It's been about a day or so since Gabriel dropped me off in the Vatican, and so far, nothing of real note has happened yet.
Although, technically, I'm not really in Vatican City right now?
After Gabriel dropped me off I was brought up the Scala Regia – basically, one big fancy staircase meant to be the entrance to the Vatican proper – but while going up there the priests and exorcists chanted a short aria, and suddenly we're all transported into a barrier space.
It was just like the one used by the Youkai in Kyoto, except this one was always day, and looked like it took me back to Ancient Rome with all the old-style roman apartments and villas.
Ah! Speaking of, I'm actually currently in one of those old-style roman villas right now!
Just kind of leaning upside down again the wall while laying on the bed in the master bedroom that can literally fit my entire wingspan and then some.
I just got here, yet somehow I can already feel the nepotism dripping from all this.
Not that I won't say no, I do kind of need the space. Roman villas have a bunch of rooms purely dedicated to workshops and storage, and I plan on turning one of the said rooms into an alchemy lab.
I just need money to buy the tools, the rooftop can support a garden for the basic raw materials I'll need.
Most of my time spent here so far has been laying like this, watching movies that have been clearly curated to be only religious in nature, while planning out what I'm going to do with my alchemy in the future.
Besides making Philosopher Stones and mass producing elixirs and potions for the Church to really screw over the Devils, Phenex Clan, and their Phenex Tears.
Preferably after I fix the Church, of course.
And find a way to make my potions and elixirs unconsumable to the Devils.
At least until the Peace Conference, anyways.
Heh. I wonder what we can get from the Devils and Fallen in exchange for sharing my potions, elixirs, mutagens, etc...probably way more than whatever Heaven got in canon.
…
You know. If they keep me waiting forever here the idea train just won't stop.
Oh! Here it comes again! What about more light guns? And while I'm at it, let's upgrade the current exorcist standard equipment as well!
I'm talking about making light sub-machine guns, shotguns, rifles, the whole arsenal!
Oh, second thought, how about a fucking spartan laser.
[A New Side Quest Has Been Issued!]
There it is!
Heavenly Arsenal
Quest Difficulty: Hard
Objectives:
Create New Light Weaponry (0/?)
Upgrade Old Light Weaponry (0/2)
Oh, right, should probably mention...that's my fourth side quest.
-Heroic Chronicles-
-Side Quests-
Heavenly Arsenal [In-Progress]
Sellzen Ascended [In-Progress]
Holy Bomb Stash Of Antioch [In-Progress]
Bottles of Life [In-Progress]
Each one is for a different part of alchemy so far, elixirs, bombs, mutagens, and now guns.
Strangely enough, mutagens are counted separately from elixirs in this system, despite technically being considered one and the same under Pathfinder 2e proper.
World shenanigans, I bet.
Hell, I don't think guns quite like those in DxD even existed in Pathfinder.
Doesn't change the fact that any one of these quests has the chance to break the world once I hit a high enough level.
And this is without me even getting into eventually getting a side quest pertaining to making Sacred Gears or Holy Swords.
It's not really a matter of if, only when.
And so far? That when is an agonizingly long way away...
My attention snaps to my surroundings as I hear what sounds like someone yelling outside my villa.
I fly off my bed so fast the bed sheets and pillows scatter across the room, and within moments I make it down to the front door.
I stop myself from opening the door instantly, remembering to put my wings away first, and then open the door.
Standing there patiently was a woman in her mid-20s, much like Gabriel in her Sister Gabby persona, she also dressed in a very form-fitting nun habit.
"Hello there, Mr. Marvel," the woman begins, a slight smile across her face, "I am Sister Griselda, here at the call of your dear Sister Gabby to help finalize some specifics with a deal you two made."
"A...deal?" I blink owlishly for a moment, "Oh! Right! So, am I hired?"
Griselda merely chuckles, "Not quite yet, Mr. Marvel." she steps to the side, revealing a much smaller girl around my age standing behind her, with long blue hair and brown eyes. Though she isn't wearing a nun's habit, rather, she's wearing a priest's uniform.
It took me a moment to process who was standing before me, the long hair threw me off, but that will likely change in a few years.
"Xenovia," Griselda mutters with a smile, "introduce yourself."
