Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

Chapter 221: Callum

Evian couldn't help the smile that stretched across his lips. While he had not made it particularly clear, he had warned this Priestess and she had chosen to ignore him while confidently stating that she knew what she was doing.

She did not…

… And now she was facing the sweet consequences that came with kissing Evian Stygian.

Slowly, Evian wrapped his arms around Aren and she sucked in a breath with their lips still pressed together. Evian's hands on her body roused the need she was already feeling deep within and she reciprocated by pulling her arms around his neck closer to herself. Pressing their fronts together in an almost tight seal she had no hope of breaking free of and really, did she even want to?

Her little experiment at taking advantage of this young stranger with her 'wealth of experience' was coming back to bite her in the ass. And that was not even a pun for the hand that had reached down to cup a feel.

"~Mnghhh~" Aren moaned while her body shook. She trembled, spasms traveling all over her body and Evian couldn't stop the laugh he was roaring out in his head.

'Just how far should I take it?' He wondered. The question was not how far Aren would allow him to take it because quite frankly, she surrendered her right to dictate pace or decisions the moment she locked her lips with him. As she herself would attest to.

His other hand joined the first and grabbed her other Ass cheek while pulling her harder into his body. Squeezing all the way and reveling in the moans his illicit partner was eliciting.

Again, he wondered how far he could take it but eventually decided this was a good stopping point. Why give her the whole show when a preview would leave her wanting more?

He took his hands off her body. Resisted how hard her tongue insisted on roaming his mouth and grabbed her shoulders just so he could pull her off his body. It wasn't easy.

Somehow, instinctively, driven wild by what she was enjoying at the moment, Aren had infused Spiritual Energy into her arms and gave herself an even more reinforced hold.

However, after a few seconds of Evian pushing her back, Aren finally regained her senses. Gently, she let her arms go from around Evian's neck and raised one of her hands over her mouth with her eyes wide like she was in shock.

"It's alright," Evian said, "Takes a bit to get reoriented but you'll be fine."

Aren's eyes remained wide while she looked Evian over very aware that she still felt a need to kiss this man and knew she would not be able to keep it indefinitely at bay.

How had he done it? Aren wondered but whatever mental turmoil she was currently undergoing, she cleared her throat and strived to keep off her face. Lest she become an open book.

"Come on, we should get back to the party," Evian said.

"Yes," Aren said after what looked like a few seconds of contemplation,

"Let's be off. Someone is bound to be looking for me by now."

She and Evian made no mention of what they had shared but it appeared as though that it was what they were both thinking about.

Aren wondered how long it would take her to succumb and grab him for another kiss— or maybe something more. When she remembered he was supposed to leave Sacrosanct the next day, she was surprised by the sudden feeling of impending loss that gripped her.

As for Evian, he looked to the side at Aren as though working out what was going through her mind. He was doing very well with his guesses too.

"So you're a Priestess," he eventually said to break the silence.

"We have established that, yes," Aren said with a smile. Finding herself getting swept up by the way his voice seemed to resonate with her.

"So… Arleen—You are both Priestesses?" Evian said and it was clear he was insinuating similar statuses between Aren and Arleen.

"Not exactly. Hierarchy is much more evident among Priests than it is among Cardinals. Priestess Arleen has been a Priestess for over three centuries. There was a reason she introduced herself as a 'High Priestess'.

I— Respect her a lot. Her standing, her Spirituality, her Arcane Knowledge, all of it is impeccable. I look up to her, despite recent circumstances."

Aren's voice went low at the end of her words and of course, Evian caught the change and raised a brow,

"What Circumstances?" He asked.

Aren smiled at him,

"Internal matters," she said.

"Ah, so I should stay out of it," Evian said, catching her drift.

They were at the glass pane door leading into the party hall now,

"I hope to see you again," Aren said.

"Likewise," Evian replied with a gentlemanly gesture, and with a dazzled smile, Aren entered the hall ahead of him.

