Passage 1: A new day

Caseda Val'rose · Passage 1: A new day

Blue Note was in deep thought.

He was preparing for church because of a rumor of a priest with magic powers, he wondered if this man might be reasoned with. If not, he had his sword.

He walked through the streets of Burgesta, a fairly new major city in Italy where this priest was located. Usually it was crowded, but at night, things calmed down.

Looking up at the moon, Blue Note went over his plan.

<1. Lock the door from the outside, 2. Sneak In using the windows in the confessions booths, 3. Wait for a clearing and then make for the alter, 4. Wait for the priest>

Even in this state of thinking though, he noticed the beauty of the night. The sky was perfectly clear, showing all the stars perfectly to anyone that would look.

He was closing in on the Church, so he took out a powerful magnet and used it to trick the magnetic lock on the hightec door.

He then made for the window, and got himself in, all that was left now was to wait for his company.

Ixchillvalle

Zeek was not happy at the moment. He now was brewing over a conflict of intrest. On the one hand, he was an odrained priest. It was truely remarkable because, he was the highest member in the order who didn't posses the gift of miracles. Even though he never had this gift he was highly respected for his devotion to the church. But now, not only was he having inner turmoil against the recent conflicts occurring on the holy orders behalf. But, he also had recently healed a man that had been prenounced dead by the other parishes. No one, not even his supperiors, had that kind of a gift, The only explaination would surely be viewed as magic, and he, a heretic. His only option was to somehow hide the truth from the others long enough to reach retirement.

Yeah, only 50 more years of service to go. He thought sarcastically. At the moment, he was headed towards his alter. Maybe to meet a few people, or consolidate himself. He knew very few would be there at this time of night and maybe he could think in private.

As he walked down the hall he noticed a few of his fellow brothers and gave them quick greetings of "How are you?" and "Many fine days to you." All the time his troubled mind toiled away. Eventually he entered the sermon roomand approached the pulpit. Finally, I can calm my nerves.

Caseda Val'rose

Blue Note came out of the shadow behind Zeek.

"Nice night, Isn't father."

His voice was calm, and soft as always.

He had his hands and arms hidden by his cloak, with neither on his weapons, he could draw them quick enough if needed.

Ixchillvalle

Zeek soun around in shock, grabbing the pulpit for support. "Who are you and why are you sneaking up on a holy father?"

Caseda Val'rose

"I'm called Blue Note, but most importantly, I am a friend."

He was walking around the room now, only half paying attention to his company.

Ixchillvalle

Zeek decided it would be best to hold his position as he watched his guest circle the room. "What exactly do you mean by a friend?" He asked in a slightly nervous manner.

Caseda Val'rose

"You don't recognize me, I am quit famous these days."

He bowed towards Zeek, sweeping his right hand off to the left.

Ixchillvalle

"Dear God," Zeek exclaimed as he grasped his own heart. "It's you. Blue Note!"

Caseda Val'rose

"Now you've caught on. But we have to be quick, you could be almost as hated be Johas as me soon. If word of a magic wielding priest come about, it would ruin him."

He was at first looking to the side, and he then looked at Zeek.

"Not that I dislike that outcome, but I'd hate to think of you dieing."

Ixchillvalle

"Wait just a moment." Said Zeek with a bit more air in his voice this time. "How did you know of my secret?"

Caseda Val'rose

He was facing away from the priest.

"I have my ways father."

He spun around and looked Zeek in the eyes.

"But that is not important, what is is that soon you will be in danger, how long can you hide it father. The church hates me and I know, how long till Johas finds out father, how much time do you have left before "someone" tells your superiors."

Ixchillvalle

Now Zeek was starting to get mad, though it was actually mostly fear. He came forward a bit, away from his pulpit. "Are you threatening me?"

Caseda Val'rose

"No my good father, I am here to invite you my protection and friendship."

He paused.

"If you don't accept them, then I blackmail you."

Ixchillvalle

"This is absurd." Zeek was worried now and was begining to pace about. "The church would never turn their back on me."

Caseda Val'rose

"At first they'll say it's a miracle, and so will you."

He was walking around the good father now.

"Then Johas will check it out himself, he will ask you if you think it was god touched."

He stopped in front of Zeek, and looked him in the face.

"We both know Johas's blessing Father, he will know the truth, and have you killed. Probably calling you a spy and ruining your name, it would be the first time he did it."

Caseda Val'rose

"At first they'll say it's a miracle, and so will you."

He was walking around the good father now.

"Then Johas will check it out himself, he will ask you if you think it was god touched."

He stopped in front of Zeek, and looked him in the face.

