MANDATES OF DIVINITY

Episode 16

Episode Sixteen

The tears that despair has conceived

Will only bring forth more despair

Wailing and misery will follow

This is the curse of the wails

-The goddess Hella

Order to rule

“The gate is just down there, we are almost out of their grounds totally.” Hurd was dressed in his usual robe, he had a hood covering his head.

“I still can’t believe we escaped the capital that easily, the church indeed is free.” That was Bathan, he was using a hood. The others were dressed in similar manner. The five didn’t draw any attention however. A lot of people were dressed like they were.

“Free? They have no freedom, they are bound steadfast by ignorance.” Sera replied with disgust. “Only the children of Hella are free, we have been reconciled with our ends even while alive. When the end comes, on the day ignorance shall die, we shall rule the universe.” Her words were full of pride, you could tell the ecstasy that accompanied her voice.

“Once we go out the main gates, we travel on foot for a while till we find a spot secluded enough. Bathan would convey us home afterwards using the gateways of the goddess.” Hurd handed down his instructions as they approached the huge gate. “The curse will take effect once we cross the gate.” Hurd laughed, the thought of the church tearing itself apart filled him with pleasure. ‘So much for the holy nation.’

“Yes master.” The four that followed behind him replied.

Back in the grounds of the basilica…

Xandar could be spotted on his knees, his palms held together in the pose of prayer. The room was dimly lit by candles on golden lamp stands, one in particular was peculiar, the lamp stand was shaped like a man with wings and it was far bigger than the others. The candle erected on it burnt with a blue flame, this was directly before Xandar.

“There you are.” Xandar smiled and opened his eyes, four figures behind him came into view. They all sat, meditating. “Tell me the things you have seen” Xandar rose to his feet but didn’t turn around, the blue flame from the huge candle on the stand burnt brighter.

The four behind him were Betty, Athion, Bernard and Watt. They had been in the room with Xandar for hours, they were surprised when a Priest informed them that Xandar had requested for them. They thought they were done for the day, it was just past noon and lunch was half an hour away but it turned out Xandar wasn’t done.

Once they arrived at his location, he informed them of hostile forces within the walls of the holy nation and had charged them with the duty of finding the imposters, providing them with no information whatsoever. So for over three hours, the four had been in the room, concentrating hard on the skills Xandar had previously thought them, ‘the giver's gift of hidden knowledge’ he would always say.

“It can come like a voice, like images and you could just know.” They recalled Xandar’s description of the giver’s knowledge. “Everyone gifted has access to this knowledge but your compatibility to the light makes accessing easier. The more you utilize it, the faster you can access it until it becomes second nature.” Xandar had stressed every detail over and over again.

“So anything yet?” Xandar finally turned around to face the four seated behind him, they opened their eyes one after the other and stared back at him.

“I saw a cottage, the entire terrain seems familiar. Most likely here in Nook, I can see glimpses of what seems to be its interior. Probably belonging to a priest, confirming that the cottage is here in Nook.” Watt went first, he said one word at a time. Xandar didn’t give a reaction; he merely turned to the others.

“I actually saw the body of a priest and another woman.” Betty sounded perplexed. “I think I saw the woman today, she accompanied that priest…” She frowned as she tried to recollect events correctly.

“I saw her too. She accompanied Father Stan, I think she is in trouble.” Athion added with urgency. Everyone turned to Bernard he was the only one left.

“I didn’t see anything. I only heard whispers and wailing.” He was a bit down-casted, he was the only one that didn’t see anything.

“I am disappointed.” Xandar’s words cut through them like a knife, he made his way out of the room and the four followed in the suit. They tried desperately to figure out what they didn’t do correctly. “You all got it right, I am just disappointed. I expected far more.” Xandar added like he could hear their thoughts. The four sighed in defeat, Xandar was rarely impressed.

“The cottage you saw is here in Nook, belonging to a Priest, in particular the Priest who summoned you four. Stan.” Xandar’s voice was expressionless and he seemed focused on his destination. “The dead Priest and Woman you saw were murdered by our assailants, considering that you saw her today meant that they have the ability to either mimic or puppeteer the dead. Hence why Stan seems to be an accomplice is because he is dead and his abode…”

“Is their hideout!” Bernard’s eyes flashed, Xandar’s knowledge baffled them.

“Was!” Xandar snapped, his cold eyes glaring at Bernard for a moment. “They have performed that which they were sent to do, hence the whispers. They are inaudible residues of a curse, the nature of the curse however has something to do with wailing. Their precise location right now is at the south gate of the holy nation.” Xandar finally stopped, the four behind him did the same, awestruck. “They left Nook the holy capital hours ago.”

Xandar once again turned to look at the four behind him, they couldn’t glance back into his eyes. His eyes contained profound insight, they felt like they would lose their minds if they stared for too long.

“I deciphered all that while I conversed with you. Imagine what I can accomplish if I had sat to probe for knowledge.” The four couldn’t hide their shock when they heard his words. All that in fractions of seconds? The ability was akin to thinking for Xandar, he didn’t need to meditate.

