Chapter 5:

  Shining, Shining Light

  In her dreams, she glimpsed an ancient splendor,

  A world long past, where mighty titans gathered,

  Their towering forms shaped mountains,

  Painted skies, and carved out canyons.

  Their thunderous voices echoed through eons,

  Singing of a culture deep within their souls,

  A beauty that defied reason and rhyme,

  Their allure boundless as the sky.

  Titans, having molded all in their grasp,

  Stretched towards the heavens where starlight shone.

  And lo, a star did fall, their wishes converged,

  A seed from which a nascent god emerged.

  From tranquil dreams arose a fear,

  As the Great Old One did appear,

  Its tendrils burrowed deep and clear,

  Engulfing Eden, nothing could persevere.

  She watched in awe as titans seized the helm,

  Defying the heavens with valor overwhelming.

  Yet each was felled by a thousand tendrils,

  Their throes imparting her endless chills.

  The heavy weight of their fears she felt,

  As their primordial reign waned and knelt,

  Yet as the final titan met its end,

  A lone prayer to the heavens did ascend.

  On twilight's eve, Everlasting Sunset gleamed,

  Dispelling darkness with a radiant beam,

  A solitary spear plunged from above,

  O brilliant light, delivered from the heavens.

  The almighty spear of a god shattered the realm,

  Ending the infantile Old One's plight,

  Leaving nothing, all life overwhelmed.

  Twilight passed; now left a long and silent night.

  Yet in the dark, she saw a sight:

  Keepers descending from the night,

  Shining like stars with radiant light,

  Mending the world with titan's might.

  Bones of titans restored barren earth,

  Blood of titans replenished oceans' worth,

  Breath of titans renewed the air,

  And flesh of titans birthed new life, so fair.

  The nightmare ceased, a new era of hope affirmed.

  After the longest night, dawn inevitably returned.

  As life flourished, a gasp escaped her lips—

  The dream had ended; then she awoke.

  …

  Canaria slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the soft, ambient light that filled the room. She touched her face, feeling the trail leftover from tears that had streamed down her cheeks. Disoriented, she closed her eyes and took a moment to gather her bearings. Her mind was still enveloped in the vivid dream that had consumed her. She could not remember much as fragments of the dream danced at the edge of her consciousness, being elusive and only giving glimpses when she tried to remember. However, it had stirred something deep within her soul, of that she was certain.

  She laid in silence for a few more moments, still attempting to grasp at any lingering pieces of the dream, but all that remained was a vague sense of loss and yearning. It upset her deeply that she could not recall the details. She could not help but wonder if she had been a witness to something profoundly significant, a memory as ancient as the mountains themselves. Finally, she opened her eyes and muttered blankly, "Where am I?"

  She found herself under an unfamiliar ceiling. However, before she could look around, she was struck with the memories of what had happened to her. How she was on lunch break, eating an egg sandwich, before being met with the missionary AJ, and then falling unconscious in broad daylight. However, it was clear that she was not at a clinic or the hospital. It was at this precise moment in time that an intensely fearful thought touched her mind. Her eyes were drawn to her own body, beneath the comfortable blankets that covered her. She lifted the blanket and then lifted her clothes to look at her own belly. Nothing out of place. She felt her back as well, also nothing out of place.

  "Oh thank god," Canaria breathed a sigh of relief knowing that all her organs were still in place. She even counted all her fingers and toes just to be sure, but it did not seem like anything had been done to her in her unconsciousness. Finally, she gathered the energy to push herself off the bed. First thing she did after that was to look for her phone. She needed to call for help. She also wanted to know where she was. Unsurprisingly, it was nowhere to be found, though she did find her shoes next to the bed. She slipped them on, just in case she needed to run.

  "This feels so wrong," Canaria shuddered. It felt like she was breaking a taboo, walking around the bedroom with her shoes on. She found herself in a bedroom unlike any place she had ever seen. Like a venerable sanctuary of luxury that she had stumbled upon in a dream, everything seemed so surreal.

