Chapter 138: Kalosia’s Holy Land (8)

The training ground was covered in a thick layer of dust, hinting it was long abandoned and hadn’t been used in quite some time. At this neglected arena stood Ketal and Rakuza, preparing themselves for a friendly spar. “Let’s start lightly and gradually adjust our strength as we fight,” Ketal suggested. “Understood.” Rakuza nodded earnestly. At their level, precisely controlling their strength mid-combat was second nature. There was no concern over accidental injuries or unexpected incidents. “I will make the first move,” Rakuza announced, calmly drawing his sword and whispering softly to himself. “O divine one, grant me your mighty strength.” As soon as he spoke, a resonant hum echoed through the air, and a brilliant golden glow appeared. It quickly enveloped his blade before swiftly spreading to cover Rakuza’s entire body. “Impressive,” Ketal remarked admiringly, captivated by the radiant golden aura softly encasing Rakuza’s figure. I wonder if I could manage something like that, Ketal thought wistfully, licking his lips with envy. He was happy that he had obtained the power of Myst, but he still couldn’t properly utilize it, leaving him frustrated by his inability to do more with it. It would be nice if I could master it a bit better. Ketal sighed inwardly. Reacting calmly, he grasped the axe at his waist and swung it upward. With a piercing clang, the sword was deflected, forcing Rakuza momentarily off balance from the unexpected resistance. “Ugh!” Rakuza exclaimed, swiftly regaining composure and spinning around to push Ketal back with his shoulder. However, Ketal effortlessly extended one hand, grabbing Rakuza’s shoulder and gently shoving him backward. Stumbling several steps, Rakuza regained his footing, his face filled with shock as he tightened his grip around the sword’s hilt and immediately charged again. As Rakuza continued his barrage of swift attacks, Ketal calmly blocked them without exerting much effort. He’s undoubtedly strong, Ketal noted silently, genuinely impressed. It was difficult to compare precisely, but Rakuza seemed slightly stronger than Maximus. At the same time, Rakuza was utterly astonished by Ketal’s overwhelming strength. How can this be? Rakuza thought incredulously. Although it was just sparring and not a true battle, Rakuza wasn’t taking it lightly. He was sincerely attacking Ketal, yet Ketal effortlessly deflected every strike with casual swings of his axe. Even though it was clear Ketal was barely exerting himself, Rakuza saw no openings to break through his defense. With a sharp metallic sound ringing through the air, Rakuza was pushed back once again. Quickly adjusting his stance, he surged forward, thrusting his sword encased in golden light directly at Ketal’s chest. However, instead of swinging his axe, Ketal simply reached out with one hand. He effortlessly caught Rakuza’s golden sword, gripping it firmly. Sparks burst violently from where Ketal’s bare hand met the blade, yet not even the smallest scratch appeared in his palm. “What?!” Rakuza’s eyes widened in shock. The divine power within his sword flared fiercely, yet Ketal’s hand remained untouched. Then, Ketal lightly tightened his grip, causing Rakuza’s fist to slide backward, dragging him several steps away. Dumbfounded and speechless, Rakuza stared at Ketal with an expression of utter disbelief. “Ketal...?” he stammered. “Let’s stop here for today,” Ketal calmly replied, shaking his hand lightly as if brushing off dust. *** Divine power isn’t that different after all, Ketal thought. He had anticipated something special, but it appeared the fundamentals resembled handling Aura. “You’re truly remarkable,” Rakuza said with genuine admiration, having finally regained his composure. He gazed curiously at Ketal and asked, “How exactly do you control your Myst so perfectly that your body stays unharmed?” “Hm?” Ketal tilted his head slightly, puzzled. “Does it seem that way?” “Yes,” Rakuza replied, nodding confidently. “Isn’t that your secret?” Ketal had just casually grabbed and pushed away a sword enveloped in divine energy with his bare hand. Yet, not a single scratch could be found on him. It was impossible unless Ketal had absolute mastery over Myst. Rakuza firmly believed that Ketal had reached the pinnacle of control over Myst. “I’m truly curious how you manage to achieve such perfect control,” Rakuza continued, sounding intrigued. On the surface, Ketal’s Myst appeared mediocre at best, suggesting that the perfection came entirely from exceptional control. Satisfied with his conclusion, Rakuza gave Ketal a respectful nod. “Is that so?” Ketal chose not to refute it. If Rakuza felt satisfied with that explanation, then he wasn’t going to spoil it. With their sparring concluded, it was time to rest. After a brief pause, Ketal spoke up. “I have a question. May I ask?” “Feel free to ask anything,” Rakuza replied readily. “What exactly is divine power?” Rakuza momentarily hesitated, caught off guard