James sat, staring out the window, looking at the Church of the Martyred. The Golden Dome looked like a second sun that watched over Estella as its eternal guardian. Grabbing his shaking hand, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down. Training and telling himself he could do it was one thing, but outside the church and getting ready to enter was another.
"You need a calm mind before we start," Xavier said, noting James nerves and chuckled. Reaching out, he grabbed his hand and forcefully ran his ability, not letting an ounce of emotion show from what he had seen, "Do you want to know if you're caught?"
James opened his mouth, ready to say yes, but stopped himself and looked back at the church. Shaking his head, he sighed, "I find myself becoming too reliant on your power, Xavier. I think..." James paused and smirked to himself, "I think I need to see this one through myself."
Xaviuer smiled and laughed, "Good, because if I told you what I saw, the future would have changed. Remeber James, this is if you ever learn to use my power. Every time you look into the future and act based on what you have seen, it will change it."
"Will it change now then?" James asked in worry. The meaning was clear, and with whatever Xavier saw, he could ruin or aid him.
Xavier was silent for a few seconds and smiled. "No, because I am going to follow what I saw like a script." James let out a sigh of relief. And got tready to get out, "Remember, we don't know each other when you get inside. You are a faithful child of the First and here to see the holy land. Always remember that."
James nodded and let himself out. Their plan was a simple one. The Church of the Martyred was a place open to everyone. He would go in alone and make his way through. Although it was dangerous to go alone, Xavier's past meetings inside the building had allowed him to see the level of security throughout the church.
Although security was high, much of it was located outside, due to the Children having an aversion to having weapons on Holy Ground. The small amount they did have inside was being used to monitor the New Horizon representatives, with the final amount on key areas throughout the church. That being said, James looked around before entering the holy ground and took a sharp breath, seeing the small army stationed around, and had to walk through numerous checkpoints before finally passing through.
The first checkpoint was easy, a simple check of good and an X-ray. Next, they took a scan of his eyes and fingerprints alongside all his documents. Finally, and the weirdest test of them all, James was forced to place his hand on a crystal ball. Slowly putting his hand down, he paused and looked at one of the guards next to it.
The man's dark eyes hid a fervent light behind them that showed a man ready to die for his faith, no matter the cost. "What is this for?" James asked. The man tilted his head in confusion, unsure of what he was saying, and turned to his colleague.
"Check if ability." In a broken sentence, he said, letting James understand. James took a deep breath and lowered his hand. From within, he felt his aura get partially sucked out through his hand as the crystal ball pulsed with a light. The two guards looked at him and pulled him to the side, into a separate hut, before entering the holy land.
Inside, an old man wearing a religious robe of the Children sat with a kind smile; by his side were more zealous guards. "Hello, child." Unlike the guard before, the man spoke fluent Hestic. "Please sit, this will only take a moment." James did as asked and sat down.
Nothing changed about the man, but James could feel a change in the air and on himself. Activating his eyes, he saw an invisible chain cut across the table, attaching the two together, linked by their hearts. "The covenant has been formed. We can make one rule each. The one before me cannot lie."
James understood what was going on and smiled. He knew it was impossible to make what he wanted, something that would harm the man before him in the long run. The three guards around him would ensure he never left the building alive. "The one before me cannot lie." James copied the man and got him to smile.
"What is the nature of your ability?" James wanted to test it and tried to lie. Before he could get the words out, he felt a sharp pain in his heart and quickly stopped himself. The old man laughed and shook his head, "Everyone always wished to see what happens. I don't understand why?"
"Curiosity." The man nodded and shrugged, waiting for James to answer. Taking a deep breath, he began, "I can enhance my senses. Sounds, vision, smell. It all becomes better. As well as that, I can see the nature of abilities as well as who one is." James reached out and touched the invisible chain between the two, "For example, this one."
The man made notes and nodded. James smiled. Although the covenant was dangerous, it was also quite simple to get around. He didn't lie, instead choosing not to elaborate further. "Is there anything else?"
"Profession."
"Ex law enforcement. I have been let go due to..." James tried to find how to word it and bitterly smiled, "Crime of vigliatism." The man nodded once more, making a note.
"Then you are a criminal?"
"I am innocent until proven otherwise." James coldly said, staring into the man's eyes. The old man smirked and shook his head.
"That is true. Another then. Did you enter this country illegally?" James stayed silent and thought about it. Although he did fake his identity, everything else about his journey was legal.
"I am unclear on that," James said ingorining the question. The sense of danger he felt was eased a little as well. Although it could be dangerous depending on who had the old priest's ability, the man before him wasn't. He wasn't a person who knew how to trap someone with their question. James could only imagine the power in the hands of a prosecutor or police officer.
The old man sighed, seeing that James had figured out how to get around his questions. Normal people would fold, but someone used to liars and criminals would never do so. James saw the chain retract inside the old man's body. "You are free to go. Please enjoy your visit." Smiliong James got up and walked out the side door, stepping into the holy land.
Although he wasn't religious, the atmosphere was strange. Looking around at the giant marble pillars that shot up, creating a pathway towards the main entrance, he felt an oppressive but holy atmosphere that made him feel like he would be judged for whatever he did, from basic littering to theft. Atop every marble pillar was a statue of the Enlightened.
Each one looked down, watching every man, woman, and child peacefully, guiding them to the entrance. Each one felt alive, but he knew he was fooling himself. Others may not see it, but he could tell it wasn't an ability at work but just a feeling the architecture created. It felt holy, and when he thought about what he was about to do, he couldn't help but get the urge to repent his sins.
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Fredrick stepped out of the car with the help of Xavier and looked at the young man. Smiling, he took a deep breath and quietly asked. "What did you see?"
Xavier looked at Fredrick and chuckled. "Honestly." Fredick nodded, "I didn't see anything."
Fredirck looked at him strangly making Xavier shrug, "But what you said."
"Old man. He couldn't know the truth. Do you know what people fear the most?" Fredrick bitterly smiled.
"You're a cruel bastard."
"He is walking into the unknown, but he is doing so with the belief that I didn't see him die, even if I didn't tell him. But what would James do if he knew I saw nothing?" Fredrick clicked his tongue and sighed.
"You got better at hiding your surprise when seeing nothing."
"It took a lot for me not to react. If it tricked you, however, then it means he fell for it as well."