Both Xenovia and I shivered a bit, as though the women's tone sounded nice and sweet, but her smile promised otherwise.
After overcoming that, the girl before me looks me up and down, but then she frowns slightly, "I am Xenovia Quarta." she states plainly.
For a second, I'm confused as she basically just wrote me off, but then I recall that Xenovia before the Holy Sword arc wasn't exactly the nicest person.
She's a power idiot, thru and thru.
Well, if this is going where I think it's going, then I'll be earning her respect soon enough.
Griselda just sighs, "I apologize for her...attitude." She gives Xenovia another bristling smile, causing the poor girl to flinch, "But I suppose she'll be needing this lesson as much as you require this test, Mr. Marvel."
"Oh? A test?" I say with faux curiosity.
"It was decided by the higher-ups that a test was needed to gauge your skill before you may start going on missions," Griselda states, "I have decided that you will show me your skills against Xenovia here." the girl frowns deeper at that, although I can't quite gauge why just yet.
Well, if you wanna be like that...
"Are you sure testing me against another child is a good idea, Sister Griselda?" I smirk as visible anger crosses Xenovia's face, "I would likely require someone more...mature, to bring out everything I have."
Griselda looks between the two of us for a moment, chuckling to herself, before facing me once more, "I assure you, Mr. Marvel, Xenovia is capable enough." Xenovia's face flickers with a smirk of her own at the praise, "I have been her swordmaster and teacher her entire life, I know her ability the best, and so it would be easier to gauge your own skill by comparing it to hers."
"Though I doubt there would be much for you to compare to." The girl suddenly adds in.
Yep. She took one look at me, saw my smaller frame, and assumed I'm weak. Classic power idiot.
Griselda bristled, but before she could interject, I just smiled, "You're right," I suddenly say, causing them both to pause, "I just have so much more skill and way more varied abilities, a comparison wouldn't really work, would it?"
Xenovia full-on bristles, "Fine. Let's go." mirth dripping from her voice as she turns and marches away.
I turn to Griselda, "I am allowed to show off...everything, right?"
She pauses for a moment, gauging what I said, then she smiles, "Of course, Mr. Marvel. Now, let's go find my arrogant child before she blows a hole in the training space."
I shiver a bit as I follow her off to the training space.
[Important Contact Gained!]
Griselda Quarta
[Important Contact Gained!]
Xenovia Quarta
[Contact Affection Decrease!]
Xenovia Quarta [-10/100]
~ Angelfinder 3 ~
It took a few minutes to reach our designated training space, a barrier space created separately from the main one for the sole purpose of blowing stuff up.
This particular one is a long rectangle in shape, resembling a field or court, I stand on one side while Xenovia stands on the other. Griselda is off to the side, standing near the center median.
"I will stop the fight once I believe I've seen enough, otherwise, there is no holding back you two," she looks between the two of us, "understand?"
We both nod, "Then, begin."
A moment after she said that, Xenovia holds out a hand to the side, a golden magic circle appearing next to her, immediately putting me on guard.
Though, when she only draws a massive silver claymore and not Durandal I relax just a bit. Mayhaps she doesn't have it quite yet? Still, looks like she's been training to wield it and Excalibur Destruction since a young age...
She lets out a grunt as she heaves the claymore over her shoulder, holding it with both hands, and then...she rushes at me.
I can only blink as I causally side step the easily telegraphed downward swing meant to cleave me in two, then jump over the follow-up sideswipe, sending her a kick to the face as I do just for a good measure.
The kick combined with the momentum of her missed swing nearly causes her to fall, but she manages to transfer that force into a spin that lets her come around and swing at me again.
I dodge under it this time, I give her a smile which causes her to frown, "Come on then, let's get serious!" I jump up into her guard, kneeing her clean in the gut, my wings sprout out behind me as I do.
For a moment, Xenovia's eyes widen at the appendages on my back, but her attention is quickly taken away by the realization that we're quickly going up, me carrying her up by my knee still lodged in her gut.
I let her drop when she tries to take another swing at me, and before she even hits the ground I am summoning angelic magic circles and firing Divine Lances at her repeatedly, though she uses her claymore's size to block them all.
Once she hits the ground though and looks up to see me flying here, I can see her expression shift into something between a smile and grimace.
