Eclipse: CH 11

Chapter 11

Angels and demons; the two names that anyone is this field would be highly familiar with. However, to what extent would be debatable. Most of the priest - hunters and non-hunters alike - are mostly only familiar with the concepts that were derived from ancient texts and tales, but none really know off, or ever encountered the real beings.

To think that it would suddenly be referred in this particular case is nothing short of unexpected. Much less be strongly implied (no, stated) to be directly related to it; who would've thought?

 

"Say, are you familiar with angels and demons?" Ryuga eyed Raiga in bewilderment over the question.

"As familiar as anyone in the least, I'd say." Am I not supposed to be familiar with it? Or..-?

The other gave a light chuckle over his reaction. "Don't worry, it only means that I'd have to explain from the basics." The apprehension did dissipate a bit, though the confusion stayed.

"The two beings are basically opposites - light and dark, to put it simply. Though the actual things aren't really as simple. But first let's start with something more familiar." The man straightens up a bit before facing him again.

"We're all familiar with the vampires, right?" He pulls out a piece of paper and starts writing down figures. "There are currently three known subtypes according to their strength and characteristics. And then there are the ones we referred to as the purebloods." A figure drawn apart from the others and circled with a question mark next to it. "It is classified as unknown in majority of the texts and were named such out of convenience."

"They were said to have existed for a long time, but no one knows how or why they came to be." The other nods at his statement.

"Before I became the Head Priest, I used to chase after them. I'd go around investigating every strange case that I could find around the country. I've had my fair share of unfortunate encounters with high level vampires from that. But what I notice from there was, the cases had something in common." The scribblings come to a pause.

"..Which is?"

The man's gaze settled on him grimly. "Negativity - conflicts, jealousy, war, curse. They all had something to do with it."

"And the vampires had something to do with that too?"

Surprisingly, the other shook his head. "Rather than that, the vampires were the result of that. They all trace back to the existence of the purebloods."

Then what are they really? To have an influence to that extent.

"I'm sure you're quite familiar with or at least heard of spells and rituals?" Ryuga was caught off guard. The eyes that is directed towards him had a knowing look. How did he know?

"..-Yes, I am." A small smile came in return.

"People had been using forbidden spells and rituals to summon beings into the living world since ancient times, or otherwise they strayed here via dimensional disturbance. However, these beings are beyond control of mortal humans and thus often ends in catastrophe. One among those beings are the demons. Since they came from a different realm, they usually need a vessel to maintain their existence, which is most often a human. And the humans who were possessed became what is known today as the purebloods."

 

His blood ran cold at that; the realisation dawned on him like a massive wave. "So, they were--" -Humans. He looks up towards the other. "-And him too." The slow nod that follows confirms.

"About that, do you remember how he looked like?"

Of course, like he'd forget such a thing. "Tall, fair complexion, silver hair, pale yellow eyes. And he carries a silver blade." The other reaches into his coat to pull out something.

"Does he happen to be this man?" A photograph was handed to him. He frowned at what - who he's seeing.

"..Yes, he is." The same form, the same appearance, but different air. Slightly longer hair, crimson eyes, and the customary grey coat of the Central Church. "So, he was a priest."

"His name is Mikage Jinga. He was a close friend of mine."

The remark had him snapping back up towards the other. No wonder he's so...hell bent on this.

"I've lost contact with him since almost two years ago. I found out about most of this while looking for him. And what I'm sure of that, he is not the original."

"The original?"

"He was not the first one to be possessed."

"What do you mean by that?" The other picks back up the dropped pen and starts to scribble something.

"You see, there Is a certain condition where reincarnation is possible. And that is when the original soul is removed from the body prior to its supposed death." More scribblings as his words come to a pause. "Like when humans are possessed by demons. The demon will push out the human's soul, thus taking over the body. The shunted soul will then be sent to the reincarnation cycle."

"So, he is the reincarnated soul of a previous victim? But why?"

"To the demons, these reincarnated souls are referred to as second lives, and repossessing them will further sustain the demons. Apparently, they are unable to switch vessels after the initial contact."

"What happen if they couldn't get to these people?"

"They'd probably perish, or be returned to where they came. There is no prerequisite for the reincarnated souls to be repossessed. Even if they themselves held no negativity, they could still be possessed by the same demon."

That's just..terrible. "Then there's no saving them anymore?"

"No, we might still have a chance." He caught the other's eyes and saw determination. "The possession takes time; about 666 days. And if my calculation is correct, we have around 2 weeks left before it's completion."

There's still chance. "How are we going to do it?"

"By using our latent power. And that brings us to the next topic."

 

*

 

That night, he is left to mull over his thoughts. Their discussion ends up going late into the day; by the time they're done, it's already quite dark outside. Coming this far, he's quite sure nothing can faze him anymore, but..-

He'd never really expect that.

He silently stares at his open palm. Apparently, he has powers. One that has been passed down his bloodline for ages.

"Was there a meaning to the strange dreams?"

"They do. The dreams are the sign of awakening. We are the 'blessed ones' - bloodlines that were given powers by the angels. The dreams are a symbolism of the power activating within us. There are quite several bloodlines out there, all in hiding."

"Why?"

"Frankly speaking, because they were being hunted by both the vampires and those practicing black magic. Our blood has special properties - it enhances. For instance, it gives vampires sunlight immunity. But of course, it also results in addiction."

No wonder that man had been rather obsessed with him; it's because of his blood. Which is also the reason why he was kept alive despite clashing multiple times. And in the case of black magic, their blood is used in forbidden spells, curses, and summoning rituals like the one used to call forth the demons.

"Including you, so far I have only identified three bloodlines. One is over in the southern region, and all three of us received power from the golden wolf."

He blinked in realisation. Ah, so that's why-

"The old chapel I grew up with had that figure. Mother used to say that it is one of the guardians of the land."

"In a way, it is true. More so since your mother is of the witch clan."

"And why is that?"

"The witch clan had strong relationships with the blessed ones and in turn, with the angels. In a sense they are the ones who help protects the bloodline. And often time the two ends up mixing, like in your case. So to say my grandmother was also of the witch clan."

He had always known that his mother was one, and had come across her in the middle of her spells several times. The witches from the witch clan practices various kinds of magic; he remembers that his mother was the strongest with healing and barriers. Naturally he never felt anything strange or off throughout his childhood, that is until the dreams started.

He remembered his mother being surprised (with a hint of horror that passed as fast as it came) when he told her of it. The dream wasn't anything particularly distressing to him so he didn't understand why she reacted the way she did. He knows now. And he also knows why he didn't have the dream anymore until recently.

She sealed the powers within him, in fear that it might attracts the two aforementioned kinds. She did it to protect him.

Unknowingly, tears blurred his eyes. Blinking it away, heaving a long sigh.

He couldn't do anything for her that time - there is no way to save someone who has been contaminated. Even so, she left with a smile.

"..-We still have a chance to reverse, or at least push the demon down and bring the original consciousness out."

But this time, there is still something that he can do. He is still unsure how are they going to achieve that (to be fair, Raiga doesn't too. It's new to both of them).

Nevertheless, nothing would happen if they don't at least try.