Their New Future | BOOK 2 OF THE ANOMALY SAGA

CHAPTER 9

[Time: Sometime during the evening, a couple days later. Location: The Holy Apostles Church, Athens, Greece.]

Ryū quietly sat inside the church, tapping their feet impatiently.

As much as they didn't enjoy being in religious areas, they wouldn't deny the beauty of it. The intricate paintings painted on the ceiling, with white marble carvings made ever so delicately around the whole church. They couldn't help but admire it.

But, a certain painting of two gods with black hair caught their eye.

Except they weren't here for a prayer.

"Ah, I wasn't expecting you Mr. Kurokawa!"

A gentle voice brought them out of their daze.

The voice belonged to the High Priest of the church, a man by the name of Andel Panagos who had deep connections to the GDA, being a daemon himself although he wasn't an active member in missions.

He was out of his fatigues and in jeans and a simple hoodie, considering the church was now closed and he was very clearly expecting to go home.

He was a man close to his 30s, though small smile lines showed around his almond eyes. Short Black hair carefully tied back into a topknot with a couple strands hanging loosely in his face.

Andel had tan skin, and if he hadn't chose priesthood, he could've been a model. Fairly short for a Daemon, he stood at 6'2, with a loose black collar shirt tucked in matching jeans with a grey hoodie over it.

He bowed his head in respect. After all, Ryū was technically his boss.

"How may I help you? Unfortunately, our services today are closed so I may not be able to provide much help."

Ryū sent him a bitter smile as they got up, slipping their thin black kimono off, revealing the tied sleeve on their left arm. Andel muttered a small prayer of healing before looking to them, asking if he could approach. They nodded.

"Was this done by a holy weapon?" He tenderly put his hand against their left shoulder, even making himself flinch. He could feel the waves of pain and burning being emitted, and it was not one bit pleasant, even for a human.

His eyes flickered to the cane in their right hand and started to understand the situation.

"14 months ago. I've been in a coma for 14 months since the accident. My leg regrew but... the arm it's-"

"It's alright. You wish for me to perform a ritual, yes?"

"You seem to grasp the situation well, Father." Ryū smiled, pulling the kimono back on with difficulty.

Andel nodded in thought, beckoning them over to a back room that had a trapdoor on the ground, leading to the basement area. The two remained in silence as they traversed through.

"It may be painful, you know that? I can't guarantee that it will do anything, the God's are very tempermental." He tried to make small talk as they headed down the cascade of stairs that never seemed to end.

"Not as much as loosing it." Ryū muttered, letting out a groan as their ears popped from the drop of pressure.

They looked down to see that their right hand had started to darken, claws emerging as they headed deeper into the sanctum. Andel frowned at the snark in their tone but brushed it off.