I smile back knowing full well I could just sit up here and fire off spells till she's done and out, and there's nothing she could do about it.
Could.
Instead, I form a light spear in my hand, and blast down towards her, causing the girl's expression to morph into shock as she raises her claymore to block my dive attack.
I slam into her sword with my spear at such speed and force her legs to almost buckle, but I don't stop after the first pass, instead, I fly back up just before she can counterattack, only to dive back down again.
And again.
And again.
Eventually, Xenovia attempts to strike me as I fly at her, but she's simply too slow to do so. If I wanted to do lethal damage, I could let the spear run her through...but instead, I let the light spear fall apart just before it connects, and shoulder charge into her instead.
In the next moment, Xenovia is laid out across the floor in front of Griselda, groaning, her claymore clattering to the floor a few away from them.
Griselda looks at Xenovia whilst sighing and shaking her head, "That ends the match." she says simply, before going down to Xenovia.
"Ah! Please wait, Sister Griselda," I float down and land in front of the both of them, "allow me to heal her?"
Griselda nods at me to continue, and I place my hand on her stomach as a pale silver light radiates from it. The light stretches out and wraps around Xenovia's body, and with a gasp, she suddenly sits up, her body fully restored.
I look at her intently, "Feeling okay?" I say simply.
She nods but refuses to meet my gaze.
Then Griselda suddenly comes up out of nowhere and grabs Xenovia's cheeks with both hands.
"Hmm, remember what I told you about not judging your opponents based on a glance?" her smile widens, and Xenovia starts shaking in both fear and pain, "Or overestimating your own strength?" I can almost hear what sounds like rubber being stretched as Griselda pulls harder, causing Xenovia to nod rapidly.
"R-Right M-Mother, it w-won't happen again..." why do I get the feeling this isn't the first time she's said that? "Still, g-getting an angel to fight me j-just to prove a point..."
Ah, this again? "I'm not a Pure Angel," Xenovia snaps her gaze towards me, "I am a half-angel, a Miracle Child. My full name is Aidan Marvel." I give her a smile, "I believe we got off on the wrong foot, Xenovia." I pause, as my smile turns into a smirk, "Though it was fun smacking you around for a while, so I am all for doing that again.."
Xenovia suddenly looks like she forgot Griselda even existed, as even though her face is being pulled, she somehow manages a smirk of her own, "You're on. I promise the second time won't be like the first!"
Though she is quickly reminded, as that same stretching sound from before is heard and Griselda literally pulls Xenovia back, though she turns to look at me instead, "Well, Mr. Marvel, you did give an adequate showing...if you can beat some sense into my daughter, I would personally be all for it."
Xenovia squirms under her grasp, "M-Mother!" she practically whines.
I just chuckle, "I would be all for it as well." At my words, Griselda chuckles, and Xenovia bristles though doesn't retort...for now.
Griselda looks back at Xenovia, "Now, if only I could get you to wear a nun's habit..."
"M-Mother!" Xenovia's face flushes, "You k-know it's impossible to fight in those...it's why I prefer the priest's v-vestments!"
"Hmm? But I can fight just fine in these." Griselda states, "Is it mayhaps you believe that only because you keep getting your sword stuck in the cloth?"
As Xenovia continues whining, my mind wanders off to what Griselda was talking about.
Xenovia in a nun's habit, eh? Now that I think about it, I don't think she or Irina ever wore one...
Alright! New goal! Get the Church Trio to all wear nun/sister clothes! No, there is no specific reason why I want this to happen. None at all. You can't prove anything!
…
Honestly kind of sad I didn't get a side quest for it, but whatever! The sight is its own reward!
…
Puberty is going to be hell for me in a year, isn't it?
[Contact Affection Increase!]
Griselda Quarta [15/100]
[Contact Affection Increase!]
Xenovia Quarta [15/100]
~ Angelfinder 3 ~
After that skill test was all done, I was given an envelope before the two exorcists left.
Inside was practically everything I need to function in society as an exorcist, including passports, credit card and bank account details, the works.
I will be starting out as a low-class exorcist, and according to a little note left inside, I am currently being restricted to only being allowed to go on missions in and around Italy and the Mediterranean Sea.
