***

  The weight of a hangover pressed down on my temple. It was hard to remember the past couple of days. Was it the weather that got to me? I wouldn’t know. The sun outside started to part from the clouds. I painfully pushed off the stiff bed. Creaking open my door, I decided to check on Lily. Her room wasn’t that far away anyways. With a few firm knocks, I let out a sigh,

  “Are you there?”

  There was no response. Shrugging, I turned around and walked away.

  The Four Wind Inn was always empty in the morning. Except the busy bee who wipes all the counters and tables. Waiting patiently for a cup of water, I pondered on what I should do today.

  “Ah, I should visit Cecil”

  Sipping down the last of the warm water. I headed out, into the cold winter morning.

  The fresh winter air stung at my dried nostrils. Tucking my cold hands away, I made my way to the church. On my way there, an odd girl in a crimson scarf caught my eye. She stood out from the crowd shifting around. Passing glances, we kept to ourselves.

  The front of the church was quite grand. It stood out with it’s distinct architecture. Heading up the elongated stairs, I push open the church doors. A warm light welcomed me in. Candle light lit up the walkways, painting the interior with a soft orange hue. Looking around, a familiar priest was slumped on a pew.

  “Hey, don’t we have something to discuss?”

  Cecil shakes awake, flinching at an odd scent…

  “Uhm, yes. Sorry, I didn't get much sleep last night. Follow me.”

  We went into the back. The hallway illuminated by pale light leaking from the high up windows. The sounds of banging and screaming echoed around us. Calming down my nerves, I ask,

  “How are you unfazed by this?”

  “This isn’t the first time I’ve witnessed lunacy. It’s not ideal.”

  Pushing past a door, Cecil gestures towards a seat,

  “Make yourself comfortable.”

  I slide onto the uncomfortable chair as Cecil grabs a notebook and takes a seat.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “To start, can you recall the events that lead up to the fire?”

  I start giving a simplified rundown, from the bed-ridden Isabella demanding to go to the kitchen, to me and Lily leaving the restaurant.

  “After finding another place to eat, we took some food back for Monty.”

  Hastily scribbling on the notebook, Cecil lifts his head up,

  “Did anything strange happen while you were walking back?”

  I shifted aback as I recalled the shifting shades floating about.

  “If I recall, the shadows were gathering around her restaurant. She treated them like customers. There was also some mention of the Light of Sol?”

  Cecil’s face turns dark at the mention of Sol.

  “So my suspicions were right”

  His eyes darted towards the doorway as a small flame envelops the notes.

  “I’m sorry, I have to get going.”

  Pushing off the desk, Cecil rushes out the door.

  ***

  Bookshelves narrow around Lily, books laid all over the ground.

  “This is the first time a blood veil combusted into flames. Why did that happen?”

  She shakes the veil of scorched blood. Tints of blue essences floated within it. From what she’d recalled, this blood was from Clover. Sifting through the bookshelves, there was not one case of this anywhere. However, the next closest concept was Ichor, but that couldn’t have been the case.

  “What’s this? Sol, The god of light”

  An oddly small book not covered in dust stuck out from the shelves. Recalling Isabella’s words, Lily flips around. some pages were torn out.

  Our glorious God. As bright as the sun itself. Grant us sanctuary with your graceful light. Your generosity has granted gold! Forget this world, for it has been abandoned. We shall be one with the light ahead!

  A sticky feeling lingers on the words as Lily tosses the book aside.

  Who’d want to read the ramblings of a madman?

  A figure stood in the corner of her eye, catching the book. He had nothing unusual about him, except for the oddly coloured clothes which hurt to look at.

  “I am deeply disappointed.”

  He says, approaching ever so closer.

  “Do you not see the beautiful light that lingers in those pages?”

  He flips open the book and mumbles some gibberish. Suddenly, the scent of brimstone erupts from the air. Yellowish, golden flames hover around him as he closes the book shut and obnoxiously tilts his head.

  “You do not belong here, filthy hemomancer. Die.”

  Under his command, a barrage of fire shoots out. Darting her eyes left and right, Lily barely rolls over the first blast, scorching her hair.

  “Next blast is… there!”

  She grabs a book off the ground and tosses it, turning to ash. With a kick off the ground, Lily leaps over the next few shots. Suddenly, the narrow corridor glows a sickly yellow. A sly smile curls the figure's face.

  “hahaha…”

  A wave of fire erupts from his palm, erupting the books on the shelves. Pages desperately flutter away as sickly flames devour them.

  “didn’t want to use this”

  Lily pops open the odd blood veil and smears it in the air. A bluish bubble forms around her. she takes a deep breath and dashes through the flames. With a weak toss, the glass veil taps the figure's face and a drop kick follows suit. Shards of glass dig into the figure's skull as he collapses to the ground.

  Rolling off the ground, Lily lets out a sigh to the charred corridor. Many precious books were lost that day. With a moment of silence, she wipes away some soot on her coat and heads out.