Chapter 210 - Saintly Liars And Honest Devils (1/2)

A gloomy, overcast sky hung across the hidden capital of Citlai. It had been centuries since the city had experienced such terrible, inclement weather. Truth be told, the immense thunderstorm over Citlai was an unnatural development, even for the city's inhabitants.

The Ancient Mulians had built an artificial weather manipulation system to create and manage the hidden dimension's climate. A weather system that perfectly recreated the natural seasons that once existed across the archipelago that made up Citlai.

But the foul weather above Reed's head had not been a product of that little piece of advanced technology. No, the storm had been formed by another, more dangerous method.

It was the people of Citlai — they were the ones who had created it. Not consciously, of course. They had created the Anima storm out of the unconscious manifestation of their grief, the pain and loss they felt for losing one of their founding, guiding pillars...

She, who had once been the Noble Princess of the Sun by birthright. She, who had become Mother of the Moon and the Sea through the virtue of her motherhood.

She, who had risen to the august office of the Honorable Judge of the Scales, and later on in life, had achieved the position of High Commander of the Old Guard.

She, who had been the most ill.u.s.trious and glorious High Saintess of the Seas.

As Reed observed at the enormous gathering of people, likely the entirety of the city, he wondered why they cared so deeply about someone whom they have probably never met. This was not a new mystery to him but one he had already contemplated for years at this point.

It was the very idea that Reed had tried to eradicate years ago during the Eventide of Faith. When Reed cast out the Dreaming Council, he thought he had freed the people of Mulia.

That he had lifted the veil on the insidious nature of faith and the perils of placing one's trust and fate in people with too much power.

But contrary to Reed's expectations, after he had undone the brainwashing and had revealed the Dreaming Council's evils, the people of Mulia... had gone back to their former ways, worshipping and putting their faith in someone else instead of trying to seek their independence.

”Is it truly that difficult? To... exist without having someone to hold up their sky?” said Reed, frustrated.

Ulbo, who stood beside him, softly replied, ”It is. Very much so. The innate d.e.s.i.r.e for a transcendent being — powerful, kind, and forgiving — to protect them from harm, soothe their fears, and guide them is something deeply rooted in living beings. It is akin to a primordial instinct that predates civilization.”

”Faith is highly malleable and virtually impossible to eradicate. Much like an actual weed, it can plant itself just about anywhere — in gods, countries, people, ideas... Everything is fair game when it comes to faith.”

Ulbo gestured toward the mourning crowd and said, ”They are no different, son. Our family was the first not to realize this fact about faith, but it was the first to act and exploit these unfortunate truths for the betterment of our society.”

It was the cold truth. The royal family had been shaping history for as long as it had reigned through the use of faith.

In the early beginning, through the use of myths to create a religion that suited their agenda. And later on, after the complex civilization arose, they used the seed they planted to influence and control the world.

”We're a family of storytellers, first and foremost, my son,” said Ulbo as he observed the elaborate funeral ritual that was happening down below in the city's central plaza. ”We designed a beautiful mythos to comfort our people, and in return, they offered us their unknowing subservience.

Reed didn't want to acknowledge it, but he couldn't deny it was a practical, painless method of managing the masses. But he could not accept the deception that the plan required to make it work.

He could not stand lies and betrayals of trust, even if they were for the greater good. Not after the ordeal that he had gone through here in Citlai. If anything, it hurt how honest Ulbo was about their methods. The n.a.k.e.d admittance that they had a history of lying to their people to manipulate them was spine-chilling to him.

”How your family managed to come this far by lying is beyond my comprehension. Then again, you people have had tens— no, hundreds of thousands of years to perfect your family's craft,” said Reed as he offered a prayer of forgiveness for Shaali.

For herself and himself. He had misjudged her. Anyone born into such a rotten, detestable family is probably destined to meet a tragic end, Reed thought.

”It was a bloodless method, for the most part. After every other budding, competing religion was eradicated, we were able to unite our world as one and establish peace. Not too long after, we used our Church and its Pope to give eternal legitimacy to our family, to give us divine rights,” said Ulbo.

”You cannot even begin to imagine how much effort was required to make it work. Generations and generations of meticulous planning. Planting our family members across our ancient world, assigning them to live isolated lives in faraway continents and countries away from their homeland, family, and culture. Having them proselytize, kill, and lie for the entirety of their lives, all to expand our influence across the world. For the sake of peace.”

Reed took a deep breath. For the smallest instant, he had almost considered ripping out Ulbo's spine and strangling him with it. It was a disturbing development that he had begun to notice in himself — his changing attitude on the preciousness of life.

He knew for a fact that his sixteen-year-old self would have never imagined such a thing, much less considered taking another person's life. At least, not without serious justification.

Was his transformation the cause of this dangerous indifference, or was it something else? His extended period of detachment and isolation from the world? The betrayal of people he trusted and cared for? Or had he simply grown past what some might have called his naivety?

Whatever the case, Reed concluded that he would have to reconcile this dilemma soon. Otherwise, it would not be too long before he ended up agreeing with Ulbo's methods...

”Peace founded on a lie. You speak of the tremendous labor and difficulty it took to lie to an entire planet.  It's pathetic. A family of worms is all you are. Had your ancestors been born with backbones, they would have had the courage to unite their world with their beliefs alone, not with these lies. Nevertheless, I have to thank you, Ulbo, because I know now what not to do... lest I end up like you,” said Reed as he walked away from him and the funeral.

Good intentions are not enough to justify the sin. Ever. I understand that simple fact now. And it's genuinely sad that it took me this long to realize it. Even sadder that I had to learn the lesson from a pitiful man like Ulbo...

Unable to stand it all, Reed retreated to the one place where he knew that he would not be bothered. It was also the only place he wanted to be in the first place.

Reed sneakily popped his head into the dim room and looked around to see if anyone else was inside, but...

”You know that there's no one in here, silly,” said Lu'um, laughing, ”They're all too busy mourning and managing the funeral to be here with me.”