Liam had wasted no time informing his friends about all that had transpired with the Pope. He was too agitated to sit down so he simply leaned his arms on the table and launched into a detailed description of what the Pope had put him, Alex and Saintess Felicia through.
The princes were stunned.
With each word that left Liam's mouth, Prince Florentine's expression grew more and more grave.
What Liam was saying was wild beyond comprehension!
Pope Matthew was a beloved and revered figure in Elysium. He held immense sway in both the church and in palace politics. Not only that he was seen as a holy being alongside the Saintess as they both commanded divine magic.
How did such a godless man rise to such authority inside the Goddess's temple?
How could an imposter have not been found out?
Amongst the three factions...was the devil simply that skilled in his deception or was he utilizing black magic to control the minds of his clergymen?
Florentine's question was answered when he heard Liam mention the names Casper and Demetri. Though not familiar with the name of the first priest, Florentine had been introduced to the leader of the third faction many years ago.
Father Demetri was a quiet man with a thoughtful look upon his face. That was Florentine's only assessment of the priest. Since then, he had only seen the man in passing.
Looking towards his older brother, Florentine realized that Constantine was very red in the face. His lips were pressed in a way that looked as if he were holding back vomit. There was also copious amounts of fear in his widened eyes.
Florentine reached out a hand and placed it on Constantine's arm. "Be steady brother, we have yet to even begin the battle."
"So many lives, brother. If he's been receiving power by sacrificing souls since he took his position then that means he's been killing people for a long time now."
"We will stop him," Liam intoned, halting Constantine's panic. "We know the truth and apart from the powerful magic both Felicia and Alex possess, the Aurors of Imperium will also come to our aid."
"Yes," Florentine seconded, rising to his feet. "As will the royal guards. Come, we must inform the king of all this. I still don't see why kept this hidden from me all this time, brother."
All three men departed the room.
-------
Back at the central Cathedral, a loud ring filled the air as Alex appeared out of thin air from the knot of the infinity symbol, holding a still unconscious Felicia in his arms.
Though he could hear faint voices, the prayer hall was empty.
He landed lightly on his feet in front of the statue of the Goddess.
Laying Felicia down, he cursed when he saw her eyes were still glowing white orbs.
He looked up at the red ruby embedded on the center of the Goddess's golden crown. Felicia had theorized that she needed to strike it with lightning in order to retrieve it, but she was indisposed.
So what could he do? Should he try scaling the statue and breaking it out? Surely not. That would be desecration and blasphemy wouldn't it?
What about the Holy Sword? Could that dislodge the ruby?
But how was he going to reach it?
Did he even have the time?
He could sense the Pope in the back of his mind. He didn't know how that was possible as his senses were usually only attuned to Felicia.
Why did it feel as if his Guardian instincts had extended to the Pope as well?
Was there a magical connection between the Pope and Felicia?
But how would that even be possible?
He had cut off the demonic mark, so she should be free from his hold.
But why was she in a trance like state?
Was it possible that the dark mark wasn't truly gone?
Looking back up at the ruby, Alex heard a voice call out to him.
"Lord Alexander...and Lady Felicia? What, what's happened to your sister? When did you arrive?"
It was Father Demetri, the leader of the third faction. Behind him were three other priests under his command.
Alex felt a bit of relief. He knew he could trust this man.
"My sister got hurt by the Pope," Alex stated as the priests got a closer look at Felicia.
Seeing her glowing eyes, they gasped.
But what caught them even more off guard was hearing the Young Duke name the Holy Pope as the culprit.
"The Pope?" Demetri inquired, contemplating the implications.
-------
At the imperial palace, another battalion had showed up. The knights guarding the entrance were even more shocked. First the Young Marquis from the Del Findel household and now this?
What was happening?
One of the sentries on the wall eyed the approaching party through his telescope and saw that the group consisted of their kingdom's knights who patrolled the border and many unidentifiable hooded figures.
As they neared the drawbridge, the guards on wall pointed their crossbows and the archers drew back their arrows.
The head knight held up his hand. "Be prepared to fire, just in case."
"Halt! State your business!"
One of the border patrol knights took off his helmet and glanced up at the wall. "We bring news of a magical clash at Lake Joan! We have brought Aurors from Imperium to speak to the king! A demonic entity has risen near the mountains!"