Kaz made his way away from the church. He left it a shell of what it was. The Nephilim that ran it was gone and construction would need to fix everything else. Below him, he saw the son of the farmer racing away from the church with a bag slung over his shoulder. At least something good came out of it. The rest of whatever good deeds this would cause would be long in the making. But the wind mage wasn’t about to let the church keep brainwashing people for its own agenda.

He landed not too far away. Just enough so that he could begin walking again and take his time toward the church. He kept to the side trails in the forests though. All the while he nursed his ribs and his arm back to health. The fight had taken a lot out of him and this blasted cursed sword prevented any magical healing that could be done. He made a small hut out of the trees and foliage that he rested in while his wounds healed naturally. It was also a breath of fresh air to be out of that church. The mage bound his arm in a sling and carried on. Members and scouts from the church still patrolled on high alert. The mage kept himself hidden with his hood pulled up most times.

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He eventually made his way out of the forest and away from the scouts. Manpower was thin and they couldn’t afford to keep tracking him down. Although he knew it was only a matter of time before the knights would get brought into it too. They were at times closely related organizations.

Kaz marched around the closest town and kept his sights set on the church. Wagons rolled in and out of the cathedral. It was a milestone for the city. One that stood in high regard within the region. “I'll need to be careful,” he said to himself. He flexed his fist inside the sling, and no pain shot through him. He slid his arm out and rolled his shoulder. Nothing clicked and pulled. His hand rubbed across his once-broken ribs, but all was well there too. He gave his side a pat.

The mage crawled up a small cliffside that overlooked the church. A defensive oversight, but the church likely had nothing to fear most days. More wagons rolled into town as the holidays approached. The church was getting ready for its efforts to counteract the more wicked holidays and bring more people back in line with the church.

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Kaz counted the wagons and the people that came in day after day. It would take four days before the event would kick off. The mage decided that would be the perfect time to attack. When everyone was distracted by the party. More guards took watch, but none of that mattered to him. He was already prepared to knock people out if need be. The wind mage watched bigger equipment being rolled in. perhaps something that was brought in under the disguise of a festival.

On the third day, the church began to build a structure into the side of the cliff. Guards patrolled day and night. Sometimes only one at a time. A lonely guard walked to the top of the cliff. He peered down at the church that looked revenant from this height.

Kaz dashed forward, snatched him, and dashed back just as quickly. To others, it may look as though the man just vanished. Kaz slammed his back against a tree and held a gloved hand over his mouth. The mage's eyes flashed red and then shifted greenish blue.

“Tell me how to get inside and where I can find out about the bishop. Don’t fight. Don’t fuss. This isn’t a negotiation. Kaz slowly let the man’s mouth go so he could speak. The guard was shaking in his boots. Kaz saw the neck tattoo that was the same symbol as an order of rune knights. The man had served once.
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He knew who Kaz was from then and now. He gulped and took a deep breath to calm himself down, but it failed. “All huh…Kazimir??” The guard asked confused as to why it was him. Kaz exhaled through his nose and waited.

“The church will keep all its stuff and the bishop in the inner sanctums. 4 doors in all guarded with a steel reinforced skylight,” the guard answered, having no other real recourse. Kaz thanked the man and then knocked him out.

As he turned to head to the church finally, a letter appeared on the ground before him. As if someone dropped it off, while he was interrogating the man. It pleaded for him to turn away from this unholy path. Kaz tore the note into pieces. They knew he was here…but could they stop him still? They couldn’t be sure what path he would take to get in. Besides this was going to be the best shot he had anyway.

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The next day the festival kicked off. Kaz still had the guard prisoner. Just so he wouldn’t talk to anyone. As night fell. The party kicked off. Prayers went up into the sky. In the city, people danced through the streets with masks on. Opposing festivals happening at the same time, and keeping the knights busy. Even if it was a trap. There was no better time than now.

The wind mage turned unseen and flew through the air. Silently he drifted over the heads of guards on ramparts. They kept gazes on the prayer circles below. Kaz landed on top of the church. The stained glass hid his presence. It nearly shimmered from the candles lit on the other side. Metal beams criss-crossed the roof that held it together.

The wind mage tightened his attire ready for a battle. Darkness covered him, making him invisible. He moved silently around the roof until he came across a small opening. He slipped the window open and flew downward.

As soon as he landed, his senses flared high. Vibrations erupted. His spell was nullified. Both flight and shadow. He stood exposed in the center of the room as cultists flooded the area. As soon as they arrived, he tried to dash high, but a barrier stopped him. Chains burst out and latched onto the wind mage, slamming him back to earth. Binding spells layered one atop another. As soon as he broke one, another was already cast to take its place.

“Welcome to the Church of Cleansing Kazimir Seiryu. We have been waiting on you,” the bishop stepped out from behind the altar. Kaz struggled against the spells, pouring mana against it, but dozens of spells were stacked too high.

“You…will be spending a lot of time here.”

The bishop waved his hand and the cultists circled closer to the wind mage. They bound him to the ground and the spells increased. They were all highly talented mages. Ranks above the others he fought, and all in unison. They had set a trap for him. The dome sealed off, as the light dimmed. Lightning shot up the chains and electrified the wind mage. He roared in pain as the celestial spirit formed behind him and faded away as Kaz went unconscious. He awoke bound and chained in a dark dungeon.

“You will be spending a lot of time here Kaz. I’d use this time to reflect…before we begin. The bishop spoke as he opened the gate and cultists entered with instruments to test the vampire's anatomy.

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