Church of Balaa

Warning! Warning! Warning!

Scanning Aborted!

System Recommendation: Avoid scanning the Odon Sea.

James froze. His limpid eyes still lingered on the Odon Sea. Unlike the others, his eyes could peer through the mysteries of the universe. Nothing could remain hidden from him. While others saw the illusion of a tranquil and peaceful harbor, the terror beneath couldn't escape his eyes. 'What was that creature?' James paused, slowly shaking his head. 'Can I call it a creature?' James mused.

Tentacles, eight-strong, blackened by the sea, towered into the skies. With each swing, the stranded youths plunged into the unforgiving sea. With snake-like grace, the tentacles grabbed the spectating youths, sending them into the waters before they could make a sound.

He had experienced the effects of the Odon water, and from the system's notifications, he also knew its effects. It didn't surprise him the stranded youths couldn't move their bodies. After all, they had been gliding on a tentacle all along.

"System was the creature responsible for the whistle?" James asked internally.

Yes!

James brows shot up. 'Why didn't it affect us?' James pondered. They also heard the whistle, however, why did it only affect Criwi and the others? It made no sense. 'Wait…' A sudden thought filled James's mind. 'There's something special about that Naita's barriers.' His eyes gleamed with greed. It made sense. If not, why would Bronwyn and the Caretakers remain so casual? 'I have to eliminate this Caretaker.' Only a few abilities caught his eye. When he saw what he liked, he would never let it go. No matter the cost.

"… From today, you are all soldiers of the one and only heir of Aians Tuta Aghoul, The Sovereign of Darkness!"

James spun. 'Heir of Aians Tuta Aghoul? Sovereign of Darkness?' James doubted his ears. 'Isn't that me?' His gaze shifted between Bronwyn had the surrounding youths. The Collector's words resurfaced in his mind. 'Wait, could there be others?' James mused. It wasn't strange for sorcerers to divide their inheritance among multiple successors. It happened more often than not.

"System, was Aians Tuta Aghoul, the previous User?" Although The Collector called him Aghoul's successor, he hadn't confirmed it with the system yet.

Yes!

'It responded?' He doubted his ears. The system had refused all his questions on the previous user. Why did it answer this one? James mused. 'Is it because my rank increased?' James's brows creased.

"Are there other successors?" His breathing quickened. If Bronwyn's words turned to be true, it meant the system wasn't complete. Even worse, someone had something similar to the system out there.

Impossible!

"Soldiers? Aians Tuta Aghoul? The Sovereign of Darkness? Who the hell is that?" Rowan's brows creased. Coming from an Allied Kingdom, he had study various tomes and texts, but had never heard or read anything about a Sovereign of Darkness. 'Why do they look so scared? Do they know what he's talking about?' Rowan noticed that some quivered after Bronwyn's declaration. Comprising mostly the Demons and Dark-Elves. Pure residents of the Black Lands. He didn't like to be out of the loop. What right did they have to know before him? He believed.

"Oh?" Bronwyn chuckled as if admitting his mistake. "I forgot they have fed some of you lies all your lives." Bronwyn commented offhandedly. Gesturing towards the other Caretakers, he continued, "Please lead them to the induction chamber. I will handle those who passed the rights ceremony." Naita and the others nodded.

Before they could do as instructed, Rowan's voice echoed, "What do you mean by that? What lies?!"

Bronwyn turned towards Rowan. His smile brightened, as he said, "Prince, trust me, you don't want to make a scene here! You will understand after your induction." Saying nothing further, he motioned towards Naita and the others.

"If you didn't earn a spot through the rights ceremony, please follow me. Our journey will be long, so please spare me your irrelevant questions. Okay? Okay!" Naita declared in one breath.

Rowan's expression turned unfriendly. He hated being ignored.

"Since no one has anything to say, let's move!" Naita turned to leave.

