It was three in the morning. The sudden world quest halted the duel of fate and sent everyone into a panic. The Pontiff called the High Priestess and Priest to an emergency meeting inside the inner chamber to discuss the action that they should take.

For two hours Theo waited for them outside the door leading to the inner chamber. He was anxious, unable to calm down and unable to sleep. But unlike every other person there, Theo wasn't concerned with the world quest, he was concerned what Sara would do after all that he did before. He hoped that the world quest would distract Sara enough for him to get the upper hand in their deal.

The massive double door creaked open. The Pontiff, four High Priests, and a High Priestess walked out from the inner chamber. Sara was not among them. They all had a troubled expression on their face. Of course, who wouldn't get troubled when the God they believed in told them that the world was about to end if they didn't act quickly.

The High Priestess approached Theo and told him that Sara was waiting inside. In a normal situation, no one was allowed inside other than high-ranking clergymen, but the Pontiff has given his permission. Theo thanked the old High Priestess. Then he entered the inner chamber. The door shut itself the moment Theo walked in. The room was pretty dim, with only a few light miracles and a few candles illuminating it.

The inner chamber was a massive meeting chamber with a long table in it. It was lavishly decorated with statues and gemstones. The chairs and table inside were also covered in gold. On the other side of the entrance was a massive golden statue of God Ketu. Sara waited for Theo in front of it.

"You don't appear to be concerned by the fire realm invasion." Theo said when he noticed Sara calm attitude, unlike the rest.

"Why would I? Mount Etna is located between Amaryn, Holy Empire, and the Free Cities. Amaryn has Arslan and Barnabas. Holy Empire has Caesar and Antonius. Free Cities have.. well, a lot. Not to mention the Theocracy will help them. We have The Chosen One, The Weapons of The Church, and the fanatical devotion of millions of people. Why should I be afraid? And if the worst comes to the worst, we can call Hannibal, Mercurius, or even Thomas Dawn."

Theo looked around the room. "So much for modesty being a virtue."

Sara rubbed the statue with her hand. She caressed it slowly and with great care. "This statue was not commissioned by the Church. It was a gift from a famous goldsmith." Sara took a deep breath. "Leave us."

Shadows moved from every corner of the room. Swiftly moving out without making a sound and without any disturbance in the air. Theo counted ten, but they moved so fast that he didn't have time to see them all. "Shadow magic, neat."

"The Asshole has become fucking paranoid in the last few years. He has these damned visions and dreams that no one could decipher and understand." By Asshole, she meant the Pontiff.

"He probably got senile cause of his age."

"Maybe. Not to mention the strange happening all around the damned fucking continent. Anyway, that was a fucking good show."

"What?" Theo asked.

"Sending your slut running to the Chosen One and then defending her. That was a good play."

"Wha-" Theo was even more confused.

Sara turned her body towards Theo. "Wait, you don't mean that was not a fucking act?"

"Why the hell would I do that?" Theo stopped. His eyes widen when he realized it. "The warning you made about not drawing attention to myself, that's a reverse psychology." Sara nodded. The anxiousness he had all this time was for no reason at all. "What makes you believe I would risk my women?"

Sara squinted his eyes. "Strange. The Theo I knew would definitely do that. It seems like this Mary of yours has truly changed you, Theo. Inside and out."

"Do you mean the 'me' before doesn't care about his women?" He asked. "Are you saying that......You know what? Let's just talk business. I ask you a favor, two favors. Speak yours. You said about making me your champion or something."

"I changed my mind. I remember something much more important. I ask you only one favor. One. Tell me where the Light Bringer is."

Theo raised his brows. "I don't know."

"Bullshit."

This was another reason why Theo hate dealing with Sara. She suspected that he hid the Legendary weapon, Light Bringer. Even though Theo didn't know where his father hid it. "I don't know. Even if I know, what makes you think I will tell you? My father owns the Light Bringer. He IS the Light Bringer."

"The Light Bringer is a Legendary weapon owned by The Church. Your father is a fucking paladin, was. We lent it to him. When he retired, he should have returned it, but he stole it and hid it somewhere even I don't fucking know. Now tell me, where did he fucking hid it?"

"I said I don't know."

"BULLSHIT!!" Sara's voice thundered in the chamber. It was rare for her to lose her temper. She took a deep breath. "Kneel Theo."

"No. Let me-"

"Kneel!" Sara shouted. "Realize your fucking position, then bargain! don't overplay your damned cards. Remember that the life of your demon and the safety of your Mary still lies in my hand."

