Chapter 79: His Inquisitor’s Shadow

Raziel stood motionless in front of Ser Thaddeu.

The Inquisitor was tall and his silver armor shone under the light of the hallway torches.

The symbols of Zhalyr engraved on the metal seemed to move as if they were alive.

“Exarch Aldric?” Raziel’s voice came out weaker than he wanted.

Thaddeu nodded. “That’s right.”

“Can I know why?”

Thaddeu tilted his head slightly. “The Exarch has questions about certain… recent events.”

He paused.

“Nothing to worry about if you have nothing to hide.”

[WARNING: VERBAL THREAT DETECTED.]

[DANGER LEVEL: MODERATE.]

[RECOMMENDATION: COOPERATE. DO NOT RESIST.]

Raziel clenched his fists under his robe.

“I understand.” Raziel nodded. “Where?”

Thaddeu pointed to the opposite hallway. “The Main Chapel, The Exarch is waiting.”

They arrived at the Main Chapel ten minutes later, the carved oak doors were open and candlelight illuminated the interior.

Raziel entered.

The chapel was empty, except for a figure sitting on the first bench, facing the altar.

Exarch Aldric.

The man turned his head upon hearing Raziel’s footsteps.

He was older than Caelum, with silver-gray hair and cold blue eyes, wearing white robes with gold edges, and on his chest hung the symbol of the Inquisition: a burning scale.

Thaddeu stopped at the entrance. “I brought him, Exarch.”

Aldric nodded. “Thank you, Thaddeu. You can wait for me outside.”

Thaddeu withdrew and closed the doors behind him.

Raziel remained standing in the middle of the chapel.

Aldric looked at him for a long moment and then smiled.

“Raziel Celeste.” His voice was soft, almost kind. “Sit down, please.”

Raziel hesitated, but sat on the bench in front of Aldric.

Aldric studied him. “How do you feel?”

Raziel blinked. “Excuse me?”

Aldric smiled more. “You’ve had a difficult season, haven’t you? The crypt, the incident with Sister Elena, the disappearance of Prince Aerion…”

He paused.

“It must be exhausting.”

Raziel didn’t answer immediately.

’It’s a trap, this guy wants me to lower my guard.’

Raziel nodded slowly. “It has been… complicated, Exarch.”

Aldric laughed softly. “I’m sure.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Raziel, I didn’t come here to accuse you of anything, I just want to understand what is happening in St. Celeste.”

Raziel looked at him. “Understand?”

Aldric nodded. “You see, we have received worrying reports like necromancy in the Royal Monastery crypt, the disappearance of the scribe Seraphina, the attack in the Red Lantern District…”

He paused.

“And your name appears in all of them.”

[ALERT: INQUISITORIAL INTERROGATION INITIATED.]

[OBJECTIVE: EXTRACT INFORMATION WITHOUT REVEALING SECRETS.]

[RECOMMENDATION: ACTIVATE SKILL “POISONOUS TRUTH”.]

Raziel swallowed hard. “I… I don’t know what to say, Exarch. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Aldric stared at him. “The wrong place?”

Raziel nodded. “Yes, Paladin Odessa asked for my help to investigate Seraphina’s disappearance and I… wanted to help.”

Aldric leaned back on the bench. “And what did you find?”

Raziel activated [Poisonous Truth].

[SKILL ACTIVATED: POISONOUS TRUTH (LVL 3)]

[COST: -2% MENTAL STABILITY]

[EFFECT: YOUR LIES SOUND LIKE TRUTHS. HINDERS DECEPTION DETECTION.]

“We found Seraphina in the crypt.” Raziel kept his voice firm. “She… was practicing necromancy and tried to sacrifice me.”

Raziel paused.

“But the power I released wasn’t intentional, it was just an accidental awakening.”

Aldric looked at him for a long moment. “An awakening?”

Raziel nodded. “Yes, I am a Fire Elementalist and my gift was latent until that moment.”

Aldric interlaced his fingers. “I see.”

There was a long silence.

Aldric watched him as if he were looking for cracks in his story.

Finally, he spoke. “And what happened with Sister Elena?”

Raziel didn’t hesitate. “She worked with Seraphina. Lucian discovered her diary and reported it.”

Aldric nodded slowly. “And Prince Aerion?”

Raziel looked at him. “He was captured by Seraphina in the Red Lantern District and I was part of the rescue team.”

Aldric smiled. “A fifteen-year-old novice, part of a rescue team to save a prince.”

“That is unusual.”

Raziel held his gaze. “Paladin Odessa asked for my help, I couldn’t refuse.”

Aldric laughed softly. “Of course.”

He got up from the bench and walked toward the altar.

Raziel watched him.

Aldric stopped in front of the statue of Zhalyr and looked at it for a long moment.

Then he spoke without turning around. “Raziel, do you know how many times I have heard stories like yours?”

Raziel didn’t answer.

Aldric turned around. “Many times, too many.”

He walked back toward Raziel. “It’s always the same. ’I was in the wrong place.’ ’It was an accident.’ ’I didn’t know what was happening.’”

He stopped in front of Raziel.

“And do you know what all those stories have in common?”

Raziel looked at him.

Aldric smiled. “That they are always lies.”

Aldric leaned forward. “But here is the interesting thing, I can’t prove it…”

“Yet.” He moved away and walked toward the door.

Before leaving, he stopped and looked at Raziel over his shoulder.

“You are the most interesting novice I have interrogated, Raziel.” His voice was soft, almost kind. “And I have interrogated many.”

“Before they ended up on the stake.”

Aldric opened the door and left.

Raziel remained alone in the chapel.

[INTERROGATION COMPLETED.]

[RESULT: PARTIAL INFORMATION REVEALED. DECEPTION DETECTED BUT NOT PROVEN.]

[WARNING: INQUISITORIAL THREAT LEVEL ELEVATED.]

Raziel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ’Shit.’

A voice whispered from the shadows. “That was close.”

Raziel opened his eyes abruptly and looked toward the altar, Arawn came out from behind a column.

Raziel stood up. “What are you doing here?”

Arawn walked toward him. “Listening.”

He stopped in front of Raziel.

“Thaddeu is not a common Inquisitor, he is the personal protégé of High Inquisitor Joel.”

Raziel frowned. “So?”

Arawn stared at him. “That means Joel knows about you and if Joel knows, the hunt has already started.”

“How much time do I have?”

Arawn shrugged. “Two weeks, maybe less if you make another mistake.”

Raziel clenched his fists. “Shit.”

Arawn turned to leave, but stopped. “One more thing.”

He looked at Raziel. “If you are going to make your move, do it fast, before they close the circle.”

Arawn disappeared into the shadows.

Raziel remained alone in the chapel, he looked toward the statue of Zhalyr.

Then he activated the System.

[STATUS UPDATE]

[INQUISITORIAL THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]

[ACTIVE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED.]

[ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL DIRECT CONFRONTATION: 14 DAYS.]

Raziel had to move now.

He left the chapel and walked quickly toward Lucian’s dorm.

He knocked on the door.

Lucian opened, with messy hair and sleepy eyes. “Raziel? What’s wrong?”

Raziel stared at him. “We are going to Santa Sofia.”

Lucian blinked. “What? When?”

Raziel clenched his teeth. “The day after tomorrow, before the Inquisition burns me alive.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep