'Then I'm off now. I have sothing to do.'
At the corner of Nezen's alley, Leviathan shook off Terdius's hand, spoke those words, and quickly ran off.
If Terdius had wanted to stop him, it wouldn't have been difficult.
But he didn't. For so reason, Leviathan was determined to conceal that he was actually Revelof Holden, offering flimsy excuses in the process.
'The leader of a new religion, hiding his identity---a family mber of a war hero... There must be a reason.'
Since it seed unlikely that Leviathan would provide a clear answer, Terdius decided to let him go.
Based on Leviathan's behavior, he could already guess the source of his worries. There was no need to press him further.
'Besides...'
Contrary to Leviathan's fears, Terdius had no intention of using this revelation to threaten him.
Nor did he plan to expose this secret within the Diego Church.
'I won't put him in danger.'
Leviathan was a crucial figure for Terdius right now. There were too many questions: How could this man clear away the confusion clouding his mind? What were those strange, unfamiliar visions he saw when he was around Leviathan?
To uncover these mysteries, Terdius decided to protect Leviathan for the ti being. The inexplicable sense of familiarity he felt toward him also played a big part.
'Still, it's surprising.'
What intrigued Terdius was sothing else entirely.
The Leviathan he knew---the leader of the Kyros Church---didn't carry himself like a nobleman.
He had no pride or upright deanor typical of aristocracy.
'Revelof Holden...'
The second son of Leira Holden, a renowned war hero of the empire, and grandson of the legendary Helana Holden. Until recently, Revelof had been suffering from Malone's disease---a terminal illness with no known cure---and living under the shadow of an impending death.
'Now that I think about it, it was Leviathan who cured him. Which ans... Revelof Holden found the cure for Malone's disease himself.'
It was truly a strange and amazing thing. What secret could have turned this sickly noble into soone so different, seemingly overnight?
'Plus, the place where I first t Leviathan.'
Their first eting had been in Rovel, a small village on the Holden estate. Incidentally, it was also the site of the Kyros Church's first temple.
'...So that's why.'
Building a temple there and helping the estate's people---it all made sense.
Terdius took a sip from his glass, pondering the actions of Leviathan, or rather, Revelof Holden.
Terdius was currently in Quieron, the city housing the headquarters of the Diego Church.
Far from the city center, in a dark and rundown alley, he sat drinking in a shabby bar.
The place wasn't great: unremarkable décor, few patrons, and only cheap alcohol...
But to Terdius, this bar was the most comfortable spot in Quieron.
Because here, he could escape the apostles of Diego Church apostles who used the most luxurious items since they'd never frequent this place.
Khalid, a fellow apostle, often teased him, asking why he drank such low-quality alcohol.
But Terdius would rather endure a bitter drink than risk running into the Church officials.
'...Even the taste isn't too bad.'
Before his life as an apostle, he had often settled for cheap liquor when money was tight.
Lost in thought, Terdius's peace was interrupted.
"Fancy eting you here, Third Apostle."
Though he was seated in the corner with his hood pulled low, the newcor recognized him imdiately---and even addressed him by his rank.
Terdius raised an eyebrow and looked up.
Standing before him was a young man with a neutral expression. He wore a spotless priest's robe draped over his head, every button fastened, and gazed at Terdius through glasses with an indifferent air.
It was the Seventh Apostle, Rawin.
"Seventh Apostle, what brings you here?"
Terdius's expression darkened when he confird who it was.
He had always suspected that his habit of visiting this bar was an open secret among the Church senior mbers. But no one had ever confronted him about it. Until now.
"Sir, a glass of the sa, please,"
Rawin said, ignoring Terdius's sour mood as he ordered a drink.
Soon, the friendly owner brought Rawin a drink, matching Terdius's.
Rawin took a curious sip but quickly set the glass down, deciding against drinking any more.
"Third Apostle."
"...Are you really so tactless as to call
that in a place like this?"
Terdius gulped his drink and sneered. Only then did Rawin seem to realize his mistake and offer an apology.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Terdius."
Terdius didn't bother acknowledging the apology. Instead, he took another drink, followed by another.
Since becoming an apostle of the Diego Church, Terdius had never been close to its senior mbers. Unlike Leviathan, they felt distant to him.
Among them, the one he was most repelled by was the First Apostle. In contrast, Rawin, the Seventh Apostle, elicited a different kind of reaction.
Perhaps it was because Rawin was so young---only twenty years old---when he was appointed to the position of apostle.