"We both know Johas's blessing Father, he will know the truth, and have you killed. Probably calling you a spy and ruining your name, it would be the first time he did it."

Ixchillvalle

"But I can't just up and go. Oh, they'll find out and hunt me down. My reputation will be tarnished."

Caseda Val'rose

"Think of the people father, is hunting and killing the innocent because of their believes, sexual orientation or anything that Johas doesn't like right Father, is it?"

He was again walking around the father.

"Your reputation wont be tarnished, but refurbished. The hunted and hurt innocent will see you as a hero after they see who you really are."

He stopped in front of Zeek.

"Father, after this is all over, and new head of the church will be needed, I don't want to destroy it, just to stop the mindless killings."

Ixchillvalle

"I don't care about reputation! I care about the people! I only worry if others think me a deserter then they won't, no, can't trust me."

Realizing the pointless of refusal he asked just to confim his suspicions. "There isn't another option, is there?"

Caseda Val'rose

"Listen, I know it is hard. You truth can hurt, but the current catholic church has become paranoid and is now hurting the people Father."

He stopped at the window, looking out it.

"The screams of the children in the concentration camp I was held in for years still haunts me now."

He looked at the father.

"Is that good for the people father, concentration camps?"

Ixchillvalle

"I never siad they were good people! I've been against this crusade from the begining! I will come with you but I should write a note to buy myself some time. Meet me here tomorrow at 5am. I will be waiting.

Caseda Val'rose

"I knew that not all of you could be like Johas, thank you father, I will be here."

He left via window.

<This could be a set up, o well. I don't think it will be, but I can take any crusaders they send at me anyways.>

Kratos

Sapphiro was walking along to his house when he met a someone apparently jumping out of a window "Hi how are you? My name is Sapphiro Nagano. Whats yours?" Oh and im and AI, but dont get fooled im normal but have no mom or dad"

Thanos Demias

Ronan was on his way to see to see Johas, and he wasn't happy.

He bursts through the door.

"Father, what in gods name is the point of all this, why are we getting rid of the magic users?" he half yelled.

"Im not sure i agree with your ways... Father..."

Caseda Val'rose

Johas was not happy that this man had just barged into his room. He was even less happy that his guards didn't stop him. He recognized the intruder's voice. It was Ronan, a crusader of some renown.

"Gordon and Jarek, let us speak alone."

His bodyguards walked out of the room.

Johas was looking at the view from out of his window, it was beautiful, so Johas didn't turn to look at his company.

"But the rest of the undesirables are still game, right?"

Thanos Demias

"Of course Father, but, its just... what have the magic users done to be so disurving of destruction?" he said sternly.

His eyes scaned the room, and were brought back to Johnas.

"What say you?"

Caseda Val'rose

"The magic user are the worst of the bunch boy."

Johas was putting up with this only because he didn't want to lose a valuable crusader.

"They're very existence questions us."

Thanos Demias

"How Father, as far as i can tell,they havn't done anything at all, it seems that you sent us to attack, only because they exist." said Ronan.

Caseda Val'rose

Johas turned his chair around, and looked Ronan right in the eyes.

"Their very existence challenges the bible, god obviously put them here to test our faith."

Johas got up, and walked up to Ronan. The crusader was a tall man, only a foot under Johas himself.

"And are you saying that I don't know what I'm talking about. And remember, you can't lie here boy."

Thanos Demias

"I know i can not Father, and no, im not saying your wrong... im saying that the magic users deserve a chance." Said Ronan Defiantly

He turns and heads for the door, looking back only to speak his mind.

"I'll take any mission you send me on father... as long as they dont involve the slaughter of the magic users."

Caseda Val'rose

"No boy, you'll take any mission I say. Even if it involves slaughtering children."

Johas smiled a wicked smile.

"It's all for the greater good."

Thanos Demias

Ronan walked out the door.

"the greater good... ...maybe in your mind..." he said under his breath.

he walked toward his horse.

Caseda Val'rose

After Ronan walked out, Johas decided that he shouldn't leave him alone.

"Garn, here now."

Before him appeared a ghostly figure of a man.

"Happy to see you understood to stay nearby, but I've got a mission for you."

Garn lost his ability to speak long ago. He was at one time, the top Crusader, though most thought him killed by blue not.

<If only they knew the truth.>

Long ago, Garn came to Johas asking for immortality so his love could survive a disease she had. Johas gave it to her, but she became a emotionless half spirit. Garn was mad, but Johas promised to make so they could be together if he pledged eternal loyalty to the Church. Garn did, and was made into the same thing. Now he was even more dangerous, his metal throwing spikes could now go through walls while he stayed invisible, and still kill his opponent. Not to mention that his blessing that he is never without a weapon means that they will just return to him. He was the perfect assassin.

