Bishop Krishna Halbert was second in the church hierarchy and commanded what was effectively the church’s standing army: the Knights of the Sanctuary. He was known to be foremost among the militant faction of the church.
“Indeed, I don’t want to imagine what he would have to say if he found out. He was dead against it when I had this room rebuilt too. I can still hear him going on and on about the ‘dignity of the archbishop’ and what have you like it was yesterday. That being said,” he went on solemnly, “this conversation will be our secret. Not a word is to pass thy lips!” The next moment, he burst out laughing. The two of them chuckled together with the open ease of old friends.
When their amusement had subsided, Ariel turned his eyes, like liquid amber flecked with gray, down to the table.
“Still, I have to keep up appearances with the priests and the faithful. But lately I have found myself wishing I could wash myself clean of it all and give myself wholly to the service of the Goddess Strecia, as I did long ago.” There was sadness in the lingering hint of his smile as he reached for his teacup. It was the lot of those who held great power, to be shackled by it in equal measure.
Sofitia looked around at Ariel’s room once more. None of the furnishings would have looked out of place for sale in an ordinary shop. She saw nothing that would have fetched a high price.
Any ordinary person would see this as an ordinary room, but to Ariel, it might just be his last bastion of freedom, she thought. Like as not, Ariel would not see his wish granted until the day he set out for the land of the dead. In the same way, Sofitia had traded away her own freedom when she’d inherited the title of seraph. So well did she understand Ariel’s feelings that in that moment, words escaped her.
“I fear I have let my mouth run away with me,” Ariel said. “Why don’t you tell me what has led you to grace us with your presence today?”
As he quietly raised his teacup to his lips, Sofitia composed herself. “I shall come straight to the point,” she said. “I ask your leave to view the Book of Stella Vera.”
“The Book of Stella Vera, eh...? Have you taken an interest in the deep mysteries of magecraft, Seraph?” The teacup stopped where it was. Ariel’s eyes, serene yet lit by a piercing gleam, seemed to look straight into her soul. Just like that, Sofitia could not help but be aware that this man stood at the head of the Holy Illuminus Church. The Book of Stella Vera contained descriptions of a wide variety of magecraft, and was, like Ariel’s medallion, another of the Three Great Treasures. If the medallion symbolized light within the church, the Book of Stella Vera symbolized the shadows, the existence of which were known only to a very select few. One did not make the request to view it lightly.
Sofitia was well aware of all this as she held Ariel’s gaze without looking away.
At last, he made a thoughtful noise. “I see you are not asking from mere curiosity. But that book is far more precious than this bit of metal around my neck. I cannot reveal its secrets just like that, even to one who makes such generous annual donations to the church as yourself, Seraph. You understand, I hope?”
“Of course, I make my request in full knowledge of that.” Sofitia would never have insisted that he show her the book because of her donations. All the same, after coming this far, giving up was not an option. Sofitia stared at Ariel with still greater determination. The gleam in his eyes grew brighter.
“Would you tell me why you wish to see it?” he asked at length.
“Very well.” Sofitia did not hesitate. She told him the information the owls had brought her, concealing nothing. When she finished, Ariel’s expression had grown so grave as to be unrecognizable.
“I see... Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed you would tell me that. So if I have this right, you want to find out if magecraft exists that would allow one to control the dead?”
“Yes.”
“I must say, I have never heard of magecraft that blasphemes against Strecia. I don’t remember any such spells recorded in the Book of Stella Vera...”
“Your Holiness, it is my belief that we have not seen the last of the risen dead. Even a clue might help us later on.”
Ariel considered. “Very well. I suppose I cannot ignore the matter, when it concerns my congregation.”
“I am most grateful for your understanding.”
“No need to thank me. Only, the whole thing is written in the ancient tongue of Levina. Will that be an issue?”
“Ancient Levinian will give me no trouble,” Sofitia said, smiling.
Ariel rubbed his head with a look of amused resignation. “Strecia have mercy, no trouble, eh? As I recall, even the scholars who specialize in that tongue struggle to master it...but in any case, I shall take you there at once.”
Sofitia and Ariel left his room and made their way to the Spire of Heavenly Light where the Book of Stella Vera was kept. The spire rose up from the center of the cathedral’s outer walls, closely resembling the main tower of La Chaim Palace. The story passed down in the present day was that when the first seraph had built the palace, it had been modeled on the Spire of Heavenly Light. Artemiana Cathedral was eight stories high, but the spire was only accessible by an overbridge on the fourth story, along which Sofitia and Ariel now crossed. A great door came into view, its sturdiness apparent even at a distance. Standing pressed to the wall on either side of it, looking no less sturdy than the door itself, stood four of the Knights of the Sanctuary. They saluted, holding their fists over their hearts. Ariel gave them a small nod, then stopped in front of the door and began to fish around in his pockets.
“What we’re after is on the highest floor. We have a great many stairs ahead of us. Do you think your legs are up to it?” Ariel produced an exquisitely crafted silver key.
Sofitia smiled. “Physically, I am sure I will be up to the task, though I admit I quail at the thought of going above the clouds.”
Ariel chuckled. “Fear not, Seraph. We will stay below the clouds.”
She watched from behind as he inserted the key into the center of the door. A heavy thunk echoed down the corridor.
“Let us enter, then.” Two of the knights pushed open the door for Ariel, who strode on through. Sofitia did the same, the two knights following after her without a word.