Chapter 59: Meeting with The Order of Light

Chapter 59: Meeting with The Order of Light

Four days later, under the cover of a pitch-black night, several speedboats approached the island's shore. Aboard them were the 25 elite operators of Resh-1 and Léonard, moving stealthily toward the island's walls. They maneuvered with precision, their small craft cutting through the water with minimal sound. As they reached the towering walls, they used one of the spells of SCP-066-DE floated silently over the island's high fortifications. They landed smoothly on the other side. Clad in his signature suit, trench coat and mask, Léonard led the group through the eerie, empty medieval streets, devoid of the usual bustling tourists and pilgrims. 

The sound of their footsteps echoed lightly off the ancient stone pathways as they advanced toward the towering cathedral. It loomed in the distance, its dark silhouette dominating the skyline under the pale light of the moon. Reaching the entrance of the cathedral, they encountered a contingent of priests and knights, all clad in ornate robes and armor. They stood solemnly in their path. Upon seeing the intruders, the priests and knights swiftly raised their weapons. The metal of their blades glinted in the moonlight as a clear warning.

Resh-1 immediately tensed. They instinctively raised their rifles in response, fingers hovering over the triggers. For a moment, the air was thick with tension as both sides faced off, poised on the edge of violence. Léonard, however, raised his fist in a silent command, signaling his men to hold their fire. In the stillness that followed, he spoke a single word: "SCP." 

The word echoed in the cold night air. Upon hearing it, the guards exchanged glances before lowering their weapons. They understood the significance of the word and, without further hesitation, allowed Léonard to pass. Yet, despite this acknowledgment, they refused entry to the members of Resh-1. The operators, loyal and disciplined, began to protest. Their voices were low but firm, unwilling to leave their leader unprotected. 

Léonard, with a mere glance and a subtle gesture, signaled them to stand down. Trusting in their commander's judgment, they begrudgingly complied and remained stationed outside the cathedral's doors. They scanned their surroundings for any threats. Stepping through the grand doors of the cathedral, Léonard found himself enveloped by the sacred silence of the holy space. The air inside was cool. The dim light from candles cast long shadows that flickered against the stone walls.

At the far end of the cathedral, just in front of the altar, sat a lone figure. It was a nun. Her form was illuminated by the soft glow of the candles around her. She appeared youthful, with golden hair cascading down her shoulders and piercing blue eyes that seemed to shine even in the dim light. To Léonard's surprise, she seemed no older than him. The nun was deep in prayer. Her hands were clasped together, her eyes closed in silent devotion.

As Léonard approached, his footsteps reverberated through the vast, empty cathedral. Without hesitation, he moved to sit beside her. His presence was quiet yet commanding. The nun, sensing his approach, slowly opened her eyes and turned her gaze toward him. Her serene expression gave way to one of curiosity as she looked into his eyes, the only visible part of his face behind the mask. She stared at him for a moment.

As Léonard settled beside her, the nun turned her head slightly, her voice soft but inquisitive. "Are you O5-1 or the Administrator ?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity. Léonard responded calmly, his voice steady, "I am the Administrator." The answer seemed to confirm her suspicions, and a small, knowing smile appeared on her face.

"I see... then those soldiers outside must be from Resh-1, aren't they ?" she deduced, her gaze briefly drifting toward the cathedral doors. Léonard gave a brief nod, acknowledging her observation.

With the initial formalities out of the way, her expression softened as she asked, "How's the Foundation faring these days ?" There was genuine interest in her question, perhaps even concern. 

"Well enough, though we've had some significant setbacks... especially in Strasbourg, Paris, and the Black Forest," Léonard replied, his tone implying the gravity of those challenges. He kept his words vague, but it was clear that the Foundation had faced some dire situations.

The nun, now more at ease, chuckled softly before responding, "The Order of Light is doing well, too." Her smile widened slightly before she added with a playful glint in her eyes, "Although I must admit... I'm a little jealous." She laughed lightly, her voice carrying a hint of self-awareness as she continued, "We don't exactly have the kind of troops, technologies, or bases that the Foundation has at its disposal." Her laughter echoed softly in the empty cathedral, creating a brief moment of levity between them.

