image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]

The caravan pressed on, forging ahead through the rugged terrain, while we regrouped at the wagons. Yarine, visibly drained both spiritually and physically from her encounter with the eldritch horror, sought solace inside one of the wagons alongside the other wounded. She remained silent, her faith shaken by the perceived indifference of her lord to her desperate pleas.

As twilight descended upon us, we had already descended from the treacherous hills where our battle had taken place. We traversed through the rolling hills, gradually approaching the vast expanse of grasslands that lay ahead.

In the distance, a pair of towering guard posts stood sentinel, their illumination piercing the encompassing darkness of the night. It was evident that our only viable path forward led us straight towards these imposing structures.

With our caravan drawing near, a vigilant guard emerged from the shadows, clad in a suit of robust iron armor and wielding a formidable iron pike in his hand.

The guard leveled his gaze at me and sternly demanded, "State your business, traveler."

Peering down at the guard from my vantage point atop the lead wagon, I responded with a composed tone, "We are a convoy transporting the injured to the Church of Michael."

His eyes narrowed slightly as he removed his helmet and placed it beside him. "The Church of Michael, hmm? I assume you are in the company of Lady Yarine?"

I affirmed his assumption. "That is correct."

His expression softened with understanding. "I see. However, in accordance with a decree from the Holy Emperor, we are compelled to enforce a prohibition on nighttime travel. I kindly request that you halt your wagons by the observation tower to the right, where you may rest for the night. Tomorrow, you may continue your journey."

"We are to rest inside?"

"Not inside the tower, as it is a military post. You will, however, remain within your wagons."

I nodded in acknowledgment as the guard proceeded to elaborate further.

"Furthermore, we are obligated to conduct routine inspections of passing caravans for the safety of the empire. I hope you understand and cooperate with our investigation."

"I have no objections,"

"How many travel with you?"

"Currently, we have a dozen people in our convoy, including four armed escorts, Lady Yarine, and several injured civilians."

With a gesture of his hand, the guard directed me to bring the wagons to a stop beside the nearby building. As the three wagons came to a halt, Yarine and one of her guards emerged from their vehicle, their gazes fixed upon the night sky.

image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]

Stepping off the wagon, I approached Yarine, noticing the heaviness etched across her face.

"Bumpy ride?" I asked, attempting to lighten the atmosphere with a touch of humor.

Yarine's gaze remained fixed on the darkened clouds above, her voice barely audible. "I can't hear it..."

"Can't hear what?"

Her eyes shifted down, meeting mine as I held her gaze.

"The call of the heavens... The voices of my lord... I can no longer hear them," Yarine confessed, her voice tinged with sadness.

Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, I spoke softly, seeking to offer her my demonic guidance. "Yarine, true strength resides within you... If you seek power, if you yearn to bring forth the justice you desire, you must look deep within yourself. Embrace your emotions, harness the power of your hate, and your anger, and unleash them on your enemies."

Yarine regarded me with uncertainty, her eyes reflecting doubt. "But... the holy scripture teaches us..."

I interrupted her, my words carrying conviction. "Forget about the holy scripture for a moment and listen to me. True power doesn't solely reside in love and friendships, but in rage and hate. If you truly want power, you must seize it."

Yarine crossed her arms, turning away from me, her expression filled with hesitation and uncertainty.

"What you speak of, these powers you claim, they are of a demonic nature..."

"And what if they are?" I challenged. "Were these very powers not the ones that saved the lives of your comrades and yourself? Where was your God when you needed him most, forcing you to resort to such measures?"

"They were."

"And so?"

"And so what?" Yarine questioned. "Be glad I do not report you to the local guard, you would've been executed on the spot for your practice... If you are attempting to persuade me into your footsteps, then I will entertain this discussion no further," Yarine declared, her voice tinged with concern. "I have accepted your assistance, but if you are a worshiper of demons or a practitioner of dark arts, then I no longer require your services."

"But Yarine!"

Filled with uncertainty, Yarine turned away from me and ventured into the nearby woods.

Her guard, who had accompanied her, motioned with a subtle nod, silently urging me to go after her.

image [https://i.imgur.com/lhqCDcB.png]

I followed in Yarine's footsteps, navigating through the dense, fog-laden woods. My mind raced, questioning the impact of my words and the consequences they might bring.