Not ideal. But the restriction isn't too bad, and apparently, when I make middle-class, most of Northern Europe will get opened up!
Unfortunately though, since I am only a low-class exorcist, I am left to take care of the small fry – as in, weaker and low-class stray devils, exorcists, and one-winged fallen.
I would describe those fights...but when it can be summed up as 'spear coated in holy fire goes brrrrr' you can see why I would prefer doing this instead...that being, gardening!
You see, fortunately, the pay isn't...bad. Not the greatest, but good enough. I was able to afford seeds for the more common ingredients I'll need to start out with, though I'm going to need to save up a bit for the tools needed to actually make an alchemy lab.
What amounts to a medieval chemistry set is ridiculously expensive for some reason.
Also, each exorcist mission is considered a side quest and gives about 80-120 EXP per completion. It's been about a month and a half since I started, and I'll need a couple more before I reach level 8.
Progress is slow, but it's progress.
Do you know what isn't slow, though? My roof garden!
No, seriously. I'm actually watching the seeds I just planted and watered start to bud already.
This barrier space is absolutely infused with positive energies, I wonder if that is causing the plants to grow faster?
Hnngh. The point is, if the garden is going to grow this fast, I can't possibly keep babysitting it, especially once I start my alchemy lab.
A random piece of trivia from a certain character strikes my mind.
Asia like farming and agricultural work, doesn't she?
And her birthday is in about a month, right? It's April now...her's is in May.
Hmm...
I'll be right back!
~ Angelfinder 3 ~
Barely two hours after my line of thinking, I'm kicking down my door and walking back into my villa, the blonde-haired girl on my mind from earlier now being carried in my arms, bridal style.
Since we left, she's either been a blushing mess or gaping at everything she saw, since I flew her here so she could see some sights.
You're probably wondering right now, 'Aidan, the fuck did you do?'
I kidnapped Asia from her church, of course, what does it look like?
"I-Is this really where you live...?" the girl in my arms ponders out loud.
"Yep!" I say with a big grin, "I told you, I've got plenty of space, it won't be a bother at all!'
You know, the hardest part wasn't actually convincing the bishop at her church to let me take her – the old fuck practically threw her out once I suggested taking her with me, I'll deal with him later – it was convincing Asia herself that it was fine and that she wouldn't be a bother.
"But, s-still! I wouldn't want to take advantage of your kindness, A-Aidan..." the girl might actually be having a mild panic attack right now with the way she sounds.
Well, at least she didn't faint this time unlike when I first brought it up an hour ago, I had to hit her with water to wake her up in a timely manner.
I pet her on the head soothingly, and sigh, "Look, Asia, if you really feel that way, how about helping me out with the garden I have on my roof? That way you have something to do around the house?"
Honestly, the reason why I did this isn't just for the garden, though that is a bonus. Really, though I have been able to visit the girl a few times since I started exorcist missions, it really hasn't been as much as I would have liked.
I figure this way, I would be able to see her way more often, she would get to spend more time with a friend, and not only that but with her living with me I can introduce Asia to people like Griselda and Xenovia much earlier than in canon.
Ultimately, I would probably have grabbed her even without the need of a caretaker for my garden, but the garden does give me a convenient thing for her to do and make her not feel as bad about staying here.
It's a win-win, in the end.
Asia's eyes light up at my mention of a garden, "A g-garden, here? But I don't even know how to..."
"Don't worry about it," I cut her off with a smile, "I didn't know until this morning either. It's actually really simple – well, the basics, at least. I rented a few books from the library to help." I look down at her, "You want to see what I've got so far?" At her shy nod, I carry her up to the rooftop garden.
My smile grows into a full-on silly grin as I watch her face light up at my meager herb collection so far, my grin goes downright goofy as I watch her look turn appalled at the fact that she's watching the plants grow so quickly.
"When did you...plant these?" she asked as she reaches out to one of the plants cautiously.
"This morning." I reply casually, "I think the barrier space promotes plant growth due to all the positive energies in the air," I look at her intently, "the fast growth here is actually why I could really use your help, ya know? I'm kind of busy, what with exorcist work and all...so I can't be here to watch and harvest the herbs all the time."
