CHAPTER 11: A DEAL WITH FAITH
The town was still and quiet, the night air thick with an oppressive silence. The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. In the grand church at the heart of the town, Father Malric stood near the altar, his hands clasped in prayer. The candles flickered softly around him, their warm glow illuminating the lines of weariness etched into his face.
He had not yet retired for the night. Kazuki’s visit had stirred something within him—unease, suspicion, and the gnawing certainty that darkness was closer than he had imagined. He prayed fervently for guidance, his voice a soft murmur that echoed through the vast chamber.
The creak of the heavy wooden doors interrupted his solitude. Malric turned, his sharp eyes narrowing as a group of figures entered the church. At the center of the group was a man clad in fine robes and a crown that caught the candlelight, its jewels gleaming faintly.
King Alaric.
Flanked by four royal guards, the king strode forward with an air of authority, his piercing gaze locking onto the priest. Malric straightened, his expression guarded.
“Your Majesty,” Malric said, his voice calm but wary. “What brings you here at such an hour?”
The king smiled faintly, though the warmth didn’t reach his eyes. “Forgive the intrusion, Father. I wished to speak with you privately on a matter of great importance.”
A MEETING OF MINDS
Malric gestured toward the pews, and the two men sat, the guards standing silently near the entrance. The flickering candlelight cast strange shadows on the walls, giving the room an almost otherworldly feel.
“What matter could bring the king himself to my humble church in the dead of night?” Malric asked, folding his hands in his lap.
The king leaned forward slightly, his expression serious. “This kingdom is in peril, Father. The moral fabric of our society is unraveling. Faith in God wanes, and with it, our unity as a people.”
Malric’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Look around you,” Alaric said, his voice low but impassioned. “The people no longer hold God’s teachings sacred. They disrespect the holy order, indulge in sin, and turn away from the light. This country is plagued by corruption—not just of the flesh, but of the soul.”
Malric frowned, his fingers tightening around his prayer beads. “It is true that faith has waned, but this is no new struggle. The church has always worked to guide the lost back to the light.”
The king’s eyes gleamed. “And yet, the darkness grows. What if I told you that we could root it out entirely? That together, we could cleanse this land and restore it to God’s glory?”
THE KING’S ARGUMENT
Malric tilted his head, his expression skeptical. “And how would you propose we accomplish that, Your Majesty?”
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Alaric’s voice dropped, each word deliberate and heavy. “By uniting the throne and the church. Together, we could eliminate the forces that threaten our way of life. The heretics, the unbelievers, the blasphemers who poison this land with their wickedness.”
Malric stiffened slightly. “The church does not persecute blindly, Your Majesty. It is our duty to guide, to teach—not to destroy unless there is great cause.”
“And yet,” Alaric countered smoothly, “destruction is often necessary for salvation. Consider the parable of the withered tree: when one branch rots, you must cut it away to save the whole. Is this land not like that tree?”
Malric’s eyes narrowed, his expression conflicted. “A just ruler would know that such decisions are not made lightly.”
“Exactly,” the king said, leaning closer. “That is why I’ve come to you, Father. You are a man of conviction, of unshakable faith. Together, we could identify the rot and cleanse it. Imagine a kingdom united under one banner, one belief, with no room for sin or dissent.”
THE RELIGIOUS APPEAL
The king stood, pacing slowly in front of the pews, his voice taking on a fervent edge. “Do you not see, Father? God has given us this opportunity. The church and the crown, working together, could bring about a golden age—a kingdom free of heresy and corruption. A kingdom where His light shines on every corner.”
Malric watched him carefully, the king’s words stirring something deep within him. “You speak of cleansing, but such methods are fraught with peril. Innocents could suffer.”
“Innocents suffer already,” Alaric said sharply, turning to face him. “Look at the state of this land. Crime festers in the cities, and the people lose faith with each passing day. You have the power to stop it, Father. To guide them back to righteousness. there is no such thing as innocent people these days. Everyone has lost their fear of the church and God trying to rid it of the existence of God with technology and science.”
The priest’s fingers tightened around his beads, his mind racing. The king’s words were compelling, but the weight of such an alliance was immense.
THE KING’S FINAL PUSH
Alaric knelt suddenly, startling Malric. The king’s voice dropped to a near whisper, his tone heavy with sincerity. “I am but a man, Father. A man who wants to save his people. But I cannot do it alone. With your guidance, with the church’s wisdom, we could bring this kingdom back from the brink. Will you not join me in this holy mission?”
Malric stared at him, the sight of the king kneeling before him striking a chord. The man was a ruler, yes, but his words carried a genuine conviction that was difficult to ignore. The priest’s thoughts turned to the story he had shared with Kazuki earlier—the boy consumed by darkness, half of the party lost to his power. If the king wiped out all darkness, perhaps such tragedies could be prevented.
After a long silence, Malric nodded slowly. “Very well, Your Majesty. The church will stand with the crown in this endeavor. May we rid the world of evil and darkness together.
Alaric rose, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. “Of course, Father. Together, we will ensure that justice prevails.”
THE HOLY ALLIANCE
The king turned to his guards, gesturing for them to follow as he made his way to the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at Malric. “We will meet again soon to discuss the details. Rest well, Father. Our work begins shortly.”
As the heavy doors closed behind him, Malric stood in the flickering candlelight, his mind heavy with the weight of what he had just agreed to. The church and the crown, united in purpose—it was an alliance that could shape the future of the kingdom. A sinister smile crossed Alaric's face. "I have secured the church making things so much easier for me. the church's forces are now with us," the king said while looking off to his side as he knew the cloaked woman was watching from some dark shadow.
In the shadows of the church, unseen by all, darkness seemed to linger, curling at the edges of the light and a dark figure stood barely visible, with a grin.