  "Just how much Argentum does this place cost?" Canaria marveled, being unable to even comprehend just how much money one would need to afford such a place. The bed she laid on was large and inviting, adorned with a dozen plush pillows and a fur throw blanket. The headboard behind her was tall and upholstered, with vertical channels that added a sense of grandeur to the space. To her left, a sleek nightstand held a lamp with a delicate, almost regal base, and a couple of small, neatly stacked books. The walls were decorated with elegant white paneling that framed sections of textured wallpaper, creating a sophisticated backdrop found only in the highest end hotels or celebrity homes. Above her, a magnificent chandelier hung from a recessed, circular ceiling, its crystals catching the light and casting soft gleams throughout the room.

  Canaria shook her head, stopping herself from further inspection of the room. "I should probably figure out where I am," she muttered under her breath. She found herself more level headed than she had expected. It was just that a lot had happened to her in the span of a week. She remembered what Edmond taught her, about the importance of focusing on what she could do, instead of worrying about what she could not. She was putting that into practice now. With that thought in mind, her eyes fixated on the door leading outside. Cautiously, she approached the door, half expecting to be shocked the moment she touched the handle. To her eagerness, it turned easily. It was also perhaps the single best feeling door handle she had ever opened. It was heavy, but not clunky. It was nearly smooth with a pleasant texture as she pulled down on the handle. With a slight click, the latch retracted and she slowly cracked the door open to peek outside.

  Canaria was not sure what to expect, but what greeted her was the second floor gallery of an even grander living area than the bedroom she had been in. She saw: glass railings, floor-to-ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers, custom furniture, historic art pieces, and the likes. It seemed like she was in a luxury home of some sorts. The coast was clear, yet instead of sneaking outside, she closed the door again and locked it. Before doing anything else, she should come up with a plan before moving forward. Albeit, what could she possibly even do on her own? If she had her phone, she could at least find out where she was. And without her phone, even if she were to make it out, she had no way of paying for transportation— rather, was she even still in Singapore right now? She had no idea, which made it even worse.

  As Canaria attempted to figure out what she could do, her eyes drifted towards the massive television display on the wall and she had an idea. She quickly looked around for a remote, which she promptly used to turn the television on. There was news about the Blue Knight satellite on a weather report, which told her she was still in the city state. "Good," she mumbled, then pressing the home button on the remote and a menu bar expanded on the lower section of the screen. On it displayed the current time and date, as well as various other apps which she could scroll through.

  "It looks like I was out for about four hours," Canaria calculated. She had gotten knocked out around the end of her lunch break and it was now just past 6PM. Knowing that it was still the same day brought her some slight relief. She then proceeded to skim through the apps on the menu for something in particular. "Yes, found it!" Canaria exclaimed at the sight of the web browser.

  "Map, map, map…" she chanted as she used the remote to navigate the cursor to the search bar and type in her query. Finding out where she was after that would be quite simple. All she had to do was to look up directions to a place she knew and it would point out where she was starting from. However, the cursor barely moved at all in response to the button presses and the keys were so spread out that she had to press the arrow buttons a dozen times to input each character. And because of this annoyance, Canaria completely failed to notice the presence walking up to her.

  "Energetic, aren't we? I see that you're finally awake." AJ's voice rang out.

  "How? I thought I locked the door!" Canaria exclaimed, accidentally dropping the remote in her hand.

  "I was in the bathroom," AJ responded calmly, which was the most obvious thing in hindsight. There was no way that he would leave her in the room alone and risk being locked out. AJ then walked over to the remote and picked it up, turning the television off once it was in his hand. "Now, I'm sure you have a lot of questions, so why don't you take a seat," he said, gesturing towards one of the upholstered chairs in the room and in the process revealing the silver ACD on his wrist once again. Cautiously, Canaria obliged, realizing there was little else she could do in this situation.

