Sunlight slowly bloomed over the horizon. Master Vol walked to the Chimera Tower and stood within the empty field. He heard its unmistakable call. Undoubtedly his counterpart Pope Pious XXIII had as well. A dark spot appeared on the horizon with the sun to its back. Master Vol raised his hands and began the ritual “Beschwörungstechnik: Toller Eichenbaum” (Summoning Technique: Great Oaktree).

***

No one ever tells you how cold it is in heaven. Alfso and Ribold huddled close together sharing warmth while Chakken had latched his chains onto the Bahamut and pinned himself deep in its moldy fur. Ahead of them they saw their adopted hometown of Todt Stadt. Out in the plains of a tower Ribold saw massive roots and wood swirling across the rippling ground and a massive tree rose from the ground raining soil to the ground. Its branches were large enough to accommodate the Bahamut’s massive talons and it flapped with enough force to cause a storm of dirt to blow past Master Vol before it abruptly landed on a branch and the tree groaned. Chakken lowered some chains and Ribold and Alfso slid down the chains like firemen before Chakken reluctantly followed.

Master Vol was filled with excitement, he hadn’t seen the Magnus Bahamut since the old times when his friend Kleber the Magnificent rained destruction upon the church. Kleber had been a charismatic man who never tolerated anyone persecuting his friends. His life was a series of conflicts that escalated until ironically Kleber united the deeply divided Cardinals against him. Church unity was maintained but they lost most of their forces. If Kleber were alive today he’d approve of his successor. Alfso was kind and gentle like Kleber was.

Vol strode forth welcoming his protégés home. “Welcome back you two!”

Alfso spoke first, “Master Vol, I’m so sorry!”

“I doubt you have anything to be sorry for.” Vol said estaticaly. “I see you found what I hoped you would.”

“I got caught by a group of bandits called the Jovial Wolves and then there was a big fight. A cardinal appears and Master Draihan,” Alfso started sobbing, “He! He...”

Vol had already guessed as much. Draihan was a loyal soldier, he’d never let Ribold out of his sight, much less let him ride Magnus Bahamut with an amateur necromancer at the reigns. It was a minor miracle they came back at all.

Ribold spoke up angry and determined, “You’re wrong!”

“What? But it was my fault!”

“No. Draihan’s not gone.” Ribold produced the shredded foot, the heel was mostly obliterated and the flesh was torn off the top exposing bone and sinew. A box appeared from the ground and the foot crumbled into dust that scattered in the wind. The lid opened and Draihan stepped out. His eyes were completely white and he didn’t speak. Parts of his body were still rotten.

Vol responded, “I see. Not too bad, you don’t seem to have mastered returning his cognition but he seems to be physically imposing still. With some practice I’m sure he’ll speak again. Who’s that with you?”

Chakken stepped forward reluctantly and in awe. He’d never really seen a city before and only heard rumors of Todt Stadt. Now at his front was Master Vol, the dark pope, and behind him Magnus Bahamut. There was nowhere to run, no way to escape, just like home he thought excitedly. “I’m Chakken. I’m the one that helped kidnap your apprentice.”

Vol suppressed a laugh, “And I see you specialize in the inanimate school. You seem to use chains.”

“They’re all I’ve known.” Chakken replied.

“Well then!” Vol said eyeing the chains Chakken kept wrapped around his scarred emaciated body, “Suit yourself!” Turning to look at all of them Vol regarded Ribold with Draihan as his first thrall, Alfso with Magnus Bahamut as his second chimera. And last was some masochist wrapped in chains. “Well, I know this adventure was very difficult but I must say I never expected you to grow so much. Ribold, you turned a member of the Unholy 7 into your thrall. Alfso, I only wanted you to discover and gain inspiration to model your chimera from Magnus Bahamut. I wasn’t expecting you to revive or control it for some time, if at all.”

Ribold spoke up, “We fought a Cardinal. Della Rovere. We couldn’t defeat him, even if we used the Bahamut, I’m not convinced we could win. Draihan fell to him.”

A shiver ran up the old man’s spine, Vol said concealing his melancholy, “Did this Cardinal say anything?”

“Nothing but lies.” Ribold replied with cold conviction.

“So he is still alive then?”

“Yeah. We couldn’t get him. I’m sorry,” Ribold said.

“Well I guess it's promotion time after all. This will be controversial but I cannot ignore your deeds. Pious certainly won’t.” Vol inhaled and with reluctance he said, “Congratulations! You two are now members of the Unholy 7! You should probably think of titles for yourselves. For Ribold little changes but for Alfso you too are now going to be one of the most wanted men in Christendom! Welcome to infamy and excommunication! You’ve made it boys!”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ribold just stood in stunned silence and was filled with anxiety and Alfso whooped and jumped with excitement. Chakken just looked at them all and realized that despite being a masochist with a fear of freedom he felt he was now the sane one.

***

“And?” Pope Pious said displeased.

“They escaped, Holy Father.” Della Rovere replied using all of his strength to hide the emotions swirling within him.