I want her to join me... She has rage within her, unlike Mila, and has proven capable of unleashing it, but it's her unwavering faith in her beloved God that worries me... Perhaps I pushed her too far...

Within the depths of the woods, an opening revealed itself, revealing a sizable rock at its center adorned with intricate engravings. Yarine had fallen to her knees, clutching her cross tightly in her hands, her words filled with sorrow and uncertainty.

"Beloved Father in the skies, the temptations of encroaching darkness have taken hold of me. The rage within me burns brighter than the flames of hell itself... And yet, you have forsaken me. Why... Why do you withhold your aid and guidance in these darkened times?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Approaching cautiously, a twig snapped under my boot, causing Yarine to startle and turn towards the sound.

"It's me... Yarine," I reassured her gently.

Yarine returned to her prayers, and I stood beside her, my eyes fixated on the engraved rock before us, carefully reading the inscription etched upon it.

"I have hewn this stone from the heavens, offering solace amidst the impending damnation. Pray to me, and I shall answer your call. Just as God is a creation of light, so is the Devil a creation of darkness. Yet, to turn to the devil when darkness encroaches is a path of trepidation and sorrow. Those who tread upon this path shall never see the light again. Therefore, I extend my unwavering presence to the children of light, guiding them through times of peril, through good and evil, to offer solace in despair."

What a load of garbage... There is not a shred of legitimacy to this stone, I don't even sense any magic from it.

As my attention shifted to Yarine, I discerned a hushed murmur escaping her lips, the faint prayers she offered to her revered deity.

Her efforts are meaningless at best... Michael cannot answer her, nor her heavenly father.

Standing beside her, my focus returned to the engraved stone, while Yarine rose from the ground, her hands clutching the necklace around her neck as she held the cross pendant in her trembling hands.

"This was a gift... A gift bestowed upon me by the holy order for my efforts." Yarine spoke, her gaze fixed on the silver cross within her grasp. Her voice carried a mix of reverence and uncertainty.

"A gift bestowed upon you for your accomplishments within the church?" I inquired, seeking to understand the significance of the pendant.

Yarine nodded, her voice carrying a touch of pride. "Yes, for my missionary duties and other endeavors. In recognition of my dedication and commitment, I was chosen as a candidate to become a bishop, entrusted with spreading the word of God."

The pendant also is devoid of any magical energies, what's going on...

"But how can you spread His words when you cannot hear him?"

Yarine fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of my words sinking deep within her.

"The Lord is with me, of that I am certain," she finally responded, her voice laced with a newfound determination.

"Is He truly?" I questioned, not dismissing her conviction but seeking to provoke further thought. "If he were here, why did he ignore your summons, your plea for help."

Yarine straightened her posture, adjusting her dress as she did so. She carefully placed the necklace back around her neck, tenderly kissing the cross pendant and touching it to her forehead before letting it rest against her chest. "Perhaps this is a test, a divine trial sent to me by God. It could be a challenge to test the depths of my faith. And you, you may be the messenger of the very darkness, the test that aims to sway me onto a path of darkness that I must resist."

"You're overthinking it, Yarine."

"Am I?"

Letting out a weary sigh, I directed my gaze towards the engraved stone.

"The truth is you would have been dead damn it." I spoke, unable to control my frustration with her.

Calming myself down, I continued, "To deny yourself of basic human emotions, to label your righteous anger as inherently evil, is the pinnacle of arrogance. You are a mortal, just like anyone else. You have the right to experience and acknowledge your emotions, to harness the power they hold. To brand them as wholly evil is simply nonsensical."

"Are you suggesting that hate can be a good thing?" Yarine inquired, her voice laced with curiosity.

"No, I am not implying that hate itself is a positive force," I clarified. "What I am suggesting is that these emotions are a part of your human experience. You should not burden yourself with trying to cast them aside completely, for they are what make you unique and special. Denying them entirely would be an act of arrogance."

"It's arrogance that drove the men that killed my father into doing what they did, it was jealousy, wrath, envy, anger."

"And it was the same hatred for them that brought down the sword of justice upon them."

