Xidriel internally struggled, holding himself back on lashing out on an elderly person, albeit a non-human one.

He’s weak and powerless, unlike Amon and Lan who have access to some kind of magical abilities.

Yet, there’s a part of him that is enraged that a creature such as the elderly nun dared to look him directly in the eyes.

And when she reached out to pat his cheek, Xidriel’s thoughts spiraled.

Xidriel couldn’t focus on the garbled words in his mind as he could feel his face and neck morphing, his knees buckling down as an unimaginable pressure bore down onto him, making him lean his head down.

His cheeks split open to reveal the monstrous golden irises he once saw in his dream, one on each side, that glared at the old nun while rough and shiny black scales the size of a fingernail came bursting out of the skin on his neck.

He could feel the inside of his mouth changing as well, as it grew extra rows of sharp teeth.

If he wanted to, he could disengage his jaw and open his mouth wide, and lunge at the nun to eat her in one go, even in his weakened state.

However, he’s also aware that he could die if he misses.

The shadow tendrils in his left hand squirmed, unable to attack the person in front of him as if it was gauging the power difference between them.

When the old nun then reached out to pat his head gently, Xidriel shuddered inwardly.

He never liked his head being touched by anyone. Even as a baby being baptized in church, his family told him he had wailed loud enough that people might think the priest was doing something wrong to him.

He’s not sure if it was due to his weak and fractured mental state that he only kept together with his burning annoyance with the gods who brought him here against his will, or something else within him that was weakened after entering this room, but his mind and emotions slowly calmed down….

As he desperately held onto those thoughts, a different voice emerged from his consciousness, one that has been making itself known ever since his encounter with that awakened homunculus.

Unfortunately for him, who tried so hard to hang onto his desires, the cold filter in his vision melted away, along with all of the turbulent emotions he was experiencing, like water cleansing away filth.

The golden eyes on his cheeks quivered before closing up, the inside of his mouth returning to normal and the scales on his neck retracting back into his skin.

The shadow tendrils on his left hand also went back to burrow deep into his skin.

Xidriel briefly heard a weak and sorrowful voice in the back of his mind, a voice that he had once heard back in that village, crying ‘Why have you forsaken me?’ until it faded away from his memory.

The room now looked as warm and inviting, one that he had visited before and got cookies for being the child of a former Saintess, though he’s more inclined to think that he was the ‘favorite grandchild’.

His grandparents on his father’s side did adore him after all, more than his older siblings or cousins.

The old nun soon smiled. “I’m glad that you’re well, little Xixi. The blessings of the Moon and inheriting the blood of numerous Saints and Saintesses have saved you from succumbing to the curse placed upon you.”

Xidriel tried not to pout as he regained his composure, moving his head away from her touch. “Reverend Mother, I’m no longer a child.”

The old nun chuckled. “My, I guess you have indeed grown up well past my hip.”

She turned to look at Lan as she removed the necklace around her neck to hand over to him. “Can I ask you to keep him company in the Angel’s Whisper guest room? I will be sending for someone to pick him up later.”

Lan jolted a little in surprise, knowing that the guest room the Matriarch mentioned was reserved for her meeting with the other two church leaders and the Grand Meister, the current leader of the Inquisitors.

No one had ever stepped foot inside that room apart from those four people.

Why would she let an outsider like Xidriel use it, let alone ask a low ranked member of the Inquisition to stand as some kind of bodyguard? 

Lan glanced at  Amon for a moment, and the latter only nodded at him to go.

×××

Amon quietly  watched Lan and Xidriel leave the room, trying to keep his expression neutral.

He had seen the small apprehension in Xidriel’s face when the Matriarch had approached him.

He also noticed the aversion and anger that flashed through his face when the Matriarch placed her hand on him.

Yet it all disappeared in a minute, as if it never existed. The way they acted familiarly with one another may give some answers, like how Xidriel was afraid of not being recognized by someone who’s a close family friend.

Amon doesn’t have many meaningful connections outside the friendship he has with Lan, but he’s sure aversion and anger aren’t on the list of emotions he’d show to someone close to him, not after surviving harrowing events.

Not to mention, the ‘curse’ that the Matriarch mentioned.

They didn’t find any traces of curse being placed on him when they checked while Xidriel was sleeping.

Was it subtly made that they couldn’t detect it with their current skill levels  or is something else afoot?

Why would the Matriarch send Xidriel away just like that and not interrogate him of how he ended up being a victim?

Lan’s hesitance from earlier made Amon think that he had also caught on to something strange happening before them.

“Young Amon, I commend your ability on being able to bring back a homunculus of this caliber intact.” The Matriarch said, cutting through his thoughts. “And the splendid binding you have placed on it. You certainly have good eyes and judgement on where its vital weaknesses are.”

Amon instinctively smiled. “Meeting the young master must have increased my luck, Reverend Mother.”

The Matriarch let out a hearty chuckle as she moved to stand in front of the ‘boy’. “Indeed, little Xidriel’s birth brought forth auspicious tidings and still continues to this day. I will be recommending you and young Lan for a promotion in my next meeting with the Meister and the others.”

He wasn’t sure why, but her comment regarding Xidriel’s birth sent shivers down his spine and he’s not one to ignore his gut feeling.

Something is definitely wrong here…

“I will have the Grand Cross Knights handle this homunculus.” The Matriarch continued. “But first, I need you to do something for me.”

Amon, who kept his business smile even though he was thinking of other things, refocused on her. “As long as it’s within my capabilities, Reverend Mother.”