"...If you wish, you can actually live much longer, perhaps even forever, and witness these changes yourself,"
Drawn back by Nuo's voice, Cohen grasped the handles of the wheelchair.
It wasn't the first time he had faced the death of a friend; indeed, long before Golden Humanity reached the end of its lifespan, he didn't even know that was what sorrow felt like. But no matter how many times he went through it, if possible, Cohen didn't want to experience it another time.
However, he was equally aware that Nuo would not agree.
As expected, upon hearing Cohen's words, Nuo simply waved his hand.
"There's no need, Cohen, I have lived long enough."
"It is the all-seeing Lord who is eternal, the angels and Holy Spirits in His kingdom. I shall live on there, not in the Mortal Realm forever."
"What about Silver Moon City, don't you want to continue leading its development?"
Interrupting Nuo, Cohen pointed towards the distant plains.
"Haven't you already planned to establish towns elsewhere, to build an earthly Theocratic Nation... That still requires your presence."
"It won't, Cohen, although I believe I have done quite well these years, perhaps the people of the future will do even better?"
Waving his hand, Nuo seemed much more accepting than Cohen.
If he wished, he could indeed receive a blessing from the angels, thereby attaining eternal life, because Nuo's achievements over the years had long convinced the angels of the Spirit Realm of this mortal's devotion. However, that was not what he wanted, and he felt Silver Moon City did not need it either.
"Eternal life necessitates an eternal Lord, and humans with only a few hundred years of life need only a Patriarch who has lived a few hundred years. Change is what brings development; this is the experience I've learned over the years."
"It's about you, Cohen, even though you have stayed in Silver Moon City for so long, have you truly found your answer?"
Smiling faintly at the old friend he had known for many years, perhaps as an outsider, Nuo could tell that Cohen hadn't let go of many things about 'God and man' to this day.
The blissful lives of the people in Silver Moon City allowed him to temporarily set aside those thoughts, burying them deep within his heart, but setting aside is not the same as forgetting.
"...You are right, I haven't found it."
Having his inner thoughts exposed, memories of the past surged in his heart. After a moment of silence, looking at Nuo in the wheelchair, Cohen couldn't help but ask:
"Why would I be angry?"
Nuo asked back with a smile.
"Obviously because I am not as devout as you."
"No, to have doubts is not a sin. In fact, blind faith is the farthest distance from true Faith."
Shaking his head, Nuo did not elaborate further. He just looked at Cohen and suggested finally:
"Since you still have doubts, Cohen, why don't you give it a try yourself?"
"Naturally, to try becoming like the beings on Mount Olympus."
Leaning back in his chair, Nuo said with a smile:
"Only by becoming one yourself can your doubts be truly answered, and compared to others, you also have that opportunity."
"You are special... Cohen, and perhaps all of this is the Lord's arrangement."
After a lengthy silence, Cohen pushed Nuo's wheelchair, heading towards the distance.
"I don't have any idea about what you said. And perhaps the higher I stand, the stronger I become, the farther I will be from Faith like yours."
Shaking his head, Nuo looked at every part of the surroundings from his wheelchair.
He was very familiar with everything here, but that didn't prevent him from getting to know it a bit better before leaving this world.
"To approach the truth is to come closer to the Lord. Do what you wish to do, Cohen, I still support you."
Once again silent, looking at the friend in front of him, Cohen looked up at the world enveloped in early winter.
"...Nuo, at least in you, I feel that it is Faith that is made great because of you."
"Thank you, but I am just practicing my own beliefs."
The voices of the two faded away, becoming scarcely audible in the cold wind. The seasons gradually shifted back to their positions, Chronology moved towards completion, and thus, a long winter arrived.