Chapter 43 — The Holy See
Alexius can see thousands of pilgrims shuffling across the marble streets of the Holy See. As the convoy crested the final hill, the landscape opened like a divine tapestry—revealing the Holy See, the heart of the continent's greatest faith.Even for a prince who had lived two lives, the sight stole his breath.The Holy See was enormous—a sovereign territory the size of Singapore, enclosed by a ring of ancient stone walls carved with scripture so old that even scholars argued over its meaning. Within that vast domain rose a single city, compact yet impossibly dense, no larger than the Vatican, but layered like a fortress built to shelter millions of believers and pilgrims themselves."Your Highness, we have crossed into the Outer Sanctum," Captain Gregor said, as Holy knights, after they saw the crest of the House of Leo on the carriage, which was posted after they passed the territory of the Grand Duchy. Since the Holy Father order to welcome them without haste, the Holy knights who guard the entrance to the Holy See opened a gate of silver-white steel. "From this point forward, every step is watched."Alexius could feel it.
Not just the eyes of guards—the servilliance from the shadow, the divine power, and some evil auras. They entered the gate. Alexius' convoy is guided by a Templar Commander of white gold armor, said to be neturalist and his some guards.The Outer Layer sprawled outward in a circular pattern. Here lived tens of thousands of servants, squires, attendants, and low-ranking clergy who kept the Holy See functioning.Tall dormitories lined the streets. Pilgrims kneeled at roadside shrines. Squires jogged in formation, wooden swords clacking as drillmasters barked. Servants hurried with trays of scripture-bound tomes and censers filled with sweet-smelling incense."It's like an entire city exists just to maintain the real city," Alexius commented.Gregor nodded.
"Most of these people will never even see the Inner Layer in their lifetime."Yet even here, Alexius saw the deeper truth: faith alone didn't sustain this place—hierarchy did. A rigid, unyielding order that had survived centuries of wars, reformations, schisms, and purges."Keep your hood lowered, Your Highness," Queen Amara warned, "No matter what the cardinals promised, the Holy See is never truly neutral."Alexius didn't need the warning.
The convoy crossed under a second gate carved with the wings of Seraphiel. The air instantly changed—quieter, colder, and heavier. The Inner Layer was the economic heart, where merchants, traders, and knights resided.Markets bustled under vaulted ceilings. Rune-smiths sold enchanted armor. Merchants hawked holy relics—, daily neccessities, and luxury items. Knights of various orders patrolled each district, their armor marked by factional colours:Blue for the Progressives,Crimson for the Conservatives,White-gold for the Neutralists.Their presence reminded Alexius that the Holy See, like any other country, was also a political ecosystem of rival powers."They're sizing us up," Gregor said as a company of crimson-armored knights halted to watch their passing.Alexius met their gaze.Their Commander is a Swordmaster at intermediate level… enough to cut a dozen men in a blink in our convoy."Better be careful, the acts," Alexius murmured. "Some are not welcome to us."Another gate. Another shift.In the Supreme Layer, where nobles, high-ranking officers, and administrators dwelled, the buildings were marble and gold, but the people were restrained movement is said to be measured, every expression guarded.Here, politics was the true religion.Clergy in ornate robes offered tight smiles, hiding true motives behind courtesy. High-ranking nobles whispered in corridors, pausing their discussions only long enough to acknowledge the prince's arrival.Alexius sensed the currents beneath the polished veneer:Progressives, seeking reform and cooperation with secular states.Conservatives, believing the faith must rule above all thrones. They believe humans are the rightful rulers of the world.Neutralists, balancing the two to keep the Holy See stable.And above them all…The place no outsider ever glimpsed. The Grand Holy Paace, Herat of the Holy See and the faith.As they approached to the Grand Holy Palace was met with a formal grand escort of Templar Commanders—thirty in total, ten from each faction. Each commander was a Swordmaster Intermediate, capable of cleaving boulders or channeling Holy Arts equal to a Bishop.They knelt as one."Welcome, Prince Alexius of Leo Principality," the lead commander greeted, who also wore the white gold armor. "By decree of the Holy Father, you are granted safe passage and full audience."Alexius dismounted and bowed in return, though he felt the tremor of restrained power radiating from every commander.As he is guided to the audience of the Holy Father, the Commander explains the full details of the Grand Palace. The palace is consists of, 1.The Residences of Archbishops and BishopsDozens of chambers where doctrine was shaped, debated, and weaponized.2.The Ten Holy SwordsWarriors whose strength reached Swordmaster Advanced, each bearing Holy Art techniques rivaling the Archbishops themselves.They answered only to: Saint/Saintess, currently vacant because of the lack of prophecy from God. In the past, every 100 years, the god prophesied through the Holy Stone Tablet located inside the Grand Cathedral in this cycle, the prophecy has not yet been written3. The residents of The Five CardinalsThe true rulers beneath the Pope.Two Progressives,Two Conservatives,One Neutral Cardinal—the only person whose vote could break deadlocks between the two camps in important matters.Alexius felt their presence long before he met them—ancient, powerful, they are watching him from afar.Then came the final sanctum:
The Grand Cathedral, an awe-inspiring mountain of marble and stained glass that caught the sunlight like a prism, the Holiest of the Holy Alexius has ever seen in his past life, is at the center of the Grand Holy Palace.Supreme spiritual authority of the continent, The Holy Father himself lives here.The Theus Holy Knight Order, whose combat prowess equaled the Ten Holy Swords. Unlike the Templar Commanders, these warriors answered to no faction—only to the Pope, the representative of the Human God Theus.There are also residents of the Inquisitors in the grand Palace, the nerest place to the grand cathedral, those who hunted heresy,
those who silenced dissent,
those who had the legal right to arrest anyone, even nobles or Templar knights, without trial. With Trials, they can even arrest a Bishop, an Archbishop, and with permission from the Pope, even a cardinal.Gregor leaned close.
"We've walked into the den."Alexius smiled faintly."Then let's see which one rules this den."As they ascended the final staircase leading to the Pope's chamber, Alexius felt it the most ominous evil power he had ever encountered in this world chill spread down to the spines of both Gregor, Queen Amara and himself.(Continue)