“Appear Itus and Edgar.” Xandar gently muttered. There was no response at first, the four stared at one another they didn’t expect a response, Xandar had simply turned towards the wall and muttered his command.

From the distance, two streaks of light travelled across the sky and landed right before Xandar. The light diminished to reveal two figures half kneeling with their heads bowed. One was dressed like a Bishop, in fact the four could tell he was at least a High bishop from his attire. The other was a paladin completely enclosed in his amour, the two radiated energy. This was the first time the four would see a knight with such level of powers, his aura completely rivaled that of the Bishop kneeling beside him.

“It is time and this four will accompany you for the hunt.” Xandar merely glanced at the two and began to walk away. “I have some business to attend to, see to it that they participate.” He didn’t look back and in no time he was out of sight.

“Yes your grace.” The two chorused. They rose to their feet one after the other and turned to the four.

“I am Saint Itus, a bishop in the order of saint Udias. He is Edgar, a paladin and crusader in the order of saint Udias.” Itus was just like Xandar, his face was like a stone statue, no expression could be deciphered. “We have to move, our marks are already on the verge of leaving the nation.” He turned towards Athion, his eyes inquiring.

“He means you should convey us to the south gate, the big one.” Edgar on the other hand was lively, he even sounded like he chuckled. “We are here to instruct and watch over you four while you hunt down the infiltrators.” He finally explained their situation, the two were just there to observe.

Athion took a deep breath, he stretch forth his palm and a ring of light appeared before him. The ring grew larger and larger till grown man could fit in it. Edgar went in first, Itus signaled for the four to follow. Athion hesitated, he knew the portal would collapse once he entered but Itus instructed him to go ahead. Once he did, the ring disappeared leaving Itus where they once stood. He glanced around and turned into a ball of light that shot into the sky.

Once again the familiar five figures came into view, Hellos cult’s council of five. They had just made their way past the gate, victory was already in sights.

“All that is left is activating the curse and unleashing the wailing plague.” Hurd gave the nod. “Once that is in wraps, Bathan can get us home.” Hurd unveils a special dagger and hands it over to Sera, the latter receives it with an evil smile. “You know what to do.” He added.

Sera moved at once, striking her arm with the blade and her blood dripped down her fingers to the floor. The spot on which the blood dropped sizzled, it was like the blood was corrosive.

“I call out to the depths of despair…” Yoku’s voice had changed, her countenance had also transformed. Her hair rippled of its own accord, dark energy seeped out of her. “Awake sacred tears born of Hella. Wail!” Her voice rose, it seemed like it came from another world. “Let Misery be born.” A pulse went forth from her body, it kept extending and everyone could feel it pass.

It crossed the border into Heradal, the faces of the priests turned sour as soon as the strange sensation flashed by. It travelled far till it crossed into the capital, a gloomy atmosphere fell on the inhabitants of Nook. Once the energy crossed the walls of Saint Petros’s basilica, the little crosses lining the fence lit up. No one could tell the origin of the strange energy, it disappeared as soon as it came. A terrible feeling hung over the holy grounds. Everyone had a strong premonition of danger.

“Was I too loud?” Yoku who had regained her consciousness asked her companions.

“You were, but luckily, we were far away enough. No one knows the source.” Bathan replied with a smile. “And now…” He lifted his palm and once again, a gauntlet appeared.

“What?” Hurd furrowed his eyeballs, a ring of light suddenly appeared before Bathan conjured his. The five drew closer to one another, bracing for any hostile visitors.

Five figures briskly walked out of the portal, one was clad in silver armor with his sword drawn. The remaining four were dressed in blue robes and they stood side by side behind the paladin.

“You should know, that you couldn’t just waltz into the home of the Pope and leave unscathed.” The voice from behind Edgar’s helmet had changed, this one sounded noble and seeped with hatred. “In fact, none of you are leaving alive.”

“Really?” Hurd focused on the five before him and suddenly burst into laughter, the atmosphere tensed. “Just the five of you? I bet our curse has taken effect and the church is crumbling as we speak.”

“What do you mean?” Watt snarled, he was already doing his best not to charge. “What curse?!”

“You really don’t know?” Hurd at first looked puzzled before bursting into laughter once more. “I see you don’t know the depths. Allow me to explain your fate.

“We infiltrated the camp of the smiths and laced the water source. Everyone of your smiths are currently under our curse, so far they have drunk or used of the water.” The four behind Hurd had gloating expressions, Hurd also laughed mockingly.

“The curse will drive them berserk and they will go on a killing spree, killing everyone they come across except themselves.” Tom Laughed. “So much fun.”

“Your priests will either have to kill their precious smiths or let themselves be killed by the disciples they invested so much in.” Hurd glanced at the four behind Edgar, they had troubled expressions. “I see you didn’t return to the camp. You really are lucky, the four belonging to Xandar!” Hurd was displeased at the fact that the four before him were unaffected.

“Luck? They will die here and now!” Sera chipped in with disgust.