Necromancer Of The Black Bible (72)

The Pope’s private chamber in the Grand Temple.

Eliastra stood before the mirror, quietly gazing at herself.

Her silver hair flowed softly over her shoulders, and the strands extending straight to her back shimmered faintly like waves imbued with moonlight.

Lightly brushing her hair with slender fingertips, she slowly raised her head.

The reflection in the mirror was still beautiful.

The difference was her skin.

Until recently, her white skin had glowed with a subtle sheen, but now it was pale.

Yet even that skin resembled polished marble, and her flawless forehead and sharp nose were as perfect as a divinely crafted sculpture.

But her gaze soon settled on her eyes.

Her eyes, once shimmering with sacred golden light, were different now.

A faint crimson hue mingled within.

It was the demonic energy inherent in her, beginning to show.

Confirming this, Eliastra murmured softly.

“…Like a monster.”

The words dissipated into the air, but her reflection in the mirror remained still.

She slowly raised her hand, touching her reflected face with her fingertips.

Feeling the cold sensation, she tried to smile.

But the smile froze on her lips. Her face was smiling, yet there was no warmth in that smile.

It was a stark contrast to the radiant smile she once had, like the sun of the Kallios Theocracy.

“Truly, there’s not much time left.”

Last night at Shadowpeak, she consumed the life force of dozens, but it wasn’t enough to replenish her strength.

Signs of abnormality were appearing across her body, starting with her face.

Deep cracks, like shattered glass, were forming, gnawing at various parts of her body.

‘Will he agree to the deal?’

To regain her strength, she needed the body of a new saintess.

But even she didn’t know where that saintess was.

Even if Damian agreed to the deal, it was uncertain when he could find and bring the saintess.

Anxiety began to rise.

And the cracks in her body deepened further.

Eliastra tightly closed her eyes and shook her head.

‘Stop thinking. You mustn’t be consumed by darkness!’

At that moment, a clear voice from her memories surfaced.

[Do not be consumed by darkness, El. When you gaze into the darkness, remember that it gazes back at you.]

[You are a being of Light. When the light within you shines forth, the Darkness will no longer dare to approach you.]

[Do not doubt. Doubt is Darkness, so keep Darkness far from you. Only then can you move forward wholly.]

The voice of Kallios, the God of Light.

As that voice resurfaced, the anxiety that had risen moments ago subsided.

‘Yes. Let us not doubt.’

Doubt is futile.

Doubting wouldn’t give her other options now.

‘Move forward without doubt.’

With that resolve, she opened her eyes and saw her body again.

Her body, which had been cracked moments ago, was now whole again.

Eliastra let out a small sigh of relief and turned to look at the garments neatly placed on the chair.

Those garments were the sacred vestments symbolizing the Pope’s authority for ages.

The pure white fabric, embroidered intricately with silver thread, shimmered faintly like her hair.

She stepped forward and donned the vestments.

After fully donning the vestments, she approached the three ancient artifacts placed behind them.

A silver crown with elegant curves.

It was the Crown of Wisdom.

All her “power of perception” thus far stemmed from this Crown of Wisdom.

The Crown’s rim was engraved with indescribable patterns of light.

At the center of the rim was a blue gem, pulsing like a heart and emitting a soft blue light.

Eliastra lifted the crown with both hands and briefly closed her eyes.

“May the wisdom of the divine not forsake me.”

She carefully placed the crown on her forehead.

In that moment, the light leaking from the blue gem briefly tinted her eyes.

At the same time, a heavy power surged from deep within her chest. Echoes of ancient conversations with the divine lingered faintly in her ears.

She turned her gaze to the second artifact beside it.

The Pendant of Protection.

This pendant granted the “power to bestow the sacred blessing of light.”

The Pendant was shaped like two concentric circles, symbolizing the Kallios Theocracy.

Though simple in form, it was engraved with ancient sacred patterns.

The green crystal hanging at its center pulsed as if alive, wrapping around Eliastra’s neck.

As she wore the Pendant, a subtle vibration coursed through her body.

Feeling the Pendant’s vibration and warmth, she recited the Protection incantation.

“Darkness is no longer mine.”

Each time she recited the incantation taught by Kallios, her eyes trembled slightly.

Like the divine covenant that promised to protect her from all threats of this world, a veil rose, enveloping her entire body.

Lastly, Eliastra picked up the Mantle of Healing.

The Mantle of Healing, the source of the “power of healing.”

The Mantle was made of light, white fabric, but as it sliced through the air with a whoosh, tiny fragments of light scattered into the void.

At the Mantle’s hem, golden patterns shimmered softly, radiating a serene power.

She draped the Mantle over her shoulders, tied its cords with both hands, and murmured an incantation.

“May the warmth of Light drive out the Darkness in my heart.”

