Chapter 11 – The Child of God (Part 7)

Meanwhile, Ria, who had arrived at the temple, was able to enter without difficulty thanks to Letban. However, she stopped in her tracks at the sight of the abandoned temple before her.

“My goodness…”

Ria covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. There were hardly any buildings in proper shape. Some places had only columns left, while others had altars standing alone without even columns.

“It has been left unattended for a long time without anyone to manage it.”

Letban, who had followed her in after entrusting the task to the guard, explained. He added that it had been closed right after the previous Holy One ascended.

“Still, the building at the center is in relatively good condition. Would you like to go inside?”

“…Yes.”

After briefly surveying the vast temple grounds, Ria nodded and followed him inside. The central building they reached shortly after was, as he had said, in better condition, despite the cobwebs and dust accumulated here and there.

As they passed through the rooms once used by the priests, they arrived at the chapel where many had once offered prayers to the gods.

The grand chapel was still filled with a sense of holiness. Despite many broken parts, the stained glass still projected colorful light inside, and the large statue of the god in the center remained intact without a single blemish.

Kahin followed her with a worried look as she walked towards the statue as if entranced.

The statue of the god was veiled with a robe-like covering, leaving only a benevolent smile visible. After gazing at the statue for a while, Ria, unable to tear her eyes away, asked Letban.

“Was the face of the god deliberately not carved?”

“Well, the Holy Kingdom officially says so, but in truth, no one has ever seen the god properly. Even the Holy One only hears the god’s voice.”

“Such beautiful, transparent eyes…”

“Pardon?”

Ria muttered unconsciously. Letban, not understanding her words, asked again, but Ria stepped closer to the statue without further explanation.

It felt very familiar and intimate. It was a slightly nostalgic feeling. …She had felt this exact feeling and emotion before.

‘My Child, I will not let you go through the same thing. I won’t let this happen to you.’

As those words surfaced in her mind, the dream she couldn’t clearly remember began to vividly come back to her. Just like clearing away fog, she felt his emotions clearly, and a tear rolled down Ria’s cheek. Her body moved before her mind could process it.

Looking up at the large statue, she got as close as she could and reached out her hand. Only when she stood on her tiptoes did her hand finally touch the statue’s hand.

【…My Child.】

As soon as she touched it, a warm and gentle voice reached her ears, and Ria gasped. The longing and deep yearning made her body tremble. The sudden rush of emotions quickened her breath.

“My lady?”

Seeing this, Kahin was about to rush over when something unknown stopped him. If Ria hadn’t quickly reassured him that she was okay, he might have drawn his sword out of sheer anxiety.

【I’m glad I can talk to you like this. Is your body alright? I wanted to help somehow, but all I could do was lend strength to your still-developing abilities… I worried something might go wrong.】

The affection and kindness directed solely at her were so sweet, so warm, that Ria nodded, feeling tears well up.

“…Is there a reason I had to come here?”

There were many things she wanted to ask and say, but she swallowed them down with her tears. Right now, it was more important to understand why she felt a primal pull to come here.

【Do you remember the scene in your dream where I appeared?】

“Yes. I remember it clearly now. But I can’t recall the last words. What did you tell me to find? The thing you said would protect me.”

【That is… Oh, my child. In the high priest’s room, there is an unusual-looking mirror. Find it. Then you will know the answer.】

“Pardon?”

【I’m sorry. I wish I could talk more, but I don’t have much time here. Once you find the mirror, you’ll understand why.】

“W-wait a moment!”

【My beloved child, I always wish for your happiness.】

But time did not permit even that. With those final hurried words, the voice in her ear ceased.

Overwhelmed by the sudden emptiness, Ria tightened her grip on the statue’s hand. Then she let go and roughly wiped away the tear that had left a trail on her cheek before turning around.

“Young Master, please guide me to the high priest’s room.”

There was one more place that could provide answers, so she couldn’t stop.

As she went deeper inside, she encountered a grand door that was significantly larger than the previous priests’ rooms. Letban sneered, saying that the Northern High Priest was unfit for his position, and then flung open the door. The spacious interior came into full view, just as large as the door suggested.

Ria searched thoroughly for the mirror. However, no matter where she looked, there wasn’t even anything resembling a mirror. Just as she was becoming flustered, Kahin, who was also searching the area, paused in front of an old bookshelf.

He narrowed his eyes for a moment and then pushed one of the books inward. The book slid in, and with a loud sound, the bookshelf moved aside.

“This is…!”

“It seems he truly is unfit for his position, given that he created such a hidden, sinister space.”

Kahin commented to the surprised Letban. Perhaps it was because there had been no trace of awkwardness at the time of closure, so they hadn’t known. Even he wouldn’t have noticed if this part hadn’t remained shiny while the surroundings were old and worn.

“Miss, please stay close to me, just in case.”

Kahin pulled Ria into his arms and drew his sword. Although it was unlikely that anyone would be present since it had been abandoned after the previous Holy One’s ascension, there was a slight possibility that this place was connected to the temple of the Empire. Letban, noticing his thoughts, also drew his sword.

The three of them carefully entered, surveying their surroundings. The interior was wider and deeper than expected, and it took quite a walk through a cave-like path before they reached a room.

After passing the first room, they encountered several prison cells made of iron bars. Kahin frowned and held Ria closer. As they got nearer, the stench became apparent, and he covered her nose with his robe and hand.

After a while, they reached a large room at the end of the path. Fortunately, they detected no signs of life as they entered.

As Kahin’s hand, which had been covering her face, fell away, Ria lifted her head and scanned the surroundings. It wasn’t difficult to spot the mirror, which stood out in the dimly lit space.

“Kahin, that’s the mirror. The one the god mentioned!”

Ria spoke to him as she looked up and quickly approached the mirror. Kahin, unaware of the conversation she had with the god, was puzzled but didn’t say anything. Considering the unknown force that had stopped him earlier, he somewhat understood.

Standing before the mirror, Ria examined it, which was slightly taller than herself. When she turned her gaze back to her reflection, she was startled.

The reflection was her but not her. More precisely, it was someone with the same appearance.

‘The woman from the dream.’

She recognized her immediately. Although she hadn’t seen her face in the dream, she couldn’t mistake her for someone other than a child of the god, like herself.

The woman in the mirror smiled and extended her arm to Ria, her mouth moving as if speaking.

“I’ll… tell you.”

Mimicking the mouth movements, Ria realized she needed to take that hand. The person who would give her the answers was her.

“Kahin.”

Ria looked at Kahin, who had approached her side. Seeing that he had no reaction to the mirror, she confirmed that it was visible only to her. She felt certain she had to follow the woman.

Resolute, Ria turned to Kahin, who would worry about her, stood on her tiptoes, and cupped his cheeks with both hands. As he naturally leaned down toward her, a soft smile formed on her lips.

“Just wait a little. Twenty minutes, no, just ten minutes. There’s a reason I came here. I’ll be back soon, okay?”

Then, reassuring him by stroking his cheek, she grasped the hand extended to her and stepped into the mirror.

“My lady!”

She heard Kahin calling her from behind, but she couldn’t turn back. There was something she needed to know.