The Malevolent Sermon

CHAPTER SIX: The Malevolent Sermon

— "Attend, Oh seekers, to the whispering hymns of Our Immortal Mother.

Her gospel, an irrevocable truth, beckons you to rejoice in the sacred hours of death." —

Within a hollow, forgotten walls of a chapel, a congregation of sinners basked in their vile prayers.

A cold, eerie atmosphere hung in the air with the collective presence of the cultist fellowship. The flickering candlelight illuminated the figures kneeling in fervent devotion throughout the empty pews.

The room was set up as a secret gathering, with a red carpet trailing towards the end of the aisle. The ceiling was occupied by screeching monsters that resembled a murder of crows—pelting their molting black feathers over them. A congregation of 50 people or less, wore featureless white masks from under their hoods. Every single one of them gave off an ominous and vile aura. Five figures, their features obscured by a different pair of white masks, stood before the frantic of the aisle as core leaders of the covenant.

A large black mirror was their precious heirloom, decorated with gargoyles made of limestone and obsidian. The mirror held no reflection to whoever looked at it, only endless black clouds.

— "Beyond the veils of reality, into the 42nd World, all souls find welcome. Attend to the whispers that weave through the tapestry of existence, for the Immortal Mother's gospel is the ink that scribes destiny.

And I, a willing vessel, shall gladly give Her the satisfaction She solely yearns, binding my fate to the ethereal threads woven by Her hands.

The Will of Our Immortal Mother shall be heard." —

Ancient doors of the withering chapel creaked open, revealing Serenity and Thaddeus adorned in their cultist cloaks. Each step echoed into the dead space, their presence ominous and enigmatic. They too, wore masks, but theirs were expressive theatrical masks; Serenity's mask had a jovial smiley face, whilst Thaddeus' mask had the look of open-mouthed curiosity.

Serenity recognized the five figures standing confidently at the front. She knew them as her fellow Sin Wielders, each of them bore expressive theatrical masks as well. The two took one knee to the large mirror. And together, uttering the same words.

"The Will of Our Immortal Mother, an eternal symphony, shall resonate throughout creation, heralding the dawn of divine reckoning. On the day Light is shadowed by Darkness."

—"As it shall."

Serenity's breath shuddered back as she heard a compulsive voice enter in. As everyone took their places and sat down, a tall lanky woman entered with a dominating grace, her presence commanding attention as always. Her cloak was more refined than anyone else, signifying her power as the head of the cult. A large butterfly symbol was embroidered on the back of her cultist cloak. The air seemed to freeze around her. And her eyes were concealed behind a rather porcelain mask—which didn't hold an expression like the others, only a bland pokerface.

"My fellow brethren and sisters of the covenant. The threads of Destiny weave intricate patterns. And our fates are entwined in the tapestry of love, sin and redemption." Langwidere's voice was of a melodic whisper, filling the dark church. She raised a hand and the black mirror began to ripple more clouds, whispering secrets of forgotten ages, whirled with voices of bodiless apparitions wailing and moaning out for mercy.

Serenity listened intently, her gaze shifting between the mirror and Langwidere. The congregation waited in anticipation for new words.

"She says...the balance has now shifted," the woman intoned. "The gift we carry will shape the destiny of worlds beyond our own. A choice awaits each of you, one that will echo through eternity."

—"The Will of Our Immortal Mother shall be heard." The congregation aired.

"As a thousand years have passed, the point of convergence is now upon us. So will the day that creation will see its truest and foreboding flaw. The day we all reach our destiny, the day we all enter ECHELON."

—"Hail, Hail Our Glorious Mother!"

A thunderous rumble echoed from the big black mirror, setting the congregation to gasp in awe.

Langwidere awed and clasped her hands. "She adores us dearly, Our Mother. And we must too, show Her our love. By spreading the gospel. We must aid in Her transcend, shatter the Quintessential Bind and set all of creation free from their miserable cycle of agony!"

—"Hail, hail! Hail, hail! Hail, hail! HAIL, HAIL!"

The church erupted in cheer and roars, the malevolent sermon only brewing more dark energy. The black mirror began to manifest a dark aura, feeding off the energy in the room as the chants continued. Serenity, Thaddeus, as well as the other five Sin Wielders, too fed from the energy, growing stronger and intoxicated with power. Serenity could feel her powers fully returning to full health, letting out a refreshed sigh of relief.

The chanting soon ended, and so did the 'feeding'. Langwidere let out a quiet chortle, assuming she was jovial behind her mask.

—"The Will of Our Immortal Mother, shall be heard."

"Thank you all."

With that, the sermon ended.

The masked congregation dispersed right into the shadows, little by little, attending to their duties. The chapel, once again silent, was left with the eight underling Sin Wielders.

