Magician's Blood

7-The Council

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-7/The Council

Magician's Blood-Kisho

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July 19th, 3094 GSC—00:52 Standard Time—10:00 Local Time

Moza—Laric System—Moza Sector

Interior of the Great Chapel of Moza

Captains First-Class of the Holy Order, Elicia Vasavilli and Joshua V. Marcos, strode down the central aisle of the prayer hall, two capes slashing at the air behind them with each confident step. Behind them walked Renault Morgan, his expression as unreadable as his dark aura, and Lyric, an innocent boy surrounded by awe. Through the veins of each one ran the magician's blood.

The sun was well above His Eye through the stained-glass, but the shining display was still marvelous. Rainbow light showered down on the Joint Council of the Moza Church, led by Father Daunox.

The four reached the base of the stairs and knelt, Lyric no less reverent than the trained members of the Order.

"Rise," Father Daunox ordered. They did as he said.

"Fathers and Mothers of the Holy Council," Elicia spoke, her voice layered with reverence that was all forced. "We have come to report a number of incidents following the assignment of Brother Morgan's and my mission, an investigation on Aris."

The Council was made of five members, two to represent His Hands, one to represent His Word, one to represent His Gaze, and one to represent His Heart. Father Daunox was the forefront of operations, the representative of His Gaze, but it was Mother Fiora, the representative of His Word, who had the most power, and Mother Dulan, the representative of His Heart, who had the most prestige. It was often the representative of His Heart who stood at the center during a joint council, but the Moza Church traditionally placed more importance on His Gaze. Moza was the gateway to Valvicin, and His Gaze was needed to keep watch over the bastion of heresy.

"We will hear your report," Father Daunox said.

"Unfortunately, the entire population of Aris's Goman Tower was killed by a Wraith... except for one boy named Lyric, who stands before you," Elicia said. "One day before the distress signal reached Moza, a young magician was sent to this same tower to investigate the discovery of an unregistered material. He was never heard from again. We suspect this material to be darkpowder, and that the Wraith sought this darkpowder."

"What would a Wraith want with darkpowder?" asked Father Mercanto, the representative of His Left Hand. A one-eyed man with the magician's blood and plenty of training, he had straight, black hair in a ponytail down to his waist, and bore two short swords, each curved for a draw-and-slash. Father Mercanto was regarded as the strongest of the Moza Priests in combat, his role as Hand requiring him to operate out on the field. His practical experience bespoke his question. "They're more made of their magic than we are. Darkpowder would ravage them."

"In theory, yes," said Father Daunox. The Council's lack of surprise indicated that Father Daunox had already told them the main points but had asked them to keep their questions to the meeting. "But our theory on Wraiths is sorely lacking. There's so much we don't know about them, it's folly to assume our conclusions on them are correct."

"Is there any hard evidence that we're dealing with darkpowder?" Father Mercanto followed up.

"No," admitted Father Daunox. "We're conducting a detailed investigation of the site and search for darkpowder now. The force—five magicians, twenty-five non-magicians—arrived on Aris just half an hour prior."