The Libram of Forbidden Gospel, and the Exorcism spell…

From an antique bookcase, one of many in the Sepulchre holding the Ecclesiarch’s personal collection, Lady Iris retrieves the Libram of Forbidden Gospel. Just like its fellow librams, it has the golden runes of the Order of Selene emblazoned upon its blue hardcover.

This particular Libram, however… it’s not available in the Chantry’s library. Only the Ecclesiarch (and by extension, the Executor – Anna’s Second Mom) has access to it. For good reason, because there’s another spell bound within its pages, one that summons a Skeleton that’ll attack any Paladin seeking knowledge of the Exorcism spell. In their mind, anyway – mind over matter, and all that.

It’s a test of sorts, a trial by fire to apply what you’ve learned immediately. Exorcism is a spell that lets a Paladin use their Mana to disrupt the dark energies of the undead and demons, utterly eradicating a single target or spreading the love amongst a whole group, wounding them all evenly. Undead and demons aren’t naturally of this world, and Exorcism unbinds the evil magics keeping them here, destroying them in the process.

But it’s not all milk and honey! Exorcism is also very taxing on Mana, and paladins don’t have much of it. Not as much as the Healers they protect, at least! But it really turns the table on the undead and demons! Especially demons! I’ve seen it with my own two eyes from none other than this green-eyed Paladin standing before Lady Iris and me.

“May this spell serve you well in the coming days…” Lady Iris says as she hands Anna the Libram of Forbidden Gospel. “But are you prepared to face the undead? There is one bound within these holy pages that will attack you without mercy once the spell is yours.”

“Don’t worry, Mom! I’m prepared to do my best,” Anna answers solemnly, taking a deep breath. “For you and Arisa, my Healers… my family… and for the Order of Selene, I’m ready!”

“Hell yeah!” I add enthusiastically, my smile brimming with confidence. “You’ll do just fine with that Libram, lurking undead or not. Open it up, and let’s see you do it!”

“Yup. Already on it!”

Without much in the way of struggle or resistance, the Libram of Forbidden Gospel opens up to Anna, its secrets laid bare like, well… an open book! It senses that she’s worthy, after all. Having braved those three minutes with Saint Alyssa and all of the Cathedral of the First Saint, will do just that. It’s one of the few librams that offer up knowledge so easily.

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I still can’t read what’s inside it, though. Being a Healer and all that. For shame. But I remember asking Anna about it back in the previous timeline. I think she said it was the tale of a lone Warrior, a Hero who left her village searching for Vampires, seeking their blood as part of some kind of miracle cure to a Blood Plague afflicting her fellow villagers. For years on end, she hunted and killed Vampires across the land, collecting their accursed blood for the purpose of purifying it into an elixir to save her people.

It was her Prophecy. But in the process of doing what needed to be done… the blood corrupted her even as she spilled it with her blade for the ones she loved. Each drop of blood gave her more power to enact her righteous crusade at a terrible price, cursing her flesh and soul to become just like those she hunted and killed. That eventually, blinded by corruption eternally scarring both body and spirit… she no longer knows or remembers who she once was, or why she even left her village in the first place.

This Libram's story is… well, it’s something. But I get what it’s saying. Kinda. I think of the Demon Lord in my dreams and what I’ve been offered, the first of possibly much more to come. It’s rather… unsettling. Yeah. That’s the word.

“How do you feel, Anna?” Lady Iris asks when Anna looks up from the Libram of Forbidden Gospel, green eyes still shimmering with magic and Mana. “Stronger, I trust? It looks like you were successful.”

“Umm… was I dreaming just now? Mom, Arisa… when I pored through those pages… it felt like I wasn’t here anymore…” Anna answers, her voice a little shaky. “I was in a white, empty room, and I saw a Skeleton coming for me! It was creaking loudly as it shambled towards me, hands outstretched and fingers reaching for my eyes…”

“Yes. And what did you do? Do you remember?”

“I extended my hand towards the Skeleton. I wanted to destroy it. As I focused on that thought… that desire… it crumbled to dust before my very eyes!”

“Sounds about right,” I chime in, smiling brightly. “Good job!”

“Oh my! Umm… that’s great! I didn’t expect to learn Exorcism so quickly…”

“Learning is but the first step,” Lady Iris says gently, nodding approvingly. “Mastery is another. But now, the inner workings of Exorcism are a part of you, and they will always be.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll wield this spell with everything I’ve got!” Anna answers warmly, smiling and winking at me. “With it, I’ll keep Arisa safe and out of trouble!”

“Hey, I feel safer already!” I add happily. “Damn demons and undead won’t know what hit them.”

“Oh, Arisa…”

“Keep your sword arm steady and your spells close your heart and mind. It is the strength and burden of a Paladin. As for you, Lady Ishii…” Lady Iris says to Anna, before her gaze falls upon me and only me. “I have a spell for you as well.”

“Woah, a spell?”

“Indeed. The Clairvoyance spell sees the world around us by using astral projection to gaze into the realm of light, does it not?”

“It does!”

“I ruminated on it further. The realm of the dead is but another world to be traversed, is it not?”

“Just like the realm of dreams and the realm of the living…”

“Indeed, Lady Ishii. For now, the realm of the dead,” Lady Iris answers warmly. “Shall we begin? There is much to share, and so little time.”

Oho! Is this what I think it is? If it is… this is really shaping up to be one hell of a day!