The youths stared at each other. Since when did the Caretakers or anyone in Kynar care about their opinions? Misfortune seemed to visit anyone who dared to have a voice of their own. One by one, they followed the Caretakers. Their footsteps felt leaden, their spirit aged, their voice silenced with the grief of knowing their hopes were useless.

'My eyes weren't deceiving me. He passed the rights ceremony…' Bronwyn stared at James. Eyes trembling and with dried lips. Although he didn't know much about the others, he could at least detect their rank through their Mana. From James, however, he sensed nothing. He took two quick but deep breaths to calm his tensed heart. Then he called out, "The five of you follow me."

His smile returned. "Before we leave, hand over the ornaments on your wrists." Bronwyn stretched his hands to receive the bangles. Apart from James, only now did the others realize a foreign object adorned their wrists. Without hesitation, they returned the bangles to Bronwyn.

"All right. Follow me." Bronwyn beckoned.

***

In an unknown building, in an unknown location in Kynar, the figure of a man paced around a fireplace. Beneath his feet, the wooden floor felt soft, not as much as a carpet, but not as rigid as oak planks. "Will they come today? They should come today, right?" His only answer was the lick of the flames on the burning wood.

"They should—" A knock reached him.

"Your Holiness, Cardinal Khasi requests a meeting." An uncertain voice echoed. "He said it's urgent…"

"Let him in."

A man in his mid-thirties opened the brass doors of the dimly lit room. He wore a red cassock which only revealed his facial features. Scars snaked across his pale face, his nose slightly bending to the right. A permanent disfiguration from a life-and-death struggle.

He dropped to his knees upon sighting the man at the fireplace, "Your Holiness Pope Enel…" Cardinal Khasi bowed solemnly.

"Cardinal Khasi, what brings you here?" Pope Enel asked impassively. He didn't expect Khasi to visit him.

"Your Holiness, I received a message from Cardinal Markus…" Cardinal Khasi paused. He felt a slight gust tug on his robes. He raised his head, 'When did he get here?' He met Pope Enel's clear blue eyes. Admiration and fear covered his trembling brown eyes.

"Continue…" Pope Enel urged. "Y-yes…" Cardinal Khasi recovered from his shock, then he said, "The new soldiers have arrived! Their numbers are greater than the previous twenty batches."

Silence, however, greeted his words. 'I thought His Holiness would be happy? Why is he silent?' He grew anxious. He knew how much the Pope looked forward to the soldiers' arrival. 'Something's wrong.' Cardinal Khasi raised his head once more.

'He's… oh no. This isn't good.' Cardinal Khasi turned lighted head as he stared at the Pope.

The Pope grinned from ear to ear, exposing his blackened teeth. Drool glided from his white pellegrina attached to his cassock, to the inverted cross pendant hanging in between the pellegrina. The pendant swung from side to side, glowing in an eerie purple-gray.

"Po-Pope E-Enel…" Cardinal Khasi's words trailed off. He felt a hand on his back. His countenance darkened, but he didn't avert his gaze from the Pope.

"Prepare the Ordination Chamber," Pope Enel said. His gaze shifted towards the burning wood, "I have received a vision from god." His gaze then shifted towards Cardinal Khasi, he continued, "Recruit as many heathens as possible! We must spread the wonders of the Church of Balaa."

"Y-Yes… Yes. I'll do that," Cardinal Khasi declared. His body trembled non stop.

Pope Enel nodded. "If that is all, you can leave." His visage had returned to normal.

"Y-Yes, Your Holiness." Cardinal Khasi bowed once more, before hurrying out of the room.

'Another hour of impartation is upon me. I must prepare myself.' Pope Enel walked towards the fireplace. He reached for a miniature golem above the fireplace. A low rumble filled the room upon contact. The walls behind the fireplace parted. Revealing a narrow passage slopping downwards. A light gust blew across Pope Enel's face, raising his golden lock. It left a tinge of salt on his tongue. Enel smiled, 'It has been a while since I came here.' He reached for a log of wood, before igniting it with the dying flames of the fireplace. In light steps, he walked towards into the passage. The walls sentiently closing behind him.