Chapter 1 – Pride

I laid out my hands in front of me, with my wand revolving in place. Eyeing the demon in front of me, I concentrated. Its skin started to burn. But it wasn't enough. I wasn't strong enough. I concentrated harder, and again, its skin started to burn. Still not enough.

It screamed in pain, and aimed its gun at me. A surge of pain swept through my body as the shotgun in its hand made a loud "click". It pulled the trigger.

Not thinking twice, I grabbed my wand and took a sidestep. The bullet completely missed me, and hit the door behind me. It fell on itself as a cloud of dust from the impact filled the room.

I grabbed my rosary and threw it in front of me, towards the demon. Taking my wand, I pointed it at it, and a blinding light emerged from my rosary. A holy light.

The dust cleared, and I was able to see once again. In front of me lay the corpse…a dead, rotting corpse. Behind me, I heard a light applause from an unexpected audience. Mother Mathilda.

"Bravo!" She yelled, clapping lightly.

"Since when have you been watching!" I demanded. She just looked at me and smiled. A smile I always hated.

"Ever since you stepped foot in this cursed place," She said, breaking the silence. "You're getting better."

"Yeah, so what?" I asked. I never really liked her. She always nags me about the most ridiculous things, as if she was my own mother! I don't like her, and she doesn't like me either. No need to lie about it!

She went nearer to me and bent down a bit and said, "I think it's time. You're ready."

A feeling of joy overcame me. All hatred against her erased, as if I had total amnesia. I knew what she meant. I had enough faith in the Lord. I can take the test. I can finally become a priest! After 10 long years!

I just stood there. Speechless. But I was sure she could see the joy in my eyes. She snapped her fingers once, and everything faded. Next thing I knew, I was at the sanctuary standing next to her.

"Ch…." I whispered to myself. "I could've done that. Myself."

I looked up to her. She looked back, yet again smiling. Why did she always smile as if nothing was wrong? Look around! Midgard is falling! How can she pretend everything is so lovely when people are dying everywhere?

I reached for the large front doors the sanctuary had, but she beat me to it. With a wave of her hand, they opened, heralding our arrival. In front stood the high priest of Midgard: Father Zhandros.

He looked no older than 50, yet he had a somewhat "young" appearance. Although his body wasn't in a top shape, it was certainly good for a man his age. His hair was black, with occasional whisps of gray, and his face had a very serious yet kind look to it.

"Good morning, Mother Mathilda. Re." He greeted us, with his arms extended, as if about to hug us.

"Good morning, father." She greeted. I did the same. "I believe Re here, is ready. He has a very high faith in the Lord." She explained, speaking very highly of me. Why? Was it to show that she "cared" for me? Please. "Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor." The eighth commandment.

"We shall put that to the test then." Father Zhandros uttered, facing me sternly.

He led us to a room behind the altar. I walked briskly, wanting to close the door on Mathilda. But she just grabbed my hand. Even more, she seemed to walk slowly on purpose, as if to slow me down! I'm going to be a priest for God's sake! Can't I release my excitement?

Up front, Father Zhandros opened up a door and ushered us in. He then closed it, and the room was engulfed in total darkness. I heard a snap, but was unsure from who it came from: Zhandros or Mathilda. Nevertheless, a blue flame started circling the room, lighting it. In front was a long hallway whose end I couldn't see, save for a small light at the end. I took it I was suppose to cross it. I was right. Save for a few details.

"Now we shall test your faith in the Lord God. The objective is to—"

"—cross the tunnel. Yeah yeah…" I said, finishing his statement for him. Mathilda hit me with her elbow on the ribs.

"Right….but do you know what is in the tunnel?" Father Zhandros asked.

"Err….no."

"Demons. They will not harm you. Instead, they will try and sway your faith from the Lord. To turn you away from him. Stay strong!"

"A word of caution: some demons might try and harm you, just send their souls back to heaven." Father Zhandros added. "Off you go." He said, pushing me forward.

I took a step into the tunnel. The lights turned off instantly. I looked around for Father Zhandros and Mathilda. I couldn't find them! I was totally blind in this darkness, save for the light up ahead.

Then I realized something. I can make a blue light too. But a weaker one. I concentrated, then snapped my fingers. A small, blue flame appeared, smaller than that of Father Zhandros's, but it would have to do.

I took several more steps deeper. So far, nothing had happened…yet. The whole place was quiet, I couldn't hear a single thing, save for my breathing and footsteps, which were amplified by the silence.

Suddenly, a zombie came into sight. I pointed my wand at it, and its skin began to burn as it fell to the ground almost instantly. In the blue light, I saw my wand better than before: made out of shrunk human bones, a rib cage near the tip of the wand, and a skull at the tip itself. I never really bothered to look at it very well. What mattered to me was that I actually had a wand!

I took a few more steps deeper. A chill went down my spine with each one. Not surprising. Who wouldn't at a pitch black place like this, especially when you know there are demons lurking around?

I heard a distant laughter. I was almost there! At the end of the tunnel! No, wait! The light from the other end of the tunnel was still a good distance away!

I drew my wand, bracing myself for anything. Of all times, I had to run out of mana. Hence, the blue flame died. Total darkness. Again.

I heard the annoying laughter again. Made me want to kill it even more. That is, until I saw what it was.

I turned around, and saw a small little devil: a deviruchi.

"Stay away, demon!" I yelled, though frozen in my tracks.

For a while, we just stared at each other. I saw its empty, lifeless eyes, yet stuck fear into myself. I had never been this annoyed yet afraid at the same time!

