Sylvester was interested in this new language he saw in the diary. He had seen the language of various other species, even the elder language, but this one didn’t match any of them. The characters were entirely different from any historical evolution of language too.

‘Is this what the demons use to communicate with each other?’ He wondered and decided to try and speak with this demon.

“Wraaaa!”

Bam!

The demon was angered inside the rune circle, trying to break free of the confines. But only Sylvester could go in, and nothing else could come out unless he wanted to. But, of course, these rune circles were not omnipotent as they could also break open if the demon was too strong.

“Hold on to this diary. This could be the best way for us to understand the demons in the long run. Whatever is written on it is not gibberish. Look at the patterns and repetitions, I am sure it’s a language with some meaning. Wait outside, don’t start chanting the exorcism ritual until I tell you to—first, I shall try to speak with it.” Sylvester ordered his friends.

Sylvester prepared his fist of light, jumped into the cage-like rune, and started to brawl with the demon immediately.

Bam!

He landed the first punch in the face, but he ensured it was not too hard as that would also hurt the woman the demon had possessed. So instead, he let the light do its magic.

Bam!

He threw the demon around like a toy, and soon enough, he was sitting on its back, arms and legs locked in the right places. “What were you writing in that book?”

The demon, however, only screeched and tried to attack Sylvester. It soon reached a point where he had to use more force and hurt it. “Speak, dammit, I am trying to listen to your wishes… where do you come from? What is your name?”

“Wraaaa…Ror’…ona…th… Aaaa…!”

“Ror? What?” Sylvester tried hard to understand, but the screams were too loud.

‘I can’t wait anymore, or the woman will die.’ He considered safety and started to chant. With that, Gabriel and Felix also started.

Like all past possessions, the light started to shine on the whole rune circle and slowly focused on the demon. The moment he noticed the demon writhing in pain and trying to leave the body, Sylvester caught it and dragged it out. With that, the effect of light amplified manifolds, and the demons started to wither away.

“Ror’…onath!”

Just before the demon died, Sylvester heard its last words near his ears, and this time they were fully recognizable.

‘Ror’onath was his name? T-this means the demons are not mindless? But who are they? Where do they come from?’

Sylvester decided not to divulge this information with his friends, at least not Sir Dolorem and Gabriel, as their minds were too affected by the Church ideology, and they’d never see demons as anything other than demons. As for Felix, he could share it with him, but it was useless since the latter was no expert in such matters.

‘Bishop Lazark should know more about demons since he’s a necromancer… maybe I should have a vague talk with him later.’

Sylvester wasn’t doing this for no reason, and he had a motive behind this—a selfish one. He just imagined what effect it would bring on him if he were the one to fix demon possessions around the world. He would likely be named Saint—getting a lot more perks and, with more perks, comes a peaceful life.

He checked the possessed woman, and after ensuring she was alive, he left with the rest to let the town’s healer get to work.

“We’re more exorcists at this point than investigators. Perhaps we should have joined Augustus Steel in his department.” Sylvester muttered jokingly.

“There is a big difference, however.” Sir Dolorem started. “The Exorcist department deals with various kinds of evil, while we only deal with the demons. They have hundreds of different ways and chants to memories for each kind of evil.”

Felix scoffed. “Which means they are living a better life than us. Man, why did I follow Max and agree to this stupid job?”

“Indeed, Sanctum Inspectors have it worse. Too much traveling, risk, and work. But, the benefits outweigh everything. Since your pay is higher, you will get promotions faster, and also, it will reflect well on your record as you’re supposed to be God’s Favored candidates.” Sir Dolorem said, trying to cheer him up.

Felix shrugged. “As I said, I am not interested in being a clergyman. One day, I will find a beauty, get married, and then pop a few dozen kids with my strong blood and raise an army of strong lads and ladies.”

Sylvester couldn’t help but chuckle, remembering what Miraj had told him in the morning that day. “Well, pal, by the record you’re going, the only thing seeing your offspring will be your bedsheets.”

“What do you mean?” Felix appeared confused.

Sylvester smirked. “Hard work and sweat go hand in hand, right Felix? I think you know what I mean with all that?”

“…”

“Fuuu… Were you the one making all those cat noises all these days?” Felix barked.

Sylvester shrugged, feigning ignorance. “What cat? All I know is that you are one hard worker, Felix.”

“What are you two talking about?” Gabriel finally asked. Sir Dolorem nodded at the side too.

Sylvester decided to explain in a few rhyming words, akin to his hymns.

The boy we thought was naive

Turned out to be more than just alive

He suddenly spends more time to bathe

His actions might just be against the faith.?

He works hard under the sheets all night and day.

Ensuring that his actions are not on display.

But the stains of sweat and the white snakes,

So clear they appear, there can be no mistakes.?

The boy has grown up and has become a man.

Young degenerate he may be, but he has merely begun.?