With that, a heavy, warm energy spread from her heart.

The fatigue she felt moments ago vanished completely, and her body, being consumed by Darkness, seemed purified by sacred power.

But she knew.

This healing wouldn’t last long.

‘Without this Mantle, I would have died long ago.’

Eliastra smiled bitterly and looked back at the mirror.

Wearing all three sacred artifacts, her appearance was markedly different from before.

She looked like the sacred and perfect Pope once more.

Yet within that perfection lurked the beastly form hiding the ugly instincts of Darkness.

At that moment, a voice came from outside.

“High Priest Mikel von Raiernov has arrived.”

“Understood.”

Having responded, Eliastra stood before the door.

How would today’s deal turn out?

Would it succeed?

Would he accept the proposal?

‘Please protect me.’

Muttering a prayer that no longer reached its destination out of habit.

Eliastra opened the door.

Creak-

With a short creak, the Pope’s office came into view.

In front of it stood Damian, disguised as Raiernov, leaning on a staff emitting a strange light.

Eliastra surveyed the surroundings and spoke.

“I have important matters to discuss with the High Priest, so all of you, leave.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

The attendants and priests guarding the office bowed deeply and exited.

As the door closed, a barrier formed around the space.

The power that created the barrier wasn’t Eliastra’s.

“What are you doing?”

She glared sharply at Damian, and he spoke.

“Because what we’re about to discuss is very important.”

“……”

Eliastra didn’t respond.

Because she sensed an unusual aura in Damian’s gaze and tone.

‘What is this feeling?’

A familiar yet intimate sensation.

And one she couldn’t resist.

In that moment, Damian’s appearance changed.

From Mikel von Raiernov to an even more familiar figure.

“Y-you are…!”

Eliastra could not believe her eyes.

The figure before her was none other than Kallios, the God of Light.

‘N-no way.’

She examined the figure of Kallios before her repeatedly.

Pure silver hair identical to hers and soft, pale pink lips.

And lapis lazuli eyes that seemed to draw in the entire world.

Even the sacred aura of light swirling around him.

Everything was identical to him.

“That- That can’t be.”

Eliastra vividly remembered Kallios’s final moments.

Though thousands of years had passed, she had never forgotten that scene for a single moment.

Thus, the figure before her must be an illusion.

A trick meant to deceive her.

“What sort of trickery is this!”

Eliastra shouted as if she had seen through her opponent’s scheme, but her voice trembled.

Meanwhile, the figure before her approached with a relaxed expression and spoke.

“Do not fear.”

“…!!!”

A voice imbued with warm kindness.

It was exactly as she remembered.

Eliastra’s heart raced wildly. The protective veil trembled greatly, but it couldn’t calm her heart.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps…

Before she knew it, Kallios stood right in front of her, meeting her eyes and speaking.

“It’s been a long time.”

Eliastra couldn’t respond.

She knew the figure before her was an illusion, but her mouth wouldn’t move.

The figure spoke again.

“Do you remember the name I gave you?”

The question was absolute.

A name no one had called since his death.

Eliastra stared into his eyes, and he spoke again.

“Speak it. I want to hear it from your lips, in your voice.”

His voice carried neither mana nor divine power.

Yet it held an undeniable power.

When Kallios was alive, he had spoken in this exact tone.

Truthfully, without any coercion.

She couldn’t refuse his words.

“Eliastra.”

Hearing her response, a faint smile formed on the figure’s lips.

‘The first step is complete.’

It was a gamble of sorts.

As Equinox said, a strong divine power emanated from her, likely due to Kallios’s three sacred artifacts.

Using magic against it would be suicide.

So I changed tactics.

By casting magic on myself instead of her.

I persuaded Equinox to take on Kallios’s former appearance, and I succeeded in drawing out Eliastra’s true name.

I could have used the “Covenant of False Oaths” here, but I didn’t.

Because the “Covenant of False Oaths,” an 8th-Circle dark magic, couldn’t possibly overcome the power of the three sacred artifacts.

So I relied solely on the inherent power of her “true name.”

The “Covenant of False Oaths” is a spell that amplifies the power of a true name with mana. But even without amplification, the true name itself holds power.

And that power is a true force that no one can doubt or deny.

That is why Eliastra was so defenseless before me.

‘Now for the next step.’

I recalled what Equinox had told me.

Then I called her by the name Kallios used for her in the past.

“El.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you now know who I am?”

Eliastra’s eyes trembled slightly.

It was very similar to the look of someone under hypnosis.

The exact look of conflict when first given a command.

I calmly waited for her response,

and soon she spoke.

“I… know. You are…”

Eliastra knelt before me and continued.

“The Creator of the world and the Father of all creation, Lord Kallios.”

It was the answer I wanted.