Then it spoke. "Hmph…what kind of magic do you call that?"

"White magic. Why?"

"I call it cheap magic tricks!" It jeered, raising its trident a little higher, then brought it down once more.

"And what do you have? A dinner fork?" I replied.

It launched a ball of lightning that was intended to miss me. Probably to shock me. But….I wonder what would've happened if it hit me? Zhandros assured I would not get harmed! Guess I'll never find out…

"Hey, listen. I can amplify your power. See this card?" It told me as it drew a card.

It was unlike anything I've ever seen….I haven't seen a single merchant selling it, or a knight using it in battle. No. This must be one of a kind. But as with all things in life, nothing comes free.

"…and what do you want for that?" I asked.

"I would never give this to a priest! Why would I? They'd only exorcise me! Now, if you took a different path….I mean, quit being a priest…or an acolyte for that matter!"

I considered it for a moment. I never really wanted to be an acolyte. Come to think of it, why DID I become an acolyte? I thought I wanted to be a mage, and use black magic? What the heck happened? All a blur. As usual. I seem to remember nothing but my acolyte days. Why?

"Well?" It asked. "Do you—"

"—want it?" I completed his statement. "Hell yeah!"

"Then go and give up—"

"No wait. I have another offer."

"What?"

"How 'bout I just kill you right here?" And with that, I blasted him.

I threw my rosary in front of me and pointed my wand at it. Like before, a blinding light hit it, burning its skin, and, if I'm not mistaken, its soul as well.

I snapped my fingers once more. A blue flame once more circled me, granting me sight. In front, I could see the demon's lifeless body. Just lying there. Motionless. Dead. Near it, lay its trident and the card. I rushed over to get it, then pocketed it.

Almost instantly, Father Zhandros appeared before me.

"You've failed. You gave into temptation and failed to send this soul back to—" He paused, seeing the corpse.

"Failed to…..what?" I said, with a smirk on my face. I didn't remember him saying about not taking any item, just keep your faith. I found a loophole.

He looked back at me in shock after analyzing the corpse. I smiled even more. "Well? I don't remember you saying NOT to do any of this. All you said was to keep my faith in the Lord. If I didn't, I would've given up being an acolyte. If I didn't, I would throw away my rosary, and if I didn't have faith in the lord, I wouldn't have been able to kill it. Because, as you say, it is in God's will that we—"

"—exorcise. Yes. But—"

"—but what? There's nothing else you can do. I haven't done anything against the requirements, and that would allow me to become a priest!"

"Fine. I won't deprive you the gift you deserve. But only 'cause your mind is something else." He told me. I was almost certain he was referring to the countless other loopholes I had found. An example would be the time I was applying to be an acolyte. He said I should see Mother Mathilda in Morocc. I did. In a picture. Nothing against the requirements, eh?

Again, he snapped his fingers. Again, I could've done it. We reappeared by the altar, where Mathilda was waiting anxiously, for some strange reason. Apparently, she was waiting for me.

"Re!" She exclaimed, seeing my presence along with Father Zhandros's. "Well? How did it go? Was he able to—"

"—he found—"

"—a loophole?" She asked, eyeing me. Guess she just couldn't fathom my wit.

"Ok, well we should go on…unless…there're some other tests?" She asked as she put a grin on her face.

"No. He's done." He assured her. "Re, follow me. Mathilda, sorry. But you have to stay here."

Lucky me.

He led me to yet another door behind the altar: this time to the right. And yet again, he opened it, and ushered me in, then closed the door behind him.

"Before I turn you into a priest, and give you your new clothes, you must swear an oath before me." He explained.

"Ok, sure, whatever. Just hurry it up!" I said, the excitement running through my blood as the moment came nearer.

"Do you swear to the Lord that you shall always be at the service of others; helping and protecting them?"

"Yes, I do." I solemnly responded.

"Do you swear to the Lord that you will cast away any and all demons, and send their souls back to Heaven in His holy name?"

"Yes, I do."

"Do you reject Satan and all of his accomplices?"

"Yes, I do."

"Congratulations!" He told me, as he went to the back and took a blackish-brown and red outfit. My priest outfit! "Here. And—" He gave me the clothes. I immediately went to one of the corners and wore them. Oh I looked so cool! "—here. Take this bible. Use it as your guide, and may God always be with you! Off you go!" He said, giving me the bible and sending me off, to one my skills and be in the service of others. Bah, whatever! I was going into the most infamous abandoned castles in Midgard: Glast Heim. To exorcise the demons within, and to hone my skills.

I opened the door and strode off. Naturally, Mathilda walked up to me and sounded very surprised.

"Oh—my—God! You're a priest! Finally a priest! Now you can—"

I stopped her statement, putting my palm between my face and hers. I wasn't her acolyte anymore to tag along. I was free. Free even, to get an acolyte of my own.

"Oh…." She said, the joy in her voice sounding disappointed. I actually felt some remorse for doing that. But what the hell, it was true, and she needed to hear the truth.

"As you know, my becoming a priest ends my being your acolyte. Sorry." I sincerely said, and although I despised her, I knew she was feeling bad enough about me leaving her, so it was the least I could do.

I left her to her tears and head for the door. I placed my palms on them and pushed hard, announcing my arrival.

"By the way, I'll be at Glast Heim if you need me." I voiced out as I closed the large, oak doors behind me. I could've sworn I heard her sobbing loudly inside, mourning her loss.

Could've.