Thy Excellency Commands

Purple skin. Ebony, curved horns. Glowing eyes with vertical pupils.

Yet this time, he could see more.

A pair of dark wings. Long nails the color of her horns. A black armor shining with luster.

Those lilac eyes…

Yuushin would never forget them.

「…I never thought I would do so again. Yet I hope you will stay alive.」

He would never forget that voice.

“Feel no shame, otherworldly warrior. I wouldn’t blame even the bravest of souls for freezing in their spot upon seeing such a repugnant beast.” As he spoke, the Arch Bishop’s voice distorted with scorn and disgust. Hatred. “Veritux wanted to avoid any sightings with the creature, yet for the sake of Order, sacrifices must be made.”

“What threat does she pose?” As the man’s eyes narrowed, Yuushin’s heart started racing again, forcing him to add. “I-if you don't mind me asking, Your Excellency. I am not from this world, after all.”

Standing in line a few meters back, Lyr became a block of stone—his face paler than his fur.

Yet the Arch Bishop’s lines softened a little as Yuushin spoke, even if his voice burned like acid.

“The beast is the thing ruling over Yrun’Dïr domain. A child of Chaos, harbourer of wild magic… Its existence is unnecessary, and more often than not, harmful. Our forces succeeded in defeating all demons who cursed our lands, yet their last ruler vanished before we could strike the final blow.”

There was just so much disdain and loath in the older man’s voice, his mouth and nose twisting as the words crawled out of his mouth. But the more Yuushin’s gaze met the creature in the mirror, the more he recalled the voice that spoke to him in that dream…

“So, you mean to say these…demons, were attacking people?”

A shiver went down his spine as the Arch Bishop’s eyes pierced his own, a gaze as ruthless as it felt cold.

“Should this matter? Wild magic is to be forsaken from this world, and creatures of Chaos must be extinct. No matter how much they attempt to conceal their vile nature, no evil can escape Veritux’s Order—our God’s Light.”

Wild magic… Order…

Yuushin could only guess what those things were, and guessing would only take him so far.

「You will regret this, soon.」

“There is nothing wrong with helping those in need.”

“There is, if it’s someone like me.”

Yet he could still rely on his memories. His instincts.

And they all told him the same thing.

With a sigh, the Arch Bishop waved his hand, dismissive. “If you’ve quelled your curiosity, we shall proceed. The expedition will take place in a few weeks, so you may expect to receive the appropriate training for—”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I will join.”

The room grew quiet.

The air became still.

Yet in that gaze…there was a gelid flame, so dark and fierce it could burn with a glance.

“…what did you say?”

For a second, Yuushin didn’t want to answer—he wanted to run. To avoid those eyes brimming with hatred.

“Y-Your Excellency, please, excuse his behaviour. As an outsider, he truly knows no better, y-you see, and—”

Lyr was silenced with a hand. A slap on the face that came not from the Arch Bishop himself, but one of the knights beside him.

“Mind the manners, priest. Your Excellency was not addressing you.” With a voice that cut sharper than any blade, the woman’s words passed through her lips through clenched teeth. Lyr’s ears dropped, his gaze frozen in place as he bowed his head.

“Forgive me, I must have lost sight of myself.”

Yuushin's mind went blank.

….what am I even seeing right now?

Without even glancing the priest’s way, the older man spoke again—eyes never leaving Yuushin’s.

“Did you just state you won’t participate?”

The young man clenched his fists, trying to prevent his hands from shaking, still managing to reply with a gentle smile.

“I truly apologize, Your Excellency, yet I do not believe I am the best for this endeavour. My past encounters with these creatures were quite traumatizing. I’m afraid I would hardly be of use to you, as I am now, seeing how the mere memory of these beasts leaves me shaken.”

For long seconds, the Arch Bishop said nothing.

Only stared.

Then the creature in the mirror disappeared, the man leaning toward Yuushin with an uncanny intensity that gave him chills.

“Am I to think your desire to uphold peace and Order pales in comparison to your cowardly hesitation? When our ranks are filled with ones who not only suffered heavy losses, but are constantly fighting the fear within their hearts?”

Hah…

So you really are a jerk.

As the seconds passed, Yuushin didn’t even know what to say—what could he say to a guy like that? Sparing a quick glance at Lyr, the red starting to spread across the priest’s cheek, whatever shock Yuushin felt slowly morphed into irritation.

A rough smile stretched across his face, straining his muscles as Yuushin tried to keep it in place.

“Guess you must excuse my cowardice then, Your Excellency. As someone who was forcibly transported into this place, I don’t feel the urge to risk my life fighting creatures that pose no imminent threat to me. Certainly, someone in your position understands.”

The Arch Bishop’s nostrils flared for a second, his hands clutching into the armrests a bit too tightly before letting go as he leaned back against the chair.

“…certainly. Veritux wishes for you and your kin to live comfortably, after all…”

Behind him, the door opened.

“You are dismissed.”

Instead of replying, Yuushin tried to take a step toward Lyr—check if he was all right, walk him back.

Yet was blocked by a knight’s hand, his eyes glowing a bright gold for a split second as his tiger ears twitched twice.

“Your Excellency has dismissed you from your affairs with Veritux’s Light for today. You may take your leave.”

As Yuushin clenched his fists, Lyr met the young man’s eyes just once. And in the few seconds the priest maintained his gaze, he gave Yuushin one gentle nod, accompanied by a tender smile.

“…of course, thank you.”

The man didn’t look back to the Arch Bishop. He just turned away—away from that room, from those people, those feelings Yuushin was still fighting to repress.

Yet with each step he took, the same words kept echoing in his mind. Weighing down in his heart, making it unsettled. Uneasy.

「You will regret this, soon.」

And he really wished they were wrong.

                                                                   ▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

“Stellar Priest Lyrelith Caelynne cannot tend to you at the moment.”

Yuushin blinked a few times, his mind taking a few seconds to process the robed knight’s response.

“…it’s been more than five days. Can’t I just meet him in his room or—”

With one swift movement, the knight placed the long polearm in front of Veritux’s door, making their message perfectly clear.

“May you have a bright Evening, sir.”

It took Yuushin a few seconds to finally gather the courage to step back, his eyes wandering through the monumental church with anxious eyes. Trying to see if he would be able to spot anything through the open windows, or see another way in.

He found none.

With a sigh, Yuushin began to make his way back to the inn he was currently staying. He didn’t have to pay for his stay, and the meals were included, yet…

Lyr had been really excited about helping him find a home.

So Yuushin was going to wait.

There’s no reason for me to worry though, right? I mean, Lyr is still a Veritux’s priest.

Yet apparently, priests were not exempt from physical punishment.

With a long sigh, Yuushin slowed down his pace. There had to be something he could do to help. Anything.

“Yuushin! There you are.”

The familiar voice brought a smile to his face, the weight in his heart a bit lighter than before.

“Jay, hey! Haven’t seen you for a while.”

The two men clasped their hands together, giving a firm handshake.

That’s right, I can ask Jay for help. He may even know something I don’t.

“Yeah, I was busier than I would’ve liked. But I’m glad I met you here, I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

Yuushin widened his eyes, a faint excitement shining in his voice. “Oh? Did you find anything good?”

Instead of answering, Jay glanced to the sides before lowering his voice.

“Not here. Let’s talk somewhere else.”

By the man’s tone alone, Yuushin could tell. Whatever Jay had found out—

It would change things.