  "You're clearly a devout man, so why are you doing this?" Canaria blurted outright. "I get that you want to talk to me, but did you have to resort to drugging me?" Her confusion was blatant. Now that she thought about it, it did not make much sense. If AJ just wanted to kidnap her, then why go through the trouble of putting her in such lavish accommodations? If she had woken up in a warehouse, she would have been more understanding. But to wake up here?

  "We're at a safehouse right now. Time was of the essence. Please forgive me," AJ explained apologetically, his reluctance clearly showing in his eyes as he bowed his head.

  "'Time was of the essence?' You drugged me for goodness' sake!" Canaria said with exasperation, quoting AJ's words directly. She could hardly see a situation which warranted such extreme measures. However Canaria was starting to understand where she stood. She was not as powerless as she initially thought. It seemed that she was important to AJ in some way, which gave her bargaining power.

  "It is better to ask for forgiveness later than to ask for permission now." AJ told her.

  That certainly said a lot about religious devotees, Canaria thought to herself bitterly. "If it was that important, you could have explained it to me properly," she said.

  "I would have loved to do that. Unfortunately, I had little time to explain nor would you have believed me. Moreover, if you had agreed to leave the park with me when I asked, then I would not have had to resort to what I did," AJ responded.

  Canaria's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me?" She wanted to kick the man, but she had enough self restraint left within her to hold back, for now. Still, she rubbed her sore shoulder where she had been injected. Was she dreaming? She could hardly believe how AJ could so egregiously shift the blame onto her for being kidnapped, by the very man who kidnapped her himself!

  AJ shook his head apologetically. "I'm afraid not. I can sense your hesitation to believe me. Very well, take a look," AJ paused, taking a deep breath as he looked to his left arm. He began to pull up the sleeve, wincing as he did so. The condition of his arm underneath nearly made Canaria retch. Bandages freshly soaked in blood wrapped his entire arm like a cast. "These are injuries I sustained extracting you from the park. You had many pursuers. We lost many devotees in the process."

  He then pulled down his collar, revealing that the bandages did not end at just his shoulders. It was quite possibly the single most grievous injury that Canaria had ever seen in her entire life. The mere sight of it was difficult for her to look at. She could not imagine just what could cause the man such grievous injuries.

  "Okay, I get it," Canaria turned away, wincing as she did so. Now she felt bad.

  AJ pulled his sleeve back down, satisfied by the reaction he got from her. "Do you believe me now?" He asked. She nodded. "Good, that makes the next part easier. I'm going to tell you what's going on. At this moment, you are currently the world's most wanted person. From world powers to terrorist groups, every power that be now has their eyes on you. Naturally, so does the Agios-Papal Church."

  "Why?" Canaria asked a simple but important question.

  "You must surely be aware of the reason," AJ turned his palm as if Canaria had asked something obvious.

  Yet, Canaria really did not know. But if there was just one thing that she could think of, then it would be… "It's because I closed that rift…" she murmured, covering her mouth as her eyes widened with an emotion which was more complicated than simple shock.

  "I'm afraid cameras are everywhere. It is easy for somebody to hack into one to see what happened at any particular location. Hours after you closed the rift, word had gotten out there was a Rift Closer in Singapore. I'm sure you can figure out the rest."

  Canaria could not help but speak up. Her voice cracked as she did, "—But I didn't! That rift ripped open again right afterwards!"

  AJ shot her objection down as quickly as it had sprung up. "You have potential. That is all that matters. You can try to convince the people coming after you otherwise, but be advised, not everybody is as good of a listener as I am."

  It was a difficult pill to swallow. Canaria could hardly believe what she had heard, but she would be lying if she said she had not thought about the worst case scenario after Angelica warned her about it. However, Canaria thought that things would have been fine so long as she never attempted to close a rift again, so per her best friend's advice. How could she have known that it was already too late?