Asia runs a finger down the stem of the small plant and flinches back as it starts to bud. Then, she turns to look up at me, and for the first time, I see a hint of fire in her eyes, "You can count on me, Aidan."
I nod, and smile, "I know I can." She was actually downplaying herself hard earlier when she said she didn't know how to take care of a garden. She took care of the garden in the courtyard of the church where she was living just fine.
Suddenly though, her face turns red again, and that fire from before flickers out, "A-Ah, Aidan?" she stutters out.
"Hmm? What up?" I reply.
"Y-You can put me down now, you know..." I blink owlishly for a moment, I have been carrying her this entire time, haven't I?
Hmm. You know what?
"No..." she freezes, "I don't think I will!" I respond with a gleeful smirk.
"A-Aidan!"
"Now!" I suddenly say, "Time to show you to your room!"
"P-Please put me d-down!"
"Make me!" At her face vaulting and likely almost fainting, I run back down the stairs with her to show her to one of the many guest bedrooms.
You know, I don't think she minds too much?
[Contact Affection Increase!]
Asia Argento [55/100]
Huh, already 10 more than Irina? Oh yeah, it's definitely a combination of both Asia being desperate and me working that charisma stat.
~ Angelfinder 3 ~
It took a few days to get Asia broken in, and not be a stuttering mess all the time. I also have to break her out of a few habits she developed living at her church, most of which are constraints the bishop put on her.
For instance, one habit is her constantly asking if she may enter certain rooms all the time, and there are some places she was simply not allowed to go that she was appalled when I let her.
Like going outside, for instance.
I definitely need to take the care out into Rome some time, there's this nice cafe I saw that I've been meaning to take a look at...perhaps I'll take her with me then?
Asia aside, that's not why I am currently wandering around the Vatican proper.
This is.
Let Justice Be Done
Quest Difficulty: Nightmare
"I send my Sword."
Main Objective 1: Rout the Corruption from the Church []
Main Objective 2: Get the Church to rewrite its doctrine into something better []
Bonus Objectives:
Save Teodoro's Parents []
Save the Children of the Holy Sword Project []
Prevent Freed's Madness []
Prevent Siegfried's Leaving []
Prevent Asia's Excommunication [X]
Prevent Xenovia's Excommunication []
Misc Objectives:
Gather New Recruits (0) []
Convert Stray Exorcists back to the Church (0) []
My campaign quest updated once I started thinking about other things that had happened with the Church.
This means that these quests are truly dictated by what I think or feel like doing, they won't suddenly tell me everything that can be done, or how to do it.
So if I'm not more thoughtful in the future, I could truly screw myself and others over without thinking.
But, on a good side note, taking Asia to my place seemed to guarantee that she won't get excommunicated!
Hah! Take that Diodora The Explorer!
Anyhow, I noticed something interesting about the way the bonus objectives seem to be structured...they're in order based on when each event happens. So, Teodoro's parents are killed, then Isaiah's friends, and so forth.
Though I suspected such a thing before, it only got confirmed with the way new objectives were added.
That's why I am wandering around the Vatican aimlessly right now, looking for the only named Miracle Child in canon.
Shockingly, he isn't the only one I haven't seen yet. I haven't managed to run into Vasco yet, and Dulio hasn't come by to visit. Also, although I know where the Sigurd Institution is I have yet to visit there yet.
The Sigurd Institution turned from an experiment and research project into a training site for warriors relatively recently, which means its location has just become available for people to visit.
Meanwhile, the Holy Sword Project's main facility still alludes me...but I have a plan to find it, so I'm not particularly worried about that yet.
Vatican City isn't that large, so you think running into a very specific eight-year-old Miracle Child wouldn't be so difficult, but...well, you'd be wrong.
I also checked the barrier space, or what it's more commonly referred to as, 'Vatican Upper', but he and his family don't live there. Vasco and Dulio have villas there, but they clearly haven't been used in a while.
I'm honestly starting to get a little freaked out. If Teodoro isn't at the Vatican, then that means he's likely in a similar situation I was before my attack back when I was five, he's hiding out with his parents somewhere in Italy.
I'm going to have to magic a cardinal or bishop, aren't I? I have spells like Zone of Truth and Discern Lies available to me, so it wouldn't be difficult, but I was kind of saving those for when I was going to record myself blitzing the clergy and exposing all the corruption.
