Noctis Finite: Silent Symphony

Chapter 4: Converging Fates

"Now THAT is an interesting development." An effeminate man's voice cooed coolly from atop a stone throne inside the extravagant Chapel to Saint Solye in Melodiya, one of the twin capitals of Lyrewood. White stone lined every inch of the inside of the chapel, like a sterile environment. The priests and priestesses that tended to the interior wore equally blinding white habits that concealed the details of their bodily form and removed their individuality.

 Kneeling in front of the throne was a familiar rust haired woman clad in light white armor with black trim. Her hair had a single streak of grey hair that went from the root to the tip starting at her left temple. The effeminate man's voice addressed the woman again, "Clear something up for me, Maede dear, you're saying there's ANOTHER Firefang out there marching around causing hell, all on their own? Unsupervised? No ferocious mommy and daddy to keep them in check as agreed? AND they're wreaking havoc on our cities and towns already?" The kneeling woman- Maede- nodded solemnly as she replied, "She interrupted a-" But just then, the effeminate man interjected, "You have not been ordered to speak, Maede. If I wanted your counsel, I'd ask for it." He said smoothly.

The pale man's voice didn't contain a shred of intensity, warning, or irritation. In fact, it seemed to grow friendlier and warmer the sharper his words got. Suddenly the man stood up, walked down the few steps that led to his throne, and pulled his blinding white hood back to reveal a head of platinum blonde hair and hauntingly pale skin. Those silken locks were eternally messy no matter what was done to them, and they framed sharp, thin features on a ghostly white face. His lips were always curled in the same condescending smirk, as if he were mid snicker any time you looked at him. A pair of pale, white, dead looking irises looked down at Maede as their owner gestured for Maede to stand. A faint clatter was heard as Maede stood up in her armor. Maede was quite formidable- 5'10 as a woman was no joke, and she towered over the blonde man by a good four inches. Yet even as she looked down, she couldn't help but feel small in the presence of someone she knew was something... greater than her. She CLENCHED her hands into fists at her sides as she grit her teeth and kept her gaze trained on her superior.

"I have a new assignment for you, little miss Maede. Since you know these backwoods better than any other officer under my command, you will be tasked with finding, subduing, and capturing this loose Firefang demon. Not only can we not afford having another one of those freaks on the loose, you've seen just how effective their lovely Noctis-fearing sister is- how powerful she can be. Can you imagine another one like that fighting AGAINST us? We've already got Galen prancing about like he owns the forest!" The man feigned shivering, then shook his head rapidly to let his cheeks flap as he let out a, "Brrrrrrr! I don't even want to think about it! So you need to either make sure she never makes a ruckus again, or you need to drag her, kicking and screaming, back to this very chapel so we can begin the reprogramming! Maybe even ship her off to the Rectory like you and her sister." The blonde man lifted a hand to pat Maede's cheek gently as he pouted his lips and cooed a condescending, "Think you can handle that girlie?"

Maede's entire body shivered faintly with barely-bound rage. Her nose twitched slightly as she focused entirely on suppressing violent, murderous urges. She swallowed loudly when she was finally given the opportunity to speak, then nodded with a clenched jaw as she spat out a reserved, "Yes, Bishop Belisarius." Belisarius grinned, revealing monstrously sharp fangs for every single tooth as he purred out a smooth, cold, "Goooood. Take whatever- and whoever- you need. Nothing off limits. Bring me the Firefang bitch. We need a pair to outclass the Syndicate's Ace." Maede coughed in surprise as she ran a hand through her hair. She didn't say more- instead electing to bow once, then she turned to head out to fulfill those ill-defined orders. Was she really just being trusted with as much firepower as she wanted? To bring in a teenage BRAT? It felt too easy. As Maede walked past row after row of pews that were usually packed on service days on her way to the exit, she found a swirl of something she hadn't known in over a decade in her chest- the tingly excitement of hope. This was her opportunity to show she wasn't just some backwoods hick who'd lucked out on magic powers- she would show that pale little twig she was a ruthless, cold machine that would accomplish her objective at any cost. "You're nearly at the top, Maede. And the only thing standing in your way is this petulant little firefang brat." She thought to herself as she exited the chapel.