Somewhere Far Beyond

by StarKnight2.0

Ainz wasn't the only one to have logged into Yggdrasil in its final moments. Two brothers from America decided to visit their favorite game one last time but end up in a new world. As the Overlord of Nazarick rises, the brothers try to find their place in this new world, make friends, fight new enemies and soon wonder: Are they truly alone in the New World? (Volume 2 up now!)

13. Angel with the Scabbed Wings

(a/n: Bit of a long chapter but I hope you'll enjoy it. Yes I know it's about the Theocracy and the characters introduced all the way back in chapter three, but don't worry, they're a part of the story too. Big thanks to Lucius Walker for all his help!)

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Ch.13: Angel with the Scabbed Wings

It was late into the afternoon when Ian Als Heim emerged from the Cathedral of the Six Great Gods. The silver-haired cleric took a deep breath, savoring the fresh afternoon air, relieved to be free from the confining chambers of the Six Cardinals. The former commander of the First Division of the Sunlight Scripture looked about him, noticing the small crowd gathered outside.

Knights and mages of the capital's own garrison surrounded the cathedral, forming a barrier between the average citizen and the building. Ian marched down the steps and was allowed through. He had worried that the Cardinals had wanted to keep him inside, but was relieved when no one made any attempt to stop him. Making his way through the bustling streets, the silver-haired cleric noticed people chattering excitedly and glancing in the direction of the cathedral. Ian knew full well what they were talking about, or rather, who.

Even though it was only hours ago, the former commander felt like it was a lifetime ago when he returned to the capital, accompanied by his new acquaintance.

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(The past)

For the past few weeks, Ian, the First Division of the Sunlight Scripture and the troops that accompanied them from one of the border forts, had remained at the lone frontier village of Frith gathering information on the strange green castle. Or at least they tried.

For the first few days, the men restocked their supplies for the return journey and tended to the villagers. Meanwhile, some of Ian's subordinates attempted to infiltrate the castle. They tried to breach the walls by scaling it, but they were quickly discovered by the soldiers on the ramparts. After that botched attempt, the strikingly beautiful woman, whose name was discovered to be Galinda, appeared in the village, and sternly warned Ian and the rest of the Theocracy's men to not make any further attempts, otherwise the consequences will be dire.

Ian was tempted to ignore her and try again, but the severity of her tone and the coldness of her gaze made him think twice.

After Galinda's warning, Ian intended on leading his troops home, seeing how the castle was unassailable and that the cardinals would want a progress report, but was met by a green uniformed messenger. Apparently the lord of the castle wished to meet with him.

Ian was nervous to parley with this unknown, powerful wizard. After all, who wouldn't be nervous to meet someone who made a gargantuan castle appear overnight, and is master to a powerful mage like Galinda? The next morning, accompanied by some of his finest clerics, Ian was off to see the wizard.

Through the front gates, Ian and his companions got a taste of the grandeur of the castle. Within the towering walls was a city that could easily match the ones deemed to be the richest in the world. Buildings and spires filled the skies above them, making it feel like they were treading through a forest of emerald stone. Thinking back, Ian was glad that they remained with their guide. The streets that snaked through the city were like a maze. With no prior knowledge of the layout or a guide, a man could end up hopelessly lost in that place.

After what felt like forever, following the emerald clad servant through the labyrinth of streets and corridors, Ian and his companions reached their destination, the castle's keep. In the keep, they were led to the throne room. Everything about the throne room seemed to have been designed to make visitors seem insignificant. Enormous emerald pillars rose to the high ceiling above like tree trunks. Tall stained glass windows of pale green, gold and red allowed light to filter in from the outside. A dozen or so great banners of varying colors, emblazoned with sigils and coats of arms, hung from the ceiling. Emerald carpets covered the floor, leading from the door all the way to the throne directly across from the door. Sitting on the throne was obviously the ruler of the castle.

The great wizard did not look as Ian had expected. Originally, the silver-haired cleric envisioned a wizened old man with a long beard. He sort of imagined an ancient creature hunched over with age and, despite looking so fragile, would radiate power and wisdom.

In reality, however, the great master of magic was young. Ian struggled to accurately pin down the wizard's age, but he roughly estimated that the man was a few years younger than Ian. He had a smooth, pale face and sported a wide, friendly grin. Long snowy white hair flowed down past his shoulders. The man wore flowing emerald and gold robes. He sat on the great golden throne with the ease of a king.

As they entered the throne room, Ian noticed that they weren't alone. Lurking in the shadows of the pillars, a giant of a man paced back and forth. Ian grew tense, and could sense his comrades growing more nervous. The man was like a mountain of muscle, and looked strong enough to rip a man in half with his large hands. The silver-haired cleric secretly suspected that the man wasn't truly human due to his size, but he couldn't confirm it because the man's face was concealed by the visor of his helm. Strangely enough, the enormous man seemed like the least threatening thing in the throne room.

Opposite from the giant man, to Ian's left, stood a woman. The woman was tall, pale, and was as beautiful as Galinda. Her raven hair was braided into a bun, which matched beautifully with her midnight attire, which seemed to cover every inch of her, save for her head. She watched the newcomers enter with cold green eyes, her hands behind her back. On the surface she didn't look as intimidating as the giant, though Ian could feel hostility and power radiating from her like heat from a bonfire.

Ian groaned at the memory of himself giving the severe looking woman a friendly smile, which only caused her to narrow her piercing eyes to angry slits.

Thankfully, the lord of the castle saved him from further embarrassment by welcoming them.

"Welcome, my friends!" the young wizard spoke, his voice was clear and smooth like glass. "Come in, don't be shy. We don't bite...much."

"T-thank you, for inviting us," Ian replied, clearing his throat and proceeding toward the throne. As the silver-haired cleric and his companions approached the wizard in green, the severe woman and the mysterious giant in the visored helm followed them from a short distance.

"Quite an impressive castle you got here," the silver-haired cleric said sincerely.

"I'm glad that it impresses you," the wizard replied, sounding almost amused. "Having spent a considerable amount of time in this castle, it's splendor and majesty has lost its potency on me."

Ian and his men came to a stop a few feet before the throne, at the bottom of the dais the throne rested upon. The wizard looked down at them, his emerald eyes twinkling like jewels.

"So, who might you be?" he asked, lacing his hands together. "You seem familiar with the other soldiers who came to investigate my castle."

Ian hesitated to answer, not really sure how much he wanted to give away and how much he was allowed to tell this strange man. However, something within him forced the silver-haired cleric to answer.

"I-I am Commander Ian Als Heim, commander of the First Division of the Sunlight Scripture."

"Nice to meet you, Commander. I am Oswald, but most people call me 'Oz'. I am the ruler of Castle Garadon and all within it. The big, intimidating fellow over there is Leon, my personal bodyguard." The wizard gestured to the muscular giant. "And the surly beauty over there is Ellie."

Ian glanced over his shoulder and saw the two staring intently at him. He waved but neither reacted.

"And I'm sure that you met Galinda, my right hand woman and most devout pupil."

The silver-haired cleric nodded slowly, remembering the woman to be the one who rescued the village of Frith and caught his men as they attempted to scale the castle's walls.

"I'm sure that you're curious as to why we're here," Oswald said, reclining on his throne.

"As a matter of fact, that was why we were sent here in the first place," Ian stated, but quickly stopped himself. Why did he say that? He wasn't supposed to say that.

"I see. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but to be perfectly honest, I haven't the foggiest idea as to why we're here," Oz said with a shrug, "let alone how we got here."

Ian frowned. "Really?"

"It's the honest truth. I know that my sweet Galinda was boasting of my skills and how I brought us here, but the reality is that I didn't do anything."

The silver-haired cleric gave the wizard an odd look. For a person who was purportedly the "master of magic", he was being awfully humble. He may be lying, but Ian detected no hint of a lie in the wizard's voice or face. Noticing the odd look on Ian's face, the wizard chuckled.

"I know, shocking, right? Me being so open and downplaying my own abilities. I don't like to boast of my own prowess, but I am man enough to admit when I'm wrong and what I'm responsible for. In this one instance, I can honestly tell you that I am clueless as to how we ended up in this strange land."

Ian nodded slowly. "I-I believe you."

Oz shrugged. "Believe me or don't, it doesn't really matter. It's the truth. There's one thing I despise above others, and that is lies."

Strangely enough, Ian believed him. To this day, Ian still doesn't know how or why he believed Oz, but there was something about the man that was...endearing, genuine.

It was then a green clad servant arrived in the throne room, and informed his liege that the dinning chamber was ready. Oz was pleased and informed Ian and the rest of the clerics that he had his chefs prepare a "brunch" for them, and with a mere gesture, the wizard, his bodyguards and the clerics were transported to a grand dining hall.

The sudden change in scenery startled Ian and the other clerics, especially how quick and effortlessly he did it. Ian vaguely remembered reading about a spell that could transport objects and beings across great distances. However, such a spell was rarely utilized. It required a lot of power and had all sorts of problems, even for an experienced mage. One of the few recorded successful uses of the [Teleportation] spell was during a battle between the Demon God of Insects and the Thirteen Heroes. It had drained the wizard who cast it and cost him his life.

The fact that this man could cast such a powerful spell, a Tier Five spell no less, on a large group with such ease was astonishing.

After overcoming their initial shock, Ian and his companions saw that they were in a spacious emerald chamber where a long wooden dining table had been set up. The table was covered by a green tablecloth. The dishes and utensils were made of the finest porcelain and silver he had ever seen. Off to the side there was a wide window, which was open, giving the occupants of the room a commanding view of the vast castle city, the humble village of Frith and the surrounding countryside stretching for miles around.

Oz urged everyone to take their seats so that they may begin soon and everyone did as they were told. Once they were seated, emerald clad servants poured into the room, carrying trays with steaming hot dishes and jugs of ale. Although Ian was certain that he wasn't hungry, the moment the dishes were set on the table, the silver-haired cleric felt his stomach growl and his mouth water. He wasn't alone in that one. Each of the clerics sitting at the table eyed the food with a small hint of suspicion, but their natural skepticism quickly gave way to hunger.