Evian took a breath and through the glass pane door, he searched for Daria. Aren had mentioned recent circumstances and seeing as it involved Arleen, Evian knew it must involve Daria as well. He would even pose that it involved the recent death of the Pontiff and the quest to succeed the role because he could see the 'jovial' conversations for what they were; One-on-one Campaigns.

He didn't care what exactly the internal matters that Sacrosanct was steeped in at the moment were but he cared about Daria and would not let her get locked in the middle of something messy that would bring about her death. If she needed support, he had to be here to provide it.

With a heavy sigh, he opened the glass pane door and walked in. He saw Sir Armin's eyes immediately move to him. He gave the Knight an acknowledging nod and then found Daria again. But something was different.

He saw Daria, saw Arleen discussing with those she had been in a meeting with but someone was missing…

It was at that point that Evian felt a heavy pressure from behind and turned slowly to face the person who had come close to speak to him. The person he had observed to be missing from the meeting Arleen was so seriously engaged in.

"Evian Stygian," the man said with a smile, "We haven't met officially."

They called the attention of the audience in the hall immediately. Evian was already attracting looks from his female 'fans' but to have a Cardinal approach him of their own accord was another level of noteworthy.

Evian ignored the attention as he usually did but now he had a genuine reason. Why pay attention to the awed public when, possibly, the epitome of Arcane Might was before him?

The man looked like he was in his early fifties with black hair that was greying in patterns and with an agelessness in his eyes which he shared with other Cardinals. Now that he was close and was not giving him a warning look, Evian could pay attention to what the man was wearing and he quickly realized it was a robe. It looked official and was stitched with the sigils of the Arcane Church.

A Cardinal's Robe.

It wasn't just a fashion statement. Evian could see magical symbols stitched into the fabric and granting it power that felt akin to a Magical weapon like a staff or any other type.

'Oh, the sophistication of the enchantments this Robe must hold," Evian thought.

"Are you still put off? The Cardinal asked seeing as Evian had momentarily spaced out.

"What? No," Evian said as he shook his head with an amicable smile while unable to stop his lips from twitching at the corners at the pressure he was still feeling.

It felt almost unconscious in release. As though the Cardinal was so powerful and imbued with Spiritual Energy and massive reserves that he could hardly keep himself in check.

"It's an honor to meet you," Evian added with a respectful bow.

The man smiled which caused the crow's feet at the corner of his eyes to show more prominently,

"Do not be too hung up on my reaction to your rude ways earlier. It is always important to maintain order is all," the Cardinal said.

"I completely agree. You did what you should and I acted like I shouldn't have," Evian said still in a bow.

"Are you always this amicable?" The Cardinal asked.

"No," Evian answered honestly.

"So why with me?"

"Isn't it obvious, Sir Cardinal?" Evian asked with a small chuckle, "I'm sucking up to you."

The Cardinal threw his head back and let out a loud amused laugh,

"Well, you just ruined it by telling me, didn't you?" he said when his laugh finally died down, "You must not be good at it."

"I don't think it matters if you know what I'm up to or not. I'd argue, it's better you know," Evian said.

"Do you now?" the Cardinal asked before stretching out a hand to Evian which caused gasps to sound all over the room.

This reaction, Evian paid attention to and he looked around at them all while he grabbed the Cardinal's hand and shook it.

More gasps…

Some ladies even fanned themselves while swooning.

The Cardinal didn't seem to care,

"The name's Callum Lorient."

"Lorient," Evian mumbled at the familiar-sounding name.

"Yeah," Cardinal Callum said with a nod, "My little sister was the one you accused of attacking you earlier."

"I see," Evian said. He had suspected a relation between Arlene and Callum already so wasn't too surprised.

He looked over at the shocked audience and then glanced at his and Callum's hands still holding each other,

"This seems like a big deal," Evian said.

Callum shrugged,

"That's because it is. But, it's also appropriate. You're a Proxy of Astrid Renan, so the respect I would show to her, I should show to you."

Evian paused. Suddenly, he recognized the look in Callum's eyes. It was the same look he always got before he was sentenced to working overtime without pay while back on Earth.

It was a look someone gives you when they are prepared to use you.