Volume 2: Tides Of Power
City of Flesa – Two Days After the Incident
The Pope sat behind the desk that once belonged to Oryu, reviewing the documents stacked before him. The door suddenly opened, and three men entered.
"Your Holiness, I have brought them," said the man leading them.
It was the same S rank who had accompanied the Pope to the Shadow Land. He wore a dark, carefully tailored ensemble that balanced style and function. His fitted jacket featured subtle embroidery along the collar and cuffs, paired with a matching vest that added depth to his attire. Tapered trousers completed the outfit, while a long, flowing cloak trailed behind him, exuding both elegance and readiness for action. He was tall, with black hair that slightly veiled his sharp, thin black eyes, his calm expression making him appear younger than he was.
"Thank you, Timon," the Pope acknowledged.
Timon placed his fist over his chest in salute before stepping aside. Behind him, Ryan and Edgarth entered, standing at attention.
"Edgarth, I want you to oversee the management of this city until I find a suitable candidate for the next bishop."
Edgarth bowed slightly. "As you command."
"Prepare a memorial ceremony for all those we lost. I will also provide you with a list of items in this city that must be transported back to the capital."
Edgarth nodded but hesitated before asking, "Your Holiness, have you discovered the reason behind their attack?"
Before the Pope could answer, a knock came at the door.
"You may enter," he called.
The door opened, and Edmond, now bearing gray hair, stepped inside. He placed his hand over his chest in salute before standing alongside the others.
The Pope gave him a nod before turning back to Edgarth.
"They came searching for the remnants of the fallen goddess. They attempted to awaken the beast in the Shadow Land to keep me occupied while they carried out their search. However, the sudden intervention of the Goddess of the Moon shattered their plans."
Edgarth frowned. "How was the Goddess of the Moon summoned in this city twice in such a short period?"
"I'm afraid I cannot disclose that information," the Pope replied, pausing briefly before continuing. "Now, go and prepare the ceremony."
Edgarth saluted with a fist over his chest before turning to leave.
Once he was gone, the Pope shifted his gaze to Ryan and Edmond.
"Leo Mantine is alive."
Both men's eyes widened in shock.
"He is currently carrying out a mission I assigned him." The Pope then locked eyes with Ryan. "I want you to accompany him to the Kingdom of Magic."
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Why me?"
"He is your pupil, isn't he?"
Ryan exhaled, unsurprised by the Pope's knowledge. "He's also Edgarth's pupil."
The Pope simply continued looking at him.
Ryan sighed again. "Fine."
The Pope smiled. "Timon will give you the details." He turned toward Timon, who nodded in acknowledgment.
Ryan turned to leave but paused after two steps. "Why didn't you kill them? You could have if you wanted to."
"You rude little—" Timon's expression darkened, but before he could continue, the Pope's calm voice stopped him.
"Timon."
Timon immediately held his tongue, though his anger simmered beneath the surface.
The Pope turned back to Ryan. "I could have, yes. But to do so, I would have needed to release my full power, which would have wiped out the entire city along with everyone in it. Any more questions?"
Ryan shrugged. "No, just that one."
The Pope then glanced at Timon. "Oh, and bring Mr. Mantine's family here as well."
"As you wish, Your Holiness," Timon responded before exiting alongside Ryan.
Once they were gone, the Pope turned his attention to Edmond.
"Because you wielded the Godshackle Blade for too long, it drained both your soul and body," the Pope said with a heavy sigh, his gaze resting on Edmond with quiet sympathy.
"I'm afraid you will never be able to increase your rank again."
The words carried a finality that would have shaken most knights to their core, but Edmond remained composed. He exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable.
"I was aware of the consequences," he replied, his voice steady, as if he had long accepted this fate.
The Pope studied him for a moment before continuing. "Even so, your strength is already enough to be considered A minus. If you were just a little stronger, I would have personally asked you to become the next bishop." He paused, then shifted the conversation. "By the way, how is that young man who lost his arm?"
"He's in the infirmary. His physical wounds are healing, but the loss weighs heavily on him. More than his missing arm, it's the deaths of his comrades that torments him. If he knew that Leo was alive, it would change a great deal."
The Pope's expression darkened slightly. "You cannot tell him."
Edmond's brow furrowed. "Why?"
The Pope folded his hands together, his fingers interlocking, a faint shadow crossing his expression. "For his safety, I cannot tell you the reason."
A heavy silence stretched between them. Edmond's jaw tightened as he studied the old man's face, searching for any sign that might reveal more than the Pope was willing to say. But his expression remained unreadable—calm, resolute, and unyielding.
Edmond exhaled slowly, suppressing the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. What truth was so dangerous that even knowing that he was alive would put him at risk?
"Do you have any more questions?" the Pope asked after a moment.
Edmond hesitated, his thoughts lingering on the unsettling warning. Then, deciding to voice his concern, he spoke. "Not a question, but I do have something to address. Bishop Oryu said that you are doing something against the will of the Lord."
The Pope raised an eyebrow, his expression momentarily unreadable. Then, he leaned back slightly and let out a quiet breath. "What I can tell you is this: I am protecting the people of my kingdom from any threat, no matter what form it takes."
A chill ran through Edmond. The wording of that statement was dangerous—ominous, even. Did the Pope mean that the God of Light himself was a threat? The mere thought sent an uneasy shiver down his spine.
The Pope's gaze sharpened. "Do not dwell too deeply on this, Edmond. It is dangerous."
Edmond exhaled through his nose and placed his fist over his chest in acknowledgment. He didn't press further.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The heavy wooden doors creaked open, and Timon entered, followed closely by Lisa and Rosie.