The white haired young wizard chuckled and waved a hand, telling them that they didn't need to wait for his permission and to dig in. Once the words left his mouth, the clerics jumped right in. Looking back on it, Ian was surprised at how they acted. It was like they were starving animals. Cutting into loaves of bread, ripping off hunks of meat, shoveling steaming vegetables onto their plates, it was chaotic. Despite their frantic actions, Oz didn't appear to be bothered. In fact, he looked happy. The young wizard sat at the head of the table, a warm smile on his face.

Ian observed him as he helped himself to the food set on their table. The lord of the emerald castle handled his utensils delicately, as if they were going to shatter. He moved with purpose and precision, cutting slices surgically, and taking exact amounts from different dishes. He chewed with a closed mouth and whenever there was a bit of food on his face, the wizard would gently wipe it away with a napkin.

Ian felt a little embarrassed by how they were behaving, but the wizard waved a hand, stating that there was no need to be so stiff or formal, that he preferred people to be comfortable with who they are. The silver-haired cleric nodded, but he couldn't help but feel that there was something behind those words, almost like a private joke.

During the course of their "brunch", Oz took some time to ask questions of each of the men and listened carefully to their responses. The wizard stated that he wanted to get to know each of them, seeing how they were new to him, and he was a stranger in their land. As this discussion was going on, Ian noticed a woman standing a short distance behind Oz.

The woman was of average height and build, and wore an emerald uniform with a silver trim. Atop her head was a tall, cylindrical black hat. Her fair features were marred by a long scar running down her left cheek. Judging from the uniform and the way she held herself, Ian surmised that she was a guard. He was later proven correct when Oz later introduced her as Zerbeth, the captain of the Emerald Guard. What surprised Ian was the fact that she was the younger sister of that angry looking woman, Ellie.

The brunch went on for a while. The conversation grew relaxed and amusing. Ian grew more relaxed, but he was a little uncomfortable by the way his men were acting. This group of battle hardened and cautious holy magic casters were now a band of cheery and chatty lunch guests. They talked loudly and freely, sharing crass jokes and drinking copious amounts of wine.

Ian grew worried, or at least he tried to, but his mind was growing fuzzy, and his senses seemed dull. Gradually the conversation turned toward the country. At first Oz asked about the country, namely its name, what sort of government it had, its people. But then he began asking about magic. Although his head felt like it was full of cotton and the rest of him felt lighter than air, something in Ian's head went off. The silver-haired cleric blinked, and had a moment of clarity. He suddenly slammed his fist onto the table, and blurted out, "No!"

Everyone went silent and was staring at him. Ian's fellow clerics stared at him like he had said the most outrageous thing they've heard. Oz, however, seemed mildly surprised.

"I'm sorry?" the wizard asked.

"I-I mean, magic in our land is rather...complex," Ian stammered. He smiled meekly. "It'll take a lot of time to even explain the basic principles. It'll take days, weeks, even months! B-besides, there are others more qualified to explain it. As clerics, our mastery of magic is devoted to Light and Holy Magic."

Oz nodded slowly, seemingly convinced by the priest's explanation. Ian was relieved, but he would later kick himself for that. But from that moment on, magic and any other dangerous sort of topic was left untouched.

Following the brunch, Oz had transported them outside the castle, placing them right outside the front gate, exactly where they stood a few hours earlier.

Once they were outside the castle, Ian felt his head and his mind clear up immediately. He looked around, and saw that the other clerics seemed to be dazed and confused as to what happened. Oz thanked them for their time and their candor, and said that they're always welcomed back in his castle, so long as they "call ahead" first.

As the dazed and well-fed band of clerics stumbled back toward the village, Oz asked Ian to wait for a moment. The silver-haired commander did as the wizard asked and after he asked Zerbeth to leave them for a few moments, the two were left alone. Ian didn't know what the wizard wanted to talk to him about, but he had an uneasy feeling in his gut. That gut feeling ended up being confirmed when Oz told Ian that he was impressed that he managed to resist his "charms."

Ian was taken aback at that, and was surprised that the wizard was even influencing them. Oz apologized profusely and stated that it was because he wanted to test them, to see if they could be trusted. Apparently, where the young wizard was from, trust was a rare thing to come by and that a stranger was more likely a potential enemy than friend. However, after their brunch, Oz felt like he could trust them, especially Ian.

The middle-aged cleric was confused. Oz explained that Ian and the others practically bore their souls and spared nothing. He was good at picking up lies and found that none of them lied during their conversation. When Ian asked about how he could be trustworthy if he resisted the wizard's influence, Oz smiled and said that it meant that Ian "had a mind of his own."

Ian didn't know what he meant by that, and still didn't. The young wizard stated that he hoped that they could be friends and Ian, afraid of upsetting a mage who could perform Tier Five magic on a whim, stated that he'd be glad to be a friend to a man like Oz. After that, they went their ways. However, over the following days, Oz would meet with Ian and the rest of the clerics of the Sunlight Scripture. Most days, the wizard would send for them and they would meet in a lush garden in a courtyard. Other days, the white haired man would descend from his castle and meet with them in the village's tavern.

These meetings were informal, the emerald clad wizard would ensure that tea, cakes, and ale would be served, and that everyone would be treated as friends. At first, the meetings were plain social visits, filled with laughter and stories of various exploits. Ian was cautious, but he was surprised when everyone acted normally and that his head didn't feel like it was full of cotton. Later visits would include discussions on various topics, ranging from the nature of magic to current events and politics.

Oz was unusually invested in the last topics, although Ian chalked it up to him being from another land. Speaking of other lands, the silver-haired cleric tried to ask the wizard questions about his own land, but Oz smoothly deflected or gave vague answers. Every time their visits were hosted at the castle, Ian did his best to look for clues to Oz's past. The one visit where he had learned the most about the wizard was when Oz hosted them in the castle's library.

When one of the many nameless servants in green led them into the library, the silver-haired cleric spied the white haired wizard sitting in an armchair by a great fireplace. Beside him on a wooden stand was a strange device that held a slowly rotating black disk with music coming out of what looked like the end of a horn or a bronze flower. Ian had stared at the machine in wonder for hours, trying to puzzle out how it could be producing music. To this day, the wizard had kept the machine's workings a secret.

Another thing that stood out was the wizard's attire. Gone were the emerald and gold robes and in their place were plain grey trousers with suspenders, a long sleeve white cotton shirt and shiny black shoes. He looked like a poor farmer to the commander, rather than a great wizard. As they approached, Ian and his companions saw standing in front of him were two little girls. They two were obviously twins. Both had the same round faces with rosy cheeks and glittering emerald eyes. They even wore matching green dresses. They were, in a word, adorable. Ian observed that they were looking down at the floor in an attempt to avoid the wizard's disappointed gaze as he chided them over something.

"I'm not angry," Oz said with a frown "I'm just...disappointed that you broke your new toy and made such an awful mess in your playroom."

"We're sorry, papa," the two girls apologized in unison.

"We didn't mean to," said one girl.

"We were just having so much fun," said the other.

"I know but you must be careful," the wizard said "These toys are fragile and tend to break easily. I can repair them but you will have to be more careful with them. And maybe include your sister next time. You know how she doesn't like feeling excluded."

"We will, papa."

The wizard noticed the clerics and dismissed the twins with a hug. The girls scurried past the priests, giggling and whispering about the strange men.

Once the girls were gone, Oz welcomed them and apologized. He had something to straighten out with his children. Ian nodded slowly. So the man had a family and, after a very brief and vague discussion about the music device, was from a land where there were many wondrous contraptions. It wasn't much but it was significantly more than his previous visits. Ian also surmised that Oz's homeland wasn't a very pleasant place, and eventually decided to drop the subject.

One day, on one of their final visits to the castle, as they were having tea in Oz's garden, one of Ian's companions asked the wizard what he intended to do now.

The wizard, who was back in his fine green grobes, shrugged. "I don't know. I actually like it here. Quiet, out of the way, I think I'll return to my studies and live a quiet life, which I have earned. Why do you ask?"

"I-I was asking b-beacause…" the man went quiet, and seemed to struggle to piece together his sentence, before eventually he got up from his chair and threw himself down at the feet of the wizard. "We need your help!"

"Hmm?" The wizard's eyebrows rose.

"Max!" one of the other clerics hissed.

"Please! I-I know that you can do it!" the man begged, tears begging to fill his eyes.

"Do what?" Oz asked, confused.

"Help us! I-I know that you're a great wizard! You power, your technology…ever since we first met, I could feel your power. But now, now I see it!"

Ian scowled at the man, but he remembered that Max was selected for the Sunlight Scriptures because he had the incredibly rare gift to see the tier of a magic caster's power. To see him blubbering and tugging at the wizard's robes, it made the cleric think again about the man who was serving them tea.

"Please!" Max begged, taking handfuls of the wizard's robes. "You are the one that will unite us and save us! The pinnacle of mankind! With your help the Theocracy can vanquish the Elven Kingdom, the Beastmen! You can save mankind!"

Before Oz could speak, Max began vomiting on the wizard's robes.

By then Ian and the other clerics, along with Oz's guards, were upon Max. They managed to pull the vomiting, sobbing cleric off of the clearly confused wizard. Ian apologized to Oz, who was staring at Max and stroking an amulet that dangled from his neck. Zerbeth gave the clerics a dirty look, and she seemed ready to beat Max to death for laying hands on her lord, but Oz told her to forget about it. He laughed, and joked about the tea being stronger than he anticipated, though he seemed distracted by what had just happened. Ian noticed that the wizard continued to finger the amulet around his neck. He couldn't remember if he was wearing that before or not.

Later, after Max had been calmed down and sent back to the village, Oz asked after what Max meant about how he could save them. Ian answered his question first, out of fear of what his men would reveal. These last few visits made their tongues looser and made them view Oz like an old friend. The silver-haired cleric explained that the Theocracy was locked in a costly war with the Elven Kingdom far to the south, which was already covered in a previous discussion. However, Ian carefully elaborated how the Theocracy viewed itself as mankind's shield against the innumerable monstrous foes that plagued this world. Although they did their best to guide and protect the human nations from these threats, the Theocracy was faltering in some areas.

