"Silence! All of you are unbelievers, heretics! Everything I did was for Solar! Can’t you see that it’s that person who’s trying to ruin this land...?!"
Teon shouted until the veins bulged in his wrinkled neck, but his cries were drowned out by the voices of the estate’s people, each complaining to Ayra about the harm they had suffered. After shouting a few more tis, his voice quickly gave out, and he coughed in distress—likely a fit brought on by cold and stress.
Unfortunate as it was for Teon, it wasn’t just a matter of popularity—he was utterly outmatched by Ayra in every way. And the area in which he was most clearly defeated was appearance. It wasn’t that Ayra thought so because she was proud of her own face; it was simply that humans, by nature, were easily swayed by looks—and this place was no different.
"Yes, of course you’re angry. But do you understand that your anger is directed at the wrong person?"
The estate citizens looked confused at Ayra’s words. So flushed with suspicion, thinking their lord might be defending Teon. Rather than explain further, Ayra dropped to one knee. She then reached out her hand. What she carefully took hold of was none other than Act's hand.
Act, who had been praying his final prayer to the god, startled and opened his eyes wide at the sudden touch.
"...?!"
Act tried to snap, asking just what the hell was going on, and attempted to shake off Ayra’s hand—only to find, oddly, that his body wouldn’t move as he wanted. His tongue felt frozen as if paralyzed, and he couldn’t even make the motion to swat Ayra away.
"Let’s get up now, Act."
Standing close by, Ayra could hear Act grinding his teeth. Ayra avoided his fierce, glaring eyes that demanded what he had done, and raised Act using magic. Thanks to the robe subtly concealing Act’s twisted expression, neither he nor anyone else noticed anything out of place.
When Ayra forced him to bow using physical magic, the veins in Act’s neck turned blue with strain as he lost control of his own body. Feigning ignorance, Ayra gripped Act’s shoulder with force. The muscles beneath his palm were tightly clenched.
[Attera te Act harbors hostility toward the user!]
Even without Pebble’s alert, Ayra could sense the hatred radiating off him. Pretending not to notice, Ayra turned to the estate citizens.
"A man claiming to be an apostle of the god has brought harm to many in the god’s na and took private gain—so it is just that you are angry. However, High Priest Attera te Act is innocent of these matters."
The estate citizens were stunned. Not only them—Teon widened his eyes and stared back and forth between Ayra and Act. Once Ayra released the spell, Act furrowed his brow, his eyes demanding to know what ga this was.
"The High Priest is a man who truly wishes for Solar’s well-being. Thanks to his early warning, I was able to prepare for the Karcal threat before a greater disaster occurred. And it was through his righteous testimony that I ca to know the full extent of Teon’s cris."
Perhaps from sheer disbelief, the wrinkles between Act’s brows deepened. Once Ayra completely released the spell, he opened his lips as if to speak but then closed them tightly. Whatever his distaste for Ayra, it seed he wasn’t so inflexible that he couldn’t go along with the situation.
Moreover, in this mont, there were people willing to speak in Act’s defense. Among the estate citizens, the ones in the most worn clothing, who clearly bore the marks of poverty, anxiously looked on before finally mustering the courage to speak.
"Th-that’s right! The High Priest would never do sothing like that!"
"He’s a good man! Thanks to him, our family was able to eat last winter!"
Those who had always lived hunched over now shouted their support, and for the first ti, a flicker of emotion passed over Act’s face. Ayra recalled the first ti she t him—he’d been distributing food in the slums. To think it had actually been genuine charity was, honestly, unexpected.
The High Priest already had a solid reputation, and now that the lord had stepped forward to defend him, the people’s attention turned away from Act. Their gazes shifted toward Teon.
"You wicked man! Shut your mouth! Don’t deceive the faithful with your twisted tongue!"
As the situation turned increasingly against him, Teon flailed in fury. Ayra ignored the old man’s shouting completely, casting a aningful gaze over the gathered people. On the back of her hand, Pebble was still blinking: [Loading......].
"According to what the High Priest told , there is a box hidden behind the largest pillar in Teon’s chambers. Would anyone be willing to bring it out for ?"
Of course, it wasn’t the High Priest who had revealed that, but Pebble who had discovered it.
