Simon calmly examined Genesis, which gleamed before him. Beside Simon stood Urien, and next to Urien were George and Emily.
Emily had slight dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was more disheveled than usual. Even from a hundred meters away, it was clear how depressed she was.
In contrast, George was the opposite of Emily. He looked happier and more optimistic than ever. His hair and beard were tidier, and he exuded a general aura of positivity.
Despite being siblings, Simon thought they appeared quite different. Even though Frank's disappearance had affected them both, their reactions were distinct.
"Are you claiming that this book came from God?" Emily asked calmly, with both doubt and curiosity in her voice.
Simon nodded, his eyes still fixed on the book. "Yes, when I woke up this morning, it was just sitting on my desk. It was as if it was placed there specifically to catch my attention."
"Well, still," George interrupted, just as curious as the others. "We can't say anything until we see what's inside."
Agreeing with the idea, Simon picked up the holy book and handed it to George. "Here, take a look. Read it to us and explain."
George took Genesis and carefully held the sacred book. He gently stroked its cover, pausing for a moment, mesmerized by the intricate designs on it.
Then he opened the first page. The first thing he saw was verses framed inside a square border. The words "The Beginning of Creation" written in golden letters stood out.
"This book is written in the Albion language," George said. The Albion language was one that everyone on the continent knew to some degree. It was commonly spoken in the Holy Mary Kingdom and the western parts of the Albion continent.
"The first pages speak of creation and the greatness of God."
George spent some time flipping through the pages. Then, eager to quell everyone's curiosity, he began to read aloud. "The Almighty commanded the beginning of creation."
It was like a classic religious text. God was creating the universe, galaxies, solar systems, and stars.
George calmly continued. Everyone listened to him attentively. "Darkness was drawn away by His will; the heavens split, the seas revealed themselves and broke the silence."
"Light?" Urien asked curiously. George paused and smiled at him. "Yes, who would have thought that the Dark God used light to create the universe?"
Urien smiled and nodded. "Indeed."
"I, the creator of all things, brought forth the first being born from the void," he read. Everyone listened as if they were hearing a tale. Urien's eyes gleamed, and he cast a devout look.
Emily, still skeptical, was reevaluating her views on the Dark God as she remembered the angel army. After all, it was the army of the supposedly merciful Goddess that had killed Emily's grandfather.
If even the Light Goddess was a wicked whore, maybe the Dark God was the good one? Emily's thoughts were interrupted by George's voice as he continued reading.
She shifted her focus back to George. He coughed and cleared his throat before continuing. "The light was but a fleeting moment; then darkness returned to reign over the universe."
"So, was the entire universe white for just a moment?" Simon asked curiously. George, sharing Simon's surprise, replied, "Maybe just for a second?"
"Perhaps."
"As the stars shone in gratitude for His presence, and lightning flashed across the skies at His command, the great Mount Olympus bowed to His power." While reading, George was awestruck by the might of the God described. He could feel the sweat on his back.
Urien examined Genesis, trying to figure out why it hadn't worked. Then suddenly, his eyes lit up with realization. "Simon, do you know that this verse is about creating something from nothing? If my theory is right but the verse's power surpasses you, then it means we're doing it wrong."
"What we need to do is read the correct verse, one that matches our capacity," Urien smiled excitedly, pointing to a verse. "He created a world from his own might; lightning and storms came from his hands. Water, magma revealed themselves because the Supreme One willed it."
"This verse includes Earth, Lightning, Wind, Water, and Magma. If someone skilled enough reads this verse, they could use Earth magic."
"But how would the followers of the God of Darkness be able to wield magic from another god's domain?" George asked curiously. Emily quickly replied, "The domains of the gods are separate from magic itself. Magic existed even before the gods. In short, no god has absolute control over magic."
"However, as followers of the God of Darkness, we can probably use Dark Magic more easily," Urien added. Emily nodded in agreement. "You're probably right. The gods don't have control over magic and spells, but they can help humans become better at it."
"Let's try again," Simon suggested, handing Genesis back to Urien. "You're the one who came up with this theory, so you should be the one to try."
"As you wish." Urien took Genesis and opened it. Then, awkwardly, he began channeling his Mana. He activated his energy, lifted his hand slightly, and focused his Mana.
"As the stars shine in gratitude for His presence, lightning strikes in the heavens by His command, and mighty Mount Olympus bows to His power."
To everyone's surprise, purple lightning flashed in Urien's hand. As the lightning filled the room with noise, Urien's eyes widened with excitement.
"It worked!"
"Urien, don't lose focus!"
Hearing Simon's warning, Urien quickly stopped injecting Mana into the spell. Then, he smiled. "Don't worry, I cut the Mana."
"No, you idiot!" Emily shouted angrily. Urien looked at his hand, where the lightning was still flickering. "What's happening?!"
As the lightning grew stronger, it suddenly vanished as if nothing had happened. Urien collapsed to the ground, his heart pounding and lungs gasping for air.
"What just happened?"
As everyone calmed down, Urien asked, but no one could answer. Finally, Simon hesitantly spoke, "Let's not do this again for a while. At least not until we fully understand it."
Urien nodded tiredly. As his hands stopped trembling, he noticed parts of the room were in disarray and the window was cracked. He sighed.
---
"{Connection with Urien's Mana severed}"
As a notification popped up on Jack's monitor, he was curious and pleased. The Holy Book Genesis really did work.
It allowed believers to access a god's Mana through a magical connection between the believer and the god. Jack was initially surprised, but now he was happy.
"So this is how the Goddess of Light enabled her followers to use Light Magic," Jack grinned. The Goddess of Light must really be obsessed with Light, as she only allowed her followers to use Light Magic.
Unlike the Goddess of Light, Jack was able to enable his followers to use Lightning, Illusion, and even Dark attributes.
This pleased Jack, so much so that he lit a victory cigarette and continued watching his followers from the monitor.