Chapter 75: His Puppeteer

St. Celeste’s courtyard felt smaller than Raziel remembered.

The silver-armored guards formed a perfect half-circle around him, and each one had their hand on the hilt of their sword.

Exarch Caelum was smiling.

Raziel hated that smile.

“Novice Raziel.” Caelum walked toward him. “What a… pleasant surprise to see you come back voluntarily.”

Raziel held up Aerion’s medallion. “I have royal protection.”

“Ah, yes.” Caelum glanced at the medallion. “Prince Aerion was always a dramatic one.”

He paused.

“But tell me, novice, what exactly does that medallion protect you from? From Zhalyr’s justice? Or from the truth?”

Raziel gritted his teeth. “I came to clear my name.”

“Of course you did.” Caelum nodded. “And you will have your chance.”

He turned to the guards.

“Take Novice Lucian Valerius Nyxian and Paladin Grand to the waiting room. Novice Raziel will come with me.”

Odessa took a step forward. “Exarch, with all due respect, Novice Raziel is under my temporary custody.”

“And I deeply respect your dedication, Paladin.” Caelum bowed his head. “But this conversation is… of a sensitive nature.”

His eyes gleamed.

“Unless you want the entire Order to know that Prince Aerion is protecting an accused heretic.”

Odessa tensed up.

Lucian grabbed Raziel’s arm. “Don’t go alone.”

Raziel looked at him.

For a second, he wanted to tell him the truth: ’I have no choice. If I run now, Aerion loses his credibility and we lose our only political shield.’

But instead, Raziel smiled. “I’ll be fine.”

Arawn said nothing, just watched Caelum with that predator’s gaze Raziel had learned to recognize.

Caelum turned on his heel. “Follow me, novice.”

Raziel followed him.

The study was in the North Tower, far from the academy’s main halls. Caelum closed the door behind them.

CLACK!

“Sit.” Caelum pointed to a chair in front of his desk.

Raziel sat down.

Caelum walked toward the fireplace, his hands behind his back.

“Tell me, novice, what do you know about the Heart of the Forge?”

Raziel blinked. ’What the fuck is that?’

He had never heard that name in his previous life.

Raziel activated [Secret Whisperer].

[SKILL ACTIVATED: SECRET WHISPERER]

[INTENT ANALYSIS: IN PROGRESS…]

The blue interface appeared in his retina.

[SUBJECT: EXARCH CAELUM]

[EMOTIONAL STATE: EXPECTANT / CALCULATING]

[HONESTY LEVEL: 78% (PARTIAL TRUTH DETECTED)]

[NOTE: SUBJECT IS HIDING CRITICAL INFORMATION]

Raziel frowned. ’He’s telling the truth… but not all of it.’

Raziel shrugged. “Never heard the name.”

Caelum turned, one eyebrow raised. “No?”

“No.”

Caelum studied him for a long moment. “Interesting.”

He walked over to the desk and pulled an old book from the drawer, opened it, and pushed it toward Raziel.

The page showed an illustration of an artifact: a sphere of golden metal with engraved runes, surrounded by flames.

Below it, there was text in an ancient language.

“The Heart of the Forge: The First Relic of Zhalyr. Capable of channeling divine power without a filter. Lost in the Age of Ashes.”

Raziel read in silence.

Caelum spoke. “It’s the most powerful relic Zhalyr left in this world. It is said that whoever possesses it can match the power of a god.”

He paused. “Or destroy themselves trying.”

Raziel looked up. “And why are you telling me this?”

“Because I think you know where it is.”

Raziel laughed. “I have no idea.”

“You don’t?” Caelum closed the book. “Then explain this to me, novice.”

He pulled a paper from the drawer and slid it toward Raziel. It was a map.

Raziel recognized it immediately. It was the map Seraphina had drawn in her diary, the one Raziel had read in the secret archive.

The map that showed the location of the Crypt of the Ancients in Phaedra.

Raziel’s stomach twisted. ’Shit.’

Caelum smiled. “We found this map in the Restricted Section. Right after your… visit.”

He leaned over the desk.

“And funnily enough, the place marked on this map is exactly where Paladin Grand found traces of the Heart of the Forge’s aura three weeks ago.”

Raziel said nothing.

Caelum continued. “So tell me, novice, how did a simple student end up with a map that not even the Exarchs knew existed?”

Raziel looked him in the eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

[INTENT ANALYSIS: UPDATED]

[HOSTILITY LEVEL: 15% → 8%]

[NOTE: SUBJECT IS NOT SEEKING CONFRONTATION. SEEKING COOPERATION.]

Raziel blinked. ’Wait… he doesn’t want to arrest me?’

Caelum sighed, straightened up, and walked to the window.

“Raziel, let’s be honest.”

“You are not a Fire Elementalist. I know you never were. I saw your ’Awakening’ in front of the Inquisitor and it was a pathetic performance.”

Raziel tensed.

Caelum continued. “You’re something else. Something the Church doesn’t understand and that I… need.”

Raziel frowned. “Need?”

“Yes.” Caelum nodded. “Because every Exarch who tried to find the Heart of the Forge died.”

He paused.

“And you, novice, have the annoying habit of not dying.”

Raziel laughed bitterly. “I wish it were that easy.”

Caelum moved closer. “I’ll make you a proposal.”

“Help me find the Heart of the Forge. In exchange, I will protect you from the Inquisition, from Marius, and from any other idiot who wants to burn you alive.”

Raziel looked at him.

[INTENT ANALYSIS: UPDATED]

[HONESTY LEVEL: 82%]

[WARNING: SUBJECT IS HIDING A SECONDARY MOTIVE. NATURE: UNKNOWN.]

Raziel activated [Echoes of the Future].

[SKILL ACTIVATED: ECHOES OF THE FUTURE]

[WARNING: SANITY COST: -3%]

The room faded and Raziel saw a flash of the future.

Caelum, on his knees, in a dark chamber. In front of him, a figure shrouded in shadows.

And in Caelum’s hands… the Heart of the Forge, glowing with a corrupt golden light.

The vision shattered.

Raziel gasped.

[MENTAL STABILITY: 67% → 64%]

’Shit. Caelum is lying. He doesn’t want the Heart for the Church, he wants to use it for something else.’

But Raziel had no choice.

If he refused, Caelum would hand him over to the Inquisition.

If he accepted, at least he would buy some time.

Raziel clenched his fists. “I accept.”

“Excellent.” Caelum nodded. “But before we begin, you’ll need resources.”

“Resources?”

“Yes.” Caelum opened a drawer and pulled out a golden pass with the academy’s seal engraved on it. “Unlimited access to the Director’s Forbidden Section of the library.”

Raziel blinked.

’This… this is exactly what I needed.’

If there was anything that could help him prepare against Zion, it had to be in there.

Raziel reached out his hand. “Thanks.”

Caelum handed him the pass. “Use it well.”

Raziel grabbed it and turned to leave.

Caelum spoke from behind him. “One thing, novice.”

Raziel stopped.

Caelum smiled. “The last one who tried to use the Forbidden Section for her own purposes… was Seraphina Blackwood. And you know how that ended.”

Raziel didn’t answer.

He just walked out of the study and closed the door behind him.

His hand was trembling as he held the golden pass.

[EVENT UNLOCKED: THE EXARCH’S PACT]

[WARNING: YOU HAVE ENTERED A CONTRACT WITH A HIGH-THREAT TARGET.]

[RECOMMENDATION: PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION.]

Raziel gripped the pass tightly. ’Shit.’

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