C95: intermission: Wrongfulness

114 Whitefriars Street, Cathedral Ward, Easton City.

Chief Adjutor of the Proctor Cross, Julia Crowley, sat upright at her desk, reviewing a stack of parchment reports sealed with wax.

A silver desk plaque rested at the front edge of the table, engraved crisply:

[Chief Adjutor Julia Crowley]

The metal glinted whenever the light shifted.

Her bright yellow hair was tied into a high ponytail, shimmering under the filtered morning light that streamed through the tall cathedral windows.

She wore her pristine white suit as always. A long white coat draped over her shoulders like a mantle of office. On her right hand, a white glove embroidered with a golden cross symbol rested lightly over the paper she was annotating. Her trousers and polished leather boots matched the same immaculate, unblemished palette.

On her chest gleamed the insignia of her rank: a white cross over a silver baton. It was a symbol of command, discipline, and judgment.

Around her neck hung a white cross pendant, suspended by a thin chain, catching the light with every subtle movement of her head.

She stamped the insignia symbol with her rubber stamp. The ink engraved itself nicely on the paper, as she put it to the side and continued with the next one.

*swift*

“?”

A strange wind noise crept into her ears.

She looked up, her glasses shifting down her nose slightly, her amber eyes narrowed, scanning her surroundings.

Her gaze shifted toward the far end of the office, her eyes flashed golden.

“What’s this?”

There, right under the picture of the pope stood a ceremonial table. It was created in exquisite wood, draped in white cloth embroidered with silver thread.

Upon it burned four tall white candles arranged in a line. The wax ran cleanly down their sides, their flames still burned steadily and unwavering.

However, one of the candle’s fire flickered imperceptibly, but it soon returned to its steadfast glow.

“Strange.”

Julia stood and turned toward the window behind her desk.

“Was it my imagination?”

It was closed, sealed against the morning soon outside. Normally, she should open it to feel the wind outside. Staying in this confined room was too suffocating, even for her.

However, from the time she put these candles right in the room, she had closed the door most of the time.

“Did something happen?” Her gaze returned to the candles. “The flames…?”

For a moment, hadn’t one of the flames nearly extinguished?

‘There shouldn’t have been any wind to disturb them.’

Julia touched the bridge of her nose.

‘Have I been working too much?’

Julia stretched her arms, and stifled a yawn.

Maybe it was just her worrying too much.

The woman looked down at her own desk plaque and sighed.

“Did I make a mistake by becoming a Chief Adjutor?”

As Chief Adjutor, she bore a heavy burden of responsibility. Most of it, however, consisted of paper-works.

Although it was the safest position, since it only dealt with paperwork, she felt guilty not to be with her team.

“Should I apply to change my position?”

‘Hmm.’ Julia swayed her ponytail with her finger in habit. ‘Maybe when I advance to the Golden stage.’

She retrieved her pocket clock from within her coat and opened it.

‘Barely noon.’

The Hours of Divinity.

At this time, the unoccupied clerics and sisters would be coming into the main shrine to worship the White Monarch. Even those who are currently working have to put their work aside, provided, of course, that the work isn't important.

They would sing their hymns together. To express their fervent love to him, for he had freed them from the slavery of sin, from sickness, and from the relentless hardness of life.

Julia placed her gloved hand over her chest and closed her eyes. She recited solemnly.

“Praise the White Monarch.”

“””Praise the White Monarch!”””

‘May the White Monarch bless them.’ She prayed.

Throughout the entire church, the shouts reverberated, a unified chorus of devotion echoing through the halls, vibrating against the glass panes and ribbed arches overhead.

She opened her eyes, looking back at the candles, which still burned steadily.

“It has been a week since the Proctor Cross team was dispatched. And no news from them yet.”

But that was to be expected. Communicating between the Curse Domain and the normal world was a rare and difficult feat.

“I pray this mission does not expand that Curse Forest further.”

If it were to expand further, then not only would Rease Town, but Easton City itself would face a massive problem.

No one had ever bothered the forest since the event ten years ago. The White Monarch was strangely silent about the forest.

Or at least, the high-up did not mention anything about it.

They had to learn to live with it, along with several curse domains.

Julia reached into the desk and took out the report page again.

[

—FEATUS INSTITUTION REPORT—

[U-01-006: The [Redacted] Forest]

Protocol: RED - Dangerous / Predictable.

Anomaly Properties:

>>> If a subject becomes lost inside the forest, they will not survive.

>>> Subjects must not learn or comprehend the true nature of the forest. Doing so triggers [Redacted].