What Ian was uttering was tantamount to heresy for the average citizen of the Theocracy, but being a member of one of the Six Scriptures has its privileges. Those among the Scriptures and in certain sections of the military were more aware of the reality of what's going on. The war with the Elves and with various inhuman elements was not going as smoothly as the Cardinals would care to admit. The elves were gifted with magic, and thanks to their knowledge of the dense woodland that comprised their kingdom, they were able to drag the war out longer than anyone anticipated. That's not to mention the legendary Elf King, the perverse bastard who started the whole damn war when he kidnapped the Theocracy's ace in the hole.

Although he did the world a great service by aiding the Thirteen Heroes against the Demon Gods, the Theocracy could not overlook his transgression. The war started off strong, but it came to a grinding halt. Last thing Ian heard was that the Theocracy was taking some serious casualties recently, and that was without the Elf King or some of his best warriors ever taking the field. Then there were the various beastmen tribes to the north east and to the west, who were far more brutal and tenacious than the elves.

Ian did his best to explain the situation to Oz. He tried to omit anything compromising of the Theocracy and anything that he didn't need to know. The wizard sat and silently listened. Once the cleric finished his explanation, Oz scratched his chin and whistled.

"Whew," he said with a smile. "I'd say that's a real sticky situation you have there."

"That's one way of putting it," Ian said slowly.

"I'll do it."

"What?" the cleric blinked.

"I said I'll do it," Oz said with a shrug.

Ian was perplexed by the wizard's statement, as were the other clerics in the group.

"What? I said I'll help. Is that so strange?"

"It's just, no offense, but how can you help?" Ian asked. The other clerics nodded. Some appeared skeptical, but the others seemed genuinely curious as to what the wizard was fully capable of doing.

Oz smiled, and Ian felt a slight shiver. The smile wasn't evil or malicious, but it held something that he couldn't quite figure out.

"Oh my dear doubting friends," the wizard said. "You can scarcely imagine the things that I can do. Why, if I was inclined, I could subjugate these elves for you. Hell, I could give those beastly beastmen such a thrashing that they wouldn't dare show their faces in these parts ever again."

"You could?" one of the other clerics asked doubtfully.

"Of course! I've slain dragons and outwitted the smartest warriors in my land. After all, you've heard how Galinda had rescued that darling little village from those ravenous beasts not too long ago. She was barely trying. The things she could do if she actually put her mind to it…" The wizard shivered with delight.

The offer sounded too good to be true. There were some powerful mages in the world, but even they would balk or struggle before the likes of the Elf King or a horde of blood thirsty beastmen. But then again, according to the testimonials from the villagers were earnest in the fact that a single person was able to annihilate an attacking band of monsters. If Oz was true to his word then it could mean a lot to the Theocracy. But there was a nagging feeling at the back of Ian's mind. Although the green clad wizard was polite, friendly and accomodating, the man was still not entirely forthcoming. But then again, to be so open and trusting and not exercise the least bit of caution can lead a person to trouble in this world.

Eventually, the clerics decided to accept his offer, but informed the wizard that they needed to return to the capital to inform their superiors, namely the Six Cardinals and the Pontifex Maximus. The wizard didn't mind; in fact, he suggested that he tag along with them.

That took the men by surprise, but they gladly welcomed his company. Ian was hesitant to bring Oz along but if they were going to accept his help, then they need to do this properly and have him speak directly with those in charge. Besides, if the wizard was up to something, the Cardinals would surely see right through him. They were the wisest and finest clerics in the Theocracy. Should anything happen, they'll be more than able to handle a single shifty wizard.

…

Within two days everyone was prepped and ready to go. The knights and rangers from the border forts had long since journeyed home so they didn't need to make any detours. At dawn, Ian and the rest of the First Division of the Sunlight Scripture were saddled up and ready to go. They waited at the edge of the village with the villagers, waiting for the wizard to emerge from his castle. As the first light of dawn began to fill the skies, the castle's front gates groaned open.

What emerged startled Ian. A column of soldiers, clad in green armor, marched forth in lockstep, carrying spears and shields. Behind them was a lavish green and gold carriage pulled by a team of snowy white horses. Behind them was a contingent of what the silver-haired cleric would describe were golems; tall, slender mechanical beings marching together in an orderly precession.

These...things, were nothing like he's ever seen before. These were mechanical wonders, with their metal parts shifting and moving about for all to see. They had artificial smiles on their "faces", with their singular, glowing eye looking around them.

Their arms varied in design, with some of them either having razor-sharp blades for arms, or with some of them having hands holding their swords. But what stood out the most for Ian were the ones holding some sort of slender weapons that he wasn't familiar with. Sure, those weapons had a small blade on the tip of it's cylindrical mouth, but he had a funny feeling that it wasn't meant to simply be used as a spear.

Another carriage followed, a plain and unimpressive thing compared to the first. It trailed far behind the first carriage, separated by the contingent of mechanical marvels and a column of mounted knights. After a few minutes, the procession came to a halt. A footman opened the carriage's door and out stepped Oswald. The fair haired wizard was clad in flowing dark green robes and a pair of green spectacles. He apologized for his tardiness, but he had to get his affairs in order before leaving. Ian accepted his apology, and asked why he was bringing along such a sizable force.

"Well, I thought that I'd make a little demonstration," the wizard answered, a giddy smile on his face. "To show the sincerity of my intentions and what I can contribute, aside from magic of course. I also thought I'd bring the children along for a little excursion. I was telling them all about those wonderful things you mentioned about your capital, and they just demanded to accompany us."

Ian noticed the white haired twins poking their heads out through the windows of the cage, demanding to know why the carriage wasn't moving. The veteran cleric frowned. He didn't know where to begin with this. It was difficult enough to see the Cardinals on a normal day, but to ride to the capital with a strange, foreign magician and his army, there will be hysteria. There were protocols and rules that they must follow. There was also the journey itself. Although the roads were generally safe, there were still some trouble with bandits and random monster encounters.

The silver-haired cleric advised that maybe they shouldn't bring so many soldiers, and perhaps the children wouldn't enjoy the lengthy journey to the capital. Oz admitted that they were a bit much. However, when it was suggested that the children be left behind, the young girls pouted and began tugging on their father's robes, demanding that they be brought along because "he promised." The young wizard smiled meekly, and said that he did promise and had no choice in the matter. His word was his bond. Oz also insisted that they needed an armed escort with them in a strange new city Although he trusted the clerics, he still needed to protect his children. Ian saw the logic in that and relented, which caused the children to cheer.

The wizard commanded the majority of his forces to return to the castle, save for twenty mounted knights and a fifty of those mechanical creatures. Although it was still a little more than he was comfortable with, Ian decided that this was marginally better than bringing a small army.

With that, the group was set to go. However, Oz raised a hand, and a great, yawning portal opened before the travelers. The horses of the clerics and soldiers whinnied and reared back in fear. Ian's eyes widened in surprise at the display of magic. The portal was large and ominous, darkness swirled and roiled within it. While teleporting spells were a rarity, opening a portal was considered impossible. There were vague references to spells that open magical gates in various ancient tomes that were said to have originated during the era of the Eight Greed Kings. According to those ancient mages, these gates allowed one to be instantly transported to far flung destinations with no trouble at all. But such magic was considered impossible, and just a myth. Apparently it wasn't.

While the priests and soldiers of the Theocracy were hesitant, Oz showed no such fear. He urged them to follow him through the portal, assuring them that it was safe and that it would take them to their intended destination. When asked how he knew where they were going, the wizard stated that he used one of the maps they gave him and a magic mirror to locate the capital.

"This way we'll save ourselves a lengthy and exhaustive journey," Oz said with a grin. "You'll be home before you know it! Now, come on! Onward!"

"Yay!" the twins cheered.

Oz's mounted knights rode on, unflinchingly, into the roiling darkness, followed by the gilded emerald carriage, then the drab carriage, and then the contingent of mechanical creatures. Ian looked at his men. They looked afraid to proceed, although considering how the portal looked to be leading into oblivion, he couldn't blame them. With no other choice, aside from potentially offending the powerful wizard, Ian led his men into the portal. Once they crossed the threshold, everything went dark for a brief moment, before then the darkness faded.

Ian looked around and saw an empty, rolling countryside, stretching out for miles. Before them lay a well traveled and maintained road that snaked onward toward the horizon and toward their destination. On the horizon, however, against the brightening purple sky, stood the capital of the Slane Theocracy: Celestis. Although he has lived in the capital for most of his adult life, Ian would never get tired of the beauty of the capital. The capital city was a jewel of mankind's knowledge and accomplishments, and was the most holy city in the world.

Great spires of white stone rose above the city like lances, magnificent cathedrals and churches devoted to the various sects that make up the Theocracy stood proudly among the various houses buildings like ancient sentinels. All of these things were encompassed by high and thick walls. In the distance, the capital glittered with the oil lamplights like gemstones in the growing morning light. By now, the guard would be changed on the walls and various clerics would be beginning to attend to their civil and priestly duties.

Ian spotted Oz and his party a little further up the road, waiting for the clerics to follow. The men of the Sunlight Scripture joined Oz's party and led the procession toward the city.

The rest was history.

The sun had risen and the streets were just beginning to come alive when Ian led Oz and his party through the front gates. It took some doing, but thanks to Ian's rank and his insistence on taking his foreign guests directly to the Cardinals, they were allowed through. The soldiers watched with awe as the mechanical soldiers marched by.

Ian shifted uncomfortably in his saddle as they paraded up the streets. He never liked people staring at him. Unfortunately, that was what people were doing. People of varying ages pointed and stared and chattered away as the unusual column made its way up the main avenue. Leading the way was Ian, his clerics, and his soldiers. Following behind them were a contingent of Oz's mechanical soldiers, followed by the carriages and the mounted knights in green bringing up the rear.

The procession's journey ended at the Cathedral of the Six Great Gods, the center of worship for the various sects within the Theocracy and the seat of the power for the Six Cardinals. The enormous edifice towered over all, symbolizing the power of the Six Great Gods of mankind and the authority of the ruling government. Ian and his men dismounted and Oz and his retinue emerged from their carriage.

The guards stationed around the cathedral eyed the new arrivals warily, keeping their hands close to their weapons.

