Darius' Displeasure

The Ancient Church headquarters unfolded in medieval colors with its towering arches and stained glass windows showcasing the religion's history.

A monumental pipe organ dominates the space behind the altar. With three levels of pipes, the largest at the bottom, the organ boasts ornate carvings— cherubs, angels, and sacred symbols— that rival its gilded pipes in exquisite craftsmanship.

As one's gaze traverses the interior, red velvet panels line the walls, setting a noble tone, while candlelights danced across the myriad of vacant seating.

High vaulted ceilings unraveled paintings portraying scenes from holy scriptures. Sculptures of saints, and heroes, graced the hallowed halls. Notably, a remarkable statue outshines the others— a woman extending a book forward, her majestic form like that of a celestial messenger.

The sacred ambiance is further enhanced by a marble altar decorated with silver. Amidst the expansive church, the only sound was the soft breathing of the elderly man who stood on the altar, a regal white robe draped over his frail body.

Taking a deep breath, he gazed up at the window, where the stars twinkled like the eyes of God. He crossed his hands behind his back, and furrowed his brows with a look of immense focus.

He was not admiring the beauty of the window, but the fate of the souls that it reflected. Each star represents a human life nestled within the capital's borders.

Carefully, he observed the changes in the largest star. Its initial dimness surrendered to a gradual resurgence as it grew brighter and brighter, pulsing with limitless vitality. It was Invel, the son of the Silver Light. The elderly man frowned, displeased as he watched.

Suddenly, his frown faded as he noticed the smaller star next to the prince's. It was flickering and expanding, reacting to Invel's energy. That was Inara, the Legendary Caster's long awaited successor. He smiled, pleased with her progress.

The princess' evolution was a remarkable development. Despite the significant deviation from the original plan, none of it mattered, as her growth was always the main priority.

Moving on, he shifted his gaze, looking for another star. A star that he could not find, no matter how hard he searched. Typically, only Deathbringers in their unsheathed state could escape his celestial gaze.

However, as long as their glyphs remained sheathed, he could observe their fates just like everyone else within the borders of the capital.

Yet, this star remained impossible to find even with his glyph sheathed.

"I must have grown rusty" He muttered, his words resonating through the monumental church.

The elderly man was about to resume his search when the ornate entrance doors groaned open. He heard footsteps echoing on the stone floor, breaking the silence of the church.

The elderly man turned his head slightly, but did not face the intruder as he already knew who it was.

STEP STEP STEP

A boy, seemingly no older than eleven, walked along the crimson carpet that led to the altar. Despite his tender appearance, his face was hard and angry. He wore a white garment decorated with an orange cross on his chest, a symbol representing tremendous influence.

"Oi, old man! What on earth have you done? I demand an explanation right this very instant!" Upon reaching the railing separating the church's chancel from its nave, the boy inquired, his fists clenched and his tone laced with anger.

"The name's Pope Hoover. And you'd have to be a little more specific, Apostle of Orange" The elderly man replied, still avoiding a direct gaze as he spoke to the boy.

"Oh, quit the pretense, old man. You know what I'm talking about. I'm questioning why you've once again entrusted a Deathbringer's execution to that sheltered rugrat. She's not an Executioner nor is she even a professional Dell yet!" The boy sneered, his rage surging with the intensity of his voice.

"By the celestial decree, every awakened soul, irrespective of age, gender or social status, bears the responsibility to fulfill their assigned duty" Pope Hoover said calmly, taking a pause.

"Furthermore, the aim of project Inara is to nurture the Legendary Caster's successor. To achieve that, we must put her in these situations so that she chooses to execute Deathbringers by her own free will. Though tonight's mission failed, her remarkable growth proves that the project would no doubt return success"

"Is that so? Then what about Invel? Was he part of your genius plan too?" The boy asked sarcastically, his gaze sharp as if poised to cleave the elderly man in half.

"Of course not. The siblings being outsiders makes it impossible to predict their fates. As much as I hate to admit it, Invel's interruption was outside the scope of my calculations" The pope conceded.

"That child is a lion that escaped its cage. He would have kept stirring up chaos if we hadn't made the deal to release his sister from the contract their father formed with us" He added.

"Then why go through all that trouble to foster some rugrat who's no longer tethered to the church?" The boy inquired, his hoarse voice echoing through the boundaries of the church.

"Understand, Darius. She is destined, beyond contracts or pacts, to one day become the Arch-Executioner"

"Arch-Executioner my foot!" Darius stomped heavily on the ground, the candlelights flickering as his glare intensified.

