Chapter 17: Helene and the Mission

Susyl pushed open the oak entrance and gestured for them to come inside.

As they crossed the threshold, Damien felt like he had been transported to another world.

The air was filled with a rich aroma of paper, leather, and ink. He paused for a moment, and surveyed the expansive room filled with bookshelves reaching up to the high vaulted ceiling.

'What is this place?' he wondered inwardly, frowning his brow.

Instead of electric lamps, orange torches flickered rhythmically at various symmetrical points in the room. His eyes swept over the surroundings and then stumbled upon something in the center—a pentagram-like symbol drawn with crimson pigment.

'What the hell, is this a magic circle?'

Within the circle stood a small statue, depicting a female figure with open arms and a black hood covering her head. She gazed downward, motionless, as if observing those who knelt at her feet.

The statue was surrounded by lit candles, their flames dancing restlessly despite the absence of wind. At first, Damien thought he had stumbled upon some kind of demonic ritual.

All that was missing was the maniacal, screeching laughter to make it seem like a scene from a horror movie.

Nephelia looked at her beloved's confused face and explained, "She represents the Midnight Goddess. This is a ritual of offering and prayer."

Damien's thin lips twitched for an instant. "A ritual dedicated for a deity?" For a brief moment he had feared a succubus would emerge.

"And... What exactly is the point of paying veneration to her? Do these gods actually listen to the prayers of their believers?"

Nephelia took hold of Damien's hand and pulled him forward, answering, "When a believer of the goddess consumes a Pathway Pill while worshipping the Midnight Goddess, seeking her guidance to maintain control and avoid the path of darkness, they say she can assist in channeling their power without being overwhelmed by it. Though it seems to have happened only a few times. It has other benefits as well."

The three of them cautiously skirted the outline of the pentagram. As they passed by, Damien felt an uncomfortable tingling on his skin, accompanied by a loud hissing sound in his ears. A sudden breeze tousled his hair.

He remained tense for a few moments until the calm returned. He let out a sigh of relief, straightening his clothes. "Given this magic circle, is the Leader preparing to advance in rank?"

Susyl was the one who stepped in this time. "The Leader regularly offers tribute to the Midnight Goddess. It's not necessarily for advancement, but honoring the gods can earn their favor. So, if you ever find yourself in need of little assistance in the future, they will show gratitude in return."

'A favor... Hmm.' Damien pondered in his mind. 'What if I asked the Goddess for some money?'

As he schemed ideas about what he could ask of the Midnight Goddess, Damien subtly leaned closer to Nephelia, his lips nearing her ear as he whispered words meant only for her.

"Dear Nephelia, are they treating you well here? Are they not forcing you to do anything against your will?" He asked softly, his eyes glinting dangerously.

She was taken aback by his sudden question, yet warmth filled her heart. She gave him a small gentle smile and spoke:

"No, I'm not being coerced into anything. I joined the Morigerants willingly as a way to repay Helene for her help. I take on missions by choice. The Morigerants themselves are admirable, as they are dedicated to protecting those in need, unless someone loses control, of course. That's why I didn't hesitate to accept Helene's request."

Hearing her response, Damien seemed to calm down. He tenderly caressed her cheek.

Then, his footsteps halted in the back of the spacious room. An oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily in the air, causing him to glance up abruptly.

Behind a large oak desk, adorned with scrolls and manuscripts, a woman sat, engrossed in the pages she held between her fingers. A cascade of crimson hair framed her beautiful pale face, revealing a woman in her mid-twenties.

Helene's piercing emerald eyes narrowed until she looked up and noticed their entrance.

"Ah, Susyl. You've returned," she said in a low, commanding voice. Her gaze settled on Damien, "And it seems you've brought a new guest."

Susyl stepped forward and bowed so low that her hair almost brushed the floor. "Leader Helene, this is Nephelia and her companions. I have brought them as you requested." She quickly straightened up and continued, "If there's anything else you need before I take my leave..."

Helene quirked a sarcastic smile on her full lips. "You're free to go, Susyl. Thank you for escorting them here."

After a brief bow, Susyl turned and disappeared through the door, leaving them alone with the person they referred to as Leader.

Damien's gaze fixated on Helene as he studied her closely. Her figure was slender and elegant. Though seated, he estimated she would be around six feet tall—barely five centimeters shorter than him. What caught his attention the most, beneath her white uniform adorned with black stripes, was the impressive size of her breasts.

He then noticed a small metal plate affixed to the fabric of her chest, displaying a moon balanced on a scale. He assumed it was the symbol of the Morigerants.

Helene was truly beautiful. Damien nodded to himself in agreement.