"Your Holiness, I have brought them."
The Pope turned toward them, his expression softening. "Thank you, Timon."
Lisa stepped forward and bowed politely, and Rosie, glancing at her mother, quickly mimicked the motion.
"Please, come and sit."
Lisa's movements were tense as she took a seat on the plush sofa behind the desk, her hands clutching each other tightly in her lap. Edmond gave her a nod of acknowledgment, but her worried gaze barely left the Pope. Rosie sat beside her mother, her small hands gripping the fabric of her dress.
"First of all, I want to reassure you—your son is safe," the Pope said gently. "However, he will not be able to return home for a long time."
Lisa's head snapped up. "What? Why?" Her voice was tinged with worry, bordering on desperation.
The Pope's expression remained calm, though there was something solemn in his eyes. "He has a mission that must be completed. That is all I can tell you—for your own safety."
Rosie's hands clenched. Her face, which had brightened for just a moment when she heard that Leo was alive, quickly fell into sorrow.
The Pope stood and approached them, his movements slow and measured. He lowered himself to Rosie's level and placed a warm, reassuring hand atop her head.
"Your brother is strong-willed. I have no doubt that you will see him again."
Rosie looked up at him. The old man's face was kind, but his words felt like both a promise and a farewell. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"But… he's just a sixteen-year-old boy," Lisa murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
The Pope's expression darkened ever so slightly. "I'm sorry, but even I cannot stop his destiny now. All we can do is trust in him."
He rose back to his full height. "One more thing—you must understand that to the world, Leo is dead. No one besides the three of you can know otherwise. To ensure this, you will need to sign this contract."
Timon stepped forward, handing three sheets of parchment to Lisa, Rosie, and Edmond.
"This contract will prevent you from revealing the truth, even by accident. It is for Leo's safety, so please do not argue."
Lisa hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly as she took the paper. Rosie looked at hers but didn't understand its significance, only that it involved her brother.
After a long moment of silence, all three signed.
The Pope closed his eyes briefly. "I know this is difficult, but believe me, it is for the best."
He then turned to Timon. "Can you escort them back?"
Edmond straightened. "I will take them."
The Pope nodded in approval. "As you wish."
The Pope returned to his seat behind the grand wooden desk, his gaze following them as they departed. His hands rested atop the neatly stacked documents, but he made no move to touch them. Instead, he watched in silence, his expression unreadable, as the heavy doors closed behind them.
…
Oryu stood near the window, gazing out at the unfamiliar landscape. They had teleported to a mansion, its exact location unknown to him. All he could see beyond the frost-covered glass were towering mountains and endless stretches of snow. Judging by the terrain, they were somewhere in the north.
For several minutes, he remained still, lost in thought, until a young man approached him. It was the same attendant who had been assisting him over the past few days.
"Sir, they are waiting for you."
Oryu gave a slight nod and followed him down a long corridor, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor. The walls were adorned with ancient tapestries, their colors dulled by time, but he paid them no mind. Soon, they arrived at a large chamber where the Empress, the Dark Knight, and two other men awaited him. One of them was Iralian Desimus.
A heavy silence filled the room. The Dark Knight's piercing gaze locked onto Oryu, his presence suffocating.
"So, can you explain how we failed?" His voice was like steel, cold and sharp. He took two deliberate steps forward. "We gave you clear instructions. We spent ten years preparing for this moment, only for everything to fall apart in mere hours."
Oryu forced himself to take a slow, steady breath, suppressing the fear coiling in his chest. "You think I ruined the plan?" His voice remained firm. "Tell me, which one of you can summon a god?"
No one answered.
The silence stretched until the Empress finally spoke. "Why did you start the plan early?" Her tone was calm but laced with underlying tension.
"A D rank boy attacked the Grand Cathedral."
"A D rank?" Iralian scoffed. "You rushed everything because of a D rank?"
"He defeated twelve C rank guards, freed a prisoner, and convinced two A ranks in the city to fight alongside him."
The second man frowned. "A D rank took down twelve C ranks? How?"
"Unfortunately," Oryu said dryly, "I didn't have time to ask." He hesitated, then added, "And… none of my divinations showed him."
The room fell into silence once more.
"What was his name?" the second man finally asked.
Oryu met his gaze. "Leo Mantine."
The man pondered for a moment before responding. "According to our intel, he died alongside another paladin in Valion's domain when the Moon Goddess descended."
Iralian turned to him sharply. "And Valion?"
"Dead, of course."
The Dark Knight said nothing. Instead, he turned away, and with a flick of his hand, a portal shimmered into existence before him.
"I need to answer to him now." His voice was unreadable.
Iralian watched as the Dark Knight stepped forward. "May he have mercy on your soul," he murmured as the portal swallowed him whole.
…
Leo lay on the bed, his back resting against the wooden headboard as he stared at the ceiling. It had been a few days since he arrived at this small, quiet inn. After teleporting, he had followed the Pope's instructions and made his way here without issue. But now, with nothing to do but wait, time dragged on unbearably slow.
He exhaled through his nose, shifting slightly.
"I wish I had a book other than the Codex Arcanum," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
He did have one other book—Creatures of the Night—but it was too soon for him to read that. He also considered reading the book in Selvanna's domain, yet he didn't dare go there. If Oryu or the others were still searching for him, it was too great a risk.
Lost in thought, he was startled by a firm knock at the door.
Leo pushed himself off the bed, his curiosity piqued. He crossed the room and pulled the door open.
Standing on the other side, clad in his usual dark attire, was a familiar face. It was Ryan Alston Law.