Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 572: Are you satisfied?

Chapter 572: Are you satisfied?

"Who are you?" Elena and Victoria shared looks of confusion as they stared at one another, trying to make sense of the connection they shared that caused them to be in the same place at the same time.

Instinctively, Victoria took steps back, keeping her guard up while scrutinizing Elena with the latter doing the same.

Moments passed in silence before Victoria bared her vampiric fangs at Elena. "So it’s you."

"I never expected my sworn enemy to deliver herself to me on a platter." Elena joked as she prepared to utilize her Dimensionality.

From the shadows, a spider the size of a building emerged but instead of worry, Victoria beamed with joy. "It’s good that you are here, help me take out this bitch."

The spider’s eight eyes reflected Victoria’s image, before shifting to reflect Elena.

Sensing danger, Elena acted swiftly, conjuring a dimension that glowed with the radiance of the Lightbringer.

Victoria let out a cry of terror as her skin burned against the light while the spider rushed forward to sink its jaws into her.

But just as it came close, Victoria suddenly turned and grabbed hold of its jaws before proceeding to pull them apart, leaving the spider with no other choice but to pull back.

Elena lurked at the sidelines before suddenly conjuring a dimensional slash in Victoria’s direction.

Seeing this, Victoria shoved the spider aside and attempted to flee only for Elena to conjure a dimensional door in the direction she was running.

Before she could pivot, Elena pushed the door into her and she vanished rather quickly.

Now alone, Elena glanced at the spider and smiled. "Good work."

The spider didn’t respond and instead came in close before attempting to eat her as well.

Its jaws descended, but before it could connect, a dimensional slash went past it, and a moment later, its body divided into two separate pieces.

Elena’s eyes regained clarity in that moment following which she let out a sigh.

Conjuring a dimensional door, she watched as Victoria stepped out, looking like a total mess.

"You knew?" Victoria asked with Elena shaking her head.

"No, not in the way you think. But I had a feeling something was off. My body is rather perceptive to such manipulations."

"It manipulated the connection we shared, turning us from friends to enemies. A rather terrifying opponent."

"You didn’t expect this?"

"In the records given to me by the Witch, the Weaver can manipulate connections but that isn’t very useful when the person is alone. Even if it makes the person view them as a friend..."

"They wouldn’t be foolish enough to allow a spider to eat them."

"Exactly."

"But in our case, it could manipulate us to turn against each other."

"In this case, our team worked against us."

"Thankfully we were both cautious of one another."

Victoria nodded. "Indeed."

"Now what?"

"Now I take its body back to the Witch. My journey is at an end."

"That’s a relief. I was worried we’d have to deal with another Spirit."

"That won’t be necessary."

Just then, a foul smell, even fouler than the one that polluted the atmosphere of the bogs, assailed their nostrils, causing Victoria to grow tense.

Elena seemed to detect something as well as her expression fell. "Something is coming."

"That is most likely Decad, we should leave before he arrives."

Placing a hand on the Weaver’s corpse, Elena gestured for Victoria to take her hand after which they vanished from the cave.

Moments passed before a regretful sigh echoed within the empty nest.

***

Anderson arrived in one of the seven gardens within the Basilica, the garden representing the virtue of Humility, decorated with willow trees alongside bluebells and violets, all of which somehow managed to persist in perfect harmony, radiating a sense of peace to anyone lucky enough to be allowed entry.

He found Archbishop Benedict at the center of this garden, which was large enough to contain almost a thousand.

The archbishop sat on a bench, speaking to another fellow of the cloth only for his gaze to fall upon Anderson the moment the latter made himself known.

"Thank you, Archbishop, for your guidance; I will have to undergo a period of fasting to digest your words."

"May the Only One God guide your path, ensuring you arrive at the right answers."

With that, the aged bishop rose to his feet and bowed before taking his leave, allowing Anderson to approach.

"Your expression tells me that you bring me bad news." the archbishop intoned casually, even spotting a slight smile as he spoke.

Anderson hesitated but ultimately replied. "It is as you’ve said, your grace, there is bad news."

"Tell me."

"The Dark Cloaked Devil persists. Aelenius failed to vanquish the threat."

"Is that so?" Instead of worry or anger, Benedict looked intrigued as he leaned forward.

"According to recent information, he died at the hands of the devil and his body currently hangs from the walls of the church as a warning to others. His accompanying knights did not escape a similar fate."

"Is that all?"

"No." Anderson shook his head. "There’s also been an attack in Picenza. Several have been driven to madness and the church collapsed. Currently, the entire city is in a state of panic."

"Two cities, both consumed by terror." Benedict chuckled as he intoned. "This looks like the makings of a trial. The Trial of a Terrorist."

His eyes sparkled with interest as he got to his feet. "I do wonder what a Devil Wheel Mystic is doing so far away from Emet and what’s more, carrying out a Trial so openly."

"Your grace?"

"Isn’t it rather suspicious?... There are better countries to attempt such a Trial but they chose our dear Lothrusia for some reason."

"Is your grace alluding to the fact that there is a conspiracy at play?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not, but it is rather curious. Regardless, we must respond properly, otherwise the people might end up losing faith."

"What are your orders, your grace?"

"I believe the first batch of soldiers to be sent into Zion by Lothair are ready."

"Not yet, your grace."

"That boy is always so lax with such important matters. It is truly not a good thing."

Anderson wasn’t about to give a response to this and so waited as the Archbishop pondered in silence.

"We have limited allies in this foreign land but it would seem we have no choice but to make use of them."

"Your grace?"

"Send a message to Captain Frederick of the 13th Gate. I believe he should be in camp preparing for the crusade against the heathens. Let him take his Keepers and vanquish this threat once and for all."

"Understood your grace."

"Also, send a message to Lothair."

"The contents, your grace?"

"Do not fret. I shall lead the first attack to ensure it ends well."

"But your grace..." Anderson trailed off, unsure of how to say that he felt it was a bit much for the Archbishop to deal with such petty matters.

Seemingly sensing his thoughts, Benedict let out a chuckle. "No matter is too small or big before the Only One God, so how can I think with such a narrow mindset? Our brothers are currently preparing for a grand crusade against the heretics of Zion and who else is worthy of leading them into their first battle than me?"

"I understand, your grace."

With that, Anderson turned to leave only for Benedict to call out to him.

"Your grace?"

"Tell me, do you enjoy your new post?"

Anderson paused, unsure of how to respond to the sudden question.

Once upon a time, he was a revered priest of Bonehaven but now, he was but a messenger boy with no chance of ever regaining a similar position in Lothrusia.

Of course, it wasn’t because he wasn’t as learned as those other priests who hailed from Argent.

It was simply because of his skin color.

Maintaining a respectful tone, he replied. "As long as I can be useful to the Only One God, I am satisfied."

"Alright then. You may leave."

Anderson promptly left the garden, leaving Benedict to his thoughts as he shifted his gaze in the direction of the Lightbringer, allowing its golden rays to wash over him.