Holy Orders [Albrecht]

Whatever Albrecht Frost was doing inside the Church, it was to be continued at a later time. One of the many sisters scurrying about inside finally reached for his attention. This time, perhaps for the first time, he was called upon to the cathedral's offices. Out of the several administrative figures in this House of God, the one that called upon him had to be the Mother Superior. It was not a mission as a Cadet, as the German could tell. But one that called upon his faith, or otherwise the Mother Superior wouldn't be calling upon him.

Sister Abigail tended to her task much more respectfully to him than other brothers and sisters of this holy house would've seen for themselves.

The Knight had just finished his training session and was about to return to his room for a show. His mind was still focused on his training and how he could improve it, sometimes he thought about the next time he'd get to bring vengeance to the hellspawn that wandered the earth tormenting humanity. His return to his personal quarters would have been cut short, approached by a nun with hair as white as the snow. He raised his eyebrow when she had delivered her message. He had been in endymion for quite some time and never once they have called him.

"I'll be there right away." No reason to not comply, but still he wondered as he made his way towards the office.

The trip towards the office wouldn't be difficult at all. After all, the Church was more or less his home in this City. Through the winding hallways and up the stairs, it would lead him to the cathedral's offices. It was similar to one you'd find in a bureaucratic setting, but with people in religious vesture assigned in their given task in their given offices. The secretary was able to direct the Knight towards his destination, in the farthest room further inside. A pair of mahogany doors would present themselves to him when he finally arrived. If he knocked, he would get a "C'mon in" commanding him.


The sight of blue would greet him. It was a remarkably larger room than one might expect for an office. Pillars kept the ceiling up as the soft sunlight emanated through the stained glass windows. In the very back was a desk occupied by the one and only Sylvania Nikolaev, the matriarch of the Black Scriptures. And at her side was Father Giorgio Fallaci, who stood near the desk with a friendly affable smile.

The blonde woman tented her fingers in front of her and leaned forward with elbows on the desk's surface. "Two days ago you were pursuing a pair of Psyche-Terrorists, were you not? Would you kindly give us your report? There's a matter of interest we wish to bring up with you that may be of some relation."

Albrecht stepped into the room in silence, taking a brief moment to scan. It was very spacious with few things occupying it, once his curiosity was quickly sated his sight settled on Sylvania. Giorgio was there as well, but he didn't spoke to Albrecht yet.

"I was called after that Gambler, the one who streamed his speech, set the pants of a law enforcement officer on fire. Apparently he was trying to rescue another terrorist? In any case a pursuit broke out, but i was able to restrain the other terrorist while the Gambler was able to escape due to a sudden surge of power. He used the same powers as those in the Infinite Jest do to sucker punch me and the other cadet present." Albrecht's fist clenched for a moment, just remembering how hypocritical he was. The spiel about justice and oppression when he was just another demented clown, something inside the Knight howled for the blood of this terrorist's blood to be spilled."Is this about the capture terrorist?"

A facsimile of a smile graced her features at his report. She listened and observed the Knight as he relayed all the information at his disposal. Jorge seemed to raise an eyebrow as well at the news. There had to be a punchline somewhere, but it wasn't going to be mentioned by either of them. The veteran accepted Sylvania's nod to respond. Before doing so, he handed a copy of the local newspaper to Albrecht. It was one with the big bold lettering, Prison Convoy Attacked! and an image of a vacant Martha being led away by guards. "You catch on quickly, Brother. It's exactly that we're concerned about. I'm sure you heard of the rumors of a prison transport van experiencing an attack last night. Your mark is still alive, yet remains non-responsive. Brain dead, as the medical examiners reported. I daresay he won't be any danger to anyone for a long time. But the real meat of the matter lies on who did this to him."

"This handiwork seems to be just in line with the one they call the 'Heretic'. Target a Persona-User and erase their complete sentience and consciousness. It's not a bad way to ensure you neutralize your target, but a cruel one to be sure." The Mother Superior remarked passively as she leaned back in her chair. Though she seemed to be taking an interest in the practice with her eyes considering the implications. However, the pensive look had a flash of malice. It was one full of loathing and even annoyance. "But lately our community managers are having a harder time keeping attendees for our daily services. We managed to force a follower to admit it was because this 'Heretic'... continues to represent our Lord's will."

