THE VATICN AT 0800 HRS
The Vatican was a place of quiet. A city within a city, yet it felt like a world of its own. Enclosed by towering stone walls, it was a realm untouched by chaos, reserved solely for the Count Saints and their disciples.
At the heart of the Vatican, the grand church loomed, its spires stretching toward the heavens. Descending its stone steps was a blind monk, his hands clasped as though in silent prayer. He reached the bottom and was met by several disciples, their morning classes just concluding.
"This is a surprise." A tall man approached, his dark skin contrasting against the pale morning light. Dreadlocks covered half his face, and a heavy jacket hung from his shoulders like a cape. Beneath it, he wore a simple white shirt and black pants.
The monk inclined his head. "Saint One. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"C'mon, no need to be that formal." His accent was an intriguing blend of European and South African. "We're both Count Saints, aren't we?"
"Yes, but you are far above me in ranking."
"Mmh." The man scratched his chin. "Anyway, you arrived just in time for the meeting."
"Meeting, is there a meeting today?" The old monk silently continued his prayer as the both of them walked across the corridor.
"But of course the Pope himself would like to speak to us."
"What matter could he want to speak on?
The first saint had no idea, "I don't know what that old man's up to nowadays, always scheming something."
"Is it ok to say that, they say he is omnipotent." The monk advised against slander of the Pope's name.
"Probably, in any case I too would love to know what's going on."
The two arrived at the main hall, the first saint flung the doors open as gust of wind would.
The chamber was dimly lit, golden candlelight flickering against the high-arched walls. four figures sat around a crescent-shaped marble table, their robes pristine, their gazes sharp. At the head of the table sat the Pope himself, clad in a robe embroidered with celestial patterns, his expression unreadable. The discussion was already underway.
"You're late, first saint." The Pope himself spoke, his voice raspy as age has caught up with him. But then again that same age gave way to a soft way of speaking, one that made many within and outside the Vatican walls respect not only him but his judgement as well.
"Sorry your holiness, but I had a class of 12 to teach." The first saint bowed his head.
"Excuses, excuses, try coming up with something original sometimes." Spoke the third saint, her voice coming from the opposite side of the room.
"Yeah dude, that's totally so lame." The sixth saint joined in.
"I get it, can we please continue with the meeting at hand. I've got things to do."
BAM!
The eighth saint slammed his hand onto the table, "There is nothing more important that whatever his holiness wishes to tell us, I pray you become more mindful of that fact next time any number of words exit your mouth."
The first saint looked behind him hoping the blind monk would help him, only to find nothing but air where the monk stood. Turns out he rushed to take a seat, "He used me as bait so that people would ignore him so we wouldn't get lectured. That Bastard."
"Enough!" The Pope spoke, "First saint is right, I want to be very brief and let you all go about your day."
The first saint tried to use this opportunity to escape to his chair but the Pope caught him. "There be no need for you to take a seat first saint, I will be brief and to the point."
"Aye, aye captain." The first saint saluted.
"So it has come to our attention that one of the six calamities has come back to claim our very existence on this planet."
"!"
"One of the six calamities?" the third saint asked, "What is that?"
"It was definitely before your time. Like it was one of the six students who left the academy and were about to join our ranks as saints but like totally didn't and ended up going haywire… I think." Explained the sixth saint.
"That is somewhat of a descent explanation, however, only two from the academy are actually part of the six calamities. One was neutralized and brought back here for rehabilitation, as for the other one…" The eighth saint tried explaining but was cut off by the first saint.
"I thought he was dead and gone."
"Don't interrupt me while I'm thinking out loud!" The eighth exclaimed.
"Don't even worry about it for real, he's just expressing himself." The sixth came in. However, the Pope decided to come back in explain the situation himself.
"Yes that is all true, you shall explain to number three the story later. As for now, wherever he was whether it be hell or another dimension it seems as though he wasn't welcomed their for too long. He is now back in the mortal realm and will eventually seek to ruin all of us."
"Saikyo Akame." The old monk finally spoke, "The Kanji for Saikyo means strongest and for Akame means demon. As such his name is the…"
STRONGEST DEMON!
"Wow, this guy sounds like bad news if he's got you this shaken up old man." The third saint said.
"Shaken up! Oh, dear you miss understand, it has been too long since I have been able to purge a demon from this world. I believe I am just excited." The monk smiled as he spoke this.
"That's just creepy." The first saint continued, "Where is Germain? I believe he should be the first to know about this."
"Him and his disciples have a mission back in Loliwe, it turns out there's someone there causing us and the arch bishops a bit of trouble." The Pope answered.
"In the villages I presume, but how is that even possible. Aren't their knights and sorcerers there?"
"It would appear as though one of the leading bishops was killed, murdered in cold blood." The eighth saint informed him, "I would assume by sorcery."
"Has his body been brought back yet."
"Yes, it was brought back a few months ago actually." The Pope answered, "Why do you ask"
"I'd like to examine the body myself…"
"Hold it right there, I know you think he was beneath you. But regardless of how much of a pervert you think he was, he was still a member of the Vatican royal court. It would be shameful for you to disgrace his body." The eighth saint stopped him from finishing his sentence.
"I would agree with number eight, what reason could there possibly be for your want to do this number one?"
"Its simple." The first saint said, "I wanna know how he died."
"?"
"You can't be serious, just go look at the post mortem reports." The third proposed.
"Seeing is believing, before he's cleaned up, I'd like to see his body. If its not too much trouble. I'll even view it through glass if I must."
The Pope looked at him, his eyes dancing over the first saints body, it was as though the Pope was reading him. "Will it help with capturing and neutralizing the calamity?"
"I think so, but I'll have to see first."
The old man got off of his chair, "This information was given to us by the calamity we caught, neutralized and rehabilitated. However, in the end a calamity is still a calamity, if possible, I want you to go and check out the reports and see whether they line up with your intuition. If something isn't right made sure to inform me and the other saints as well. Meeting is over, everybody return to your posts and await further instructions from number one."
The Pope left the chamber, and immediately the saints rose.
"God, I just wanna hot bath." The third said.
"I feel like the atmosphere was less tense especially with everyone else not here." The Sixth commented as he escorted the third outside the chamber.
"I have no idea what it is you're planning." The eighth stopped next to the first saint, "But if it comes to it, I'll pull the trigger, so watch whatever it is you are doing carefully."
He then left the chamber via the large door.
The first saint toppled to the floor, his jacket falling beside him. "Oh Germain, that was tense. Just what in the world, are you doing?"
NEXT WE BEGIN THE AKAME ASSASINATION ARC