Instructions:

>>> Personnel are strictly forbidden from wandering inside the perimeter without a certified guide or sanctioned navigational tools.

>>> Do not attempt to uncover the forest’s secrets.

>>> All data regarding the interior remains classified. Await further high-level investigation.

Description:

>>> [DATA EXPUNGED.]

[---------------------------------------------]

FEATUS Institution. The official organization that was formed by all the major churches to deal with the Curse.

‘U means Unknown.’ This was understandable, given the fact that even the official document given to her had to scratch its name.

Other than that, there were also:

F - Fairy tales, folklore.

E - Entities; existences in human or animal form with thought and mind.

A - Area; anomaly location.

T - Tool anomaly; cursed artifact.

S - Spiritual; abstract or ethereal forms like ghosts, ghouls, or wrath.

‘And “01”, the most dangerous entity that could affect the whole city.’

It was still ridiculous to her how this mission was given by the Deacon team with only a Silver Stage as the highest rank.

Even if the Protocol was only RED, a dangerous but potentially predictable and avoidable level, it was still extremely questionable.

‘What is the holy court thinking?’ Julia furrowed her brows. She knew she should not question the verdict of the holy court. But when it came to the safety of her team, she couldn’t help it.

‘And the village too,’ she winced, as she gazed at the page.

“U-02-156: The Winterin Village.”

‘Have I heard of this village before—?’

*Clop, clop, clop.*

Abruptly, the familiar footsteps of boots striking against the stone floor were heard from the hallways, cutting off her thought.

Julia knitted her brows. She could clearly pick up the distinct, slightly off-kilter, playful sound of footsteps approaching from faraway, walking directly toward her office.

“These footsteps…”

‘Why is that man here?’

Before long, the door burst open, and a flamboyant figure, clearly lacking in subtlety, burst in with an overly polite flourish.

“Miss Crowley, my dearest, long time no see! I must confess, I have missed your radiant presence so very much!”

This man was a walking, talking spectacle. He wore a peach-coloured suit, a matching coat, and a peach top hat, all perfectly coordinated, right down to his peach-pink hair.

He removed his hat with exaggerated grace and bowed lightly. His smile was dazzling, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

Julia greeted him with a wry smile. “Good afternoon, Mister Autumn Detective, James Holmes.”

“Auch,” James clutched his heart as if physically wounded. His expression turned dejected. “Please, Miss Crowley, there is no need to be so polite. It makes us feel so distant, does it not?”

“But we truly are distant, Mister Autumn Detective, James Holmes.”

“...”

The detective, seemingly defeated, slumped dejectedly onto the guest chair. Without asking permission, he reached for the porcelain teapot resting neatly on a pristine tray and poured himself a cup.

With an unceremonious gesture, he plucked a teabag from a nearby caddy, tossed it into a teacup, and began to stir it lazily.

*plop.*

*cling cling cling*

“...”

The clinging sound of a spoon clicked against the teacup filled the silence.

Without even a hint of questioning the owner of the office, he was simply making himself a cup of tea.

Julia inhaled slowly and exhaled. She watched him in silent scrutiny, leaning on her desk and crossing her arms.

James opened the sugar container.

One cube.

Two, three.

Seven.

The seventh sugar cube dropped into the steaming tea with a soft splash.

Julia’s eyes twitched.

“May I be so bold to ask, why is the renowned detective here?”

The man brought the sugar-filled tea to his lips, took a long sip. His eyes widened in apparent delight.

“As expected! The free tea from the White Church is still the finest!”

‘This man…’ Julia felt a headache forming behind her temples.

This was precisely why she was always so skeptical about asking for his help. His insufferable flirting toward every lady aside, the man also possessed a bizarre eccentric streak, doing everything with an infuriating lack of decorum.

After another satisfied sip, he clicked the spoon against the porcelain cup and looked up.

“Why, to meet my esteemed clients first, of course.”

‘?’ Julia furrowed her brows, clearly showing her uncomfortable and confused expression to the other party.

“Oh, by the way," James continued casually, glancing around the room. "Where are they? Have they not yet arrived?” He shook his head in disapproval. “Tch tch, so slow, so slow. I have a great many clients awaiting my services, you understand. Time, as they say, is precious!”

‘?’

“Hold on,” Julia straightened herself. She walked toward him, her voice laced with seriousness. “What clients are your esteemed sir speaking of?”

James, sensing the shift in Julia’s demeanor, instinctively recoiled a little, a flicker of surprise on his face.

“Ah? I refer to the Deacon team, do I not? The one I am to guide into the forest?” James tilted his head, confused by her confusion.

Julia blinked.

‘Huh?’

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