Compliance (2)

"How convenient! I've been dying to think of myself as a villain."

"Prophet, you are asking to be killed."

"Oh please, if you are looking for world's salvation, the first thing you would do is to save this village first."

Seon's words linger in the room.

Istar, however, was lost in his own thoughts.

Who exactly was the prophet?

The question had plagued him since the moment he first heard of her existence.

He had never truly believed in the so-called oracle the pope had proclaimed.

In fact, he was the one who had manipulated others into believing that a prophet was necessary—a mere tool, a 'hope' to keep the masses in line.

It was all a ruse. They told the desperate that if they fulfilled their roles, the "prophet" would descend.

The higher-ups of the Church of Sea had orchestrated the entire ritual, selling false hope in exchange for coin and loyalty, convincing the faithful that their prayers would summon this divine figure.

He had never expected it to work.

No, in fact, the ritual he gave is made by him, supposed to be a joke; there was no way it could happen.

Or so he thought—until a prophet had indeed descended.

When the higher-ups heard the news from his spy, they sent Istar to come here personally, intending to expose the fraud.

They were convinced that whoever was posing as this "prophet" was merely a puppet, some paid actor playing a role. Istar had even brought along an ancient lie detector, confident that the truth would unravel easily.

Yet something unexpected happened on his way to the village. He encountered rebels from a neighboring kingdom, preparing to raid the isolated settlement.

Istar could have sounded the alarm and called for reinforcements, but to him, this village was too insignificant to warrant the trouble.

He chose to ignore it, feigning ignorance of the impending danger.

But now, standing before the so-called Prophet, things were far more complicated than he had imagined.

She's the real deal.

As Istar scrutinized the woman before him, two things became painfully clear.

First, despite her seemingly frail appearance, she wasn't just some random villager. She bore no visible signs of training—no muscles hardened by swordsmanship or battle—but her mere presence unnerved him.

Second, the way she had casually mentioned the incoming war with such confidence suggested that she knew what was coming, whether through a vision, intelligence gathering, or something else entirely.

The lie-detecting stone he had meticulously prepared gave no sign of deceit.

She was telling the truth—every word of it.

Even considering other possibilities of how she knew the information, only made her more dangerous to keep alive.

Third, Istar had initially intended to manipulate her, to turn her into a puppet for the church's gain. But as their conversation progressed, it became clear who was truly in control.

Her calm demeanor, the way she effortlessly steered the dialogue—it was all too evident.

She's the predator, not me.

Istar swallowed hard, choosing his words with care.

"I... did not come here to abandon anyone."

"Is that so?" A sly smile danced on Seon's lips. "Because it seems to me, Deacon, that you've already made your decision."

"Prophet, you must be mistaken—"

"If I am..." Seon interrupted smoothly, "can you tell me why you're gripping your sword's hilt?"

Istar's expression twisted as he was momentarily caught in her gaze.

I knew it; she's dangerous.

The hesitation vanished as fear morphed into raw aggression.

"Kill the prophet! She's a danger to us all!" His voice rang out.

At his command, chaos erupted in the room.

The members of the Church of the Sea, clad in their distinct blue robes, sprang to their feet. Weapons were drawn—swords, spears, and staves, each poised to strike.

But the followers of the Church of Fertility moved almost as one, surging protectively in front of Seon, stepping into a defensive stance.

"Protect the Prophet!"

They shouted, their voices united in defiance.