The affairs of the Order.

"Are you prepared for a new chapter in your storied history?" I surveyed the hundred and thirty-six witches.

We were gathered in one of the vast chambers on the second subterranean level of the citadel, which had previously been unoccupied. All of the witches were present, even those who were part of the citadel's guard. My illusory constructs had assumed their duties in safeguarding the citadel.

"Ready, Sire," Vold replied on behalf of the group.

This was the first instance where he had acknowledged my superior position in our interaction. By doing so, he affirmed my authority to command them and my status as their sovereign.

"Then let us commence. Those who wish to proceed, please approach the altars."

And I gestured with my hand towards the twenty altars that I had erected there. These altars were rectangular prisms with dimensions of 1.8 metres by 2 m, and a height of one and a half meters. My artifacts were crafted from solid pieces of pure obsidian — an excellent accumulator and conduit for any energies. The entire outer surface of the altar-artifacts was coated with a three-centimeter layer of gold, utilizing the portion of the precious metal that had recently been recovered from the depths of the sea, having previously been employed by the priests of Native American cults, and boasting the finest characteristics among all the gold at my disposal.

It was unexpected. I truly did not anticipate such unwavering trust from them, after all. The initial volunteers consisted of: 1) the pinnacle of the Witch Order, and 2) seasoned hunters of malevolence.

On this day, as the Witches were to assume their role as a new guardian species for humanity, I was accompanied by three esteemed clergymen from the Catholic Church.

My erstwhile acquaintance, Cardinal Vencenzenzo Amati, Master of the Order of the Creator; a member of the papal secretariat, a representative of the Inquisition — I did not think it prudent to invite the highest ecclesiastical dignitaries to this event. Having taken the Witches under my wing and accepted them into the Order of the Dragon, I would be affirming the resurrection of their Catholic order, of which I am already titular head. However, without knights, such an order is a mere sham. But not now, when we will have one hundred and thirty-six seasoned warriors and hunters at our disposal.

In the not-so-distant future, the Witches were on the verge of becoming a fully fledged Catholic order. Their operations were to be conducted in accordance with their stated objectives, while nominally being under the "protection" of the Vatican. Should I assume control of this order, it would significantly enhance my own standing and political influence in Rome. Moreover, it would provide my former apprentice with greater security from any oblique looks or thoughts.

For this event to take place, it was necessary for certain dignitaries to be present. They were there to witness the conversion of what were once considered witches, to faithful Christians. Thus, I had to delay the initiation by a month. This provided sufficient time to prepare, ensuring the attendance of the cardinal and representatives from the church for the sacramental ceremony.

Indeed, I requested Vencenzo to refrain from mentioning my presence to Maria. Specifically, I asked him not to disclose my visit to Rome. He himself was pleased with this decision. Dutiful to the core of his eternal soul, he aspired to make Mary a devotee of the church. Consequently, he endeavored to erase any romantic associations of me from her mind. My intentions regarding Maria remain uncertain, but I am confident that his efforts will prove futile. For Maria, I have become the focal point of her existence. Like a moth drawn to light, she sees only me and her own reflection beside me.. That is why she is trying to reach me with all her might. Therefore, in this regard, I remained completely calm.

I have made a responsible decision to assume such obligations, not merely in name but as the actual head of the Catholic order. A sovereign only has a limited number of duties towards his vassals. There is no need to consider magical portents. The world itself swiftly exacts retribution for failing to fulfill one's obligations. There is no escape from its consequences. Since I have undertaken such a responsibility, I intend to approach it with grandeur and solemnity. I do not want anyone in the Vatican to even suspect that my order might harbor impious or sinister elements. To achieve this, I must work diligently to ensure that my future vassals are seen as true soldiers of Christ within the eyes of the Vatican.

The intricacy of my altars was comparable to that of my anti-demonic chain. According to the ancient Sumerian classification, this was the work of a masterful craftsman. Each of the twenty altars was linked to the magic source of the citadel, which had previously possessed a level of power slightly above average. However, after the installation of an artifact amplifier similar to that on the Caribbean island, it became equivalent in strength to the most potent magic sources in Europe, which are associated with the estates of the most illustrious and noble families.

This connection ensured that the repositories of my altars were always filled and ready for use.

I have permanently activated two of my material illusions at each altar. These illusions will remain active as long as the altars possess magical energy, and their built-in transformer will always imbue them with my «colouring». In essence, they have become my ancestral artifacts.

