“This has gone for too long,” Lexicas II remarked. The situation was getting more intense than we thought. At first, we thought it was just a gravedigger. But now it was something entirely different.
Apparently, the owner of the coin was a saboteur from the forces of the Dark who had been mocking us the entire time. Not only did he managed to knock out one of our Inquisitors, he also caused a major unrest within the city.
“That man named Boz...he did all this?” Lexicas II asked.
I was standing in front of the Council of the Holy, where most of the holiest and important figures had gathered to discuss about the biggest threat to Aon since the Three Liches. Each of them were old men and were sitting on extremely tall tables. I had to look up and strain my eyes to see their individual details. The room was also dim, as the candles at the bottom couldn’t even light up the entire room, which was too big.
Lexicas II was referring to the schism that was currently boiling within the city. He had no idea how it was caused, but he was sure it was by the saboteur.
“This great divide, all caused by a dumb argument!” One of the cardinals exclaimed.
“I agree, it’s dumb. It’s pronounced I-on,” The other old man exclaimed.
“Now, look here, you little old shit…” One of the other cardinal answered back.
“Silence! Lady Adrianna, please answer my question,” Lexicas II commanded with an aura of authority. The other cardinals immediately shut their mouth.
“Indeed, he seemed to have perfected his disguise, posing as a pilgrim. I should’ve suspected something when that pilgrim was followed by some heavily armed men. They were obviously forces of the Demon Gods,” I answered.
“But we felt no presence of the demons nor death,” One of the cardinals remarked. Indeed, they did not feel all too different. In fact, they seemed like nice people. But I was aware of their facade. They were obviously posing as such.
“Or perhaps they were manipulated,” Lexicas II said, “Or much worse, they found the truth and is trying to attain the miasma of death to become...something unimaginable.”
The cardinals started discussing among each other. This was indeed worrying. The incident of the Three Liches also came from this. Three men managed to slip past us and became the liches that nearly destroyed Aon. Luckily, a hero took them down by using the holy waters.
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“We need to recall all our crusaders. A great campaign of night terrors is coming. We should steel ourselves,” Someone suggested.
“Indeed, with the crusaders, we could start purging those E-on heretics.”
“You’re getting too senile for your age, step down from the seat of cardinal and let someone take it, you brainless maggot!”
“I may be a brainless maggot, but at least I am not a heretic who can’t even speak basic Western Commons!”
“People, please.” Lexicas sighed. Even within the council, the schism is taking roots. The Path was starting to branch into two, and there was much to lose. With another Three Liches incident right in their face, and a growing tide of unrest on the holy city itself, whoever orchestrated this was a genius among genius. A master manipulator whose only purpose was destruction of society as we know it.
He might as well be one of the Demon Gods, pulling the strings, creating the greatest Hell on Earth as promised by the demons. What sort of hole did he come from to create such chaos that even the bravest man could do nothing but despair?
Not only would Aon fracture, it would also fracture the nearby countries. Almost all of the west of the continent follow the Path of Life. The entire continent might be plunged into a great war that could rival the War with Forbidden Origins that took place a thousand years ago.
A knight came through the door behind me, flooding the room with slightly more light. He knelt onto the floor and announced, “My greatest apologies to the holiest men of the Path. This lowly servant must disturb you because this is very important. A group of robed men are at the guard’s office looking for the dagger which matches the description of the dagger held by the Inquisitors.”
The cardinals started whispering among themselves. I was stunned. Why did the mastermind of this entire schism come to the lion’s den? Was it a trap?
I looked up to Lexicas II to see what he plans on doing. Even Lexicas II was perplexed by this unthinkable action.
“Prepare the Inquisitors, but let them come through. Lead them to this room directly,” Lexicas II ordered.
The knight bowed then left. The cardinals prepared themselves for combat, for they, too, felt that it would be inevitable.
“Your holiness, Grand Cardinal. What do you think they’re planning?” I asked Lexicas II. He closed his eyes then went silent for a while before answering me.
“Blackmail us, perhaps? There is no reason to come to us directly except...” Lexicas II replied. He turned his head to behind him. He looked onto a large metal door.
Behind the door lied the strongest source of miasma. The cardinals all stood as the last line of the defense of Aon, but they were also the strongest defense. Not only the cardinals stood guard, but more and more Inquisitors arrived, taking position to assault the coming foes.
I took my position as the Head of Guards and prepared my sword. I stroked it once, as a habit, with a ray of light shining upon it. I could see my reflection, my face plastered emotionless. I was simply in deep thought. What would happen next could either destroy the Path, or help it.