Chapter 23: A Test of Faith

The midmorning sun shone brightly on the Knights of the Radiant Dawn courtyard, chasing away lingering traces of the previous day's drizzle. Despite the warmth in the air, Reziel felt a chill coil in his stomach. Today was the day of the Church's "assessment," and though Aria Highwind had assured him the knights would oversee it, apprehension gnawed at him.

He stood near a stone fountain trickling with fresh water, absently tracing the blackish veins marring his ribcage beneath his tunic. Their dull ache served as a constant reminder: one misstep and Overlimit could claim him—or, worse, devour him. You must stay in control.

Aria approached, her light steps echoing on the courtyard's tiles. She wore her spear slung over one shoulder, as if ready for battle—perhaps a sign of solidarity more than necessity. "The cleric envoy arrived," she said quietly, stopping at Reziel's side. "They're waiting in the chapel annex to begin the assessment."

Reziel swallowed, nodding. "Then let's get it over with."

Leading him across the courtyard, Aria guided Reziel to a smaller chapel wing adjoining the main knights' complex. Within, filtered sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows depicting radiant suns and angelic figures. A hush lay over the polished floors.

Cleric Yhaven, who had attended the High Council meeting, stood by a simple altar, conferring with two robed attendants. Their sun-emblazoned vestments and measured tones hinted at high-ranking roles within the Radiant Church. At the sight of Reziel, Yhaven offered a polite half-bow, though his eyes remained guarded.

Yhaven, voice level: "Welcome. We appreciate your cooperation. This is strictly an assessment—no invasive rites unless absolutely necessary. I trust the knights have informed you of your rights?"

Aria inclined her head firmly. "Yes. Reziel is under our protection, and I'll be here for every step."

Reziel mustered a tense smile. "I understand, Cleric Yhaven. I hope we can keep this… civil."

A pair of acolytes moved aside a low wooden table, revealing a mage circle inscribed on the chapel floor. Tiny crystals—pale gold and faintly glowing—ringed its circumference, each placed with deliberate care. Yhaven gestured for Reziel to step within.

Yhaven: "These crystals detect fluctuations in mana—particularly negative or unstable energies. We'll observe how the System responds to benign stimuli. If it shows signs of aggression or Overlimit surge, we'll halt immediately."

Reziel's throat felt parched. Be calm. He advanced, the circle's lines glowing faintly under his boots. Aria stood just outside the ring, hands resting on her spear's haft, while Yhaven and his attendants took positions at equidistant points around the circle.

"Close your eyes, if you wish," one attendant murmured. "We'll commence a standard purification chant. Remain still, breathe evenly."

Aria, meeting Reziel's gaze: "I'm right here."

He nodded, heart pounding, then shut his eyes.

Soft chanting rose, a melodic hum in an archaic tongue praising the Radiant Dawn. The golden crystals brightened, lines of gentle light crisscrossing the circle. At first, Reziel felt only a mild warmth—akin to stepping into morning sunlight. His ribcage ached, but no worse than usual.

Stay calm, be open. He inhaled deeply, recalling techniques from the knights' breathing drills. The chanting layered into subtle harmonies, and the circle's radiance glided over Reziel's limbs like a diffused glow.

System Notice (echoing in Reziel's mind):

Ambient Holy Mana Detected.

Non-hostile, mild purification effect. No Overlimit risk.

Relief fluttered inside him. At least the System isn't rebelling. But the chanting began to change—higher notes, sharper emphasis. A second wave of heat swept his body, searing pain lancing across his blackish veins.

He gasped, knees buckling slightly. A flicker of violet spark rippled around his torso. The crystals flared.

Yhaven's chanting paused for a heartbeat. "Steady," he commanded softly. The second attendant channeled a stream of holy light aimed at Reziel's midsection.

Pain spiked—like needles piercing his flesh from within. Reziel bit back a cry, desperately recalling the fortress illusions. Don't panic. Don't push too hard. The System churned, an undercurrent of negative energy swirling around his ribs, half defending itself, half reacting to the holy mana.

Aria stepped forward in alarm. "Is this part of the assessment? He's in pain—"

Yhaven raised a hand, sweat beading on his brow. "We're nearly done. This is the final resonance check." He turned to Reziel, voice taut. "Try to release a small fraction of your power, to confirm your control."

Reziel panted. "A-are you sure?"

Yhaven's expression held cautious intensity. "We must see if you can safely manage the System under holy stress. If not, we stop here."