Only through my will and powers can I modify their functioning. My illusions within these artifacts possess an almost exact replica of my consciousness, rendering the altars sentient. They will never be compromised by those who seek to harm me.

The illusions incorporated into the artifacts are tasked with the following duties:

* Conducting a thorough examination of the memories and thoughts of individuals seeking to become a Witcher.

* Monitoring unforeseen variables and promptly intervening in the ritual, if necessary.

* Safeguarding the artifact itself.

* Overseeing the initiation process.

Each of my material projections embodied all my knowledge and skill. They could employ magic that only the most skilled of sorcerers could wield. True, this was only as long as the altars remained powered, but it was still a quarter of an hour's worth of firepower, at the absolute limit of a master magician's abilities on the Sumerian scale — a formidable capability, indeed.

And there were twenty of these projections. With such power, they could have drowned half of Europe in flames in fifteen minutes. But why tempt fate? Only Alfonso, Maria, and Koneko were aware of my true strength, which had never been fully revealed in the field. Vencenzenzo had a hunch, but let us keep it that way. I would be seen as a powerful mage with a following, not as a threat to all and sundry. Thus, no one would know of the capabilities of the protections embedded in the altars until the critical moment when it was too late to save the artifacts without the appearance of my projections.

Now, with twenty witchers laid out on the altars, I commenced the process of transmuting these chimeras into a novel biological entity. The performance has commenced!!!

The intricate array of enchantments rendered the minds of my future liege men and women unconscious upon the altars, rendering their bodies immobile and immobilized in a state of perpetual stillness. This process was accompanied by an ethereal golden radiance emanating from the altars, a symphony of whispers and hummed incantations.

Then, the ritual commenced, transforming the physical forms and spiritual essences of the recipients through a process of intricate manipulation. Enchanted needles of gold pierced through the very marrow of their bones, where nerve tissues lay, infusing them with concoctions crafted from my own blood and venom, along with the essences of potent magical beings. The potions and elixirs necessary for the reconstruction of the bodies of this new race, the Witches, were stored in intricate coils within the altars themselves. Their abundance was sufficient to empower a million Witches with each altar, requiring a substantial expenditure of resources from my personal reserves of blood and venom.

Upon the altar, each slab bore a half-meter-high cross crafted from consecrated silver. The material had been procured from Vencenzo, having been blessed no less than the wares I had received from the Vatican for my artefact repositories. When I apprised Vencenzenzo of my requirements, he provided me with the requisite quantity of silver without haggling, deeming it a pious act, and asserting that no debt was owed for this metal.

Then, the culmination arrived: my mana commenced to emanate from the altars, lending support to my spiritual vessels. They swiftly reconstituted themselves, establishing connections with their newly forged physical form, which had undergone profound transformations.

And with the mana I drew from the altars, the silver crosses I had fashioned into diminutive forts for the egregor of the One began to function. They allowed the flow of sacred energy to pass through them. Infused with the enchantment of light magic, the crosses commenced to imbue the souls and bodies of my subjects with healing energy, drawing upon the radiance of light and the essence of life mana.

When this event occurred, upon the chests of each Witcher resting upon the altar, a cross shimmering with a pure white light materialized — an exact replica of the cross adorning their backs upon the altar. Simultaneously, the entire chamber was imbued with a sense of grace — a kind that even the most jaded atheist or godless individual could experience in a sanctuary revered by thousands of devout followers. It mattered not whether it was a synagogue, church, or mosque. Those present in the chamber began to breathe more easily. Peace settled upon their souls, accompanied by delight and awe in the presence of their creator.

Cardinal Amati was the first to kneel and offer prayer, his devotion palpable in his every movement. Others soon followed suit, compelled by the collective spirit. I too felt compelled to join, lest I remain the sole standing figure.

As soon as the process was complete and the first representatives of the new species had been born, they regained consciousness simultaneously and leapt from the altars. The witches were overwhelmed by the sheer grace of the moment. The power of sanctity had burst forth through their bodies into the chamber. In a state of religious ecstasy, they became absorbed in what was happening around them and fell to their knees in prayer. Each witch offered their own prayer in their own language, addressing their deity with gratitude and enthusiasm, though all their impulses were genuine.

The duration of our prayer service was two hours, providing ample time for all the witches present to undergo the initiation. However, twenty minutes after the final initiation, the sanctified energy that had permeated the chamber during the transformation of the souls of the newly awakened race began to fade, allowing the sentient beings to regain their senses.

