The weight of the Grandmaster's presence settled over the group, a silent pressure that made the air feel thin. Ino was the first to break the stillness, his voice tight with a concern that bordered on accusation.
"Grandmaster," he began, choosing his words carefully, "with all due respect… is it truly appropriate for you to oversee our team? Lucien is your disciple. Won't this raise… unfavorable rumors?"
Aurelius's lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. He regarded Ino not with anger, but with an almost paternal patience. "Let them whisper. This mission is of the utmost importance, and it was not chosen by chance." He shifted his gaze to Lucien, a faint smile in his eyes. "My disciple had his reasons."
Azazel inclined his head, his voice steady from behind the mask.
"Master is right. A chance to cooperate directly with the Vatican, to bridge the gaps left by the schism and the reformation… it is an opportunity the Order cannot afford to miss. And it would be a great chance for us!"
The mission was as delicate as it was prestigious.
The leaders of the three great Christian faiths—Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant—were to meet for a diplomatic supper, a symbolic gesture to mend the fractures that had splintered their world for years. It was to be held with the pomp and circumstance of a royal ball, and the hunters would be their honor guard.
The task sounded deceptively simple for a four-flame trial, a fact that had not gone unnoticed. Several other teams had already noticed it since the beginning.
But this was no simple escort. The chosen team would be ambassadors, representing the entire Order of Ash in the headquarters of Christianity.
Moreover, to compare, tangling with African curses or investigating blood cults in the south would be much easier if to choose. The responsibility in this missions was solely on the team.
The risk was enormous. By vying for this mission, each team had wagered their standing. Failure to be chosen meant an automatic deduction of four flames—a catastrophic loss for any who had fought so hard to climb the ranks. It was a trial of judgment, where the verdict rested only on the Grandmaster's will.
"Follow me," the Grandmaster commanded, turning toward the basilica.
He led them into a private chapel, its air cool and smelling of old incense and stone. Four other teams were already assembled, their members standing in tense silence.
Ino leaned close to the team, whispering, "First, ninth, twenty-fourth, and twenty-eighth places."
Aurelius de Montferrat surveyed the assembled hunters, his gaze lingering on each face. The silence stretched, thick with anticipation.
Finally, he spoke, his voice echoing in the hallowed space.
"Only one team will be granted this honor," he announced. "But I will not choose a team. I will choose a single hunter. That will be my escort for the whole day. The team to which that individual belongs shall be awarded the four flames and the duty that comes with them."