Insidious Covenant Church.

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**Chapter 4**

To empower humanity against the overpowering invaders, four individuals prayed to Yahweh, and He granted them “Grace,” the power of angels.

**Insidious Covenant Church, Sancta Vertica**

A wooden door creaked open as a slender silhouette dragged Jerome's beaten and bloodied body across the cold concrete floor. The dimly lit room was filled with eerie chants and prayers from dark, hooded figures. Unperturbed by her entrance, the woman continued to pull Jerome toward a large inverted crucifix and demonic statue, surrounded by twelve chairs occupied by nine hooded figures.

“Back so soon, Rakael?” a slouched, slender man asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“What do you want, Henri?” Rakael responded curtly.

“Nothing much, just eagerly awaiting your return,” he replied, his tall, gaunt figure looming over her. Rakael’s slit pupils met his abyss-like eyes as an evil grin spread across his face.

“Aye, don’t go scaring the new girl, Henri,” a high-pitched voice called from above as another figure dropped from the ceiling. With a lollipop in his mouth, he quickly made his way to the unconscious Jerome. “You’re one hardcore lady, ain’t ya?” he said, flashing a bright smile.

“You both creep me out,” Rakael muttered, dumping Jerome's body in the corner of the room.

“Are you sure he’s still alive? Your spiritual energy is leaking all over the place. Did you use your cursed form?” the newcomer asked, his light blue eyes glowing as he examined the dark, smoky aura evaporating from Rakael's body. He reached out and placed his hands on her, causing the aura to stabilize.

“There, that’s better,” he smiled.

“Don’t go leaking your spiritual energy like that, especially with those exorcists around,” Henri warned, adjusting his black dress coat.

“Isn’t that why we kidnapped the Prelate’s son? To weaken the exorcists of Saint Agnes Church and retrieve the Seat of God so we can begin merging the four worlds?” Rakael replied.

“It’s good to see someone with the church’s plan at the forefront of her mind,” a muscular man clad in only jeans emerged from the inner chambers, his body covered in strange tattoos, cut scars, and bloodstains. Both Rakael and Henri bowed on one knee before the intimidating figure.

“But you must learn respect,” he said, walking towards Rakael and slowly releasing his spiritual energy. She resisted at first, but eventually collapsed under the pressure.

“That’s better,” he said, picking up a black hood from the wall just behind her. “The members await you, Master Veyan,” Cedric announced.

Veyan opened a large curtain leading to the church's altar.

“New girl, come and bask in the glory of chaos. You are now a full member of the Stellar Cult of the Insidious Covenant Church,” he said, extending his hand to her.

Rakael ignored his hand and strode up to the altar. The adoring gazes of the hooded members below her brought a smile to her face.

“She’ll make a fine addition, don’t you think?” Cedric asked.

“She still has much to learn,” Henri replied, following Veyan to the altar. Rakael took the vacant seat furthest to her right, while Veyan sat on the golden throne beneath the demonic statue.

“The time has come. The Stellar Cult of the Insidious Covenant Church has been dormant for too long. Now, we wage war against those who oppose our paradise, those who hunt us down. But we need your help; we need your blood for strength. Give up your life for the prosperity of the church, give up your life for your god, GIVE UP YOUR LIFE FOR ME.”

The hooded members drew daggers and slit their throats. Blood flowed across a twelve-pointed star drawn beneath them, slowly illuminating with a red hue.

One by one, they rose from their seats and moved to occupy the points of the star, kicking aside the lifeless bodies of the sacrifices. Veyan cut himself, letting his blood drip onto the glowing star. Smoke and flickers of fire formed at the center as twelve demonic, disfigured creatures emerged, each approaching a member.

“Our time is now.”

**Saint Agnes Basilica, Southern Italia**

**Ecclesiastical Captain's Office**

"This is a trivial matter you’ve brought to me, Micah," Daniel said, sipping from his teacup.

"I know, but only you can make this happen. You’re the highest authority in this church—"

"But not in the whole country," Daniel interrupted.

"I understand, but—"

"What if the other churches hear about this? The history of this church can’t be tainted by the decision of a single exorcist."

"The boy would be under my supervision, part of my group."

