To Protect
By Pata Hikari
Part One: The Oath
To take the oath was to die.
One may live well after they take the oath, but their fate is sealed once they take the oath.
They will die an unnatural death.
I knew this. We all did, it was no secret. But some things are greater then the life of one person.
The Lord said that if a one can save even one soul from damnation, then they will be exalted.
So it is worth it, to take the oath.
"Do you, Riesbyfe Stridberg, lay down your life in the name of God. Swear to uphold His teachings, and defend His children from the devils that even now try and drag them down to Hell?"
"I do."
"Do you swear never to retreat as long as there are those who can be Saved?"
"I do."
"Do you swear absolute obedience to God?"
"I do."
The priest, an old and solemn man, looked down upon me with heavy eyes. "Do you swear to never taint your body and soul with unnatural forces?"
"I do."
I was not alone. Dozens of knights, soon to be my comrades, stood behind me. My mother and father stood by my side, tears of pride and sadness in their eyes. My older brother stood behind me, he himself having joined them three years ago.
"Then I accept you as a Knight of the Assembly of the 8th Sacrament. May God be with you, Sister Stridberg."
----
Two weeks passed as I continued my training.
For us knights, the training never ends. We must always be ready, always be prepared. For the next day one could be sent off to some hellish place and fight against monsters barely comprehensible.
The sword I used was a dull practice blade. My "opponent" was a animatronic dummy.
"Sister Stridberg."
"Hmm?" I paused in my training, it was one of the older knights. He was in his thirties, a rarity.
"You're needed."
"...I see." I kept my face serious. But inside I was giddy.
I was needed, that could only mean one thing.
I was to head to the field of battle.
----
It was a simple mission.
A small village in France had an issue. Namely, a foolish Magus had bit off more then he could chew. Calling upon demons. The entire town was now infested.
Demons. Creatures which absorb and spread the fears and evils of humanity. Formed from an imaginary element, they are a dangerous heresy.
Most of the time, a demon infestation if detected early enough, can be gotten rid of with a minimum of fuss and no casualties.
All reports said this was the case. The Magus had made the request for extermination, and said the demons had only appeared about a week ago.
It was far safer for him to ask the Church rather then deal with his Association. Magi are very paranoid about their secrecy, if word got out that he had done something to compromise it then he'd be in trouble.
We went into the town, a small group. Me and two other more experienced knights. Leon Molyneux and Alice Robinson. It should have been a open and shut issue.
How wrong we were.
----
The town was peaceful and quiet. Leon was the only one among us who spoke French, so he was the one interacting with the people.
We were all dressed in normal clothing, only coats concealed the Holy swords we carried.
I fingered my sword through a hole in my left pocket. It was the first time I had held such a sacred artifact. It was not a great one. A simple blessing by some saints against malevolent spirits was its only gift, but still, compared to any other weapon I had held it was wondrous.
It had been issued it to me for this mission. It was only when you got appointed to the really high ranking levels when you got your own weapon.
"That's the house." Leon said, pointing to a small nondescript home at the end of the street. "That's where the Magus lived and the demon's are originating from."
We marched towards the house. As we got closer to it, an unnatural feeling filled the air.
"Definitely demons." Alice muttered, "They change reality to suit them."
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
An old man ran towards us, shouting in French.
"...what's he saying Leon?"
"...he's saying to stay away from that house."
"..." For some reason, that sent chills down my spine.
His tone of voice, his screaming warning. I reached for my sword, but I didn't draw it yet.
We ignored the old man, and kept on moving.
When more people showed up.
More people.
All shouting the same thing.
"This isn't right." Alice whispered.
"Is the entire village out here...?" I whispered, and began slowly drawing my sword. I wanted to feel its weight in my hand.
"No! Don't-" Leon shouted at me.
But it was too late, my sword left its scabbard.
And the people screamed.
A horrible inhuman scream, as they screamed, they melted.
Blood and organs and skin and blended together, gathering into a thing. Vaguely human shaped, it roared with a thousand voices.
"What in the name of..." I whispered, my mind was frozen.
