business.” Gabriel stated, his face an unreadable mask.

“Of course.” The man replied. He unrolled a map of the city and placed it on the Priest’s desk. “A slaver gang is planning to use the feast as a distraction to run a large number of people out of the city in one trip. We have confirmation from Estella that they are gathering the victims into this warehouse here.” The man pointed to a large warehouse in the Eastern part of the city. The location instantly stood out to Darx.

“That’s Oblivion territory.” He said.

“Yes, and sadly they won’t be there for long, a messenger has been dispatched to inform Agnes, but we can’t guarantee all of the guild members will be informed.”

“So we could face opposition from the guild.” Dalia stated.

“You shouldn’t,” Priest Gabriel interjected. “But caution is advised. Oblivion has previously been advised that Darx is to be protected at all costs, but that doesn't guarantee the cooperation of all of their members, or that of the minor guilds in their territory.”

“Understood.” Dalia responded. “Rest assured we will protect the Blessed One with our lives.”

“I know that you will do everything you can, Dalia.” Gabriel replied.

Dalia curtseyed to the Priest.

“Your gear has been sent for and will be brought to you at the armory.” Gabriel continued, speaking now to Darx. “If you could send Wendy in, I need to speak with her before you head out.”

Darx gave a bow and left the room, he didn’t like the Priest talking to Wendy, even though he knew it was coming. He found Wendy sitting on a bench in the hallway eating roasted razorboar and long strips of squash out of a bowl. She looked exactly as happy as Darx expected.

“Sorry to interrupt your meal, Wendy, but the Priest wants to see you.” Darx told her.

Wendy finished chewing the food in her mouth before responding. “Right now?”

“Yeah.”

Wendy looked longingly at her bowl of food and sighed. “Alright.” She said and stood. Neku quickly pulled out a handkerchief and grabbed Wendy, wiping bits of gravy off her face before releasing her. Darx watched Wendy enter the Priests office. He hoped she would be up to the task of interacting with the Priest while keeping her immunity to his voice secret. Neku’s face showed her own nervousness as well.

“Here, Blessed One.” Charlotte held out a bowl for him. “You’ll need your strength today.”

Darx took the bowl from her, thanked her and grabbed a meaty bone out of the bowl The meat was strong in flavor and very nicely seasoned. He ate until his hunger was sated then stopped. He needed energy for the mission but he also didn’t want to fight on a full stomach.

Priest Gabriel came out of his office with Wendy after only a few minutes. He prayed over them before they left.

“May Imris be your armor and shield.”

“By her will.” the nuns responded.

“May she strengthen your right arm and fortify your left.”

“By her will.”

“May you fight in the light of her truth as her enemies flounder in ignorance and darkness.”

“By her will.”

The nuns and Neku all knelt, the priest extended his arm over them as he waited for Darx and Wendy to follow suit.

“Imris behind you.” He said, once Darx and Wendy were kneeling.

“Imris beside us.” The ladies replied.

“Imris guiding us forward.” The Priest, Neku and the nuns all said in unison.

When they all stood Darx could feel the difference in the room. He could see the focus on Neku and the Battle nun’s faces. He steeled his nerves and prepared himself. No matter what, he was determined to make a better show of himself in this fight.

---

Agnes’ office, Oblivion Guild Hall.

“Good morning guild master, I bring an urgent message from the castle.” The young man bowed and set the dispatch on Agnes’ desk.

“Thank you, you are dismissed.”

“Apologies, guild master, but I am required to return with your response to the message.”

Agnes looked at the messenger, annoyance on her face. She had accepted the dispatch, and now this man would stay in her office until she read and responded to whatever the message was, no matter how inconvenient the timing.

“Very well.” She said with a sigh.

With a quick motion Agnes lifted the dispatch, checked to see the wax seal was in place, then, pulling one of the throwing knives hidden in her sleeve, she sliced open the letter. As she read it her normal expression turned to a frown, and then a scowl.

“You realize I don’t have time to properly communicate this guild-wide.” She stated.

“We understand the timing is not ideal, but information such as this is. . .”

Agnes cut him off. “I recognize the need for haste, but I cannot promise the safety of any group entering Oblivion territory with this little notice. We accommodate the Royal Guard's missions even with little advance notice. But this? The church and members of Midnight Dawn with a single representative of the Royal Guard entering our territory with no warning?”