A thousand warnings flared in Reziel's mind. Yet part of him recognized a chance to prove he wasn't a threat—that the System could coexist with Radiant magic without erupting into Overlimit. Fine. Just a gentle Dark Pulse, like in the fortress archives.

Shaking, he summoned a minuscule thread of negative mana. Violet sparks shimmered around his fingertips, clashing with the circle's golden glow. Pain rippled through his ribs, but he forced it to remain a gentle wave—no Overlimit. The golden crystals flickered wildly, registering the interplay of energies.

The chanting slowed, shifting to a calmer melody. The circle's brightness dimmed, allowing Reziel's tiny wave of dark energy to swirl harmlessly around his hand before dissipating. He sagged with relief, tears pricking his eyes from the effort.

Yhaven, voice hushed: "Enough. You may rest."

Immediately, the circle's radiance faded, and an attendant stepped in to support Reziel before he collapsed. Aria rushed forward, spear clattering on the chapel floor. "Reziel!" She braced him as he coughed, trembling from the aftershocks.

Yhaven dismissed the circle's magic, wiping perspiration from his temples. The acolytes extinguished the crystals, gathering them in a satin pouch. All eyes fell on Reziel—exhausted but conscious, negative energy retracted.

Yhaven, speaking slowly: "The System responded to holy mana with expected discomfort, but it did not surge uncontrollably. You managed a controlled release of dark power… so it seems stable enough—for now."

He paused, exhaling. "The Radiant Church, therefore, shall not demand immediate exorcism. However, we maintain our stance: the System remains a dangerous artifact, and any future Overlimit or corruption sign must be reported at once."

Aria nodded stiffly. "Thank you for your… fair approach."

Reziel, still leaning on her, mustered a faint, relieved nod. At least they're not locking me away. But the church's caution was clear: one slip, and the hammer might fall.

A short while later, Reziel sat on a bench in the chapel annex, sipping water from a cup an acolyte had offered. Every breath still hurt, but he felt lighter—a major hurdle cleared. Aria hovered protectively, eyes sharp in case the church tried anything else.

Yhaven approached, his formal demeanor slightly softened. "Understand, Reziel, we do not relish policing you. But we have a duty to safeguard Luxaria's people—and your own soul. I'll report these results to the arch-priests."

Reziel, managing courtesy: "I appreciate the chance, cleric. I truly don't want to be a threat to anyone."

Yhaven studied him, then gave a measured bow. "If your knights uncover a safer severance method, the church may assist… provided it doesn't violate core tenets. I advise you to remain vigilant." With that, he departed, attendants in tow.

Once they'd gone, Aria let out a breath she'd been holding. "You handled that well."

He leaned his head back, closing his eyes. "I feel like I ran a marathon. But… better than being locked up."

They left the chapel annex behind, stepping into the courtyard's midday bustle. Knights sparred in training rings, squires hauled supplies, and official envoys came and went. A sense of normalcy thrummed—yet Reziel's life was anything but normal. At least I'm not an outlaw or pariah… for the moment.

Aria gestured for him to rest under a shady awning near the stable. "The Church gave you breathing room. Next, we decode those fortress texts—Marisol and Anora are likely poring over them already. If they find a 'safe severance,' the church might even endorse it."

Reziel nodded. "And if they don't…"

A grim silence stretched. Aria's expression hardened. "We'll keep searching. Some ancient scholar, some hidden library—someone must have tried severing a System before."

He pressed a hand over the dull ache in his ribs. "I can't do Overlimit forever. So yes… keep searching."

That afternoon, a breathless squire found them in the stable awning. "Sir—Ma'am—Librarian Marisol requests you urgently in the knight archives. She says she's found something… interesting."

Adrenaline sparked in Reziel's tired limbs. "Interesting how?"

The squire shrugged, out of breath. "Said to bring you and the fortress documents at once."

Aria exchanged a glance with Reziel. "Let's go. Could be important—maybe even about severance."

They navigated the winding corridors of the knights' headquarters until they reached the archive wing, a series of interconnected chambers lined with shelves of scrolls, codices, and reference tomes. In a back room illuminated by lanterns, Marisol stood at a wooden table piled with fortress parchments and older library references.

Anora was there too, along with Kiana—her arm still in a sling from the fortress fight. The trio looked up as Aria and Reziel entered.

Marisol, brimming with excitement: "Finally! Reziel, Dame Aria, I think I've pinpointed a lead referencing the 'Equal Exchange' phrase found in those fortress scrolls."