by such a fundamental inquiry. “You’re asking about its very essence, aren’t you?” “Yes. I’m curious.” Divine power was the strength bestowed by a god. It inherently granted absolute advantage against evil. Ketal wanted to know what determined who received such power and how it was controlled. Rakuza took a brief moment to gather his thoughts before he began his explanation. “Divine power is strength granted by the great deity to those who serve faithfully. Anyone who fulfills certain qualifications can receive it.” “What kind of qualifications?” Ketal asked him. “Faith and strength.” “Strength is necessary as well?” “Yes.” Rakuza nodded firmly. “Even if someone has unwavering faith, the amount of divine power granted is limited by their capability. Faith alone isn’t sufficient for receiving abundant divine energy.” “I see,” Ketal said thoughtfully. Thus, to be granted divine power, one required both deep faith in the deity and sufficient personal strength to handle it. Essentially, a Transcendent individual would receive divine power corresponding to their strength, and similarly for those at lesser levels. “What exactly can divine power do?” Ketal continued, growing more interested. “You can enhance your body and weapons, heal wounds, and even offer prayers to form holy restrictions or oaths,” Rakuza explained clearly. “So, it’s remarkably versatile.” “Of course. It is a gift bestowed by the great one,” Rakuza replied reverently. “The deity watches over and guides the world. Most earthly powers are merely inferior versions of divine energy.” Ketal regarded Rakuza for a moment before asking another question. “One more thing—do followers of your church also possess holy scripture?” “Yes, we do,” Rakuza confirmed with a nod. “If that’s the case, why haven’t you used it?” Ketal vividly recalled Aquaz, the inquisitor of the Sun God, gaining immense power when using the scripture against Ahsetiaar. Yet, throughout the invasion, Rakuza had never once employed their scripture. Considering Rakuza’s exceptional strength, Ketal assumed that utilizing the scripture would have secured a much easier victory. He couldn’t imagine a holy knight of Rakuza’s caliber lacking the qualification to use it. Rakuza’s expression briefly faltered, and after a moment’s hesitation, he exhaled deeply before replying. “Ketal, our order is exceptionally weak. Do you know why we are not respected by other religious orders?” “Because you lack strong individuals?” Ketal suggested. “No. That’s not the only reason,” Rakuza said bitterly. “It’s because our order has never been acknowledged by our deity.” At present, no one within Kalosia’s religious order, except for the Saintess herself, could read the holy scripture. Rakuza was no exception. Ketal’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “You need your deity’s permission to read the scripture?” “Yes,” Rakuza explained solemnly. “The scripture documents our god’s divine journey. To wield its power, explicit permission from the deity is required.” The scripture’s power was distinct from ordinary divine energy. Even a low-ranking priest could read the scripture if the deity acknowledged them. Hence, having numerous individuals able to read the scripture indicated a deity’s recognition and was a source of pride among religious orders. Yet, despite their desperate situation, Kalosia’s order had only one individual capable of reading the scripture: their Saintess. They were, in essence, an order unrecognized by their own god. That was the bitter reputation Kalosia had earned. Rakuza was an elite, Transcendent holy knight whose strength ranked among the highest across the continent. But in the end, even he remained nothing more than a priest denied access to the scripture—an unrecognized follower of the deity. “It’s all due to our shortcomings,” Rakuza murmured softly, closing his eyes. “We are suffering the consequences of having once sullied the deity’s name.” In the past, Kalosia’s order had committed countless atrocities. Though they had since changed their ways, they believed they were still paying the price for their past sins. “This invasion is our final trial,” Rakuza continued earnestly. “If we overcome it, we will finally gain our deity’s acknowledgement.” He bowed his head, deeply immersed in prayer. The sight of a devoted believer’s heartfelt faith was undoubtedly beautiful. “I see,” Ketal responded vaguely, maintaining an indifferent expression. After a brief pause, he casually added, “I hope you earn that recognition.” *** The invasions continued relentlessly, but each attack ended the same way—with the dark mages driven off without achieving anything. Casualties among the defenders had noticeably decreased, and the atmosphere within the holy land grew brighter by the day. Then, one piece of good news arrived. Rakuza announced with a joyful expression, “We’ve finally found a merchant group willing to sell us supplies!” Until now, their isolation had left them surrounded by enemies. Even when they