Suddenly, a chilling whisper sent shivers down his spine. "Damien..." He turned, meeting Nephelia's eyes, which emanated a dark, somber hue, her nails exerting slight pressure on his arm.

Any other man might have been horrified by the intensity of her gaze. But Damien was different. He was naturally drawn to mentally dubious women. A subtle tingling of arousal coursed through his skin. He was fascinated by this side of her.

He grinned widely and leaned down slightly, bringing his lips close to her ear. "Oh? What is it, my darling?"

Damien's warm breath seemed to calm the momentary turbulence in Nephelia's gaze. Still, she gave him a stern look.

"You should only have eyes for me," she dryly remarked.

"My, someone's in a feisty mood today," he replied, winking at her. Before she could give him a well-deserved kick in the calf, he planted a soft kiss on her lips. "I promise to make it up to you later."

Nephelia's jealousy deflated like a balloon pierced by a needle. She nodded slowly and expressionlessly, focusing on taking a deep breath to calm herself.

From one side, Camille spoke with a slightly raised, sarcastic voice, barely containing her irritation on her expressionless face:

"Miss Nephelia, Mr. Damien, love seems to be everything to you, doesn't it? How delightful. I'm thrilled to see you so... entertained. But in case you've forgotten, we're not here for you to exchange bodily fluids. Some of us want to complete our tasks and go home, so I'd appreciate it if you could focus for once."

Her words lingered in the air for a moment, but suddenly, something subtly changed. A warmth seemed to permeate the room slowly, as if a door to a summer day had been opened.

Instinctively, everyone's gazes shifted towards the source of the heat. Behind the desk, Helene had assumed a menacing posture, despite remaining seated.

Her fiery hair danced around her, as if sensing an invisible breeze, while a twisted smile played on her crimson lips.

She glared at Nephelia and spoke in a voice that was simultaneously low and icy.

"Did you mean to mock me, little Nephelia? Remember, I can eliminate your little toy whenever I please."

Her emerald eyes briefly shifted towards Damien, silently assessing him with a stoic gaze before looking away. He wasn't worth any further attention.

However, she couldn't ignore the subtle tremor in Nephelia's body or the intense glare she directed at her.

"My toy?" Nephelia's voice dropped dangerously low. "Have you finally lost your mind, you old red bitch? This is Damien, my husband. And..."

Her crimson eyes took on a possessive and deadly gleam as she lunged forward like a ghost. "As long as I'm alive, neither you nor anyone else can harm a single hair on his head."

Helene's emerald eyes flashed, feeling a vein pulsate fiercely in her temple. Old red bitch?!

Bam! She slammed her hand on the desk, restraining herself from reaching over and strangling the insolent brat.

However, a disguised cough interrupted the confrontation. Damien calmly took the opportunity to speak, "I recall you interrupting us-uhum! I mean, Nephelia came here on urgent business. It's been over ten minutes and it hasn't been addressed yet, so I can't help but wonder... Was it truly that important?"

Helene fixed her gaze on Damien, who was calmly stroking Nephelia's hair absentmindedly. Something about his reassurance made her eyebrows raise.

She knew her own strength and understood that those weaker than her couldn't withstand her gaze. So she deduced that he must also be a strong Ascendant.

"What faction do you belong to, young one?" she asked, exhaling her frustration through her nostrils.

"Mmm?" Damien replied simply. "None, actually. I just found out about all this today."

Helene cast a sidelong glance at Nephelia, whose face, though expressionless, was glowing with pure joy from the caress.

That delightful sight only heightened her irritation, causing her to shift her gaze back to Damien.

'So, he's a Clandestine Ascendant, huh?' she thought. 'Tch! What a nuisance. Well, at least Nephelia will take care of it.'

"Fine, come closer, Nephelia," she gestured. The young woman obeyed, and Helene extended a yellowed sheet to her.

Curious, Damien also approached to take a look. The sheet read:

[Target: Alex

Mission Type: Extermination

Location: Celes City, North District, Block 7, House #15

Description: Alex lost control after ingesting a Pathway Pill to ascend to Rank 1. He is currently confined in an artificial Domain to prevent any disturbances.

Reward: $30,000]

Nephelia carefully scanned the lines on the sheet as Damien read over her shoulder.

Suddenly, Damien became choked up, his eyes darting around as he reached the reward.

"W-what, thirty thousand dollars!?" He exclaimed, startling Nephelia.

"Where do I sign?"

Damien then asked, fixing a serious look on Helene.

She raised her eyebrows curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, where do I sign up to join this group?"

Helene let out a brief laugh. "Do you possess the necessary qualities, young one? We only welcome Ascendants who are dedicated to our shared objective—maintaining peace in the world."