Chapter 5 : Sanctuary VIII

Kirei escorts the apostles into a spacious garden with a fountain at the middle.

The Pope was seen sitting underneath a tree as he seemed to be studying the scriptures, he poked his head up and adjusted his spectacles before acknowledging the presence of Kirei and the apostles that were with him.

John gestures for Kirei and company to come forth with the latter group obliging, Kirei walks up to John before doing a slight bow and introducing the apostles.

 "Your holiness, I do apologize for interrupting your study but you had asked to see the apostles the moment they got back so I have brought them here."

Kirei remarks taking a slight bow.

"It's fine, I was actually expecting your company, thank you for bringing them here. You may leave and return to your duties, I shall call for you when I finish with the apostles."

John replies with a wave of his hand.

"Yes your holiness, I'll be leaving now."

Kirei says.

"Alright then."

John replies, waving him away.

Kirei takes a slight bow before turning towards the exit and walking away as the apostles watch.

After he had left John turns his attention to the apostles, getting up from where he sat he directed them over to a small grove that was in the garden with a couple of chairs with the apostles getting comfortable on them.

After John saw that the apostles had gotten themselves comfortable he decided to start the meeting without a waste of time as he saw the looks on their faces which disturbed him slightly.

"I'm happy to see you all hale and hearty, I I take it the mission was a success…"

John remarks trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"Yes it was, we have retrieved the Ark of the covenant. Zino is currently still in possession of the artefact."

Elisha remarks.

"That's good to hear. Kirei told me that Eliza had not returned with you, I did not want to believe such a thing but I guess it is true, what exactly happened out there??"

John asks.

"You sent us straight into a trap, that's exactly what happened."

David replies with an annoyance.

"I did no such thing ,what sort of an accusation is this??"

John asks with a raised brow.

"David your words are quite illogical, we are his greatest weapons. There's no way he's the one that gave the plan away. It's most likely just a coincidence that we ran into an entire demon horde and also a demon prince."

Jay chips in.

"I can understand why you all will be so pained but now is not the right time. Is there proof that Eliza could still be alive."

John asks with the apostles giving him mixed gazes.

"Yeah there's a chance that she's still alive but her energy signature is so thin and so far away we won't be able to pinpoint it even we went back to the battle site."

Aria replies with a sigh.

"This is not how I expected this to go.

For now you all should go ahead and drop the Ark in the Holy chamber after which you all can get some rest to sort out yourselves and get your minds ready for the next mission."

John remarks placing his fingers on his temple.

"What about Eliza??... What are we going to do about her??"

Sirius asks.

"We won't be going after her for now."

John replies, letting out a sigh.

"What??... Why."

Aria asks.

"Since none of you can pinpoint her energy signature but can still feel it then it's most likely a ploy by the demons to get us off track with finding the Vulgate and distract us long enough to destroy us all. I cannot have such a thought and still send you out without a clear goal."

John explains.

"That's quite a conspiracy theory you've got there, your Holiness… but it is not at all implausible as it could very much be the case."

Jay remarks with a nod.

"I understand that you all want to go after Eliza but not right now, when the time is right then I will let you go."

John says.

"Alright then, we'll be taking our leave now."

Elisha remarks.

"Of course, I shall not delay you any further."

John remarks with a wave of his hand.

The apostles rise from their sitting positions and begin to file out of the garden having done a slight bow to the Pope, John watches them leave with a keen look on his face.

************************

SIRIUS LIVING QUARTERS

Sirius is laying on the bed with his eyes to the ceiling, he seems to be lost in thought again as he stares motionless at the empty ceiling.

The room is quite spacious with a simple design and the furniture within were few in number with only a table, chair and wardrobe in view, the room is dimly lit making it difficult to see the true beauty of the room.

More memories flash through Sirius mind as he begins to close his eyes, he falls into a slumber and his thought process finally rest on one key moment that changed his life for good.

His blooming friendship with Eliza and his first meeting with Aria.