Chapter 6: A Prayer; An Awakening Part 2

She was a lovely thing. Petite and fragile. Looking for solace, Chris found himself studying her almost against his will. It wasn’t that she was strikingly beautiful. No. The girl was anything but that.

“Fancy meeting you here.” Chris walked closer and glanced heavenward; only the brightest stars shone out against the indigo sky.

“Lord Schweitzer…” Her lips trembled, showing no hints of her feistiness from before.

“Just Chris is fine.” Chris released a soft chuckle. “You know why I’m here, do you not?”

His serious tone eliminated all means of indecisiveness. He was there for answers, and he made sure she knew that.

Lilia looked at the evening sky, as if to search for something. “I had often wondered… Why am I so different from the rest?”

“In what way?” Chris removed his helmet and gazed at the girl who, for a second, mirrored himself.

Like him she was alone. Uncomfortable. Eager to escape her life but nowhere to go. Ever since he was old enough to wonder, Chris questioned their way of life. His future maybe guaranteed, yet he lacked the freedom to choose. To bear the weight of responsibility hanged on his shoulders. He had no choice.

“I rarely bruise, my wounds heal instantly, and anything that forms in my mind takes shape whether I like it or not. It’s terrifying.” Her voice faltered.

“I see. Your abilities are considered heresy. And heretics have no place in Scaldus. Even with your meager existence, you endanger others. You wear the mask of a cheerful girl because deep inside you are weak and fragile, cursing your solitary state in the dark. Am I correct in my understanding?”

“Do not mock me!” Lilia snapped, tightly clenched her fist.

“That was unnecessary. I am sorry,” Chris softly replied.

“Speak. What do you mean to do with me?”

“There is no point in keeping you alive with that mentality. I shall end your suffering right here, right now. Your death would absolve everyone here of their crimes — that I promise you.”

“So you plan to dispose of me, like all the others…”

“And what of it?”

Lilia retained her silence.

Chris sighed. “You should know by now that there are those willing to jump into a pitfall just to pull you out, even if it means they remain behind. Yet why do you give up so easily? Is your life as insignificant as you make it out to be?”

“Then what I am supposed to do in a world that continues to deny my existence?!” Lilia fiercely glared at Chris; face to face. “Tell me!”

Without warning his arms stretched forward. He cradled her head above his beating heart, pressing her tear-stained cheek on the cold sensation of his chest-plate. “Look around you. The head priest, the clerics…”

“But you said it yourself,” her voice began to break. “I have no place here.”

“Then live and make one. Simple as that.” His gentle words were the spark. Lilia began to cry in earnest, agonizing sobs that pained him to hear. Minutes later, Chris finally heard a girlish giggle that put an end to her stream of tears. Pulling back, a soft glow has settled at the corner of her dark eyes.

“You are a big jerk.” She showed him a smile before whipping him across the face. HARD.

Chris was stupefied. “What in the—”

But she slapped him again. “That’s for destroying the cathedral.” And another. “That’s for making me cry.” Just when Chris braced his cheeks for another impact, her arms intertwined around his neck and she brought his mouth down to hers. For an instant their lips touch; fleetingly. “And that’s for making me fall for such cheesy lines. Jerk.”

“To think the day would come when I would hear those words from a demon. Ah, the world might be ending. But if it makes you feel better, then feel free to kiss me once more. That, I don’t mind.” Chris displayed his toothed smile.

The two of them connected, acquiring the mysterious and intangible bond between two people that deeply trust each other. But Chris was no fool. Deceiving the Order may be an easy thing, but not once had he considered lying to his family.

* * *

After his business at the library, Chris checked on the labyrinth building. The place was even more bustling, unlike before, as all kinds of shops had opened up. He surveyed the area until he saw a sword on display to his liking.

“You know those useless loots the monsters drop?” The vendor asked. “I buy those too, but when a freshman here brings in some striped panties, I couldn’t help but question their mentality. I mean, are you serious?”

“Right…” Chris couldn’t even imagine what type of monster would drop some panties. Whoever created this dungeon had their fun. “How much would it be for this sword?” He pointed to a shortsword.

“Hand me three hundred rigals and consider it yours,” the vendor replied. “It even comes with its own sheath, so not a bad deal.”

“Hmm…” Chris lifted the sword and swung it twice. “Good enough. I’ll take it.”

He dropped three copper coins on the man’s open palm. After strapping the sword diagonally on his back, Chris entered the labyrinth via the stone monument.

Though not as strong as the first, the churning sensation was there. Chris then regained his senses in front of the stairs leading to the second floor. Looking around, he found no one. Yet voices echoed from the two gigantic doors behind him. Other students must be forging their way through. He wished them luck in his mind and hastily descended down the stairs with the wooden staff on his left hand.

Though the corridor might seem endless, the layout was no different from the first. He stopped when he heard a noise, then dove forward when the flooring beneath him trembled.

“What the?” A wall had emerged, trapping him to continue north. But the next step he took, Chris felt a surge of hostility. “Who goes there?!” he demanded.

Scanning the area, he sensed malice originating from above. A blade descended in a straight line. Clang! The vibrating noise resounded when the blade hit nothing but the floor, as Chris jumped back. Invoking his magic, Chris retaliated with a series of flame spears. But the hooded figure daringly drove forward, sword in hand, and brushed his way past his flame spears.

In that quick instant, a line of blood drew an arch in the air.

* * *

In front of Marrieta’s statue, an old priest silently offerred his prayer.

“Master!” a frantic voice said.

“What is it?” The old priest glared at the younger cleric. Whatever it may that would stop him from offering his afternoon prayers to the Divine Empress has got to be good.

“The sealed room! Hurry to the sealed room!” The younger cleric grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him without even waiting for his response. At first he didn’t understand. There were various things sealed in the underground basement of their cathedral but only one thing could arouse this much confusion from his apprentices. It was that.

“What happened here?!” He demanded explanation to the clerics keeping their distance on the sealed room.

“Master… It spoke…” One of them said, pointing to the door encased by several sealing engravement. “The monster said some weird things…”

“Weird things?” The old priest felt his hair stood on end, but he still shook his head in disbelief. Not possible. It hasn’t made a reaction for almost two years now. Unless…

“You! Send word to Lord Schweitzer right away!” he commanded in a fierce tone.

After his apprentice burst into a sprint to comply, he swallowed a big gulp. Slowly, he placed his ear on the door and listened.

“……………to…pher…Where…are………you? It’s…so…dar…I… can…. hear….ces…… Hur…ry… I’m……lo……… me…ory………………T…e……de…i………con…mes……me……”