Chapter 212: Confessions

Chapter 212: Confessions

Yael felt his mouth go dry as he stared at the Confessor's ornate gold armour. The Confessors and Inquisitors served Archangel Sylvana. Most who were under their purview did not live to tell the tale. They were the guilty until proven innocent sort...

Yael stood up rather shakily as he glanced at the sizeable serrated spear and gulped as he gazed at the cruel edge of the blade. It was an ornate weapon specifically designed to humiliate its opponent.

It had large hooks on the blade and the flange below it. The blade was designed to grab and hook opponents quickly. The end goal was relatively simple: the enemy ended up face-first in the dirt, and they then got skewered like fish. The stakes used to impale heretics were also shaped like their spears.

“Come with me, the High Confessor wishes to speak with you.” the Confessor said.

Yael nodded mutely as he followed after him. The walk felt like he was marching to the gallows. He couldn’t tell what the Confessor was thinking thanks to his faceless helmet.

At least the walk wasn’t far, just a five-minute walk away was the infirmary. The first thing he noticed was the scream. He looked over at one of the medical tents and saw a woman and man being dragged out. They looked starved and sick, but the two Confessors did not seem to care. They were roughly thrown into the mud, and the two Confessors readied their spears.

“Please we didn’t know. She was just a woman. We thought she was afraid, so she was hiding!” the man begged as he threw himself at the Confessor’s feet.

“Worm.” the Confessor spat as his armoured feet smashed into the man’s face. There was sickening crunch as his head was thrown back.

Yael winced as he saw a mouthful of bloody tooth fragments clattered out of his mouth. His nose was completely caved in, and his right cheekbone was utterly shattered.

The woman screamed as she tried to shield the man but the other Confessor drove his foot into her chest, shattering half her ribs with a sickening crack. She toppled backwards into the mud as she coughed out a mouthful of blood and gasped for breath.

“Feigning innocence, the first thing the guilty do.” a deep voice said.

Yael looked over and saw none other than High Confessor Sullivan himself. His armour was even more ornate, and it sported trimmings of blood-red fabric.

“You knew something was off with that woman, yet you said nothing. I know when you lie.” High Confessor Sullivan said as he approached.

“As High Confessor of High Heaven and with the power vested in me by Divine Council I hereby declare the both of you Excommunicatus Haeresis. The sentence is Purification.” High Confessor Sullivan said and the two Confessors immediately began dragging the two away.

Yael gulped at the sentence, to be declared Excommincatus Haeresis is to be sentenced to be hunted till death by the forces of High Heaven. The only ones to have managed to escape the sentence have fled to the Searing Hells.

To be Purified is to be impaled and then strung up on a crucifix. The condemned is then set alight using divine flame in an effort to burn away their body and sin. It was a brutal punishment designed to keep the sinful in line.

“Now then, step forward Cherubim.” High Confessor Sullivan said and Yael gulped as he approached.

You have been talking quite a bit, haven’t you?

Yael gulped at those words, he felt a thrill of fear run up his spine.

“I did not know what the Ambassador wanted.” Yael stammered.

“Did you? You have been helping him for some time. And then you see shipments from Averlon, and the ambassador wishes to speak with you. All of this happens right after you are done guarding the corpse of an assassinated prince, the very same prince which our intelligence indicates is the least likely to be under demonic influence.” Sullivan said as he approached, and Yael closed his large hand around the top of his head.

Yael knew he could crush his skull in an instant if he wanted to so his only option was to answer honestly. The teachings were clear in the academy, honesty and virtue are always rewarded.

“I did not know of the intelligence on the prince but I should have thought more deeply into it. My apologies High Confessor, I will work to do better in the future.” Yael replied stiffly.

“Good answer, now you may begin by explaining what transpired within the Embassy.” Sullivan said as he released Yael’s head. Yael had to hold back a shudder as he felt the vice like grip release him.

Yael nodded stiffly, the High Confessor began to walk and Yael mutely followed. Soon Yael was back at the command post. His bunk was near the command post so he had essentially walked away from the command post just to walk back. If this was a just a show of power, he had no idea but the Milita Codex was clear on following orders.

