The Kind of Evil

‎Astrea sat in her wheelchair while Aurelia pushed the wheelchair with Isador walking beside her. They went to meet Rasmus and the others on the other side of the temple. However, when they saw the damage, Aurelia and Isador were petrified by the massive cracks on the walls and shattered glass on the floor.

‎"This... what happened here?" Aurelia asked the priestesses who were busy cleaning the mess.

‎"We don't know, Your Holiness. But Archbishop Lorne said that it all happened out of nowhere, and everything crumbled in an instant," one of the priestesses answered as she lowered her head.

‎"Hmm, that means it was really Lady Aris who did this. It reminds me of her during the war," Astrea muttered as she looked at the damage on the ceiling, walls, and the floor. "You two will meet her in person soon. She's something else..." she continued with a smile on her face.

‎Aurelia and Isador gulped as they continued walking the hallway as they looked around at the damage. They had never seen an Orthias before, in fact, nobody had seen an Orthias since they had been hiding their existence from humans because of the dark past. They had heard about Aristoria and Sanya when those two helped the expedition team hunt the false prophet, Ermaine. They were curious when they heard the story, but now that they were about to see one, there was fear within their hearts.

When they stood in front of the door to the parlor, they took a deep breath as Astrea knocked on the door. When they heard Rasmus's voice to tell them to come in, Isador slowly opened the door and felt the heavy atmosphere in the room. They saw Rasmus sitting on the couch with an Orthias and a Saint. The ones who sat across from him were Erlina, a beautiful Madam, Daryus, the Doctor, and Carrion from the prominent family, the Earnwind while Videl was standing behind Rasmus.

Isador and Aurelia were anxious, more nervous than meeting with Kings, Queens, or high-ranking nobles. The way they were being stared at with sharp gazes without a stoic expression, they felt like they were being seen naked.

"Please, come in," Rasmus said as he stood up.

As soon as Rasmus stood up, everyone followed, except for Aris who was still a bit emotional about Arandil. She was in a really bad mood, and that was why the atmosphere in the room became heavy and suffocating. For Rasmus and his people they got used to it, but for Isador and Aurelia, it felt like they were entering a pit of snakes.

Aurelia slowly pushed the wheelchair and entered the room, followed by Isador who was still on the edge. However, the moment Erlina bowed her head to Saint Aurelia, Carrion and Daryus followed her. Rasmus didn't bow his head, and neither did Aris, Serena, or Videl. They then sat on the couch while Erlina, Carrion, and Daryus chose to stand up behind Rasmus with Videl.

‎"It has been a while. How are you, Crown Prince?" Rasmus asked as he rested his hands on the cane.

‎Isador remembered every detail of his encounter with Rasmus back in the academy. He still remembered when Rasmus confronted his beliefs and ideals, which was a turning point in his life. Rasmus was a teacher whom he never thought he needed in his life.

‎"If I said that I'm doing fine, that would be a lie, Count. Everyone in this continent is struggling to choose what to believe," Isador answered as he nervously placed his hands on his knees. He glanced at Aris who kept a stoic and cold expression with her gaze pointed at the spot on the wall. "I'm afraid of disunity, conflict, and war..." he continued as he gripped his knees tightly.

‎"You sound like you're one of them, Crown Prince. You seem to struggle to choose what to believe. War is going to be inevitable, and you don't want to accept it," Rasmus responded with his brows raised.

‎Isador chuckled nervously as he nodded, admitting that Rasmus was right. He forgot how comforting and unnerving Rasmus's words were.

‎"Don't be afraid of war and conflict. It's the choice you should think about because you have to make a choice and where you put yourself when that happens. You're going to be an Emperor, and you have to begin to make choices," Rasmus said calmly.

‎"Yes, I understand," Isador nodded.

‎Rasmus glanced at Aurelia who seemed to be anxious and hesitant. Aurelia was still as expressive as ever, and it made her look like an open book.

‎"Your Holiness, should we discuss the damage I caused?" Rasmus asked with his brows raised. "I might have tarnished what's sacred. So I believe money isn't the issue here but rather something else?" he added as his eyes kept on Aurelia.

‎"Yes, you're absolutely right, Count. It's not the money, but the deed you have done to this place that concerns me," Aurelia said, trying to put a serious expression even though she was anxious when she glanced at Aris.

‎"If that's the case, what do you want from me, Your Holiness?" Rasmus asked as he put on a stoic and cold expression.

