I created my own system

"So if Alicia doesn't worry about our safety she can go with you?" Jillian asked I could feel she had a bold plan.

"Jillian that's.." Alicia was about to say something but Alya began to speak.

"We will be fine here so go with Apollo"

"You can't be sure of that"

"We will be fine" This time Keith spoke resolutely as if no more words were needed.

"The gang and I will stay at the hidden temple I am certain no one can find us there" Braiden suggested.

"I'll agree with him since only a member of the lower class can see the map on the book" Casper agreed while Vesta looked at me with her eyes filled with mixed emotions. There was fear, anxiety, anger and even sadness. All those emotions made her expression complicated but despite her situation, she still spoke.

"We will be fine" She looked at me her eyes reflecting the dozens of deaths she had witnessed.

Her fear that it will happen again creates this circle of emotion that influences everyone. Somehow all of us fear losing each other but that fear doesn't prevent us from doing the things we need to do.

"Alright," I could only say feeling defeated.

"I'll take Alicia with me"

Everyone felt relieved though Alicia and I felt sceptical.

"So in the end just what do you want to find inside the monastery" Aaron could finally ask the question that is been bugging him.

"Oh yeah we forgot the most important one, what do you want to see there" Mckenzie was the one who spoke this time.

"I have three things I want to know once I am there though I don't know if I can accomplish them"

"And those are?"

"Temple locations, treasures and spells information"

They all looked at me exasperatedly as if questioning my decisions.

Why? Who wouldn't want treasures?

Three days went by and the preparation was done. Alicia and I plan to enter the place secretly and gather enough information while the meeting starts.

According to Sergio, the meeting will be held at the first temple so while the big shots are out we will enter the tenth temple and then proceed to the other two temples.

After we finished our meal we immediately cleaned the dishes and laid a few pieces of paper and pen. One of the things we need is a map and so with the help of everyone we began drawing the map I got from the memories of the priests I corrupted.

"I still can't believe how you extract a map from a priest's memories" Alicia said while she frowned.

"Why Alicia is it hard to do that?" Vesta asked while sorting out the maps made from Apollo's instruction.

"Memory search spells are very dangerous because the caster can't control the flow of memories that flood their mind. Worst scenario after a mage cast such a spell they would swept by the flood of memories causing a rift in their sanity. The ending is either they die or survive and go mad"

Vesta looked worried went she heard such words but Alicia immediately assured her.

"No worries Apollo came from the tower I am certain their memory search spell is different from the ones I knew"

I heard their conversation which made me think about my spell Veritas.

The spell I used was only slightly different from the regular ones used by the empire mages. My spell Veritas which is under necromancy, absorbed all memories a soul contains that way no mind-strengthening barriers or spells could distort the flow of memories.

There was no protection against the influx of information it was only because of Jeremiah that I could stay sane.

[Yes, after all, I am good at sorting out]

I chuckled as I heard his voice inside my head, the previous emotionless voice had become a little human, though that is only my own perspective.

"So the plan is to sneak inside their archive and all look for any documents or maps about the location of all twelve temples," Blair said while looking at the blueprint harvested from Sergio's memories.

"Yup that's the gist of it," Mckenzie said while double-checking the map he just drew.

"If by any chance you and Alicia retrieve what you wanted what happens next? Will you tell the emperor about the temple's location?" this time Blair's question was directed to me and so I answered truthfully.

"I am actually hesitant to do that"

"Again with the spies right?" Keith interrupted while bringing a tray full of snacks and drinks.

It was true though it is also the reason why the emperor approached me and gave me this task. Because he couldn't trust anyone other than a member of the the four-ducal house.

"Spies are real trouble, hey Alya can you give me some cookies?" Braiden asked feeling frustrated at their situation.

"Here freshen up" Alya said then she gave him a platter of cookies and a glass of fresh lemonade.

The scent of freshly baked cookies hits my nose making me want to try some of them.

"I also like cookies please hand me some"

Alya gladly gave me a platter of cookies and lemonade making me smile.

As we dab into the mood of eating Blair suddenly blurted out something.

"Wait let's go back to the thing I ask for!"

Oh, what was it the thing he was asking for?

I asked myself then Jeremiah answered.

[His question is what you plan to do if you found all twelve temples]

Ah right, it was that, I forgot since I got into the mood of eating, strangely food is one of my weaknesses.

"Right about your question... let us see"

I began to think, should tell them?

My eyes unconsciously darted towards a girl who frequently scolded me for being secretive and...perhaps being a troublemaker as well.

Alicia was talking with the girls when her eyes went towards mine and strangely it somehow told me to continue.

Is she a mind reader or something?

[Perhaps her senses are much sharper than a normal human]

I frowned thinking how it was possible since her body was too thin for someone who has advanced senses. Typically those who have such skills are a martial artist who have fully mastered their art. However, if Alicia was truly capable of that then it makes her even more dangerous.

Women are truly scary.

"Apollo? You okay?"

Braiden asked it seems my silence caused them to worry.

"Nothing about Blair's question the truth is.."

I beckon them to lean closer before whispering my answer.

"What!"

"That dangerous!"

"Apollo won't that cause more catastrophic events than the monastery itself!"

Braiden, Blair and Mckenzie exclaimed causing everyone to look at us.

"Apollo, isn't your method too extreme?" Keith spoke hesitantly.

"I understand that your method is the safest and the fastest but it is still too dangerous" Casper who was silent the whole time finally spoke.

"Then what should I do?"

It was my time to ask and all of them went silent.

"I still don't agree with you there must be something else right?"

"How about poison or curses?"

"I think the priests of the monastery are almost immune to that didn't we already see first-hand how they merely tank those spells"

Blair said denying Mckenzie's suggestion.

Blair, Mckenzie, Braiden even Keith and Casper wore serious expressions on their faces as if they were thinking about the biggest decision of their lives.

"Boys, what's happening did something happen?"

Matilda and Arabella who was busy in the kitchen finally arrived holding baskets of muffins.

"About that..." Casper approached her and whispered something in her ears.

"Doomsday?" she mumbles not understanding anything.

.....

Sergio was a devoted priest of his lord Nirvana however ever since his failure and destruction of his base in Sidus. He became a little impatient and angry at the other temples. It was supposed to be them that will inherit the will of Nirvana unfortunately he wasn't the only one who thinks that way.

Apollo's cursed words became the spark that ignited the heated battle among the temples. None of them was able to notice the cracks that began to spread among them.

No, perhaps some of them have noticed but decided not to interfere due to their extreme will to become the chosen pope of the monastery of Nirvana.

The little boy who knew the absence of such a figure took advantage of it, to make sure none of them would take leadership and step up and fix the current situation.

As the meeting began the previous and somewhat harmonious relationship among the temples began to strain. And just as Apollo wanted none of them wish to lose the race of freeing Nirvana.

Everyone wanted power, glory and acknowledgement and to achieve those they would do anything even killing their own comrades. Their faith became greed which became the catalyst for a curse that they can't ever remove.

"Sigh...it seems it already started"

With a body clad in armor, a wicked laugh echoes in a room full of books. In his hand was a black orb containing a black mist, that stirred the hearts of those has been marked and corrupted. This mist spreads and attaches itself to its target making the map in the demon's hands light.

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