"I like to think we should've just invested in cushioned pews or maybe add a bit of color to the chapel to look less a boring preaching hall full of doom and gloom. Then maybe attendance wouldn't be such an issue." Jorge chuckled to himself. Though cut himself short as the Mother Superior gave a pointed glare at him. He sighed, muttering under his breath about some non-sense of sticks and asses. But he continued, nevertheless. "We need to find out of his origins. Because all of these claims could end up harming our relationship with the Queen as we know it if this guy has any connection back to the Vatican. We found a place where there'll be another of his gatherings. Infiltrate it and report back to us what you found out. We need to know if he's affiliated at all with any congregation. If you have the opportunity, eliminate the blasphemer. But don't harm the civilians, it'll look bad on us all the same. So, do you accept?"

Albrecht quietly listened to what Jorge and Sylvania had to say. The thought of making a joke how both terrorists were already brain dead, considering their terrible plans, crossed his mind but he kept quiet as it would likely be seen as insolence. Still, the news of a religious inclined terrorist did not surprise him, not only the queen let the citizens worship her without dismissing it even once but Personas were quite similar to sorcery if you think about it.

"Consider it done. I won't hurt civilians but i won't go out of my way to save any either" It didn't take much thought. His main goal was to hunt Demons, but this was for the Vatican and if a fight broke out he could test his strength. Or maybe even steal their powers of shutting down personas. "So, where should i go?"

As much as she wished to feel her fury smoulder at this Heretic, the Mother Superior's expression lightened at Albrecht's acceptance. She pulled out a small card with a written address in written ink. It was a business card of some construction business. "There is an empty lot in Sunlake Palms that we managed to track down this morning. But there is an unfinished building a construction business have yet to finalize for several months. It's spacious if the documents we procured from the city management are correct. But most importantly, it's quiet and out of sight. That's where you'll need to be tonight. We'll have a few operatives assisting you out of sight should anything go wrong. But we do have a single issue, however."

"You're a Class One Cadet, Brother. People are likely going to know you exist and probably already know what you look like. This is going to require a tiny bit of deception on your part so you can infiltrate." Jorge added as he flipped through the newspaper pages in Albrecht's hand to reveal a page on an article on the Hottest Men In The Cadets. Out of the hundred listed here, Albrecht was actually surprisingly in the eighth place. If the Knight wasn't busy gawking at this revelation, the shit-eating grin on Jorge's face would be apparent to him. "You've really been busy, weren't you?"

Albrecht was surprised he was appearing in magazines, how they took photos of him was a big mystery. Probably some annoying stalker. His reaction to it was just a groan however, annoyed that so much attention was drawn to him.

"I have been busy with training and slaying demons. Not sure what you mean, Father." He had used his status as a cadet to bypass drinking age laws but that was different and accessible to any other with his status. "I suppose i could attempt to occult my identity somehow, maybe dye or cut my hair. Wear a hoodie or mask, shades."

"And do these demons tend to be of female guise? I'm sure you've been righteously slaying the Filth with your trusty sword." Jorge's grin grew wider and gave a hardy pat on the back, obviously amused by Albrecht's chagrin. He obviously found it funny how one of their own managed to be on the list. Sure, he didn't seem quite to play the part of someone who divulged in social media. Most in the Church really don't unless they were in the community outreach division. Everyone was too busy praying their litanies or trying to kill all that is unholy so they would never taint the Earth again. "Kidding, but that's all we want to hear. I trust you'll be able to handle the work."

As much as Jorge wanted to tease a little more. But the narrowed eyes from Sylvania caused him to smirk at her. Though that expression failed to get a response in return. "Unless you have any questions, you may be dismissed. Father Jorge, would you mind staying behind? We do need a long discussion on your... recent conduct."

"They have annoyed me and nothing else." Although not aware he had this level of notoriety, he had some fangirls at school that would pester him. Some of the male students have stated how they envy him or that he should enjoy it, even cadet Athena said something similar. Though there was one purple haired succubus that found her way into his thoughts from time to time.

"No, i'm ready for this."

"Ah, here we go again." Jorge said with a low grumble to himself only that he can hear. He didn't seem all that enthused for the coming discussion. It was hard to be when the same stuffy bureaucratic-wannabes of the Church tried to basically tell him that he was too upbeat for their tastes. Sometimes these people really needed to lighten up, like Gregory. But, not everyone can get over their all so dreadful pasts. Not like he can wholly criticize them for it.

Sylvania, eyed the old crusty Father before giving a nod to Albrecht to dismiss him. Her voice was of approval as she gave her final words. "Very well. I look forward to your continued slew of results, Brother Frost. May the Lord continue his blessings on you."

With the short meeting over, Albrecht was free to go. And while he was on the path of leaving, he would hear both the Mother Superior and the Priest banter back to each other. It was nothing entirely important, especially for Albrecht for all people fixated on a mission to slay demons. But, the time was ticking before he needed to be prepared for what tonight had in mind for him.

[End]