The Kind of Evil

Aurelia watched the bodies that got drained by Nemu being carried into the carriages. She prayed to God as she stood in front of those carriages, asking for forgiveness, for letting those people die. She knew she was guilty of letting it happen and knew that demons would appear and do something. However, deep within her heart, she didn't feel so conflicted about it or any guilt, she knew that asking for forgiveness was all that mattered.

Astrea could see the changes in her daughter's expression and the way she held her chin up even after everything that had just happened. She could feel the bond that she had with her daughter had weakened and the gap between them had gone wider.

"Your Holiness, I have to excuse myself and report this matter to His Majesty," Arandil said as she approached Astrea.

"Yes, and thank you for saving my life, Lord Arandil," Astrea smiled softly as she looked at Aristoria's sword on his back. "Count Blackheart asked about his late mother's swords, and I lied to him. I told him that I didn't know where the swords were," she continued.

Arandil glanced at Astrea, finding out that she didn't put her trust in Rasmus at all. He slowly nodded with understanding and it assured him that Astrea could see how Rasmus shouldn't have more high grounds.

"A man like him shouldn't possess or hold more power than what he already has," Arandil responded as he watched the carriages that carried the bodies move. "I hope he will never find out, Your Holiness. Your lie will be safe with me, and I will carry all the consequences of that lie," he assured as he looked at Astrea.

"He knows that I'm lying, Lord Arandil. He knows," Astrea smiled, staring at the carriages with a blank gaze. "The only words he believes are the words from a dying man," she continued. "You should go now, Lord Arandil. May God be with you," she placed her hand on Arandil's shoulder before she walked away.

Arandil lowered his head and then walked toward his horse.

Aurelia stood still, not moving a muscle as she kept praying for the lives that she had sacrificed to reveal the truth. She then noticed presences behind her, and when she turned around, she saw powerful figures staring at her. They had read all the evil deeds that the Holy Nations had done in the past hundreds of years. All the prophecies that people believed came from the mouth of the Saints of the Angelis family, turned out they were prophecies that the Zevrathi's had warned thousands of years ago.

"Aurelia, the world will become your enemy. And yet, you will keep fighting for humankind. We may not be be support you, but know this, our hearts will be with you. For once, let us show our last respect to you," A king said with a soft voice. "Thank you for everything that the Holy Nation and the Angelis family have done for the people."

All the esteemed guests lowered their heads to Aurelia. She nodded and bowed her head at them as well, and then watched them leave. At that moment, she felt like the world was blurred around her, nothing seemed clear in her eyes except those figures. Only those who seemed clear in her eyes were the ones who had recognized her as who she was, not less, nothing more, and yet she felt more lonely than before.

Aurelia went back to her chamber, and everything was still blurry in her vision. The faces of the Paladins, the Priests, the Priestesses, the Cardinals, everyone, they were all blurry and their words muffled. When she stood behind her desk, she opened the drawer, revealing a piece of paper inside. She pulled out the piece of paper and stared at it with a hint of a smile on her face. The paper that reminded her of what she learned back at Gratlan Academy, the assignment that Rasmus gave her, the plan to gain recognition without her title, power, or influence.

"Thank you, Instructor. I will live the life as what I have believed to be the right path..." Aurelia closed her eyes as she held the paper tightly into her chest. "It is us to decide where to draw the line..." She recited the words of Rasmus before he left the academy.

Aurelia decided to gather all the servants of God into the grand hall, wanting them to know the lies, the corruption, and the lies that the Holy Nation and the Angelis family they had served. She stared at them in the eyes, but all of them had blurred faces, they didn't recognize her for who she was.

Hours had passed since the gathering, and Aurelia sat at her desk, her expression cold, empty, and distant when they heard murmurs, screams, and yells outside. The servants of God were disgusted by the truth, they felt betrayed, they felt used, and they couldn't handle the truth. However, those words were muffled out, she didn't find guilt, pain, or sadness.

The sound of a knock on the door snapped Aurelia back to reality. She let whoever it was to come in, and when she saw Serena, she saw her clearly, however, when she looked at Astrea, she was surprised that her face was blurred. She realized and was a bit disappointed that her own mother couldn't even see her like how Serena saw her.

"Sweetheart..." Astrea called.

Aurelia could hear Astrea's words, barely because it was muffled. She couldn't see what kind of expression her mother was making, or what kind of tone her mother used when she called her 'Sweetheart'. It was terrifying, but somehow it felt real.

"Yes, mother?" Aurelia looked at Astrea as she got up.

"Everyone is leaving, only a few of them have stayed behind. Not all that stayed are because they wanted to serve you, but because they have nowhere else to go," Astrea said as she approached Aurelia and saw how her daughter had grown colder and more distant, almost as if she was looking at a glimpse of Rasmus within her daughter.

"It's their choice to stay, but sooner or later, their only place to live will be destroyed, ravaged, and conquered by others. Since they have no choice but to stay, then I will give them a choice to leave," Aurelia said as she turned around to look at the blurry scenery outside the window. "I'll give them enough money to live a new life," she muttered.

Astrea nodded with understanding, showing a bit of sadness in her eyes. She then turned around to look at Serena, hoping that Serena could prevent her daughter from turning into Rasmus. She decided to leave the room, knowing that no words could reach Aurelia since she knew how hard it must have been, to reveal the truth to the world. She wanted to be there, but she knew that Aurelia didn't want her to be a part of it, pushing her away.

"You're really pushing everyone away, Aurelia. Is it out of necessity or is it what you want? To stand up on your own without anyone's support?" Serena asked as she sat down and stared at Aurelia.

"I don't want anyone to stay by my side out of pity, obligation, or belief of who I was. So far, none of them have seen me like how I want them to see me," Aurelia answered as she turned around to look at Serena, finally she could stare into someone's eyes.

"I see..." Serena smiled as she crossed her arms. "Are you trying to live your life like Rasmus?" She asked with her brows raised.

Aurelia chuckled as she shook her head and sat down at her desk. She placed her hands on the table, her gaze tired and yet gentle.

"I'm not as heartless as him, and I don't think I have the strength or the will to get rid of my humanity. So no, I'm not trying to become like Count Rasmus, I want to become a better version of him. I want to do what's necessary and what's right," Aurelia answered with a serious expression.

"What's right? And who are going to decide if what you did was right or wrong?" Serena smirked with her head tilted and stared into Aurelia's eyes.

"I did, I will determine what's right or wrong, Saint Serena," Aurelia answered without hesitation and with confidence.

Serena slowly raised her brows and she began to chuckle which turned into a suppressed laugh as she covered her mouth. She stared at how serious and confident Aurelia was, and it made her let out her unsuppressed laugh.

"You might think that I'm no difference than him, but you're wrong, Saint Serena," Aurelia kept her serious and stern gaze as she looked down at the paper on the desk in front of her. "Count Rasmus doesn't care what's right and does what's necessary. The reason why he can climb this high is because he's abusing the broken system and morality, and I will do exactly what prevent him from abusing the new system," she explained.

Serena's laugh got subdued when she listened to Aurelia's explanation. She slowly leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk and rested her chin on her fist with a smirk on her face.

"I thought you were about to spout nonsense, but who would have thought you could say something so controversial like this..." Serena muttered as she narrowed her eyes. "I would love to see that... I really do..." She bit her bottom lip in excitement.