"My fellow Sinisters..." Langwidere greeted. "Good to see you all."

"Sister Langwidere," they all bowed back.

"A powerful service today, Lead Sinistress..." Thaddeus awed.

"Indeed. Come. We shall hold our meeting in the quarters. We have more to discuss." The eight of them drifted off from the sanctuary and sauntered through the dead halls.

Looking yonder on the pillared corridors, was a view of the barren wasteland of the Forsaken Lands. Forever wilting and dead of life with only the thriving number of large black vines snaking the chapel or to other places. This was home to the vilest monstrosities to ever spawn from the forgotten earth. It was mostly a prison sentence, an land fit for exile, where they were be food for Hellion spawn. The putrid air made the sky give a sickly yellow colour, unlike the blue scapes of Arcadia hovered far above the toxic mesosphere. And it hardly ever showers in the Forsaken Lands, apart from the acidic rain.

'Wow...she's amazing...' Serenity couldn't help but gush at her enigmatic leader whilst tailing right behind Thaddeus. She saw Langwidere as a prominent figure, someone she looks up to most in the world. It was her first time after 20 years of meeting her, she had yet to assume that she even knows who Serenity is.

The said-woman turned her head to the side, Serenity could catch a smile from the peep of her mask on the side.

'Eek! She saw me!' Serenity hid behind Thaddeus and gripped onto his robe excitedly.

"Ahh! What in the—" Thaddeus reacted, but managed to keep it in a low-sounded grunt. He whipped his head to Serenity, tugging on his backside. "Let...go of me!"

"She looked at me...and smiled..." Serenity panted.

"Delusional. If she did, her sin would've turned you to stone by now. You must behave well in front of Langwidere. And don't blunder around her..." he stated.

"Got it! I'll be good this time!" Serenity grinned, happily hyper.

The eight entered a room with fifteen chairs placed in a circle. Each took a seat in accordance to their order. Langwidere being 'VIII'(8th), Thaddeus as 'XIV'(14th) and Serenity as 'XV'(15th).

Only seats, with numbers from 'I—VII'(1st-7th), were left empty.

"Now, let us discuss on our next step..." Langwidere aired, knitting her fingers together and placing her elbows on the arms of her seat. "As we've waited for the day of the convergence to come upon us. There is still something we need in our plan to go accordingly. I suggest—"

A hand was raised.

"Yes, Brother Sidwell?"

The cloaked Sin Wielder was on the number 'XII'(12th) seat. His mask held the expression of disgust. And from under his hooded cloak, he had black hair with olive-green highlights at the ends.

"Pardon for my interruption, Lead Sinistress. But we have yet to know about our senior sinisters. Especially Lord Bishop..." His voice held eccentric tones, somewhat matching his mask perfectly.

"Yes, and as you all know; Lord Bishop has appointed me to lead the Yellow Butterfly in his absence. Until the time comes, he and his comrades will soon ascend to us."

"I feel as if we are delaying yet another inevitable chance to overtake the Arcadian Republic, once and for all." Sidwell wreathed.

"Promise, Brother Sidwell. This is Lord Bishop's order. We will have our day. And it is soon."

"But is 'soon' not now?!"

"Dearest brother of mine, please don't argue with Sister Langwidere," a female Sin Wielder, similarly old to Sidwell, wallowed. Seated at number 'XIII'(13th), her mask was one that resembled her gloomy aura.

"All I'm saying is, the time is now. While the Arcadian Emperor is weak. We can invade—" Sidwell slammed his fist to the arm of his chair.

"Sidwell, you alone, cannot defeat a Golden Paladin. Let alone the royal family..." Thaddeus intruded. "What makes you think it's possible? Unless you have a plan, we'd be endeared to hear it."

"I'm far more powerful than any paladin that sickening floating rock can dish out." He spat bitterly. "And you, shut up! You're not even on my level."

"Psh..." Thaddeus grumbled from behind his mask, and his butterfly mark cast a shine within to reveal his angry blue eyes with a sulphuric glimmer. "I beg to differ."

"What was that?" Sidwell huffed and a dark aura resonated around him. "I am your senior! You're only here because of Our Immortal Mother's mercy! So don't talk above me, you maggot!"

"Sidwell. Sit. Down." The head of the room lost her whisper-like voice as a pressure of dark magic rose.

The sinsiters all trembled but Serenity was the only one to feel the harsh pressure of chaotic magic reverberating across the room. Her nose began to leak blood in the process. "Uh oh..."

"Never speak vainly of Our Mother in such a manner." Sidwell shivered before Langwidere's dark manna, forcing him to back down his fighting demons and let his aura disappear on will. "Forgive me for my actions. Sister Langwidere."