Theo clicked his tongue then he relented. He kneeled before her and before the statue of her God. He didn't have any bargaining power over her since he didn't know where the Light Bringer was. "Put your hands on the fucking floor." Sara ordered. Theo did what he was told.

The floor underneath him glowed yellow as a magic circle formed on it. Theo grunted. his whole body was shackled, making even breathing painful. But he didn't complain, he didn't scream.

"A Tier 7 miracle to keep you from moving. Even breathing should be hard for you right now, bitch. It's amazing what a faith to God Ketu can give you. Even Sir Arslan shouldn't be able to break the shackle."

Sara walked next to him. She then walked in circle around him. The silence was unsettling. What did Sara plan to do? Theo asked inside his mind.

The silence lasted for a few minutes before Sara spoke. "How is it, Theo? The feeling of powerlessness. Is it the same powerlessness, the same lack of control that you felt when you were seven years old?" She stopped behind him. "When you witnessed the death of your mother and the massacre of your entire village? When you stood still while they burned and scream for your help." Theo wanted to say something. He wanted to shut her up, but he held it all back.

Sara raised a finger. He grunted, the chain and shackle around him tightened.

"Or is it the same feeling you felt when you saw your father died in your arms? when his body turned cold. When all you can do is cry for help." She sat behind him on a chair. "Of course. After both of that incident, you have coveted power and control more than anything. Though unlike most people, you don't covet power and control in the traditional sense. You don't necessarily want pure power, wealth, or political position. No. You covet power in your everyday life, in a more subtle way."

"You kill because it gives you the feeling of control over someone's life, over someone's fate. You steal because it gives you the feeling of power over someone's possession. And that's why you kill even though you don't have to, and you steal whenever you can."

Sara paused for a few seconds. "And that's why you manipulate and collect women. That's why you want a harem of women. Your father's last will? All he said is continue my dream. Having a harem is your own interpretation. Those women's happiness depends on you? Bullshit! Those women can fall in love again like everyone else. Love? Is love leaving them for months while you fuck other women? No. Whatever reason you might have or whatever excuse come out from your mouth. I know the truth. Because it gives you control over their life. It gives you the feeling of power and control over their feelings, their bodies, their possession, their......everything."

Theo gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He denied it all. He loved his women from the bottom of his heart. There was no other explanation.

"That's also the reason why you are afraid of me. that's why you avoid Vex. That's why you hate Aria. Because Vex stole the feeling of power when you have sex with her. She utterly dominates and controls the flow of the act. Because I know a lot of things that you didn't know. I stole the feeling of control you have over a situation when we have a conversation. Because Aria was able to control you and lie to your face. She stole the feeling of control you have over the truth and facts, and the power you have over a woman's feeling......"

"That's why I expect you to use your women to your own gain. Because the Theo I knew would sacrifice his own women for his gain........ But you have changed. That Mary girl of yours, she changed you. You actually love and care for your women now. But that also become your weakness. Before, I can't bargain with you because you don't care about the safety of your women. You can just search for more if one or two die. They were nothing more than your objects, items, toys for you to play with."

"For whatever it is worth....... This Mary, how important is she to you? Is she more important to you than your father? Your mother?"

Theo tried to break the binding miracle, but he couldn't. No matter how hard he struggled, no matter how much power he mustered, he couldn't. Not with physical strength. Theo remembered his father's word about the basic principle of miracles and its greatest weakness. He closed his eyes and prayed to his God, Varah, from the bottom of his heart.

The chain broke. The shackle came off.

Theo stood up, catching Sara off guard and surprising her. He slammed her body to the golden statue of God Ketu. "Impossible..." She exclaimed.

"The fundamental aspect of a miracle is faith. It doesn't matter whether you believe in God Ketu or some random Gods. I have faith in my God."

"A pagan God."

"Which overpower a tier 7 miracle from your God." Theo smiled.

The most basic things of manipulating other people were knowing their desire and their ego. The hardest thing about dealing with Sara was that she didn't seems have any attachment to the world. She wasn't afraid for her life, her position or her belonging. She wasn't offended if she was mocked or underestimated. But there was one thing that Theo knew would get on Sara's nerve. It was mocking her God.

Sara squinted her eyes. "Let's save the theological discussion for another time, shall we?"

Theo let her go. "Then let's talk business."

"Alright." She stood up and held her neck "Let's talk business. Where is the Light Bringer?"

Theo looked at her. He was surprised that she didn't believe him already. "I said I don't know."

