Getting deeper into the Church, James noticed how desolate the place had become. It was strange, almost unnatural. He expected security to get tighter the closer he got to his target, but the opposite happened instead. It was a surreal experience and one he couldn't understand. It was basic common sense to protect your most valuable things, and for an ancient organisation like the Children of the First, the value and history in what they owned couldn't be priced.
Part of him wondered if it was a trap, yet a part told him he was overthinking it. Everything he had seen outside so far showed that the Children took great care in their security, but that only applied where their rules and beliefs weren't a hindrance. Inside the building, it was a whole new world where security was an afterthought. Not born from arrogance but of unwavering faith.
James wondered how such a place could exist, but understood that what he was doing was borderline suicide. The only reason he could even risk such an action was that he had the backing of New Horizon. Any other person who dared to try the same thing as him either needed a similar backing or wielded overwhelming power themselves.
His thoughts came to a halt, standing outside one of the two target rooms. The Chamber of the Blessed One. Staring at the door, James touched his cheek and realised he had started crying just looking at the door. Behind the door, he could feel a power, similar to an Ability but noticeably different. It was a warm power that overflowed with love and care, desperately reaching out, trying to guide a lost lamb back into the flock.
James bit down on the side of his cheek to the point of drawing blood, and took a heavy breath. He had been stuck in place, staring at the door, only able to move once he tasted the iron in his mouth. Taking a few deep breaths, he looked around, turned his invisibility off, seeing it was clear and wrapped his brain with an aura to push back against the outside force.
He would rather not go in, already knowing that the room was dangerous in a special way, but with it being one of the places the key could be found in, he couldn't pass by. With a final breath, he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Like a dam breaking, the power overflowed with the force of a tsunami, hitting James with an uncomfortable warmth. James could tell he had seconds before the influx of emotion locked him in place. Scanning the room, he spent two of the five seconds he gave himself staring at the main thing in the room.
A golden statue of a man stood with his arms pressed together in prayer. Five pairs of wings sprouted from his back, each one wrapping around him to protect. Another second passed, and James looked at the source of that power. On the headless statue, inside a glass container, a brown skull sat. Even if it looked gruesome, James couldn't say it was evil-looking, instead holy, almost divine.
Looking at the bottom, he saw a plaque under the statue.
'The First Child.'
"Fu..." James nearly swore but stopped himself out of fear of disrespecting the skull before him. It was ludicrous to think, but with the overflowing power coming from it, he couldn't bring himself to. Forcing his eyes away, he looked around. Other than the statue, the room was empty, and with all his willpower, he slammed the door shut, not bothering about being careful.
Any longer and he would have been lost. James quickly activated his power again and ran, knowing he might cause a scene, heading directly for the Archive.
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Through the halls, the knight paused and collapsed to his knee, feeling a flood of warmth wash over him. Repeatedly, he drew a pentagram on his body and slowly pushed himself up with panic, forcing his way through the influx of emotion. Reaching under his breastplate, he pulled out a pentagram that glowed with a golden light and clutched it, a small force field forming around him that allowed him to walk without being affected by the power.
There was panic in his steps, and although he didn't run, he sped up, charging to the Chamber of the Blessed, terrified that someone had dared open the door without proper precautions. 'An intruder.' Part of him hoped it was a tourist that had strayed off the path and could easily be dealt with.
The power quickly vanished as the forefield dropped. Arriving before the door, he looked around and tried to see something as priests slowly arrived, feeling the power. "Has anyone been sanctioned to enter the Chamber?" It was a question he already knew the answer to. If the order was given, he would have been the first to be told.
The priests all formed pentagrams one by one and shook their heads in reply. Standing before the door, he ripped the necklace off and held it in the air. Letting it go, it floated in the sky, activating once more to protect everyone around. Opening the door, he took the full brunt of the force from inside and checked. Seeing nothing out of place, he sighed in relief and quickly closed the door, grabbing the necklace and putting it on once again.
Looking around and seeing nothing, his eyes narrowed behind his helmet. After a few seconds, he spoke with a deep voice, "Raise the alarm. An intruder has entered." The priests tensed up, but didn't hesitate as the most senior one ran off. After a few minutes, bells echoed throughout the entire Holy Land.
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James watched as priests charged past him towards the Chamber of the Blessed and hugged the wall, letting them pass. Watching, he held his breath and waited for an opening. After a minute, he charged towards the Archive, hearing bells ring soon after.
Standing before the Archive, he used his eyes and saw another power inside, this time one from an ability and clicked his tongue. Although security was lax, inside where they stored the Church's artefacts, they didn't skimp out on protection. Part of him wondered if Fredrick brought up the Chamber, knowing it would draw attention when he entered, so he had a chance to enter.
Mentally preparing himself, James pushed the door open and stepped in, letting himself be touched by the power inside, unable to avoid it
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Xavier sat, leaning against his hand with a bored expression, staring at the priests of the Children before him as Fredrick read through numerous documents alongside another priest. Their negotiation had reached the end stage, and now all he was doing was waiting as both parties cleared up the final details.
Deeply sighing, he perked up, hearing bells toll across the entire church as the clergy of the First sprang up in panic, looking at one another. The door opened, and another priest came in whispering to the one incharge. The Priest, wearing a red robe, hid his panic and stood up, looking at the New Horizon delegate.
"Forgive me, but we must delay." Xavier suppressed his smile and stood up.
"No. We have come here in good faith to end our hostilities, and just when we are getting ready to sign this historic moment, you are leaving." Looking deep into the man's eyes, he smiled, "How many delays have we suffered already. As Grand Prophet of New Horizon, I can't help but feel the Children are not as serious with this matter as we."
The red priest's eyes narrowed as he stared at Xavier. Taking a deep breath, he smiled, wiping his warped expression, "Grand Prophet, we mean no disrespect, but today is a special day for the Children. We had believed this would be wrapped up before the event began, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. You must understand as a fellow brother of faith."
"It is a sin to lie in these halls, Cardinal. We all know this isn't a special day. We are willing to accept your departure if you tell the truth and provide a suitable reason." Fredrick leaned forward, taking his pen off the document he was signing and staring at the Cardinal.
For ten long second sthe man stayed still, staring at the two. With a smirk, he shook his head and looked to the priest who spoke to him, "Begin without me." Sitting back down, he smiled, "It was rude to lie, I will seek forgiveness later. Let us continue."