Ian introduced them to the cathedral, which drew some 'oohs' from the twin girls. The silver haired cleric observed the other members of Oz's party. Aside from the wizard and his two children, Galinda had accompanied them in their carriage. In the second carriage, the drab looking one, was a pudgy, sweaty looking man with thinning grey hair. Clinging to his round face was a wispy looking goatee. The man wore a black tailcoat and black trousers, which seemed a little too small for him. Accompanying the man was a trio of plain faced women in green uniforms and white aprons.

While Oz, Galinda, and the twins seem to be enjoying themselves and taking in the sights, the pudgy man was wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, and was complaining loudly about the journey. Ian scowled at the man. He had known men like that, nobles and officials who seemed to do nothing but complain and use their position for personal gain. There was a chance that he could be wrong, but Ian suspected that his assumption of the man was dead on.

From there, they were greeted by Sigfried, the Captain of the Council's Personal Guard. Ian explained the situation, how Oswald the wizard wished to meet with the council, and how Ian was going to deliver his report to Cardinal Lauransan.

Siegfried was suspicious, but after going inside to inform the Supreme Council of their presence, the blond knight allowed them inside.

Inside the cavernous and richly adorned building, the knight led them to the six most powerful clerics in the country. The six were convened in their meeting chamber. They sat at a round table in high backed chairs, speaking in soft, even tones. When the silver-haired priest and the wizard's posse arrived, they stopped and turned their gazes on them. Ian felt his heart skip a beat and his mouth go dry. Oz, however, seemed undeterred. He greeted them warmly, as if they were old acquaintances, and introduced himself and his family.

Cardinal Lauransan's expression read that of surprise, but it quickly hardened and he gave Ian a withering look for bringing strangers into their midst.

The cardinals politely asked Oz and his family to wait outside.

Once they were gone, Cardinal Lauransan asked for a report in regards to the missing men and the mysterious structure. Ian took a deep breath and explained everything that had happened, while his subordinates nodded and occasionally contributed with a comment or correction.

As the explanation went on, Ian grew more and more uncomfortable. Although the council's chamber was spacious and cool, the silver-haired priest felt more and more claustrophobic. Each member of the council studied him with cold, analytical eyes. He feared that if he said the wrong thing, he would burst into flames. However, nothing like that happened. The prominent clerics listened in complete silence. Eventually, Lauransan nodded slowly and thanked him for his efforts and for his report.

"It is good to know that our men are alive and well and that our border is secure," the dark haired cardinal said, stroking his beard. "It is even a greater relief to know that the owner of the structure is willing to come all this way to talk with us."

"Indeed," one of the other cardinals agreed. "Perhaps we should hear him out."

"Please do!" Max blurted out. "He is a truly wonderful man who could be of so much use to you."

The cardinals looked at the cleric, who, in retrospect, looked ill. Max was a solid man with muddy brown hair. However, over the following weeks, after meeting Oz, Max grew thinner and more pallid.

"We shall hear what he has to offer," Cardinal Lauransan said, his voice contained a hint of annoyance. "Nothing more."

"But why?!"

"He is a stranger, an outsider. We can't simply take him at his word."

"Besides," Cardinal Dominic Ihre Partouche added with a scowl. "we have many more important things on our agenda today."

"Indeed," Cardinal Maximilian Oreio Lagier grumbled, adjusting his glasses. "there are issues, real issues, such as the situation in the Dragon Kingdom, which require our immediate attention and not the honeyed words of some foreign charlatan. He should be grateful that we're not rejecting him outright."

"But-" Max began, but one of his fellow priests clamped a hand over the man's mouth.

"Thank you, your eminence...s," Ian said with a bow.

"You're all dismissed," Cardinal Lauransan sighed, waving a hand. "Go, eat and rest. You've had a long and interesting journey. I have important matters to discuss with all of you so don't stray too far from your barracks or the capital. Send that Oz fellow in on your way out. Tell him we will see him, alone."

Ian nodded and led his men out of the council chamber, though two of their number had to drag Max out with a hand still clamped over his mouth.

The silver-haired priest found Oz and his retinue waiting in an anteroom. The twin girls were chasing each other around, playing tag. The chubby man was still dabbing his sweaty face and mumbling complaints as his maids were fanning him and offering him grapes. Oz sat in a chair, cross legged and looking content with life. When Ian informed the wizard of what the council wanted, Oz stood and rubbed his hands.

"Show time," he said with a grin.

"We want to come too!" the twins cried.

"You can't," Galinda warned gently. "Your father has to go alone."

"Why?" they demanded.

"Boring grown up stuff," Oz said, making a bored face. "You wouldn't want to come with me. Just wait here with Galinda and Marten and I'll be back in no time."

The girls pouted, but the wizard just chuckled.

"Thank you, Ian," the wizard said, turning to the silver-haired cleric. He offered his hand. "I suppose this is where you'll leave us."

"It is, but should you need anything, you can find me over on White Spire street," the priest said. Although he fulfilled his mission and he could potentially cut all ties to the wizard then and there, Ian didn't want to be rude or abandon the wizard in an unfamiliar city. After all, he had been very kind and honest with Ian. The silver haired cleric gave the young wizard the address to the barracks that housed the members of the Sunlight Scripture whenever they were in the capital.

"Thank you, and if you are ever in need of my assistance," Oz said, as he reached into the folds of his robe and produced a small silver amulet. Dangling from a silver chain, the amulet was an ancient looking coin of sorts. There were strange runes etched into it on one side and a hideous face on the other. "Just take this amulet into your hand and whisper my name. No matter where I am, I will come to you."

Ian thanked Oz and accepted the item. With that, Oz departed to meet with the Supreme Council and the silver haired cleric left the Cathedral.

---

(Now)

Ian walked down the sidewalk, staring at the amulet in his hand. The silvery disk gleamed brightly in the late afternoon sun. The silver-haired cleric was curious to see if it would work, and considered whispering the wizard's name, but decided against it. Pocketing the amulet, Ian crossed the street and proceeded onwards into the older quarter of the city.

Although he had been stationed in the capital with the Sunlight Scripture for almost a year or so, he hadn't been to this part of the city in a long time, even though he'd been meaning to visit. During his time in the capital, Ian had been too busy running training exercises with the Sunlight Scripture's new members and providing support to the capital's defense. Any free time he's had was chewed up by meetings, sleeping, and meals with his brothers of his order.

Despite having been away for years, Ian could still vividly picture the way back to the Lindreher Apothecary Shop. Thinking of his old teacher and friend Archie made Ian smile. The ginger haired man was a ray of sunshine in his life. Since childhood, the silver-haired cleric had intended to join the country's military and fight to protect his country. Thanks to his aptitude for holy magic, Ian was recommended by the clerics of his village to join one of the capital's most prestigious institutes in order to hone his abilities and become one of the Theocracy's holy warriors. Although he got his foot through the door, Ian quickly discovered how in over his head he was. The teachers and the curriculum challenged him at every step. They'd ruthlessly push and test every student, forcing them to give it their all. It was to shape them into weapons, the instructors would say. They were to be crusaders and guardians of humanity, instruments of the gods' holy fury against the abominable and innumerable threats that lurk in the world. It was exhaustive, from the constant training with basic holy magic, to the long hours of study and meditation. Those who couldn't deal with the workload either transferred to the healer's program or got washed out.

Unfortunately, despite his confidence, Ian came very close to dropping out. It had been only two months since he started, and he was ready to quit. He had trouble sleeping and everything about him ached, from his body to his mind. One day, one of the instructors at the Institute had Ian run an errand for him to collect supplies for one of the potion classes. The teacher sent him to one of the finest apothecaries in the capital, which happened to be run by a highly gifted man named Archibald Lindreher. Thinking of the day they met always made Ian smile. The redheaded man was one of the few people that showed him an ounce of kindness and sympathy. The instructors were more like drill sergeants and jailors than teachers.

Archie and his family, the Lindreher's, had a long history of working with the various institutions of holy magic, providing a supply of herbs for potion classes, and occasionally instructing fresh young students the basics of brewing various useful potions. If there was anyone who could understand the things that students had to endure in those schools, it'd be Archie. When Ian arrived at the store and showed the middle-aged redheaded man the lengthy list, he understood. He told Ian to pull up a seat and relax while he got the things on the list, stating that it'd take some time. He winked at the confused and weary boy, before going into the back.

The middle-aged apothecary had brought him some tea and, after warming up to one another, the two would discuss what has been happening at the school, how it's changed, what sort of classes Ian was in. Archie would then tell Ian some amusing stories about some of the teachers that were still there, about students in his year. The stories and tea helped rejuvenate the boy, so much so that whenever he had free time or was on break, Ian would visit the shop. Archie helped him with some of his school work and occasionally gave the boy some words of wisdom and encouragement, which have stuck with the silver-haired priest even to this day.

Now that Ian had some free time on his hands, he decided that maybe he could drop in on the Lindrehers. Last time he saw them, after graduating from the Institute, was a few years ago, though at a distance. Ian was returning to the capital with the rest of the Sunlight Scripture from a raid against a series of demi-human settlements that cropped up on the Theocracy's southern border. Through the crowded streets near the East Gate, Ian spied the fiery haired apothecary speaking to an oily looking man in an expensive set of clothes. The apothecary's hair had significantly greyed and was looking very weary. The two men were discussing something, and Archie looked very unhappy. Ian wanted to get his attention and to talk to him, but Captain Nigun barked at him for dawdling. When he looked again, Archie was gone and the oily man in the expensive clothes was walking away, looking rather pleased with himself.

Rounding a corner, Ian found himself on the street he was looking for. The silver-haired priest spied the apothecary shop and made a beeline for it. As he approached the store, Ian began to notice how quiet and different this street was. Back in the day, this street was home to some very popular supply shops and some of the finest healers in the capital. Now, the street was as quiet as a grave with nary a soul in sight. Storefronts were empty and signs bearing the name of their owners had long since been taken down or painted over. It was obvious that the stores had been closed down for some time, but Ian was confused as to why. The capital has been very prosperous, even despite the costly war with the elves. If anything, these shops should still be here. People have always required the services offered by the shops and healers on this street.

Ian shook his head. It didn't make sense, but it wasn't his problem.

When he reached the apothecary shop, he noticed that the store was still open and decided to pop in and visit.