Venchenzo firmly clasped my wrist in a handshake:

"You are a man of worth and a mage, Svyatozar. The order of the dragon could not have a more deserving chapter! I shall depart for Rome tomorrow, where I must inform all the cardinals of your feat in bringing the army of Christ — such a mighty and necessary force of experienced warriors."

"Do what you must," I responded, quoting from the beginning of a phrase by Marcus Aurelius, which I had shared with him during our initial encounter.

"Thank you, brother," he said, "for summoning me here today." Brother Marco was the second in command of the combat arm of the Inquisition. "It was truly miraculous! I witnessed and felt with both my eyes and my soul the mystery of our Lord, who forgives his children their transgressions committed in ignorance, bestowing his blessings upon them. There can be no doubt that witches are not demons."

Here are learned individuals who are as well-versed in the history of these chimeras' creation as I am — and yet they remain. What sort of creatures of darkness are they, when the name of their maker is known and the records of the Inquisition contain every detail of the initiation rites of the Witch-chimeras? They are, and these records have recently come into my possession. They have already transferred their entire library to my artifacts.

Yes, the doctrine that man is the pinnacle of God's creation, and any alteration of his nature by mere mortals is anathema and displeasing to God, remains intact. But after tonight's performance, there should be no doubt in the Vatican's mind. Everything that transpired in this chamber tonight was in accordance with His will!

When the ecstatic clerics of the Church were escorted to their quarters, I, now left alone with this new congregation, extracted from them an oath of fealty to myself and to my household. Thereafter, I inducted them all into the ranks of the Order of the Dragon, albeit with a peculiar twist. The emblem of the Order, formerly depicted as a shield bearing a tower and a reclining dragon, underwent a transformation.

There was no set protocol for admission to the fraternity. Indeed, there was no codified law that governed the proceedings and responsibilities of this fellowship. Thus, I chose to induct Vold into the order on a whimsical impulse, relying on my intuition and mystical powers. I approached him, standing before me at the helm of his fellow witches, seized his forearm in my grasp, placed my other hand upon his shoulder, and proclaimed, "I hereby induct you into the ranks of the Order of the Dragon, making you its sword and shield against the menace that threatens humanity!"

Barely had the words been spoken when a beam of light illuminated them. It emanated from George's chain, which had taken on the form of an ornate symbol of power — the Master's chain around his neck. A design flashed across Vold's chest, right over his heart.

When the light display concluded, they could see that a faint silver emblem of Vold's renewed Order of the Dragon was shining against his chest. It resembled the tower of the Witcher citadel from the past, encircled by the body of a royal basilisk.

Aha. It was quite symbolic, indeed. A cunning and insolent serpent had appeared and taken the best of the warriors and their possessions. And now it was guarding its own. Yes, there was a reason for that. Royal basilisks were known as wingless dragons — the same greedy and predatory creatures.

My physical form has also undergone a transformation. The cruciform mark that appeared on my chest following the «Miracle» in Venice, during which I foolishly engaged with the divine egregore, has now been encircled by a silvery royal basilisk. Mine is a mature and powerful serpent, while Vold's basilisk is still a juvenile, lacking a bony crown.

The more prominent the bony crest teeth of a basilisk, the greater its age and strength. My appearance as a basilisk precisely reflects my true nature. I have performed this ritual on all the witches, making them my servants and binding them to me and my lineage through an oath. In a few centuries, I will have at my disposal several thousand henchmen.

Upon the departure of the guests, the representatives of the Vatican emerged to bid farewell to the entire council of my order, comprising the same witches who had previously assumed leadership within their own order. I have appointed Witold to serve as my right-hand man.

In a year's time, brethren, I anticipate your presence here, along with men and experts from your ranks. Indeed, we have already delved into numerous discussions regarding our plans for future collaboration. However, I would like to request that you, Brother Vincenzo and Brother Marco, accompany the individuals you will dispatch to our order. Initially, there will undoubtedly arise a multitude of matters that necessitate resolution at the highest level. To address these issues swiftly, decisions must be implemented with utmost haste.

I did not intend for my new acolytes to remain in the state in which the witches had existed before. Following the re-induction, many of them experienced a significant enhancement in their magical abilities. As a result, among the hundred and thirty-six members of my order, there are now nineteen witches who possess a reservoir and a network of magical pathways comparable to those of a powerful master on the Sumerian scale. However, it should be noted that they are unfamiliar with spells of such a level. Previously, their capabilities were limited to casting a few fireballs using the standard spell circle, or perhaps a few dozen weak enchantments from the minor circle.

