13 Mink Street

With nature’s power upon him, Alothar could move fast, but a black shadow stayed right on his heels. It was like an old hunter watching his quarry trying to bolt, savoring that moment more than the brief snap of a trigger.

At last, Alothar stopped beneath a statue in a fountain square. He released Delyss, who he’d carried the entire time.

She clutched her chest and crouched. She started retching. Having been forcibly dragged along, the breakneck sprint had given her a brutal bout of motion sickness, much as it would to anyone in that situation.

Tiz appeared in front of them. Compared to Alothar’s ragged breathing, he appeared no different from before: still and composed.

“I’m willing to pay a price to atone for my sins,” Alothar announced. “Name it, so long as it’s something I can do.”

To begin with, there was no law in the religious world. Every faith believed their own god to be supreme, and by extension, those who served that supremacy stood above all others.

Then, Order had risen, and the religious world had gained law.

Tiz shook his head and walked straight towards the other man.

“I’ve never seen an Inquisitor as rigid and serious as you,” Alothar continued. He drew a mirror from within his robes. It was a blessed holy relic.

Tiz shook his head again. “I’m not.”

“So I’m just unlucky?” Alothar found the idea absurd.

“Yes.” Tiz answered with the same calm.

“Goddess of Nature above, grant your believer nature’s protection!” A living green shimmered out from Alothar.

“Nature’s Mirror, passed down from Sigulai’s own hands, grant me the power of your blessing!”

A white sheen poured out the glass, as if plating the man in a bright, polished armor.

“In the name of Nature’s emissary, I call on the wilds around me, absolve me.”

Firefly-like lights gathered, condensing into something like a barrier.

“The earth is our mother; show mercy to your children!”

Alothar crouched. One hand unfurled a scroll, while the other pressed against the ground. An array of starlight blossomed beneath his palm.

Then, he pulled a crystal pendant from his neck. “Only One in the Mist, guide your lost believer!”

A black mist swelled within the crystal, and then spilled out to cover the area.

“Forgotten Church of Light, let the breath of light fall upon this broken slab, let your halo return to the world.”

There was another flow of gold, this one covering everything in yet another layer.

The man wasn’t just using Berai Church Arts, but invoking relics from other faiths as well, including even a damaged relic from the long-extinct Church of Light.

As all of this happened, Tiz simply kept walking forward. His steps kept to the same rhythm, not once speeding up in response to the piling Arts and relic-work.

At last, the old man arrived at the edge of the starlight array. Within it, layer upon layer of different attributes churned, strengthening and protecting. Berai’s power of nature worked as a perfect mediator. If anyone else had tried to force so many different relics and so many different forces together, the clash would have torn everything apart.

“I still feel fear,” Alothar mentioned in a tight voice. “Even behind this many layers of defense, the instinct the God of Nature gave me is telling me that you look at me as you would an ant.

“This is ridiculous! I know that Order is powerful. I admit that. But I don’t believe some random local Inquisitor of Order can be this strong. Please tell me this isn’t real!”

Tiz spread his hands and chanted, “Forbidden—Order Eternal—Erasure.”

“Forbidden... forbidden... a forbidden-tier Art?!”

A light that was the color of Order itself appeared in front of the man.

It appeared. Then it vanished. With it also vanished Berai’s nature power, Sigulai’s mirror-force, the Earth faith’s blessing, the Mist faith’s emptiness, and the Church of Light’s protection.

Along with Alothar himself, even his clothes. It was as if the Berai priest had never existed at all.

The fountain, which just moments before had been a riot of colors, was silent.

“I’m sorry.” Because your feeling was correct.

“Cough, cough...” Tiz coughed twice. His eyes fell upon Delyss, who still stood there, blank-eyed.

She hadn’t been inside the radiance, so she remained. However, she had been grazed by it. Every faith considered demonkin corrupted, as if only outsiders could carry contamination. None wanted to believe that their own mysteries could stain anything.

But they could. In this case, the contamination was a secondary erasure.