Stepping inside the shop was like stepping back in time. The shop was exactly how Ian remembered it. It was a modest size store, the walls covered in shelves, holding glass jars full of herbs, oils, powders, roots and other materials. The air had an earthy smell and was cool, even during the summer. Across from the front door was the counter and manning the counter was a blond woman with sky blue eyes. She had been scratching away in a book with a feather quill when Ian walked in.

"Hello and welcome to Lindreher's Apothecary," the woman greeted without looking up. "Take a look around, I'll be with you in a minute."

Ian stared at the woman. There was something familiar about her. It took a few moments before he realized that the woman behind the counter was Sophia Lindreher, Archie's daughter. She was roughly Ian's age, maybe a year older than him. Ian remembered when was still a priest in training, Sophia would help her father at their shop. He had been training her to become his successor when the time came. Her knowledge of herbs, plants and of various healing methods was second to none. Whenever Ian visited their shop, she'd join in their discussions. She'd tease him on occasion but was just as a valuable source of insight in regards to healing magic and potions as her father.

After standing there for a long moment in silence, Ian spoke.

"I like what you've done with the place."

Sophia stopped and looked up from her book. There was momentary confusion but soon recognition filled her face.

"I-Ian?" she said, surprised.

"Sophia," he said with a smile.

"Ian!" the blonde storekeeper hurried around the counter and threw her arms around him. "It's so good to see you again!"

"Likewise."

Breaking off the hug, she looked up at the silver-haired cleric. "What are you doing here?"

"I was in the area and had a bit of free time, and I thought I should stop by and see you and your father."

The blonde woman's smile faltered. "I-I'm doing great. But my father, he's...he's been better. Father has been sick lately."

"Really?"

Sophia nodded "Yeah. It's...it's the Green Fever."

Ian felt his mouth go dry. The Green Fever was a deadly disease that's been going around lately. It's known to be fatal, and has claimed a significant amount of lives. Despite the best efforts of the finest healers and clerics in the country, there appears to be no cure for this ailment. The best anyone can do is stall it, and ease the pain of those afflicted by it.

"Is he…?" Ian began.

"Dead? No, no but it has severely weakened him. He says he's getting better, but…" Sophia shrugged.

Ian nodded silently.

There were some who survived the fever, but so far, survival odds were usually slim. Not wanting to linger on a bleak topic, Ian decided to shift the conversation.

"So...how have you been?" the priest asked.

"I've been better," Sophia answered, brushing away some hair from her face. "Keeping myself busy with the shop and paying off papa's loans."

"Loans?"

"Times have been tough, and he's done all that he can to stay afloat."

Ian scowled. "Yeah, I can see that. What happened to the other stores?"

Sophia frowned. "Like I said, time's been tough for everyone, especially those who owe money to the Jalets and those who are not a part of the Healer's Guild."

"Healer's Guild?"

Sophia snorted derisively. "They formed during the big outbreak of the fever last summer. Some of the more well-known healers got together to coordinate their resources and efforts to better combat the outbreak. It worked, they were able to get ahead of the disease and saved some lives. But they're nothing more than a gang of thugs now, charging high prices for medicine and treatments. They've also been strong arming every healer in the capital who's not a part of their little group. Either they join up and pay fees to their guildmaster, or they get chased out."

"Are you sure?"

"Saw it happen to the Brenans from up the street. After they refused to join with that so-called guild or pay off their thugs, they were forced to move out. Apparently they couldn't pay off loans they owed to Bishop Renzem and the Jalet brothers. They could either pay up, join the guild, or leave."

"Have you reported this?"

Sophia snorted again. "To who?"

Ian was stunned to hear about this. The capital was supposed to be a beacon of humanity, a shining example of what all mankind should aspire to be. To hear of such criminal acts taking place here of all places was almost surreal. There were periods of time where the Theocracy's capital became a den of vice and corruption, but each time that happened the Supreme Council, along with civil authorities, had thoroughly cleaned things up. Although he would wish to believe otherwise, Ian knew that things are hardly perfect, even in the Theocracy. It seems like the Supreme Council didn't do a good enough job of cleaning up last time.

"Enough about me," Sophia said, touching Ian's arm. "How have you been? It's been years since we last saw each other."

Ian nodded slowly. "It has been too long."

Sophia retreated into the back rooms behind the counter and returned with two stools. As Ian sat and recounted his experiences since their last meeting, the blonde shopkeeper began brewing some tea. The silver-haired cleric omitted various gory and compromising details that may reveal sensitive information, like the fact he was a member of the Sunlight Scripture. The Six Scriptures were strictly covert units, deployed in specific areas to combat specific problems. The missions given to them were often brutal, difficult, and secretive.

For security reasons, should anyone ask them as to what it is they do, they've been instructed to state that they're part of a Combat Cleric Battalion. It wasn't the truth, but it wasn't that far off either. Those clerics, much like the Six Scriptures, often moved around to various parts of the country to aid various combat units or civilians. It was the perfect cover story.

The blonde shopkeeper listened intently, captivated by the silver-haired priest's words.

"And after spending a few weeks checking in on new recruits and filling out reports, I was shipped off on another mission," Ian told her before taking another sip of tea.

"Where to?"

"To the northwest border, around the frontier close to the Albelion Hills. We went to a little village called Frith."

"Really?" the shopkeeper asked, her eyes widened in shock. "That's awfully dangerous. What for?"

"Probably pissed off an Archbishop or one of the Cardinals," a gruff voice joked.

Ian and Sophie looked and saw Archie standing in the doorway behind the counter. The silver-haired priest felt his heart skip a beat. The lively red haired man from his memory was now a thin, emaciated man. His hair was grey as storm clouds, his skin was pale, and had a slight green tinge to it. Draped around his thin shoulders was a thick wool blanket, which looked like an oversized cloak on the sickly figure. Despite his ragged appearance, Archie gave Ian a warm smile.

"How're you doing kiddo?"

"Father!" the blonde shopkeeper exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "You shouldn't be out of bed, you need your rest!"

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" the elderly man grinned weakly, before he let out a cough into his hand.

Ian stood, wanting to help his old friend, but the old man waved the two of them away.

"A slight cough," Archie wheezed. "Nothing more. I'm kicking this thing in the ass. I'll be better in no time!"

After Sophie brought out another stool and the old man sat down, Archie nodded to Ian to continue his tale. "Now then, you were saying something about being sent off to the back end of nowhere?"

The corners of Ian's mouth twitched, threatening to form a smile. Even when he looked like death, Archie always thought of others.

"We were sent to help search for some men who went missing," Ian explained. "Apparently some of the men from one of the border forts went missing while pursuing some beastmen raiders. Fortunately we found them...and some other things."

"Oh? What kind of things?" Sophia asked, pouring her father a cup of tea.

"A...wizard, or so he claims," Ian said slowly. He really shouldn't be telling them about Oz. Most of the mission was classified, and should stay that way, but the emerald clad wizard had made a big show of his arrival in the capital. They'll hear about him sooner or later, even if the Cardinals told him to piss off and never return.

"A wizard?" Archie repeated with a frown. "What's his name?"

"Oswald, though he prefers to be called Oz."

The elderly man raised his eyebrows. "Peculiar name. Never heard of him."

A smile appeared on Ian's face. "Thought not. Apparently nobody has, not even the Cardinals."

"They're not all-knowing you know," Sophia pointed out.

Ian nodded reluctantly. It was true that they weren't omniscient, but the Cardinals had an uncanny way of finding things out.

"What was this Oz fellow doing all the way out there?" Archie asked as lifted his teacup with a trembling hand. "It's awfully dangerous out there, even for magic casters."

"Apparently he himself doesn't know how he ended up there," Ian explained. "Just showed up one day and built himself a fancy home near the village."

Both Archie and Sophia gave Ian an odd look. He shrugged. "Don't ask me. He's rather...strange."

"What about the beastmen?" Sophia asked. "Does he know about them?"

"He does and doesn't appear to be worried. If anything, he seemed...fascinated by them."

An unusual silence fell on the trio. Beastmen were ferocious creatures. Just mentioning their name is enough to give even veteran knights and mages pause. Stories of their strength and brutality were used to keep unruly children and criminals in line. "Mind yourself", some would say, "or you'll find yourself on the frontier with the beastmen." To hear someone completely unafraid of those creatures, even deeply fascinated by them, was a rare occurrence. Either that person was stupid or insane. To Ian, Oz didn't seem like a stupid man.

Ian glossed over some of the details of the story, and told his two old friends a little more about Oz, about how they found the men alive and how they made the long journey home, escorting the peculiar wizard to see the Cardinals. When the silver-haired cleric mentioned that, Archie chuckled.

"I'd give anything to see that," the old man said with a grin. "The Cardinals don't suffer fools lightly, and this Oz fellow sounds like he'll make them squirm."

The silver-haired priest smiled a little at the thought. The Cardinals were the ultimate authority, aside from the Pontifex Maximus, and were known for being cold and remote. The idea of them trying to get direct answers out of the green wizard sounded like a comedy waiting to happen.

A soft whistling came from the backroom, causing Sophia to rise.

"Your medicine is ready, father," the blond said as she retreated into the back.

"Oh joy," the old man grumbled once his daughter was out of earshot, "A cup of hot mud and herbs. That'll save me."

"How are you feeling?" Ian asked, his voice was filled with concern.

Archie shrugged. "I'm fine. Could be better, but I'll live." However, despite the apothecary's insistence, the old man began to cough a phlegmy, rattling cough.

The priest winced.

It was difficult seeing his friend like this. To see him slowly wither down to a sickly little husk made Ian want to do something, anything to help him. Although Archie was strong and a gifted healer, it was plain to see that he wasn't doing as well as he claimed.

Once he stopped coughing, Archie drew his blanket around himself tightly and looked Ian in the eye. The old man's eyes were a light green and weary, but there was still a spark of energy to them, showing that he wasn't completely beaten.

"So, how's life among the Six Scriptures?" the old man asked casually.

Ian froze. "How...what-what are you talking about?"

"Oh come on," Archie said, rolling his eyes. "I'm old, but I'm not an idiot. A man with your skills is too good for the Cleric Battalions. A few of the guys in my year were recruited into the Scriptures. I was even offered a position in the Lotus Scripture."

