Chapter 120: On a Hundred Ways to Judge a Witch - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 120: On a Hundred Ways to Judge a Witch Early morning, the streets were sparsely populated. Lucius used his aerial techniques to swiftly arrive at the Livia Church. As a priest of the church, it was his duty to visit monthly for a prayer session – a way to maintain his public image. However, since he took a witch from the church two years ago, he hadn't set foot in Livia Church. For a priest, this was undoubtedly negligence. Lucius didn't care much though; neglecting duties wasn't rare for him. He walked into the chapel, heading to the prayer hall. It was still early. No one else was there, except for a red-robed elder standing beneath the tall and elegant statue of the twelve-winged white goddess. He was Seco Boden, one of the seven cardinals of the Church. Noticing movement behind him, Seco turned and bowed respectfully. He slightly lowered his head, not daring to meet the man's eyes. This young man was far more robust than his aging bones. "Father Lucius, I've been waiting for you." Lucius responded indifferently, "Speak, what is it?" A spark flashed in Seco's eyes as he got straight to the point, his tone tinged with regret. "Father Lucius, we are both the goddess’s most devoted followers, so why continue feigning ignorance?" "The Holy Father has given you numerous chances. Insisting on this erroneous path will lead only to ruin!" Lucius frowned, his voice turning cold, "Seco Boden, is this how you speak to me?" The cardinal bent slightly, hurriedly lowering his head in apology. Inwardly, he thought that Lucius was unreasonable. He was only trying to steer him away from the wrong path, yet Lucius criticized his attitude? "Please, Father, do not be angry." Seco hesitated briefly, but continued his persuasion, "Father Lucius, I hope you understand His Holiness tolerates your antics because he values your talents." "But no matter the indulgence, there’s a limit." "Today, it's me advising you. Next time, it might be the Church’s Inquisition." The threat was evident in his words. Lucius narrowed his eyes, unmoved. "Are you threatening me?" He flicked his sleeves with a commanding air. "I, Lucius, have never needed to explain my actions to others." "Leave!" With a cold shout from Lucius, Seco's face turned uncertain. He'd come to persuade peace, not realizing Lucius would give him no face. Seco refrained from immediate threats, but inwardly, Lucius had already sentenced him to death. Since his obstinacy persisted, the Church’s wrath would be inevitable. The elder left with a stormy visage. That dialogue led to a complete fallout between Lucius and the Church. After Seco Boden departed, Lucius stood alone. He looked up, admiring the grand statue of the goddess in front of him. His gaze wandered over the statue’s elegant visage then gradually moved to the twelve immense wings behind her. The wings were indeed large, dominating the entire space above. Pure white and holy. In the empty hall, Lucius softly murmured to himself. "Must a deity be pure and holy...?" The man stood silently for a while before departing. --- At the manor. After Lucius left, a slender figure ascended to the second floor. Eilene wandered aimlessly. Selena had gone with Miss Anna to learn about crafting new clothing. She intended to tailor a piece for both Lucius and Eilene. Life at the manor was tranquil. It was natural for Selena to indulge in such leisurely pursuits. However, Eilene wasn't interested in such trivialities. At times like these, she'd roam the manor alone. The manor, though aptly, was more like Lucius's study. As she aged, Lucius noted Eilene's "tsundere" disposition remained unchanged. Such a nature might alter only through a significant life change. Lucius's study was large but simply furnished. Besides frequently used tables and chairs, the room was lined with one towering bookshelf after another. Eilene enjoyed being there, often selecting books randomly and sitting in Lucius's chair, reading quietly. Today was no exception. She tiptoed to pull down a hefty tome from the shelf. The morning light revealed the graceful form hidden beneath her black dress. And the bold title on the book’s cover: "On a Hundred Ways to Judge a Witch." Holding the book, Eilene glanced around instinctively. The manor was silent in the early hours, and with Lucius dismissing all staff for confidentiality, apart from the rustling leaves in the breeze outside the window, there was no other sound. Despite this, Eilene felt an inexplicable guilt, her face tense. With the book clutched, she sat in Lucius's chair. She opened it, adopting the man's usual serious demeanor as she began to read. Eilene had perused this book several times before but was often interrupted unexpectedly. Its content, as the title suggested, recounted methods priests employed in dealing with witches over a century ago. The most common method was flogging. Naturally, Eilene read it with a critical mindset. But what she didn't anticipate was that while the initial parts were mundane, the narrative grew increasingly improper. It decidedly qualified as a forbidden text. If it merely described witch trials, the Church probably wouldn't consider it taboo, possibly even using it as a positive guide. Yet, the book's suggestive depictions of witches and priests would surely lead the Church to deem it heretical were it discovered. Fortunately, it was stored in Lucius's study, unnoticed by others, thus surviving the ages. Eilene read quickly. The study remained quiet, with only the occasional rustling of turning pages. The more she read, the redder her face grew. By the end, her usually stunning face had turned bright red. Given her unique complexion, her other skin parts remained unusually pale — a striking contrast. The book's final passages, with their debauchery, were too much for Eilene. She hastily shut the book, exhaling a long sigh as if finally emerging from an odd trance. She gently patted her chest, soothing her racing heart. After a moment, she regained composure, a hint of embarrassment and frustration flooding her features, as she muttered quietly. "Ugh, what a pervert to have such a book on the shelf. This must have been premeditated!" She chided someone furiously, forgetting she found the book still sealed. Eilene lingered a bit, then glanced out the window at the sky. The sun was already hanging high. (End of chapter)