Soul Alive : Saga of the cursed tests

Abel, the priest.

Abel looks like a man of a similar age and height to Sanctus, probably older. He has a garb in which he is clearly recognizable as a priest. However, the color of their religious garments has a darker tone than usual. Normally priests wear white garments that symbolizing peace, perhaps this type of clothing could represent something else that excludes him from the daily activities that a priest may have.  Light brown hair along with light eyes and a confident expression accompanied him.

-I'm Sanctus. Nice to meet you...Wait. Did you just mention Soul Alive? - Sanctus said a bit surprised.

- Yes, of course. Right now, you emanate spiritual energy in a very stupid way I must admit. To that you can add that you carry artifacts that facilitate even more the recognition of such energy. - Abel replied in a mocking tone.

- Well, it has been quite exhausting... - Sanctus answered somewhat discouraged.

- You're absolutely right about that, man. Even though I was able to get out of the last test unscathed, I still have some dirt in my underwear. - Abel said as he laughed.

- Is it really possible that he went to the test in his priest's clothes? Anyway, it's kind of strange that he's talking about Soul Alive and his underwear in the same context of the conversation. - Sanctus thought.

- Well, I'm rambling a bit. Why don't we go into the church and talk more quietly? The streets usually have ears, don't you think? - Abel said as he pointed to the church, which was a few steps away from them.

Sanctus decides to follow Abel into the church. The structure was like any other typical church in the city of Lima. There were no people inside yet due to the office hours and an echo could be heard with every step they took as they walked into the back of the church.

Both are now in Abel's personal office which was behind where Mass is normally held.

-I’m very exhausted...- Sanctus said as he sat down on one of the chairs in the place.

- Next time don't take risks like that. You should be less sentimental once in a while or one of these days you might lose your life. - Aelum said as he hovered in place.

- That's right, being sentimental will only get you killed. Wait, did that thing just talk? - Abel said very surprised as he looked closely at Aelum floating.

- I'm sick of being called like that! I'm going to kill him! - Aelum shouted while making a kind of knife with one of his pages.

- Oh my God, a demon has possessed that ugly book! I'm going to exorcise him! - Abel shouted in exultation at Aelum's threats.

- Go ahead and try it, you damn altar boy! Let's see who ends up beaten to a pulp in the end. - Aelum said angrily, waving his knife across his pages.

- Calm down, calm down. It's my book, it's called Aelum. Although it looks like a demon enclosed in a book, it's actually a book that looks like a mini-demon. He's annoying, but I like him. Without him I'd be dead right now to be honest. - Sanctus said as he watched Aelum and Abel argue.

- Finally, some respect. - Aelum said, floating.

- Abel, I get the impression that you have more experience than me in this. That reassures me a little... - Sanctus said.

- Well Sanctus, it's not natural to see humans with such a developed sixth sense running around. I'm not exactly a beginner and given the circumstances, I consider it's good to have allies. We are not dealing with humans after all and you should already know from your own experience that out there are creatures that almost no one has seen or would not believe even exist. It is a complicated situation for all of us involved in this. Besides myself, several priests are participating for Soul Alive. We were sent by the church to put an end to the group that is organizing this barbarism that is leaving so many dead people without any sense. - Abel said as he sat down on one of the chairs in the place.

- Do you have any idea who is organizing all this? How does the church know about this? Perhaps it can intervene if it’s informed to prevent the sacrifice of so many lives for a purpose that is still unknown, at least to me.  - Sanctus said while holding Aelum in his lap.

- Unfortunately, I don’t have precise information, what we do know is that they are a group of people with a well-developed sixth sense. You could say that we are infiltrated. - replied Abel very calmly.

- How is it possible that a group of people could have organized all this? - Sanctus asked.

- Not long ago a great ritual took place somewhere in Lima taking advantage of the special day of the bloody moon. After that, many people in Lima began to awaken their sixth sense and any of these people were being summoned to survive the cursed trials that are atrocious. For that special reason of summoning all those who possess a developed sixth sense and who are also in Lima, we were able to access the Soul Alive tests without problems. - Abel answered slowly.

- What is the bloody moon? - Sanctus asked.

- It is a phenomenon that occurs when there is an absolute lunar eclipse. In this event the earth is interposed between the sun and the moon, for that reason the moon looks totally red. Around the world many people take advantage of this astronomical event to perform rituals, recharge spiritual energies, among other things. - Abel answered.

- Is that day special for those who wish to perform rituals, and when will something similar happen again? - Sanctus asked.

- During the day of the bloody moon all those who possess a sixth sense gain even more energy and the rituals they decide to do have a more powerful effect. There will not be another similar day until next year. - Abel answered

- I see... So, you and the other priests who are participating in these cursed Soul Alive trials are playing the role of soldiers of the church. I’m quite surprised that the church knows about the existence of all this... - Sanctus said while rubbing his head.

- The church knows much more than others think. But that's getting into details that are not really relevant. - Abel said, smiling.

- I guess I feel safer now having a more experienced ally. - Sanctus said enthusiastically.

- Considering all that we have discussed today and how well we are getting along. I would like to ask you a very important question, Sanctus. - Abel said as he stared at Sanctus.

- Eh, yes of course. Tell me... - Sanctus said while Aelum had fallen asleep on his legs.

- Will you help me to investigate and survive until I find those responsible for organizing the cursed Soul Alive trials? - Abel asked very kindly.

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Mini Story:

Abel: Hey Sanctus, here among us - are you sure there isn't a demon inside that book?

Sanctus: Yes, I'm absolutely sure. He's just a hysterical book...

Abel: So, if I wet Aelum with this holy water that I have in the glass, there shouldn't be a demon coming out of him after that, right?  (He has a glass with holy water in his hand).

Sanctus: Well, you can take advantage of doing it now that he's sleeping. Although that's not really new, he just sleeps, eats a lot even though he doesn't need to eat and beats me when I'm tired to train.

Abel walks to where Aelum is sleeping and pretends that he has fallen by dipping him in the holy water that was in the glass.

Aelum wakes up suddenly without saying anything.

Abel: Oh, I'm so sorry Aelum. I just slipped and accidentally wet you with the hol-y... I mean Water!!  from the glass.

Aelum: You interrupted my sacred sleep, but I forgive you.

Abel: Don't you feel a little strange?

Aelum: Not really. (He has just improvised a dryer with his pages to dry himself).

Abel: Oh, well. Now I'm sure there's no demon inside you because otherwise you would have reacted with the holy water. (He walks away quietly).

Aelum: Did you do it on purpose you bastard! This time I'm going to kill you! (With a knife formed by his pages)