The Diego Church's promotion system was unlike any other religion. For lower ranks, it followed the standard path: starting as a low-ranking priest and gradually levelling up one at a ti.
But the title of 'Apostle' was different. It could only be attained by those chosen directly by Diego himself.
When Terdius first t Rawin, he assud the boy's situation might be similar to his own.
Unlike the other apostles, who were all flawed in one way or another, Rawin seed upright and neat-looking.
But that assumption didn't last long.
It was unsettling to see soone so young commit acts of cruelty with such ease.
As Terdius mulled over these thoughts, Rawin broke the silence.
"I've co here, despite my rudeness, because I have sothing to ask you, Apostle Terdius."
"...What is it?"
How important could it be to interrupt his rare mont of peace?
'If this is sothing trivial, I'll throw him out right now.'
With that resolve, Terdius waited for Rawin's response, but what ca out of the boy's mouth caught him off guard.
"I heard you know a lot about the leader of the Kyros Church, Leviathan."
"...What?"
"Currently, the person who knows the most about the Kyros Church in our Church is you, Terdius."
"And who's spreading that nonsense?"
"The Fifth Apostle, Khalid."
Terdius's brow furrowed.
'Khalid, gossiping about
again.'
But that wasn't the issue here.
Why was Rawin bringing up Leviathan?
"...Why are you asking about the Kyros Church?"
Rawin's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Because I recently beca friends with soone from there."
Terdius sighed inwardly. Rawin had always had this ridiculous belief in 'fate'. To him, friendships were more like blind leaps of faith.
"But my only friend is serving heresy more fervently than anyone else. I want to save him."
This, Terdius realized, was Rawin's resolution since the Kraken incident---a determination to save a cherished friend from the clutches of heresy.
Looking into Rawin's eyes, brimming with conviction, Terdius shook his head.
'What on earth is Leviathan doing?'
Why did he always seem to attract the strangest people?
At this point, Terdius began to wonder if this was so kind of twisted power of his.
Terdius opened his mouth slowly, suppressing an inner curse.
"I don't know much about the Kyros Church either, aside from the fact that its leader is a man nad Leviathan."
Rawin's face fell, visibly disappointed. But Terdius offered no further explanation.
In the end, Rawin left that day with no new information.
***
"At first, I was confused. In the dreamlike darkness, I couldn't tell who was fighting the giant snake," my grandmother said.
I couldn't find the right words to respond, so I stayed silent and listened.
It seed my grandmother had been awake in the ntal realm far longer than I had realized.
"Their face was clear, but I couldn't recognize who it was---at least, not until the end of the battle. That's when I saw you, Levi."
She must have clearly seen
since it was after my glasses broke.
"When I opened my eyes, I saw you---your arms, your glasses, exactly like they were in the darkness. That's how I knew you had saved , Levi."
As I struggled to find the right response, my grandmother touched my left arm gently, her hand cautiously checking its condition.
"Blood. You're bleeding. Are you okay? Your arm..."
"My arm is fine, Grandma. Look, it's just a little bruise."
"But the blood..."
Her eyes turned moist, and I couldn't bear to worry her further. I used my healing skill, placing my right hand over the wound.
Whoosh-
A faint light flashed, and the wound healed instantly.
"What... What is this?"
"Grandma, I'll explain everything."
After a mont's thought, I made my decision.
I held her hand and told her the truth.
I explained that the one who had invaded this room was the Archbishop of the Diego Church, that he had placed a curse on her, and that I had entered her psyche to break it.
"I see. So that's what happened."
Though surprised at first, my grandmother soon cald down. Seeing her reaction, I took a deep breath and revealed sothing I had never shared with anyone before.
"...The power that healed
earlier---it's a gift from the god I serve, Kyros."
"I heard it was a small religion. And yet it holds such great healing power..."
"Only I can wield this power, Grandma. I... I am the leader of the Kyros Church."
I decided to reveal my identity not just because of what had happened today but because I wanted to save her life.
Until now, I hadn't figured out how to guide her to believe in Kyros, and I knew ti was running out.
It felt like a last resort.
Having lived with her for several days, I had co to trust her deeply.
She was a person of unwavering principles, soone whose integrity matched her strength of character.
More importantly, she loved her family deeply---I was confident she wouldn't betray .
But as I waited for her response, anxiousness crept in. I couldn't predict how she would react.
"...I see. So, that's why Jenna..."
She murmured sothing I couldn't quite understand before grabbing my hands.
Then, with a warm smile, she said,
"You must've been through so much, all alone, my grandson."
Sohow, I felt like crying.
Reviews
All reviews (0)