As soon as they passed through the second gate, they were led straight into a grand hall of haunting beauty.
With a few small exits on either side of the hall, one could easily imagine just how majestic this church must have been in the past.
Xion had to crane his neck just to take in the towering statue of the goddess at the far end, but unlike the one he had seen before, this figure was shrouded entirely in a dark cloth, veiled from head to toe.
Cobwebs stretched across the chamber like neglected lace, clinging even to the statue’s draped form.
The altar below was almost bare, save for a single tarnished goblet and a few incense sticks—completely burnt out—jutting from small holes carved directly into the stone surface.
The ash had piled up in a tiny mound beside the sticks, still emitting faint grey smoke that was visible to them even from such a distance.
It was hard to pinpoint, but a faint scent lingered in the air. Like an aromatic flower just beginning to rot, or a sweetness so cloying it bordered on sickening.
"This servant of light welcomes the devotees." A sudden call halted them from stepping any further.
Xion squinted his eyes at the source of the voice that came from one of the small gates from the left wall.
A lady stood there, dressed in simple clothes. One might have taken her for a holy sister if not for the expensive jewelry decorating her neck and ears.
As she stepped closer, Xion was able to see her pale face. Though average-looking, she had a dignified aura.
"Are you here to confess your sins to the goddess?"
The disgusting scent in the air seemed to wash away at her presence. And now at such a close distance, Xion could smell the scent of jasmine from the lady.
Before he could reply, Ray beat him to it. The knight’s words were as straightforward as ever.
"Lady, do we look like sinners to you? And if we did sin, why would we tell it to someone? Won’t you guys rattle us out? I really don’t understand how your system works."
Xion couldn’t suppress the fleeting smile that flickered in his eyes. He tilted his head to the other side only to see Allen looking helplessly at the brute of a soldier.
After staying with Darius for such a long time, more or less, the entire staff of the castle had been affected by similar thinking.
Sure, they believed in goddesses, but they didn’t have too much respect for the churches and their masters who, for show, called themselves ’servants of light’... just lady.
When Xion, the apparent master of the group, didn’t open his mouth, the smooth skin on her forehead wrinkled as she frowned.
"Well, it is to ask for forgiveness, of course. Arrogantly staying silent when addressed is also considered a step toward depravity. And regarding oneself as above others is another sin in itself."
If Xion had to simplify, she was saying, ’Stop being so arrogant and open your damn mouth’ and that was exactly what he did.
"My apologies to the lady."
Given how quickly his status had risen, bowing too freely would only reflect poorly on Darius.
So he settled for a polite nod as he continued, "Do you mind enlightening us about the praying method? I am new and not familiar with the courtesies."
That made the lady smile. With a small gesture of her hand, she asked them to follow her, but the way she took was not toward the altar but out of the hall and toward the backside.
"The difficult circumstances force humans to travel to foreign lands, so I hope you find your home here."
Home... Xion had already found one, and a magnificent one at that. Darius was his home.
"Yeah. Thank you for your kind words."
Allen and Ray could only silently follow behind, keeping a distance of a few steps.
"Instead of thanking me, you should thank the saintess. Her Excellency was the one who informed us that devotees were on their way."
Now that took him by surprise. He almost forgot that the thirteen cardinals had supernatural powers, and as a beloved saintess, she was blessed by the goddess too.
Can she talk to the wind like Aunt Serena? Xion thought as he walked forward toward the small bridge that was built over the lake.
"This is the red lake, the place where the sinners are sacrificed."
Xion glanced down at the crimson water as they walked further.
The smile on the lady’s face grew as she crossed the bridge, leading them deeper into the heart of the church.
"Sacrifice?" Xion couldn’t help but ask, his gaze lingering on the red blotches left over the white snowy path.
The lady pushed open the doors which led them to another hall, but much smaller than the previous one.
While arranging the flowers in the vase beside the door, she replied with a slight smile. "It is the only way to cleanse one’s soul."
Then the smile vanished from her face. She glared at Xion. "At least one should keep their body pure to attain the forgiveness."
She spat those last words out like they were rotten. Her face contorted, eyes blazing in utter disgust as if she weren’t looking at a person, but at something filthy and inhuman.
The way her expression shifted so rapidly somehow felt oddly familiar to him, but his brain didn’t give him any useful reply.
As for her glaring while spouting something about ’keeping the body pure,’ he didn’t even bother letting it linger in his thoughts.
If he agreed with her, wouldn’t that mean he was admitting to being a sinner?
He might’ve been a fool, but he’d never committed any crimes. So, he simply ignored her and looked past the doors, where a red carpet covered every inch of the floor.
At the center was a round table, surrounded by four chairs.
The ornate decorations, the small dome-shaped ceiling of the room—perhaps it was more of a hall—and the dense carvings on the walls, none of it held his attention like the woman seated piously in one of the chairs.