  "Then…" Canaria worked up her voice and asked, "What does the Agios-Papal Church want from me?"

  AJ did not hesitate to answer the question. With one hand on his chest, he extended his other towards Canaria. "You, who have the power to close rifts, are a miracle that has descended to Earth. That is reason enough for the Agios-Papal Church. We merely wish to bring you to the holy land and offer you our utmost protection."

  —A miracle. Canaria's heartbeat became rapid and her breaths became short. For some reason, hearing that word made her incredibly uncomfortable, like she had just heard something she should not have, something terrible, something forbidden.

  "Just as the holy seat has remained vacant, it has been many years since the faithful have bore witness to a miracle. The Cardinals welcome you to join the innermost circle of the Agios-Papal Church, where you will be safe from all secular affairs."

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  A miracle. Canaria heard the word again. Her throat felt dry and the world started spinning. Now feeling faint, AJ's words felt like buzzing in her ears. She leaned back against the chair. Even with all her concentrated effort, she could barely make out his words.

  "As the ancient prophecy once told," AJ revered, "In the darkest of days, where all hope is lost and the great devil's spawns eat away at the world, do not despair. For when God tests us with the toughest trials, he leaves us not without hope. A miracle shall descend, shining like a star in the night with radiant light."

  A miracle— Canaria finally understood why that word made her feel terrible. "You're insane," she choked out, "to want to kidnap someone to become your pope." She stumbled to get up on her feet. She felt absolutely sick to her stomach now. She hoped that it would be some sort of an awful joke, but she knew better than to look forward to the impossible. It was not just AJ that was crazy, it was the entirety of the Agios-Papal Church as well!

  The missionary closed his eyes. "Fiat voluntas Dei. May God's will be done," he prayed with reverence. Then he stood up, closing in on Canaria and grabbing her tightly by the wrist. "Let us go. The time has come. The cardinals eagerly await God's miracle at the holy city."

  Canaria refused to go with him, fighting back as she resisted his pull. However, AJ's grip was solid and she could do little but to budge his hand. To maintain his grip on her, AJ's hand tightened painfully around her arm. Canaria grimaced. She felt fear and dread. Scenes of what happened with the Arcanian boy she helped out flashed into her mind as she tried and failed to yank her hand free.

  "Lord, please forgive your servant once more for what he is about to do," AJ prayed again, his eyes closing briefly in penitence as he reached into his pocket with this other hand.

  "No, absolutely not!" Canaria exclaimed. Never in a million years would she follow the man back to the church. It was now or never! She took advantage of AJ's carelessness and used her body weight to ram him towards the wall. The man cried out in agony as his wounded arm planted firmly against the metal frame of a light fixture. That gave Canaria enough of an opportunity to pull herself free from his grasp and she immediately bolted out the room after that.

  "Stop!" AJ cried out to her, having already picked himself off the floor. He rushed out of the room in hot pursuit.

  Canaria heard AJ's voice, dripping with pain, but she ignored him as she continued to dash. She practically dove down the stairs as she skipped multiple steps with each of her own. She even slipped on the last one and almost planted her face on the hardwood floor, but managed to brace for the fall. She grunted in pain as she picked herself up to continue making a break for it. The outside— she needed to get outside. She knew that she could not outrun the man, but as long as she could get inside a taxi, a bus, or even a bike, she had a chance.

  However, just how much could a girl like her really do? Reality often turned out differently than fantasy. She was all but certain AJ was not a mere missionary. He showed himself to be both strong and athletic as he flew down the stairs to catch up with her at record pace. Before she knew it, what little head start she managed to get had evaporated into thin air as he was right on her heels, about to grab her once more.

  She wondered if she would ever be able to see her best friend again, to share a meal together, to talk about their day, to watch pointless videos, and to hang out and do nothing in particular. She wondered what would happen if she failed to make a payment on her apartment, if she would be evicted, if all her belongings would be thrown out like trash. She wondered what would happen to her life from now on. And she also wondered about Edmond as well. She had only just met the man, but she had come to like him so much already. She wanted to get to know him more, see what he did in Arca Archa, and taste the milk tea he made once more.