The silver-haired priest blinked in surprise. Each of the Six Scriptures specialized in different areas of combat, magic and a facet in security for the Theocracy. While the other five dealt with matters abroad, the Lotus Scripture was a prestigious group that dealt with experimentation and surveillance within the country's own borders, often working alongside the Windflower Scripture. Very few were accepted by the Lotus's, even fewer were offered a position.

"Y-You were?" Ian asked, dumbfounded

"Yeah, and it's not because of the family name, if that's what you're thinking," Archie chuckled. "I turned them down, too much stress after all, and I find more enjoyment on helping people directly, rather than sneaking about like a thief or a spy."

"R-right."

"Now then, how are things. A lot of my old pals have died off or are too busy to keep me informed on the latest news ,and I'm itching to hear the latest gossip."

Ian hesitated for a moment, remembering the penalty for carelessly sharing information, but he decided, 'what the hell?'

"Truthfully? Life's been good. They don't pay us as much as they promised."

Archie snorted. "They hardly do."

"Been traveling about, fighting demi-humans and keeping the country safe."

"Of course."

"And not much else, other than what I've just told you."

Archie nodded slowly. "How's that little snot, Nigun?"

Ian shrugged. "Don't know. He left for some assignment, and I haven't heard from him since."

The old man nodded again. Sophia appeared from the backroom, carrying an old wooden cup filled with a steaming grey liquid. She handed it to her father and urged him to drink all of it. Archie muttered something under his breath and downed the whole thing. Once he was finished, he shuddered, and handed the cup back to his daughter, who retreated into the backroom once more to retrieve another helping. After she was out of earshot, Archie cleared his throat.

"I-Ian…" he said in a soft voice.

"Yeah?"

"Should...if anything were to happen to me, promise me that you'll look after Sophia."

Ian blinked, and gave Archie a look.

"Y-Yes, I promise. W-why? What's wrong?"

Archie took a deep breath, and let out a long sigh.

"I don't think I'm getting better," he told the priest grimly.

"What about all that stuff about kicking its ass?" Ian asked.

"I am, don't get me wrong, I'm not going down without a fight. A Lindreher doesn't surrender. It's not my health I'm worried about, it's...Sophia."

Ian gave him a confused look.

"She's been taking care of me non-stop, since the outbreak," Archie explained. "But things just keep coming apart for us. Business has dried up for us since those bastards at that guild have snatched up all our customers, and they seem to only be growing stronger. There's also those weasels, the Jalets."

"Who are they?" Ian asked. "I've heard the name before, but never really got a straight answer."

"A pair of brothers who work for Bishop Renzem and the Ministry of Finance. Arrogant, slimy little bastards. They're in charge of giving and collecting on loans. They'll be paying me a visit sometime soon, and I sure as hell don't have the coin to pay them back. Sick or not, they said they'll take what they're owed."

Ian felt his gut twist into a knot. He's heard stories of what debt collectors do to people who can't pay up in Re-Estize. If the Jalets were half as bad as those guys, then the priest knew exactly what sort of payment they'd collect in place of coin.

The two glanced toward the backroom as Sophia arrived, bearing another cupful of the grey concoction. When she left once more to refill the cup, Ian reached out and placed a hand on the old man's shoulder.

"I promise that I'll do whatever I can to help her," Ian swore.

Tears began to well up in Archie's eyes. "Thank you, Ian. That's a great weight off my shoulders. I-I can't bear the thought of losing my little girl to those-those animals. I hear that they have some influence in the Ministry of Commerce."

Ian nodded, his disgust for these Jalet brothers growing the more he heard of them. The Ministry of Commerce was just that, a division within the civil government dedicated to trade and commerce. Part of their dominion was the slave trade. Although the slave trade was legal and supposidly restricted to the sale of elves and other exotic creatures, humans who have broken the law or failed to repay their financial obligations have been known to end up in those markets. It was a disgusting trade to Ian. Although he despised the elves, he wouldn't wish any living creature to endure life in such hellish conditions.

"Should I try asking Archbishop Wren for help?" the silver-haired cleric asked. "He still owes me a favor, or-or actually, I could take this right to the Cardinals."

"Thank you, but you're better off saving your breath," Archie told the priest in a grim tone, wiping the tears from his eyes with his blanket. "The Jalet's are well within their legal rights, whether we like it or not. Besides, this is a civil matter. You Scripture guys have bigger things to worry about."

Ian nodded, and silently watched as Sophia fed her father the rest of the steaming grey liquid. Once he finished, Archie wrapped himself up in his blanket once more.

"We should go on a picnic," Sophia suggested suddenly.

"What?" Ian blinked.

"Now that you're back in the capital, m-maybe we can have a picnic?" the blond shopkeeper stuttered. "Once father has recovered and after we square away his loans, we can make a day of it. I hear that there's a lovely spot outside the city, called Hummingbird Hill. It offers a wonderful view and is very peaceful."

A smile formed on Ian's lips. "That-that sounds...fantastic."

"Then it's a date," Sophia said with a toothy smile.

"Oh brother," Archie rolled his eyes. "If you're going to flirt, then-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the old man began to cough. The two chuckled a little, but stopped when his coughing grew more wet and harsh. The old man covered his mouth, and once he removed his hand, Ian noticed blood splattered on his palm.

"Oh no," the old man whimpered, and began another fit of coughing.

"Father? What's wrong?" Sophia cried.

The old man waved her away and tried to retreat to the backroom. However, he only took two steps and sank to his knees.

"Father!" the shopkeeper rushed her father's side, as did Ian.

The silver-haired priest scooped the old man up in his arms and carried him up the stairs after Sophia. Upstairs, the blond shopkeeper gestured to the large old bed and began closing the shutters and curtains. Ian set Archie down in the bed and pulled the blankets over him. The old man's face was ghostly white, and he struggled to keep his eyes open.

Sophia left and returned with a rag and whipped away the blood from her father's nose and mouth. When she scurried off to collect whatever potion or herb she believed would help, Ian placed his hands over the old man and began muttering incantations. Various magic circles of different colors and hues appeared over the sickly old man. For a moment Archie grew still. His eyes closed and his breathing grew steady. Sophia returned and began setting various bottles of liquid on the bedside table. She checked her father for a fever and his pulse. Fortunately, Archie was still alive. However, it seems that he has grown very weak.

As the apothecary's former apprentice began feeding the old man the various concoctions she brought up, Ian stood closeby, hoping and praying that his old friend would recover.

After the blond shopkeeper had administered all the bottled liquids, she sighed deeply, and said that there's not much they can do at that point. The two returned to the shop downstairs and shared a cup of warm tea and grim silence.

As the two sat together, Ian wanted to say something to cheer Sophia up, but words failed him. Judging from the look on her face, the shopkeeper knew full well that her father had been putting on a brave face. Archie was like that. Even when things seemed bleak, he did his best to put on a brave face. Now, it seemed like the end was near.

"Thank you, Ian," Sophia spoke, abruptly breaking the silence.

"It-it's the least I can do," the priest said lamely. "I-I can try again, if you want. I could even fetch a more experienced healer. Whatever they'll charge, I'll pay."

Sophia shook her head. "It's...it's fine. Even if they could help, those other healer's tend to avoid my father. He made his position on the guild very clear, which has won him no friends. Besides, we both knew that this day would come. One way or another."

Ian's hand balled up into a fist. "But isn't there something we can do? A spell or-or a potion we haven't tried."

The blond shopkeeper shrugged. "We've tried every potion we can think of and nothing has changed. Anything else is either too expensive or well beyond our capabilities. Unfortunately, at this point, what we need is a miracle."

The silver-haired priest silently cursed. There's no way in hell that he'll sit around and let one of his dearest and closest friends die because of some disease. There has to be something he can do. But what? After a few long moments of wracking his brain for a solution, an idea struck Ian like a bolt of lightning.

The priest reached into the pouch that hung on his belt and pulled out the small amulet that Oz gave him. He stared at the small, silver coin for a few long moments. Galinda claimed that he was a master of magic and knew all sorts of secrets. If that were true, then could he save Archie?

"What's that?" Sophia asked, eyeing the amulet in Ian's hand.

"A miracle," Ian said solemnly. "I hope."

The priest brought the coin close to his lips and whispered the wizard's name three times.

At first, there was nothing. But after a few moments of waiting and hoping for an answer, the amulet in Ian's hand instantly grew very hot. The heat and the abruptness of it surprised the priest, causing him to drop the amulet. The coin bounced on the wood floor, landing face down. Ian and Sophia stared at the coin. The amulet glowed a dark orange, almost red color, which seemed to grow more ominous looking with each passing second. Slowly, a soft hissing sound grew louder and louder and steam began to rise from the floor beneath the coin. Ian quickly scooped it up by the chain.

On the floor where the coin once was, a hideous face was burned into the floorboard. A strange chill ran down the priest's spine. It looked like a hideous demon, laughing mockingly at him.

Before either of the two could process what had just happened, a cheerful voice caught their attention.

"You rang?"

Ian and Sophia looked up and saw Oz.

The wizard was standing there, still dressed in his dark emerald robes and matching green spectacles. A friendly smile was fixed to his handsome face.

"I must say, I didn't expect you to call upon me so suddenly," Oz said, looking around the store's interior. "So then, what sort of trouble are you in that would require my help?"

"W-who are you?" Sophia asked, startled by the sudden appearance of the strange wizard.

"Oh, hello!" the wizard greeted the surprised shopkeeper with a slight bow "I am Oswald, though you may call me Oz, all my friends do."

"Galinda said that you're a master of magic," Ian spoke, wanting to cut to the point. "Does that include healing magic?"

Noting the seriousness in Ian's tone, the wizard nodded. "Yes that does. You don't get to call yourself a master of magic if you focus only on one type. Why? Does someone need healing?"

"Yes," Ian said, feeling his heart pounding away in his chest. "There's a man, upstairs. He's...he's very sick. Can you heal him?"

Oz raised an eyebrow. He reached up and removed his spectacles. His expression turned serious. "I can certainly try."

Feeling a surge of hope, Ian led Oz and Sophia back up the stairs and into Archie's room. The old man was still in bed, lying perfectly still and breathing slightly. Looking about the dark and gloomy room, the wizard frowned and with a wave of his hands, the curtains flew open.

"What are you doing?" Sophia exclaimed, rushing to close the curtains.