“Pardon my interrupting, guild master, but this is your warning.” The man corrected her.

Agnes' hand slammed down on the desk. “You will watch your tone with me, messenger.”

“Apologies, guild master.” The messenger looked at his feet.

“Tell Queen Zara I will do what I can, as a personal favor to her.” Agnes kept her voice steady, but her anger was evident. “Remind her that under Riledo law I would be well within legal rights to respond to this notice with an emergency mission to protect our territory from interference by rival guilds. To say nothing of expecting me to communicate this to all the members of my guild in the unknown amount of time it takes for this unauthorized force to enter Oblivion territory.”

“Guild master, I believe. . .”

“I could not care less about what you believe.” Agnes cut him off again. “The law is clear. Go tell the Queen I will do what I can. I make no promises, however; and inform her highness that I intend to make a formal protest on this gross overreach of royal authority.”

“Understood.” The messenger stood, still bowing, for several seconds.

“Well?” Agnes stated, still angry. “You have your answer, now get the hell out of my Guild.”

“Of course, guild master.” The messenger rose quickly to attention, then pivoted and walked out of Agnes’ office.

After a short wait Kase appeared next to the window in Agnes office, watching the messenger exit the guild and head West to the Castle.

“Is it Darx?” He asked. Agnes wouldn't show that much anger over an ordinary group of adventurers.

“Kase you know you can’t interfere.” Agnes stated. “You know what the Priest threatened, and you know he can do it.”

“That priest comes for my sister and he’s dead.” Kase’s answer was spoken matter-of-factly.

“No one wins a civil war, Kase.” Agnes replied.

Kase laughed. “I believe the last time there was a guild war Oblivion did quite well for itself.”

“Only because we were uninvolved.” Agnes stated. “And this isn’t Elysium being dumb enough to challenge Aelbrecht, Kase. If you manage to piss off both the church and the crown, you would be facing Zhoron, and doing it under interdiction.”

“Interdiction?” Kase asked with a smirk. He enjoyed riling up Agnes, but he was also genuinely curious about what the church could actually do to a major guild.

“To leave the theology out of it, Interdiction would mean you and I would have a price on our heads, and anyone who stays a member of Oblivion would be marked as an enemy of the Goddess. You understand? Every member of this guild would face the choice to denounce the guild and leave or stay and lose all legal protections. Their property and lives would be forfeit.” Agnes rested her head in her hand, she could explain the danger to Kase, but she couldn’t make him care.

“Is that all? Doesn’t sound that bad.” Kase said glibly, blatantly provoking his guild master.

“I’m serious Kase, you can’t be anywhere near that warehouse, no matter how good your invisibility.”

“I thought you told me that Darx needed to be dealt with.” Kase argued.

“And he already would be, if you could have kept from making your ridiculous feud with him a public spectacle.” She answered.

“If Syvis hadn’t stopped me. . .” Kase started.

“Leave her out of this.” Agnes nearly shouted. “You fucked that up too, didn’t you? Had to make a scene, had to win another of your childish battles with Darx, and now Syvis won't even return to the guild.”

Kase seethed, “I won’t be lectured to like some brat.”

“Then grow the fuck up, Kase.” Agnes spat back at him. She took a breath and settled down. “I’m trying to turn this guild over to you. If you play your cards right, you’ll be in charge of the most powerful guild in the kingdom. But keep fucking around and they will take it out of my hands.”

“Tell me who who opposes me taking over, and they won’t be a problem.” Kase sneered.

“You can’t just kill anyone that doesn't like you, Kase.” Agnes said, exasperated. “Hell, you can’t even kill Darx.”

“Like hell I can’t.” Kase spat. “He enters our territory he’s fair game.”

“I’m going to protest their operation in Oblivion territory, Kase, but it won’t go anywhere.” Agnes stated. “The Royal Guard and the Church of Imris operating together? We can’t stand against that, the nobles won't go against the church, they wouldn't back us.”

“But the law says. . .”

“I know what the law says, Kase.” Agnes cut him off again. Kase’s fist clenched tight at his side. The limit to the disrespect he was willing to take was rapidly approaching.