"I'll be direct with you; this so-called project of yours is sheer folly. I refuse to entertain even a fraction of it!" He declared in a grim voice. And following a fleeting quiet, Pope Hoover inclined his torso slightly, casting Darius a sidelong glance.

"Then, do you suppose we awaken our fellow Ancient Executors if a war with Insomnia erupts in the future?" The elderly pope questioned.

"Isn't it your duty to prevent such wars from happening?" Darius promptly retorted.

"All is under control. But what do we do in the unlikely event that something unexpected were to happen?" The pope inquired, pausing for emphasis.

"The world needs the 'Gavel of Regulation' now more than ever. It is equally begging for an executioner worthy of stepping into the Legendary Caster's shoes. Now that we have finally obtained both in one person, do you really think anyone would care for your disapproval?"

"Your entire argument rides on the delusion that she lives up to your insurmountable expectations. Fortunately, I have no desire to indulge in your fantasies" The boy stated firmly, his voice violent like a whip. In response, Pope Hoover chuckled, raising his eyebrows.

"Delusion, you say? I'm surprised you still utter such words after both Zahara and Invel's cases" He countered, his weathered voice shrouded in a unique sense of enthusiasm.

"The Legendary Caster was a once-in-a-lifetime genius. Invel, on the other hand, is slightly impressive but not her peer" Darius argued.

"I see that your animosity towards Ariel extends onto his kin..." The pope said, stroking his white beard.

"However, there's a reason we left Invel alone despite our firm stance against having the Gavel of Balance in the hands of someone we cannot control. Touching him would be detrimental even for us" The pope explained.

"Chet… speak for yourself. I'll erase that arrogant punk the next time he crosses my path" The boy scoffed at the elderly man's statement.

"Well, prepare yourself for a rude awakening. But anyways, as someone who has observed every prodigy since the 'Dawn of the Silver Light,' trust me when I say that Inara Leonidas is indeed exceptional" Pope Hoover declared, prompting a sneer from Darius in response.

"What's this? Have you suddenly become sentimental with age?"

"Patience Darius; you'll eventually witness her talents firsthand. If your denial persists even after that, then there's nothing more I can do for you" The pope assured.

"You seem more focused on proving me wrong than the fact that a mere waif has evaded execution not once or twice, but three times because of your half-witted project. Three times!" The boy spoke, raising three fingers for emphasis. His voice escalated with anger, inducing tremors into the building's structure.

"How do you plan to rectify this failure? Let me guess, by bestowing the title of Arch-Executioner upon your goddaughter who is yet to reach puberty?" He added, and in the next moment, Pope Hoover shook his head sideways, releasing a sigh.

"Project Inara's success takes precedence over a crippled Deathbringer's execution" The elderly man asserted dismissively. However, after a brief pause, his words resumed.

"Nonetheless, I fully understand your concern. The stars of Indigo and Blue will ensure that the cripple witnesses his final sunset before the forthcoming lunar eclipse"

"Good. You'd better get those weaklings to work and resolve this quickly..." Darius said, turning around to take his leave. However, he soon halted. Slightly tilting his torso in the direction of the pope, he continued with his words.

"And to entertain your earlier question, if I had to decide between waking up our retired comrades and relying on that spoiled rugrat... to miraculously lead this worthless generation of Dells to victory... against those fiends?"

"Then, I'd much rather take my chances battling the entire Deathbringer army alone" Darius declared, continuing his exit.

"Mind your words, Darius. This is a place of worship" The pope cautioned in a composed tone.

"Tch, don't try to order me around, old man" The boy retorted bluntly, his voice trailing off as he walked away.

When the entrance doors creaked open and eventually closed, the Pope glanced over to confirm Darius' departure before muttering to himself.

"What a troublesome fellow" He shook his head sideways, exhaling a lengthy sigh. In all fairness, some of Darius' arguments were valid. There were moments when the Pope himself harbored doubts about the project. However, they had already ventured too deeply to call it quits all of a sudden.

Dispelling all burdensome thoughts, Pope Hoover swallowed a gentle breath. In the next instant—

"Vanderson…" He called, and almost simultaneously, a man clad in black and white garments appeared. He stood before the chancel's railing gazing at the elderly pope from several meters behind.

"Yes, Your Holiness" The man responded, offering a respectful bow.

"Contact the apostles of Indigo and Blue. Let them know it's time for clean-up duty" The Pope ordered, and in response, Vanderson once again lowered his head into a bow.

"As you wish, your holiness"

***