Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Chapter 93

The interpretation of the “Twin Goddesses of the Sistine Chapel” has historically constituted one of the most conflicting theological debates within the Church.

Is it a single divinity representing clemency and piety, or do they correspond to two deities born together representing clarity and shadow, each possessing its own spiritual essence?

Long ago, the initiator of Saxon, the eternal Frederick, along with the Black Faction, carried out an insurrection. That conflict caused the fragmentation of what was once the unified White and Black Tower into two independent organizations after the “White and Black War.”

From then on, the White Tower supported the vision of the Twin Goddesses of Sistine as a “dual entity of clemency and piety.”

Evidently, that resolution responded to a political interest intended to suppress any remnant of the influence of the Black.

For its part, the Church of the Shadows opposed the prevailing doctrine in the White Tower, opting to maintain its veneration of the deities born together under the conception of light and shadow, thereby preserving its sovereignty.

Given that the worship of the divinity of light had very deep roots in the region, the task assumed by the Church of the Shadows consisted of paying homage to the deity of the shadows to restore equity in the mystical balance.

It was the dark reverse of the Twin Sistine Goddesses.

Contrary to the luminous divinity, which embodied clemency and piety, the deity of the shadows was characterized by its cruelty and implacability.

At that moment, Dale was in the heart of its sacred precinct, the underground chamber of the faction that today calls itself the “Court of Shadows.” In that place, an individual hidden behind a bird-beak mask proceeded to remove Dale’s blindfold.

“We have brought the accused.”

At Dale’s side remained the Death Knight he had recruited in the combat arena, while sheltered in her own shadow, the “Lady of the Shadows” lay in wait.

Had he set his mind to it, he could have initiated a confrontation against those present. However, that would represent a tactical error; in fact, the situation configured an unbeatable possibility.

“I have come with the purpose of refuting the charges and clearing my reputation,” Dale stated at the beginning.

“The leader of the Calimala Guild suffered an assassination attempt executed through dark arts and even an attack with explosives.”

A voice resonated from the surrounding shadows.

“Do you intend to deny the involvement of black magic?”

The individuals provided with bird-beak masks stared fixedly at Dale from above, adopting the posture of magistrates judging an accused from an intentionally elevated dais.

“If my real intentions had been to end the life of the leader of the Calimala Guild,” Dale continued, maintaining his serenity, “I would never have acted in such a clumsy way.”

He concentrated black magic energy at his fingertips.

“M24 SWS, 7.62 x 51 mm NATO.”

SWS: acronym corresponding to sniper weapon system.

It was a long-distance precision weapon. Through a meticulous spell coming from another dimension, Dale executed the shot of a projectile composed of shadows.

“……!”

The projectile crossed the space right in the middle of the magistrates of the Court of Shadows, who were already preparing to strike against Dale by positioning their blades toward his throat, torso, and back.

Despite this, there was no trace of blood. Dale’s magical attack was executed without a hint of real hostility. As efficient as they were at hiding, the executioners of the Court of Shadows were not easily fooled.

The total absence of perception of danger on their part confirmed that, indeed, the attack did not seek to cause death.

“Even being positioned at a considerably greater distance, I have the ability to strike a vital organ with absolute certainty,” Dale asserted.

“If you harbor doubts, I am willing to perform the verification.”

“……”

“What kind of madman would use such a crude art for the sole purpose of reanimating an inert body?”

“Are you aware of the level of insolence your attitude demonstrates?”

“The testimony of the facts is more reliable than a hundred arguments,” replied Dale, showing indifference. Those present perfectly grasped the background of that single projectile.

“Just as the Black Tower has historically resorted to intimidation to exhibit its hegemony,” stated one of the magistrates.

“Do you intend to maintain that your demonstration does not constitute an attempt at coercion, but something different?”

“Do you suppose that the firstborn descendant of the Saxon lineage possesses the audacity to challenge the Court of Shadows on his own?” Dale questioned in response.

“The dread that the Black promotes does not possess such a rudimentary or vulgar nature.”

As if to indicate that even instilling dread possesses its own codes of distinction.

“Do you consider that panic provoked randomly, devoid of finesse and distinction, is equated to the fear that we promote?”

“Do you have any other resource to certify your innocence?”

“Even if I proceeded to reveal it, you would not grant me the benefit of the doubt,” alleged Dale.

“Ray Eurys.”

An absolute silence spread among the members of the Court of Shadows.

“Facing the environment of the clandestine market, the goal of the ’emissaries’ gathered in this precinct is evident,” declared Dale.

“Their plan consists of transforming the future ruler of the city into a puppet under their control and confiscating the ‘accounting record’ of the Guild City.”

Although it was considered a confidential matter, that condition only applied to common citizens.

In the high spheres in which Dale moved, among the main rulers of the imperial territory, the Red Tower, the monarchical lineage, and all figures of influence, that did not constitute any enigma.

“And Ray Eurys possessed full certainty that I maintained ties with the leader of the Calimala Guild.”

“……”

The silence prevailed in the environment.

“In other terms,” stated the magistrates belonging to the Court of Shadows finally.

“Should we deduce that you possess likewise intentions to destabilize the ‘Guild City regime’?”

“That is correct,” Dale nodded, and continued with his intervention.

“However, even if I chose to remain on the sidelines, the course of events is completely inevitable.”

He maintained an imperturbable tone.

“In the same way that the ‘Church of the Shadows’ suffered exile in the past and was reduced to subsisting as a parasite within the Guild City.”

Alluding not to the Court of Shadows, but to its original and true denomination.

“…!”

There was a generalized holding of breath among those present.

“… Moderate your expressions.”

One of the executioners, who kept his blade pointing toward Dale’s lethal zones, expressed himself with a tone of voice extremely cold.

