Astral Point: Summoners Dimensional War

The priests stood still for a moment, their tense expressions fixed on Jeanne's group. One of them, a tall man with a deep voice, spoke in a threatening tone. "We will not ask again. Hand over the boy, or you will all be considered enemies of the Church."

Jeanne d'Arc stepped forward, her gaze sharp like an eagle watching its prey. "Enemies of the Church, you say?" she said firmly. "If the Church you speak of serves tyranny, then I would rather be its enemy than stand silent."

Virginia held the boy tighter, gently stroking his head to soothe his sobs. Her eyes, however, remained vigilant, fixed on the priests with intense caution. What could they possibly want with this child? Why pursue him as if he were the most dangerous fugitive?

Thomas stood slightly behind, observing the tension between Jeanne and the priests. "Empty threats only reveal your weakness," he said, his tone cold and cutting. "If you truly represent righteous power, you wouldn't need intimidation."

Pharnaces II subtly raised his sword, catching the sunlight in a flash of sharp metal. His demeanor remained calm, but his body was poised for action. He said nothing, but his piercing gaze was enough to make some of the priests step back nervously.

The tall priest hesitated, visibly uncertain. Yet, he quickly steeled himself, stepping forward with a determined expression. "You have no idea who you are dealing with," he growled. "This boy belongs to the Church. If you refuse to surrender him, we will return with reinforcements, including the Church's officials. And then, you will not be able to stop us."

Jeanne remained unfazed. "Bring whoever you wish," she said resolutely. "We will not allow justice to be trampled. If your Church considers coercing a child a holy act, then perhaps it is your Church that should be questioned."

Virginia glanced at the boy, still weeping in her arms. She gently wiped away his tears, trying to reassure him. "You're safe now," she whispered softly. But her heart raced. What was the Church's true intention? And how far would they go to achieve it?

Thomas observed the priests, gauging their reactions. Some appeared hesitant, while others showed signs of fear in the face of Jeanne's bravery and Pharnaces's composure. These men were not fighters; they were messengers accustomed to commanding, not confronting resistance.

The lead priest let out a frustrated sigh, but he knew they were outmatched in strength and moral standing. "You have made a grave mistake," he said at last, his voice seething with barely contained anger. "We will return, and we will take what is ours."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his companions trailing behind. Yet the lingering threat in the air felt heavy.

Jeanne stood still, watching them leave with an unwavering gaze. After a moment, she turned to Virginia. "We can't stay here long. They will return, and this time, with greater force."

Pharnaces nodded. "They are not ones to give up easily. A Church like this wields not only physical power but also vast influence. We must be cautious."

Virginia exhaled deeply, realizing the truth of their words. Yet, she couldn't bear to abandon the boy. "But he's just a child," she said quietly. "What could he possibly have done to make them chase him like this?"

Thomas approached Virginia, his eyes on the boy, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe he knows something he shouldn't," he suggested. "Or perhaps, in some way, he poses a threat to them."

The boy raised his tear-streaked face, looking up at Virginia with pleading eyes. "Please, don't let them take me," he said hoarsely. "They'll kill me."

Virginia gently stroked his head. "We won't let that happen," she said. But in her heart, she knew protecting him would be no easy task.

Jeanne nodded, her face set with determination. "We must act quickly. If they return, we need a plan. The boy will be safe with us, but we need to understand who he is and why the Church wants him so badly."

The group reached the inn where Jeanne and Pharnaces were staying. The atmosphere remained tense. Jeanne entered first, opening the door to a modest yet spacious room. Virginia followed, still carrying the boy clinging tightly to her, his small body trembling. Thomas closed the door calmly, his eyes scanning outside to ensure they weren't being followed.

Pharnaces sat near the window, his sword resting on the table. "We need to uncover the truth," he said seriously. "The Church of Mephisa is no small threat. If they are targeting children like this, there's likely something far more sinister at play."

Virginia carefully lowered the boy onto a chair, then knelt before him. Gently, she wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Calm down," she said softly. "You're safe here. No one will hurt you now."

The boy nodded weakly, though his sobs hadn't fully subsided. He gripped Virginia's hand tightly, as if afraid she might leave. Thomas, standing behind them, frowned as he watched the scene. What exactly was the Church of Mephisa hiding? Why go to such lengths to hunt a child?

"What's your name?" Virginia asked in the gentlest voice she could muster.

The boy hesitated for a moment before replying in a small voice, "My name is Toni."

"Toni," Virginia repeated, offering a reassuring smile. "Can you tell us what happened? Why are they chasing you?"

Toni bit his lip, his hesitation evident. But finally, he began speaking in a soft, shaky voice. "I… I lived in an orphanage run by the Church. At first, everything was fine. But recently, they started taking children from the orphanage into the church. They said the children were being adopted, but… none of them ever came back."

Virginia studied Toni carefully as Jeanne crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "They never came back?" Jeanne asked, her tone firm but not intimidating.

Toni shook his head. "Never. Their things are still at the orphanage—their clothes, their toys… everything was left behind. No adults ever came to adopt them. But every time they took the children away, the orphanage staff always looked scared."

"Did you ever hear why they were taking the children?" Thomas asked, tilting his head slightly. His voice was even, but there was a veiled curiosity in his tone.

