Part 4
Hamlin couldn’t believe his eyes when he spotted Xellma sitting in the Church. There was no mistaking it, it was Rebecca when she was in her 20s, with the exception of two quite large curled black horns on her head. He knew right away this was a demon, there no doubt about it, but he didn’t want to raise alarm.
Xellma watched with great amusement as she spotted the emotional cascade on Hamlin's face upon spotting her, making the disguise well worth it. Watching him walk by her twice as if trying to guess her demonic aura was even more amusing. Still, he was the only real friend she ever had in her life, so she decided to stop this farce. As he walked by for a third time, she called him over, much to his shock.
"High Priest, it is good to see you. May I have a moment of your time?" Xellma asked, careful not to use his name to avoid triggering her aura.
"Hmm? Oh yes, what can I do for you?" Hamlin said, startled by the sudden conversation. Hamlin then leaned in and whispered "Don't see many demons this far south."
"I'm here to pay my respects, among other things, to the late Ashen Empress." Xellma answered. This was of course true, she wanted to see her own funeral.
Hamlin nodded and motioned for Xellma to follow him, and they quickly made their way to his office, and once Hamlin shut the door, Xellma tapped it once and the entire room was briefly lit up by a purple rune on the door.
"What did you just do?" Hamlin asked, he had never seen this type of magic once before in his life, which was saying something.
"There are those who may listen in, High Priest. Those who try will hear the silence of the void." Xellma answered.
"So why are you really here, and why are you wearing the face of Rebecca?" Hamlin asked, getting to the point.
"Because dear old Dark Imperium thought it would be much funnier if I came like this." Xellma replied with a laugh, which of course was entirely true.
Hamlin paused. This was definitely a demon, they used a demon nickname for Rebecca. Yet they had avoided naming him even indirectly so far. Curious, he decided to press this demon.
"I noticed so far you haven't referred to me by name." Hamlin ventured.
"Walking Church if I speak your name my aura will activate and you will regret it." Xellma angrily replied, using the demon name for Hamlin. "Are you certain?"
"No, I think I'll drop it."
"A wise decision." Xellma said with a smile. "However."
"What?"
"I'm going to anyway. Hamlin DeFountain, did you consider Rebecca Ashe to be a friend?" Xellma asked. Curiosity was killing her.
"One of the closest friends I've had in hundreds of years." Hamlin answered.
"Hamlin, do you regret becoming friends with such a wicked person?" Xellma continued. She'd never get the answer out of him otherwise.
"Her cruelty was born out of paranoia induced in her upbringing. She was not cruel for the sake of it." He replied, still under the effects of the geis.
Oh how wrong he was, Xellma thought to himself. Still, if that is what he believed then let him believe it.
"Hamlin... did you love Rebecca Ashe?" Xellma asked, after a pause.
"Only as a friend. There are many things you can tolerate from a friend and sometimes lover that you cannot tolerate in a spouse." Hamlin replied.
"Thank you, this was very enlightening." Xellma said, smiling. Seems her hunch had been right after all.
"Wha-" Hamlin said, blinking. "What did you just do to me?" Hamlin demanded, rising from his seat.
"That is my demonic aura, Walking Church. Queen's Orders." Xellma answered, naming the effect. "When the Demon Queen speaks your name, you have no choice but to obey." Xellma stood up, and bowed. "I really must be going now, as I need to speak with Verka before the funeral."
"You want to speak with the Princess? Why?" Hamlin asked. He had hundreds of questions swirling in his mind but decided to just keep up with Xellma instead.
"Because I have a message to pass on from Dark Imperium to her oldest daughter, Walking Church."
Hamlin shouted questions at Xellma as she left the church, ignoring him. Hamlin had no idea what to do, but considering Xellma's power, he wasn't sure there was anything he could do. A demon like that, what can you do?