‎Aurelia knew exactly the expression that Rasmus had put on. The expression that made her look at herself in the mirror, the ugly truth of her words that would backfire at her.

‎Astrea was hoping for this moment to happen because she was always curious about Rasmus's way of teaching. She had heard a lot of things about him from Aurelia, and how he managed to put six prominent figures who could change the future into obedient students.

‎"Faith and beliefs of religion aren't about the place where they pray but the mind and the heart. This temple is indeed sacred, but this is simply a building made of stones," Aurelia said as she tried to outmaneuver Rasmus. "Since you believe you're responsible, then I want you to help the Holy Nation fight against evil," she pointed out with a serious expression and furrowed brows.

‎"I refuse," Rasmus responded without hesitation.

‎Aurelia lost her composure and broke the image she had just built earlier. She thought Rasmus would agree or at least took his time to consider it, not a direct and instant rejection.

‎"But you said you were responsible for the damage..." Aurelia said in disbelief.

‎"I did, but since you said that temple has no value, I don't believe what you asked for is equal to what I have done. So, why should I comply with your demand?" Rasmus asked as he smiled.

‎Aurelia closed her eyes and realized that she had made a stupid mistake. She was frustrated, but then she heard Astrea chuckle, and it made her pout a bit.

‎"I don't mean it literally, Count. Although I said this temple is just nothing but a building made of stones, doesn't mean you can disrespect it as you wish. It doesn't matter if it has value or not, it's about being respectful or not," Aurelia said, spouting whatever that came out of her mind.

‎"That's more like it, Your Holiness. You need to know with whom you're dealing with before speaking," Rasmus said with a smile. "But I still refuse," he pointed out as he shook his head.

‎Erlina and the others never knew what was going on in Rasmus's head, and it would be impossible to predict his next move. They chose to listen silently and watched from behind.

‎"Tell me, Your Holiness. Why should I fight side by side with the people who were overjoyed over the dead bodies of my family? Why should I protect the people who killed my family? Why should I help those who abandoned me?" Rasmus asked with a serious expression, there was no game of wit in his expression, only seriousness.

‎The moment Aurelia was bombarded with those questions, a big lump appeared in her throat. She couldn't even make a breathing sound, not even a decibel could be heard from her mouth.

‎Astrea already knew Rasmus would say something like that the moment someone tried to push him to the corner. She realized that Aurelia wasn't ready to become a Saint because she still couldn't consider the reality of the person she was speaking with.

‎Daryus who never liked how heartless and despicable Rasmus could be found it hard to disagree with Rasmus. He had seen enough pain and suffering that morality didn't matter anymore. In the first place, it was Aurelia who was morally wrong to ask Rasmus to help those who were the source of his pain and suffering.

‎"What are your answers, Your Holiness?" Rasmus asked, still with a serious and cold gaze.

‎"I don't have any, Count..." Aurelia lowered her head, feeling ashamed and guilty.

‎"What was the first thing that I taught you in my class?" Rasmus asked as he looked at Aurelia and Isador.

‎Aurelia and Isador shared a look before they turned their heads to look at Rasmus.

‎"That gaining recognition is important, Count..." Aurelia and Isadora answered.

‎"And how to achieve that based on the assignment that I gave you?" Rasmus asked with his brows raised.

‎"To achieve that, we need to be considerate and understand those we want to gain recognition from. To show and to see what others failed to see in others..." Aurelia answered.

‎"And yet you failed to do so right now, Aurelia. Why?" Rasmus asked as he leaned back, softening his gaze and expression.

‎The moment Rasmus called Aurelia by her name and not her title, she suddenly felt seen. The weight of responsibility and the burdens on her shoulders suddenly got sucked into the void.

‎"Because I thought you didn't need those things, Count," Aurelia answered quietly.

‎"You're right, I don't. However, to be inconsiderate is worse. Am I wrong?" Rasmus asked.

‎Aurelia shook her head slowly as she lowered her head. She felt relieved and grateful that she was being treated as nothing but herself. She realized how powerful and effective it was to be seen and to be understood. Although Rasmus never asked to be recognized, his consideration made her recognize him as her greatest teacher.

‎"Recognition means nothing if you beg for it. But when you give it, despite not needing it, others will hand you theirs without question. It took us so many revisions of our assignment to understand that," Aurelia smiled as she looked at Rasmus.

‎Rasmus closed his eyes as a bit of a smile tugged on the corner of his lips.

‎Astrea was pleased to finally witness how Rasmus became a teacher that all six prominent figures looked up to.

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