Saintess Joan of Arc

Back in the bowels of the church, the Pope was in a sorry state. Though he'd managed to stop himself from dying, his body was battered. The lightning from Felicia had fried all his organs, ruptured a few of them and nearly stopped his heart. If it hadn't been for the last minute spell he'd cast to shield himself, he would be food for the rats.

He needed souls to sacrifice to his lord. Only then would he have the power to heal fully himself and go after them. Especially, since a new player had entered. The Young Marquis Liam was in the fold. If they'd told him then who else had they told. Were there other sons and daughters of nobility who were swayed by the holy siblings and now suspicious of him? Were they planning an attack against him?

He dismissed the idea. Those three came down here with no plan and only managed to survive out of sheer, dumb luck. They're not smart enough to orchestrate something big.

Using the fleeting bits of magic he had left, he moved through the walls and went from tunnel to tunnel until he reached the surface. 

Heading to the church's private stable, one of his knights saw him and approached. 

"Get me a carriage and bring two others to escort me."

The man bowed. "Yes, your holiness."

Seated inside the moving carriage, the Pope murmured under his breath while looking down at his hands. "They have to die. They all must die. I made a mistake. I shouldn't have played with Felicia like that. It gave her the opportunity to tap into her power. Now she is stronger. That lightning...the last time it was seen was when Saintess Joan possessed it. I thought I had weakened her past the point of fighting back. I miscalculated. I should have just killed her. The other two wouldn't be able to survive without her healing magic."

He slammed his fist repeatedly on the wall of the carriage. Dammit! I was so close. I had them in hands and at my mercy...if only that girl didn't look so much like Moniqua, I wouldn't have gotten distracted.

The carriage halted. "Your holiness?"

"Keep going, I made a mistake."

The carriage started moving again.

No matter. I placed my mark on her. It will act as a beacon and lead me to her. As soon as I've devoured some souls, I will find them and kill them. No distractions this time. I can't afford it.

----

Still wrapped up in each other's embrace, Felicia and Liam continued to wait for Alex to wake up. 

Liam decided to break the silence. "What is it do you think you need to find here?"

"A connection. A way to bring forward...." Her words trailed off as she sat up straight and grabbed Alex's wrist. "We failed to get the ruby but maybe...we don't need it?"

She looked up at Liam. "Maybe everything we need is already here."

Felicia closed her eyes and focused her mind on the power within her core. She spread it out and sensed the faint trace holy magic which Saintess Joan had left behind. Merging it together, she joined it with the magic within the infinity symbol. Pushing hard on Alex's mark, she prayed to the Goddess for enlightenment.

I don't need the ruby while I'm here. Saintess Joan left her mark. That will give me the boost I need. 

Her body began glow, a sudden breeze picked up and raised her hair.

Liam's eyes widened. "Felicia, what's, what are you...."

Felicia ignored him and focused all her attention on the merge and maintaining the connection. "Show me. Show me what I seek! What happened to the Devil's spirit after Saintess Joan defeated him?"

The infinity detached from Alex's wrist and floated into the air. The loops glowed brightly and grew larger and larger. Until it was the same size as their bodies. Voices began to emit from within. Voices of men. Sounds of running footsteps and swords clashing.

Suddenly, images appeared from within the loops. A one way mirror which reflected upon them the events of the past.

Liam and Felicia watched on in horror and fascination as a fatal battle unfolded. A battle which laid out the path for what was happening now....

Saintess Joan was standing only a few feet away from where they were. She was dressed in full armor. She yanked off her helmet and slammed it into the ground in anger. Running her hands through her hair, she spun in a full circle and searched the skies for something. Her eyes began to glow. Not the solid white that Felicia had, but her irises emitted light. 

Suddenly, the sky began to darken at apocalyptic speed. A harsh breeze filled the air.

Saintess Joan growled, her lips curling into a sneer. "You bloody coward!" Her hands began to glow, her fingertips crackling with purple lightning. "Face me, monster! Your darkness will not prevail against the scion of the Goddess! Come out and face your fate!"

The ground rumbled as a thick funnel of smoke shot out from the middle of the lake. Freezing water splashed everywhere as a sinister apparition with red eyes flowed forward and landed in front of Saintess Joan.

"Foolish Saintess, do you truly believe that you alone can defeat me?" The voice was the stuff of nightmares. Deep and strong with the faint hiss of a snake. It emanated from the black mist which surrounded the glowing eyes. Slowly the mist gave way to reveal the form of a humanoid beast. 

The creature standing before her was massive. He stood as tall as a warhorse with bulging muscles. His skin was a deep red with archaic symbols painted all over. He had horns protruding out of his head which curled behind his ear and jutted out. The tips of them were glowing a green light and were aimed directly at Saintess Joan.

"Mmmm, tasty Saintess."His fangs dripped blood and saliva as he ran a long tongue across them. "I am not a mere spirit or a beast. I am the Lord of the Underworld! You only invite death by daring to try and stop me!" His eyes glowed an even brighter red. 

Saintess Joan didn't flinch or blink. "Doesn't matter what you call yourself! You've been wreaking havoc in our holy empire. You have killed and maimed. You have tortured and tormented! You have devoured the souls of my people! For this you will die!

In the next second, the green light from the Devil's horns shot out, merging together to form a colossal current of power. It reared it's head like a snake about to strike and shot directly at the Saintess. 

Joan held her hands open and out with only her thumbs touching. A massive pillar of purple lightning formed in front of her and also shot forward like a python about to strike.

The two powers met halfway and collided. The sound of the impact was that of a hundred boulders hitting the earth. The wind blew harder. Lightning shot up from the point of contact and created a tower of light. Thunder rumbled and a heavy torrent fell instantly. 

Both Devil and Saintess maintained their assault. Each one fighting for control. The Devil roared in anger and Joan screamed out of exertion. Both fought for dominance.

The ground began to shake. 

From the distance, a large party of royal knights began to approach them. The men called out to her over the thundering of horse hooves. Joan couldn't hear them. Her mind and spirit were one and she was focused only on her mission.

This was what the Goddess had created her to do. She must not fail! She did not care for death, as she knew she would die. Her dreams had been hinting at that for weeks. She did not fear death either.

So as long as I can free my people from this monstrosity, I will give my life without hesitation! I am a Saintess! I am a Guardian! This is my both my fate and my destiny! Goddess Kartara, I beseech thee! Please do not abandon me!