01:12 - 29 November
Aiko City
Seven sat around a table in dim light.
Five men, two women.
Some were dressed causally, others formally, one of the women in a habit.
All they had in common were silver rosaries around their necks.
A moment passed by in silence.
The man at the head of the table surveyed the other six.
A gaze sharp enough to cut glass shifted to each attendee one by one.
"I am glad you could all make it," he said at last. "I appreciate that Cardinal de Santis in particular has travelled far to discuss this matter in person."
Another man in a red coat adjusted his glasses as if in acknowledgement.
"Now, before I begin on outlining the matter of the witch we call 'Alice', allow me to--"
He stopped.
A heartbeat passed through the air.
"Lord Bishop? Is something wrong?" one of the men asked.
The Lord Bishop remained quiet, his eyes moving to the nun.
"We have a visitor," she clarified. "There is no need to panic. My barriers have enclosed this room. Not for nothing am I head inquisitor for this city."
"Need any remind you, Sister Anise, that pride is a deadly sin?" de Santis pointed out. "You should know better, as one chosen to wield the miracles of the Lord."
"I apologise," replied Anise.
Another moment passed.
"You're awfully quiet, Lord Bishop," the other woman observed.
Anise seemed to finally take the hint. "Father Hain, shall I...?"
"If you would," he nodded.
The sister stood, curtsying a little, and made her way towards the door, a sword of golden flame taking form in her hand.
Father Hain stood up as well, walking to the opposite end of the room.
"Lord Bishop?" de Santis raised an eyebrow.
He beckoned. "I suggest you follow my lead," he said calmly. "Sister Anise's blows exert formidable force."
The other five rose from their seats, walking away from the door somewhat hesitantly.
Barely a second passed before Anise's entire body tensed and she let out an abrupt cry.
"What in the--?!"
The door burst open, a wind of light flooding in.
Disintegrated remnants of magic.
In it, a figure stood, azure eyes reflecting the rush of mana blowing into the room.
Not one person moved.
In much the same way a rabbit would freeze faced with the eyes of a wolf, nobody dared so much as twitch in front of the man who reeked of blood.
The sister slowly shifted into a battle stance.
The man ignored it.
"So," he spoke, without the slightest hint of sincerity. "Nice hideout you've got here. I was going to announce myself with a little music, but I couldn't decide what to play, and I don't trust Spotify on random."
Hain gritted his teeth, but quelled himself. "So, it is true."
"Oh, so there are rumours?" the man raised an eyebrow. "That's nice to know. I guess it would be impossible for me to hide somewhere like this."
Anise had little words for him. "Leave or die," she commanded simply, absolute authority exuding from her voice.
"Oh, shut up," sighed the man. "I'm not here to talk to you. I want to hear something from the mouth of the Lord Bishop here."
Having heard enough, she swung her blade at him.
A flash of silver.
A metal edge slashed through the flame.
The thread was cut. The sword dissolved to nothing in an instant.
The man stood, unharmed, where he had been a moment ago.
With nothing but a simple penknife, he had slashed through a blade of holy fire as if it had been mere air, and mere air it had become.
Sister Anise had no chance to process this.
Sensing something was wrong, she leaped back a few metres to gain some distance.
Too slow.
As fast as lightning, that same blade pierced her jugular.
Her body dropped to the floor, seeping scarlet onto the stone tiles.
The man flicked the last droplets of red from his pocket-sized weapon.
"A knife is a simple weapon that only exists to cut. It won't care no matter how hard you try to explain magic to it, papist," he sighed, one hand still in his pocket.
Slowly, he began walking towards the other six.
His body was slightly limp, as if bored, but he didn't put the knife away.
"I'm going to ask this question exactly once," he declared. "Where's the white assassin?"
Hain's face contorted into an expression of scorn and disgust. "You're sorely mistaken if you think I'm about to betray an agent of His will to a demon such as yourself. I'd sooner die."
The man's countenance changed slightly. To what wasn't clear.
"Spoken like a true zealot. Then I suppose I've got nothing to lose," he shrugged. "Alright. I'll at least send you all to your deaths knowing why. Nobody should deny even you monsters that. When you get to purgatory, tell God that Black sent you and apologise on my behalf."
"It'll be of no inconvenience to the Lord," promised Father Hain.
"Oh, I'm not sorry about the inconvenience," Black assured him, flipping his knife around. "I'm sorry about the mess."
Black left the room a few minutes later, occasionally glancing at the red stains on his clothing and muttering something about extra laundry.