With the ever increasing enthusiasm of people to resolve the mysteries of CANDEMARO's past and hopefully, craft precautionary measures for an ancient prophecy they have yet to fully understand, many people agreed to refocus country-wide efforts in the retrieval, organization, and archival of pertinent historical information. While there are initiatives made in several communities, it has ultimately been decided two hundred fifty years ago to create an institution who will take on the duty of recording information and preserving it as CANDEMARO's historical and factual chronicle. This institution, which has come to be known as the Intellectual Society of Solferino (ISoS), vowed to welcome all scholars from the three tribes and combine all efforts in an attempt to spin the country's missing historical threads.

  CANDEMARO may consider the current age prosperous due to the rising employment rates of the population, one that was heavily influenced by ISoS' efforts to incentivize participation in official expeditions. While risks have been made known to the public, particularly those that tread on newly discovered sites, the continuous success and benefits of early participants only boosted the country's enthusiasm to be included in an expedition team that could potentially unearth the next groundbreaking discovery. The presence of young, promising clerics within ISoS adds to the public interest and the institution soon preferred the innocent youth to partake in some of their remarkable endeavors; both inside and outside the office.

  As much as ISoS has affected CANDEMARO's economy by encouraging the population to participate in official expeditions, the country's status over the years has also affected the academic realm one way or another. For one, the years have given a glimpse of the changes in ISoS' academic priorities... and who oversees it.

  During the early days, not much territory was open to safely conduct official expeditions. Small efforts before ISoS' creation report difficulty in traversing wide, unknown lands, particularly those in the West and North. In its early days, ISoS focused on sending explorations to these areas, creating camps and marking landmarks for teams to use in the future. It was small work, but it was immensely difficult. Accidents may occur in the middle of laying down safety equipment due to the rough terrains and early reports of unknown, shadowy creatures only hampered progress. Nobody initially knew how to deal with these creatures; sure, people were able to drive them away, but some returned, wrecking even more violence, dispatching more team members, and forcing some expeditions to end all together. It wasn't until Seth and Bela's use of Summoning in an expedition they were part in two and a half decades ago, that people learned of the proper way of dealing with these creatures they soon called ROELs.

  Thanks to the siblings' effective solution, as well as their outstanding intellect as youths at the time, ISoS employed them as clerics, which influenced the young population of the country to take on the path of a Maven. Guilds soon flourished in Solferino, where ISoS is established, trade improved between ancient tribal cities, and in a night's passing, expeditions began turning in reports of success, bringing relics and artifacts that turned ISoS to a museum of crucial historical evidence. Subsequent explorations opened safer, bigger camps for teams, which led to the full exploration of the Eastern Desert. As expeditions became more common and lesser risks were reported, it soon became a good way to generate income and gain benefits. In a sense, one can say that it was thanks to the siblings Seth and Bela's efforts that CANDEMARO is more enthusiastic to finally resolve their compromised identities.

  Perhaps it is better that the country-- even ISoS-- think so too, for despite their immense contribution to keep the academic wheels moving forward, Seth and Bela are siblings who work for a higher, personal, and malicious reason.

  When people think about Seth and Bela, they think of their successes and efforts and assume that they hold the highest authority within ISoS. Surely, they had to have that. They deserved it, after all. However, one may be shocked to know that they continued to hold on to their positions as priests, with the main responsibility of approving expedition documents. Some of their fellow clerics, particularly those who have been with ISoS before them, point out this matter, to which Seth and Bela always reply; in a seemingly natural way, that they wish to partake in further research to help the institution's cause-- a duty that higher ranks are deprived of. Every so often, the siblings will receive positive comments from it; one that they expect to receive, as it distracts their colleagues from the implications of such a position.

  With this clerical perk and their subsequent creation of the Red Hearts Order to undertake shared researches, Seth and Bela continue to generate successful results after another, which the institution continues to acknowledge. It's the perfect alibi to be frequently away from office to visit exploration sites, which is beneficial to their cause. Funny enough, ISoS knows of the siblings' endeavors; mostly the gist of it, but has not made any effort on asking for the details of it. As long as Seth and Bela turn in results, ISoS is fine with it. In fact, ISoS is fine with the efforts of Usor priests and Mavens, given that they had issues with Digma academics breaking rules a decade ago, which eventually led to ISoS labeling any Digma who still continues to pursue academic work as a Rogue and persecutes them. Now, rumors of distrust among their Encanto brothers arise in gentle tremors; a concern only fully resolved with--again-- Seth and Bela's official conferences with the Encanto's Sequoia Council. By this point, ISoS and the people working in the main office are so intoxicated with Seth and Bela's works that they are most willing to overlook the possibility that they may be into any illicit activity.

