The Normandy Coast, France. An abandoned ancient church.
1.1 The Shadow of Normandy
On the Normandy coastline, the sea wind was fierce, carrying the scent of salt and earth. An abandoned Gothic church, silent for nearly a century, stood like a massive, stoic beast on the edge of the cliff. Locals called it the "Sigh of Saint Mary," as its rooftop statue of the Virgin Mary perpetually faced the sea, seeming to mourn lost fishermen.
Alistair's private helicopter landed half a kilometer away. The moment he stepped onto the ground, he felt a powerful, pure supernatural aura. This aura was not from the Thorne family's algorithm curse, but an ancient, sacred power.
"Tutor, the church is abandoned, but signal analysis indicates recent artificial lighting and faint electronic signals," Lydon reported respectfully behind him.
Alistair ignored Lydon, striding toward the church. His black suit clashed with the desolate scenery, and his eyes were colder than the winter sea of Normandy.
He knew Eleanor chose this spot deliberately. It was a place completely beyond the reach of the Thorne family's temporal power, and one filled with her personal emotional attachment. By coming here, she was sending him a message: she was betraying everything he had taught her.
1.2 The Shard and the Forbidden Love
The church's heavy doors were rotten, creaking in the sea breeze. The interior was vast and empty, covered in dust and seabird droppings. The only preserved object was the enormous statue of the Virgin Mary on the main altar.
In the statue's eye socket, a shard of glass, emitting a faint, ethereal blue light, was embedded.
Alistair approached the statue. The shard—the "Tears of the Virgin Mary"—shone in his sight. He reached out and lightly pinched the shard. It felt intensely cold, but as his fingertip touched it, a strong, warm energy instantly surged into his body.
This energy carried a power of healing and tranquility, clashing violently with the algorithm remnants inside him. He instantly retracted his hand, his expression darkening.
"What is this?" Alistair demanded of Lydon.
Lydon replied shakily: "Tutor, according to supernatural records, this is known as a 'Sacred Relic.' It absorbs the highest human emotion and transmutes it into purifying energy. It typically only appears in ancient monasteries."
Alistair stared at the shard, understanding Eleanor's intention.
"She infused her love for me into this shard." he whispered, his voice filled with incredible pain.
Eleanor knew he would come for her, and she knew he would be wounded by this 'love energy.' This was her double punishment for him: using sacrifice to grant him freedom, then using love to repel him.
1.3 The Tutor's Judgement
Alistair felt a surge of betrayed fury. This was not the behavior of the Heir he had trained. He had taught her logic, cunning, and ruthlessness. Yet she was fighting him with the most sentimental, most sanctified means possible.
He abruptly raised his hand, and a powerful supernatural force instantly erupted, causing the air to hum. He intended to destroy the church along with the shard.
Just then, he noticed a folded old photograph in the corner of the altar.
The photo showed a ten-year-old Eleanor, dressed in a faded dress, smiling innocently at the camera. Next to her stood the Godmother, Isabelle Moreau, and an elderly man in a priest's robe, with a benevolent face.
Alistair walked over and picked up the photo. He immediately recognized the old man—Father Rafferty, a scholar of ancient lore once funded by the Thorne family, and one of the few members of the Supernatural Neutral Faction.
Lydon watched Alistair's expression nervously: "Tutor, Father Rafferty has been missing for many years…"
Alistair clenched the photo, his knuckles white. He instantly realized Eleanor's destination.
"She didn't come here for sanctuary," Alistair sneered, his voice filled with a reluctant admiration for her audacity. "She came here for help. Help her to completely sever all ties with the supernatural domain."
1.4 Escalation of the Chase Target
Alistair understood that Eleanor was using this sacred relic to buy herself time. She knew he would be wounded by the love-infused energy of the shard, thereby slowing his pursuit.
"Lydon, find Father Rafferty. He is the key to Eleanor's escape plan." Alistair threw the photo to Lydon, a relentless fire igniting in his eyes.
"Eleanor doesn't realize that the 'emotional bomb' she left behind has only intensified my possessiveness." Alistair mused.
He turned and strode out of the church. The sea wind whipped his black suit; he looked like a king returned from hell.
He boarded the helicopter, having already locked onto his next target: an overconfident old man attempting to use ancient sacred power to hide Eleanor.
Alistair knew he could no longer pursue her as the Tutor. He had to pursue her as the absolute Controller of the Thorne family, tearing apart all of Eleanor's protective barriers.
Author's Note:
Thank you for your continued readership and dedication to the consistent quality of this novel. Alistair has officially entered the "Dog-Blood Atonement Arc," finding that Eleanor is fighting him with a power—Love—that he cannot understand. The conflict between power and faith will escalate in the next chapter. Stay tuned!
By: KHChing