"Damn!" Leon drew out his sword, "The demon spread farther then we even thought!"
Alice drew her sword, "Stridberg! Looks like your first mission's going to be a doozy."
A wet growl escaped the demon, and it lurched at us.
Its left arm smashed down at us, in an instant we reacted, jumping out of the way as it smashed the concrete.
This is what our training was for.
To fight these things which took the souls of men by force. Perverted them and turned them into inhuman creatures like them. To do so we trained the human body to the limit, aligning our circuits to the exact right positions, all to make the human body reach the highest level possible. Then we prayed.
We prayed to God, praying so that He could give us the divine strength we need. The strength to take our strength from the "limit of human ability" to "superhuman."
We rushed out, the three of us in perfect formation.
"We need to weaken this thing, then I'll seal it!" Leon shouted.
I drew back, clutching my sword in both hands, "In the name of God..." I whispered, "Die demon!" I screamed, rushing towards it. It reacted, sending out an extended arm of flesh and blood, trying to crush me.
I didn't stop, I raised my sword, slashing through it. The demons flesh burned as I cut through it, slicing though the arm, I just kept on charging forward.
Then the other arm jutted out, slamming me off to the side. "Urk!" My body pulled in on itself in pain. I slammed down onto the concrete, cracking it as I bounced.
I lay there, unable to move, when I saw an extended limb of flesh flying towards me, sharpened to a point.
So this is it. I thought, I tonight I die.
A blur moved in front of me, and a hunk of meat fell to the ground from the demons limb.
It was Leon.
"Can't have your first mission end so badly, Stridberg." He said with confidence, "Now then, Hiiiiyyyaaaa!"
Suddenly it was like there were a hundred swords slashing in front of him. Such was the speed at which he moved.
The demons extended limbs all rushed towards him, but not one could penetrate the defense.
...what a fool I was. In my rush to fight, I had blindly charged at it, leaving me exposed to attack.
He was doing the sensible thing, standing still, holding his defense, and keeping an eye out for any other attack.
The only reason I'm alive is because he helped me.
I slowly stood up, holding my sword in front of me.
He was the one with the scriptures needed to seal this demon. So I needed to help him, hold it back and weaken it enough.
I took a step forward, only to nearly collapse.
My wound.
It was too great.
I could barely move.
...this is so stupid. I joined, and in my first battle I'm useless.
Then I noticed it.
The hunks of meat, bone and blood that Leon was slicing off.
They didn't rot or lose their form once separated from the main body.
...in fact, they were beginning to... to...
Surround him.
I wanted to shout, to warn him.
But it was too late. They extended out into a dozen points, piercing his body from every angle.
"...!" Leon gagged, for a moment he was silent.
...then I realized it.
He had died.
Died. Because I was stupid and weak.
The demon turned its full attention to Alice, who seemed to have realized the problem, and was individually sealing each piece she cut off, yet as she did it she was being driven back. Saying the prayer to seal the pieces took time, and the demon was taking advantage of that.
It wasn't fair.
In an instant Leon had died.
...I had never met him before the mission.
We were only acquaintances. Yet he had put himself in danger, luring himself into a trap for me.
This wasn't fair.
God wouldn't accept me only to have me die without saving at least one person... it wasn't right.
I can't die.
I can't lose.
My body straightened up.
I wouldn't lose.
I gripped my sword in both hands.
This wasn't right.
Lightning cackled around my blade.
This thing does not belong in this world.
The demon stopped attacking Alice, its attention turned back to me, who it had written off as prey to finish off at its pleasure.
This demon dies now!
"Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! !!" I screamed, cracks forming in the Holy sword I wielded. The pieces of demon that killed Leon disintegrated. I ran towards the demon. My mind was focused. There was nothing but me and my enemy. I jumped twenty feet into the air, diving down at the monster.
It raised up all its limbs, every ounce of power put into holding me back.
My sword slammed into it all.
Light and energy crackled around the sword, forming a barrier that the demon could not penetrate. Gravity pressed me down, as the demon tried to hold me up. Yet its limbs were disintegrating at a rapid rate.
