The Wordless Mage
Chapter 55: The Chamber Fractures

Chapter 55: The Chamber Fractures

The collection of varying faces was enough to disorient Rowan, their pedigree told through the extravagant, bright colors of their garments and the many silvers embroidery lacing their wrists, shoulders, and necks.

Amongst them, some stood taller than others, but all held within them influence and bled into even the atmospheric aether. An interesting aspect, but not one that Rowan could focus on.

"Pope Tharos, we’ve already discussed the untimeliness of this announcement. I order--"

"You order nothing of me, Viral. I suggest that you step aside, unless you wish only for divine retribution. Need I remind you the debt that burdens your family?"

With a simple wave of the Pope’s hand, the king submitted to his decree, stepping back to allow him the imaginary podium.

"Members of parliament, priests of the church, noblemen, visiting mayors of their respective cities, and all others beholden to great power and influence, witness the very incarnation of the demon king, in the flesh! The reincarnation of the Wraith is upon us, housing a demon within him that if left alone, may plague all those around him!"

Confused whispers spread in the halls, their dance and song spreading itself thin. It was a choking dominance, the Pope’s words, and yet none dared to speak up in bouts of inquiry or rebuttal.

Just stagnant air once their muttering died.

"Please, allow me to speak for myself--"

"He is conniving in the flesh, the depths of his evil knowing no bounds. Do not be misled by his words. Instead, allow me the opportunity to offer divine retribution to his soul and bring termination to his very being. Such a creature should not be allowed residence in either this royal capital, or the very world!"

Wallowing in the despair of the futility of words, Rowan tuned down away from the room. He resigned to the weight of the innumerable eyes staring into his own, searching for a response--anything that could counter-weight the Pope’s own allegations.

"Pope Tharos, this is not what we agreed to!"

"Ah, but life has a strange way of disappointing expectation so continuously. You’ll find that for one who’s lived as long as me, holding over me the threat of removal from the State is a grave misdeed that I don’t take very kindly."

Surprised gasps filled the room, blanketing the tension from Rowan’s own circumstance but not quite whisking it away.

The king turned stone, eyes wide and posture far less empowered. His head swerved for the inquisitive gazes of the people surrounding him, searching for just one face that wasn’t squeezed with fury, but to no avail.

’Is this true?’

’Why now?’

’It couldn’t be!"

The booming voices struck at the king, blow after blow. It seemed that the entire room was enveloped in a homogenous scrutiny for the man, although there stood just one--a single man, long, dirty blonde hair, and a young, smooth face that could only be followed by the petite of his body.

"Highly Esteemed and Holy Pope, you speak of the late hero being a demon, but have provided us no account or evidence of this claim. Are we just to take your word?"

From the man’s rebuttal, Elias and Lucien gained the proper attention they needed to step forward and individually chime in their own thoughts.

Lucien raised his open palm in the air to face the ceiling. "Yes. As the man says, we mustn’t just take the Pope’s word for it. Us heroes were there, and we all saw as Rowan rid himself of the demon inhabiting his body. Needless to say, there is no future threat to us or you, so rest assured."

Elias tapped Lucien on the shoulder, looking around for the attentive members of the crowd. "I attest to this. While we do not deny that Rowan somehow had a demon, we believe that he has washed himself clean of its presence. And even if he didn’t, we will personally see to it that it doesn’t happen again."

Lucien’s and Elias’ prevailing emotion of pride and promise dropped at the missing rebuttal of a third person, their eyes trailing back to face Kaia.

"Kaia," they both asked, eyebrows raised.

"..."

"Lady Kaia, you must have something to add, right?" The pope smiled, taking his hands behind his back with careful designation. He stepped past Viral, indifferent to his presence. Not because it didn’t matter, but because it was one that would be dealt with later. "Surely, you share their opinion?"

"Yeah, Kaia, don’t you have anything to say?" Lucien inched closer to her, his hand hovering over her shoulder but not quite making contact.

"Lay your hands off me!" She roared, a bright crimson red pouring from the hand she used to smack away his hand. "I disagree with you lot."

Her face fell, not from any guilt that she felt, but from the intense look of those surrounding her, especially the case for the two heroes standing before her.

Rowan, on the other hand, didn’t experience any feelings of betrayal or anger--although he knew he should’ve--he was only confused at her sudden shift in character.

"Kaia," he asked, disbelieving to the words coming from her mouth.

"I-I’m sorry Rowan, but I simply can’t trust you. There’s no proof that the demon has left you, and I fear you may bring destruction to the very world around us."

The pope laughed, raising his hands far into the sky. He couldn’t contain the burning luminosity punching through the air from his staff, everyone in the room turning away with squinted eyes.

"Hah, you see?" The Pope settled down, coughing away the exhilaration with forced torpidity. Turning to the heroes, he brought the bottom of the staff back to the ground. "Misguided as you two are, I understand the issues you feel with Rowan’s condemnation. But understand, this is for your own well-being. Wraiths cannot rid themselves of demons, especially ones that curse them. Such an act would require a god’s blessing, something that Rowan--or any that lives as a Wraith--could never receive."

They looked down with furrowed brows and trembling hands, their tension directed at Kaia who was slumped behind them. They didn’t wish to confront her, but it was equally challenging not to curse her out.

"Now, then, does anybody here object to the execution of the Wraith?"