They required training. It was evident that the year before the meeting with the Inquisition and the Order of the Creator would be insufficient for me to transform them into proficient mages. However, I could impart to them a basic course for young fighters, instilling in their minds and bodies a repertoire of approximately thirty to forty universal spells appropriate for their current level of power. Beyond that, it was up to them to take the next step. I would provide them with access to a library, create a curriculum, and even craft some artifacts using my illusions, which would serve as teaching tools and, if needed, offer assistance and protection in cases where improperly executed spells could result in fatal injuries.

"I shall, brother! It is beyond doubt that we are on the same side in our opposition to evil. This necessitates the formulation of strategies and the conduct of joint exercises for their implementation. Marvelous! Oh, glorious indeed! Now there are more of us, defenders of the true faith.

To be precise, not just Christians, but the human race in general. Let us say so. If one wishes to perceive the world in their own image — for the sake of the Creator!

«And I will, Svyatozar,» I said. «Providence has brought you, my brother, to Venice, allowing me to bear witness to miracles. You have wielded the sword against the deluded foes of humanity, guiding their hand. And you have succeeded in converting them to faith in the true God — how much I have enlightened Vencenzo in our discussions on the nature of the Creator…»

But no, we will make him our own! Every intelligent civilization, in its own way, has arrived at the simple truth of what is right and wrong. We must approach everything with the awareness that we are the creation and purpose of the all-knowing. As we reach the limits of our understanding and the realization of the inconceivable scale and complexity of the universe's creation, we realize our insignificance in comparison to the Creator.

Then there arises an irresistible urge to draw closer to Him, following the path of knowledge and growth towards the Creator. This is when an intelligent being desires to create, rather than destroy.

Both Cardinal Amati and Brother Marco, as guests of honor at the induction of new members of the Order of the Dragon from the ranks of the former Brotherhood of Witches, saw what they sought and to the best of their abilities. Both personally assumed the responsibility of safeguarding the peace of Christian souls from the machinations of the supernatural, viewing their presence in our Order as a testament to their commitment to the ongoing struggle against this menace.

After bidding farewell to our esteemed guests, I embarked on the task of refining the operations of the Order: fine-tuning its bureaucratic framework, establishing communication channels, and defining hierarchical structures. I drafted a charter that would serve as the guiding principle for my vassals and, subsequently, for all members of the Order under my authority. I also delineated areas of responsibility for leaders within various domains of the Order's operations.

My initial move was a week-long course of study for knights — for several groups of fraternity members, contingent on their level of aptitude. It was an extensive regimen of exercises designed to augment the repertoire of accessible spells. This initiative was necessitated by:

* the acceleration of electrical impulses traversing the nervous system, significantly enhancing the body's responsiveness and reaction time;

* a new dimension of magical capacity;

* enhanced physical conditioning;

* accelerated thought processes.

Having formulated the plan, I dispatched a mental message to all my illusionary duplicates seated on the altar. Now, the Witchers were equipped with twenty mages of Master-level proficiency. These individuals could be trained and retrained twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, without the need for interruptions due to rest.

Having conceived, instituted, and commenced the process of educating and augmenting the combat capabilities of my order, I assumed the role of the erstwhile Witcher Order's council. They were now engaged in the same endeavor within my own order. I merely delineated each area of accountability, rights, and obligations.

And then came the scorching heat! I was compelled to negotiate an entire list of commercial agreements on behalf of the order with the neighboring great landowners, ranging from counts to kings of Poland, Hungary, and Romania.

Since we are a Catholic organization under the jurisdiction of the Vatican, there are no taxes imposed on our activities or the lands belonging to the order. I executed contracts for the unhindered entry and exit of my knights into the lands of neighboring states, where, in accordance with the obligations of the order, they conduct their activities, as well as for the transportation of goods with merchant guilds in these countries.

In none of the Catholic countries can my witches be impeded or disturbed. No, their actions must be facilitated, as all their deeds occur with the consent and authorization of the Church and the Pope.

Having concluded my trade, economic, and diplomatic engagements with my closest and not-so-closest neighbors, I immediately turned my attention to the witches. Within a month, the order had acquired the appearance I desired.. Naturally, the Witches required haste in order to master the use of their newly acquired abilities and accustom themselves to the enhanced capabilities of their bodies. However, they were fortunate to have mentors in the shape of twenty magical masters. Thus, the Witches acquired exceptional combat skills through the practice of magical techniques and the art of fighting with edged weapons.