"I want you to follow Ronan, stay out of site, and the second you fear that he'll betray us, kill him. Understood."

Garn nooded, turned invisible, and went after his target.

Ixchillvalle

Zeek was busy in his office writing a leave of absence. The note simpy stated that he was going to go on a retreat for about a month or two to his old hometown in Verona, Italy. He signed the message and asked one of his pages to deliver it for him. He then spent the next few minutes gathering up what supplies he might need. Eventually, he found himself looking at the bible he always kept on his desk his hand hovered ober it for a second before he got up and left the room.

He walked down the deserted halls. it was about 4:50 in the mornig right now. He eventually cam to the end of the passage and enetered intot the sermon room he had talked with Blue Note in the night before. He took a quick glance around before sitting on the alter and waitin for his guest.

Caseda Val'rose

Blue Note was waiting for the night time before going to the church, he'd just be caught if it was day time. So in the mean time, he started to cook himself some pancakes...

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Garn saw his target. He was twirling a spike in his fingers. He could taste the kill, the only thing that was real to him anymore.

After losing all of everything that makes a human a human, he could only feel when he killed. He'd watch the victim last gasps and movements, and vicariously feel death himself. It made him feel more human, and that was the best feeling in the world to him.

He watched his target carefully, hoping that he would screw up and betray the Church.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was night now, so Blue Note left for the church.

When he got there, the good father was already waiting.

"Got your bible with you father?"

Ixchillvalle

Zeek was slightly startled, but he had after all been expecting Blue Note this time. In a a bit of a hushed voice he spoke. "I thought about it for a second and decided against brining it."

Caseda Val'rose

"You should father, religion is a good thing to have during hard times."

Blue Note moved closer to Zeek.

"I'm a catholic myself, just don't tell anyone."

Ixchillvalle

Now Zeek was really taken back. "What……what!?" He stutterd "The leader of the rebels, a Catholic!?"

Caseda Val'rose

"I told you, I have no problem with the church, only the crusades. And I also read the Quran."

Blue Note walked up to the window.

"I'll wait for you to return, and please. Bring the good book with you father."

Ixchillvalle

Zeek turned around and quickly sprinted towards his quarters. He just hoped he didn't run into ayone important or anyone he knew.

Kratos

"Hey Zeek..." He said as he ran past him. "Where ya goin?"

Ixchillvalle

Oh no, thought Zeek. I can't let him follow me. I know.

Zeek stopped and turned around. "I'm going to go see Johnas with urgent news, no time to talk."

Kratos

"Dude wait for me!" He said running to catch up with him. "Long time no see." he said as he was nearing Zeek. "Why are you off to johnas's place?"

Ixchillvalle

Zeek was gettin worried now. Couldn't this kid take a hint. "Like I said, classified stuff. And unless you want his greatness down your throat, I'd suggest you hurry off and take care of your other duties."

Kratos

"ha like what, i just need to pay a bill now im off to do nothin, mind if i tag along?" He said as he finally caught up with him.

Ixchillvalle

Zeek was getting frustrated. Didn't this kid know who Johnas was? "Listen, I don't think you should get involved in this matter ok?"

Kratos

"I wont leave til i know why." He demanded.

Ixchillvalle

Zeek lost his temper. A rare thing, but he was in no mood for games. "Listen! If a cardinal tells you it's a private matter for higher ups you would do well to keep your place!" He stormed off hoping that would get rid of him. It was actually funny. He'd gotten so serious over a fake story he created.

Kratos

"No i want to know the truth you asswipe!"

Ixchillvalle

Zeek had had it. He may have been thinking about leaving, but this was in direct violation with the church's conduct. He spun around. "Show me any more disrespect and I'll have you thrown into a holding cell faster than you can blink. I may not be in your exact juristiction, but I am a cardinal. And now I'm giving you a direct order to drop the situation and continue on with your duities as instructed by your commanding officer. Do you comply?"

Kratos

"Sure, but what comanding officers? Im not followin ya on this one!"

Ixchillvalle

Zeek sighed. Did he really not know the political system's layouts? How like every other system throughout time had some break down of cammand. "For example, I'm one of your superiors. Since I'm a cardinal that means I only respond to higher ranked cardinals, war generals, and the pope himself."

Kratos

"Ok where i come from that doesnt mean a thing to me. I only know you beacsue i read about you and dcided to come down to earth to check it out."