  Today, Seth and Bela remain in ISoS' main office; a large rectangular building of polished dark stone, an architecture style thought to be outdated as of this time. It is five floors high, designed to have a long main hallway on each floor that loops on itself for efficient travel across offices. There is an open space in the middle of the establishment, paved and dotted with several spots of greenery that gives off safety and relaxation in a space of endless pacing. The busiest parts of the offices are on the first three floors, with most clerks working within cubicles separated by towering lacquered bookshelves. Seth and Bela are with their fellow priests in one of the conference rooms on the third floor; seated around a rectangular grand table, discussing recent matters in the academic world. It is common for priests to gather at this part of the office, as it is more accessible for people to find them in case something urgent comes up; such as the case this morning.

  Somebody barged into the conference room and delivered news of Wirgnej's destruction to the appalled crowd of clerics. The messenger, who is equally and visibly shaken by the information, pulls up reports from traveling merchants, their voice trembling as they explicitly describe details of the remains of the inter-tribal town. Several priests exclaim in shock and horror, while others begin to conspire of the motive behind the incident. Hushed mentions of Rogues or mercenaries float in the air, but some of the clerics soon take notice of Seth and Bela's bulging eyes and agape mouths; as they are all aware of how frequently the siblings have visited Wirgnej. Some even thought that it was their hometown due to this. Silence enveloped the room.

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  At the behest of another priest, the messenger was sent away and the meeting was soon adjourned. The participants filed out of the room after deciding to prioritize the investigation on site. They pursed their lips and hid their faces within their white veils; deeply affected with Seth and Bela's reaction to the news. They began to question their priorities and how they were unable to mourn their fellowmen--which made the majority of Wirgnej's population--first.

  When most of their colleagues had left the room; some of which offered a few positive words in an attempt to cheer them up, Seth and Bela shuffled out, beginning a sad procession up to the Red Hearts' Order's office-- their private quarters-- on the fifth floor, receiving even more sympathetic remarks from those who met them along the way. Perhaps it was the way the siblings hung their heads and the way the veils obscure their faces that people were unable to detect the grins they were suppressing.

  Office spaces on the fifth floor were rarely visited by regular staff, given that it's a literal hike to get there. Each space is owned by a priest and has a uniquely decorated wooden door. For Seth and Bela's case, they requested to share an office space, which explains why their room is the largest one. The door to their office is mahogany, carved with the image of the Usor Visionary, Hera Gama. There was an immediate need to rush inside their room, and Bela was first to turn the golden handle and push the door open, while Seth purposefully shifted his weight on his back to shut the door in time as he and Bela shared malicious snickers among each other.

  It is a recurring event for the both of them, to share a sick sense of humor for something so grim. Then again, perhaps the reaction; which almost sounds triumphant, wasn't due to the misfortune of its victims, but rather at the fulfillment of the events they expect to result from an extensive plan. As priests and equally skilled Usor Sorcerers who share a space with multiple people--some of which may have powers almost to their levels--Seth and Bela are aware that they cannot relish their happiness for too long, despite the idea of success is already making them gasp in between now silent laughs.

  Bela, the younger one, is the first to peel off from the door, staggering towards the upholstery in front of their reception desk, holding his stomach, wheezing as he prop one of his arms on the backrest, while he pulls his veil off of his head, revealing his soft pastel pink, shoulder-length layered hair, soft fringes falling across his teary eyes.

  "That's more than a successful plunder." It is unclear whether Bela was crying or laughing by this time. "He exceeds our expectations every single time."

  Seth follows where Bela has settled; taking the seat behind the counter while stifling another hoarse chuckle. "I told you he'll eat up any compliment we give." He reclines on the seat, crossing his legs underneath the desk.