“Laws are only as good as the power behind them. If the Church and Royal Guard want to flaunt the law, who can stand against them?” Agnes stated. “Oblivion operates on its own. We don’t buddy up to the Queen and Zhoron like Aelbrecht and Midnight Dawn do. We have to act carefully and quietly.”

“And Darx?”

“I’ve told you about the darkness in him. The danger he poses. If he gains his full power, he could destroy the entire kingdom.” Agnes stated. “They anoint him their hero and hope for the best, Kase. But he isn’t the only way to defeat the Demon King.” She looked pointedly at him. “If you would take your power seriously, you could grow even stronger than Zhoron. And with your abilities, you could be the Kingslayer.”

Kase scoffed.

“I mean it Kase. You are strong now, but you could be so much more.” Agnes stated. “If I could I would train you myself, but I don’t have the strength anymore.”

“It’s okay Agnes, don't worry. I’ll take care of it.” Kase said with a smile, then opened the door to her office to leave.

“I truly hope you will," She stated, the fire gone from her voice, a tired sadness replacing it. She turned and added, "And don’t go near that warehouse.”

“I promise,” Kase said with a smile. “I won’t leave the guildhall. I’ll even stay in plain sight.” He said as he stepped out of her office and left.

“See that you do.” Agnes called after him.

Kase walked down the hallway towards the living areas. Agnes could preach all she wanted, but Kase had his own plans. He wasn’t going to settle for running Oblivion. He wouldn't spend his life scurrying around appeasing the fattened cattle of Riledo’s nobility like Agnes did. He had no respect for the weak fools that had grown lazy and paranoid in their wealth. Kase had bigger plans for his life, and he had women he intended to share that life with. Standing in the way of both his ambition and the women he wanted was that worthless piece of shit, Darx.

Kase wouldn't let Darx stand in his way for long. He would prefer to do the job himself. But Agnes was right, he couldn’t afford to start a civil war. He’d have to settle for sending someone else to kill Darx. Kase picked up his pace, he wanted to make sure they had time to do this right.

---

In the lower reaches of the Church:

The Priest’s footsteps fell quickly in the cold stone corridors of the catacombs that sprawled beneath the massive church building. The ancient stone halls were sparsely populated on normal days, but with the work the festival required, Priest Gabriel was alone aside from his companion. Matron Eunice hurried along behind him, as always, trying not to fall behind. The council was hungry for an update on Darx’s development, and it was as safe a time as any to communicate with them. He reached the heavy curtain that separated his personal chapel from the rest of the church and bowed to the matron.

“Wait for me here, Sister. I may be a while.”

“Of course, my Priest.” She answered.

Gabriel slipped through the heavy curtain and into the small chapel. He had never liked the space, the room was ancient and felt cramped. Just enough room to kneel before the small altar that was illuminated by sunlight redirected from the top of the church down to here through a long chain of crystals. The light shone on the “Remnant of Hope” a large ruby that had adorned the High Priest’s Scepter back in Zrephia, back before the calamity. It was supposed to be a symbol of hope, a reminder of the promised return of the red-eyed children of Imris. But for Gabriel, this ruby that had waited for hundreds of years for the arrival of the Heir of Zrephia spoke to a future he had hoped would arrive well after he was dead and gone. It felt like a cursed item to him, as if it knew his plans and chose now to be the moment the “Blessed One” arrived just to spite him.

Gabriel walked past the altar and bowed to a painting of The Great Sage. The painting moved as the wall shifted, revealing the opening to the secret inner sanctum. Gabriel took a breath, strengthened his courage and stepped inside.

He reached the sacred fire before the door closed behind him. He took the crystal from his sleeve and set it on the gold stand next to the sacred flame and in front of the polished silver disk on the ancient altar. The magic stored in the crystal changed the fire's color, yellow and orange to a deep red, then purple. The silver mirror swirled and Gabriel knelt.

Minutes passed, he remained kneeling. His knees started to ache but he dared not move. He knew the council did not let him see them through the mirror, but he was not foolish enough to think they would grant him the same privacy.

“Report, Priest.” The voice finally came from the mirror.

“Your Worship,” Gabriel responded, equal parts relief and terror filling his soul at the sound of that voice. “the Heir heads to Oblivion territory to fight as planned.”

“Good, and this fight will properly challenge him?” The voice was low and cold.

