Chapter 41: Thus There Were Three
The first faiths were never born in peace. The Druid Circle spoke for balance, the Divine Temple claimed absolute order, and the Lucienne Pantheon demanded dominion over nature itself. What began as interpretation became conflict, and what became conflict became history rewritten by the strongest voice.
The Words Of Gods, Narcisse Cyrus
They came before the bells finished ringing. Merchants. Laborers. The kind of people noble conferences were never built for. They moved through the doors without hesitation — like they had always known this place existed. Like they had simply been waiting for someone to build it.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Footsteps. Hundreds of them. The newly built church of the Adrianites received its first congregation — and no one had told them to come.
A quiet ambiance played in the surrounding.
Tobey sat at the piano booth, light reflecting in his glasses as he played.
His fingers never stopped moving, his back never turned, even when all the seats filled.
Above, Adrian watched, a smile plastered across his face.
'Messages do fly fast.' He thought.
<< Yes, especially when faith is concerned. >> Xiao Long replied.
<< It's nice knowing that finally you are more of yourself and not that arrogant thing>>
'It's just a function.' Adrian replied.
<< Keep lying to yourself. >>
Adrian said nothing, just watching as the people poured in.
Tobey's fingers stopped moving, and there was absolute silence.
_Gush_
The sound of mist rising.
Then the footsteps of a being.
Two beings.
Zethar and Valhalla stood side by side, one white, one black.
The crowd gasped.
"I am Ignis." Valhalla's voice echoed through the auditorium.
"I am Il'Zethar." Zethar's followed.
"I am your guardian." Valhalla said again.
"I am your warden." Zethar said.
A gentle hush.
There was silence.
Then an outpour of mana.
Attracted by runes designed into the structure of the church.
"The Judicial Triune failed you."
The voice did not rise—yet it filled every corner.
"So I returned."
"Not as a ruler… but as what you were denied."
A pause.
"Peace."
The mana in the room thickened.
"I left this world in their hands… and they mistook control for order."
"That mistake ends now."
Zethar stepped forward. "We do not offer salvation."
Valhalla followed. "We offer understanding."
The voice returned—quieter, heavier:
"Walk in the light if you must…"
"But know the shadow it casts."
_Outside_
Chris stood atop the cathedral, surveying the people that walked in.
"Archbishop and his group." He whispered into his telecom, looking to the group heading to the church with fastened footsteps and spraying holy water and incense.
"That's according to plan." Adrian replied.
"That's all. Seline isn't with them." Chris put the telecom away.
_Back inside_
The doors burst open,
Wood cracked against stone as a wave of pressure rolled through the hall.
Incense flooded the air—thick, and suffocating.
Then he stepped in.
Robes heavy with gold-thread scripture.
Eyes that did not look at the crowd—only forward.
"So this is where you gather them."
His voice cut cleanly through the silence.
"Not with chains… not with fear…"
A slow breath.
"But with lies."
"Just another of the naïve followers, have you come to return to me?" The voice of the Eminence questioned.
_ Divine Temple _
Seline stared into the mirror.
Not at herself—
At Marleen.
The reflection flickered slightly.
"When are you coming?" Seline asked.
Marleen stepped fully into view, robes still shifting from teleportation residue.
"Soon," she said. "The High Judicial granted permission… reluctantly."
Seline's eyes narrowed.
"Then they've seen it too."
A pause.
"Not really," Marleen replied. "But enough to be concerned."
Seline turned away from the mirror, jaw tightening.
"Concern isn't enough."
Her voice dropped.
"He already has the commoners."
Silence.
Then Marleen spoke—quieter this time:
"Then we don't take them back."
Seline stopped.
"…What?"
"We take him."