chapter 29
The room was silent.
Theodore watched everything with folded hands.
The Pope had returned to the academy once more. He was currently examining Azek, who remained unconscious.
Magnus had reported to the Church that a once-in-a-thousand-century phenomenon had occurred.
The contamination source was gone.
And the host of seed had survived total internal core collapse.
It was unprecedented.
The Willowhearts were relieved simply knowing Azek now had a chance to live.
Therefore there attitude was fiercely protective towards azek.
He had gone through the ordeal nobody would be able to survive and was still alive.
That alone was a cause for celebration.
But the academy and the Church viewed the matter differently.
The Pope slowly released Azek's hand.
"Your Holiness?" Magnus asked, his gaze filled with quiet inquiry.
"He is stable," the Pope said evenly. "The mana core has completely expelled the poison."
Adrian exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Vivian's hand clenching the scabbard relaxed.
"But it is too early to determine when he will awaken."
"And what do you mean by that?" Adrian asked carefully.
"His mana core shattered and reformed. His mana pathways were rewritten in the process."
The room grew even quieter.
"His body requires time to properly stabilize. Even if he wakes soon, he will need significant time before he can wield magic again."
"But his life is no longer in danger… correct?" Vivian asked.
The Pope nodded.
"Yes. He has overcome death."
Vivian's gaze fell to Azek.
Overcome death.
The weight of those words pressed heavily against her chest.
"But what concerns me more," the Pope continued thoughtfully, "is how he overcame that abhorrent contamination."
His expression remained calm, yet his eyes sharpened slightly.
"I am genuinely curious. However, this matter must be discussed within the Holy Council."
Everyone in the room stiffened.
Theodore spoke before the silence deepened.
"This concerns advanced magical mechanics," he said evenly. "The academy is responsible for its students. His supervisor and I will attend the Holy Council."
He paused deliberately.
"After he awakens, we can reach a satisfactory conclusion."
Theodore met the Pope's gaze directly.
Pope Cecil was only thirty-five years old, the youngest pontiff in recorded history. Yet no one doubted his wisdom or the depth of his holy power.
It was due to his radical reforms that holy fire had become a practical weapon rather than ceremonial doctrine. Previous generations had been too conservative, clinging to rigid traditions — traditions that had allowed corruption to spread unchecked.
Appointed a priest at ten years old, Cecil had spent decades uprooting stagnant dogma and searching tirelessly for holy power bearers throughout the Saika Empire.
Under his leadership, even commoners could rise to the rank of Bishop or Cardinal if they possessed sufficient qualification.
The system of merit he established earned him respect never seen before.
and as a result Church's current reputation was unparalleled in both nobility and commonfolks.
And his authority was absolute.
The Pope regarded Theodore with mild amusement.
"You are always prepared, as Magnus says."
He chuckled softly.
Theodore's shoulders stiffened ever so slightly.
The Holy Council was no trivial gathering.
Its members were veterans — individuals the Pope himself had gathered to consolidate ecclesiastical authority against the rise of black magic.
They were ruthless in debate.
Unyielding in suspicion.
And merciless toward anything that even hinted at corruption.
Their caution was not without reason.
If Azek's case reached them in full detail—
It would not be dismissed lightly.
Those were people who had put their lives on line for the war against black magic.
cecil reformed the whole structure of current warfare against black magic because these were people who put their trust in him and his vision.
and now someone young had achieved a feat of purifying black magic without any external factor.
It was a huge breakthrough and a cause of suspicion as well.
it wouldn't be strange if someone directly proposed to take azek in church custody like methilia who was still bound in holy chains in main temple.
" The meeting will be held on next Saturday. If azek wakes up by that time I am ordering you to bring him."
Pope declared in a tone not harboring any chance for refusal.
Theodore looked towards azek and sighed.
It would be miracle if he wakes up but even if he does another hurdle was waiting for him.
I guess it can't be helped. he shook his head and his gaze deepened.
They would have to prepare thoroughly so that even before the Church had a chance to point fingers at them, they would be ready with proper answers.
They would have to make sure it turned into an opportunity rather than an interrogation.
He thought this and returned to his office.