“That is the hope, your Worship.” Gabriel didn’t know how strong Darx was right now, how could he? He could only hope the plan worked and Darx awakened further.

“Hope is not something we are interested in, Priest.” This voice was higher pitched and had a cruel tint to it.

“Your Grace, there are factors even I cannot. . .”

“I tire of your excuses, Gabriel.” The voice interrupted. “The Heir is weak, he must grow stronger, and he must grow through suffering. You know this.”

“Of course, your Grace.”

“Then will this fight cause him suffering?” It demanded.

“Yes, your Grace.”

“It better.” The voice spat at him. “For your sake.”

“And Gabriel.” The first voice returned, low and cold as ever.

“Yes your Worship?”

“See that he is not greatly harmed. The plan is too far behind already for any more delays. He must be ready to stand when the Dark Elves arrive.”

“I will fulfil my part in our bargain, do not worry.” Gabriel responded, trying to remind them that he did hold some power in this arrangement.

“Bargain?” The higher pitched voice spat out. “Do not forget your place.”

“I do not, your Grace, I simply recognize that I have what you need, and look only for the reward promised in return.”

“And you shall have it.” The low voice responded. “When the sacrifice is successful we will remember your service. When the great spell is cast all will get what they deserve, especially you, Gabriel. This council always pays our debts.”

“The bloodline.” A third voice. “Is the bloodline extended?”

“That will take some time, Great Mother. The heir is not as enthusiastic in his duties as we expected.”

“Then make him, Gabriel. The children of Zrephia must be in our hands before the sacrifice is made.”

“There is still plenty of time, Great Mother. It will be accomplished.”

“See that it is.”

“Gabriel?” The first voice again.

“Yes, your Worship.”

“Ziges is unpredictable, do not make the mistake of moving too slowly. If Riledo falls you must already be prepared. The Heir must be built up and broken, the children of Imris secured, and the heirs of the other goddesses gathered. It must be accomplished, no matter what the demons do.”

“Of course, your Worship.”

“Gabriel, remember you are not our only servant, your reward will be based on how valuable you are to us. Never forget that.”

“I will succeed, your Grace.”

“Good, now go, and see that the will of Imris is fulfilled.”

Gabriel bowed lower. His knees ached and sweat dripped from his brow. He held himself still till the mirror crackled and fell into silence. He exhaled, realizing he had been holding his breath. He turned and sat on the cold stone he had been kneeling on. He took some time to catch his breath, let his heart rate slow. The council was unhappy. At least they weren’t as angry as they had been when Darx had vanished. Gabriel had spent months living in terror, knowing that any person that crossed his path could be the bringer of his death. This wasn’t that bad. This was just a setback, a delay that needed to be rectified. Hopefully the fight today would both force Darx to use his power more, and cause him to grow closer to the nuns. Create opportunity for them to complete their true mission. Gabriel stood, his legs shaky but recovering. Darx already cared for Neku, it was evident. She had always been one of Gabriel's most loyal and effective servants, she was doing well. The Wendy girl seemed to be close to him as well. If Darx grew close to the nuns, they would only add more possibilities.

Gabriel slipped out of the inner sanctum and watched the painting slide back into place. He turned and walked to the heavy curtain. The real task was on him. Gabriel needed to solidify his control over Darx before the council broke him. That was his only real chance. He wasn’t foolish enough to rely on the Council keeping their promises. His predecessor made that mistake. No, he had formed his own plans for Darx. He had plans for Darx’s children, too. The one thing the council and he agreed on fully was the need for Darx to create heirs, and fast. Gabriel had thought the twins would be enough to get Darx to start rebuilding the bloodline of Imris, but he hadn't taken advantage of either of them. At least there was some progress. From what the girl Wendy told him Neku was doing a fine job of preparing Darx for his destiny. Perhaps with her recent success, the twins just needed a little more motivation to bring him to the next stage.

“Sister Eunice.” He called as he pushed through the heavy curtain.

“Yes, my Priest?” She answered, bowing low.

“Go, and bring the twins to my office. I think it is time for your Acolytes to begin their final mission.”

“Yes, my Priest.” She said with a genuine smile. “Thank you. Mary and Magdalena have worked so hard, they will not disappoint you.”

Eunice bowed then hurried off to fetch her pupils. They had better not disappoint, Gabriel thought, for their sake.