"Master, I have come to report." A cloaked individual spoke as he kneeled on the shiny marble floor.

"Speak," a man adorned in white robes said.

"Our spies have sighted the guild master of the Watchers traversing the sanctuaries," the messenger said.

"Why is that?" The master asked.

"We believe he is summoning the high table," the messenger said.

The master spared the man a glance, revealing his golden eyes. However, one of his eyes is completely white.

"The high table?" he asked, a hint of disbelief present in his tone.

"Yes, master," the messenger confirmed.

"It seems it is time to make our move as well," the man said.

***

Loud cheers echoed wildly in the air as hundreds of people gathered in front of a stage.

Beside the stage were chairs where the Thaesir families sat, waiting patiently as the announcer spoke.

"Beautiful day to all the people of Tera, both nobles and commoners alike!" The woman spoke.

"It is truly tragic that we have lost our saint, the very foundation of our sanctuary," she said.

"However, we must not be sad, for we must honor her sacrifice in protecting this city with all she has. She is a symbol, the very example of courage and strength!"

"Although she died in battle, her spirit shall forever live on in us," the woman said.

"But this raises a question: Who will protect us now? Who will shield us against the hordes of enemies lurking in the shadows? Against the abominations threatening our livelihoods?"

"Fear not, people of Tera, for we have a guest. A temporary guardian here to guide us in such dark times!"

"A man who is known for slaying abominations without flinching. A figure seen as the bane of monsters!"

Raising her hand to the left, she shouted. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the shadow saint, Ajax Azureborn!!!"

Loud cheers thundered in the air as Ajax stepped up the stage, adorned in his newly forged armor. He appeared as some veteran who has been in war all his life.

Needless to say, it wasn't too far off.

Walking in the middle of the stage, Ajax stood before an altar where a sword embroidered in gold was embedded.

Grasping its hilt, he slowly pulled it upward. With that, the ceremony was complete.

"I am pleased to announce. the temporary protector of Tera, Ajax Azureborn!" The announcer roared, prompting another wave of applause and cheers.

Samael quietly sat by the corner, watching the spectacle unfold. Occasionally, his eyes would drift towards Lilith, who sat on the other side of the stage.

Although he was not required to attend the monster subjugation, Samael still had a mission. To guard and protect Lilith while he stays here.

He will no doubt be a target of the Thaesir heirs, who also aim for her. It was bound to be troublesome and annoying.

As the ceremony ended, Samael and Ajax made their way back to the banquet prepared by the guild.

Ajax had to put up with all the nobles greeting him and giving their regards. To avoid trouble, Samael went ahead and searched for Lilith.

But before he could find her, she found him first, as they bumped into each other.

"Samael!" She said as she hurriedly fixed her hair.

Helping her, Samael reached out as he brushed the strands near her lips, his fingers brushing against her soft skin.

Lilith's cheeks flushed red as she felt heat envelope her.

"What's the hurry?" Samael asked.

"O-Oh, no-nothing in particular," she said.

"I just wanted to..." Lilith's gaze hastily sweeped the room, landing on the pastries laying on the table.

"Pastries! Yes! I wanted to try the pastries," she said. However, her thoughts rampaged. Why did I say that?! That's so stupid! He'll think I'm some form of glutton now!

"Shall we then?" Samael asked.

"W-what?" Lilith stuttered as she broke out of her stupor.

"Didn't you want to try the pastries?" Samael asked, a mischievous smile present in his face.

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Realizing the boy was teasing her, Lilith's lips pursed forward as her cheeks inflated.

A chuckle escaped Samael's lips as he ruffled the girl's head.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop," he said as he raised his hands.

"Hmph! I'll go and try them myself then," Lilith said as she raised her head in an attempt to show her dignity as she stormed away.

Chuckling once more, Samael caught up with the girl with ease.

***

Multiple figures gathered in a room, sitting around a circular table and before a golden throne.

All the men gathered there wore white robes and had golden eyes. A sign of their devotion to the light.

"Why did you gather us here, Gladius?" A man spoke.

Gladius was the Cardinal of Judgment. He is the acting leader of the seven cardinals, as he holds the most power among them all. After all, his job is to punish all that goes against the word of their god.

"Patience, Ezekiel," Gladius said.

Ezekiel, the cardinal of knowledge and wisdom. Like his name suggests, he manages the flow of information throughout the ministry and uses his power in favor of the church.

"You know I have responsibilities to tend to," Ezekiel said.

"I understand, but this is a matter of importance. We must wait for our Lord God first to see his verdict," Gladius said.

"Is this matter so important that it must concern the almighty Taranius?" The cardinal of compassion and charity asked. He is responsible for promoting compassion and managing the donations of the people, manipulating them to give their gold to the church.

"It is, Orias," Gladius said.

"Then tell it already," William, the cardinal of peace and diplomacy, said. A person in charge of "peace" but manipulates the public to create conflict.

A sigh escaped Gladius lips as he spoke.

"My informants have spotted Icarius, the guild master of the watchers, visiting other sanctuaries," he said.

"How does that concern us?" A voice chimed in.

