CH505 Heresy
***
Half an hour later, Baron Luth and Kron were seated in the Baronâs study.
With a single glance, the Baron dismissed the old butler. The man bowed deeply and withdrew, closing the door behind him. As he did, he discreetly activated a concealed mechanism. The faint hum of magic settled into the walls, sealing the room and rendering it completely soundproof.
Kron noticed the action immediately.
His expression grew grave as he turned to his father.
"Itâs that bad?" he asked quietly.
"It seems youâve picked up some sense while you were away," Baron Luth Belloc replied. "Good. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for your brother."
"You canât blame him entirely, Father," Kron said evenly. "Youâre the one who made it seem as though relying on outside forcesâthe Imperial family and the other power blocsâwas the only way our House could survive. If anything, my brother is merely taking that line of thinking further than you were willing to."
Bam!
Baron Luth slammed his palm onto the desk.
"By picking a side?!" he roared. "How can he be so blind? The only reason House Belloc still stands is because we remain neutral! We are the linchpinâthe neutral balancer the Empire needs right now. The moment we lose even the perception of neutrality, we lose everything!"
"But thatâs precisely the issue, Father," Kron replied calmly. "âFor nowâ. The status quo will not last forever. The balance between factions will eventually break. And when it does, it will be the so-called neutralsâthose without a side to defend themâwho will be swallowed first."
He paused, then added carefully,
"And if we are being honest with ourselves... the Marquis of EverLight is not the worst liege one could choose to support."
"House Belloc does not need a liege lord," Baron Belloc replied coldly.
"Stop being stubborn, old man!" Kron snapped. "Itâs that stubbornness that has reduced us to this state! We canât field our own army without permission. We canât survive without the goodwill of others. Forget holding our heads high among families of equal rankâwe canât even raise our heads in our own home! An outsiderâs banner is flying above us, for heavenâs sake!"
Kron thrust a finger towards the window, where the Imperial flag fluttered proudly at the central mastâthe place where House Bellocâs banner should have flown.
"You know nothing," Baron Belloc said heavily, letting out a long sigh.
"How could we know anything when you never speak to us?" Kron shot back.
His voice rose, raw with pent-up emotion.
"Do you know I used to be proud that Imperial Guards protected our castle? That I was happy the Holy See has one of its largest cathedrals on our land? That nobles of the aristocratic faction send their children to study here, in our city? Do you have any idea how deluded I was?"
His fists clenched.
"Do you know how gut-wrenching it is to finally see the truth? To realise that everything I grew up believing inâpolitics, nobility, aristocracy... even the divineâto discover that itâs all a lie?!"
"Wait." Baron Bellocâs eyes widened in alarm. "What did you just say?"
"What?" Kron scoffed. "Are you afraid? Fine, Iâll say it again. The god of the Holy See you flatter and bend over backwards for... I know now that he is nothing but a false god. A thief. A usurper."
"Silence!" Baron Belloc surged to his feet. "Have you lost your mind?! Do you want to bring the Inquisition down upon us?!"
Kron laughed bitterly.
"Itâs already too late. Iâm already a fallen heretic in Jurorâs eyes."
"What?!" Horror washed over Baron Bellocâs face.
He spun around, yanked open a drawer in his desk, and pulled out an object wrapped in protective cloth.
Kronâs eyes widened the moment he saw it.
A single piece of paper filled with dense glyphs.
An item he had only ever seen in one placeâan object exclusive to a very specific group of people. Something that should not exist anywhere on Verdantis.
"A magic scroll?" Kron blurted out. "How do you have a magic scroll?"
"You know what this is? How?" Baron Belloc was stunned.
"Waitâquestions can come later. We need to hide your heresy now."
He was just about to activate the scroll when Kron lunged forward and snatched it from his hand.
"Stop! Donât waste the scroll!"
"What are you doing?!" Baron Belloc roared. "Activate it now before your heresy is discovered! Do you want to ruin centuries of sacrifice?!"
He almost lunged to seize the scroll back.
"Calm down, father." Kron raised a hand, stopping him. "Look carefully. Nothing is happening."
He added clearly, "Juror cannot detect my heresy."
Baron Belloc froze.
Kron continued evenly, "Before coming here, I went to the Cathedral. I stood through a full service conducted by a bishop and three priests. None of them noticed anything."
"How... how is that possible?" Baron Belloc whispered, disbelief etched across his face.
"I was enchanted by a healer," Kron said. "One who can block Jurorâs gaze entirely. She used a spell stored in an item just like this."
He held up the scroll.
"Seeing that you possess one as well, it seems we have far more to discuss than I expected."
Baron Belloc stared at the scroll, then at Kron.
"You met one of the Hidden Ones?" he asked quietly.
"Hidden Ones?" Kron frowned. "Who are they?"
"You didnât meet someone from the hidden sanctuaries?" Baron Belloc pressed. "Then... who was this sorcerer you speak of?"
Kron shook his head.
"They werenât sorcerers. They called themselves mages."
He paused, then added, "They are... invaders from another realm."
"What?!" Baron Belloc recoiled. "Thatâs impossible."
"Not only is it possible," Kron replied calmly, "they are the reason Iâm here."
He met his fatherâs gaze steadily.
"Like my brother, Iâve realised House Belloc cannot remain as it is. Something must change. But unlike him, I donât believe the support we need exists within this world."
Kron moved back to the table and placed a small box on it.
It was the same box Alex had given him before he left the expedition party.
"Father, you asked why I returned." His voice softened. "Itâs because these invaders showed me the truthâthe real light."
He pushed the box closer.
"Please... open it. I believe everything will become clear once you do."
***