Chevreuse's plan was not simply victory over his opponent, because as far as he knows, a Believer could never be called a challenge to him, much less a Seer. So, what was the show so far for?
"The fact that they stood assured and determined to defeat Chevreuse when that Absolute Edict of beauty failed highlights their ignorance. Being an exception to the laws of the Axioms is not a sign one should witness with a grin... especially not for Prophets who sin!" The crimson light of the pulsing veins reflected off his greedy blue eyes as Camille laid the body of the Seer in the middle of the array.
Tenoch's flesh had turned completely white, almost chalky, his physical appearance morphing into that of some other person— or rather, a hierodule.
Truly, anybody would work for what he wanted to do here. He had simply chosen to go after Hippolytus first since he seemed to have already become a hierodule. But as Camille witnessed the decent logic behind Hippolytus's plan, coupled with the hierodule's ability to sneak up on himself of all people, and the rising strength welling up in Hippolytus's form, the Believer simply chose to switch targets into someone much less interesting and save the talented one for later.
However, it was truly a hassle getting someone who could regenerate spiritual essence like Tenoch to completely run out of it. But now that such a tedious task was over and done with, Camille could not wait to reap his reward.
Vibrius watched from a distance, wiping off blood from his lips and spitting a tooth out. In his arms was the unconscious and badly beaten body of Sansa. Her arms were twisted backwards and her legs turned abnormally under her knees. Clearly the woman had tried and failed horribly at escaping his clutches, sustaining damage that should not be possible to inflict on a person still in their Living-totem state. However, things do not appear how they seem under Vibrius's influence.
The man watched on with a rather confused stare as Camille engaged in a ritual that he would have done himself. Sighing after witnessing the extent of this Prophet's insanity, he turned around and left the task to the Believer. There was no use trying to fight him now. If Vibrius did choose to do so in this state he was in anyway, he was sure that the only outcome in their battle would be his demise. He was not invincible... not yet.
In the end, Ivan did not end up telling Equinox what methods there were of to avoid the Absolute Edict. The noble simply went on and on rambling about different matters- helpful, but not what he would want to know.
"Honestly, this is a topic even I'm not allowed to know of, much less share." The Sullivan explained, stretching his arm downwards to pull Ikky out of the now lit underground path.
Ikky shrugged as soon as he got to the surface. "I'm just playing, man. You don't have to tell me this stuff... You didn't have to tell me any of it to be honest, and now I'm starting to think you'd want more than just talisman to light up the underground tunnels in exchange."
At first, Ikky thought nothing of giving Ivan so little in exchange for fun facts, however as they conversed, the noble started to tell him things even he was doubting he should know of-- at least not at this current stage of his prophethood. And as he'd expected, Ivan did ask for something in return,
"You wouldn't be wrong..." Ivan sighed, readying himself before gradually working up to his question, "Forgive me for saying but, I was watching your uhm, 'encounter' with Timofey. I should have helped sooner but I could not help but be captivated by your demeanor, the way you danced underneath the ribbons and drops of red. Your eyes and unfaltering movements were truly a sight to behold. I... I don't think I've even seen prophets of your category look so composed at this early stage you are while... 'purging' spirits. So, pardon me for being so bold as to ask these questions, what exactly goes through your mind while committing the 'act', and is that mindset something I can learn or something innate?"
Ikky blinked, looking into the inquisitive bright blue eyes of the Sullivan. Ivan was curious and Ikky had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. "My category? Purging spirits? The act? You're gonna have to start using terms I'm familiar with, my guy."
Ivan cleared his throat, thinking of other ways to express his strong words.
"Are you..." The earth suddenly began to quake.
"A prophet of..." The sky started to rumble.
And by the time Ivan finished his sentence, Equinox had already stopped listening, his eyes turned up as he watched another massive pillar of crimson ascend to the pitch-black sky.
-------
With a smile stretched across his face and his eyebrows knotted in anticipation, Camille stood tall in front of the pillar of red, watching essence flow from the sky into the ground. The trees all around started to look more alive as they absorbed the red essence, their leaves and roots pulsating with vigor colored in crimson. There was so much glee on his face, his eyes and mouth were practically just crescent slits, their darkness swallowing up the bright red light like blackholes.
He spread his arms out, announcing the climax of this dreary arc to the corpses and life essence, "Battered and worn from a thousand years' worth of diminution, the shell of what once was unparalleled throughout this Realm has become but a threadbare firmament, rent by a second knife! But to witness these final moments is not mine to bask in alone... I will begin a chapter of great chaos, all so that you may tear down the sky for me."
The annual Anointment exams is a formal introduction of newly chosen prophets into the Realm of Augury, but also a stage for those who wished to bear a Noble name to showcase their potential. As such one would expect that this stage should be a messy and chaotic one where conflicts break out at the slightest encounter. That is the best-case scenario... However, who amongst the people in this heaven forsaken realm would be so carefree? Nonetheless, as the tremors spread throughout the forest, a new beacon lighting up the dark, Chevreuse would leave all with no other choice.
Ivan and Ikky soon arrived at the base of the red beam. They were not too far from it in the first place and figured since the first crimson pillar was their final destination, why not check out the new one and possibly learn of its nature.
The red beacon was a very colossal accumulation of ominous essence. It had over a few tens of kilometers in width and was stretched right into the pitch-black sky. Clearly it would take quite a lot of time to inch around it and search the area for what might have caused it. However, it did not take long at all for Ivan's sharp senses.
The two flew and ran towards the direction the Sullivan pointed, nearly crashing into each other at the strange sight they met before their eyes.
Ivan spoke no words, immediately rushing over to save the crippled woman. But as his hands fell on her shoulder, he finds that her form was like that of a ghost, intangible and present in a different plane of existence. The woman who looked like the sharp cluster of a cloud in the golden sky continued to float in a particular direction, the two men unable to ease her from pain.
"Ivan?" Ikky called out to the Sullivan. The man's eyes seemed lost in thought, staring fixed at the floating woman as she inched away.
"Perhaps... Ivan muttered to himself after seemingly coming up with an explanation of what was happening. He summoned his Totem and sunk his hand into the moon-bright disc, pulling out a mask. This mask that now fully covered his face had one half lit bright and the other swallowing black. Equinox had no idea how one was supposed to even see with that thing on when it had no opening... Maybe it wasn't meant for sight?
Well, not in a conventional way at least. The Lunes constellation of the Mortal Skies Totem allowed sight for only things that Ivan cannot see under normal circumstances. And at this moment, the Sullivan could very clearly see the man carrying the disabled woman in his arms, as well as... another woman?
"A Living Totem? No, my sight was not set for that, so I shouldn't be able to see who it is, or even this person at all."
"!!!" Ivan was suddenly startled as he watched a hoard of beasts suddenly appear from the other side of the crimson pillar. Turning his head around, his voice was filled with urgency as he warned, "Watch out for the spirits, Ikky!" Equinox could not be seen with the mask on however, and so the Sullivan took it off.
"Spirits?" Ikky shifted his head in confusion. "What spirits?"
The two stood silent in the sanguine forest, surrounded by nothing but the cold mist, crimson trees and the unconscious body of an unknown woman floating away.