"I need a little light to see what it is I'm dealing with," Oz explained calmly.

"Please, Sophia, let him try," Ian pleaded.

The blonde shopkeeper stood there, holding two handfuls of curtain, and eventually conceded.

"Now then, what are we dealing with?" the wizard asked as he stepped closer to Archie's bed.

Sophia explained her father's condition. "He has the Green Fever."

"Aptly named," Oz murmured, leaning in close and inspecting the unconscious old man's sickly features. "How does it spread?"

"As far as we know, the disease spreads through prolonged exposure and direct contact with those infected. Symptoms include loss of strength, a high fever, chills, discoloration of the skin, sometimes delirium, vomiting and trouble breathing."

Oz nodded slowly. The emerald clad wizard's handsome features were a smooth, solemn mask as he absorbed the information. For as long as Ian had known the wizard, which is to say not very long, Oz had been distant and almost carefree. It was rather strange seeing him act so serious. Despite showing hardly any emotion, the silver haired priest couldn't help but notice a sense of curiosity slowly working its way onto his face.

Without warning, the wizard sat down on the side of the bed.

Ian and Sophia made a start, but stopped when Oz raised a hand.

"W-what are you doing?" the blonde shopkeeper squeaked.

"Helping your father," the wizard said cryptically. "I know how I can help him."

Before either the priest or the shopkeeper could ask what he meant, Oz placed a hand over Archie's chest. An intricate bright green magic circle appeared. Ian stared at the magic circle with interest. Of all his years dealing in with magic, the silver-haired priest had never seen a magic circle like this. Archie's body began to glow green and the two bystanders watched in amazement as the sickly old apothecary began to heal.

Before, the old man looked like he was ready to drop dead. But as Oz's spell began to take hold, Archie's face regained its natural color. His thin fragile body began to fill out, as if he were going through months of recovery in an instant. In a matter of seconds, the old man looked good as new. Once the magic circle faded and as his body ceased to glow, Archie took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"F-Father?" Sophia breathed, her eyes were wide with fear and wonder.

She took one step toward her slumbering father, but stopped when she saw her own body beginning to glow green.

Oz had his hand aimed at the girl and in an instant Sophia ceased glowing.

"W-what did you do?" the shopkeeper asked.

"Healed you too," the wizard answered nonchalantly, rising to his feet. "As you said, those exposed to those infected for a prolonged period of time can cause infection. You were looking a little...green around the gills. Thought I'd save you the trouble."

Sophia and Ian stared at the wizard in amazement. The two had a hundred questions buzzing around in their minds but those questions were interrupted by a soft voice.

"Sophia…?"

The blond shopkeeper looked and saw that Archie was beginning to stir. The old man's eyes blinked open and he sat up. Sophia went to her father's side and Oz stepped away.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, feeling her father's forehead.

"I feel...I feel amazing!" Archie laughed. He inspected his hands, his arms and began to feel his chest. "I can breathe! It-it's gone! The fever is gone!"

Sophia began to laugh and shed tears of joy. She hugged her father and the two held each other for a long moment. Ian looked about, feeling a little awkward. Oz, on the other hand, seemed pleased by his handiwork.

When Archie and his daughter stopped hugging, the old man asked Sophia, "But how? What was it? What sort of herbs did you use? What spell?"

Sophia wiped away her tears and chuckled. "I-I didn't do anything. It was him." She gestured to Oz, who was currently standing at the foot of Archie's bed. His hands were behind his back, a kind smile adorning his flawless features.

"You're the one I have to thank?" Archie asked, his expression growing suspicious. "Who are you? You don't look like you're with the guild."

"I'm Oz," the wizard introduced himself with a theatrical bow, "a humble wizard of some renown. I haven't belonged to a guild in a long time. It was I who put you back together again, so to speak."

The old man's eyebrows rose "So you're the wizard. I thought you were meeting with the Cardinals."

"Yes, well our meeting didn't last very long," the wizard said, scratching the back of his head. "One could say that they're rather hostile to newcomers. I was actually on my way out the door when I heard Ian's call for help."

"You called for him?" Archie asked, surprised.

Ian's cheeks grew warm. In the past, the silver-haired cleric was adamant about doing things his own way, and that he didn't need anyone's help. Then again, he was a child at the time, and had only just begun to learn the benefits of working with others and asking for help.

"I-I didn't know who else to turn to," Ian stammered. "I tried to heal you myself, but it wasn't enough. Besides, Oz insisted that if I needed help that I should call upon him."

Archie smiled. "Well I'm glad you did."

The old man pulled aside his blankets and rose from his bed. He wobbled a little bit, but with Sophia's help, Archie was back on his feet once more.

"I believe this warrants a celebration," the old man said cheerfully as he made his way out of the room. Sophia followed and Ian soon after.

...

Downstairs, the four convened in the shop and began talking excitedly. The group sat around on stools by the front counter. Sophia brought out a bottle of wine and poured each of them a cup.

"I must ask you, Mr. Oz, what manner of healing spell did you use on me?" Archie asked "I have seen some of the finest healer's in the capital struggle to cure the effects of the fever."

"Please, call me Oz," the wizard chuckled. "You make me feel old. Well, since you asked nicely, I simply used the [Lifebloom] spell.

Both Archie and Ian were in the middle of taking a sip when the wizard gave his answer. Both the priest and the old man coughed and spat out their wine, surprised by Oz's response.

"D-did you say [Lifebloom]?" the old man asked in disbelief.

Oz nodded. "Indeed I did. Why? Is that a problem?"

"Well that's because it's impossible to begin with! [Lifebloom] is an incredibly powerful spell. No mage or cleric has been able to cast it. The last recorded use of such a spell was-was during the Golden Age! Back when the Six Great Gods walked amongst men!"

Oz frowned. "I see and how is it impossible?"

"T-the spell was said to be Sixth Tier, maybe even Seventh."

"And?"

"There isn't a magic caster alive who can cast a spell of that magnitude," Ian explained. "Allegedly, some of the Thirteen Heroes are capable of such magic, but none can say for certain. In the past, the Theocracy has been able to cast only a few spells of that level, but at a great cost, involving hundreds of spell casters and the right materials. But even then, those rituals usually brought about serious disasters."

Oz nodded slowly. "I see. Well, I don't know what to tell you. It's a simple spell where I'm from"

Archie gave Oz a funny look. "Simple? If that was simple, I'd hate to see what you consider difficult."

"What sort of land are you from?" Sophia asked, genuinely interested.

The wizard paused for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching as he chuckled a little.

"A very unpleasant place," Oz answered cheerfully. "It's not...it's not worth mentioning."

"How did you know that the spell would work?" the shopkeeper asked. "I mean, we've tried just about everything known to man. The best we can do is slow the disease down and hope that the sick will be able to fight it off."

Oz shrugged. "I didn't, though funny enough, this Green Fever sounded vaguely similar to an affliction I encountered a long time ago. The [Lifebloom] spell was very handy against it, and it seemed to have the same effect on the fever."

Ian pondered the wizard's words. He encountered something like this before? If so, then maybe he could help others who are sick, and maybe they can get a better idea of where this illness originated. But that wasn't his job, that's for the government and for the Lotus Scripture to figure out. For now, the priest will share a drink with his old friends and celebrate Archie's recovery.

Unfortunately, the celebrations were cut short when one of Ian's subordinates and a fellow member of the Sunlight Scripture burst through the door.

"Commander...Commander," the man puffed, trying to catch his breath.

"Rolf?" Archie asked aloud, recognizing the man.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Ian asked, before he paused. "Wait, how did you know I was here?"

"Sorry, I may have let it slip to my girls where I was going," Oz apologized, smiling nervously. "Those two little hellions...they refuse to let me go anywhere without telling them where I'm going first. I left them and Galinda with some of your friends over at that place on White Spire Street."

"Commander," the man named Rolf tried again, this time having regained his breath and wiped away the sweat from his brow. "It's Captain Nigun and-and the others."

"What about them? What happened?" Ian asked, setting aside his wine cup.

"They're...dead."

Silence filled the apothecary shop. Ian stared at the man for a long moment, trying to wrap his mind around the news.

"D-dead?" Ian said after what felt like a long time. "How?"

"We-we don't know. Cardinal Lauransan arrived at the barracks and gave us the news."

"What happened?" the silver-haired priest demanded, jumping to his feet. "How did they die? Are there any survivors?"

Rolf jumped, surprised by the abruptness and harshness of Ian's questions. "T-the mission went according to plan, but-but apparently the observation spell was discovered and nullified. What is known was that Captain Nigun and his men were engaged in battle against two mysterious interlopers, while their...target had escaped. When the observation spell failed, Cardinal Lauransan had dispatched members of the Windflower Scriptures to investigate. They found no survivors."

Ian's eyes widened in shock. The best and brightest of the Sunlight Scripture, defeated by only two foes? It was outrageous! It was unheard of! They were battle-hardened clerics and seasoned knights. Even a man like Gazef Stronoff would have difficulty against them. Which was why they were sent to kill him. The silver-haired priest sank back into his seat, his mind reeling with questions.

Who the hell were these people? Who would have the power to defeat Nigun and the others? What could they want? Did this mean that the Re-Estize uncovered their plan? No, no that's impossible. The job was practically offered to them on a silver platter by some of their own nobles. They were greedy and pig-headed idiots who wanted to see Gazef dead. To go against the king's favorite warrior was suicide. Even if those nobles tried to betray them, they'd have a difficult time escaping the wrath of both the King of Re-Estize and the Sunlight Scripture.

"What about the bodies?" Ian asked in a soft tone, after a long moment of silence. "Are we to aid in their retrieval or are we tasked with informing their loved ones?"

"That's the thing, there weren't any bodies." Rolf said.

Ian stared at his comrade. "What?"

"It's-it's what the Cardinal said, there weren't any survivors or-or any trace of their presence. It was as if they had...vanished."

The silver-haired priest ran his fingers through his hair. This just keeps getting better. Although he didn't see eye-to-eye with Nigun, often calling him an "arrogant ass" behind his back, it always saddened Ian to hear about his comrades falling in battle.

"Oh Ian," Sophia said, stepping out from behind the counter. "I'm so sorry."

"It's...it's okay," Ian said glumly. "It's part of the job."