He was known as Caesar, the cardinal of justice.

"Well, he wasn't just 'visiting'; he was summoning the high table," Gladius resumed.

The entire room fell into chaos as the cardinals rose up from their seats.

"Have they realized our plan?" The cardinal of faith and devotion, Illial, asked.

"Curses! I knew those pawns of yours were to be blamed!" Revan, the cardinal of Purity, roared to Caesar.

"My men?! Blame it on Ezekiel! His information was flawed!" Caesar fired back.

"My information?! Can you he—"

"Enough."

The Cardinal's eyes widened as they all simultaneously fell on their knees. As they did, the light in the room flickered as it slowly warped towards the throne, forming a figure.

That figure was bathing in the light, casting shadows in the room. His presence was immaculate; it was so strong that the cardinals dare not look at his glory.

As the light weakened, it revealed a tall being, reaching a height of eight feet. He was adorned in a white cloak and snow white armor with golden lines etched in its surface. His face was hidden in a black mask, along with a halo floating above him.

image [https://i.ibb.co/SrR0h3p/Untitled56-20240110204907.png]

Slowly hovering down, the ground before him cracked as his foot made contact with the floor. The light around him seemed to bend toward him.

"Gladius, speak," Taranius said.

"As you will, oh Lord," Gladius said as he rose up, his head remaining tilted down.

"My informants have mentioned that Icarius is planning to summon the high table. As for why, I believe it is linked to the disappearance of the assassins Caesar sent," he mentioned.

"Caesar," Taranius said, his tone grand and heavy.

"My lord, my men failed due to the flawed information Ezekiel gave me," Caesar said.

Ezekiel was about to speak when Taranius intervened.

"Enough. Mistakes were made; there is nothing we can do about that."

Looking at Gladius, he spoke. "Proceed as planned. The high table cannot do anything to us as of the moment. They will need concrete evidence to ensure the people will believe them."

"The plan will continue. Do this in my name," Taranius said.

"Your will is our will," the Cardinals said in unison.

On cue, the blinding light engulfing the room vanished as though it were not there moments ago.

"You heard his verdict. We proceed as planned," Gladius said.

With that, the meeting has ended. However, unbeknownst to them, the high table had begun to gather as well. This was the reason for Aphemis's absence from the event today.

In a chamber hidden from the mundane people's prying eyes, five people sat at a table.

Although it took some time to convince Ishkar, Icarius managed to persuade him eventually.

Seeing everyone was already gathered, Icarius spoke.

"So, I gathered you all here today for one purpose. I will be straight and say it now. The church is plotting something."

"What might that be?" Nova asked.

"We are not sure. But it is clear that they are against humanity," Icarius said.

"Do we have any evidence?" Olaf asked.

"Unfortunately, none so far," Icarius said.

"Then how will we make our move without any proof? Are you getting senile, old man?" Mendez asked.

"That is why I request that you people help," Icarius said.

"With your connections to Mendez and Aphemis's people, we should be able to find something leading to them," Icarius resumed.

"It comes at a hefty price," Mendez said, a smirk planted on his face.

"You're an asshole as always," Nova said, a glare present in his eyes.

"Ohh, I'm scared~" Mendez mocked.

"You will be once I put my boot up—" Nova's words were cut short when Icarius held him back.

"Let them handle their problems like men," Ishkar said.

"You're not helping you, brute," Olaf said.

"Unlike you mellagun's, metal isn't the only thing I fuck," Ishkar said.

A sigh escaped Aphemis's lips as she facepalmed. She knew this was going to happen. The high tables were never friendly with each other. Their own ideals often clashed, resulting in this.

"Enough," Icarius said, his voice reverberating in the chamber as specks of lightning left his skin.

The bickering men swiftly stopped, but the hostility in their gazes remained true.

"I did not gather you all here to bicker," Icarius said as he looked at Mendez.

"Black, I know your little operations and businesses. I know you handle information flowing through the underground. Trust me, I have more than enough power to halt your money-making schemes. If you want everything to proceed as you wish, then do what I tell you to do," Icarius threatened, prompting Mendez to raise both his hands as he smirked.

"And you, Nova," Icarius said.

"Do you want me to tell Silvana what just happened?" he asked.

"Alright, alright," Nova backed off.

"Ishkar and Olaf, I know you two never like each other, but keep your opinions to yourself if it's not going to help anyone," Icarius said.

It was like handling kids.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Icarius spoke again.

"As I've mentioned, the church is behind the odd movements of the abominations. We proved this when we fought the imgrave wolves in Tera," Icarius said.

"However, what really alarmed me was when we caught an assassin and knew the involvement of the cardinals," he said.

The other members of the high table shot a look of disbelief at Icarius.

"Are you serious?" Olaf asked.

"As serious as it gets," Icarius confirmed.

"Shit, how come I never heard of this?" Mendez asked himself.

"So what will it be?" Icarius asked.

"I think you're forgetting that there are seven cardinals. There's only five of us. We are outnumbered," Olaf said.

Icarius fell silent for a moment before he responded.

"I might have a solution for that..."