Chapter 27: Becoming a Fire Keeper?

Anyone willing to give up their rest to talk nonsense with her—Maria took that as a good sign. At the agreed time, Sister Maria entered the chapel. As usual, she stepped lightly through the doors just as the gray-haired Archbishop finished his prayers to the gods. From the less-than-pleasant look on his face, Maria guessed the Sun Gods still hadn't deigned to respond to their faithful. In both the beta and full release, no one ever found out why the Sun Gods vanished so suddenly. The most accepted theory on the old forums was that they had poured their power into the First Flame, shielding the world from the gaze of the [Elder Gods] of Chaos. Lost in thought, Maria performed a proper general blessing. "Praise the Sun, Your Excellency." "Mmm... Sister, help this old man up, would you?" Slumped in his chair, Archbishop Mark looked half-dead. If Maria hadn’t known he was a [Gold]-tier Chosen, she might’ve actually believed that performance. Helping an old man? Something about the act stirred blurry memories, and a subtle expression flickered across Maria’s lovely face. She followed his request and helped him stand. Even through his voluminous robes, she could feel the lean strength of his wiry muscles. A true priest of the Sun—able to bless himself with a few miracles and charge into the fray swinging his staff like a battleaxe. The Archbishop squinted and smiled, clearly enjoying the attention. He didn’t immediately explain why he’d summoned her during such valuable downtime. From the way his eyes glimmered under their narrowed lids, Maria caught an unusual hesitation. "Sister, I seek clarity." "Please, ask away." Maria tilted her head respectfully, her noble bearing effortlessly surfacing—an aura that silently told anyone that she was not someone to be pushed around. The only way to deal with someone like her was with mutual respect. "Is it true that only those who understand darkness can truly cherish the light?" ‘Uhh... that’s a loaded question.’ She quickly organized her thoughts and decided to go full prophet-mode. Her expression turned serene, her smile faint and cryptic. Even the air seemed warmer, infused with the grace of her presence. "Devout faith will guide you through doubt." "Exactly!" the Archbishop suddenly slapped his armrest, eyes wide. "...???" That worked too well. Maria had expected a shrewd old fox like Mark to be harder to sway, but apparently, holy platitudes were surprisingly persuasive to priests. She might’ve just discovered a cheat code for dealing with the devout. The old man straightened up with surprising vigor, his gaze burning with purpose. "Sister, have you heard of the [Fire Keeper]?" [Fire Keeper]. In version 1.0 of the full release, midway through the [Embers of Ash] arc, the [Radiant Church] introduced this special class for female players and NPCs. Their duty was to guide the Flamebearers in their journey to rekindle the First Flame. No female player ever met the class conditions. According to forum lore experts, the class only reached full potential after the First Flame waned. Even unawakened, it was said a Fire Keeper could break a [Lord of Cinders]'s legs and drag them back to their throne. Why bring this up now? Did he want her to oversee some Flamebearer? Maria didn’t respond right away, which the Archbishop took as ignorance. "It’s natural you haven’t heard of it. The last Flamebearer journey was many years ago... A [Fire Keeper] is a sacred role—guiding the bearer of the flame. The gods remain silent. I wonder if it relates to the First Flame." And you’d be right... "The nun I see before me—she is strong, kind, unwavering in her faith. Noble and beautiful, a figure to aspire to. Miss Maria, do you think such a woman could become a [Fire Keeper]?" [Fire Keeper]? More like [Arsonist]! Rekindling the flame was a dead-end path. Maria had no intention of sacrificing herself to keep the fire going. Seducing some Flamebearer into snuffing it out? That was more her style—except she’d already retired from the catfishing business. "I’m afraid I may not be suitable." With perfect subtlety, she dodged the Archbishop’s eager gaze. She’d already been preordained as a hidden 3.0 boss, tightly bound to a certain doll-like companion. She wasn’t interested in a new crowd of fanboys calling her waifu. It was a gentle refusal—but one that brooked no debate. The Archbishop stroked his beard, clearly disappointed. "Mmm... if the sister is unwilling, then so be it." His enthusiasm visibly cooled. Clearly, his pitch had included more than just theology. He’d hoped to leverage Maria’s wisdom and charisma for some hidden agenda involving the First Flame. But the Fire Keeper role was one of persuasion—almost like whispering sweet nothings into a would-be hero’s ear. Forcing the issue could ruin everything. So they wandered the cathedral, chatting about nothing of importance until he finally let her go. ‘Just escaped one whirlpool, and I’m already stepping into another.’ A wistful sadness touched Maria’s brow, delicate and fleeting like a pure white blossom blooming in the gloom. She looked up at the blue sky above the chapel. This place—this city—was the eye of a storm invisible to the naked eye. Staying uninvolved was no longer an option. Before she even reached her room, someone intercepted her. "Sister Maria!" "Hello, acolyte." "A letter for you." The young acolyte handed it over with a shy smile before jogging away. The wax seal bore the mark of the chapel in Sette Town. That meant it was from her adoptive father, Pastor Lynn. And based on the timing, his reply was right on schedule.