“I find it difficult to imagine you were challenged by three fledglings, even if they were under the tutelage of the Unholy 7.”

“I have failed Holy Father. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”

Pope Pious XXV wondered for a moment and then continued, “You are more than capable Della Rovere. Perhaps this fluke was an act of God to test us… Even still the child of Katharsis Merron escaped and now the cult of death has the Bahamut in their possession. I may have to deal with it myself if this continues.”

Della Rovere involuntarily shivered in fear. If things would become dire enough for the Pope to move then Della Rovere would be unable to protect his son.

“There’s more,” Pious continued, “My own spies have informed me that the boy and his friend are now members of the Unholy 7.”

Impossible! Della Rovere thought, using all of his power not to scream and beat his fist upon the balcony. Ribold would be excommunicated for sure. The Unholy 7 were by default condemned to eternal damnation. Only a papal decree could undo such an extreme proclamation. Still, he couldn’t reveal the truth, not now, not ever. Della Rovere flirted with the idea of unburdening himself of his horrifying secret but knew better. There would be no mercy, another cardinal would be appointed to hunt down and kill his son, he’d be stripped of title, rank, and likely excommunicated as well. There was no coming back from such a scandal. But by keeping the secret he’d lose nothing but sleep. He’d never wanted to become pope but Katharsis predicted he would be. Had she known something he did not? She was a necromancer, not a palm reader, she couldn’t have known this.

“Are you alright Cardinal? You seem more dumbstruck by the magnitude of your failure than I do..”

“Forgive me Holy Father, I… I never imagined those children would grow so quickly. Unholy 7? Jerome Vollrath’s arrogance has no bounds. I saw them myself. They’re children! They are not near the level of Unholy 7 yet. Surely he means to provoke me!” Della Rovere said before he realized he was tipping his hand.

“Why would Jerome Vollrath want to provoke you?”

“Perhaps by promoting the children that escaped me! My embarrassment is boundless.”

“Stow your ego Della Rovere! I have more pressing concerns. I need you to do what you do best. Purging corruption. I suspect the next task will keep you busy and away for some time.”

Della Rovere felt his spirit sink ever further, “I exist to serve Your Holiness.”

“In the meantime, if we are to hunt the Unholy 7 perhaps it's best I release hounds of my own to deal with them.”

Della Rovere turned pale, “Your personal guard?”

Pope Pious smiled warmly, “Better, the Brides of God.”

***

Della Rovere stormed out of the Papal quarters shaking with anger. If not for that damned blonde boy summoning the Bahamut, if not for the chain boy blocking his attacks, if Vol hadn’t sent them to Fafnir’s tomb, if Katharsis hadn’t sent Ribold to the necromancers, if Della Rovere had hardened his heart and had not succumbed to carnal behavior. Perhaps, had he not killed Donatien Gagne in front of his student. Della Rovere dove into the usual confession box, slamming the door shut. He put his head in his hands and screamed.

“Oh ye of little faith.” Katharsis said playfully.

“You!” Della Rovere bellowed looking up through tear soaked eyes to see Katharsis wearing a nun’s habit, smiling at him. He caught himself and spoke in a choked whisper, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Careful father, swearing within the Holy See may be construed as a sin.”

“It’s a small wonder you didn’t burst into flames when you entered the city limits.”

“If it’ll let you save face I’ll say I felt a tingling sensation on the way in.”

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done!? Ribold is one of the Unholy 7! He’s been excommunicated! I’ve no way to save him now!”

“Of course you do. Just become pope and then do as you will.”

“Ridiculous! I have an obligation to the church, I will not plot against His Holiness.”

“No need. I’ll arrange a new era and open the door for you. You’ll only need to step through and kneel to me. Just as you did before.”

That stung, Della Rovere thought a moment before adding, “I will never kneel to

you again.”

“That’s too bad, I rather liked seeing you on your knees. Well, think about it. Because I’m not planning to kill Pious, not anytime soon. But there will come a time when you’ll need to make a choice. If you honestly think the other Cardinals aren’t fighting for their own personal desires in the next battle of Peteyr’s Rock then perhaps you are lost.”

“Ribold’s in danger. I know you can find him. The Abbess of the Brides of God will make her move. Ribold will never be able to trust a woman again. Not unlike me it seems.”

Katharsis playfully put her face to the lattice barrier that separated the confessor from the penitent, her wild violet eyes reflecting the rays of moonlight before retiring into the darkness of the confessional. “It’s ok. I forgive you. Say ten hail mothers and spend the rest of your lonely night remembering what it was like to sleep with me.”

Della Rovere caught himself lunging before he smashed the confessional to get at her. He simultaneously wanted to murder her and to hold her tight. He would’ve settled on strangling her. She replaced her stolen nun cowl and left. Della Rovere reached for the hidden compartment for the flask and found it empty. In the flask was a note protruding that read,

Love Always,

Katharsis Merron

Della Rovere scowled at it for several minutes before burning it with a candle.