Delyss had been erased in part, both her memories and her thoughts. Her soul had been left incomplete. For the rest of her life, she would live in madness. In truth, she was already there.

After a brief, frozen pause, she sprinted to the fountain, gazed down at her reflection, and then screamed, over and over, “We need environmental protection! We need environmental protection! We need environmental protection!”

At this moment, she was being completely sincere. She was devout. Not a speck of impurity remained, as impurity no longer existed within her.

Tiz turned and walked away, his figure vanishing beneath the not-so-intense streetlights of Roja City.

***

“Want some?” Karon asked Alfred.

“Young Master, I think it’s a tremendous loss that Ms. Molly wasn’t here tonight, so I intend to bring her these spring rolls tomorrow, to give her a chance to make up for this regret.”

“You’re right. I approve.”

“Thank you for your permission.”

“You’ll be driving up front later. I’m worried your breath will stink.”

“Great One, your thinking is always so thorough.”

“Alright. Load them.”

“Yes.”

The corpses of Councilman Harget, Forde, and Mr. Orkan were tossed into the hearse as well. With their presence, the Immers family’s newly purchased hearse suddenly felt packed and claustrophobic. Karon had to sit at the very back, to leave more space for the “passengers.”

It was then that Tiz returned.

“You’re back,” Karon said.

Tiz climbed in. He made no comment about the cramped space, and only asked, “Is it finished?”

“Yes.” Karon folded the list back up.

“Good.” Tiz closed his eyes.

Karon waved for Alfred to start driving. There were no questions about what had happened to the red-robed priest who’d jumped. Karon already believed that if Tiz had returned, then that “demonkin” no longer existed.

He also didn’t ask why Tiz hadn’t brought a body back.

There was no point, as the hearse couldn’t take any more.

Maybe later, Karon could suggest to Mason that they install some hooks along the top of the hearse’s cabin, the kind used in slaughterhouses. With that, guests could hang instead of lie down on the floor. Capacity would triple.

At three in the morning, the hearse returned to the Immers home on Mink Street. The industrious Alfred brought out a gurney to wheel the bodies, one by one, and down to the basement. There was no need for Karon or Tiz to lift a finger.

No wonder Uncle Mason’s started thinking about firing Ron.

Karon and Tiz stood at the front gate, right where the circle had been drawn before they had left.

“Did you enjoy tonight?” Tiz asked.

“You mean the music?” Karon asked. Only then did he remember the old secondhand radio Alfred had bought for more than a thousand rupi. It was still in the car.

Karon walked over to the driver’s side, opened the door, and hoisted the radio onto his shoulder. It wasn’t heavy at all. It looked huge, but it was mostly composed of wood and some small parts.

“This is tonight’s souvenir,” Karon said. That alone was an answer. He’d gone out under stars to attend a concert, and was even returning tired. He would still be able to savor it over breakfast tomorrow.

“Many people choose to believe in the Church of Order because of nights like this,” Tiz explained. “Using your power to carry out your own justice, to set right the order that should be set right. Unfortunately, that understanding is...”

“It’s shallow,” Karon said, finishing the line.

Tiz paused, then continued. “That understanding is correct.”

“...” Karon stayed silent.

“A thousand years ago, before the Church of Light died out, one of its popes stood atop a cathedral tower during a crazed night and shouted that he had never believed the God of Light even existed. Most people thought it was madness, a sign of corruption, a symptom of his fall, but I think he was telling the truth.

“The closer you get to a god, the more you find that gods are not trustworthy. You become more and more certain about what you believe when you first enter the faith, but later, you start doubting what meaning there was in all those long years.”

“But some truths can’t be understood without walking them yourself,” Karon said.

“Then, do you want to understand?” Tiz asked abruptly.

Pu’er, half-asleep, suddenly snapped her ears up.

“I’ll follow your arrangements, Grandpa,” Karon said. He didn’t believe in the Church of Order, but he had praised Order. If there was a way for him to gain what Tiz had, some ability when praising Order, then Karon was willing. Before tonight, he might have hesitated. He might have wavered, given the warning of the tragedy of Karon’s parents.

