Chapter 16:
AR:maggeddon — Bounded by Will and Ashes
His mother used to say that.
I can see it now, mother…
How right you were.
As if it belonged to a different era—a different world—the circular chamber told a story. Through intrinsic paintings and carved symbols, its walls stood in defiance against Time, as if daring the stones to crack and the images to lose their luster.
“What are you two waiting for? Don’t you wish to read these?”
Because his eyes couldn’t stop looking at those paintings. And something about them…
“Is this your God?”
“Our Hallowed Hero, yes. The Blessed One who fought for our salvation...the God who created the ritual which became your plight.”
That world’s God, their figure radiant and mighty as it drove creatures surrounded by shadows and taints away. Then, a few paintings ahead, the Hero clashed blades against something Yuushin could only define as Darkness itself. Something hideous, deformed, indescribable—a figure whose vile gaze sent shivers down his spine.
“…is there no one in this world who can interpret this?”
“Which is exactly what I told you both, thousands of times…” Lyr mumbled under his breath, his voice almost like a lament.
“Oh, there are plenty! Yet those Veritux fellows—”
“—made sure to claim every single one, including the dungeons. Anything related to the ‘Hallowed Hero’ is considered a holy relic, after all.”
Especially when he was so focused on the paintings.
Lyr shifted in his place, his tail wagging in a nervous pace, and as he opened his mouth—
So it’s the day the ritual was created…
Burning.
He continued to follow the paintings. Their story. He saw the Hero being pushed back, saw their moment of grandeur, saw ritual circles surrounding everything. Yet when he reached the “ending”, with the darkness defeated and that world safe, the paintings were not done yet.
By monsters.
Their own hands.
“…is that it, then?”
“Y-you see, Yuushin…due to the nature of the ritual, this is…well…”
Yuushin didn’t even hear Jay approaching, only the man’s question. He still couldn’t stop staring at that last painting. Yet the one who explained wasn’t Yuushin, not even Lyr.
As both men turned toward the female dragon, they saw flames licking her arms as she spoke. Then, as she moved her hands, two balls of fire appeared in front of her—connected by a flaming band.
Little by little, the band connecting the two balls started shaking—as if it were a rubber band being stressed and pulled, more and more by the second.
As if it was releasing all the build-up tension at once, the flame band bounced back—hitting the ball straight in its center.
“The end of that world…” Yuushin finished her sentence. And as the fire ball burst and dissolved in the air, he glanced back at the painting.
Leaving not a single dust in its place
Almost eight days later, and neither Jay nor Yuushin had broken the news to the rest of the group—for different reasons.
“It’s clear now the only way for us to get more information is to infiltrate the Church. Get not only into higher ranks, but also conquer their trust.”
“…I know we talked about this before, but Yuushin… I don’t want you to feel obligated to help me. My motives are my own, and you have your own goals. So if you don’t feel comfortable about—”
That day, Jay hugged him for the first time.
"Thank you..."
It was brief, and caught him completely by surprise, yet in that small interaction he was able to tell just how much his support meant to Jay—making Yuushin even more eager to help.
“Don’t look him in the eyes. Only speak when addressed to. A-and don’t raise your head too high.”
“Will do…”
I really didn’t want to see that guy again…
When the door finally opened, he saw people wearing the same armor and robes from their first meeting, eying him with unfiltered gazes—following his every step. And sitting in an elevated chair, so ostentatious it could very much be a throne, was the Arch Bishop.
“Thank you for coming despite the short notice. Although I don’t believe you had any previous arrangements that could be hindered by my invitation.”
I really dislike him, after all.
As he replied, the man’s voice carried a cool softness.
He definitely didn’t expect that.
“Is it a monster? This ‘old evil’?”
“The last descendant of its kind. A demon.”
Was the person from his dream.
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