บท 24: Facade
"Meddlesome." Sorin sighed bitterly as he dusted off the dirt on his cloak. The grime stuck on the expensive white fabric, with a frown, Sorin decided it would be better to just shed off his cloak.
The scenery was unfamiliar, with overgrown trees and vines twisted together in the darkness. It was a stark contrast to the empire's pristine gardens, his footsteps crunched on the secluded part of the forest.
It was a good thing that Kieran was separated during the fall; that idiot really decided to follow him. Still, a soft emotion twisted in his stomach; Kieran jumped down in a heartbeat.
The confusion was unwanted, he didn't need another reason to hinder him from his goals.
Sorin's eyes narrowed as he looked above him, not even seeing the cliff's jagged edge from the distance "Why?" he muttered to himself.
"Am I getting sentimental?"
He turned his head, now acknowledging the high-ranking demons kneeling behind him. Their injuries were evident from their fight with Kieran, Sorin couldn't help but praise the man's strength.
"Kieran's quite formidable, isn't he?" He hummed to the demons, ignoring the memories that flashed in his mind. He let himself get distracted by such actions, Kieran was a genius. He knew how to get everyone to believe in his kindness, Sorin wouldn't fall victim to that... not anymore.
One of the demons, with twisted horns and sharp teeth, said, "W-we apologize for the intrusion."
Sorin raised an eyebrow "You chose the wrong time." he said, tone cold and commanding. The demons visibly shook at his words "O-our master ordered us..."
His anger was one thing he could easily control. The emotion felt like ice on Sorin's veins, a constant reminder of his existence now.
Sorin's lips twisted into a tight smile "Your master ordered you to attack during a gathering surrounded by believers, does he not know how important this is for me to maintain my image?"
The demons exchanged uneasy glances but lowered their heads.
"Either your master is a fool or this is a pathetic attempt to challenge my authority."
Sorin didn't need to let out his anger on these demons, they were merely following orders. Lucifer was indeed testing him, already sending one of his subjects to Sorin.
It was way too early.
A question hung at the back of Sorin's mind, he realized it was the right time to ask "So, what do you demons truly see in me?" he asked.
Obviously, the demons hesitated for a moment if they should reveal the truth to Sorin. They still saw him as a holy saint.
"T-the Monarch's mark." one of the demons answered, voice shaking slightly.
Sorin tilted his head before he removed his gloves, eyeing Lucifer's stigmata "Oh." he breathed out.
"I-It's her sacred insignia, you carry her power and authority."
A satisfied smile formed on Sorin's lips "Good." he hummed as he thought back to his first encounter with Lucifer and the contract they sealed.
"Then why did one of you attack me?"
"He was a fool! Constantly wanting to prove his strength." The demon hissed angrily.
Sorin chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes "How amusing." he said, "If your master wanted to meet me, he simply could have asked."
He glanced at the demons kneeling before him, it was different from the blind devotion of humanity he received as the holy saint. The demons actually respected his authority.
"Stand." he dismissed them with a wave of his hand "I was merely testing you."
The demons nodded fervently but their shoulders sagged a bit at Sorin's tone.
"Your master, when can I meet them?" He fondly traced Lucifer's mark on his palm as he awaited the demons' reply.
"Master Noa, the Duke of Azureshire."
The surprise was evident on Sorin's face but a sputtered laugh escaped his lips, demons are indeed cunning. They were able to hide their identity but still able to maintain great authority over humans.
Sorin nodded his head, a sly glint in his purple eyes "I'll meet him soon." he smiled "It's quite amusing how he sent his own subjects to test me."
The demons flinched but Sorin shrugged "Well, I hold no grudge against you." he voiced out "I'll advise that you'll leave, my dear friend, Kieran is coming."
With that, it didn't take long for the demons to be out of his sight. Only leaving Sorin alone in the dense forest as he waited for Kieran's arrival.
"Sorin!" The red-haired mage yelled out his name so desperately.
He turned to find Kieran running towards him with a worried expression on his face. Sorin ignored the strange mix of nostalgia at the sight of his old friend.
"You followed me here." Sorin began, confusion plastered across his face "Don't you know how dangerous this is?"
Kieran came to a stop in front of him, catching his breath before running a hand on his red hair "Of course I knew! I can't leave you alone."
For a moment, Sorin saw a glimpse of their past. When they were younger and relied on each other for everything. Kieran was always so heroic and righteous, Sorin followed after him.
Sorin sighed in exasperation, maintaining his composure "What happened to you?" he whispered mostly to himself as he stepped closer to Kieran.
"What?"
"Nothing." he smiled as he placed a finger on Kieran's cheeks, to heal the deep cut he got from the fall.
"Stop wasting your mana." Kieran pushed his hand away.
Sorin shrugged "You don't want it to scar." he said, "The demons fled, I believe they were just a distraction."
Kieran rubbed his healed wound as he eyed their surroundings, his staff held tightly between his fingers "Those evil creatures." he growled under his breath "Let's deal with the demonic beasts first."
Sorin chuckled "Get us out of here first, dear mage."
"Stop teasing."
***
The aftermath wasn't as devastating, there were no injured civilians and no damage to the capital. However, the villages at the edge of the capital had to be evacuated due to the constant danger of demons invading again.
Sorin had to deal with the injured hunters and knights afterward, perhaps he'd been using too much of his divine magic that he had woken up late the next day.
With a tired yawn, Sorin blinked his eyes as the bright rays of the sun shone through his windows. It took him a moment to realize that Lili was sleeping by his bedside.
He smiled at the sight, placing a hand on top of Lili's head, the nymph stirred awake "Ugh..." she mumbled.
"Good morning, Lili." he greeted.
Lili stared at him for a second before straightening herself up, standing from the chair that she placed by Sorin's bedside "Y-Your Holiness." she stuttered out.
"How's your back?"
"I-It's fine," Lili replied sheepishly.
Sorin stretched his arms as he slowly stood up from his bed "I seemed to have overslept." he pondered. Lili frowned as she went to fix Sorin's bedsheets "It's understandable, Your Holiness. You exhausted yourself these past few days." she fretted.
He laughed softly at Lili's concern "I did. Still, the people needed me." he admitted before glancing out the window, the sun shone brightly.
"I suppose, I have some work to catch up on." he said.
Lili nodded "Oh, yes!" she exclaimed before taking out a neatly folded envelope from her pocket "This arrived earlier but I didn't want to wake you."
Sorin gently took the envelope from Lili, there was no seal or anything that indicated who it was from but based on the mana that was leaking from the letter.
Sorin knew who it came from "Neve." he opened the letter and what was written made his blood freeze;
[Get me out. GET ME OUT. GET ME OUT. GET ME OUT.]
The sentences were repeating, a garbled mess of panicked writing. The ink she used bleeding all over the thin paper... The magic she had used meant that this letter wasn't allowed to be sent.
Sorin's fingers clutched the paper, a twisted smile curled at the corner of his lips. "It seemed like I can't even take a break."
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