But now...

He had to admit it, he couldn’t refuse the temptation. Mr. Morf had only been able to lie there in front of him, not daring to move.

The quiet life he’d imagined, could it really last? If this world truly held divine power that could shatter every old rule, then what could ever offer true security?

Maybe the thought was extreme, but Karon couldn’t help being extreme, especially after seeing what had happened to the Sisso family. After trying to place himself into that night and feeling their despair, hesitation had become impossible.

That was also without even considering his almost certain identity as a heretical god.

Tiz smiled. “I recall I said, before I go...”

Karon drew in a breath, then let it out slowly. “I hope you live a long life, Grandpa.”

It wasn’t sarcasm. It wasn’t a jab. Who could deny a grandfather like Tiz?

“But people die,” Tiz continued. “Even gods aren’t exempt from death. You can reconsider your choice to study abroad. High school courses shouldn’t be hard for you, right?”

“Why?” Karon asked.

“Studying well is what you should do. Wasn’t that what you said before?”

“I’m curious why you changed your mind. You said you want family close by your side.”

“While I’m alive, of course I do, but if I’m not, should I wish my family will all move into a cemetery to live?”

“That...”

“I’m tired. I’m going to rest.” Tiz walked toward the house.

Karon followed, pressing, “Grandpa, did something change?”

“Before I go, nothing will affect the Immers family.”

“No, Grandpa, you can’t talk like that! It’s bad luck.”

Tiz stopped and looked back at his grandson. “I’ve cursed the God of Order. What taboo should I still fear?”

“It’s not the same. As your family, I don’t want anything to happen at home, especially with the things you keep saying. It sounds like you’re leaving instructions for after.”

“Young Master, the bodies have all been moved downstairs, I—”

“If you’re gone, Alfred might just swallow me in one bite.”

“...” Alfred was stunned.

“If I’m gone, you can take the two of them and be freer.”

“Listen to yourself! There you go again!” Karon stepped forward and grabbed Tiz’s arm. The old man coughed, and a mouthful of blood spilled out.

“Grandpa, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Karon asked, panicked.

“It’s fine. Just a little backlash from using a forbidden Art.”

“...!” Alfred stayed silent.

“Then in the future, things like tonight, we just won’t do them, alright? We’ll run our business properly, earn rupi, live well. Prepare dowries for Mina and Clarice.”

“Sometimes, you’re not the one looking for trouble,” Tiz said, gently pushing Karon’s support away. “Trouble comes for you, and you can’t avoid it.

“In any case, I’ll pray to that whore-born God of Order, pray that He doesn’t let me die...” Tiz looked at his grandson and gave him a small, quiet smile. “Because I’ll warn him, He won’t be able to bear the consequences of my death.”

“When you pray, call me. We’ll warn that whore-born God of Order together.”

“Alright.” Tiz went upstairs. Karon didn’t follow. He still had something to finish, like a song that needed its finale.

“Young Master.”

“Alfred, I’ll have to trouble you to pour me a cup of ice water and bring it to the basement.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Karon went down into the basement. Tonight, it was lively; Nine guests were staying there.

Aunt Mary’s workshop couldn’t hold them all, so all nine were in the morgue. Given they were in the depths of winter, there was no need for cooling.

Karon turned on the light and dragged a round stool over from the workshop.

Inside four coffins lay the members of the Sisso family. On the floor beside them lay Mr. Morf, the editor-in-chief, Forde, Harget, and Orkan.

If the five could still get up and speak, they would never believe it. They would never believe that someone would kill the five of them because of four dead peasants.

Heh. Not just them. Even Karon still felt that it was all a bit unreal, like his mind couldn’t fully accept it.

“Hah...” He let out a long breath and muttered, “I really wish Ms. Molly were here right now, and that she could spit out Mrs. Hughes, whole and intact.”