Like a lightbulb lit in Gabriel’s mind, he exclaimed loudly. “Ah! Felix is a wanker?” 𝑜𝘷𝑙.𝘰𝑟𝑔

Felix was fuming. “How the hell do you know all that about me? And I only practice ensuring my tool works for the long night.”

Sylvester shook his head at the shenanigans. “No amount of practice will prepare you for that night, pal. Le-”

He suddenly stopped speaking midway as a terrifying possibility rose in his mind, one that could be true, for he had faced it too. “What if… the white snakes in our balls are people waiting to be born? What if people die and they turn into a white snake too? And wait to be born?”

Felix and Gabriel heard him and looked towards their crotch in wonder.

“Am I a genocidal maniac?” Felix wondered.

Sir Dolorem laughed, however. “Don’t overthink. There is nothing that proves such a thing. The Church even has a silent rule not to touch oneself, but nobody cares since it’s impossible to enforce.”

However, Sylvester was far too serious because his journey also started as a little white snake. He silently wondered a great many things. ‘Is there a grown man inside me… fighting for his freedom… no! This can’t be! But… why can’t it be? Oh… how will I ever sleep now?’

“I have work to do. I will see you later.” Sylvester decided he needed to go and get to work to remove his mind from this possibility.

Right away, he went to find the necromancer to see if he knew anything about the demons.

“Bishop, do they have horns too?”

As Sylvester entered the room, he found Shane was also sitting on a chair beside the necromancer’s table. While Shane read the booklet he gave, the man worked on a rat skeleton.

“What are you doing here, kid?” Sylvester didn’t like seeing a young child in that dark, gloomy room.

Shane showed a thumbs up. “I memorized ten hymns already, Priest. I was singing them to the Bishop. He said I am talented… and he told me about demons.”

“They look like a mix of animals and humans, bizarre and ugly. Now, hurry out and read outside in the light; I have something important to discuss with the Bishop.”

“Okie!” Shane jumped off his seat and ran away quickly. And before he shut the door close, he reminded Sylvester. “I will memorize all of them, Priest… don’t break your promise.”

“I won’t. Now move along.”

“What promise?” Bishop Lazark inquired with interest.

Sighing, Sylvester took the seat and looked around at the table. It was a mess with organs of animals splattered everywhere. “He wishes to be a clergyman.”

The necromancer nodded in approval. “He’d make a fine young priest. So, what does Lord Bard need from me? I hope you’re not here to convince me to join you.”

Sylvester chuckled as he took out the book he found from the possessed. He then opened one page and showed it. “Do you know what language this is?”

He tried to see how the man would react while keeping his senses high. If there were any surprise reaction, that would mean he’d know something.

But sadly, there was no reaction. So he asked something else while putting the book away. “Tell me, have you heard that demons have names?”

“Of course!” Bishop Lazark exclaimed. “They all have names, but it’s just too hard to know, and even those we know are kept in utmost secrecy to ensure that people don’t start worshiping one. If I remember correctly, the strongest demon in history was Tut’Makht, The Absorber.”

Suddenly, Bishop Lazark looked around as if scared and then lowered his voice. “It’s not known to all, and you will access these advanced books once you become a Bishop.

“It’s written that to kill this demon, nearly four thousand years ago, the ninth Pope, Alexander Maxim Cosmo, the Eternal—gave his life alongside five Guardians of Light in a Soul Sacrifice Seal ritual. They all had to kill the demon by trapping him into their souls little by little and then killing themselves.

“This was the point when the Church became weak, and infighting started with two hundred poison attempts on the next Pope, Varus Da Silantia, the cursed. It took ten more Popes and over a thousand years for Pope Atrox, the mad, to come and stabilize everything.

“So yes, demons are extremely dangerous, and their names are the highest secrets. Did you learn a name?” Bishop Lazark guessed.

Sylvester nodded and also felt somewhat excited and spooked. First of all, he found out that he needed to become a Bishop to learn more intricate things—real history. And second, the demons can sometimes be as powerful if not more than a Pope. But again, Popes also differ in strength.

“Yes, I did.” He responded.

Bishop Lazark stared into his eyes and warned him. “Only verbally mention the name to Saint Wazir when you return, never write it down, never reveal it to others.”

Sylvester could smell the scent of some fear, albeit faint. ‘The Church is this serious about names?’

“Do bloodlings also have names?” Sylvester asked for more.

Sadly, this time he was disappointed. “Never heard of such before, but again, there has never been a sentient bloodling in history. But, if they have one, it’d be a boon to kill them as knowing a name makes it easier to exorcize and trap evil.”

Satisfied, Sylvester got up. “Thank you for the lesson, Bishop. See you later.”

He headed to his room next, as he needed to prepare for the upcoming battle. As for this demon book, he’d have to research it slowly—he reckoned that maybe one day he could talk with the demons.

‘It’s time to use Chonky bank again and prepare to make some light crystal weapons… I wonder how many I have.’

___________________

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