If I was level 9, I could just spam a heightened Locate to find any Miracle Children or Pure Angels, but I'm not, and grinding to that level would probably take too much time.
Hnnnggh. Fuck it. Time to magic a priest. I won't use Zone of Truth, since that one is painfully obvious when cast, but I can at least use Discern Lies to find out where Teodoro isn't.
With a sigh, I snapped my fingers and cast Discern Lies on myself, causing an angelic magic circle to flicker at my feet for a moment, though it disappeared shortly afterward.
It took staggeringly little time to run into a priest after that, though, I probably could have found one better than the middle-aged man with short black hair standing before me.
The retired exorcist, now Cardinal Deacon, Ewald Cristaldi raises an eyebrow at me as I approach.
"Ah! Father Cristaldi, correct?" he nods, "I am Aidan Marvel the-"
"Miracle Child to join us as an exorcist, I had heard." the man interrupts, "Is there something I can help you with?"
I brush off his mild disrespect and force down my agitation as I raise an eyebrow myself, "You know, I was wondering about that. Are there any other Miracle Children that have joined the church as an exorcist?"
"No," the man begins, "most do not." I can tell he's telling the truth thus far, so I continue.
"Are there any other Miracle Children out there that I don't know about?" I ask. "I was always curious if there were more like me..." I let the final word hang.
Ewald takes a breath before he responds, "That is a complicated question, most Miracle Children are raised outside the Church, barring extreme circumstances," truth, though, "we are not usually given an idea of where they are located."
Discordant notes ring in my ear as he says that final line, indicating a lie.
I frown, "That's a shame." I start, "I always wanted to meet others like me..." I allow a sad expression to mare my face."I had heard that there was one in Italy, too. But I have no idea where to find them."
Ewald's expression morphs into one of slight pity, but hardens back up as I continued, "Did you now?" he says.
"Yeah, I think their name was...Theodore? Todore? Something along those lines." I perk up suddenly, "Ah, say!" I look up intently at the man before me, "You're pretty high up in the Church hierarchy, right? Maybe you can help me find where they are? I really want to find them and make friends!"
A brief explanation of one of my feats, Exhort the Faithful, is required to explain what I'm trying to do here. Basically, the feat allows me to use my Religion skill to give me better odds of coercing or requesting a faithful member of my religion into doing something for me.
And this is on top of my natural charisma score, remember. So...
Ewald sighs, hesitating for a moment, before saying "I will...see what I can do, Warrior Marvel." that wasn't a lie!
Who can say no to a sad, adorable little boy like me? Heh!
"Really? Thank you, Father Cristaldi!"
"Don't worry about it," Ewald sighs, "I'm sure the poor boy could use a friend, anyways." I wouldn't have caught that second bit without my higher perception score, he practically whispered it.
So Teodoro is pretty lonely then, huh? I suppose that would make sense.
"I'm going to continue asking around if that's alright?"
Ewald pauses, thinking briefly before responding, "It should be alright...just only mention the fact that you've heard about another in Italy to the cardinals only." He gives me a stern look, "Am I clear?"
"Crystal clear, Father, crystal!" I start to bound away, I still have a bit of time left on my Discern Lies spell, so if I can find another priest who's less serious than Ewald, I might be able to get more.
Unfortunately, it's not to be, "Ah, Warrior Marvel...before you go," I turn and face him again, "I had heard you took one of the Holy Maidens stationed at one of the cathedrals in Southern Italy," I freeze, "Is that true?"
"No." I stop myself from squeaking that out, "Why do you ask?"
"No reason, no reason at all." And with that, he just walks away. "Have a good day, Warrior Marvel."
"You too!" I breathe out, releasing a small breath I didn't know I was holding.
Well. Uh. Didn't see that coming there.
Am I going to have to hide Asia whenever someone comes over now?
Hnnngh. Screw it. If I get in trouble? Fine, it's whatever, it's not like I hurt the girl or anything!
Besides, the place wasn't even using Asia for her healing power, they really only used the fact that she could heal to make the church more popular with the people!
They have the Holy Resuscitation user doing most if not all the actual supernatural healing since his sacred gear's balance breaker can cure illness and abate symptoms in a wide area on only believers or those related to Heaven and the Church.