Flustered by his secret being exposed, Teon tried to bolt, but was imdiately seized by the estate citizens and forced to kneel. Stupefied, he looked as if he couldn’t believe what was happening—then he turned a murderous glare on Act, seemingly convinced that his own nephew had betrayed him.
Ayra smiled. With that one statent, the rift between Act and Teon had been made irrevocable. Sensing that vile intent, Act’s brow twitched, but he said nothing.
"Yes, my lord! I’ll fetch it right away!"
Several excited citizens rushed into the temple. Before long, they returned with a richly ornanted box. Ayra gestured, and the box floated into the air. With a click, its lid opened by itself. Teon thrashed once more and tried to flee, but in the midst of such a large crowd, it was utterly pointless.
The citizens stood calmly, torches in hand, gazing up at Ayra with reverence. With just a few words, the entire situation had shifted completely under her control.
With a soft wave of her hand, brilliant golden currents flowed from Ayra’s fingertips. A stack of docunts flew out of the box, fluttering into the air and circling gently in a glowing ring. The miraculous sight left the citizens gaping in awe. So crossed themselves without realizing it—but unlike before, it wasn’t out of suspicion or heresy.
"Those who can read, read it as you please. And tell everyone what it says. These docunts are proof of Teon’s cris."
The box Ayra had opened contained the docunts Teon had secretly hidden. They recorded his backdoor dealings with Sobletz in exchange for gold and treasure, and the bribes he’d taken to appoint priests and temple officials.
Among them was one docunt Ayra had forged with illusion magic—a fabricated contract stating that Teon, under Sobletz’s orders, had summoned the Karcal horde to Solar.
The literate citizens each began to read aloud, exposing Teon’s cris in their own voices.
"Solar is not a land for humans but for the gods. How could a re human lord rule it? Therefore, I wrote to Sobletz..."
"...In exchange for cooperation with Sobletz, I guaranteed the High Priest’s position and temple donations as obligatory..."
"Promotion offering: 20 sel, promoted to Level-7 Priest Emoas in one year. Promotion offering: 46 sel, promoted to Level-5 Priest Beroma in six months..."
"I sent 500 sel and asked the dark sorcerer to drive the beasts to threaten the estate citizens..."
As each of his sins—and even those that weren’t his—were revealed in detail, Teon thrashed about, shouting denials and claiming it was all a setup. But each ti his eyes t those of the faithful, he flinched as if stabbed. His breathing turned ragged, and realizing there was nothing more he could do, he eventually dropped his head in resignation.
It was the complete downfall of Teon, once the most respected priest in Solar.
Act, who had watched the ruin of his uncle’s life with a cold expression, allowed a faint, fleeting smile to cross his lips.
❄
The citizens had wanted to beat Teon to death themselves, but Ayra didn’t allow it. The authority of the temple had already been damaged too severely. If she assud that Act would now beco her ally, so degree of that authority needed to be preserved.
"Though he has committed great cris, Attera la Teon was once the High Priest. Killing such a man directly would be an insult to the god. Therefore, we punish him by expelling him from Solar! Whether he lives or dies shall be decided by the god’s will!"
So among the crowd were dissatisfied ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ with the judgnt, but many others nodded. Though furious, they had dragged Teon out of the temple themselves—and they were still faithful. Deep down, they were uneasy about harming Morunka’s forr High Priest.
And above all, mid-winter in Solar ant that expulsion was essentially a death sentence. As Ayra had said, survival now would require divine protection.
Teon, as if still unable to accept the reality before him, said nothing, his face red and trembling. Calm as ever, Act looked upon his uncle—the sa man he had once prepared to die alongside while praying. He ordered one of the priests to fetch so food and thick clothes. Then, holding them out to Teon, he said:
"I sincerely hope that Morunka will forgive you, Uncle."
The citizens were moved, saying the High Priest was so rciful, showing compassion even to such a sinner. But the system window floating in front of Ayra’s eyes read differently.
[Attera te Act is currently lying.]
"I may be stepping down for now—but I will not let this go! The god will not forgive you heretics!"
Gnashing his teeth, Teon snatched the food and clothes from Act’s hands. He straightened his hunched shoulders, as if clinging to so last shred of dignity, and staggered away under the watch of the guards. Watching that retreating figure coldly, Ayra glanced at Hera. Understanding instantly, Hera gave a subtle nod.
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