  …

  Canaria felt alone.

  At this moment, Canaria felt the loneliest in the world. No one could help her now, no matter her predicament. Her struggles would be for naught, and her cries for help would be left unanswered. She was truly alone. Yet, the weight of her presence had not been forgotten, as the various threads of fate began to weave together.

  Atop a breathtaking vista, the precipice of Everlasting Sunset shone, sweeping golden-red hues of twilight majestically across the world. She stood as a silent witness, casting long shadows as she bathed the city of Singapore in her warmth. From antiquity until modernity, her ephemeral beauty contrasted the turmoil unfolding beneath her light—

  —A man drove his car at a nerve wracking speed, his urgency palpable as he gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles drained to white.

  —Sitting in that same car, the man's subordinate worried endlessly about the safety of her best friend, placing all her faith in her boss to resolve the situation.

  —Another returned to the guild, weary and resolute, having placed the most difficult burden onto his old friend's shoulders.

  —All the while, a young boy made his way home, finally facing the family he had refused to acknowledge all this time, thinking of the older sister who urged him to take this step.

  …

  As Canaria's hand touched the metallic door handle, she twisted and yanked with all her might, desperately trying to get the door open. The light of the setting sun blinded her immediately, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut as she made a leap of faith into the hot and humid world outside. Alas, AJ's outstretched hand followed closely behind her, his fingers latching onto her collar mid-air, mocking her feeble attempt at freedom by jerking her back before she could take her first step outside.

  "Be still. This will only hurt momentarily," he apologized, raising a needleless syringe toward her.

  Struggling against AJ's grasp, Canaria felt a surge of panic. "Let go of me!" she cried in futility. Now that AJ had a hold of her, he was not going to let go. Her heart pounded with fear as the situation seemed hopeless.

  Just when it seemed all was lost, a voice shattered the stillness. "Well, what do we have here?" came the voice of a sly white tigress, bathed in the crimson glow of the setting sun. A smirk played on her lips as one hand rested casually on her hip. Canaria recognized her instantly— it was Sophie Lee from the cafe!

  "Sophie, please help me!" Canaria cried out immediately, her voice a desperate plea for salvation.

  The grinning light behind Sophie's eyes could not be hidden, even behind her oversized round sunglasses. "Sure! Anything for my next heroine!" the tigress exclaimed, then vanishing like a phantom, leaving not even an afterimage in her wake. A wild gust of air blew past Canaria as she yelped in surprise and the next thing she knew, a great crash resounded behind her. As Canaria stumbled to a stop, she witnessed a display of strength that defied reason, completely disproportionate to the small frame Sophie possessed. Sophie had kicked AJ back through the entrance, sending the man soaring across the air like a ragdoll, crashing into the chandelier and bringing the entire installation down like an icicle fall.

  The sheer shock of what Canaria just witnessed made her stop dead in her tracks, her jaw slack in disbelief. Just what was that power? That speed? Sophie practically teleported behind her! Her eyes were wide open, and she still missed it! "D-did you kill him?" Canaria asked timidly.

  Sophie did not turn as she addressed Canaria. "No, I don't think so. I was only planning on giving him a little love tap, but I felt something really solid, so I put a little more force into the kick."

  "How come you're here?" Canaria asked. While she did not want to look a gift horse in the mouth, it did come across suspicious how convenient it was for this fierce tigress of a film director to be here.

  "Actually, I was camping outside the cafe until you got off work so I could observe you for the role in my film," Sophie admitted.

  "So you were stalking me? I didn't even agree to it!" Canaria exclaimed, suddenly feeling a slight sense of creepiness towards her savior.

  "Teehee~?" Sophie responded with a cutesy wink.