She held out a tattered, leather-bound tome with delicately inked runes. The cover bore the faint emblem of a coiling dragon—an older symbol sometimes associated with lost mage orders.

Marisol flipped it open to a dog-eared page, revealing spidery handwriting in archaic script. "This text references an artifact called the Mirror of Two Suns. Allegedly, it was used in ancient times to channel or redirect mana from a host to a sacrificial conduit—an 'equal exchange' that might sever a cursed bond."

Anora tapped the margin notes. "The fortress references mention 'mirror' only once, but we didn't connect it—until now. This older tome might fill the gaps."

Reziel's heart thumped. "So… it transfers the System out of me, or breaks the link? Without me dying?"

Marisol's face remained cautious. "Possibly. The text is fragmentary. It warns that if the exchange fails or lacks a proper 'conduit,' the host might still face corruption or… devouring. But if done correctly, it suggests a chance at survival."

Silence reigned, tension thick. Aria broke it, voice steady. "Where is this Mirror now? Does the text say?"

Marisol flipped more pages, brow furrowing. "No exact location. It vanished centuries ago after an old mage order disbanded. We only know rumors claim it was hidden in some remote region, or possibly shattered."

Despite the uncertainty, hope crackled in Reziel's veins. An artifact specifically tied to severance. He exhaled shakily. "This is more than we had before. A tangible lead, even if it's ancient rumors."

Aria rested a hand lightly on his shoulder. "We can start by combing the Royal Archives, the church's library, or any mage halls for references to the Mirror. If that fails, we search further."

Anora and Kiana exchanged nods, equally determined. "We'll compile everything we can," Kiana said, glancing at her sling. "Once I'm healed, I'll help track it down if it still exists."

Marisol added, "I'll keep cross-referencing. The script suggests the Mirror's usage is risky but not inherently lethal—unlike that 'devouring' scenario."

Reziel's chest felt lighter, though a pang of wariness lingered. "We need to be careful. If the exchange requires a 'conduit,' we can't just sacrifice an innocent. I refuse to gain freedom by harming someone else."

Marisol offered a reassuring nod. "Of course. The notes mention a volunteer channel or an inanimate focus. We'll see if an alternative method exists—like a specially crafted artifact to absorb the System's mana."

Aria gave Reziel's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "One step at a time. We'll gather every detail. And if the Mirror truly can sever the bond without a blood price, we'll find it."

He swallowed, voice tight with emotion. "Thank you, all of you."

That evening, Reziel lingered in the archive chamber after the others departed to rest. Lantern light flickered on the walls, illuminating the battered fortress scrolls and the newly discovered tome. He ran a finger across the pages describing the Mirror of Two Suns, heart pounding with cautious optimism.

At least now there's a chance… a path that doesn't end in Overlimit or devouring. The fortress's gloom and the cult's dark warnings felt a shade more distant. I have allies, leads, and time—if the church's scrutiny stays tempered.

Aria appeared in the doorway, quietly stepping in. "You'll strain yourself if you don't rest," she chided gently, though a fond smile curved her lips.

He offered a lopsided grin, closing the tome. "I couldn't help it. Seeing the possibility of severance in print… it's… it's more hope than I've had in a while."

She nodded, coming to stand beside him. "We'll hold onto that hope—and chase it wherever it leads. You've been through worse, Reziel. This time, we'll be prepared."

A wave of gratitude washed over him. "Yes. Together."

They left the archive, heading through the quiet corridors of the knights' headquarters. Most of the lamps had been dimmed, casting long shadows. Yet the weight on Reziel's shoulders felt a fraction lighter.

As they reached the courtyard, moonlight shone through scattered clouds. Aria paused near the stone fountain where he'd stood that morning. The gentle plash of water echoed in the stillness.

Aria, voice soft: "You've grown stronger, you know—controlling the System without Overlimit during that church test. It proves you can wield it safely, at least for now."

Reziel glanced at the faint glow of moonlight dancing on the fountain's surface. "If I can keep it stable until we find the Mirror, or another method… I might walk free." His breath quivered. "I never thought I'd get this far."

She smiled, a quiet warmth lighting her face. "Believe in that, Reziel. We'll do whatever it takes to free you—without losing who you are."

He felt a stir of fierce determination, overshadowing the weariness in his bones. The memory of that dreadful fortress, the cult's illusions, and the council's scrutiny weighed less. The path ahead was uncertain, but it beckoned with real promise.