[Third Person Pov]

Lucian stepped out of the archive and study library with a noticeable slump in his shoulders. "Well, that was boring..." he muttered, the words slipping out before he could catch them.

Thalia scoffed as she walked beside him, her hands tucked casually into the pockets of her jacket. "It’s a library. What did you expect? To have the time of your life the moment you walked in?" She glanced sideways at Beatrice, who was trailing just ahead them with her head slightly lowered. "And now look, you made Beatrice sad. Shame on you."

Beatrice kept her gaze fixed on the stone floor as they walked, her usual dignified posture softened by clear disappointment. The high priestess robes seemed to weigh heavier on her shoulders now, and her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve. She had poured so much thought and care into every corner of this underground sanctuary, designing spaces with Lucian’s long-term interests in mind, and hearing him dismiss the library so casually felt like a small crack in her chest.

"No, no, no—" Lucian said quickly, waving both hands in front of him in a frantic attempt to fix the misunderstanding. "When I said boring, I wasn’t talking about the tour or anything you built. I just meant that libraries in general give off that feeling of quiet boredom. It has nothing to do with your competence or how well you’ve organized everything here—"

Thalia watched the entire exchange with a bright, entertained smile on her face. There was something oddly satisfying about seeing Lucian, who was usually so composed and sharp-tongued, digging himself into a hole and then scrambling to climb back out with increasingly desperate explanations. She bit her lip to keep from laughing too loudly.

Beatrice wiped at the corner of one eye with the back of her hand, her voice soft and understanding. "Don’t worry, I understand... my Lo— Lucian. It’s okay."

Lucian let out a heavy sigh and face-palmed, dragging his hand down his face in pure exasperation. The motion only made Thalia laugh outright this time, a short, bright sound that echoed lightly off the corridor walls.

They continued walking until they reached a quieter, more secluded section of the church where the main foot traffic had thinned out and their voices wouldn’t carry to curious ears. The black sun symbols here were spaced farther apart, and the lighting was softer, more intimate.

"Where are you leading us to now?" Thalia asked, still chuckling lightly.

"My private office," Beatrice replied, her tone regaining some of its steadiness. "I wish to discuss an important matter regarding the future direction of the church. Come, it isn’t far from here."

Thalia shot Lucian a curious look, but he simply shrugged in response, clearly content to follow along and see where this was headed. A short walk later, they arrived at Beatrice’s private office.

The room had the distinct atmosphere of a witch’s cabin tucked away in some forgotten forest—warm wooden panels mixed with stone walls, dried herbs hanging from hooks near the ceiling, and the faint scent of aged paper and incense lingering in the air. Banners bearing the black sun hung proudly along the walls, while shelves were lined with familiar volumes: the books Lucian himself had published years ago, alongside thick tomes that served as the church’s own version of a bible, filled with their unique scriptures and doctrines.

Beatrice closed the door behind them with a soft click, then turned to face her guests. She leaned slightly against the edge of her sturdy wooden desk and allowed her shoulders to relax. Now that they were truly alone, she no longer needed to maintain the public mask of superiority she wore for the rest of the congregation.

The shift was visible—she stood with the quiet deference she reserved only for Lucian, the tiredness of performing her role momentarily fading from her expression.

"I have found both males and females with the potential to use magic," Beatrice began, her voice calm and measured. "And I require your approval, my lord, to teach them."

Lucian’s eyebrows rose slightly in genuine surprise. "Now that’s surprising..."

Beatrice shook her head gently. "I’m sorry, my liege, but I would have to disagree with you there. This is more common than you might think. Beings capable of using magic are often far more alone than most realize—either abandoned at a young age because of their gifts or choosing the solace of solitude because they fear how others might react."

"I see..." Lucian ran a hand through his hair and let out a slow breath. "Is there a specific reason you want to teach them magic? You aren’t really the type to take on students without a clear purpose." He paused, then continued more directly, "What I mean is, you wouldn’t do anything pointless unless it benefited me in one way or another. So tell me straight—how exactly will this benefit me?"

Beatrice’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile, pleased that her lord understood her so well. "I believe it would benefit both the church and you, my liege, if I were to create a dedicated order that operates under the church’s cover. A secret force that answers only to me—and by extension, only to you. Devoted followers trained not just in faith, but in actual magical ability."

Lucian scratched at his eyebrow, exhaling through his nose. "An order? That’s what we’re doing now?"

"Are you against the idea?" Beatrice asked, tilting her head with genuine curiosity.

"No, not entirely," Lucian replied, crossing his arms. "I need to hear more about this before I give you my proper opinion. Go on—explain the full plan."

Beatrice straightened a little, her voice gaining quiet confidence as she laid out her vision. "The benefits would be significant and layered. First, teaching these individuals magic within the framework of the Church of Paradox would deepen their faith and devotion dramatically. The teachings already emphasize embracing contradictions and finding strength in balance—adding real magical training would make those lessons feel tangible and powerful. They would see the Paradox not just as philosophy, but as a living force that grants them ability and purpose, especially for another thing I have planned which I will share in a bit. Their loyalty would become unshakable because the church would be the source of both their spiritual salvation and their personal power."

She took a small step forward, her eyes steady on Lucian. "Beyond immediate devotion, there is a longer-term advantage that aligns perfectly with your own abilities. By investing in them now—making them stronger, more capable, and more disciplined while they are alive—we create a reservoir of high-quality souls. When they eventually die, their strengthened essences would translate into far more powerful shadow soldiers for your army. Instead of ordinary shades pulled from random deaths, you would gain loyal, magically attuned warriors who already understand discipline, hierarchy, and are familiarized with the concept of magic. They would serve you in death with the same fervor they show in life, becoming an elite personal force that exists apart from your current shadow soldiers. A hidden army that grows naturally over time as the order expands, all while remaining completely deniable and hidden beneath the church’s legitimate charitable work."

Thalia, who had been listening quietly with her arms folded, suddenly caught the sharp spike of interest that flashed across Lucian’s eyes. It was subtle—nothing more than a brief tightening of his gaze and a faint upward curl at the corner of his mouth—but she recognized it instantly. She let out a soft, half-amused huff and shook her head. "You know, sometimes I forget you’re a morally grey person. Actually, more like a vile witch when it comes to stuff like this. Planning to turn devoted followers into future shadow soldiers... that’s cold, even for you."

Lucian only smirked in response, offering no denial or retort. The expression lingered on his face, calm and unapologetic, as if the comment barely registered as criticism.

After a moment, he turned back to Beatrice, his tone practical. "So these future shadow soldiers of mine—what will their order be called?"

Beatrice nodded, ready to answer. "Well, I was thinking we could name it the—" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

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