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Description

The sound of his footsteps echoed as Agonistes walked towards the altar. The silence of the cathedral served to amplify whatever sound was emitted within. As such, it was no small surprise that the sound of muted groaning could be heard. The sound did not come from the flag bearers, who even now remained still as statues. Nor did the sound emanate from the colossal and faceless forms that were firmly bound to the cathedral’s pillars.

Agonistes did not need to look. While it may have been unnerving the first few times, countless visits to the cathedral had a way of numbing his attention to the writhing and groaning forms that adorned the cathedral’s ceilings. Much like those bound to the pillars, they had their time to serve. This was the purpose of the cathedral, a maximum prison for those that were deemed too dangerous and or crafty to be sent to hell immediately. Prisoners to be held until the appointed hour when they will be cast into the pit to be locked away forever.

And now it’s time to report to the Warden.

Agonistes thought to himself as he approached the front of the cathedral. Before him loomed what one may mistake as a massive sculpture bearing the form of a woman whose facial features were hidden behind a shadowy veil. It stood like a monolithic watcher, positioned where it could have a clear view of all that were incarcerated within the cathedral. Agonistes could make out the faintest movement as its head slowly tilted to watch him approach. However, even with the aura of power that it emanated, it wasn’t the titanic form that Agonistes was focused on.

Pausing at the base of the Altar, Agonistes’ eyes turned and waited for the much smaller figure that stood in front of the giant figure. Her back was turned to him and after a few moments of waiting, Agonistes rolled his eyes and spoke, “Honey, I’m home.”

While his voice may not have been loud, in the silence of the cathedral, he might as well have shouted. The atmosphere in the cathedral stilled and Agonistes waited as the person slowly turned to face him.

She wore what seemed to resemble a nun’s attire with red linings. Pale blonde hair shown in the areas not covered by her habit. There was the faintest expression of annoyance at being disturbed which vanished just as quickly. Her eyes found his own and Agonistes felt a cold chill pass through his spine.

Lord above but her eyes never fail to have that effect on him. They were an unusual color of silver, like the sky when a full moon was out and storm clouds were gathering. They were the eyes of one who wielded authority and power made even more evident by an unearthly light that made them faintly glow. Agonistes resisted the urge to kneel, to prostrate himself before her. It was one of the things she disliked. That and his penchant for droll humour.

The woman slowly descended the stairs of the altar with her eyes still on him.
“Agonistes.” The woman spoke in a voice that was light and breathy, a quality that would make established singers green with envy. “How fares your task?”

“Oh you know, the usual. The ole demons making pacts with some idiotic sap dumb enough to trade their soul. The usual doom and gloom threats when they get sent back. It’s almost clockwork at this point, Sil”

The woman deadpanned Agonistes at the mention of the nickname he had given her. Years and years before, back when she had pulled him out of a river in Hell and placed him under her watch, he’d dare not risk such things. Many years passed, however, and he could be forgiven for wanting to have a bit of jest, especially in a dreary place such as the cathedral.

“I see that time above has done little in improving your attitude. You know my name, yet you persist in using another.” She chastised.

“What can I say? Sileniel can sound a bit mouthful. You angels really enjoy putting ‘el’ in your names. At least you can shorten your name, not much I can do with the name you gave me.”

“It is the name that the Maker has given us, and you would be wise not to utter it in such wanton disregard.” There was a sudden change in the atmosphere of the Cathedral as Sileniel’s voice turned firm and cold.

Crap. Agonistes mentally kicked himself as a reminder to reign in the jesting a bit. He held up his hands to concede to her. Joking was good and all but there were limits to it. Perhaps the time above really did make him forget a bit about decorum in the cathedral.

The threatening aura dissipated as Sileniel reached the bottom of the stairs. She eyed Agonistes before she spoke once more in her airy voice.

“Your name, your memories, are not mine to return. They will return in due time, fragment by fragment, as part of your penance. I have made this known to you many times.”

Agonistes remembered, even if he could not most of his own past. An effect of his dip in Hell, which stripped him of many of his memories.

“Your endeavor to complete your recent tasks above is commendable.”

It took Agonistes a month to root out the demon he had recently sent back to Hell. Part of why it took so long was the vast changes that the city had gone through. Memories had stirred within him during his time in Chicago, but it did not do much to help him, especially with all the changes. Back when he was alive, it was already quite a large city, now, though? Now it was even bigger, cramped like a can of sardines. Structures had risen where empty lots once were.
“They’re growing even bolder, but the problem is them getting smarter,” Agonistes remarked. "They’ve learned to blend in better and position themselves where they’re a bit more troublesome to get to.” Agonistes recalled the number of bystanders during his fight at the bar. Thankfully enough he wasn’t there to be questioned when the authorities arrived. Besides, not like they’d believe accounts of a priest duking it out with a literal demon.

“And how are things on your end?” Agonistes asked Sileniel.

Sileniel tilted her head slightly, “Troubling. With more and more residents of hell breaching their confines and venturing to the mortal world, there is a need for me to spread my presence further. Yet even that is limited by my vigil here. I attended three incidents myself in Europe, all of them involving beings a bit higher in Hell's hierarchy. ”

“Just our luck. I’m guessing there’s no time for a little R & R.”

Sileniel nodded, “There’s been a recent incident in a city that garnered my attention. While the watchers of that city are competent, I believe it necessary for you to take the time to look into it.”

Agonistes rubbed the back of his neck and managed a sigh,“Peachy... What’s the city called?”

“New Luxerion.”

