Chapter 411: Meeting Again [1]

Chapter 411: Meeting Again [1]



Standing before the gathered members, clad in robes of deep indigo, Cardinal Hamsia raised a Chalice in the air.

"In his name, we seek not only the gift of immortality but the wisdom to embrace our

everlasting journey."

His voice echoed throughout the dimly lit room.

In unison, the cadets and priests chanted softly, their voices harmonizing.

"Mortum, grant us life beyond the grave,

In shadows and light, our souls you save.

Through time's endless weave, we rise and we bend,

With your boundless power, our spirits transcend."

Leon and Evelyn stood next to each other while reciting the chants they had been taught since childhood. Having learned the entire chant from a young age, they knew every line by heart.

This wasn't the first mass they had attended.

.... It was also the same for majority of the cadets involved as none of them struggled to recite the words of the Cardinal who lifted the Chalice even higher in the air.

"With each offering, we affirm our bond with the eternal. Embrace the gift of immortality, not as a burden, but as a sacred journey."

"Mortum, keeper of the unseen door,

Guide our steps on this timeless shore.

With every breath, we seek your embrace,

In the dance of the cosmos, we find our place."

Evelyn and Leon once again chanted.

That was when the Cardinal brought the Chalice down and took a sip of the liquid.

"I offer this first sip to the god himself, Mortum. May you bestow upon us the gift of health and eternal life."

Following his words, the room stirred as the cadets started to move, forming one long and single line that led to the Cardinal.

It was now their turn to take a sip of the liquid.

"I don't know about this..."

Evelyn murmured quietly as she stood in front of Leon while the line before her shortened. Leon blinked his eyes a couple of times and cocked his head.

"What's wrong?"

"...I don't feel like this is very hygienic."

"We've done this many times before."

"Yes, but when we were kids. Now that we've grown, I don't know, it kind of feels weird to drink from the same cup as everyone does."

"If you put it that way..."

Leon also frowned.

However, that was all he could do. It wasn't like he could just move to the side and reject taking a sip from the Chalice. It was something that happened each mass and represented one of the many murals found about Mortum.

"May the next person step forward."

Before they knew it, their turn had arrived.

Although Evelyn appeared on the fence about the entire situation, she still took a sip of the liquid and left.

Leon stepped forward right after she left.

He stood face to face with the Cardinal who smiled gently at him and brought the Chalice forward.

"May you be blessed with the blessing of Mortum."

Leon nodded faintly and shifted his attention towards the Chalice. He hadn't paid much attention to the Chalice since the start but now that he was closer to it, his expression couldn't help but change subtly.

'Isn't this...?'

Although it wasn't an exact replica of it, the Chalice... It was a clear imitation of the Chalice he had.

This...

Leon's eyes shook as he raised his head to look back at the Cardinal.

"What's wrong?"

The Cardinal blinked his eyes, tilting his head as he brought the Chalice forward. Leon was quick to snap out of it as he lowered his head and took a sip of the liquid.

It was just regular wine.

And yet...

Something within his chest stirred the moment he took a sip of the liquid.

He couldn't explain what it was, but it felt warm. Leon held the feeling back and moved back towards the back of the room where Evelyn was.

The warm sensation that coursed through his body intensified with each second that passed and sweat started to pour down from the side of his face. Though he didn't show it on the outside, Leon was inwardly panicking.

'I need to find a way to get out of here. Something is of—'

Cr Crack-

A loud cracking sound reverberated throughout the entire room.

All heads turned, shifting towards the source of the sound...

The Chalice.

"Ah!"

"Look!"

One of the cadets pointed at the Chalice. It was then that everyone noticed the massive cracks that had appeared all over the Chalice.

"How could this be?!"

The Cardinal's face underwent huge changes upon noticing the cracks on the Chalice. Long gone was his calm exterior. What replaced it was a flustered look as he brought the Chalice

Julien didn't doubt Evelyn's words. Leon's complexion said it all.

Evelyn once again looked at Leon with a worried look before addressing Julien.

"Can you bring him to the nurse? I'll go-"

"Actually, I have something I want to talk to you first about."

"Eh?"

Evelyn blinked her eyes, clearly surprised by Julien's words.

"You want to talk to me about something?"

"Yes."

Julien replied in a very serious tone. His tone was enough to make Evelyn understand that he

wasn't joking around.

However, turning her attention towards Leon and seeing Leon's complexion, she shook her

head.

"Whatever it is, we can talk about it later. It's best if we bring Leon to the-"

"No, go."

Leon stopped Evelyn mid-sentence.

"But-"

"Go talk with Julien. I'll stay here."

"That-"

"I'm going to be fine. If it's just a fever then it's nothing since I can just take some pills to heal

up."

In reality, Julien appeared at the right time. Leon couldn't go to the infirmary. He understood

best that this wasn't something the Doctor knew how to handle.

He wasn't sick nor was he dying.

.... His body was just acting weird after having drunk from the Chalice.

The chance of the Doctor knowing what was wrong with him was almost zero. Furthermore, it

could even make things more complicated for him.

Leon couldn't afford to let that happen.

This was why Julien's appearance was godsent for him.

'Take her and go.'

Leon implied with his words.

Julien didn't reply but pulled Evelyn by the sleeve.

"Hey, wait!"

"Let's go. Leon doesn't want to go to the nurse." "But he's sick!"

"So? The best that can happen is that he'll die..."

Leon's mouth twitched upon hearing Julien's words. This... Was it really that hard to be nice to

him?

No, never mind that...

"Ukh."

Leon held his head with both hands.

He needed to address this issue first.

***

"Hey! Where are we going? Don't go too far from Leon! If we go too far and something

happens to him then it'll be on you. He's clearly sick and-"

"I know, I know."

My ears were on the verge of bleeding as I pulled Evelyn alongside me.

'Machine gun... She's really a machine gun...'

I really, really, really, really missed the old evasive Evelyn. This Evelyn just wouldn't stop

talking.

"Did you not see how pale his face was? And the sweat! God, the sweat. The back of his shirt

was drenched in sweat, and if you paid close enough attention you'll notice how his body was

also trembling on certain oc- " "This place is good enough."

I looked around before finally letting go of Evelyn. She finally stopped speaking as she looked

around.

We were in a more isolated part of the Academy, at the back of one of the Academy buildings.

It was only when I was sure that there was no presence near us that I spoke,

"I need your help."

"...?"

Evelyn looked confused. Her expression seemed to say, 'My help? What for...?'

I pursed my lips and took a deep breath. Before she could say any words, I spoke,

"....I need you to enter my mind." Evelyn's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "There's someone I need to deal with..."