The reason why the bishop there threw her out was that all that popularity garnered for the church in that region was aimed at her, and not him.
…
You know what? Screw it. I'm going to go take care of that bishop. I'm going to grab myself one of those cheap flip phones that came out around this time, and discretely record him spilling all the beans while under a Zone of Truth!
The quality will suck, but it will be proof! And judgment will be swift and painful!
I'll be relying on Ewald to slip me whatever information he has about Teodoro later, for now though, time to ruin a bishop!
[Important Contact Gained!]
Ewald Cristaldi
~ Angelfinder 3 ~
I sit now in a chair in the entrance room of my villa, a tape recorder lazily held in one of my hands as I admire the golden sky being let in by the open roof of the room, along with the paintings and busts of religious events and saints.
In a villa, this room is typically used as a guest's waiting room, so as it's meant to impress, it's always beautifully decorated. I am sitting here now in silent comprehension, trying to figure out if I want to let anyone listen to what I recorded on this tape.
First things first, cell phones around this time can only really take pictures kind of well, if I want decent audio, I needed the tape recorder that I have here.
It sucked up my money, and I'm honestly not too sure it was worth it.
Why? Well, I may have given into my righteous anger just a bit during the interrogation, so I kind of give off...well, Akeno sadism energy halfway through to really get the guy to talk.
I didn't burn him or anything, but I was really close to doing it when the guy refused to talk after realizing he actually couldn't lie anymore.
I may have been a bit heavy-handed.
In any case, the old fuck won't be trying anything anymore after I showed him that I recorded everything he said, but still.
I really don't wanna show it to Griselda or Ewald, but I know I have to, so I'm really only sitting here preparing to accept my fate.
Suddenly, my front door practically bursts open, "Warrior Marvel!" I hear as soon as the door hits the floor, but the shock prevents me from registering who yelled it before I could actually see the man himself.
It only does when I see Ewald running into the room, see me sitting here frozen still like a tree and rushes up to me.
"Schiavi di Abruno in the Apennine Mountains, the southernmost portion of the Abruzzo region, on the border with the Molise region." the man grabs me by the shoulders and hoists me up to my feet, "Go, now!" the man says quickly, I can see the sheer panic in his eyes.
"W-Wait, wha-" I try to stagger out, still in a bit of a daze.
"The wards around the Miracle Child, Teodoro's, house have tripped!" he says that as he practically starts pushing me, and that snaps me out of my daze, "You are the only one fast enough to make it there in time by using your wings, but you must go now!"
I need no further explanation as I unfurl my wings and take off, quickly blasting through Vatican Upper's exit, and into the real world's sky.
I guess we're doing this now, then!
: Author's Notes :
Hello again!
Truthfully, this chapter was supposed to feature the Sigurd Institution and saving Isaiah/the other children of the Holy Sword Project, but then I got reminded of Teodoro and his parent's attack and death and decided that was also important enough to do.
Aidan can't have all his friends be girls, ya know? Gotta have 'the boys' as well.
The kidnapping of Asia also wasn't going to happen, then someone suggested it and I was like, "...okay, yoink!" in part because it makes sense, finishes an objective for his quest, and is just really damn funny.
Also, it gives me someone to have a dialogue with when Aidan's home, gives Aidan someone to heal him when his alchemy experiments blow up in his face, and gives Asia free access to a friend with the chance for more friends later.
Truly, a win-win all around.
The Xenovia fight in this chapter was 'meh' for me, purely because Xenovia doesn't have ranged options, Excalibur Destruction, or Durandal quite yet...and since Xenovia is rather straight forwards in a fight, and Aidan is far more dexterous than her...well, you saw the result.
Their rematch will be much better though.
Ah, on the Brave Saints. Someone suggested changing the cards from playing cards to the major arcana cards in tarot. I love the idea personally and am currently trying to figure out how each card works. Any ideas on that would be appreciated.
Hopefully, I'll have this campaign quest done with around chapters 10-15, then we can get into the harem, and finally canon. Alchemy shenanigans and fluff shall be spread about.
The next chapter will be another devil fight to start us off, then Sigurd Institution shenanigans leading into the Holy Sword Project being...dealt with.
Until next time.
Peace.
