More than one hundred meters away, a colossal creature was emerging from among the clouds. Its body, covered by iridescent scales, was reflecting the sunlight with a hypnotic glow.
The elongated shape, similar to that of a gigantic shark, was sustained on triangular fins of enormous size. These were folding and unfolding while the creature was approaching with increasing speed.
As it was descending, it was revealing an open mouth, full of sharp and uneven teeth. The dark body of the beast was extending across the sky as if it were swimming in an invisible ocean.
The open jaws were showing rows of irregular fangs, and its eyes, small and shadowy, were shining with an intensity that was transmitting menace. Not only the size was imposing respect, but also the way it was moving, as if the sky belonged to it always.
However, the most shocking thing was not the stellar creature itself, but the two human figures that were rising on its back.
The sky swimmer, as Atom had baptized it, stopped at a dozen meters of height. Then, a thunderous voice resounded throughout the entire estate, shaking the air with authority.
"Attention! Attention! Has arrived the venerable Inquisitor Cylrit of the Holy Church and his most faithful servant, the lord Zola!"
Inquisitor.
Atom had never seen one of those inhuman creatures, but he had read stories. None of them was offering comfort. All were speaking of punishments, trials, and disappearances.
The man who spoke was standing on the back of the creature. Zola, the servant of Cylrit, was an imposing individual, of approximately two meters of height.
His silver armor was shining with intensity under the sun. In the center of the breastplate, the symbol of the burning sun of the Holy Church was found engraved. The red cape that was hanging from his back was waving with the gentle wind that was crossing the estate. Under the armor, a shirt of bright red cotton was remaining exposed.
His appearance, in general, was seeming a cloud of burning flames. The bearded face was showing an expression of superiority without any dissimulation.
Why had they come here?
Atom felt an overwhelming impulse to flee. The instinct was screaming to him that he escape.
"Aurore."
His sister turned. The white hair waved to the sides of her face. The expression that she was showing was loaded with surprise.
She seemed about to speak, but she stopped.
"Shhh," she said, while she was carrying a finger to the lips. "I believe that we have to leave from here right now."
"Huh… why?"
Aurore was seeming not to understand the threat that was looming over them. Atom thought that she would not even perceive the danger if he was not explaining it to her directly.
But even if they decided to flee, to where would they go?
How would they escape?
Atom was knowing that the simple attempt of flight was equivalent to a sentence of death. Even if he was achieving to escape, if they were catching him, they would execute him as an example for the others.
He tried to convince himself that he was exaggerating. He tried to think that nothing bad would occur. He clung to the idea that everything would continue in calm.
Not had to happen anything bad, right?
Meanwhile, both men descended from the sky swimmer with an elegance that was recalling the movement of a feather in the air. There was no noise nor visible effort.
The man that Atom identified as the Inquisitor was carrying a black top hat of great size. It was adorned with golden details and feathers that were falling to one side.
The face was hiding behind a mask of long beak, similar to that of the crows, with a metallic finish and a design intricate that was granting it a disturbing air.
His attire was consisting of a long and dark coat, of Victorian cut. The layers of fabric were rippling with the wind. The coat was decorated with golden buttons and chains that were hanging from the chest.
It was complementing it a white shirt of high collar and a fitted vest. The sleeves were ending in black gloves that were covering his hands completely, adding a touch of sinister elegance.
Not even a minute later, at a distance, a man came out running from the mansion where was residing the lord Percy.
Several soldiers were accompanying him. Although they were not many, any lord was counting with his own personal guard.
The man was having around forty years. He was measuring approximately 1.80 meters. His short and black hair was combed with care.
The eyes were shining with intensity, the prominent nose and the attractive face were combining with a proportioned body. Although he was dressing a coarse tunic, his relaxed posture was transmitting the sensation that he was carrying the most expensive suit of the world.
All were perceiving his natural grace and his refined temperament. Without doubt, he had been a very handsome man in his youth. Although he was already rounding the forty, he was still achieving to captivate with ease the innocent young women thanks to his appearance.
"Percy, from where did you take the audacity to make me wait?"
The Inquisitor tilted the head in a gesture that was seeming comical, but it was not at all.
It was resulting difficult to believe that those words were coming out of a living person. They were sounding unpleasant, hurtful. The voice resounded throughout the entire place.
Atom wrinkled the brow. He felt that the sound had not entered through his ears, but that it had embedded itself in his forehead.
Despite that the Inquisitor was found at more than twenty meters of distance. Even the old Percy retreated half a step.
The tension was evident.
"Pardon me, your excellency. I was not expecting your sudden visit. It is a great honor for our small estate in the confines of the world to receive the venerable Inquisitor, guardian of the peace in the vast human world. If I had known of your arrival with anticipation, I would have received you with a meal as God commands."
Without hesitating, Percy approached to the Inquisitor. He placed the hands in front of the chest and, following the etiquette of the Holy Church, made a deep reverence.
This would have been unheard of for any slave. To see their master and lord behave with so much docility in front of another man was something that none of them would have witnessed ever.
For them, and even for Atom, Percy had always been regal, authoritarian, almost untouchable. To see him so nervous was resulting disconcerting.
"Very well, Percy. I have come because I detected the presence of a witch." The Inquisitor directed the gaze toward Aurore, who was hiding behind Atom. "She will be arrested, interrogated, and executed."