  Canaria was taken aback momentarily, but the questions she had soon overtook that feeling. She asked, "Then why didn't you come help me earlier when the guy drugged and kidnapped me?"

  "W-Well, there happens to be a scene where the heroine gets kidnapped…" A nervous look appeared on Sophie's face as she talked under the pressure of Canaria's judgemental stare. "A-And then a fight broke out at the park and I started recording it for reference material…"

  Canaria's shoulders slacked. She did not know whether to sigh in exasperation or be grateful that Sophie still managed to find her despite all that. However, before Canaria could say anything more, the tigress suddenly pushed Canaria away with a forceful shove. "Get down!" Sophie yelled. Windows shattered as a thunderous boom reverberated through the air, rattling the building and the ground beneath it. The devastating force erupted like a bomb at the very spot where they had stood moments before.

  "—No!" Canaria's shrill scream echoed helplessly. As the dust settled, her horror grew palpable. That was an arte, she was all but certain, yet it was unlike the artes she had witnessed Ioan and Angelica perform. This was more instantaneous, more visceral— it inspired terror rather than awe. In the aftermath, only a blown-out entrance remained, surrounded by chunks of drywall and scattered wood debris. The only thing left of Sophie in the rubble was pieces of her shattered sunglasses.

  Canaria's ears were still ringing as AJ limped out of the house, the ACD on his wrist glowing with a faint residual blue. He groaned with relief as he undid something beneath his robes, and shards of broken ceramic plates slipped out from under his clothes, crashing onto the floor with a loud thud.

  "Oh my god!" Canaria stammered, mortified. It was all she could say in her stupor.

  "Fiat voluntas Dei," AJ intoned solemnly, having been forced to take a life— a necessary evil to carry out the will of God. "Now, enough running. Let us hurry to the holy city before we are further hindered by the nonbelievers." He reached down, offering Canaria a hand, but like déjà vu, a familiar voice interrupted him again.

  "Ooh, a church fanatic, with an ACD, no less! That's an exciting concept. I wonder just what kind of conspiracies there are to be unearthed? There's certainly more to this than meets the eye!" Sophie announced boldly, having piqued the film director side of her.

  The realization that Sophie had survived startled AJ only momentarily before his eyes snapped up to the source of the voice. The person he thought he had slain was alive— and well, as a matter of fact. She was leaning over the roof with her hands on her hips. Mocking him. AJ's brows furrowed with displeasure. It was impossible to discern her expression in the light, but he was sure she was grinning from ear to ear. "Arcanian, I don't know how you managed to survive the arte, but this is none of your business. Leave now, and I will forgive your past transgressions."

  "Excuse me? Not my business? Let my past transgressions be forgiven? How dare you?" Sophie gasped, feigning shock. "After you just tried to blow me up, I should be saying the same thing to you! That's my next film's heroine on the ground right there. It very much is my business, thank you very much! Right?" She made eye contact with Canaria, who was still sitting firmly on the ground.

  "R-Right!" Canaria parroted blankly.

  "She's quite booked, I assure you," AJ said, raising his arm toward Sophie.

  "What are you, her manager?" Sophie mocked, glancing at his ACD that glowed threateningly, primed to fire off another devastating arte. However, the tigress was nonchalant as she leaped from the top of the building and gracefully landed atop a wrought iron lamp post.

  Sophie squatted down, assuming a posture as if she were an adult addressing a much shorter child. Rightfully so, with the height of the lamp post added to her own, she towered over everyone present.

  AJ's expression hardened as a deep frown spread across his face. He ignored the provocation. The woman before him exuded a silent pressure. He had forgotten about it during the moment, but the pain from his bruised back and chest reminded him that she was incredibly dangerous. He did not want to be kicked again by her. Reluctantly, he lowered his arm, at least for the moment. "What do you want? Who are you working for?"

  Confusion appeared on Sophie's face upon hearing AJ's demands before it melted away into anger and then annoyance. "Are you stupid?" she asked with such utter exasperation that it broke the tension between them.