On that sour note, Ian knew that he had to leave and report to Cardinal Lauransan. Now that their commanding officer and a majority of their forces were dead or missing, the fate of the Sunlight Scripture was in jeopardy. It is likely that they'll be disbanded, but these are unusual times. Who knows what will happen.

After bidding Sophia, Archie and Oz goodbye, Ian departed from the shop.

As Ian and his fellow cleric made their way toward the barracks where the rest of their comrades and the Cardinal of Earth awaited, the silver-haired priest silently uttered a prayer for those that they lost, and swore that he would get to the bottom of this mystery.

"I'm sorry Commander," Rolf apologized as they walked along a busy street near the barracks. "I wish I had better news."

"It's fine, Rolf," Ian said with a shrug. "These things tend to happen. It's our duty to fight and one day give our lives for our country. Not a happy job but someone has to do it."

"Indeed, though most of the men are a little...unnerved that there's no trace of what happened to Nigun or the others."

Ian nodded. "Indeed. For now, we'll leave that to the Windflower Scripture. If there's anyone who can sniff out information where there is none, it's them."

Rolf nodded and seemed to take comfort with that thought. After a few moments of walking in silence, the other priest asked Ian.

"Was it me or did Archie seem healthier today?"

"What? Oh, yes. Yes, he's actually been cured."

"What?!" Rolf exclaimed "Really?"

Ian nodded "Yes. All thanks to Oz. Apparently his words were not empty boasts, as some of the men had claimed."

"That's...that's wonderful news! D-do you think he could help my aunt?"

"Your aunt?"

"Yeah, she...she's been very ill these past few months, and apparently the price of treatment has gone up, and there's this Healer's Guild-"

"So I've heard," Ian said gruffly. That's another issue that he'll have to look into soon. It seems that people were quickly abandoning the founding principles of the Theocracy more and more each day. Before long, the capital may closely resemble that pigsty, E-Rantel.

"Do-do you think I can ask him sir?" Rolf asked. "The-the wizard I mean, about helping my aunt."

"Sure." Ian thought for a moment, then added, "Actually, how about you'll let me ask him for you? In fact, let's keep this between us."

"Why?"

"Well Oz is new to our lands. Although he says he wants to help, we don't want to overwhelm him with our problems. Besides, if word were to get out that he healed Archie, every sick person in the capital and their relatives will be trying to break down his door."

"O-oh, right. I didn't think about that."

"Then there's this Healer's Guild. From the sound of things, they really don't like having competition."

Rolf nodded. "Right. Well, you can count on me, Commander."

Ian nodded, feeling relieved. Before he can even attempt to find the truth of what happened to his comrades, Ian has to deal with a lot of issues at home first.

---

Cardinal Raymond Zarg Lauransan sat alone in Captain Nigun's office.

Former office, the Cardinal of Earth corrected himself. The captain was dead now, along with the majority of the Sunlight Scripture. What a nightmare.

The youngest member of the Supreme Council rubbed his tired eyes, and glanced out the window. The office was on the second floor of the building the Sunlight Scripture used as a base of operations in the capital. Beyond the window was a view of a busy afternoon street. Lauransan watched the people go about their daily lives, blissfully ignorant of the dangers that besieged their country and of the awful price their sons, fathers and brothers pay in maintaining the peace that they currently enjoy. Elves to the south, beastmen to the northwest, and a whole host of other dangers lurking in the darkness beyond their borders.

There was also that meddlesome Platinum Dragon Lord. Lauransan scowled.

Although he had been helpful in protecting humanity and the rest of the world from the onslaught of the Demon Gods, the overgrown lizard did not have humanity's best interest in mind. Whenever the Theocracy did something, he'd always interject and deliver scathing criticism of their actions. Who was he to dictate what humanity can and can't do? He was a dragon, after all and everyone knows the story of the Dragon Lords before their humbling at the hands of both the Six Great Gods and the Eight Greed Kings. It was because of him that the Cardinal of Earth refused to deploy the Theocracy's trump card against the Elf King. Had they done what he had planned from the start, Lauransan would've had this war wrapped up in a matter of weeks, even days. If only he could find a way to end this damn conflict before it drags on any further.

It was then the face of that peculiar wizard came to the cardinal's mind. Cardinal Lauransan's scowl only deepened. The foreigner who called himself Oz was a curious thing.

He arrived in their council chambers, decked out in fine robes of emerald and gold, and with the praise of one of their clerics. Ordinarily, the Cardinals wouldn't see anyone without thoroughly vetting them and meeting them at a time and location of the council's choosing. However, the council was caught off guard, and was in a rush to get back to more pressing issues. They believed that they'd entertain the inane ramblings of a madman and send him on his way. But that wasn't what happened.

Despite his youthful appearance, the way the wizard held himself bespoke age and experience. He stood there, his head held high and his shoulders square, the man greeted them formally, giving his name and naming himself as "Lord of Castle Garadon."

This drew some eye rolls and annoyed sighs. The Supreme Council has dealt with its share of foreign nobles and dignitaries. They were not eager to walk on eggshells to stroke some noble's fragile ego. However, before they could introduce themselves, the wizard decided to "play a guessing game."

He pointed to each Cardinal at the table and "guessed" their names. He got them all correct. This immediately shifted the tone of the meeting. The guards in the chamber each looked surprised, and one man reached for his weapon. Once the initial shock wore off, Berenice Nagua Santini, the Cardinal of Fire, and perhaps the most tactful member of the council, inquired how the wizard knew their names.

The white haired man's answer still sent chills down Lauransan's spine.

"Because, unlike you, I'm very good at spying on people," the wizard said as his friendly smile turned sinister.

Of course this drew grumbled protests and offended scoffs from the council, but they ultimately didn't deny it. The Council did, in fact, spy on people. It's how they're able to root out obstacles that stood in the path of humanity's glorious destiny and dangerous foes.

Eventually, it was the Cardinal of Light, Yvon Jasna Dracrowa, who worked up the nerve to demand an explanation for the wizard's "outrageous accusation."

The wizard was all too happy to explain. Apparently, the wizard had sensed that someone had been trying to spy on him and his castle. At first, he believed that it was Ian and his men, but this sensation persisted until he learned about the nature of the cleric's mission in the region. He managed to work out who this spy was. It was, in the wizard's own words, a "naughty young school girl with such pretty eyes."

Lauransan was gobsmacked. From the rather crude description, Oz had described the seventh seat of the Black Scripture, also known as the Thousand League's Astrologer. She was gifted with magical surveillance abilities, which allowed her to spy on targets from afar. Whenever she was not on a mission with the rest of the Black Scripture, the Astrologer would remain at the capital and conduct routine observations on specific targets.

Recently, the Cardinal of Earth had instructed her to keep an eye on Ian's progress, and attempt to unravel the secrets of the strange structure with her abilities. Unfortunately, she failed to breach the castle's walls. To hear him describe the seventh seat as such and know of their names, despite having never met them before, showed that either the wizard was a very good guesser, or his intelligence gathering abilities surpassed their own. Lauransan had a sneaking suspicion that this wizard was more than he seemed.

Fortunately, this fact didn't seem lost on Lauransan's colleagues. Each of the Cardinals shifted uncomfortably and seemed to be trying to come up with a way to subdue the wizard before he could do something dangerous.

After what felt like an eternity, the wizard began to laugh. The laugh wasn't harsh or mocking, but rather amused and happy. Noting their confusion, Oz explained that he wasn't there to threaten or harm them, but rather offer his services to them. This took them by surprise. It immediately made Lauransan suspicious. Why would a man of his abilities willingly come before them and offer to work for them? If anything, he's lost the element of surprise and potentially put him at their mercy.

The Cardinal of Water, Lauransan's old friend Ginedine Delan Guelfi, pointed this out but this only elicited more laughter from Oz. When he finished laughing, the wizard simply smiled, and told them that if he truly wanted to hurt them, then it didn't matter if he had the element of surprise or not. If he truly was their enemy, there would be nothing they can do to stop him.

A tense silence filled the council chamber, and the Cardinal of Light looked ready to burst with rage. The guards were now more alert and ready to spring into action, should the need arise, but nothing happened. Oz's head tilted and he glanced back over his shoulder, as if someone were calling his name. After that, he told them to think on his offer, bowed low, and departed the chamber. Cardinal Dracrowa barked orders for the guards to pursue the wizard but they failed to find him, or his family and attendants. They had vanished without a trace.

Cardinal Lauransan heard the antique clock on the wall chime, signaling the changing of the hour. He shook his head, clearing it of his recollections of that unsettling meeting.

The Cardinal of Earth sighed and reclined in his seat. What a mess. First they lose some of their most capable fighters, and now they have a security risk.

The bearded cleric paused and began scratching his chin thoughtfully as his thoughts turned toward the two mysterious interlopers who vanquished Nigun and his men. Whoever they were, they were incredibly powerful. Not only they discover and disrupt their observation spell, they also bested the Dominion Authority. Only the Council was aware of the fact that Nigun had a Sealing Crystal with such a powerful creature. When they discovered Nigun's defeat, some of the Council's more optimistic members theorized that the captain never got the chance to use it. Lauransen and Guelfi, however, believed otherwise. Which troubled them deeply.

Who would have the power to defeat the highest level of angel known to mankind?

Lauransen's thoughts then turned to the emerald clad wizard. Perhaps this Oz fellow can be of some use. He's dangerous, there's no doubt about that, but perhaps they can use him. Once he's no longer useful, perhaps they can dispose of him just as they've always done to their more dangerous assets. They may not be able to use their trump card against the Elf King, but perhaps they can use her against this upstart wizard.

There was a knock at the door and Lauransan sat up straight.

"Enter," he called out.

The door opened, revealing a silver haired man in the black and grey of robes of a cleric belonging to one of the Six Scriptures.

"Ah, Ian," Cardinal Lauransan greeted the cleric warmly. "Come in, sit. We have much to discuss."

---

AN: well, what do you think? Don't worry, we'll be back with our main characters next chapter. It's all part of the plan. Just giving some more background and detail to the Theocracy and to another up and coming player character. Leave a review and all that, if you feel like it. Until nex time, see ya!

(References)

(Chapter Title): song by Marilyn Manson.