“I understand that, for the interests of the Court of Shadows, the Guild City represents only a host organism,” declared Dale.

“And in the same way I understand that said Guild City possesses a colossal economic and strategic relevance in its role as a host.”

Pointing out the unavoidable reality that they tried to evade.

“However, the period of existence of that host is in its terminal phase. The dominion that the Guild City possesses will not take long to be absorbed by the forces of the empire and the monarchical lineage.”

He posed directly the most dire outcome that the Court of Shadows feared so much.

“Do you suppose we will allow the handover of this city without opposing resistance or implementing countermeasures?”

“I would greatly value the actions you undertake with the aim of thwarting their plans,” Dale nodded.

“However, the leaders of the seven main guild factions are already completely blinded by their particular ambitions.”

It is impossible to contain the flow when a dam has fractured. The desires of men bear a huge similarity to a collapsed containment structure.

“For that reason, I come to propose a formal coalition between the Black Court and the Court of Shadows.”

“What you expose lacks all logic.”

“The initiator of our lineage, the eternal Frederick, along with the Black Faction possessed a shared purpose with the ‘Church of the Shadows’,” argued Dale.

“Facing the yoke exercised by the forces of the empire and the White Tower, the historical alliance between the Black and the Shadow possesses a depth superior to what you estimate.”

“……”

“The imperial forces, the monarchical lineage, and the factions of the Red Tower and the White Tower have fixed their objective on the Guild City.”

The common adversaries.

“Establishing a bond with the detractor of our detractor does not constitute any anomaly.”

“Do you intend to assure that the Black faction has the necessary resources to face them?”

“Does the Court of Shadows have the necessary resources to face them on its own?” Dale questioned back.

“You have absolute certainty of what it will imply to discover the true nature of the ‘Court of Shadows’.”

At the moment the empire consolidates its dominion over the Guild City, the White Tower will proceed in the same way to try to dismantle the proscribed doctrine that bothers them so much.

“It becomes evident that you fail to dimension the vulnerability of your position.”

One of the magistrates of the Court of Shadows intervened formally. At that precise instant…

“It is enough, conclude this.”

A vocal vibration spread through the place, manifesting with the clarity and echo characteristic of a bell.

“Respectable Saint!”

“What is the reason for which the Saint of the Shadows has decided to honor with her presence this minor tribunal?”

The magistrates provided with bird-beak masks rotated on themselves full of bewilderment. In that place stood a girl dressed in an outfit of an absolute black tone.

She carried the eye area covered by means of dark strips of cloth that annulled her visual capacity. They did not correspond to ordinary bandages, but to a mystical object provided with an intense magical charge.

“The Saint…?”

The figure of the Saint of the Shadows. It was an identity that Dale himself was completely unaware of until that moment.

“The individual who accompanies us does not possess the condition of defendant before this organ of justice,” she declared with serenity.

“On the contrary, the very divinity of the shadows has facilitated his arrival to this precinct, guiding him through her determination.”

“However, respectable Saint!”

“We will take care of transferring the heir of the Saxon lineage to the facilities of the Grand Court of Shadows.”

The Saint dictated the order and none of those present had the audacity to manifest any objection. The Grand Court. At the moment of processing the background of those words, the executioners carrying bird-beak masks put away their blades simultaneously.

The main operations base of the Court of Shadows was not located inside any of the seven main guild cities. The members moved outside the urban limits, heading toward an imposing military underground structure located at the confines of the Guild City territory.

That place bore a great resemblance to the temples of Christian doctrine corresponding to the era of the Roman Empire, when its faithful were the object of persecution and had to remain in clandestinity.

The presence of individuals was scarce. The Court of Shadows operated through a structure of independent cells distributed throughout the seven cities and the imperial territory, this specific location serving as the central nucleus that articulated those cells.

Looking at it from a certain perspective, it represented the main refuge of the highest-ranking leaders.

Dale was in that precise place.

The Saint of the Shadows. Just like the individual who made possible the rise of the Court of Shadows until it consolidated as the most relevant guild of executioners of the entire continental territory.

“…!”

“Damn it…!”

Disregarding any elementary norm of civility, he consumed the content of his beer mug in a single movement and chained a series of verbal improprieties.

“At the end of the day, what is the reason why a noble of high birth like you has ended up in a refuge of this category?”

He showed himself as a rustic subject, completely devoid of refined manners. Despite this, Dale fully identified the identity of the person with whom he interacted.

“It intrigued me to know his current whereabouts, but it never crossed my mind that he would be sheltered in this place.”

The subject in question corresponded to the leader Baro, identified popularly under the alias of the “Assassin Sword,” a select member of the Seven Swords of the Continent. In past eras, he was recognized as one of the most outstanding warriors of the territory, reconverted at present into the most dangerous executioner in the region.

His sole incorporation into the “Grand Court” of the Court of Shadows constituted an irrefutable corroboration of that status.

“Dale, distinguished sir.”

In the middle of the environment charged with suspicion, the Saint of the Shadows expressed herself maintaining an unalterable posture. Despite the dark strip of cloth that blocked her vision, she gave the total impression of directing her gaze fixedly toward Dale.

“And likewise the Sacred Maiden, Lady Aurelia.”

Dale held his breath internally upon hearing that unexpected affirmation. How had she found out about that situation?

“Under the safeguard of the Goddess of the Shadows, all those present have gathered at this point.”

The Saint of the Shadows continued with her intervention.

“Is it not true, Progenitor of the Primordial Shadow?”

“…!”

“Ia Shub-Niggurath.”

Terms that under no circumstance would he manage to erase from his memory.

And at that precise instant…

— Oh, my descendant.

The developed and mature tonality of “Shub” spread through the environment, causing the totality of the surrounding space to be submerged under the influence of a shadow devoid of limits.

Chapter 93