"In the name of God, return to the darkness whence you came!" I screamed, and pushed down with every ounce of power.
The demon split in two as I slashed through it.
My blade shattered, an inhuman scream filled the air.
And the demon exploded.
----
....
I dreamed.
For how long I dreamed, I do not know. I dreamed of many things.
I slept for so long.
For how long I slept, I do know.
Because when I woke up, there was a nun standing next to me, taking my vitals.
"Ah, you're awake Sister." She smiled kindly, "How are you?"
"Ugggg..." My head hurt. "Where am I?"
"The Vatican, Sister." She answered.
I see.
"Wait, what? How long was I out?"
"Around ten days."
....
That's insane.
To be asleep for that long.
"What... happened?"
"You were brought in, unconscious. I don't know anything other then that." The nun then pulled out a cell phone.
"...who're you calling?"
"You're awake, a high ranking man asked me to inform him of this."
"And this man was?"
The nun frowned, her face clearly nervous. Her voice dropped down to a whisper.
"Merem Solomon."
----
I knew of that name.
It was a whispered name, quietly passed along with rumors and secrets.
A name associated with seven people.
Seven people who used dark heresies to fight monsters. The most powerful assassins the Chuch has. Evil fighting evil.
The Burial Agency.
And of the seven, it is said that Merem Solomon is the worst of the lot. Rumor has it that he isn't even human, but a Dead Apostle.
I watched the door.
Every sense was hyperactive.
I didn't know when he'd come in. All I knew is that whatever he wanted of me...
The door opened, and a kid walked in.
...
What was a kid doing here?
I stared at him. "Hey, sick person here. Kid. Leave."
The kid gave me a look.
A hollow eyed look.
"Um, excuse me. But I really don't want visitors right now-"
"Your 'wants' aren't my concern Riesbyfe Stridberg." He said flatly.
"...huh? Hey! Show some respect for your elders kid!"
"Practice what you preach girl." He said, a smirk forming on his face.
"..."
Who was this kid?
"You're probably wondering who I am right now." He bowed. "Merem Solomon, at your service."
----
It was absurd.
By all appearances he's a kid, maybe 14 years old.
"So, tell me." I decided to ask. "You're Merem Solomon."
"Yes." He smirked at me.
"Is it true that you're a Dead Apostle?" I expected him to say no. The very idea is absurd. A vampire working for the Church, they who would destroy him.
"Yup."
"..." What? "That's absurd! We don't deal with vampires, and we definitely don't let them join us!"
"Oh? The Church works with vampires all the time." He was grinning at me, insufferably. "The Church works with the True Ancestor whenever possible. And, as I have been Baptized, I, a vampire, am clearly allowed to join it."
"Bu-but you corrupt innocent souls! Drag them into-"
"No no, you've got it wrong." He poked me in the forehead, like a child. "I can, if I wanted to, consume the blood and lives of innocents and drag souls down to hell. But, you see, I don't." He pulled back, still smiling. "So you see, I'm harmless."
This is insane.
"What... what do you want." I demanded of him.
"Oh? Done asking me questions and condemning me?" He was amused. Amused by me. "Well, I guess I can get to the point." He reached into a sack on his belt and pulled out...
A bottle of wine.
"Would you care for lunch?" He then pulled out two wrapped up sandwiches, and a pair of apples. "Can't talk on an empty stomach."
I could feel my eye twitching.
"Come on, eat up." He handed me the sandwich. "I assure you it's good."
"..."
----
And so we ate lunch. This is ridiculous.
To this day I wonder whether he acts like he does because it's his real personality, or if he just likes irritating me.
But I digress, we ate and drank, and he spoke of what he wanted.
"I want to give you a promotion. You will, if you desire, become an Executor."
I stared at him.
"I take it you're surprised."
"Of course I am! I just was sworn in two-"
"Actually it's four weeks by this point." He said cheerfully,
"-the point is, that I lack the experience and skill to even be considered being promoted to Executor!"
"True." He nodded, "However, you have something that I feels qualifies you. A natural gift." He leaned in closer, "To put it simply. A demon that had absorbed an entire village should have killed all three of you. Not just one."
