Inquisitor's Promise (Act Two, Chapter One)

Aeneas has to keep his promises. His father's mission will be completed. And while he's at it, he will become Galatea's lord and Inquisitor. But love and politics are an explosive combination.

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Act Two: To Unite the Holy League

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Chapter One: Picking up the Pieces

The funeral of Anchises Aquilanus was a private affair. The late Patriarch of House Aquilanus had requested that his funeral should be performed the very next day after he died. This had put great pressure on the morticians. Thankfully, Anchises had long ago set aside a place for his body at the Crypt of House Aquilanus; located right next to the body of his wife Aphrodisia. Without that measure, it would have been impossible for the funeral to have taken place that quickly.

Another reason why the funeral was able to happen that quickly was Lavinia. As it turned out, she was able to organize the staff of Castle Aquila and ran such a tight ship that the funeral was able to happen on schedule. Aeneas was eternally grateful, but Lavinia was more than happy to do what she could to help Aeneas.

“Seeing you smile was all the thanks that I need, Aeneas.”

Those were Lavinia’s words to Aeneas when he had thanked his cousin. The Inquisitor always remembered to smile when thanking someone for a favor, a habit that was ingrained to him by his mother. And what Lavinia had done deserved a smile, at the very least. Having put aside his frustration at his cousin’s emotional immaturity, Aeneas was glad to have someone reliable by his side.

But the funeral being a private affair meant that none of the faction leaders attended it save for Caius since they were technically of the same family.

This also meant that Galatea could not attend the funeral. A shame, but Aeneas did not hold that against his beloved since he had been informed that she was taken back home to San Felipe. Apparently, her uncle was still reeling from the attack on Castle Aquila and remained suspicious of everyone’s safety in Nepoli. Aeneas figured that the same logic was most likely at play with the rest of the faction leaders as they all returned back home.

With the body of Anchises Aquilanus finally entombed, that was one job out of the way. But there was still so much to be done for Aeneas. Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to do it alone.

“Aeneas,” Lavinia said. “You have a mission from Uncle Anchises, didn’t you?”

“How did you know?” Aeneas asked.

“My feelings,” Lavinia answered. “You have this very determined look on your face, especially during the funeral. Like you have an unfinished business.”

“Vinia…”

The deep one girl then clasped her cousin’s hands to hers. “Please tell me what’s going on, Aeneas.”

Aeneas nodded. He saw no reason to withhold this information from Lavinia given who her father was. But first, he wanted to know how much Lavinia truly knew about the situation.

“What do you know about the Grey Globe, Vinia?”

“The Grey Globe,” Lavinia said as she put her finger on her chin. “I just heard about that on the Domain. Some sort of crazy threat in the Electrosphere.”

“On the Domain,” Aeneas pondered. “I suppose the Venetians and the Papacy saw no need to keep it under wraps anymore.”

“Or maybe they couldn’t do it anymore,” Lavinia speculated.

“Maybe.” Aeneas was deep in thought. He thought back to the party at Castle Aquila. The Inquisitor realized that his father had been trying to bring the Holy League together so they can defeat the threat of the Grey Globe. But that attempt was utterly foiled by those who had attacked Castle Aquila.

But that means, there was a group out there with the vested interest in making sure that the Grey Globe wins.

“Aeneas,” Lavinia called, breaking the Inquisitor out of his thoughts.

“Sorry, Lavinia,” Aeneas apologized sheepishly. And the Inquisitor proceeded to tell his cousin of the mission that he had been given from his father.

“I see,” Lavinia said, still processing the things that Aeneas had told her.

“I’m going to Roma to meet the Pope, Lavinia,” Aeneas said. “At it stands, I don’t even know where to begin.”

I wouldn’t be so sure,” Lavinia responded. “I think the guys at the Zaibatsu might know a thing or two.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember the assassin who threw the grenade?” Lavinia asked. “The police got a good look at her and…”

“…the assassin was a girl?!” Aeneas asked in surprise.

“Yes, I suppose you really missed out on a lot, huh,” Lavinia said.

“You don’t say.”

“Anyways,” Lavinia said to get back to the point. “The assassin looked exactly like Kunoichi, the CEO’s daughter.”

“Looked exactly?” Aeneas asked. “You mean she’s not Kunoichi.”

“No,” Lavinia conceded. “But you have to admit, it’s really strange that the creep that killed Uncle Anchises looks exactly like her. Especially since Kunoichi is adopted.”

Aeneas was about to respond to Lavinia’s accusation, but he was interrupted by a Castle Guard who approached the two of them.

“Lord Aeneas,” the soldier said in panic. “I have grave news!”

“What is it?” Aeneas asked.

“Pirates are attacking Nepoli!” the soldier answered.

“Pirates?” Lavinia cried in disbelief.

“But what about the Nepolian Marines?” Aeneas asked. It was a reasonable question since he never heard of a pirate crew bold enough to attack the Nepolian mainland.

“There’s so many of them, my lord,” the soldier stated.

“I see,” Aeneas said. “No doubt these pirates are emboldened by the chaos caused by papa’s death.”

“What is your command, my lord?” the soldier asked.

Aeneas remembered that he was not just an Inquisitor, but now also the Patriarch of House Aquilanus. As Patriarch, he was also the fief holder of the island of Prochyta. This meant that he had a duty not just to the Church, but also to his own people.

“Get the Prochytan Militia ready!” Aeneas commanded. “We are going to war.”

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