Look at me!! I'm the reaper now: Reincarnated as the Herald of Death-Chapter 54: it only gets Darker

Zelda stood tall as Chief Santos approached.

"Strategos Zelda," Santos called out to her. "We got your emergency call. You said you found the missing students?"

"Yes, ma’am, in the basement. But they said the other students were taken to be experimented." Zelda’s voice caught. "But I couldn’t find them when I checked the lab."

Santos’s jaw tightened. "And you discovered all this how?"

Zelda hesitated.

In her mind, she saw the Blue Reaper come across, cradling Alessia like she was made of glass.

She saw how his efforts had saved people and thought keeping him hidden from the bigger mystery and any further scandals was the least she could do to preserve what little peace he may have.

"I was investigating on my own," Zelda said. "Following up on a lead about closed religious sites. I found this cathedral and discovered the operation."

"Alone?"

"Yes, ma’am."

Santos studied her face. "That was reckless."

"I know but the life of the students were on the line. I couldn’t wait."

A medic approached. "Chief, we’ve secured all the survivors. They’re being transported to Vitalis General now."

"Good and the other students?"

"We searched the whole premises but found nothing."

"How was it possible they moved that many people in such a short period?" Santos thought to herself.

She turned back to Zelda. "Did you see who was running this operation?"

"They escaped before I could apprehend them. I prioritized saving the students."

"Understandable." Santos placed a hand on Zelda’s shoulder. "You did well tonight. Sister Jewel will be proud."

Zelda nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"Chief." One of the agents called out to Santos. " another survivor, a female has been found near one of our vehicles and she’s still conscious."

"I’d hate to bother her but she’ll be vital in answering a lot of our questions." Said Santos.

As Santos walked away to coordinate with her team, Zelda’s eyes scanned around for any sight of him. She eventually looked up at the cathedral’s roof and saw....

A figure silhouetted against the night sky, their coat billowing in the wind.

The Blue reaper waited for Zelda to see him before vanishing into the darkness.

Meanwhile, at the St. Helena church.....

The Vice-Magister’s dark energy crashed against Calvin’s metal barrier causing it to fall apart.

Calvin flew backward, his back hitting a shelf and books raining down on him.

"CALVIN!" Josephine screamed.

Luna increased gravity around the Vice-Magister, trying to pin him down but he shrugged it off like it was nothing.

"You’re children," he said, walking forward slowly. "Playing at being heroes. But it’s clear you don’t even know how outmatched you are."

Another blast of dark energy came and this one caught Josephine, causing her to crash into the same spot as Calvin.

"This is just my pneuma I’m firing at you raw and you can’t even do anything to save yourselves." A dark red energy readiated from the Vice Magsiter’s body.

"Shows you’re not worthy of being killed with my Crest." His red coloured eyes glowed and he raised both his hands.

All three of them were huddled together now and a concentrated ball of pnuema gathered within his palms.

"Goodbye, Trinity."

"KNEEL."

The word echoed through the archives like thunder.

The Vice-Magister’s body locked up mid-attack, the energy sphere dissipated harmlessly and his knees hit the ground involuntarily.

"What?" He tried to fight it.

"I said," Sister Jewel’s calm and absolute voice came from the hallway. "KNEEL."

She walked toward them from the entrance of the archives.

A Golden light radiated from her eyes, brighter than anything the Trinity had ever seen. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

It was the Monarch’s Authorituy, a toned down version of one of the most powerful crests in history.

The original called the Sovereign Voice was passed down from one of the prime twelve along the bloodline of the royal family.

Dark energy erupted around the vice Magister and he tried to struggle his way out.

But Sister Jewel’s power was absolute within these walls so he stayed on his knees

"How did you...." he gasped through gritted teeth. "How did you know..."

"I’ve suspected you for a while now" Sister Jewel said, walking forward slowly. Each step sounded like the judges hammer in a court. "Small inconsistencies, missing reports, Information leaking to the enemy."

She stopped in front of him.

"But I needed proof. I needed you to reveal yourself." She looked past him to the Trinity. "Thank you, children. For providing that opportunity."

The Vice-Magister laughed bitterly. "You think this changes anything? The seventh seal synagouge is everywhere. We’ve infiltrated every organization, every church, every..."

"Silence."

His mouth snapped shut.

Sister Jewel knelt down, meeting his eyes.

"The Golden chalice will be taking you into custody and you’ll be answering all our questions. Whether or not you like it."

The vice Magister remained silent and smiled at sister Jewel.

Her shoulders stiffened up as she immediately realized something

"Luna, take him down!!" Screamed sister jewel at the top of her voice.

Luna used her gravity manipulation to cause the ground beneath the vice Magister to cave in, dropping him even deeper than the floor where the archives were.

Sister jewel has expected a bigger explosion but it was a suicide attempt aimed at only himself, the explosion barely doiny any damage.

The stared into the hole in the ground of the archives and only ash remained.

Sister Jewel stood slowly, the golden light fading from her eyes and then she turned to the Trinity.

"Are you three alright?" Sister Jewel asked.

"We’re fine," Calvin said, wincing. "Thanks to you."

"No. Thanks to whoever planned this." Sister Jewel’s eyes found Calvin’s. "This was a setup. Someone knew there was a traitor and planted the files there to expose them."

She walked over and picked up the Nemesis file from where it had fallen.

"Not that I’m down playing the Trinity’s efforts. But tell me who helped you?"

Calvin hesitated.

"A friend."

Sister Jewel studied him for a long moment and then smiled slightly.

"This friend of yours is clever, ruthless and clearly values your safety." She tucked the file under her arm. "When you’re ready, I’d like to meet them."

"Maybe someday."

"I’ll hold you to that." She turned toward the exit. "Come, there was raid over at St. Raphael led by Strategos Zelda. We need to inform the council and secure the site.

Strategos Zelda will be promoted to Vice-Magister immediately."

The Trinity followed her out.

As they left, Calvin glanced back into the hole containing the pile of ash that had been the traitor.

"We did it, the mole’s gone. He’s plan really worked."

"Now we just have to deal with whatever comes next."

Zelda stood surrounded by Golden Chalice officials and Arcanum agents.

Sister Jewel arrived personally to commend her.

"You’ve done the Golden Chalice proud," Sister Jewel said, embracing her. "Effective immediately, you’re promoted to Vice-Magister."

Zelda accepted with a nod, still numb from everything that had happened.

Milo ran through empty alleyways, her breath ragged.

Every shadow looked like an Arcanum agent.

Every sound was footsteps behind her.

"I’m ruined. Completely ruined."

She stumbled, caught herself against a wall.

"Mom. I need to get home. Ask for forgiveness. Maybe she’ll—"

But deep down, she knew.

There was no coming back from this.

The Blue Reaper stood watching emergency vehicles swarm the cathedral below.

Alessia was safe and en route to the hospital

Milo’s confession was recorded and ready for distribution.

The Vice-Magister was most likely already exposed.

"Everything had gone according to plan." He said looking over Vitalis, the city glittering beneath him.

"Almost."