offered exorbitant prices, no merchants had dared to approach. Yet now, at least, a merchant had agreed to trade with them. However, Ketal reacted with a dubious expression. “This feels too easy. Something seems off.” “Excuse me?” “Never mind. It’s good news anyway,” Ketal said. “It truly is,” Rakuza continued enthusiastically. “I will be leaving for a short while to escort the merchant group. Ketal, I will leave things in your capable hands during my absence.” “Understood,” Ketal replied with a brief nod. After Rakuza departed from the holy land, Ketal strolled through the area, observing the lively mood among the inhabitants. Their faces shone brightly with optimism. “We’ve done it!” “We’ve repelled the evil forces!” They were already confident of their victory. Not only had they successfully defended against every invasion attempt, but now they would even secure critical supplies. It was reasonable for them to believe that victory was assured. However, Ketal’s expression remained unchanged, a quiet seriousness lingering in his eyes. Continuing his slow walk, he eventually stopped in front of the large church. After staring briefly at its towering structure, he entered the building. The interior of the church was empty, as it wasn’t yet time for prayers. Inside, Ketal stood quietly, gazing upward at the large statue of Kalosia located at the center of the hall. Suddenly, a soft voice echoed from behind him. “What brings you to the church today?” At the entrance stood Shadranes, the Saintess of Kalosia, wearing her usual gentle smile. It was a perfect, picture-like expression, though her inner thoughts were far from tranquil. Oh my goodness! she screamed inwardly. She had come to offer a prayer, expecting the church to be empty, only to find the barbarian unexpectedly standing inside. It took all her self-control to suppress a startled cry. However, her distress remained perfectly hidden beneath a serene exterior. “I just dropped by for a moment,” Ketal replied plainly. “I see. You’re welcome to rest here if you wish,” Shadranes said gently, maintaining her smile as she gracefully took her seat. Ketal continued to observe the statue thoughtfully before speaking again. “I have one question. It might be quite rude. Is that okay?” “Of course. Please ask whatever you wish,” Shadranes answered politely. “You and your people were on the verge of annihilation.” Ketal began bluntly. Indeed, had Ketal not intervened, they might very well have been destroyed by now. “Yet the one you worship—the God of Lies and Deception—has shown no sign of intervening at all. What do you think about that?” Shadranes calmly responded without hesitation, “It is our divine trial.” She continued with a composed voice. “This challenge was sent by our deity to test whether we truly deserve recognition. If we overcome this final ordeal, we will finally regain our deity’s approval.” “Is that so,” Ketal said, nodding briefly. Then he turned to leave, much to Shadranes’s quiet relief. However, at the very moment she thought she could relax, Ketal suddenly paused again. “Ah, I have one final question. This one is unrelated to the previous one.” “Please, feel free,” she replied calmly, masking her growing anxiety. Ketal smiled faintly, looking directly into Shadranes’s eyes. “Is your face... a mask?” “Excuse me?” Shadranes tilted her head slightly, feigning confusion. “I don’t quite understand what you mean.” Her expression was impeccably innocent, appearing genuinely bewildered. Any ordinary person observing her reaction would have simply accepted it and moved on, convinced she was truly clueless. However, Ketal noticed—he saw clearly—that for the briefest fraction of a second, her expression trembled ever so slightly. With that small revelation, Ketal’s face brightened into a satisfied smile. “Never mind. Thank you. You’ve answered my question perfectly,” Ketal concluded, turning around and leisurely exiting the church. They had told him the story repeatedly: long ago, Kalosia’s followers had defiled their deity’s name through acts of deception and lies. Though they had since reformed themselves, they were still being punished for those past sins. They believed this punishment was why their god withheld recognition, forbidding them from accessing the holy scripture. Thus, to regain their god’s favor, they strived to be kinder, more sincere, and exemplary followers. However, Ketal’s perspective was entirely different. He wasn’t bound to this world’s morality or its conventional views. He was an outsider, unrestricted by local perceptions. He wondered why the God of Lies and Deception would ever be disappointed in followers who lived according to their very domain. Ketal raised his gaze toward the sky, sensing a presence watching from above. It was undoubtedly Kalosia, a gaze that had never once strayed away from him. “I don’t know exactly what you’re expecting of me,” Ketal murmured quietly, “but I will just move as I please.” With that, Ketal slowly began to walk away.