"..."
"Hearing about this caught my attention, so I decided to make this offer to you. You will be promoted to Executor, and become my assistant. You will help me, and I will help you realize whatever powers that are hidden in you."
"And that's it?" I asked, "You don't want to shove me into your group?"
"Oh no, the Burial Agency is full." Merem shook his head, "You'd just be called onto every mission I take." He took a sip of his wine, "Of course, as a member of the Burial Agency I fight some of the nastiest monsters out there." He laughed.
"...and if I refuse?"
"Then I'll leave now, we'll likely never see each other again. And you can continue living the life you've planned for yourself. Which is, likely, serving the Church for a few years until you finally get in over your head and die against some inhuman creature." He shrugged, "Don't get me wrong, you'll likely still one day get in over your head and die against some inhuman creature. It's just the nature of our job, but with me you'll last longer, and understand the gift you have better." Merem stood up, "Well, which is it?"
"What you're asking me now?"
"Well I've given you time to think." Merem was still grinning, "Is it a yes or no?"
...
He's asking me this huge thing.
....can I really refuse? I myself don't know what came over me that night.
As far as I can tell, it was a miracle.
Yet if it really is something already inside me, I... I should develop it. He's offering to do so. Even if he's a heretical creature, he still is a fellow Servant of God.
....
“Very well, Merem Solomon. I except.”
“Excellent!” He laughed, “Therefore, with the power granted to me by His Holiness, The Pope, I hereby raise you to the rank of Church Executor. Executor Riesbyfe Stridberg, granted full freedom and rights to hunt the Heresies against God as you wish.” He reached inside his bag again, and tossed a piece of paper at me. “Call that number, tell him Merem asked to get you a proper sword. Do it soon, because we're leaving tomorrow.”
“...that's it?”
“Well, yeah. Technically there's this big ceremony. But it's not really needed.”
Oh, yeah, I guess that makes sense... “Wait, leaving tomorrow?!”
“Yeah I took on this mission after I received word you had woken up.”
“You... you planned this.”
“Lesson one, Assistant! Never do anything without a plan.”
“I hate you.”
----
My cell phone was, amazingly, still in one piece after the battle. I dialed the number.
.....
.....
......
“Who the hell is it?” A man answered.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Oh damn it, how'd you get this number.”
“Um, Meram said I need to get a proper sword.”
“...”
“Hello?”
“Goddammit!” I had to pull my phone away from my ear, “That god damn vampire Son of a Bitch, he just had to tell you about me.”
“Umm... who are you?” I asked, for some reason I was starting to feel frightened.
“Alex Alexson.”
“...”
“Yeah my parents thought it was a hoot too. I'm the keeper of the Holy Artifacts. Every single one the Church owns I have cataloged. So anways, who are you.”
“Um...” I wondered how to introduce myself. Usually one put their rank in with their introduction. Yet having gone from the lowest straight to the highest it felt somewhat wrong. Still, best to do so. “Executor Riesbyfe Stridberg.”
“...Huh? Hmm where have I... wait. You're the one who broke one of my swords!” His voice shook my poor cell phone. “You're coming over right now, because I'm going to give you a piece of my mind!”
....this was not what I was expecting when I signed up for the Assembly. Not at all.
-----
I entered a dusty old building in a small corner of the city. Weapons, armor, scrolls, bottles, anything and everything I could think of was stacked on shelves. Each one had a tag tied to it with a number written down.
“Hello?”
“Ah, there you are.” He suddenly popped in front of me.
He was an old man in the robes of a monk, a large silver crucifix hung from his neck, and he was completely bald, his gray eyes piercing me like a hawk. “You're Riesbyfe Stridberg, I assume?”
“Y-yes.”
“Ah, well, I guess we should properly introduce each other. I'm Friar Alex Alexson, Keeper of the Relics.” He grinned, “I have, in this building, three hundred and twenty three pieces of the Cross. The Ark of the Covenant, shards of the original tablets with the Ten Commandments, the real Shroud of Tourin, the staff of Moses and thirty three potential Holy Grails. And well, many many more things as you can see.” He sounded proud of this. “The stuff on the walls here is the stuff allowed to be checked out by you people.” He narrowed his eyes at me, “With the expectation that they will be taken care of.”
