Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

Chapter 222: Young Cardinal

As Evian's stomach churned at the remembrance of his former life, he heard Callum Lorient continue to speak,

"I must admit, I never would have pegged Astrid as one to pick a Proxy."

"Why not?" Evian asked while suppressing the irritation he was feeling at the face of his old boss appearing in his mind.

"Well, it's a delicate matter, 'Delegation'. While here, and especially now that you have flashed that symbol she entrusted you with, you represent her, and your actions, good and bad count towards her.

And seeing as she holds a special position in your Martial Temple, your actions naturally count greatly towards the delicate balance that our two paths have struck for millennia."

"I see," Evian mumbled. What Callum was saying was easy to understand and depending on how he decided to take it and whatever he planned to do while he was here, it could be a simple statement of fact or a warning.

"So, what relation do you have with Astrid Renan for her to select you for such an important task of representing her wishes?" Cardinal Callum asked.

''And how well can that help me to get an audience with her and continue the age-long attempt to bring her into the Arcane Church?— Is what he means under that leisure tone of his,' Evian thought with a smile, successfully reading between the lines.

"No relation," Evian said, "We fought side by side at a recent battle against the Arkadae Kingdom's forces but that was it."

"Hmm, I heard about that,". Callum said, "Our Arcanists participated and their reports are already rolling in. None failed to mention how valiantly Commander Renan took on the role of vanguard and potentially saved the lives of hundreds."

"'Thousands' is probably more accurate, but yes," Evian interjected.

"Thank you," he added gently when someone decided to stroll over with wine goblets to serve the Cardinal and his conversation partner.

Both Callum and Evian took a few seconds to down sips of wine before the Cardinal let out a breath,

"How inspiring of her. Ha, I can still remember when the news of her talent reached Sacrosanct. The Martial Temple seemed intent on letting us know they had captured what seemed like the perfect embodiment of Spirituality.

I was among the Cardinals who instantly petitioned the Pontiff to allow us to send out envoys in hopes of enticing Astrid Renan to our Faith— The only one that matters.

*Sigh* A shame that the indoctrination of the Martial Temple's Archaic ways had set too deep to be so easily changed and those Knights knew to quickly protect their asset from us."

"Well, YOU would know about Archaic ways, now would you not, Cardinal Lorient?"

The voice took Evian by surprise because he had not seen the speaker coming and that was not because he hadn't been paying attention but rather due to such speedy movement that made it seem like this stranger had materialized out of nothing.

The man was tall. Only an inch or two below Evian and lanky. This was not a matter of body mass being hidden well by clothes but rather an effect of a person whose chosen path required little to no muscle building even by default. Enjoy reading at m v-lem-pyr

The man was admittedly handsome with a charming smile. Brown hair was perfectly styled and green eyes that sparkled with shrewd intentions and lips tilted in a mocking smirk directed at Callum Lorient.

So far, no one in this hall had shown even the slightest bit of the required guts to so deliberately and rudely address a Cardinal Priest and further observation of the man's robes told Evian why he had that much confidence,

"Cardinal Vorden," Callum said in an exasperated tone, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"No, I don't think there is," Vorden said and gestured with his head at Evian while swirling the wine in the goblet he held delicately in his hand,

"I just couldn't stand by and watch you trick this poor young man with tales of times past as is always the case with you."

"Cardinal!" Callum said sharply.

"What?" Vorden started as though surprised by the tone he received but quickly he looked at Evian again,

"You should know though, he only seeks to use you. Convincing the 'Golden Child' to join the Arcane church might be a long shot but even an attempt would look so good for the Campaign."

"Is that so?" Evian asked.

"Of course," Cardinal Vorden said as though it should have already been an obvious ploy, "Why else would a Cardinal speak to a weak 6th Rank Knight such as yourself? He has certainly not given an audience to the others and has not even acknowledged the Ambassador.

But here he is, talking to you."

"But so are you," Evian said.

"Ah," Callum let out a laugh, and then his eyes went stoic as he glared at Vorden, "Now off with you boy. You have no business here."

Cardinal Vorden ignored Callum and stared hard at Evian with an amused smile,

"I'm talking to you to help you," he said.

"Why would you be so generous? You said it yourself that I'm a 'weak 6th Rank Knight' so why would you care if I get my head filled with lies," Evian asked.

"Well, we young ones have to stick together?" Vorden said, still looking amused like he was enjoying a joke no one else was in on.

Cardinal Vorden did look young. He looked to be in his late twenties to early thirties and if Evian cared enough to observe, he would see that the agelessness of experience that the other Cardinals seemed to have in common was toned down with this young Cardinal and replaced with a more scheming look.

Vorden continued,

"However, I will not deny that I am— enticed by the possibility of being the one to recruit such a treasure.

It would be a shame to have the asset of connection with the Golden Child in the hands of someone like him…"

"Someone like me?!"

Callum's tone was at a normal pitch but it cracked loudly like a whip and there was a flare of pressure that slammed Vorden in the face but besides blowing his hair back, the younger Cardinal did not look all that bothered.

"Losing your temper so easily at simple banter between competitors? How exactly does your senile self even have support? How can anyone think you are in the right frame of mind to lead the Church?"

"Competitor?" Callum said with his anger easing, "You're deluded to think you have a shot."

Vorden looked Callum right in the eyes. Green orbs to red and then chuckled before looking away and back to Evian,

"The night is still long," he said, "If you ever break free from all the nonsense Callum has to offer, I will gladly give you audience."

With that, Cardinal Vorden raised his wine goblet to Evian as though in a toast before turning away without a second look at Callum who glared at his back.

Only now that the young Cardinal was gone did Evian realize how completely they had had the attention of the entire hall. Clearly, having just one Cardinal speak to him was a big deal but having two fighting over him was a monumental deal that required utmost silence. Not even the other Cardinals said a word.

They just watched either in amusement or with neutral expressions that gave no hints of their thoughts.

And then, Evian saw Dolan approaching Cardinal Vorden. The Ambassador hadn't had much luck with his mingling so far. Alas, his luck was not changing for the better as he was unable to get within five feet of Vorden because of some kind of focused field that kept him away.

He came to Cardinal Callum then,

"Cardinal," he said with a smile.

"I have matters to attend to," Callum told Evian while still looking bothered by his interaction with his younger colleague, "Let's continue speaking at a later time."

And without a look to acknowledge the greeting from Dolan the Ambassador, Callum walked away.

Evian watched him leave and then raised his goblet to his lips for a drink. As he brought the goblet down from his lips, he could feel Dolan glaring at him but did not acknowledge it and rather confidently walked away.

A few more minutes passed. Evian drank goblet after goblet of wine. Supply was seemingly never-ending and his constitution could handle whatever was thrown at him. While he drank, he thought of his encounter with Cardinal Vorden and his mind inevitably made its way to Aren.

Brown hair, green eyes, and a shared name told him Aren and the young Cardinal were related. A situation that was very reminiscent of that of Callum and Arleen Lorient.

'Is this a common theme?' Evian wondered to himself and careful observation of the Priestess and Cardinals in the hall said that it was.

Next came the wonder if the cause was nepotism or powerful established Legacies to which he decided 'both' was likely the most acceptable conclusion.

And then he felt something.

A chill that felt familiar and yet alien. It felt cozy, like it was home but also terrifying like it was unwelcoming. Two contradicting sensations that somehow went hand in hand.

"This feeling," Evian mumbled and as the chill intensified, he was more assured of why he recognized it. He had felt a piece of it before after all…

… This was the Abyss.