Karon laughed. He pointed at the four coffins, and then at the five naked bodies on the ground, each dead in a different way. “This is real art! This is artistic value! This is what art’s real impact feels like! It’s not just killing a couple of people near you, plating them up, and then calling it art.

“Look at this! Look at what’s in front of you! Four coffins, five corpses, put together like this.” He let out a soft breath. “And the suffocating pressure of art comes up at once. It’s like a balance scale. Setting them side by side is one of the best forms of art there is.

“No. They’re not even laid out in the same manner. The Sisso family is lying comfortably in their coffins. Heh. These five don’t even deserve a coffin.” He kept talking to himself.

Up on the ramp, Alfred held a cup of ice water. He had stopped at the top, tactful enough to conceal himself in a shadow of the hall’s lamps, so as not to interrupt his young master’s pleasure.

After his speech, Karon pursed his lips tightly. His eyes swept over the four coffins. He walked over, and knocked on each one once.

Knock...

Knock...

Knock...

Knock...

It was like knocking on a door, as if the family was only sleeping inside.

Finished, Karon sat back down on the stool.

“Get up,” he said. “Take a look.”

Black, chain-like strands spread out from beneath his feet. They crawled over beneath each of the coffins. The whole basement filled with a solemnity that couldn’t be described in words.

Alfred stared, shocked, and then ecstatic. Tonight, I danced to the same rhythm as the heretical god. If this isn’t a heretical god, what is?

Ms. Molly even told me that Young Master Karon feels too easygoing. Ha! What does a low-rank demonkin know? A true heretical god should be exactly like this: he hasn’t even undergone purification, and yet he can use “Awakening” this naturally.

Heretical god above, forgive me! I’m holding ice water right now so I can’t kneel, but my heart has already submitted to you.

Pu’er had returned to Tiz’s study with him. She asked curiously, “Tiz, did someone from the central church come? No, that can’t be it. Since you don’t plan to kill Karon, you definitely covered up the divine descent ritual. There’s no way this would expose anything.

“So who came? And why did you say those things tonight? No... Tiz, what did you offer up for the divine descent ritual?”

A strange presence spread through the room. Pu’er’s eyes bulged. “It’s here again!”

Tiz smiled.

“He hasn’t been purified. He hasn’t stepped through the door! Tiz, am I really going to start worshiping a heretical god who can cook all kinds of fish? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, and your persuasion probably won’t work on me, but I think that you should still try at least a little to persuade me, at least so that it feels normal.”

“Perhaps my grandson isn’t a heretical god,” Tiz said.

“Ha! There you go again. If he isn’t a heretical god, did you summon the God of Order instead?”

Tiz shook his head. “Is it possible that...”

“Is what possible?”

“That my grandson and the God of Order are both simply... people who died and came back?”

***

Creeeak...

None of the four coffins had been properly sealed, and they each gave a sound of friction. In the basement at night, it was grotesque, cold, and eerie.

Karon sat there, silent, like the only audience member of a sinister concert. One coffin lid after another lifted. He saw Sisso, the man’s old mother, his daughter, and his wife. One by one, they sat up and looked at him with blank confusion.

Karon took out a Morf Gold cigarette. It was the last one. A pity.

If he’d known, he should’ve stuffed a fresh pack into his pocket while still in Morf’s study. Or even brought more back so that Mason could hand them out to honored guests during services.

But did the Code of Order permit robbery? Or would that count as confiscating a demonkin’s illegal gains?

Karon took out his lighter. As he moved it to his cigarette, he said, “The people who killed your family are right here.

“Now, you can take revenge.”

The Sisso family climbed out of their coffins and stepped onto the floor. At that moment, Karon’s hand trembled slightly. Ultimately, his cigarette was never lit.

“Heh...” He let out a laugh, pinched the cigarette between his fingers, and blinked hard to force back the wetness gathering in his eyes.

The Sisso family didn’t lunge at Morf or any of the others.

They didn’t tear.

They didn’t bite.

They didn’t vent.

Instead, the family held each other in a tight embrace.