After a beat of silence, she shifted her posture slightly and met his gaze directly. "You can call me Élise," she offered, her voice gentle but sincere. It was more than just an introduction. It was an invitation to leave behind formalities, to speak on equal ground.

For the next few minutes, the conversation meandered through lighter topics, as they casually discussed their respective organizations, their missions, and the various intricacies of their roles. Léonard observed her as she spoke. There was a warmth to her words, a passion for her cause, but something else lingered beneath the surface.

He could sense it, the slight hesitation in her voice, the way her eyes occasionally flickered with uncertainty. She had something on her mind. 

After a brief pause in the conversation, Léonard leaned slightly closer, his tone gentle yet probing. "You seem like you have something to say... what's on your mind ?" he asked, his gaze focused intently on her, as if encouraging her to share whatever was weighing on her heart.

Élise sighed softly, her gaze distant as she finally began to speak. "My tribulation... it's coming in three days," she admitted, her voice tinged with quiet resignation. "Right here, in the region of Brittany (France)." Léonard leaned forward slightly, his attention sharpening as she continued, "The demon Alpha, Therian Theleman, of Wrath-Class, is going to invade Brittany with his army."

"Wrath-Class ?" Léonard asked, his brow furrowing as he processed this new information.

She nodded, turning to face him, her eyes searching his as if gauging his reaction. "The demons that your Foundation calls Tartarean entities... they are hostile beings from Hell. Extremely dangerous," she explained, her voice steady despite the gravity of her words. "Demons are divided into seven classes, each one representing one of the seven deadly sins: Wrath, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Greed, Gluttony, and Envy." 

Léonard remained silent, absorbing the information as she spoke. Élise seemed to grow more confident in her explanation, leaning forward slightly as she continued. "And within those classes, they are further divided into two primary ranks. I won't go into all the sub-ranks... but the most important are the Alphas and the Omegas."

She paused, giving Léonard a moment to process her words before elaborating. "Alphas... commonly known as archdemons. Alpha-class Tartarean demons are often high-ranking—royalty even. Kings and such," she said, her tone growing more somber. "And then there are the Omegas, what you might call imps. Omega-class Tartarean demons are the lowest of the low, servants in Hell's hierarchy. They answer to the Alphas."

Léonard's mind raced as he connected these revelations to the Foundation's existing knowledge. So they've been facing demons all along... and imps are just the beginning, he thought, his lips tightening in response.

Élise's voice softened, her expression growing more vulnerable. "For my tribulation, it's an army of these imps... led by the archdemon Therian Theleman." Her eyes flickered with a mixture of fear and determination. "But I don't have the resources to counter this invasion. I can't stop him. And many people are going to die... myself included, most likely."

Her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly regained control, a fierce determination burning in her eyes. "But... I'll still fight. No matter what."

Léonard felt a wave of admiration wash over him as he observed her resolve. She was facing near-certain death, and yet here she was, fully prepared to stand her ground. He said nothing, but his eyes conveyed what words could not—respect for her bravery, her willingness to confront the darkness head-on despite overwhelming odds.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of her confession, and yet it was not uncomfortable. In that moment, Léonard knew that whatever happened in the coming days, Élise had already made her decision: to fight, no matter the cost.

Élise looked straight at Leonard, her eyes full of a mixture of desperation and resignation. "I know I'm going to fail," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't have the contacts. I don't have the strength to convince the French government to evacuate the area in time. And the other groups… they're either too far away or not powerful enough to help." She sighed, looking down. "The only group that could do something, that could actually help, is the Foundation… but I was scared. Scared you would attack us instead of helping."

Leonard remained silent, his gaze unwavering, listening to every word. Élise hesitated, her cheeks growing redder. "The only reason I even had the courage to ask is because I saw you talking so… so normally in the system chat with others. Like… like you cared." She clenched her fists and took a deep breath, her face now completely flushed with embarrassment. "I… I'd do anything to protect them, the innocent people. Anything."

With those words, she stood up, clearly flustered, her breath quickening. Her hands shook as she unfastened her robe, letting it fall to the floor. Now standing before Leonard in nothing but her undergarments, she was red to the tips of her ears. "I… I'd even sacrifice my body, if that's what it takes," she whispered, her voice breaking. Tears welled in her eyes, but she remained standing, vulnerable, waiting for his reaction.