They stared at each other for a good few minutes without saying anything to each other. They both were trying to read each other thought. "Seems like you really don't know, huh? Whatever, I can search it myself." She turned her body to face the golden statue. "Well, if that's the case then I want two favors from you." She raised a finger. "I want to have a long conversation with your Lyana. I won't hurt her, you can watch and observe if you want." She raised another finger. "Like I told you before, be my champion."

Theo crossed his arms. "What do you mean by that and why? Why me? why not the Chosen One?"

Sara chuckled. "The Chosen One? What I need is a person who can act like a saint in front of the masses but is willing to have his hands get dirty when it needs to. Not a lust-driven hound who can't help but act childish and selfish in front of thousands of people." She turned towards Theo again. "Champion in the sense that I officially support your action. Whatever you do, my name will be with you. If you succeed, I succeed. If you fuck up, I get fucked up."

Theo laughed. "Why? You know I hate you and want to kill you. Why put your chance to become the next Pontiff in someone who wants to drag your name in the dirt? Especially after your show of power and you threaten me."

"Because you're my best chance. you're the perfect man for the role. And it's precisely because I threaten you that you won't fuck it up. You drag my name to the dust, you bury your women. Easy and simple. Of course, I won't shackle you too much. You're free to do what you want to do, as long as the eyes of the public see you as their hero. It's a mutual relationship really."

Theo smiled. Sara made mistake. The biggest weapon in a bargain is to pretend that you don't need the other party. That you have ten thousand other options to choose from. By saying that Theo was her best chance and the best person for the job, Sara made a mistake. It gave Theo a bargaining power.

"Okay, I'll be your champion. And I will let you speak to Lyana under my observation. But promise that from this second onward you will protect my women, not just Mary."

"Already fucking did." Sara said with a smug smile. "Your bitch Aria already sent five assassins to kill your women. Foiled them all." Sara walked near Theo. "Then as my new champion, you have to stop this 'Fire Invasion'. Remember that you have to be the one that stopped it, not just participating. You have to be the hero that saves the world from ending. Not just a side character who helps."

Theo nodded. He was doubtful. Was that all Sara wanted? She didn't abuse her position and advantage like she normally did.

They stared at each other again for a few minutes. "You said in the past that you have....a friend. An elemental friend. You already know about this invasion, right? That's why you're so fucking calm right now." Sara asked.

"I do. He told me that they are preparing for an invasion, though he doesn't know when. Or who will lead the invasion. But I know now, who the enemy leader is."

"Ohhh. Tell me every detail that you know. Every, single, fucking, thing-"

Suddenly, the door to the inner chamber went wide open. The pontiff walked in. "Ahh, Sara, Theo." He nodded his head. "I'm sorry to interrupt your discussion. But I have an urgent matter to do. Can you please..."

Sara bowed and smiled like an angel. "Of course, your Highness."

Theo bowed too. "Of course."

Once they were outside the inner chamber, Theo looked all around them. The ceiling, the corner, the wall. "Don't worry, no one will spy on us." Sara said, knowing what Theo was doing,

Theo looked at her. "You know what is inside his personal chamber, right?"

"A mistress, some sex slaves, and a secret drug storage." Sara said in a serious tone. She was not joking. "He was not like that before. Only in the last 5 years had he walked away from the path of the God."

"Any plan to overthrow him?"

"Yes. But first I need to secure my seat as his next successor. That's why I championed you. His health started to fail him in the past few years. I hope you can bring me result before he dies."

"As long as you keep your side of the deal."

"I'm a woman of my words Theo. You know that. I won't bail out from a deal unless it is absolutely necessary."

They reached a forked path and went their own way. Each to their own chamber. "Theo." Sara called him once again. "I'm sorry."

Theo looked at her, confused at her sudden change of attitude. "For what?"

"We started on the wrong footing here. Let's just say that our last meeting three years ago have....given me the wrong impression about you. If I know how you are right now, I wouldn't resort to threatening you with your women. So I'm sorry. What I want is a mutual and beneficial relationship for both of us. Not this.. power dynamic between two people."

Theo didn't answer. This was another reason why Theo hate her. Sometimes she was the devil, sometimes an angel, and he didn't know which was the 'real' her or whether there was a 'real' her at all. Of course, he wasn't all swayed by her words. She has threatened him with his women, he won't forget it.

Never.

"Oh and one more." Sara said. "There's a priestess named Mia in the library. She has committed adultery a few times before. Since she hasn't confessed her sins, I don't think she would mind if she does it a few more times. She's quite the beauty you know."