The next step I took was to familiarize myself with the findings of the physical and spiritual diagnostic rituals that all the witches underwent after their re-initiation. I obtained detailed descriptions of the strengths and weaknesses of all my subordinates, which allowed me to create customized training programs and courses of potions and elixirs tailored to each individual. This enabled each witcher to fully realize their potential in the areas where they possessed the greatest talents, while addressing weaknesses in areas where their performance fell below average.

Some witchers discovered unique abilities, gifts for magic related to various extraordinary concepts. One witcher, in particular, could become invisible and intangible for several hours each day, and could even bring others with him into that state. However, he could only be detected through spiritual sight, due to a lack of control over his invisibility.

There were mages of light, darkness, and blood, but the uniques were Wold and Agnieszka. Wold was a Witcher without equal. His physical attributes were at least one and a half times greater than those of the strongest members of the order. In terms of magic, his master's reservoir was at the zenith of its power, if one were to judge by the ancient Sumerian standard. But that was not all — he also proved to be an adept at intuitively controlling his body and wielding any edged weapon. This allowed him to extract the maximum potential from his body on the third day, leaving his opponents no chance of victory. Within the Order, he ranked second only to myself.

The second unique individual was Agnieszka, who proved to be a veritable sorceress. Or, rather, a fallen sorceress, having undergone the initiation ritual of the Witcher as a child. Upon becoming a Witcher, Agnieszka forfeited all the potential that the essence of a genuine sorceress could offer. Sorceresses are either a caprice or a blunder of nature, capable of compelling reality to do their bidding as long as they desire. They need not even believe in themselves. A hasty utterance can be an instant death spell. If one does not possess a permanent defense, one does not want to come into contact with one. They are sorceresses, not wizards or sorcerers. Even the fae did not wish to cross paths with genuine sorceresses.

Agnieszka proved to be such a gifted individual whose strength was ruined by the initiation. She was fortunate that my path crossed with that of her former Witcher Order. Re-initiation restored her powers. She became a Witcheress with the abilities of a sorceress. The potions she concocted were beyond replication.. And in their arsenal, incidentally, there is a plethora of fascinating concoctions, diverse toxins and venoms that could cause a minor epidemic on the scale of Italy.

Upon discovering such a gem, I immediately entrusted her with not only the management of the female staff but also a hospital. Five female students will be instructed by my illusory avatar in both Light and Dark healing, as well as in the general practice of life and light magic. My illusions oversee numerous electives, educating a multitude of student groups.

The ultimate goal my vassals had to achieve was to forge an anti-daemon chain. The likelihood of this occurring in the foreseeable future was at least one in thirty people over the age of seven to sixteen. Under my guidance, in fifteen years there will be approximately thirty masters of magic on the level of an ancient Sumerian master of the arcane arts. And half of these individuals will attain the strength and expertise of masters within two hundred years, assuming we do not consider my knowledge on how to augment their potential, unlocking it fully and perhaps going beyond.

The year passed swiftly, and I found myself constantly engaged in various activities. Nonetheless, I successfully completed all my tasks before the deadline. Subsequently, several squadrons of Inquisitors and a few luminaries among the knight-monks of the Order of the Creator arrived for training and collaborative exercises, led by Venchenzo.

By that time, I had already assembled teams for specific purposes, each comprising individuals whose abilities complemented those of their teammates in unique ways. Each member of these groups was a proficient mage, and they were adept in the art of battle magic, having mastered more than thirty spells from the intermediate level and a few from the advanced level. Their proficiency allowed them to execute these spells instantaneously and without prior preparation.

I spent another year at the citadel alongside my vassals, Marco, and Vencenzo, during which we delved deep into our collective efforts, honing our skills to the point of automatism.. Each member of the team was aware of and understood the capabilities of their colleagues, did not encroach upon their spheres of influence, and compensated for their own shortcomings.

Now we shall operate in close alliance. The union between Cardinal Vincenzo, Master of the Order of the Founder, Brother Marco, head of the military branch of the Inquisition and its second-in-command, and myself, a renowned master of magic in all the known disciplines, blessed and acknowledged by the Vatican as Master of the Order of the Dragon, Svyatozar Zmiev — this alliance makes us the most powerful faction in Rome. We can act as we please without looking back to Rome. No one there would dare to challenge us; we can simply come, speak and demand.