Leonard's face turned crimson in shock, but he moved quickly. He stood up, and as he approached Élise, she closed her eyes, her body trembling. She slowly lowered herself to her knees, tears finally spilling over. "Please… please go easy on me," she muttered through her sobs, her voice cracking with a mix of fear and sorrow. "It's… it's my first time…"

Leonard didn't say a word. Instead, he swiftly removed his trench coat and, in one gentle motion, draped it over Élise's shaking shoulders, covering her exposed body. She opened her eyes, startled, and looked up at him in surprise. Leonard's expression had softened, but his voice was firm as he spoke.

"You don't need to do this," he said quietly but with certainty. "There's no need to sacrifice your body. I will never allow myself to take advantage of a woman in distress. I'd never do something like that."

Élise stared at him, her emotions conflicted and overwhelming. "But… the civilians," she stammered, still shaken.

"That's all the reason I need," Leonard replied, his tone steady. "If civilians are in danger, that's more than enough for the Foundation to intervene. I'll help you." 

At that moment, Élise collapsed into tears, unable to hold back any longer. She sobbed openly, burying her face into Leonard's shoulder, overwhelmed by relief, gratitude, and exhaustion. He stood there, letting her cry, his coat wrapped around her, providing both comfort and reassurance.

---

A few minutes later, Leonard and Élise stood face to face. The night was silent, and she was still wrapped in his coat, the warmth of the fabric comforting her. Leonard spoke first, his voice steady. "I'll return in two days, Élise. With reinforcements. You won't face this alone."

Élise smiled softly, the weight of her earlier fears momentarily lifting. "Thank you," she whispered, watching as Leonard turned and made his way toward the exit. As the door closed behind him, she stood there, her mind racing with everything that had just happened.

Before she could fully gather her thoughts, a soft voice echoed beside her. "Interesting," the voice purred. "It seems the Foundation is in very capable hands."

Élise spun around, her eyes widening as she recognized the figure beside her. The woman was draped in a long, dark coat, her boots clicking softly against the stone floor. Her wide-brimmed black straw hat cast a shadow over her eyes, but Élise could still see the sharpness in her gaze.

"Big sister…" Élise breathed, her voice soft and surprised. "I didn't think you'd come."

The woman smiled, a subtle curve of her lips. "I had to see this for myself. You've always been so independent, Élise. But now… it seems you've found someone worthy of your trust."

Élise blushed, glancing down at the coat she still clutched tightly around her. "I… I tried to charm him. To make sure he help me."

The woman raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her dark eyes. "Charm him, hmm ? And how did that go ?"

"I failed," Élise admitted, her face turning redder. "He wasn't interested in… that. But he's still going to help us. I think… I think I'm the one who ended up falling for him instead."

Her sister turned her head sharply, eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Fell for him ?" Her voice was incredulous, almost amused. "The Administrator of the SCP Foundation ? Élise, are you serious ?"

Élise's blush deepened, and she couldn't meet her sister's gaze. "He's different," she murmured. "He… he cared about the people. He didn't ask for anything in return. I've never met anyone like that."

The woman in black studied her for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. "You truly are something else. So… the Administrator. He's captured your heart, has he ?"

Élise didn't answer, but the way she held Leonard's coat close spoke volumes.

The woman's smile softened, and she raised her hand, a shimmer of dark energy surrounding her fingers. "Well, if that's the case, it seems I won't be needed here after all." She flicked her wrist, and a swirling portal of darkness appeared behind her. "But remember, Élise," she said, stepping toward the portal, "if you ever need help, the Black Queen will always be there for you."

Élise watched as her sister stepped into the portal, the darkness swallowing her whole before disappearing with a soft crackle of energy. She was alone again in the cathedral, the silence pressing in around her.

She sighed softly and finally let herself relax. She pulled the coat tighter around her shoulders, feeling the lingering warmth from Leonard. For a long moment, she stood there, lost in thought. Then, with a quiet smile, she knelt once again before the altar.

"Thank you, Lord," she whispered, her voice low and sincere. "Thank you for sending me someone like him."

Her eyes flickered to the coat she still held, and a blush crept across her face once more. "And… forgive me," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "For asking you for something so selfish."