  "What do you mean?" AJ asked, taken aback by her abrupt shift in demeanor. His expression said it all: "Is this woman deranged?" His eyes narrowed with suspicion as he searched for any signs of deception.

  "Really, I've dealt with flatworms with quicker wits than you," Sophie sighed, resting her chin in her palms. She turned her head but kept her eyes fixed on AJ. She motioned with her chin, bringing attention to Canaria. "I already told you, didn't I?"

  "And what exactly was it that you told me?" AJ asked.

  Sophie groaned. "Come on, do I really have to spell it out for you?"

  "My patience is quickly being tested," AJ frowned.

  Sophie sighed, exasperated. "That's my line. Fine, I didn't expect much from a fanatic to begin with. I believe I've already told you— that's my next film's heroine you're holding up!" Announcing this, her body crouched low, like a predator about to pounce.

  Perhaps sensing what would happen next, AJ, his teeth gritting tightly, raised his arm quickly to cast an arte with his ACD. It was already too late. Sophie launched herself off the lamp post with a burst of energy, bending the wrought iron as if it were a plastic straw as she shot through the air like a missile toward him.

  The man tried– and failed– to defend himself. He never stood a chance. The white tigress had already seized both his wrist and, with her hand equipped with razor-sharp fingernail guards, held his neck at knifepoint. From a distance, the two looked like they were entwined in a playful dance. The reality was anything but.

  "Tag, you're it." Sophie smiled, playfully scratching AJ's chin with her fingernail guards, even shaving a few of the man's stubble.

  AJ felt his blood chill. It was as though his consciousness had lapsed the moment he tried raising his hand! One moment Sophie was on the pole, and the very next, he felt pain spread through his wrists as the tigress appeared before him like a ghost. He glanced at his ACD, but Sophie quickly reminded him of his place as he felt one of the fingernail guards push up against his jugular, gently guiding his eyes back to her.

  "My eyes are over here," she teased, her gaze leisurely inspecting the silver ACD as she forced his wrist to turn around. "So, what were you planning to do with that fancy party popper of yours: Tell me it's party popping time and then party pop all over me? You ought to be careful where you point that thing. You might poke an eye out. I'd think twice before doing anything if I were you. Wouldn't want to upset the neighbors and have them file a noise complaint."

  "Am I to take what you just said as a threat?" AJ asked, feeling very conscious of the cool metal pressing against his throat. He dared not to even swallow his saliva for fear of his throat being sliced wide open.

  Sophie smiled coldly. "A threat? Why would I feel the need to threaten you? No, you are not a threat, only amusement."

  Far away, Canaria gulped as she witnessed the scene. Such a domineering presence! It felt like she was watching a scene right out of a film!

  As Sophie held AJ tight, a deep, distorted voice echoed through the air.

  "Insolent Kaplan," it boomed, the words carrying a frigidity that seemed to lower the surrounding temperature.

  Sophie clicked her tongue in annoyance, her instincts warning her that trouble was imminent. Quickly weighing her options, she decided to crush the ACD in her hand before dispatching the missionary with a swift, decisive kick.

  The force sent AJ flying, but as soon as the man hit the ground, an intense wave of frost erupted from his body. Sophie braced herself, her feet firmly planted, as the freezing current swept over everything. Canaria was not so sturdy, being swept away by its overwhelming force.

  AJ's body began to twist unnaturally, shadows spilling from beneath his robes like dark bolts of cloth. The shadows wrapped around him, coiling tightly until he was entirely cocooned in a pulsating, silken darkness. Slowly, the figure rose, the shadows draping over every millimeter of his form.

  The temperature plummeted further, the air itself freezing with the rise of the shadow-cloaked figure. The energy emanating from him pressed down on Sophie, growing heavier with every passing moment. Frost gathered on her eyebrows, and her breaths formed visible puffs in the chilling air. Yet Sophie stood unbothered by it all. She was an unyielding glacier amidst the encroaching cold, breaking apart the waves of energy with nothing but her slender frame.

