MANDATES OF DIVINITY

EPISODE 14

Episode Fourteen

The pursuit of life eternal

The desire to have abundance of time

Before it awards you glory

First ends in the bosom of hell

-Saint Udias

Book of deeds.

****************************************

“You really have to believe me, it was an accident.” Tom was trying his best not to yell, he desperately wanted to prove his point but he still had to be discreet. The cottage they were in used to belong to a man that barely spoke, they had to maintain the façade excellently. “While the three of you took down the priest and his w***e, I watched over the north as I was instructed.” He gently slammed his hand on the table, veins were beginning to pop up on his head.

Why did they think this way, like he couldn’t do without killing a person. Yes he killed the man but it wasn’t on purpose, because if he didn’t…

“The mission would be compromised?” Yoku scoffed at Tom’s words, as far as she was concerned he was a psycho who merely killed for fun. “We are not debating that you killed him, why did you hide the body by yourself, why?” Now due his rash actions, they were already compromised.

“This same reason! If I had informed you guys, you would have ripped me apart for killing him. You wouldn’t even believe the fact that I did it because he was unto you. How could you let the woman shriek that much?”

“Senior Sera, what do you think?” That was Bathan, he turned towards a young woman fairly older than the rest of them. She was the next in command of the group, second only to the leader Hurd.

“Who can only wait for the council master, he should be able to gain sufficient Intel with his stolen form. Yoku, has any of your underlings reported anything to you about the details of the incident?” She turned back towards a young girl with an innocent face, although the face seemed to be brimming with anger.

“The rank of the priest is way low, the woman is also limited to street gossip and vague rumors. So far nothing seems to point towards infiltrators from the ‘hellos cult’, but if Tom is left loose, I believe the situation will soon change.” All though she responded rather calmly, the sarcasm was glaring. Tom’s nose twitched, he was about to throw a retort when the door sprung open.

Everyone in the room turned towards the door, the figure of a priest walked in briskly. At first it was father Stan, then the face peeled off and left behind a very displeased Hurd. The atmosphere in the room changed, tension quickly rose. Everyone of them was already standing, Hurd’s gaze glanced round the room and fell on Tom. The latter was already drenched in sweat, Council master Hurd hated flops and he just caused a major one.

“So the target screamed, a man was alerted…” His voice was surprisingly calm even though his expression remained ugly. “He headed towards us and caught a glimpse of our actions. He tried to escape, you chased him down and killed him.” Hurd even chuckled.

“So far all you have done to this very point is worthy to be commended.” Hurd turned towards Tom, he was calm and Tom was starting to feel relieved. “Why did you hide the body!” Hurd’s entire countenance took a drastic turn, Tom fell on his knees and began to struggle. Tom could no longer breathe. Hurd’s eyes shone, like a deadly viper, the slits bathed all they saw with terror. “You intend to ruin the reputation of the stealth bug? Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you.” He forced his words through clenched teeth.

“Master…” Sera moved closer to Hurd, she didn’t look scared or worried. “Master please do forgive him, please.” She gave a slight bow when she got close enough.

The gleam in Hurd’s eyes diminished and Tom was released, he could finally breathe and he took huge ones. Tom finally rose to his feet. He was terrified of Hurd’s strength, basically everyone of them was.

“So what is the situation of things?” Sera went on to question Hurd, the tension gradually deflated. Hurd even took his seat.

“Well they have no idea who did it, so the priests have heard. I fail to believe, however, that the higher ranked bishops would fail to recognize a curse from Hella. All I am certain of is that we need to be extremely careful henceforth, we also have to double our speed if we intend to be successful.” Hurd replied casually.

“There are rumors within the basilica, some grand plan of the Sanctus Primus. The whispers are troubling and I intend to have left this hell before it collapses.” He added.

“So has master formulated a plan, how do we disrupt their training now that they have separate teachers? We can’t just kill and absorb them one after the other.” Sera was the only one who could converse freely with Hurd and she did an excellent job in conveying the mind of the others.

“Well it is time I informed you. The High priest gave me a vial of sacred tears, the goal is to convey the tears into the water they drink. I have gotten sufficient information and can tell where the source is. Once we escape the capital, we can activate a powerful curse of our goddess.

“The curse it contains is the wailing plague…” The others had looks of shock when they heard Hurd’s words, they had all heard stories about the wailing plague. “The church will end its own army with its own army!” Hurd laughed, his voice cracked and altogether, he sounded very sinister.

The wailing plague, a vial of sacred tears, the others were shocked. They had no idea the cult still had access to such legendary, such dangerous…

“Come the day after tomorrow, we would be out of this goddess' forsaken den and laugh at the downfall of our enemies. The church is a viper that has always struck at our heels, let us gladly watch it as it rips itself into shreds.” Hurd kept on laughing and turned towards Tom, he gave a strange look and left the room.

“Senior, do you think even the legendary curse would be enough to destroy the church?” Bathan asked, it was true that legendary curses were legendary, but then there was legendary and there was the church.

“Of course not, it cannot destroy the church, not now anyways. The goal is not to destroy the church, the High priest only charged us with the duty of destroying the army they intend to create, to nip their plans in the bud.” Sera replied swiftly. “We are not destroying the church, we are destroying its future, we intend to crush their hope as they had done in times before.” She gave an evil smile and also rose to her feet to leave the room.

Bathan, Tom and Yoku were the ones left in the room. They stared at one another and no one said a word, they only thought about what the coming days had in store for the council of five. The next day, according to Hurd, they would infiltrate the church and execute their plans. They would escape the territory on the day that follows and activate the curse once they had successfully escaped. The plan seemed solid and flawless, right from infiltration down to their escape, but an ominous feeling still filled the room. They harbored various thoughts, the gloomy feeling hung upon their heads.

Deep inside the basilica…

A figure stood over what appeared to be a metal ball and glanced keenly at the surface. It was one the members of the Sanctus Primus, a man with a peculiar set of brown eye brows. His name was Lithur and he was a cardinal like the others in his cult. Floating in mid air before him was a severed finger, a thumb, it seemed to be from a body that had long decayed. As the strange thumb levitated, it radiated a wisp of energy.

“The creator reveals all.” Lithur was almost whispering, a small golden flame appeared on his palm and it burnt ferociously. “Burn brightly oh golden flames…” The flames seemed to hear him speak and it burnt brighter, still maintaining its miniature form but exceedingly bright. “Reveal from whence the devil came!” Lithur commanded boldly.

The thumb dropped into the flames on his palm, there was a faint screech that came from it and it quickly melted into nothing. The flame levitated off Lithur’s palm and morphed into the shape of a trident, then it morphed into the shape of an eye before disappearing into thin air. Lithur looked a bit surprised, he glanced around like he was puzzled.

“A trident that brings death, the markings are familiar.” He thought out loud. “An eye that brings decay?” He chuckled at this point, he quickly headed towards the door. “Xandar would be shocked to hear this, who knew that a measly cult of Hella would dare step foot within our walls.” Lithur burst into laughter, he made his way down the hall way as his robes rippled with the wind.