The municipal couple clung to each other as the floor of the residence started to shake again.
"What's going on?" asked Karlen in panic.
Yugo smiled nervously.
"They're coming!"
"Do you think they're going to hurt us?" Aleone asked.
As she said that, the ground stopped shaking and Yugo stood up.
"I can't say. But let's not count on the opposite too much!" he said, grabbing his sword from beside him.
The guard who had entered asked permission to return to the main gates of the town hall. Exchanging a quick glance, Yugo and the mayor made a decision, and Karlen granted him permission.
"Go ahead! But don't try anything! I'll come with you."
The guard nodded and they both set off, leaving Aleone, their daughter and Yugo in the room.
***
Once outside, the mayor surveyed the area.
There were roots and small wood chips not far from the entrance. A large tree, which wasn't supposed to be there, stood proudly above a hole in the ground - surely the reason for the small earthquake — with dark red leaves falling from it.
The tree's trunk was a dark brown, almost black, and the bark dotting it stood out in strange streaks and small cavities that, seen from a distance, gave the illusion of a face drawn on the tree.
Its roots spread from the hole in the ground, to the bars of the fence that lined the perimeter of the town hall, and nearly everywhere around — creating a small labyrinth of wood and leaves.
The two men flinched when they saw the strange tree.
As they moved forward, they noticed a figure laying a short distance away on the ground.
Taking a closer look, they realised that it was the second guard responsible for protecting the residence where Karlen lived. Blood was flowing from beneath him, and his uniform had been torn, revealing a big hole in his back. .
Roots were scattered around his body and the wound. Some even plunged deep into the hole, down into the flesh of the wounded man, as small flowers surrounded the body.
Most of these roots seemed to go back to the strange tree located near the fence, and the parts that were coming out of the guard's body where tinted with a dark red tip — similar to the leaves falling from the strange, scary tree — themselves turning white after a short length, then dark brown just like the tree.
"Is he dead?" Karlen asked the first guard, in a panic.
The man slowly approached his colleague's body and felt the pulse and the man's body. He also took note of the roots pulsating inside and outside the other officer, as if they were sucking on something.
He then stood up after a brief moment and, looking the mayor straight in the eye, sighed.
"He's still alive, just unconscious!"
Hearing this, Karlen breathed a sigh of relief.
"But there's something weird happening here. Stay on your guard sir!" Added the first, older guard.
Feeling disturbed by all of this, Karlen gulped but followed the advice of his guard. He strengthened his resolve and they continued on their way.
When they finally reached the gate, they found it unfastened, probably forced open by the bishop's men, who stood in small bands equidistant from where their superior was.
They were dressed in their brown religious robes, as some were holding short spears, whips or daggers. A sight unfitting for men of faith.
Karlen, already frightened by the whole situation, faltered a little at the sight of the blades.
He could already imagine himself receiving a hundred stabs from these people, if he made the slightest mistake. And that thought alone was enough to make him tremble and wanting to flee.
However, he thought of his wife and their daughter, who must be crying in her nurse's arms. His resolve, strengthened because of his family, made him clench his fist and hit himself on the forehead.
The little pain from the strike helped him clear his mind and focus on the current situation, casting away all doubts and treacherous feelings.
He pulled himself together and moved forward, motioning to his guard to stay where he was.
'I have to handle this very carefully!' Karlen thought.
The clergymen saw him and began to speak or shout all at once, creating a cacophony of incomprehensible words.
The bishop raised his hand and his men immediately fell silent, letting the night regain its calm as if the anarchy of sound that had taken place a few seconds earlier were a memory from another era.
The old man, unlike his henchmen, was dressed in a long white robe, which fell to his feet, and a dull white chasuble with gold bands at the ends topped the robe.
A white skullcap was placed on his balding head, revealing skin dotted with brownish patches, and what little hair remained formed the outline of the back of his cranium. He held a silver sceptre, at the tip of which was a small figure representing a six-pointed star, the centre of which housed a levitating sphere that whirled quietly, not connected in any way to the star's branches.
Two pairs of wings were carved into the sides of the star, and the silvery metal gleamed a little from the reflections of light from the two moons pointing high into the sky.
He took two steps forward and stopped.
"Good evening, Mr Mayor. How are you?" asked the cleric, smiling.
The man's face clearly showed the ravages of time he had endured, and seborrhoeic keratoses were already growing on his nose and neck, not to mention the brown spots that dotted the old man's forehead.
He had the kind of face that could be described as experienced. He clearly possessed a wisdom and knowledge worthy of people of his age, who had seen and lived far more than others.
However, what Karlen saw most in this face was not wisdom, but dangerousness mixed with a hint of treachery and machiavellianism, which is extremely unwelcome in a man of faith.
Karlen swallowed and returned the greeting.
"Good evening, dear bishop! What is the reason for all this?!"
"We have witnessed the wrath of the gods, and seen the consequences of the many sins committed by the people of this city."
He turned his back on Karlen and addressed his followers.
"Is that not so? You have seen, as I have, the extent of the evil that has befallen this ungodly city!"