Within a span of two years, the membership of my Order grew from a modest one hundred and thirty-six knights at its inception to a respectable four hundred and forty-seven members. Some of these individuals, having pledged their fealty as vassals to my family and the Order's Master, underwent initiation after serving as novitiates in either the ranks of combatant Inquisitors or within the Order of the Creator, constituting approximately seventy in number. None of the knights hailing from these orders objected to this development.

They had already had ample time to appreciate the efficacy of our efforts. They came to realise that they were inferior in their specialisation in countering material evil to the Witches. They were pleased that even in this manner, the number of such essential and powerful warriors, specialists in the general fight, would increase. Moreover, many of those who joined our ranks were close confidants of the Witches.

Having undergone the initial initiation through the Alzura ritual, Witchers, among other benefits, gained a physical form capable of sustaining life for over six centuries. Many of them had already lived for more than four centuries. During this time, they lost loved ones to old age more than once. Now, the Witches have the opportunity for a full family life. In this context, there is a possibility not only of conceiving children! They also have the chance to undergo an initiation at an age that is not traditionally suitable for such rituals.. Indeed, they have been granted the opportunity to bestow upon their beloved partners and kin the same longevity and advanced age that they themselves aspire to attain.

Within the workshop of artefacts, several of my illusions continue to be actively engaged in their craft. As they impart their knowledge and skills, they concurrently replenish the storeroom with newly crafted artefacts serving diverse purposes — from offensive and defensive to domestic and healing.

In the potions chamber, some of my illusory duplicates are constantly engaged in the process of preparation. Additionally, they provide instruction to both proficient witches and aspiring enthusiasts alike.

I have given careful consideration to the protection of the citadel and its environs. I have implemented a defensive measure that will allow us to transport our domain into a subspace in the event of an attack. However, this requires the cooperation of the opposing force. Any attempt to breach the barrier through brute force or firepower triggers a ritual that separates our territory from physical reality, folding it into a separate spatial dimension. Ultimately, we anticipate an assault, which will allow us to create our own spatial fold with exits in several secure areas nearby.

However, the defences are not limited to this. Throughout the vast expanse of territory surrounding the citadel, enclosed by a protective barrier, potent magical energies lie dormant beneath the soil. These energies can inflict harm on any living entity, crippling both the physical form and other spiritual realms.

Within the boundaries of the barrier, a small woodland has been established, where several species of kraits have been introduced. These snakes do not require explicit instructions not to react with aggression towards the witchers, as they are keenly aware of the naga magic within my vassals. To initiate them, I used my own blood and venom to create a potion. The serpents, sensing their ancestral blood, will never attack my people. My vassals are also aware of this.

In this short period, several witches have already acquired their own companions. By establishing a mutual understanding with the forest snakes and regularly providing them with nourishment, they have forged a bond.

Another year passed in the blink of an eye. With less than a sennight remaining until Vencenzenzo's departure for Rome, I and the other members of the council received a notification of the simultaneous passing of three knights of our order. All members of the order and witches alike were adorned with special rings, and so I sensed the moment of their demise and their precise location. I was compelled to interrupt Vencenzenzo as he elucidated his theological perspective on the cosmos to Marco.

"Vencenzenzo, Marco," I said, "I regret the interruption, but I have just received news of the passing of three members of the order. I must now depart via a portal. Will you accompany me?"

Here, I encountered two stern gazes from the most powerful mages in Europe, poised for battle and well-prepared. At their nod, I opened a vast aperture of warped space, leading to a grand ballroom in the palatial residence of Rudolf II, Archduke of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Rudolf Habsburg. The scene that greeted us was most disconcerting. All those in the chamber failed to notice the three eviscerated bodies with their severed heads prostrate on the floor, as they simply walked around them as if oblivious to their presence.

Between the two corpses, side by side, stood a figure shrouded in a cloak, from beneath which the creature peered at us with a predatory curiosity. In its ethereal vision, its soul-shells appeared unnatural and discordant, yet potent. It blazed into the night like an inferno in a thermal imager, revealing no intention to conceal its power.

It would seem that we are about to engage in a confrontation! I shall now put my abilities to the test! The entity across from me possesses enough prana to rival a Yogi Archmage!

"This shall be most intriguing!" I practically whispered, but my words were heard by all, including the monstrosity across the chamber. Now its gaze was fixed solely upon me.