“Hey, it's not my fault.”
“Sure it is, if you had the kind of power that would shatter lesser artifacts like that you should have told me.”
No sympathy for me at all.
“But I didn't know I had the kind of power to do that.”
“Now who's fault is that?”
“Oh come on.” I sighed, “Well, I'm not here to be lectured by you.” He didn't say anything. “...” Oh boy. “Sooooo do you really have all that?”
“Yup.” he nodded, “You don't have clearance to see them though.”
“But I'm an Executor!”
“Still don't have clearance.” He held up three fingers, “Only three people have clearance permanently. Myself, the Pope, and Merem. Everyone else has to get written temporary permission.” Well, I guess that makes sense. He cleared his throat, “So Merem wants you to have a proper sword.” His face split into a grin, “Guess I should take you to the good stuff.” He turned around with a twirl of his robe. “Follow me.”
We came to a shelf, Friar Alex pulled aside the shelf, a number pad was behind it. He pressed a series of buttons, and the wall slid open.
I stepped inside after him, and a bucket of water dumped on my head.
“...”
“Holy Water.” he didn't even try to hide his laughter.
“Any more tricks I should be ready for?”
“Maybe. Can't let you know, or else you could figure out how to circumvent them.”
“Grand.”
-----
We walked down a winding staircase. Cameras and following us on every step. Half a dozen more traps sprung on me.
“Thirty Three Holy Grails?” I asked as we walked down the steps.
“Yeah, you'd be surprised just how many things are called the Holy Grail. The newest one I think is this thing in Japan a bunch of Magi kill each other over.”
I rolled my eyes, “Magi don't make any sense at all.” Killing each other over a Holy artifact, that completely destroys the point of it.
“Tell me about it.” He suddenly stopped walking, “Ah, we're here.” We reached a heavy stone door. Alex pulled out an old brass key and unlocked it.
Inside was a room with comparatively less artifacts. They were all weapons. Swords, spears, shields and everything one could use for war.
“There are objects here that can be classified as Noble Phantasms, weapons of legendary origin and power.” He said with joy. “Of course, there's no way I'm letting you take one of those. That sort of thing is only brought out if something drastic is happening.”
“What would you consider drastic?”
“The Legions of Hell laying siege upon the Holy See.” He answered seriously.
“...yeah that's probably a good idea. So, what do you suggest?” I examined some of the swords lining the wall. I had always liked swords, they're the classic weapons of a knight.
“Oh, asking for advice? Rarity, most Executors don't do that.”
“Um, well, I just became one today. Merem promoted me on the spot.”
“Oh...” Alex shrugged, “He does that sometimes. Arranges for these sorts of things. He's the reason I'm the caretaker here.”
“I see.” I ran my finger across a sword, inscribed in the pedestal it stated that it had been used to fight off a mob going for St. Paul.
“Hmm what about this sword?” He handed me a massive broadsword, a razor sharp edge and scriptures engraved into the hilt. “This sword was wielded by Hugues de Payens, founder of the Knights Templar. It's a fantastic weapon for a knight like yourself.”
I picked it up, it was heavy, yet as I held it in both hands it felt comfortable, as if the sword was saying to me “Use me for a while, I'll help out.” ...”I like it” I finally said.
“Good to hear, luckily this sword's made of tougher stuff then the old one you had. It'll survive anything you throw at it.”
I nodded, “Thank you Friar. I'll return this once I return from the mission I'm going on with Merem.”
A silence followed.
“Wait, what!? You're actually going on a mission with that crazy vampire?” He looked worried for me all of a sudden.
“Yes, he promoted me and designated me as his assistant.”
“Hmmm I see I see.” He chuckled, “Kinda like what he did to me, I see.” He patted me on the back, “Good luck kid, you're going to need it. That old bastard's gunna throw everything he can at you.
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