Academic gathering with a lich

Dolanko paced restlessly in the waiting room of the church. His arrival in the sacred city of Lokarot was anything but voluntary, yet indeed he had used this as an excuse to placate his energetic daughter.

Having strangled the lord who put his sister in the Iron Maiden to death and burned his territory to the ground, Dolanko thought his ties with the Light had been severed. Stripped of his Crusader’s power and status to become an ordinary nobleman, he expected the punishment to be far from over, but he hadn’t anticipated the judgment would come this swiftly.

To his surprise, Dolanko actually felt a pang of fear at the thought of his impending trial. It was mostly related to Aryan’s arrival—his sister had still been that mischievous and lively girl, and he didn’t care about what she had become now. By sending Karen to train as a Paladin, even if he faced judgment, his former comrades would likely look after her. Dolanko had this carefree attitude since he had already taken his revenge. Though revenge was a sin, it felt good, as she was his only sister. But now, with Aryan still alive, Dolanko didn’t want to die. My family is fine; why should I settle my affairs?

He had received an invitation from the Guardian Legion, and although he had internally refused, he couldn’t outright decline it. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Dolanko didn’t understand what Frey, the Legion Commander, wanted with him in the church. Was it to carry out the final judgment? Or had Aryan inadvertently exposed something? His heart was fraught with trepidation. It was ironic—once a Crusader, now he feared the judgment of the Light.

Frey emerged and approached the troubled Dolanko.

"Long time no see, Dolanko."

"Long time no see, Commander Frey."

"Are you used to the food and lodging in Lokarot? It’s quite different from that in Cassandra."

"Commander, just speak plainly. I was once a Guardian, and I possessed a sense of group consciousness, I understand you are neither a tour guide nor a restaurant waiter. Come what may, whether it’s torture or judgment."

Looking at the proud Dolanko, Frey’s dragon fruit helmet tilted slightly.

"It’s just a notice."

"What notice?"

"Your daughter, Karen..."

"Frey! What have you done with my Karen!" Dolanko had already grasped the hilt of his treasured sword, ready to launch a desperate frontal assault.

"Your Karen sneaked onto the battlefield. Despite my orders to my subordinates to look after her, she went of her own accord."

"Voluntarily?"

Frey glared at the fool Dolanko, speaking irritably, "You’ve connected with the collective consciousness, you know we Guardians would never let children bear the brunt of war. That lass went to save her ’Purifier’ lord on her own initiative."

"That Purifier, a boy?"

"It is said so... Some Guardians have seen what he looks like."

At that moment, Dolanko wished he could strangle his daughter. Had his carelessly doted on little girl betrayed her own father? Supressing the awkwardness in his heart, Dolanko still worried for Karen’s safety.

"Has Karen been located now?"

"His Excellency Raphael found her, Dolanko, and that is indeed why we asked you to come. Karen has undergone some changes."

Frey led Dolanko to Raphael’s office.

"His Excellency Raphael will discuss the details with you. Dolanko, I’m pleased you’ve decided to rejoin us."

Facing the leader he had once sworn to serve, Dolanko’s heart was a maelstrom of emotions.

He pushed open the door, and there the man sat, not as casual as Dolanko remembered, but sitting up straight, which signaled to Dolanko the gravity of the situation.

"His Excellency Raphael,"

"Karen is fine, she has gotten better, but she still needs to recover."

"My Karen... what has she been through?"

"Dolanko, did you see the towering pillar of light in the distance earlier?"

"Everyone but the blind would have seen it," although Dolanko couldn’t imagine what that magnificent pillar of light had to do with his powerless daughter.

Raphael looked at the mural on the wall of the room, which depicted an angel piercing the Grim Reaper with a holy sword, his face resembling that of the angel in the painting.

"Do you understand the leaders of the Crusaders? Dolanko, do you understand the four of us?"

"As much as the books describe, Your Excellency Raphael. Raphael, the Angel of Earth, Gallaron, the Angel of Water, George, the Angel of Fire, Raymond, the Angel of Light. The four leaders of the Crusaders command the Crusader legions, using sacred light to forge humanity’s future, ushering in the era of the sacred light for this world."

"Angel is just a title, Dolanko, we are just stronger versions of you... much stronger."

"Each leader of the Crusaders has their own legion they command. Raphael’s Guardians, Gallaron’s Ascetics, George’s Inquisitors, and Raymond..."

"Raymond has no legion?"

"Legend has it that the Angel of Light is very powerful. Some rumors say His Excellency Raymond has no legion because he himself is an entire legion. Others say his legion consists of those priests and bishops because he is the absolute guide."

"... Then do you know of the loyalty ceremony? Dolanko."

"It’s the ceremony where a Crusader warrior joins the commander’s legion. We offer our loyalty to the leader and as a reward, we receive corresponding powers. It was through my loyalty ceremony to you that I entered the fourth stratum."

"Dolanko, in fact, the Angel of Light does have his own legion. Guardians, Inquisitors, Ascetics, and the last legion, which is also the strongest, is Raymond’s Purifiers."

Upon hearing these secrets, Dolanko felt a surge of excitement, "But, I have never heard of the Purifiers legion. I only know of the legends surrounding the Purifiers."

"Purifiers. Beings born innocent, children of the sacred light, bloodline of the angels... all the noblest words are used to define the Purifiers. In reality, however, Purifiers are simply those who have the most powerful insight into the sacred light. Of course, this ’simply’ surpasses your imagination,"

"The legion of Purifiers is very special, because, including the legion chief Raymond himself, the Purifiers consist of only four individuals."

"Four individuals!!!"

Raphael stretched lazily, crossing his legs, resting his chin on his hand. Golden wings unfolded behind him, catching the light pouring in through the stained glass windows, shining onto his handsome face, noble and pure.

"The Purifiers are also known as the Angel Legion, which is what the older bishops called us, the leaders of the Crusaders, but it was rejected for being too old-fashioned."

"The four leaders of the Crusaders, the four angels, were never equals. It is only because Leader Raymond habitually uses the term ’brothers’ that you think we are equals. In reality, I, Gallaron, and George are all vassals who swore fealty to Raymond."

"Through the loyalty ceremony to Raymond, the natural Purifier, we became artificial Purifiers, also known as the current angels, the leaders of the Crusaders."

Dolanko was so shocked he was at a loss for words. "But why would Your Excellency Raphael tell me all this..." Dolanko’s pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints.

A smile hung on Raphael’s face.

"If all goes as expected, Dolanko, your daughter, Karen Pembai, will grow up to be my sister, the fifth angel."