Yesir felt his blood run cold.
"So the mystical items they lend us were used to divine our location..." His mouth shivered, carrying heaviness in his voice.
Catherine retracted her gaze from him and said while facing the sea, "They could easily be fetched for a price at either the beyonder gatherings or the black market. I advise to sell them as soon as possible."
Yesir found the suggestion too hasty, however his actions were undeniably limited.
These artifacts could help them in the long run, such as when he used the Ring of Traversal. Although its been depleted, its ammunition only requires gems which can be bought in jewelry stores.
However, seeing the risk unfold and their current situation. Being dependent on this artifacts could very well lead to their demise.
Just as he was about to agree. He suddenly recalled some of the Goddess's attempts.
That is to sacrifice the remaining mystical artifacts to the Goddess!
"H-How many mystical artifacts do we currently possess?" said Yesir, trying to determine the numbers of what can be salvaged.
The Child of God... No—Mrs. White might give us permission to sacrifice to "Her" our artifacts for safekeeping... Wait, the hell am I thinking? A mere believer should limit themselves before a God!
"What are planning?" Catherine look somewhat perplexed.
"We can try to pray to Mrs. White to safekeep the remaining artifacts we received from the Primordial Moon faction." Yesir divulged his intentions openly.
He found that it was better let the other party be informed sooner in order to receive an advice in what he was about to attempt.
"Who.. Is Mrs. White?" asked Catherine solely out of confusion.
In the next second, she chuckled. "It seems your mind had been showing a concerning level of insanity that only now it began to display, starting with you making up names."
Yesir furrowed his brows. He explained, "Mrs. White is the Goddess's reborn title."
"The Goddess... Reborn..." Catherine perked up and faced Yesir with surprise. "The Goddess was reborn?"
Her voice was raised with surprise and disbelief.
"Yes." Yesir's tone was that of a devout believer.
"How..." Catherine dazed as she turned toward the serene waters.
"This was a miracle." said Yesir. "Our ways in the past were severely contradicting the Goddess's actual teachings. Gathering our remaining members is an attempt to regain the Goddess's favor and to receive her blessings."
"So that's why you contacted my spirit messenger... What is the Goddess's title now that She had been reborn?" Catherine asked as she slowly recovered from shock.
Yesir hesitated for a moment before answering, "The White Maiden."
"...The shedding of vice..." Catherine muttered to herself.
"As per Mrs. White's will. Once our members are gathered, I would spread Her teaching, to secure our future in Her embrace."
Catherine straightened her posture. Her thoughts unknown.
After exactly fifteen seconds. She finally spoke, "I will inform Romia, including the rest. Dylan Hawkthorne however..."
"What happened to him?" Yesir's apprehension grew.
"Dylan was taken by the Primordial Moon believers. While his partner, Qui disintegrated along with the death of Deimsfel."
"They failed to retrieve Mrs. White's vessel?" asked Yesir.
Catherine replied, "The vessel is alive in Tingen as she had inexplicably killed Deimsfel during their operation."
Yesir fell silent. Multiple thoughts stirred in his mind.
How could their member, who had gained the favor of the Primordial Moon and was blessed with a high-grade mystical artifact, let himself be killed by a mere Sequence 9.
In spite of this, Yesir couldn't simply disregard the possibility that a high-sequence official of the Church of the Evernight intervened at the last minute and cornered him into his demised.
This occurrence is undeniable. Majority of their members were subjected into imprisonment, or death at the hands of the officials, knowing that their nature wouldn't allow themselves to be held by any church.
The possibility of retaliation from their members that caused their death is neigh certain.
If Deimsfel was really did killed. Then they had no other choice but to accept it. The mystical artifact could very well be in the hands of the Evernight Church.
Regarding their imprisoned members. Yesir finally spoke, "Can we broke the others out of the imprisonment of the Church?"
Catherine scoffed lightly, "If you're courting death. Be my guest."
Yesir didn't uttered any further.
Seeing his silence. Catherine retracted herself from the borders of the docks. She materialized her illusory wings from the congregation of bats.
With one sweep of her wings. The vampire lady flew toward the river and left.
Yesir watched her fade from his sight.
Before leaving, he quietly fixed his top hat and coat. He then took out his pocket watch and determined the time under coursing moonlight.
Soon afterwards, Yesir left as well, restoring the area of its tranquility.
...
Darkness shattered in an instant.
Kothe, in his stupor, felt his visual senses collides in conflict with the surrounding scenes.
Amid this chaotic clash of colors. Suddenly, he felt a bed of grass nested over his palm.
Shock and disbelief broke him out of his stupor.
"...!"
Kothe's eyes widened. His hand subconsciously scrapped a fragment of soil.
W-Where am I? Am I dreaming?
He immediately started reckoning the situation and saw a land of vast, tall grass. A meadow stretching infinitely into the horizon.
At the same time, soft gust of winds gradually chipping away his tension.
In just under ten seconds. Kothe regained his clarity.
He stood up. The vast empty plain, featuring only but tall grass was somewhat calming.
I wonder if Jean would enjoy seeing this... His mind instinctively thought of his wife.
Gentle and lovely woman, taken from him by fate. What he thought bestowed them a gift of a child reverted into the lost of his wife.
His calm state soon collapsed.
What am I doing here? I need to get out, I need to find Jean!
Kothe desperately surveyed the surrounding. Hoping a something would waiting for him to approach and escape.
But what met him was a few straight vines, coiling around one another and forming a path toward the horizon.
He quickly traced the vine's path.
Nearing its other end. Kothe frozed at the sight.
