Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

Arleen frowned with attention now falling on her. Because she had guessed what Evian was due to her prior knowledge of his entanglement with Daria back at Verdelen City, she shared a part of Cardinal Vorden's suspicions because she believed Evian was connected to Agenon at least by Decadence but all that had to be pushed to the side in the face of possible implication.

This was a delicate situation.

Everyone was on edge following the recent ordeal and the Priests/Priestess and more importantly, the other Cardinals besides Vorden were seeking answers so they could easily be swayed.

Arleen stepped forward and bowed to the Cardinals with the tone of her voice sounding grave,

"Cardinals…" she started.

"Arleen, you don't have to explain yourself. You should be hailed as heroes and yet this poor excuse for a Cardinal wants to instigate everyone and make you scapegoats," Callum said in a loud and powerful voice.

"You are being awfully defensive about a mere theory," Vorden said with a chuckle that lacked any bit of mirth and was no doubt a challenge.

"You accuse my Sister of wrongdoing, you accuse me too!" Callum said and took a heavy step toward Vorden with his body letting out his powerful pressure at the peak of the Seventh Circle.

The pressure pushed many away and it only got worse when Vorden let out his own to show he was not on the losing end. The two powerful pressures clashing against each other were certainly teasing a collapse of multiple structures in the hall and the Cardinals moved to interfere but it was Arleen who spoke first.

"Cardinal Vorden is not wrong," she said.

Vorden pulled back his pressure instantly with a gloating look of victory while Callum did so in shock,

"What did you say?" He asked slowly.

"I said His Excellency, Cardinal Vorden is not wrong to suspect us three but since he has not waited for a more 'suitable' time and location to suspect me and the others of such a grievous offense, I hope we can at least be given the grace to present our case and possibly ease any worry right here and right now," Arleen said.

Evian watched it all with furrowed brows. He shared a look with Daria but they both said nothing. Sir Armin just stood to the side not sure if he should feel offended for being constantly overlooked or if he should be pleased to not be involved in a potential mess.

"Of course, Priestess Arleen," Cardinal Krion said with the tone and visage of some mediator, "We will hear you speak."

Arleen made a show about showing relief,

"Thank you, Your Excellency.

No one here would dare suggest that Cardinals such as yourselves are poorer than this simple Priestess, however, your first instinct —all of you— was not to investigate why this all happened but rather strike at the cause.

Agenon, the Wraith King presented a target in himself just to pull your attention away from the Anchors so well that it did not even come to your mind to search for more.

That should have also been the case for the weaker occupants of the hall, however, without the grueling battle with the Wraith King to keep me distracted, and with my protégée as well as young Evian Stygian capable of shaking off the infection, we hurried to find some way to assist your esteemed selves.

We came upon the Anchors and with proper knowledge of Arrays and how they worked to remain stable, we began to destroy them one at a time to successful effects."

"Your explanation is filled with all manner of coincidences…" Vorden started.

"And that makes me —us— wrong? We are within the Sanctorum and even if this hall were just overcome by a dark energy, I believe strongly that the presence of the absolute power of the Arcane Faith remained…"

"Divine intervention— That's your excuse?" Vorden asked with a laugh.

"I felt no actual external push but I won't deny that I do believe I and the rest were being guided and good thing that we were. Had we not been, we would have all been overcome, and you, Cardinal Vorden would not have the opportunity to lay out your accusations!" Arleen said boldly now with a glare in her eyes.

"You—" Vorden started only to be almost immediately interrupted.

"I've heard enough," said Cardinal Freun, "This is a waste of time."

"You're right. If there truly was a connection between the three and the Wraith King, why would they have worked so hard to foil the plot?

Besides, Evian Stygian is a proxy of the Golden Child. It doesn't get more Spiritually inclined and excellent than that.

We only gave this attention because it would be most unwise to not allow a Cardinal have his say but now that he has, I believe we should consider this matter closed," Cardinal Krion said.

"Agreed!" Chorused every other Cardinal besides Vorden who looked away with a scoff but it didn't matter. He had the same standing as the others and whatever he alone wanted was so easily overturned.

As it all began to settle, Evian saw Olivia walk over to the Cardinals with a frown on her face.

"Ah, Knight," said one of the Cardinals in a jovial tone, "I caught sight of you in the fray of it all. That was some good fighting you did there even if I continue to detest your Martial ways."

"Undoubtedly," said Cardinal Krion with a smile, "It has been an eventful night. You and your comrades should get some rest before your departure in the morning."

"We're not leaving," Olivia said.

"What?"

"We're not leaving!" She repeated.

The Cardinals looked stunned and why would they not? To have someone, anyone not a Priest or Priestess speak to them so casually was already strange but to have them take that tone…

Olivia knew she must have crossed a line but she did not care. She knew when to follow protocol and when not to and this moment was the time not to.

"Dame, I'm afraid it is not up for discussion. Sacrosanct does not welcome your kind. It will be in your best interest to leave. Return to the Temple."

"My 'Kind' just died here," Olivia said not caring which Cardinal in particular had addressed her and just addressing them all as a group.

"And you blame us?"

"No, I blame the culprit and I —we— will not leave until that culprit is brought to justice."

"Admirable of you," Callum said kindly, "But believe me when I say Sacrosanct will leave no stone unturned until the infidels are dealt with."

"And it is admirable of YOU to promise that but we still cannot leave. How will I report this? How will I give the Families of the dead some peace when I have run away rather than punishing the one who took their loved ones away?

I cannot do that. I will not have it on my conscience," Olivia said.

"Dame…" a Cardinal started but Olivia interrupted immediately,

"The message has already reached the Martial Temple and Six Grand Templars have signed off and authorized this. The order to remain behind and assist your investigations arrived while we were paying our respects to the dead.

You will be receiving confirmation soon so this was just a courtesy so it didn't catch you by surprise. We ARE staying and if you wish to keep the 'Peace Act' between our two Paths active, you will not force our exit." Discover more stories at m,v l'e-NovelBin

"Are you threatening us?" Cardinal Krion asked with a frown.

"I wouldn't dare," Olivia said but there was no fear or respect in her tone. It was simply direct and professional,

"This is not about me, it's about those who lost their lives tragically to a plot that had nothing to do with them. The plot was about the Church and they were caught up in it. We just want a chance to be part of quelling that plot."

A minute of silence passed as the Cardinals glared at Olivia and then, one by one, they looked away. No longer giving her an audience but used to such acts by superiors from the Martial Temple, Olivia knew that, although the Cardinals would no longer acknowledge her presence, they also would not try to stop whatever she chose to do next.

She took that to mean success and with a final bow, she walked away.

'Wow,' Evian thought as he watched her, 'Didn't know she could go that far, to be honest.'

He saw Olivia walk to the Knights and deliver the news of their stay and saw them all nod resolutely as though ready to die for the cause and then it dawned on him;

They were staying.

To Evian, apart from the fact that this gave him more time to spend with Daria, it also meant he had the chance to get thrust into this dangerous plot…

'Status,' he called to his Assistant.

[Name: Evian Stygian.]

[Race: Wraith]

[Decadence: Fallen Wraith Prince {12,190,000//800,000 Soul points}]

… A dangerous plot that could reward him with a massive hoard of Soul points. The likes of which were already putting his gains on the battlefield to shame.

'Oh, the joy. And I was already wondering how I might get to stay behind and Olivia just goes and gets it done.

Remarkable.'