Episode 34| Another Domino Fell
The afternoon sun poured through the stained-glass windows as Ryan made her way through the eastern wing of the Temple.
Rather than returning to her chambers, she headed toward one place few priests willingly visited.
The Grand Archives.
It was one of the oldest sections of the Temple, preserving centuries of records dating back to the Empire's founding. Dust hung lazily in the shafts of sunlight that filtered through the narrow windows, and towering bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling.
The silence was almost sacred.
An elderly librarian looked up from behind a desk.
His wrinkled face softened immediately.
"Brother Ryan."
Ryan smiled politely.
"Good afternoon, Elder Marcus."
"What brings you here today?"
"I was hoping to study."
The old man nodded approvingly.
"A commendable habit."
He disappeared between the shelves before returning with several thick volumes.
"Recent priests only study healing techniques."
He sighed.
"Very few care for history anymore."
Ryan accepted the books with both hands.
"History often repeats itself."
Marcus chuckled.
"A wise answer."
---
Ryan settled at a table near the back of the archive.
She didn't come here because she expected to discover anything new.
Athena had already told her everything she truly needed to know.
No...
She came here because she wanted everyone else to discover it.
Slowly.
Naturally.
Without realizing they were being guided.
She opened one history book after another, pretending to study the rise of the Temple.
Most contained exactly what she expected.
Records of previous High Priests.
Miracles.
Wars.
Saintesses.
Nothing concerning demons.
Nothing concerning Asmedious.
Someone had erased him.
Completely.
Ryan wasn't surprised.
"If I wanted to bury the truth..."
"I'd destroy every official record first."
She continued searching.
Hours passed.
The archive grew quieter as evening approached.
Finally...
Near the back of an untouched shelf, she noticed a damaged volume covered in dust.
No title remained.
Curious, she carefully opened it.
Several pages had rotted away.
Others had clearly been torn out.
Then-
Her eyes landed on a faded paragraph.
"...Beware the Nameless Shadow whose true name was erased from history.
He whispers promises of salvation while feeding upon ambition.
Those who bargain with him shall command miracles before inviting ruin.
His first seal grants perception.
His second grants influence.
His third grants incarnation..."
Ryan's pupils narrowed.
Exactly as Athena had described.
Someone had tried to erase this passage...
But they hadn't finished the job.
She slowly closed the book.
A smile tugged at her lips.
"Perfect."
---
"Brother Ryan?"
She looked up.
Three junior priests had wandered into the archive.
One of them scratched his head awkwardly.
"We've been looking everywhere for you."
Ryan smiled.
"I needed some quiet reading."
The youngest noticed the old book.
"What are you studying?"
Ryan glanced down.
"Oh..."
"Just an old legend."
Immediately, their curiosity was piqued.
"What legend?"
Ryan hesitated.
As if unsure whether she should answer.
"It probably isn't important."
That only made them more interested.
"Come on."
"Tell us."
Ryan laughed softly.
"You'll think it's ridiculous."
"We promise we won't."
She sighed dramatically.
"Very well."
She turned the old book toward them.
"It speaks about an ancient demon."
"Demon?"
"Inside the Temple archives?"
Ryan nodded.
"It says there once existed a being called..."
She paused just long enough.
"...Asmedious."
The three priests exchanged confused looks.
"I've never heard that name."
"Neither have I."
Ryan shrugged.
"Neither had I."
"According to the story, he tempted powerful people with miracles."
"But every blessing came with a terrible price."
One priest frowned.
"Sounds like a fairy tale."
"Probably."
Ryan smiled.
"The book is centuries old."
"The pages are falling apart."
"I doubt there's any truth to it."
Another priest leaned closer.
"It also mentions three seals."
"What do they mean?"
Ryan pretended to think.
"I'm not sure."
"The pages after that are missing."
"Perhaps they're just symbolic."
The youngest priest laughed.
"So demons have seals now?"
Ryan closed the book.
"I suppose old writers enjoyed dramatic stories."
Everyone laughed.
The conversation ended naturally.
Exactly as Riley wanted.
She didn't insist.
She didn't preach.
She simply mentioned the name.
Then let curiosity do the rest.
---
By sunset...
One conversation had become five.
Five became fifteen.
Soon-
Throughout the Temple...
Small groups of priests quietly discussed the forgotten legend.
"I heard Brother Ryan found an ancient text."
"They say an old demon once infiltrated the Temple."
"Apparently his name was Asmedious."
"No..."
"I heard priests erased him from history."
"I heard making a contract with him grants miracles."
"Do you think it's true?"
Rumors spread faster than holy fire.
Even priests who hadn't spoken with Ryan personally began asking the librarians whether any books mentioning Asmedious still existed.
None could be found.
That only made the mystery greater.
People always desired what they were forbidden to know.
---
High above the Temple...
Inside his private chamber...
The High Priest slowly looked up from his paperwork.
A shadow investigator knelt before him.
"...Repeat that."
The investigator lowered his head.
"There is unrest among the lower clergy."
"What kind of unrest?"
"They are discussing..."
He hesitated.
"...a forgotten demon."
The High Priest's fingers stopped moving.
"...His name?"
The investigator swallowed.
"...Asmedious."
Silence.
Utter silence.
The candle flames flickered.
For the first time in years...
The High Priest's expression cracked.
"...Leave."
"My Lord?"
"I said leave."
The investigator immediately disappeared.
The moment the doors closed-
The High Priest's pleasant smile vanished completely.
His eyes darkened.
"...Impossible."
Only one other being should have known that name.
No.
Not even the Temple's oldest records contained it anymore.
He had personally seen to that decades ago.
Then...
Who?
Who had spoken that forbidden name?
His shadow slowly stretched across the floor.
A deep, distorted voice echoed through the chamber.
"Interesting..."
The High Priest didn't turn around.
"Asmedious."
The shadow rippled.
"Someone remembers me."
The High Priest's jaw tightened.
"No one should."
"Then someone has begun searching where they shouldn't."
The room grew colder.
For the first time...
Even the ancient demon sounded intrigued.
And somewhere below...
Ryan smiled politely as another priest greeted her in the corridor.
The first domino had fallen.
Neither the Temple...
Nor the High Priest...
Realized how many more were waiting to fa