There, a woman clad in an ethereal-white gown. Her face heavily obscured by light.
Kothe instantly recalled one of the Child of God's believers, his fellow follower Felric Acon.
The description made by this accused mad follower accurately detailed the lady radiating divinity before him.
He felt paralyzed by horror and marvel.
An inexplicable desire formed within his heart compels him to prostrate at this very moment.
"C-Child of God..." Kothe unknowingly blurted out of fear.
And with his referred name. A voice, originating not from the divine figure but from the world around him.
The air reverberated into a sentence.
"You can address me as Mrs. White."
"M-Mrs. White?" Kothe's mouth was agape.
In his mind, all his thoughts could form was a simple question.
Why would a divine being would allow Themselves to be addressed with earthly titles?
Had the effect of being reborn made the Goddess lost her authority over her own titles? Kothe made a seemingly blasphemous hunch inwardly.
Moments later, the world echoed.
"Had the effect of being reborn made the Goddess lost her authority over her own titles?"
Kothe's blood run cold. He heard his very own voice mimicked and used by the surrounding meadow.
Sh*t! His face was teetering into despair as he quickly opposed.
"G-Great Child of God! I-I did not meant any words I've uttered in my mind! Forgive me!"
His voice failed to reach his ears. He heard nothing from he told.
No... No no no no... Kothe's body trembled. He collapsed to the floor as his heart raced.
His mind couldn't help but picture his death.
At that moment. Another voice was produced by the meadow. It spoke only one word.
"Mrs. White..."
This time, the tone was that of a man!
Yesir? Kothe recognized the voice almost instantly.
This was given as Yesir, a former priest of the Church of the God of Combat's lower branch church, had claimed to have been in the presence of the Child of God in his occasional dream. Receiving Her will.
Kothe figured that the world is that dream and the Goddess's authority is capable of reproducing voices of visitors.
"M-Mrs. White." He stammered. "Please... Forgive my impudence, I am foolish to have made such a thought!"
A beautiful, enchanting voice replied across the meadow.
"Your name... Stand up."
Kothe instinctively heeded the world and straightened his back.
"K-Kothe Warren your grace."
Kothe Warren. Sequence 8: Doctor... Husband of Jean Warren, a normal lady...
Underneath the radiating light. Selina inwardly recalled the man's identity from the documents.
She slightly lowered her head before casting it back to Kothe.
"I trust that you've been taking care of your wife, Jean?" A voice echoed throughout the meadow.
Kothe's face froze.
He opened his mouth, slowly while his lips shivering.
"Y-Your grace." He said. "M-My wife... Was taken by the members of the Rose School of Thought."
His five fingers bawled into a fist, veins protruding from the force.
"I-I have devoted myself in maintaining your spirit. Setting aside my principles to draw blood..."
Selina narrowed her eyes.
Principles? Was he forced into performing sacrifices?
"Your wife is unaware of what my followers is bidding you." An enchanting voice spoke.
Kothe fell silent. His breath heavy.
"How do you perceive the people who worship my name?"
It took Kothe several seconds before answering, "They're relentless... Mad and unprecedented...
"Many infants have bleed into my fingers... Skulls that weren't even of age. B-But it was alright, my wife will soon gave birth to my child, a blessing you bestowed that she wasn't able before."
Are you sure you're not as mad as them!? Selina was in shock hearing his confession.
Now did she finally painted a full picture of the Child of God's followers and that is:
Their morals are heavily distorted!
How did the Child of God influence their thinking even as an evil spirit roaming the depths of Spirit World? Selina sighed inaudibly.
"Life is a breath I have lent you; it is not yours to take." the voice was sublime, yet the weight deterred.
"Have I ever request the severence of the life's sanctity to maintain my spirit?"
Kothe's face turned pale. He suddenly recalled his unborn child.
"T-The rituals we've been conducting, traces back into history. We believe those are what our past seniors have used for your authority." He found his words heavy.
"Do not perform them." said the voice coldly.
Kothe staggered back. A fear of displeasing the being gripped him by his heart.
"B-By your will."
Selina refrained from speaking further. Instead, she gently raised her slender right hand.
At the blink of an eye, flower petals emerged from the soil and scattered onto the wind.
A fresh scent of lavender and jasmine filled the air.
Following, Kothe caught whiff of slumber flowers resting by his feet.
A bed of them formed around him and the lady in white.
"Do you wish to return?" whispered by the passing zephyr.
Kothe was somewhat hesitant.
The tranquility brought by this dream, the benignity of the Goddess's maternal presence lulled him.
A retreating thought formed in his mind.
Can't I plead the Goddess—Mrs. White, into taking me and Jean in this divine dream for eternity?
That very same sentence reverberated across the plains, carrying his voice.
This stunned the relaxed Kothe.
However, rather than a displeased tone. The plains echoed a soft chuckle.
"Your stay, regardless of your wish, wouldn't be for long. Once dawn arrives, you will find yourself back into the material world."
Kothe opened his mouth then closed. He didn't uttered anything.
"But you can stay here as long as you want before then." The voice produced by the dreamworld was gentle.
When enough time had passed.
Kothe found himself lying in the beds of flowers and grass. Not a dirt stick onto his attire.
He suddenly asked, "Mrs. White. I wish to return..."
The divine being clad in white gown stood quietly. The world replied in her stead.
"Aid Yesir, the young priest, and once all of you have gathered. I shall guide you in saving your wife."
Kothe frozed upon hearing this. His head turned slowly.
As the emerald light swarmed him, the air whispered one last time.
"Jean is safe."