MANDATES OF DIVINITY

EPISODE 4

Under the pits of a bright future

Is a burning dungeon of great destruction.

The ignorance of man is usually his most loyal companion.

-The Book of Deeds

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The intriguing thing about seeing the end is that you’re only staring at your end. And that was exactly what was going through Vio’s mind as he rubbed his eyes from an intriguing scrying session. The shimmering candles still gave the foreboding of gloom despite the culmination of a happy ending. One that spoke of victory for the chosen ones. One that promised the beauty of the planet living in purity. But the gloomy candles still…

            There was a faint rustle of papers at the entrance. Vio snapped his head backwards. It was the candles still, dancing to the filtered breeze from the painted windows. It still signalled towards his end. Then a flute sounded in the distance. Reluctantly, he checked the windows… It was just the tourists from the south.

            Then the expected happened. A huge shadow loomed over, dwarfing the brightness of the grim candles. The whispering breeze still blew the papers on the floor, signing them out like death notes.

            Vio turned expectantly to face the harbinger of his end. If it was going to be a fallen, then he’d get a run for his magic. At far distance, at the doorway stood a being of light. He stood there, a proud smile smeared on his face, like this was going to be an easy catch. At the other end was the puzzled expression of Vio.

 “It can’t be!” He exclaimed.

“Come off it Vio, even light casts shadows.”

 “You were meant to light up the church. Here you are, barely illuminating the door.”

“I seek to replace you.” The visitor went straight to business.

“Yeah I know,” Vio was getting bored. “I wasn’t just expecting this sort of divine providence. I just don’t know if I should blush.”

“Don’t sweat it, l came of my own will, Vio.” The visitor gritted his teeth, a pulse of dark energy emanating from his fingertips. Contrasting to his appearance, he was like a lamp that exuded shadows.

            Seeing the pulse, Vio unveiled a cross, it resonated with the morning sun, releasing a sovereign and sacred aura. A halo appeared behind his head, the golden ring lit up his face, his countenance was rapidly transformed and his eyes were like embers. The entire atmosphere changed, it was like heavenly bodies were about to collide and this collision would be breath taking.

“First, no being from this realm can aid you.” The figure chuckled and walked briskly towards Vio. “Now we are at the cathedral but not in it.” With a snap of his finger an anomaly occurred, the entire hall turned upside down, the figure and Vio stood upside down, the ceiling was the floor, the floor became the ceiling. The furniture, chandeliers everything was in place but upside down. You couldn’t tell what was inverted, room or men.

            The figure chuckled and energy arose from his body, like steam, but visible and dark. It morphed into a palm, the size of two men and it grabbed towards Vio. Vio chuckled, the cross he held shone and a bright sword formed within his grasp. With an inhuman speed he slashed out at the dark hand, a bright light proceeded from the gesture and collided with the palm. The palm faded into nothing and the light crashed on towards the figure, growing brighter as it moved.

“Impressive.’’ The figure chuckled and took the attack head on, the light gradually reduced into bright dust, the figure unscathed. “You are powerful after all.”

            Vio yelled and the cross he held grew brighter, the entire room lit up and even shadows faded, the light pierced right through the shadows.

“Prepare to face the wrath of the god of light!” A bright cross appeared behind Vio, it looked like it was ablaze and still no smoke rose from it. “Bind, thou burning seal of light.” Vio stretch forth the cross he held and a blinding light shot from the cross towards the figure before him, the compressed sphere of light shot with great ferocity and pressure towards its target.

            The figure raised his palm and a shadow appeared before him, shaped like a man with wings, the span of the wings was unfathomable. Upon seeing the figure, Vio felt like he was being dragged into an abyss.

“A higher being? How can you still summon a messenger of the giver, when you have fallen this deep into darkness?” Vio was shocked, panic written all over his face as he questioned. The blinding light from his attack dissipated as soon as it got near the winged figure, it had absolutely no effect.

“You thought I had fallen? That you could bind and cleanse me like some spawn of the unclean? The demarcations are all illusions. Know that god betrayed you, every one of you.” The figure laughed sarcastically, the shadow before him grew brighter, Vio slightly averted his gaze. “There is no clean or unclean, no saved or damned, just the giver keeping us in eternal servitude.” The figure continued in a much louder voice and suddenly the light from the being before him disappeared, it became a floating shadow. The entire room grew darker and darker, it was like the shadow sucked every light in its vicinity.

            At this point Vio shook with rage, his fists were clenched. Hatred and anger clearly written all over his face, he battled thoughts within his mind. What if all he stood for was a lie, what if it was all an illusion? If all he learnt was true, how then could he explain the sight before him?

            Vio felt a hand touch him from the back, he lost all strength immediately and fell to his knees. He couldn’t express his shock; his will had gone from him. He could tell who it was, it was the figure he wrestled with and his current state had something to do with the touch.

“Men like you have the potential to wrestle godlings, but the giver has misguided you all to keep you under servitude and restrain you from igniting your true potential.” He placed his hand on Vio’s head. “You are one of the greatest, but you are still a man!” His voice rose at this point.

“From within your bowels, let your doubt become darkness.” The voice of the figure changed; it was like a hundred men chanted. Vio twitched, an intense pain rocked his stomach, he could only shake under the palm, he gradually lost consciousness. “Let the darkness abound and arise…” The chanting continued and Vio lost total control of his body, an unseen force made him levitate and shadows poured out of his mouth, ears and nose. “Let darkness become sin and let sin become death!” At this point a sound came from within Vio’s body, like a loud snap.

            Vio’s body dropped with a thud, he looked dry like he was dead for days. The cross he held had shattered and his limbs looked twisted. Simultaneously, outside the cathedral, the largest cross on the tallest dome caught fire. Passers-by panicked, gradually every one descended into terror, the knights around fell on their knees, the old women began to wail.

“The pope is dead!!!”