  "You have interfered with the hands of God," AJ’s body spoke, but the voice that emerged was not his own. It was layered, deep, and unnatural— the same voice that had boomed through the courtyard earlier.

  "And who might you be?" Sophie’s eyes narrowed as she studied him. Her voice carried a sharp edge, undaunted by the transformation before her. "You're not that missionary from earlier, are you? You smell different. Not like an Arcanian, but not quite human either… How curious. Just what are you?"

  "You speak to an Executor of the Lord's will," the figure replied, the deep, layered voice reverberating with an unsettling calm. "I am here so that God's will may be carried out without failure."

  The Executor’s gaze shifted toward Canaria. Sophie immediately stepped between them, blocking the line of sight with a protective stance.

  "Go! Now!" she barked, her voice commanding.

  "Thank you!" Canaria did not need further urging. Despite her confusion from the chaotic evening, she recognized an opportunity when it presented itself to her. Without hesitation, she ran, her legs carrying her as fast as they could— and run she did, she ran away like the wind! Anywhere would do— anywhere far from the nightmare unfolding behind her.

  Still, she knew her limits. Getting away on foot would not be enough. She needed to find a bus or taxi to put more distance between her and the Executor. Perhaps she could head to the police station or even the Guild of Singapore. It would surely be safe there.

  Arca Archa… Edmond’s office surfaced in her mind. Edmond gave her an inexplicable sense of security, as if everything would be okay as long as he was there. But then she shook her head, dismissing the idea.

  "No, I can’t," she murmured, shaking her head as she continued to run, her humility overriding that glimmer of hope. Edmond had saved her once already. She would not trouble him again— at least not until she could find a way to repay him for his kindness.

  Sophie’s sharp gaze followed Canaria’s figure as she passed through the gates. With a fleeting grin, the tigress gave her a thumbs-up before turning back to the daunting figure before her.

  "Your acts of heresy will not go unpunished," the Executor intoned, displeasure creeping into his otherwise calm demeanor as he watched Canaria flee.

  Sophie snorted derisively. "You sure sound arrogant for someone who keeps spouting about carrying out your Lord's will. Humility? Isn't there something in your scriptures that teaches you that?"

  The Executor said nothing, but surely he glared at Sophie through his shadowy veil after hearing those words.

  "I simply do what I want and live the way I want. That is the way of the Kaplan," she declared, her voice brimming with defiance.

  The Executor’s tone darkened. Still, a shred of leniency remained behind his veil. "Move aside, and your transgressions may yet be forgiven by the Lord."

  "Forgiveness, huh?" Sophie tilted her head, her voice dripping with disdain. "Are all you religious types this predictable? Enough talk. If you want me to move aside, then make me. That, too, is the way of the Kaplan."

  She shifted her stance, lowering herself into a wide, grounded position. Her knees bent low, and her arms rose like a bian lian performer readying for the stage. Her expression sharpened, and her breath steadied. The next words that came out of her mouth carried an archaic cadence, a warning steeped in pride and tradition.

  "Heed this warning. If thou dost seek to challenge the ways of the Kaplan, then ready thyself to face the full might of a Kaplan, unleashed."

  The kaplan's eyes gleamed with feral intensity, ready to demonstrate the caliber and resilience of her lineage. Her heart thumped like a war drum, a drumbeat heralding the coming storm.

  The Executor remained silent, observing her with an unsettling stillness. He recognized the weight behind her words and the unwavering confidence that backed them. The air was charged with the anticipation of unavoidable conflict.

  Whatever the Executor’s calculations, only one path laid ahead.

  At that moment, neither spared a thought for Canaria— not of her escape nor her possible capture. Their focus was absolute, their minds locked on the enemy standing before them.

  …

  …