Yael knew his superiors knew best, they were experienced, and some had fought in a thousand campaigns. He was brought into an office, and he was permitted to take a seat on a rather comfortable chair, although the chair was far too large for him.

Considering the fact that the High Confessor was almost two and a half meters tall and broad enough to seem like a metal wall up close, Yael had no choice to but to clamber awkwardly onto the chair.

“I heard tale of a rather... dubious offer en route from the halls of High Heaven.” the Crowfather said as he approached Cecilia’s desk.

“And that is?” Cecilia asked as she crossed her arms.

“An offer of acceptance of your plan with the Devotee creature. A thorned olive branch, no doubt, Silvana only offers poison, never succour. She is the Virtue’s best enforcer. I would suggest you seek some recompense for your services of providing the Devotee.

The Archangel Silavana would only have agreed if she planned to get far more than what she would pay. She has a plot, that I am certain.” the Crowfather said grimly.

“How are you so certain that Silvana was the one who proposed the acceptance? I did not receive any information on this.” Cecilia asked suspiciously.

At those words the Crowfather just chuckled lightly.

“I went over to Divonia to scout the land and I came across rumblings of the plot. As to how I know Silvana was pushing it? Well the answer is quite simple really.” the Crowfather said as he glanced down at Cecilia.

“The Seraphim love their bureaucracy and debates. It makes the slow and inflexible while thier foes hurtle about around them. However, their measures are balanced and stable, prudence is a virtue they hold highly.

So as to your question? Well their answer to the Devotee question came a few years too early.” the Crowfather said.

“How do you know it was Silvana specifically? It could be someone else within the Divine Council.” Cecilia asked.

“Silvana is a Light Born.” the Crowfather said and Cecilia’s eyes widened.

“How do you know this?” Cecilia pressed.

“I am a Raven Born remember? Our races hail from the same time period, Silvana and I are acquainted.” the Crowfather said, cryptic as always.

“Fine, alright, so is there anything else I should know?” Cecilia asked as she raised a brow.

“Nothing else at this time.” the Crowfather said as he bowed and placed his hat back on his head.

Cecilia watched him leave as she let out a sigh. She just couldn’t read him at all. He was like a black void of mystery. It wasn’t that surprising; Cecilia was only twenty years old, and the Crowfather had been alive since before Humans existed.

At times, it almost felt like she was being led around in circles. But Cecilia highly doubted that, at the end of the day, to deceive her was to deceive her dearest friend. Still, the sheer difference in experience and wisdom was disconcerting. Mahaila was similar in this respect, but her dear friend handled her. Perhaps it would be best to leave interacting with the ancients to her dear friend in the future...

“One last thing Empress.” the Crowfather said as he stopped in front of the door. He did not turn back, and Cecilia could only see his robed silhouette topped with his wide-brimmed hat.

“Do not underestimate the Seraphim. Though they are atrophied they are still a formidable opponent. Their societal systems are slow to move, but once they gather momentum they will surprise you. There is the reason they have been the uncontested masters of this world for so long.” the Crowfather said.

“Thank you for your candour, I will keep it in mind. It is not my habit to underestimate my foes.” Cecilia muttered.

“The Seraphim are the creatures of light, and the light shines brightest in the darkness. Never forget that.” the Crowfather said as he turned his head slightly and glanced at Cecilia out of the corner of his icy blue eye.

“I will not.” Cecilia replied placidly. The Crowfather in response just nodded slightly before turning to the door again.

“There is an old saying amongst the Seraphim, or perhaps I should say the Light Born. These words were uttered from the lips of the one who sparked the flames of rebellion against the old gods.

Many said to rebel against the old gods was madness. But he did not agree. The Lord of Dreams for all his faults was not one to be so easily cowed, even against the gods themselves.” the Crowfather said as he leaned more heavily on his cane, as if he was feeling a great weight on his shoulders.

Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for

These words still hold sway in many hearts in High Heaven...