Toni paused, as if trying to recall something. "I overheard the staff talking to a priest from the church once. The priest said… they had to hand over the children by a certain time. He also said the number of children needed to be enough, or there would be big trouble."

Virginia held her breath, staring at Toni in shock. "They talked about numbers? Like… they were filling an order?"

Toni nodded slowly, his eyes filled with fear. "I don't know what they meant. But I know they didn't want me to talk about it. They always said, 'Don't ask questions.' But I couldn't stand seeing the kids taken away anymore."

Jeanne let out a long sigh, her expression seething with controlled anger. "This is worse than I imagined," she said softly. "That church isn't just unjust; this… this is slavery, or something even darker."

Pharnaces, who had been listening with a cold expression, finally spoke. "If they're truly doing something wicked behind those church walls, we must stop them. But we can't act without evidence."

Thomas nodded in agreement. "If we act without proof, they'll twist the narrative. They'll label us as rebels or even heretics, giving them justification to attack us openly."

Virginia gently held Toni's hand, looking at him with deep care. "Thank you for telling us, Toni. You've been very brave."

Jeanne stepped forward, her gaze soft but resolute. "You don't have to worry anymore. We'll make sure no one hurts you. But we need your help. If you know anything else about the church or what they're doing, you must tell us."

Toni nodded, though he still looked frightened. "I'll try… but I don't know much more."

Virginia patted his shoulder gently. "That's enough. You need to rest now."

As Toni finally lay down on the sofa, drifting into a fitful sleep, the group huddled in a corner of the room, speaking in hushed tones. Jeanne looked at them with determination. "Whatever happens, we can't let this continue. But we must be cautious. This church clearly wields significant power, and we don't know how far their influence reaches."

Thomas nodded thoughtfully. "The next step is to investigate further. We need information, evidence, and a plan. But for now, we must ensure Toni stays safe."

Virginia glanced at the boy, now peacefully asleep on the sofa. His face was calmer, though traces of fear still lingered. Her heart was heavy with responsibility, but she knew there was a larger fight ahead. The Church of Mephisa was a genuine threat, and the revelations from Toni only deepened their suspicions.

"Thomas, Jeanne, Pharnaces," Virginia said, breaking the silence. "We have to go to the Church of Mephisa. This isn't just about missing children—this is something much bigger."

Jeanne, seated near the window, nodded. "I agree. We can't let this church go unchecked. We need to find out what's really happening there."

Thomas, usually calm, turned his gaze to the others. "You're right. But who will protect Toni?"

Virginia smiled faintly. "I'll stay here. Toni needs someone to look after him, and I can do that while you go."

Jeanne studied Virginia seriously. "You'll be able to handle it. We'll leave immediately."

Pharnaces, silent until now, spoke firmly. "We must act quickly. If they're truly hiding something darker within the church, we can't wait any longer."

Thomas nodded, then called upon their Navigator in thought. "Navigator, what should we do next?"

After a moment, the Navigator's voice resonated clearly in their minds. "Investigate the Church of Mephisa. Don't let them progress further. But remain cautious."

"Navigator agrees," Thomas said to Jeanne and Pharnaces. "Let's go."

With the decision made, they left the inn, their footsteps echoing in the quiet streets. The town was nearly deserted, with only a few merchants packing up for the night. Along the way, Jeanne's curiosity got the better of her.

"Thomas," Jeanne asked briskly, "Pierre and Catherine—what about them? Where are they now?"

Thomas tilted his head, considering his answer. "Pierre and Catherine stayed in Libenthium. They're safeguarding Prince Claudius's private voyage while trying to secure Lord Barthold's support. Barthold opposes Prince Calius's influence. It'll take time to gain his trust, so we shouldn't disturb them for now."

Jeanne nodded slowly, absorbing the details. Prince Claudius… she thought.

"Lord Barthold…" Jeanne repeated the name thoughtfully, as if etching it into her memory. "If he opposes Prince Calius, we might need to reconsider our strategy. But for now, our focus is the church."

Jeanne and Thomas walked side by side, with Pharnaces following a few steps behind. They soon arrived at the Church of Mephisa. From the outside, it appeared unremarkable—large and grand, with towering spires that pierced the night sky. Dim candlelight glowed from the windows, giving an impression of calm that contrasted sharply with the unease building within them.

The church resembled others in the kingdom, with classical architecture and large doors leading inside. Nothing seemed suspicious. Yet, the tension among them made it clear that this place could not be taken lightly.

Jeanne paused, scrutinizing the church warily. "I don't like this. It's too quiet," she muttered, her voice low, almost a whisper. "They must be hiding something."

Pharnaces, ever vigilant, added, "But we can't stand idle. We need to enter and investigate further."

Thomas nodded, his eyes fixed on the large, sturdy doors. "We'll go in. But we must tread carefully—no rushing."

Jeanne glanced at Pharnaces to confirm their resolve. "Let's go. If they're hiding something inside, we need to be ready for anything."

The three approached the massive doors, their hearts heavy with suspicion and dread. Yet, there was no turning back. As they pushed the doors open and stepped into the church, the atmosphere shifted. A profound silence enveloped them, broken only by the sound of their footsteps echoing through the vast, dimly lit space.

***