Daniel stared intently into Micah’s eyes. "So you’re saying you want to move up in the ranks and become an Inquisitorial Captain?"

"Yes."

A sly grin crossed Daniel’s face. "Why now? You graduated from the church’s orphanage as one of its brightest prospects, setting a record that hasn’t been beaten in ten years. Graduating at ten, becoming a master exorcist just three years later, and now one of the strongest exorcists in the country—"

"Where are you going with this?"

"This child—why are you finally seeking a promotion?"

Micah sighed. "He reminds me of someone."

"Someone?"

"Someone I couldn’t save, someone I let become a devil."

"You still blame yourself for Israel’s corruption?"

"Like Israel, this child had a power forced on him at a young age. If he isn’t guided toward what’s right, I don’t see the point of the exorcist churches," Micah said, gazing out the window.

"It’s late. Head back to your dorm," Daniel said, rising from his seat and walking back to his desk.

"Is that a yes?"

"I’ll inform the Order of Illuminae about his malevolent energy problem. I’m sure Karin can find a solution."

Micah knelt down. "Thank you."

"It’s fine. I owe your father for saving my life a few times in the old days," Daniel smiled.

**Jeremiah’s Room**

The ceiling fan in the white room creaked with every rotation. Jeremiah slowly opened his eyes.

“Where am I?” he murmured.

“You’re awake,” Micah said, setting aside the magazine he’d been reading.

“What happened?” Jeremiah asked, trying to sit up. He groaned in pain.

“You got your head cut off,” Micah said, trying to sound light-hearted.

“How am I still alive?”

“We have a very talented medical team here.”

“They can bring people back to life?” Jeremiah asked, incredulous.

“Not exactly. Eosphoros didn’t let you die. He kept you alive while the Celestial Healers patched you up.”

“Celestial Healers?”

“A division of the church focused on healing, mostly made up of members with a healing grace.”

“What’s a grace, exactly?”

Micah extended his hand, and light particles gathered around it.

“Eons ago, after the world was separated, four people prayed, and God intervened, granting them the power of the archangels, known as grace. These four became the heads of the four noble families and the divisions the exorcist churches have. Grace uses spiritual energy harnessed by humans who have awakened to it, but mostly those with angelic blood can harness spiritual energy and use grace. Others who can’t harness spiritual energy use blessed artifacts, but they can’t use grace. Those people usually become priests like Desmond.”

“So does that mean I get a grace?”

“I doubt it…but I believe that to match exorcists with grace, you’ll need to strengthen your connection with Eosphoros.”

“What happens to me now?” Jeremiah asked.

“We can’t ignore the problem at hand,” Micah replied. “It all depends on you. I want to ask you a few questions, and how you answer will determine whether you live or die.” He stared intently into Jeremiah’s eyes.

“Why so serious?”

“Jeremiah, what do you intend to do with your gift?”

“Gift? It’s more of a curse.”

“A curse?”

“I didn’t want this. It was forced on me. Now I bear the pain and suffering of my dead brothers and sisters, and the regret of my parents. It reminds me of that night. Knowing that my parents were followers of the Insidious Covenant Church, I want to correct all the wrongs they did.”

“That’s why I want you to become an exorcist. I hope you’ve given it some thought. There’s going to be a massive operation against the Insidious Church soon, and I want you to take part in it. But at least you need to be a journeyman exorcist to participate.”

Jeremiah chuckled. “Who in their right mind would accept a devil as an exorcist?”

“You’re not a devil.”

“Oh, I’m a devil,” he said, showing the sigil on his palm. “This is proof. I may only have a part of Lucifer’s malevolent energy, but it’s only a matter of time until I become a devil.”

“Well, there is something we can do about that. Karin, you can come in now.”

“E…excuse…me,” the door creaked open, and a woman entered the room, holding a tablet close to her chest. Her almond-colored eyes shone through her glasses, and she looked away from them. Dressed in the church’s deep blue uniform, with a radiant open book inscribed on the right side and a white sash with a cross

 around her waist, Karin slowly made her way to Jeremiah’s bed.

“You wanted to see me?” she asked Micah, fiddling with her glasses.

“Yes, I need your help with something”