Yarine turned towards me, her eyes locking with mine, and she reached out, taking hold of my hand, her eyes closed in deep contemplation.

"What are you doing?"

As Yarine remained silent, she reached out and placed her hands upon mine, her touch gentle yet perceptive. Softly, her words escaped her lips.

"I sense a great turmoil within you, and something more..."

Startled by her unexpected insight, I instinctively tried to withdraw my hand from her grasp, but Yarine tightened her hold with her other hand, preventing my escape.

"I sense a darkness within you, an embodiment of rage..."

A look of shock swept across Yarine's face, causing her to abruptly release my hand and stumble back in fear, overwhelmed by the intensity of the emotions she had perceived.

"What in the hell are you? Fiend of darkness?"

Well, she is a priestess, I'll give her that much.

"What am I?"

"You... You have such hatred within you, such anger, such malice, and yet you stand here before me, so calm, so collected, as if a demon of the highest order in human clothing."

So, she hasn't decerned too far yet, but she is close...

Yarine's eyes flickered with fear, her mind struggling to comprehend my true nature. Fortunately, I managed to retrieve my arm in time, preventing her from delving further into her suspicions. However, the fragments of information she had gathered were enough to cast doubt on my intentions, leading her to suspect a demonic influence.

In a panic, Yarine swiftly turned away, determined to return to the safety of the caravan. But my hand reached out, halting her in her tracks.

"Well, you've glimpsed the darkness... tell me, was it as alluring as your religion claims?" I taunted, my voice laced with a twisted satisfaction.

Yarine, facing me once more, raised her hand in a desperate attempt to strike me. Reacting swiftly, I seized her other arm, twisting it with a cruel delight, reveling in her pain.

"Your God has abandoned you! You no longer tread the path of light, why can't you see that? Will you blindly follow your faith into an early grave?" I hissed, a venomous sneer curling my lips.

"LET GO OF ME!" Yarine exclaimed, her voice a mixture of anguish and defiance.

Releasing my grip on Yarine's arm, I hurriedly tried to explain myself, hoping to alleviate her fears and misconceptions.

"Yarine, listen to me. Yes, I walk a path that embraces darkness, but that doesn't mean I am consumed by it. I have learned to harness and control those negative emotions. In fact, it was precisely my ability to channel my hatred and anger during our battle that allowed me to weaken the eldritch horror and save lives. Your God, on the other hand, remained silent while we faced danger."

Pausing for a moment, I met Yarine's gaze, my voice filled with conviction.

"Consider everything that has transpired. Think about the unanswered prayers, the unanswered pleas for help. Why do you continue to pray to a God who has turned a blind eye to your suffering? Why place your faith in a deity who hides in the safety of the heavens, offering no solace in the midst of darkness?"

Yarine's expression wavered, torn between her ingrained beliefs and the unsettling truths I presented.

"The very pinnacle of the church you serve, the church of Michael, is an embodiment of the hypocrisy of the heavens, for he carries the sword of justice and executes it with wrath. The very sin you claim is evil."

"Even if I were to forsake the path of righteousness, how could I confront the church and those whom I cherish? How will I tell them that I have succumbed to my inner animosity, seeking power, the very attribute they abhor, in pursuit of recognition? I would become the object of disdain, subjected to scorn by everyone I hold dear."

With a wicked smile adorning my face, I pressed onward, seizing the moment.

The best time to make such a suggestion is when an enemy is mentally at their weakest... I suppose that saying holds true...

"The justice you seek can only be achieved through the evil you so condemn... and when that justice is established, what wicked would remain to claim what you did was wrong. Yarine, you must wield the very sword of justice as Michael did, and carry on his wrath, bringing the justice you seek to floriation. This world, it's rotten Yarine, you know of it, and I sense it within you, make things right... Only you can do it." I whispered, my voice dripping with manipulation.

My words lingered in her mind, haunting her thoughts. "But you've already contemplated this, haven't you? It's the reason you fervently pray to your God... It's the source of your fear. Yet, there's no need to be afraid, for I can be your guide, leading you through the depths of darkness towards the very destiny you crave. I sense your hunger for power, and I am the only one capable of feeding it."

Yarine, looking down at her pendant, questioned my offer.

"And in exchange, what must I sacrifice?"

"Everything..."