Karlen frowned.
"I'm sorry, but I don't agree with you! The creature that attacked us was in no way sent by the gods or anything else bu-"
"Anything else? ANYTHING ELSE?" shouted the bishop.
He raised his sceptre and struck it on the floor.
"YOUR WORDS ARE BLASPHEMOUS! HOW DARE YOU! THE GODS ARE NOT ANYTHING ELSE!"
Karlen took fright at the old man's reaction and shrank back.
"I-I apologise if my words offended you! But that's not the issue here."
The old man sighed and looked angrily at the mayor.
"Ah! And what is the problem then?"
"The problem is, it's your fault that this monster attacked the town. And don't pretend you don't know."
The cleric laughed, followed by his followers.
"This monster, as you call it, has been sent to us by the gods in person to wash the face of this city, for it is destined for ruin because of its sins!"
Karlen watched him spout his macabre rantings and took out his handkerchief to wipe his forehead.
'These men are completely mad, If I mess up, things will surely turn bad!'
The mayor turn his head and gave a quick glance in the direction of his residence, where his family was surely panicked and waiting to be reassured.
The image of his beloved daughter flashed in his mind.
He clutched his handkerchief tighter, and shifted his gaze back to the bishop.
"So that means you confess to being behind this s-"
"Yes, so what?!" interrupted the old man.
The answer unsettled the mayor, leaving enough momentum for the priest to continue.
"The gods have charged me and my dear followers with carrying out their will: the destruction and rebirth of this city. "
He exhaled.
"But don't worry. It will rise from the ashes even more beautiful, purer and above all holier than before." Continued the priest.
"AND FOR THAT, YOU'RE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE THE INHABITANTS OF THIS CITY, SOME OF WHOM ARE ALSO YOUR FOLLOWERS." Karlen shouted.
The bishop lowered his eyelids, showing an expression of detachment.
"The followers of our sacred religion already know there is no greater honour than to serve the gods, even if it means losing one's life. It is even written in our holy scriptures, true happiness lies in the paradise the gods have reserved for the pious. And for the others, the sinners, only damnation and the torments of hell await them".
"What a twisted religion!" exclaimed Karlen, his eyes full of anger.
The priest stared at him with both disdain and anger, then sighed.
"You don't understand the greatness of our faith, but I shouldn't expect more from a godless man who has allowed himself to be charmed by a viper, greedy for wealth."
the word "viper" sent a shiver down the spine of Karlen.
"KEEP MY WIFE OUT OF THIS!" he howled.
The old man began to walk back and forth in front of the gate while smiling.
"Well, as you wish. We won't mention this succubus who serves as your wife. And besides, that's not why we're here."
He paused.
"The angel's heart, where is it?"
"T-The angel?" spat Karlen.
"Yes, the angel! Or the creature, if you prefer!"
Karlen wiped his brow.
He was in a position of weakness, and attempting anything against these people would surely result in an attack on his life. Worse, his wife and daughter, and everyone in the house, could suffer their wrath.
He considered his options.
He could lie and say he didn't have the crystal because Yugo had already left.
No. All they had to do was force their way into the residence to find it.
Maybe then he could tell them he didn't know what they were talking about.
Again, too risky.
He had no choice but to hand over the Negacion crystal core.
But what proof was there that doing so would ensure his family's safety? And above all, he had no idea what these crazy people were planning to do with the monster's core. There would probably be another attack if he gave them the crystal.
Seconds passed and he still hadn't given them an answer.
The old man struck the ground with his sceptre. The sound of the impact drew Karlen out of his thoughts.
He sighed.
'Sorry if it's selfish of me but...'
At last he spoke.
"I'll give it to you, but I just have one request to make."
The bishop looked at him with surprised eyes.
"Oh oh! Now you're being reasonable! Go on, tell me your request!"
Karlen bowed his head.
"In exchange for the core, I'd like you to let me and my family get out of here, and you will never hear from us again." He said, clenching his fist.
'They're all that matter!'
The bishop flashed a broad smile on his face, revealing a mouth that was toothless in places.
"Who would have thought that you would decide to put your family before everyone else? Well, that's hardly surprising coming from the coward in charge of the town!
When he heard the words "coward in charge", Karlen felt as if a dagger had just pierced his heart.
He had been called a coward on several occasions. In fact, he'd been called that ever since he was a teenager.
He bowed his head, cursing his impotence and cowardice.
The bishop approached him and whispered something in his ear. Karlen jumped to his feet, his eyes full of terror, and shoved the old man, who fell backwards onto his buttocks.
He then wanted to run back to the guard still standing nearby, but a sharp pain pinched his lower back.
He painfully lowered his head and saw a tree branch pierce his abdomen.
He collapsed and his blood began to flow.
Little flowers began to bud around him and as his consciousness faded, he had the impression that something was moving and pulsating in his body.
He closed his eyes, letting his mind wander and plunging him into an icy, strange sleep.
Before his consciousness completely went away, he smelled the scent of Rosebay flowers, and let himself get immersed in this flowery sleep.