An hour had passed since the ceremony. Four people now stood in a room fit for royalty. Red and gold were embroidered all over the room but there was a smell of something sinister in the air. It made the boy, in the room with Sebastian, Kopika and the man who led the ceremony, shudder.
"Excuse me, Saint Claudius," Sebastian asked carefully, "but who is this boy?"
The man known as Saint Claudius looked at the young lad with his eyebrows raised. He thought for a few moments before giving up.
"Ahh how am I supposed know? All I know is that the bitch earlier was close with him. I think they were lovers. Must have been difficult seeing that mmh? The last thing she ever felt, and saw was me inside of her and all you could do was watch."
He reeled back in laughter, howling into the air, his open robes rippling as if to echo his delight. The boy lowered his head, his lips trembling, blood welling where his teeth cut into them. His fists shook until veins bulged across his skin.
"Though, I guess it's not all bad. For what she did, she deserved nothing but eternal suffering. If not for me, her soul would be burning in Tenebrae for the rest of eternity. You ought to thank me boy."
At first, the boy didn't move. Then, the saint walked in front of him, his body looming over him with power. His shoulders began to shiver, and his eyes welled with tears.
"Bow."
Slowly, he prostrated himself on the floor.
"Th-thank you for saving her soul, o great saint."
Saint Claudius smiled deviously at the sight.
"Don't forget," he added, raising his bare foot to the boy's face, wiggling his toes.
Shaking, he brought his lips to the top of the saint's foot, doing his best not to vomit at the smell and kissed it.
"Oh, what a good boy this one is. Now begone."
With a hollow face, the boy stood and walked out of the room. Again, the saint began to laugh. He nearly toppled over with glee.
"You should have seen his face when I carved out her heart out. Absolute euphoria."
Sebastian cringed at the words while it took Kopika everything in her to stop herself from slaughtering the man. Claudius felt this aggression.
"Now Kopika, I understand your frustration but do remember who you are in the presence of."
Suddenly, Kopika's knees buckled. Her body shuddered beneath the pressure, and she couldn't breathe.
"Please Saint Claudius," Sebastian pleaded falling to a knee, "…forgive her. The wounds from her past are still fresh. On my soul, this is the first and the last time this will happen."
Claudius' gaze turned to the bishop.
"A lowly bishop dare command me?"
The pressure on Kopika increased, and her mask planted on the floor cracking it. Sebastian remained kneeling in silence and nervousness. Then, as quickly as it arrived, the pressure released. Kopika gasped for air and Sebastian let out a sigh. But the threat was not gone yet.
Claudius then grabbed the headwear of the woman and pulled her up so that the eyes of the mask were level with his.
"Do well to remember your place. If not for that monstrosity you call a face, I would have blessed you as well. I guess there is a benefit to those scars, isn't there?"
He dropped her on the ground. Her elbows cracked as they hit the floor, and she slowly bowed on one knee.
"I… apologize… Saint Claudius… for my transgression," she said slowly.
The saint stared at her for a moment before chuckling.
"No, you're not. But I guess that will do for now. Where were we again? Ah yes, the two new girls in your church. If what you said is true, they would make perfect additions to our following."
Kopika was still hyperventilating on the floor, so Sebastian answered.
"Yes, they would."
Claudius smiled at those words.
"Excellent. When I return, I will make sure to give them my full attention. You'd better prepare them well."
Sebastian looked up at him in confusion.
"You're leaving already?"
"Yes. I received a summoning from our lord not long ago. And just when I was starting to have some fun," he said, stroking his auburn beard, annoyed.
Claudius walked over to Sebastian and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Just be sure to the two are ready for my return. You are both dismissed."
Sebastian stood up immediately, but Kopika took a few seconds to breathe before standing.
Before leaving, a question scratched at the back of Sebastian's mind.
"Saint Claudius," he called softly.
Kopika froze, but the saint turned with mild intrigue.
"What did the girl do to deserve such… punishment?"
Claudius sighed, as though weary of the bishop's ignorance.
"Punishment? You misunderstand. She begged me. Came in tears, confessing how her affection for that boy had weakened her faith. She wanted repentance. A chance to be made pure again."
A crooked smile pulled at his lips.
"Who was I to deny such a pious request? So, I gave her absolution… body and soul."
Sebastian and Kopika left without saying another word but thought silent prayers for the woman and her lover.
~
It was a strange sight for the young princess. Asuka was seated on the floor in a meditative position. She did this every morning since they got to Cael, and it never looked any less strange. Not because she was meditating, but the fact she had been there for hours confused her.
"Not even I meditate for this long with Beatrice. What could she be possibly doing?"
Asuka's eyes then fluttered open. Anastasia looked at her deep crimson eyes. Her expression softened. It was hard to hate the girl when she always looked so sad.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Asuka's sudden question made the mask return to her face.
"Intrigued is all," she answered cooly, "I've never meditated as long as you have. Never thought it was necessary. Was just wondering what you were doing in there?"
The Trinity looked towards the princess, expression unchanged. Anastasia's serious face relaxed a little as much as she tried to keep up her mask.
"It's nothing you need to worry about. I just like to train extra long."
"I see. What is she like?"
"She? What do you mean?"
Anastasia then placed a hand over her heart.
"I mean the other you inside. You know I'm a Seraph, right? Like you, I have one inside me as well. I want to know what yours is like."
For a moment, Asuka contemplated this question. Her situation was a bit more complicated than the princess's.
"Should I tell her about Annie or my real demon half?"
"Don't be a fool you idiot. Obviously, I'm the better option."
"Sorry Annie. You're right," Asuka thought, chuckling to herself.
"Yes, I do. Her name is Annie."
Asuka noticed Anastasia's small jump flinch.
"Annie? You named yours?"
"Well… yeah. I couldn't call her by my name. That would just be weird. Plus, she's got a mind of her own, so she isn't just an exact copy of me either. Even my master named his. You didn't name yours?"
A new look covered Anastasia's face. She was… shocked. Anastasia hesitated before whispering shyly.
"Actually… I did. Her name is Beatrice."
Asuka tilted her head noticing the inspiration for the name.
"Beatrice? As in the Aeon who defeated the Calamity?"
Anastasia's cheeks bloomed red.
"Y-you know the story of the Calamity?"
"Of course I know," Asuka said, offended she would even ask, "A friend told me about the story. Plus, all the studying of Aeonara I did for the mission. What? Didn't think much of non-royal scum?"
"No… I just-,"
"On a more telling note," Asuka said smirking, "I never expected you to be an admirer."
Her cheeks flushed even more. She tried her best to look angry but ended up only looking embarrassed.
"I do not admire her. I simply hold her in the highest regard. She's worthy of the upmost respect," she said crossing her arms.
"Yeah. Sure. Respect."
Asuka didn't even try to hide the smile on her face.
"Whatever. Anyway, you didn't answer my question. What is she like?"
Asuka knew this was a poor attempt at changing the subject, but she chose to oblige her.
"What she's like huh. At first, pretty scary. She cut off my head the first we trained."
Anastasia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yeah. It was quite the introduction. I was scared of her for a long time. I didn't trust her for a long time either. But now, I don't think there are many I'd trust more with my life. She truly is my best friend."
Hearing this, Anastasia looked out of their window with a contemplative look of wonder. Then it shifted to one of annoyance. Then anger. She pursed her lips and cupped her hands over her face.
"Hey," Asuka called out, "You okay?"
"Fine," the princess snapped.
Anastasia then stood and began walking towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
She ignored the question and left Asuka alone.
"What is up with that girl?"