Arcana Series - Hierophant

Bishop

Queen Alice and Damian visited Bishop Timothy.

The preparations for the war has been left to the hands of the knights and, assisted by both Cleo and Blaze. This ensures that no deviation would be made to the plans which, were starting to come to life that very day. Giving Damian and the queen enough time to visit the bishop of Obelisk who has been out of his proper elements ever since the event in the Cathedral.

How bad is it exactly? Well, it is to the point that the bishop cannot be spoken to normally anymore. To the point where he needs to be detained on a special facility within Obelisk. Namely, the previous underground arena owned by the Daemons.

Here, the bishop is given a certain degree of freedom to walk around. Trees and other plants have been placed around it, providing the bishop with his own supply of food. As for water, there is a small fountain that is connected to the main waterway of the kingdom and, to the river of Kadish. All of these are needed because the Bishop has refused to eat anything that has been offered to him. Preferring things that come straight from their sources. This is the kind of state which Damian and Alice needed to work with as they entered the said facility.

There are no guards because, the enchantments placed ensures that the Bishop cannot make use of any spell. Preventing the old man from making an escape from a highly secured and sturdy facility.

Here, Damian and Alice saw the said bishop sitting in the middle of a circle. Timothy’s back faced them and, even though they knew that the bishop heard their footsteps, this person still refused to turn around. Nevertheless, he was still calmer compared to the previous attempts. Telling the two that, there was a chance for them to speak with him.

“Bishop Timothy.” Alice began, standing at a safe distance away from the bishop as Damian stood in front of her. “Are you ready to talk now?”

There isn’t a logical reason for them to raise their guard against the bishop. But with how he has been speaking and acting whenever Damian and Alice came to him, they have decided that this is the best course of action.

“Speak?” Timothy’s back still faced them. His voice was nevertheless the same as before yet, there was also a kind of depth mixed in it. “There’s nothing to talk about. All hope has been lost when the cathedral and all my followers died.”

“Are you giving up on Obelisk?” Alice asked, making the bishop head turn to give a momentary glance to Damian.

“This place is a breeding ground for demons. I see that now.” Timothy said. “A queen who has a demonic curse. Her right hand man who has demon blood. A witch who has been living among us for god knows when...”

An air of silence followed the voice of the bishop which trailed off.

“We’re on the same side Bishop.” Alice stated.

“And whose side would that be?”

“Obelisk’s of course.”

“Typical.” Timothy commented. “You are just like your father. Both of you think so highly of this kingdom, as if it is the only significant land inside Arcana.”

“Are you insulting him right in front of your queen?” Alice asked.

“Look at you. How many days has it been since you stepped into office? A week?” Timothy paused once again, looking at the ceiling of the underground arena. “No, more than that. You’ve been sitting on the throne for eight days and, I can already see that you are turning out to be another flawed ruler.”

“You should be careful with your words bishop.” Damian intervened. “Even you would not be spared from speaking that way to the queen.”

“Ahh threats coming from the demon.” Timothy said, finally standing up as he faced the two. Giving an unsettling feeling to both Damian and Alice as, they saw a different kind of depth to the gaze of Timothy. As if he was possessed by something unworldly...like another demon or even the witch herself.

Yet Damian would be able to detect if the bishop is influenced by dark mana. And since none of this could be felt from him, Damian only got more unsettled. Because the most frightening thing in the world are those which cannot be explained.

“Do you really think that any of these matters anymore?” Timothy asked. “Without the blessing of the church backing this kingdom up, you would fall just like every other heretical nation. Burned by the glorious flames of justice which would be delivered by the gods themselves.”

“That’s why you are here bishop. You can prevent this if you begin the peace talks with Laxys.” Alice declared.

“So you want to pass this burden for me to carry.” Timothy declared. “Who is the ruler of this kingdom again?”

“We are in the middle of a war. My hands are already filled as it is.” Alice bowed her head down. “Please, as the queen of Obelisk, grant me this favor.”

Timothy studied Alice for a couple of seconds. “You have been given a position of power such as this...yet you could still bow down when needed. That is a good trait.”

“Then you would help us?”

“No.” The bishop sat back down, facing the same direction as before. “Laxys will not believe anything I say. Not with someone like you as the ruler of Obelisk. As long as that curse is placed on your body, you will be considered as tainted by evil. And a kingdom lead by such a ruler will never be entertained by the High Priestess.”

“You know that I cannot step down.” Alice said as a matter of fact.

As a Flauros, she already has the belief of the majority of Obelisk’s populace. This is needed because, with the destruction of the church and the coming war, the people have been placed in a state of fear and anxiety. Something which could only be appeased by having a solid figure they can hold on to.

It’s not that Alice doesn’t want to step down. It’s that she can’t. As a Flauros, she has to stand her ground. Otherwise, the chaos that has been kept at bay will finally rage on. Wreaking havoc on the whole of Obelisk as the citizens themselves bring ruin to the kingdom.

“And yet that is what we need at this moment.” Timothy stated. “You know, my mind has been preoccupied with nothing but thoughts of that witch. How she placed me on one illusion after the other before Migard and that boy came to help. Mentally torturing me until I reached the brink of insanity.”

Neither Damian nor Alice spoke. They let the silence continue on again.

“But in this same state, I have received a clarity I have never experienced before.” The bishop continued. “Everything is so vivid that I cannot even sleep anymore. My mind is invaded by the thoughts of that witch and how, the whole of Obelisk seems to revolve at the palm of her hands.”

The bishop began shivering. Making him place both of his hands on his arms. “It’s almost as if we have been abandoned by the gods all along. Like we’ve been left as the devil’s plaything. As if she masterfully planned all of these things.”

“Are you simply going to admit defeat to her?” Alice asked.

“There are forces that are higher than us. And once we experience how dreadful those are...once we experience how small we are in the face of a natural calamity...I’m sure that you would understand.” The bishop said, glancing one last time to the queen and Damian as he said:

“We’re done here.”

Alice opened her mouth so as to speak but, no word came out. There was nothing she could say to convince the bishop anymore. And it was only at that moment that she and Damian realized that, the strong and solid figure of Obelisk's church is long gone. It was only a shell of this man that they were speaking to.

“I’m going to prove you wrong bishop. I’m going to defend this kingdom with my life.” Alice said. “Obelisk will not fall and, just like with all the trials we’ve faced thus far, I assure you that this kingdom will come out stronger than ever.”

Bishop Timothy didn’t give any reply anymore. He simply stayed silent which irritated Alice who, clenched her fists and continued speaking.

“If that day dawns upon this land...It would not be because of any prayers or because of those gods of yours. It will be because of the people who has never stopped believing and fighting for a better future. Remember that.” The queen finally turned around, taking her leave with Damian as she took one last look at Timothy.

...

A few days later, a soldier was sent to check the status of the Bishop. He didn’t return that day and, as other soldiers were sent to look at the situation, they found the dead and mutilated body of the soldier in the former underground arena. With symbols etched in blood around the said soldier but, without any signs of Bishop Timothy being found.

He has been searched all around Obelisk but, with most of the efforts being exerted to the preparation for the war, this was not done as thoroughly as Queen Alice wanted. Bearing no fruits for the said search as the Queen only hoped that this would not add to the catastrophe brewing.