Arcane Journey

4.Red Eyes

Benjamin glanced at Lucien and maintained his elegant, rhythmic pace as he slowly approached the ruins of the witch's house. His voice was low and calm as he spoke: "Evil sorcerers always like to toy with the hearts and perceptions of good people, especially on nights illuminated by the silver moon. However, this witch hadn't yet acquired truly terrifying evil powers. Her magic could only affect one or two people at most."

Lucien was initially confused, but as Benjamin continued, he realized the priest was explaining why only he had heard the crying while the nearby residents remained asleep or, even if awakened, couldn't hear anything despite listening carefully.

Without giving Lucien a chance to speak, Benjamin raised his gloved hands and continued: "As for myself and the four church guards, we are under the Lord's protection, which is why we can hear this evil sound."

The four guards walking in front and behind immediately made the sign of the cross on their chests upon hearing this, shouting in unison:

"Only the Truth endures."

Their spirits seemed to lift slightly as they shouted.

The residents watching from afar in the poor district also quietly prayed, "Only the Truth endures."

Then they whispered among themselves, "This is the power of the divine. The priest is truly worthy of respect."

Amid the faint praises, Benjamin's face grew even more serious and solemn. He slowly spread his white-gloved hands and uttered a strange, short syllable:

"Paso."

As the brief, rapid syllable ended, a faint white glow enveloped the ruins of the house. It was as if the light of the silver moon had descended upon it.

Under the white glow, an eerie blood-red hue emerged on a section of the collapsed wall connected to Lucien's house, taking the shape of a doorway.

Lucien, like the surrounding poor residents, was both shocked and filled with complex emotions by the mysterious and strange effects of the incantation and divine magic. While they were mostly in awe and fear, Lucien's feelings were mixed with a deep longing.

Benjamin retracted his hands and gave an order to the guard in front of him: "Gary, that is the hidden door. There are no magical traps. You and the others, open it."

Gary puffed out his chest, and the chainmail on his body clinked as he responded, "Yes, Priest Benjamin."

As Gary and another guard approached, Lucien, who was standing nearby, overheard Benjamin muttering in a low voice, "Those arrogant Inquisitors, all they know is 'Detect Magical Traps.' Can't they learn 'Detect Hidden Doors'? Hmph, just because it's only a magical apprentice, they think they can slack off?"

With the guidance of divine magic, Gary demonstrated his strength by swiftly knocking down the collapsed wall with a few powerful blows.

Then, another guard drew his sword and, with a loud shout, struck down hard, shattering a mechanism and revealing a dark opening in the corner of the wall.

The opening was narrow, only large enough for one person to pass through. As the wind blew through, a foul stench wafted from the opening. Benjamin wrinkled his golden eyebrows, covering his nose and mouth with his white-gloved hand, while Lucien almost gagged and involuntarily took two steps back.

Gary peered into the opening and then ran back to report: "Priest Benjamin, this passage leads to the sewers."

Benjamin frowned, his nose and mouth pressed together as if uncomfortable, his voice muffled, "Are you sure?"