Description

The sound of his footsteps echoed as Agonistes walked towards the altar. The silence of the cathedral served to amplify whatever sound was emitted within. As such, it was no small surprise that the sound of muted groaning could be heard. The sound did not come from the flag bearers, who even now remained still as statues. Nor did the sound emanate from the colossal and faceless forms that were firmly bound to the cathedral’s pillars.

Agonistes did not need to look. While it may have been unnerving the first few times, countless visits to the cathedral had a way of numbing his attention to the writhing and groaning forms that adorned the cathedral’s ceilings. Much like those bound to the pillars, they had their time to serve. This was the purpose of the cathedral, a maximum prison for those that were deemed too dangerous and or crafty to be sent to hell immediately. Prisoners to be held until the appointed hour when they will be cast into the pit to be locked away forever.

And now it’s time to report to the Warden.

Agonistes thought to himself as he approached the front of the cathedral. Before him loomed what one may mistake as a massive sculpture bearing the form of a woman whose facial features were hidden behind a shadowy veil. It stood like a monolithic watcher, positioned where it could have a clear view of all that were incarcerated within the cathedral. Agonistes could make out the faintest movement as its head slowly tilted to watch him approach. However, even with the aura of power that it emanated, it wasn’t the titanic form that Agonistes was focused on.

Pausing at the base of the Altar, Agonistes’ eyes turned and waited for the much smaller figure that stood in front of the giant figure. Her back was turned to him and after a few moments of waiting, Agonistes rolled his eyes and spoke, “Honey, I’m home.”

While his voice may not have been loud, in the silence of the cathedral, he might as well have shouted. The atmosphere in the cathedral stilled and Agonistes waited as the person slowly turned to face him.

She wore what seemed to resemble a nun’s attire with red linings. Pale blonde hair shown in the areas not covered by her habit. There was the faintest expression of annoyance at being disturbed which vanished just as quickly. Her eyes found his own and Agonistes felt a cold chill pass through his spine.

Lord above but her eyes never fail to have that effect on him. They were an unusual color of silver, like the sky when a full moon was out and storm clouds were gathering. They were the eyes of one who wielded authority and power made even more evident by an unearthly light that made them faintly glow. Agonistes resisted the urge to kneel, to prostrate himself before her. It was one of the things she disliked. That and his penchant for droll humour.

The woman slowly descended the stairs of the altar with her eyes still on him.
“Agonistes.” The woman spoke in a voice that was light and breathy, a quality that would make established singers green with envy. “How fares your task?”

“Oh you know, the usual. The ole demons making pacts with some idiotic sap dumb enough to trade their soul. The usual doom and gloom threats when they get sent back. It’s almost clockwork at this point, Sil”

The woman deadpanned Agonistes at the mention of the nickname he had given her. Years and years before, back when she had pulled him out of a river in Hell and placed him under her watch, he’d dare not risk such things. Many years passed, however, and he could be forgiven for wanting to have a bit of jest, especially in a dreary place such as the cathedral.

“I see that time above has done little in improving your attitude. You know my name, yet you persist in using another.” She chastised.

“What can I say? Sileniel can sound a bit mouthful. You angels really enjoy putting ‘el’ in your names. At least you can shorten your name, not much I can do with the name you gave me.”

“It is the name that the Maker has given us, and you would be wise not to utter it in such wanton disregard.” There was a sudden change in the atmosphere of the Cathedral as Sileniel’s voice turned firm and cold.

Crap. Agonistes mentally kicked himself as a reminder to reign in the jesting a bit. He held up his hands to concede to her. Joking was good and all but there were limits to it. Perhaps the time above really did make him forget a bit about decorum in the cathedral.

The threatening aura dissipated as Sileniel reached the bottom of the stairs. She eyed Agonistes before she spoke once more in her airy voice.

“Your name, your memories, are not mine to return. They will return in due time, fragment by fragment, as part of your penance. I have made this known to you many times.”

Agonistes remembered, even if he could not most of his own past. An effect of his dip in Hell, which stripped him of many of his memories.

“Your endeavor to complete your recent tasks above is commendable.”

It took Agonistes a month to root out the demon he had recently sent back to Hell. Part of why it took so long was the vast changes that the city had gone through. Memories had stirred within him during his time in Chicago, but it did not do much to help him, especially with all the changes. Back when he was alive, it was already quite a large city, now, though? Now it was even bigger, cramped like a can of sardines. Structures had risen where empty lots once were.
“They’re growing even bolder, but the problem is them getting smarter,” Agonistes remarked. "They’ve learned to blend in better and position themselves where they’re a bit more troublesome to get to.” Agonistes recalled the number of bystanders during his fight at the bar. Thankfully enough he wasn’t there to be questioned when the authorities arrived. Besides, not like they’d believe accounts of a priest duking it out with a literal demon.

“And how are things on your end?” Agonistes asked Sileniel.

Sileniel tilted her head slightly, “Troubling. With more and more residents of hell breaching their confines and venturing to the mortal world, there is a need for me to spread my presence further. Yet even that is limited by my vigil here. I attended three incidents myself in Europe, all of them involving beings a bit higher in Hell's hierarchy. ”

“Just our luck. I’m guessing there’s no time for a little R & R.”

Sileniel nodded, “There’s been a recent incident in a city that garnered my attention. While the watchers of that city are competent, I believe it necessary for you to take the time to look into it.”

Agonistes rubbed the back of his neck and managed a sigh,“Peachy... What’s the city called?”

“New Luxerion.”