“Can’t the High Priest do it?”

Under the majestic domed ceiling that seemed to touch the sky, the Grand Temple boasted its sanctity and grandeur with intricate carvings of murals praising divine glory.

However, what echoed through this sacred space was not reverent silence but the desperate voices of priests mixed with urgency and anxiety.

The priests’ gazes were fixed on one man, yet the figure at the center showed no reaction, simply turning pages of a book. The man appeared completely indifferent to the priests’ pleas. 

His empty green eyes displayed an attitude suggesting this entire situation was irrelevant to him. Only the light sound of turning pages answered in Noah’s place.

“The royal pressure grows worse each day. Only you, Noah, can overcome this crisis now.”

The oldest priest stepped forward and raised his voice. His desperate tone was simultaneously laced with fear, anticipating the reaction from the man with delicate, long silver hair.

Despite the elderly priest’s urgent cry, Noah kept his eyes fixed only on his book. The priests’ desperation seemed unable to reach him at all. Noah’s calm indifference amplified their anxiety.

The priests glanced at each other, none able to easily continue speaking. Noah’s presence was overwhelming in the sacred space of the Grand Temple. He was the only person chosen by the deity who could use divine power, and no one dared press him for an answer.

But the priests could retreat no further. The temple now stood at a crossroads of existence or extinction. Finally, one priest gathered courage and stepped forward.

“Lord Noah. There must be a purpose in Pathos bestowing such power upon you. You must use this power to help the temple.”

His voice trembled but was full of conviction. Only then did Noah slowly raise his head. His emerald eyes slowly scanned each priest one by one. His gaze was languid yet sharp, seemingly trying to memorize every face.

“Well. I’ve never heard such intentions.”

His low, calm voice contained subtle mockery. Noah’s words left a heavy silence in the Grand Temple.

“It seems the priest can hear the deity’s voice. Or perhaps you’re clever enough to discern divine will. Well, which is it?”

At Noah’s question, the face of the priest who had spoken suddenly hardened and turned pale. He belatedly realized his words might be considered blasphemy. The priest was too flustered to respond.

Noah turned his attention back to his open book. He remained completely unmoved. Just slightly annoyed. The priests’ desperation and the temple’s situation seemed meaningless to him.

The Grand Temple had maintained a cooperative relationship with the royal family for ages. But they were never equals. Under powerful royal authority, the temple was essentially subordinate to the palace.

This was due to the Token of Pathos embedded in the royal jewel, while the temple could prove nothing. The royal family had maintained this tilted balance for a long time, overwhelming the temple’s authority.

However, Noah’s appearance disrupted this entire balance. Noah was no ordinary priest. As one chosen by Pathos, his very existence could prove divine authority.

His bluish-white silver hair and divine power that he wielded naturally affected both the royal family and temple significantly.

Noah’s existence was both blessing and threat. The moment Noah displayed his power to the public, royal authority would certainly be greatly shaken. The priests desperately hoped for this. 

But Noah showed not the slightest interest in this situation.

Far from meeting the temple’s expectations, he even locked the temple doors tightly, claiming visitors were bothersome. This behavior severely weakened the temple’s position, and people completely turned away from it.

Yet the royal pressure didn’t disappear. Noah’s existence still threatened royal authority, and the temple suffered even fiercer pressure.

“I’m retiring for the night.”

Noah quietly headed to his room, leaving behind the priests’ sighs. In the quiet stillness, the soft sound of footsteps brushed through the corridor.

Much like wind slipping through door cracks. Even the heavy atmosphere hanging over the Grand Temple couldn’t block Noah’s steps.

The moment he entered his room, cold yet soft night breeze slipped through the windows. Brushing back his fluttering hair, Noah approached the window. His eyes wavered under the pouring silver moonlight.

Noah reflected on his power. The power given to him since birth was indeed powerful enough to prove the deity’s existence, just as the priests said. However, Noah didn’t consider this power special.

Like wind blowing and clouds drifting, his power simply existed. People called it divine power, but to Noah, it was merely a bland part of reality.

The breeze from outside brushed Noah’s cheek. At that moment, an inexplicable whisper grazed his mind, evoking old memories. Whether this voice belonged to the deity or was a mere illusion, he had no intention of giving it meaning.

Even while living within the temple’s framework, Noah continuously doubted; the deity’s existence, his own power, and his destiny.

The wind suddenly changed direction. Noah’s eyes hardened while gazing at the moonlight. 

Simultaneously, a dull sound echoed through the darkness. It was the massive temple doors shaking.

Those seeking salvation by knocking on the temple doors weren’t uncommon. But this was different. Not simply knocking sounds. Violent noises continued, seemingly someone ramming their body against the doors, accompanied by beast-like wailing.

In the sky, a star left a long trail as it fell. Through the scattered light streams dispersed like wind-blown fragments, the breeze returned to ruffle Noah’s hair. Something with irresistible force was calling him.

Frowning, Noah rose and walked toward the temple entrance. When he opened the firmly closed temple doors, he faced a red-haired boy with a face distorted by fear and desperation.

The boy wailed without pause. But even this couldn’t capture Noah’s attention. Noah’s gaze was fixed solely on the silver-haired woman in the boy’s arms.

Noah’s green eyes trembled faintly. It was because of the light surrounding the woman. A power only he could see and feel in this world. Divine authority.

“I’ll take over from here.”

Noah brought the woman deep into the temple. When he laid her on the bed, the light surrounding her gradually began to fade. But the more the light disappeared, the clearer her presence became.

She was both like him and different. A deity who had lost light and power. Yet still a being containing the essence of divinity.

Noah observed her in silence. Suddenly his heart began to race. An inexplicable emotion filled his chest. Much like finally discovering something he had searched for his entire life.

This newfound sense of fulfillment was filling the emptiness that had been so long and lonely.

No one would understand, but the woman was the answer to everything. The power and destiny given to him, endless questions about the deity’s existence.

The answer to all those questions was the woman right before his eyes.

“Now I understand.”

Noah murmured, overwhelmed with elation. It was the moment when all puzzles fit together. Everything became clear.

He realized it for the first time.

The power he possessed wasn’t simply a tool to prove or convey the deity’s existence. It existed to serve her, protect her, and exist for her. To serve this fragile, powerless deity.

Noah’s eyes sharpened with light. It wasn’t simple loyalty or reverence. A life for the deity, taught throughout his lifetime in the temple. All those teachings existed for this very moment.

“I will serve you.”

Feeling the breeze blowing under the cold moonlight, Noah knelt and bowed his head deeply. Between the boundary of worship and obsession. Toward his destiny and reason for existence.

“My deity.”