  Their laughs have dissipated by the time Seth's remark left his lips and the siblings exchange knowing looks and wide smirks, silently gloating of another success on their end. Seth was first to turn away, eyes slowly traveling to stare at the painted tapestry to the left of their desk, which features the most popular depiction of the Usor Visionary; dressed in a flowing white robe, one hand raised to the heavens, reaching out to the dark clouds, the other hand gripping tightly on a book with a common Sorcery Circle. Knowing that his brother has his eyes on it, Bela's expression turned solemn, closing his eyes with a soft sigh.

  "We're so close to meeting her..." he hummed.

  Seth subconsciously tipped his chin down in agreement, eyes still on the tapestry. Their academic endeavors; pushed into motion by their revolutionary breakthrough at the Eastern Desert and paid for in blood by unwitting victims, are headed to success. Seth's eyes narrowed at the progress of this project and he could almost hear his heart pounding at the thought of almost completing it. If their project reach completion, they can acquire immense power to dominate CANDEMARO. A few more steps are remaining...

  Three knocks made in perfect intervals snapped the siblings out of their thoughts and they immediately looked at their office door, understanding that it was one of the cryptic codes they have developed to discreetly announce the presence of each other. Seth and Bela taught this to the only other person they have trusted with their plans and his presence now; in their office, made them smile.

  "Come in," Bela called from his seat, to which the door promptly opened silently.

  A person in the same white robes of the ISoS priests entered. They wore the same white veil, though it is difficult to discern where the covering begins as this person's skin is almost the same hue as the white fabric of the veil. Overall, one can mistake this person as a ghostly figure or a uniform floating across the floor if they did not stop and take notice of the heavy-rimmed glasses he was wearing.

  "Welcome back, Raven," Seth greeted as he moved in front of the counter.

  "A job well done back there." Bela added, drawing one arm open, to which Raven immediately dashed in and embraced him. Bela heard him whimper.

  "It's not. Someone survived the ordeal..."

  The remark had the siblings on their toes, the hairs on the back of their necks rising in alarm.

  "... though I am certain he is not from town." he continued.

  "What do you mean by that?" Seth asked, now peering curiously at Raven, who pulled away from the embrace and began pacing across Seth and Bela.

  "There was a boy who attacked me with a great ball of Darkness. I had not seen any Sorcerer conjure an attack without a Circle or Chant, but I was able to recreate it." Raven paced further left, as if contemplating, and stood by the window looking out, the faint sun rays of the day reflecting through the window and to his glasses' lens, which highlighted his blood red irises staring blankly down the streets of Solferino. "I believe he also has the same eyes as mine."

  The thought left Seth and Bela dumbstruck and their jaws hang wide open in disbelief. Their minds reeled at the thought of Raven's narration. The power of Darkness... the red eyes... two main characteristics of Charnel; the deity of Darkness Seth and Bela had read in their quest for power-- the unknown god that supposedly holds the last key they needed to complete their mission... and Raven had found his reincarnation.

  "Oh, Raven!" Seth took off from his place and lunged at Raven for a tight embrace. "Aren't you the greatest boy!" he exclaimed.

  "We have found the rightful sacrifice for our final ritual." Bela patted Raven on the shoulder. "You wouldn't have to do it anymore."

  Raven's eyes widened at the revelation. "You mean..."

  "That's right, Raven. You don't have to suffer for the sake of our work. That boy you found will take your place in the ritual. No-- he has to be the one to do it!" Seth reiterated with awe and conviction.

  "Then, I can live with you and Bela forever, right?" Raven asked, looking expectantly at the siblings.

  "Do tell us where you last found him." Seth nodded, his embrace tightening. "And we will ensure that he'll take your place in the ritual." His voice was now soft, almost soothing.

  Bela wrapped his arms around his brother and Raven. "And we can be together," he smiled.

  As if struck with immense emotion at the reassuring words, Raven pulled down his glasses, continuous streams of tears gushing out of his eyes at the idea of spending eternity with the siblings whom he had considered his everything. He buried his face in Seth's arms, sobbing happily, while Seth and Bela exchanged knowing looks and hid their mischievous grins behind their backs in the meantime. Until they see their goals in completion and they hold the power in their own palms, Seth and Bela hold off any thought of celebrations. Triumph tastes better with age, after all.

  ---

  To be Continued...