80 Fourth Heaven (1/2)
”Odd… I haven't heard a single complaint from you since we left. Something wrong?”
”Mm… I just want to get this over with as soon as possible. That's all.”
Something had happened to him and the damn wretch won't tell me what happened even though she was there. He's gone quiet on the inside, too. No doubt keeping his thoughts away from me…
Lu'um observed the brooding, silent figure beside her and wondered what he had heard from the old man… What could have caused such a change? She did not know but it seemed like whatever the old man had said to him had taken hold in him…
Reed looked out of the hovercraft and saw shifting, emerald landscapes blur into one another as they sped along towards the Holy Church's city-state, Fourth Heaven.
It was the original location where the Holy Church had been formed after the devastating Great Barrier War that had consumed the entire Northern section of the continent. Formed several millennia ago, this organization even predated the formation of the Four Empires…
Located in the center of the continent, Fourth Heaven served and followed the will of the enigmatic, divine figure known as the Goddess.
For the acolytes of the modern-day, she was a figment of myth and known only through ancient, fragmented texts of unclear origin.
But to the oldest of the clergy, she was as real could be. They were not like their young, skeptical children. No — they had seen Her themselves.
Before the Great Barrier existed — when the Infestation had broken into Heaven. An era that only a handful still remembered these days...
Reed shut his eyes and said, ”Wake me when we get there. I'm going to get some shuteye while I can…”
”Sweet dreams, Ka'an…”
I wish they were. I really do. But I think we both know that they're…
He slowly stopped thinking, let his mind wander and eventually, his fatigue got the best of him. A black, slumbering veil shrouded him and Reed fell asleep…
Lu'um wondered what she'd find if she looked into his mind right now, but knew her attempt would likely be blocked by the wretch. She had become strangely defensive of him ever since that day.
”What did he hear? Tell me.”
”He heard something he needed to hear from the old fellow.”
”I don't understand.”
”You don't have to. Know that it was a good thing for him and be patient. Give him some time to process what he has learned.”
”Patient? Me? Did I hear you tell me to be patient?!”
”You're not the only one, you know. I— We have all been—”
Reed suddenly grumbled and shifted his posture in discomfort. He curled up a little bit and then returned to his slumber.
Lacrima and Lu'um held themselves in place as they observed Reed cautiously and waited for what seemed like an eternity until they felt like it was safe for them to talk again.
”So be it. Another time, then...”
Eventually, they reached their destination after a couple of hours. In the distance, a large city could be seen glowing under the radiant shine of a massive cathedral. A dome made of golden Anima covered the city as a shield that protected the Holy Church's domain and allowed only those that they permitted.
As a result, the Holy Church remained isolated from the rest of the world. For the devoted, the Fourth Heaven was a sacred place that could not be allowed to be tainted by the nonsense of the Four Empires.
They would not allow others into their home and in return, they would not interfere with whatever happened outside.
An unspoken pact had also been made between the Four Empires and the Holy Church. That they could spread their gospel across their empires so as long as they kept their conquerors in their domain where they would remain.
Keep their old monsters sealed, they would be allowed to perform their so-called divine work for their Goddess…
In such a manner, the Holy Church had established their millennia-long neutrality.
Reed let out a long yawn and wearily rubbed his eyes when he got out of the hovercraft. He looked around and recoiled when he saw thousands of people staring at him in silence and respect.
Hundreds of soldiers in neat rows and formed an impressive wall of flesh and polished steel as they stood guard in front of Reed's hovercraft.