"Coming from the Sin Wielder of Ingratitude, I'd expect of it." Langwidere sighed and turned to Serenity, noticing the red dripping out from her mask, knowing it was a nosebleed. The woman dismally frowned.

"Our one rule is; we don't harm eachother. We are all children of The Immortal Mother. Those not in our covenant are the real oppressors. Infected by this cycle of existence."

—"Well said, Sister." Three other Sin Wielders nodded agreeably.

"That being said..." She continued. "It is true that the Arcadian Emperor has grown weak. But the Golden Paladins still remain present and our biggest threat yet. With each day, they grow strong with the force of Quintessence protruding from that floating palisade.

And Lord Bishop knows this all too well. Which is why the day has already showed its fangs."

"Hmm?" The whole room questioned and turned at eachother. Serenity continued to only awe, knowing what it meant.

"Thaddeus."

"Yes, Sister." The male stiffened.

"You have reported progress of the Emerald Legacy's biannual cycle, correct?" She asked.

Thaddeus gulped and turned over to the Serenity before whipping back to her. "W-well...Sister. I never went to properly inspect."

"...really?" Her voice sounded as if she rose a brow in query. Shaking the Sin Wielder of Impatience. "Why is that?"

"Well..." he cleared his throat. "Our youngest Serenity went off into the Republic against my orders and caused an anarchy in the town where the tree located."

The room grew stiff for a moment, Serenity tented her fingers together and looked away from everyone's gaze with a chirping whisper. Sidwell let out a mocking laugh. "Wow! A child did the work for you!? I never expected this out of you! Or perhaps I did! Ha ha!"

"Shut up!" Thaddeus yelled back.

"An anarchy, you say?" Langwidere only turned her shrouded eyes back at Serenity's general direction.

'Eeek! I'm doomed!' She internally shrilled.

"My dear..."

Serenity stiffened to her rather soothing voice. "Y-yes, Sister La—Langwidere?"

"Come." She raised her gloved hand up and gestured the girl to come forward. Clenching her muscles, she stood up from her seat and proceeded to walk to her. Serenity gulped, but knew to trust her. Langwidere then placed her hand on her lap, gesturing her to sit. Everyone in the room felt tense in that moment.

Thaddeus gritted his teeth, fearing that Serenity might not live long as a Sin Wielder after all.

The girl was hesitant, but only for a second. It was then she accepted and sat on her lap.

Serenity froze stiffly, remembering not to make eye contact with her. But Langwidere placed her hand to slowly raise the girl's chin up. Only catching the eyes holes of eachother's masks. "You're new. Correct?"

"Yes, ma'am. I mean...yes, Sister."

"How long has it been?"

"...20 years."

"I see..." Langwidere smiled.

Sin Wielders defy time, once they recieve their power, they become immortal. Which meant Serenity was chronologically 27 years old - but she was still the youngest amongst her fellow sinisters—with Langwidere possibly spanning the same age as Arcadia's history. "You must have went through so much agony in your time, much that She chose you to crusade with us. You know of me, yes?"

Serenity gushed. "So much. Your teachings showed me everything, guided me to the true meaning of freedom and love. I aspire to be like you, Sister!"

Her hand floated over to her mask, raising the tension even more in the room. It wasn't long until the taints of Serenity's nosebleed slowly faded into ashes. "And what did you do in that town, might I ask?"

"Spreading the gospel. Helping those who seek Our Immortal Mother's love. In the only way I know how."

"With Cruelty..." Langwidere aired a light chuckle and raised her hand up to pat her crown. "You are a good child. Indeed, a prodigy amongst us. You must know what She feels. And using your power to express it. Indeed, you were meant to be here."

Serenity shivered the whole time, feeling the weird sensation of affection from the woman, was like a sudden sugar high for her. She couldn't see Langwidere's real face behind the mask, but desperately wanted to. And yet she couldn't, otherwise she'd be dead. And her regeneration wouldn't ever bring her back from it.

"Thaddeus."

"Yes, Sister."

"Head back to Chromestown and report to me on the update of the Emerald Legacy once again. Serenity will accompany."

"WHAT?!" Both he and Sidwell stood, outraged.

"Really?!" Serenity squealed excitedly.

"Of course. And spread as much chaos as you can."

"W-why can't I go?" Sidwell appealed.

"Because you, and Sister Dolora, have another task in mind. After my long excursion, I have found the lost locations of Sloth and Lust."

Sidwell and Dolora jerked their heads back in surprise. "You have?! Which means..."

"That remains undecided. Now. Before any further interruptions. We can now discuss our plan of action."

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Edited: 10/Jun/24

【Author's Note】

—Heyooo! Hope you're enjoying the story so far. Let me know what you think of the chapter so far and leave a vote and review as well. I'd totally appreciate it. You might see a few spelling error so I'm still trying to fix it here and there.

—lebzachannn

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