Chapter 51: A cult or a Fane?

Chapter 51: A cult or a Fane?

Closing the status screen, Ben stopped walking and looked at the structure before him. With a frown on his face, he said, "We have reached."

Freya too looked at the building before her, a dilapidated old church with algae sprouting on its walls. The fallen structure barely clung to its remaining pillars, seemingly on the verge of collapse. An uneasy feeling settled in her gut as she peered inside the massive structure, sensing that there was more to this place than met the eye.

"So there is the answer to your question?" She asked.

"It's just a hunch, but I think the existence of this church here is a bit off." Ben rubbed his chin, observing the peculiar energy emanating from the structure. He carefully scanned the surroundings, finding no immediate threats besides the eerie aura of the church itself.

"What's off about a crumbling church from a past city? Isn't it clear that it was the result of war that the church is broken?" Freya recalled the history she had heard about the village, unable to discern any peculiarities about the building.

"That's exactly what's off," Ben stated, unsheathing the long katana blade from his back. Assuming a defensive stance, he cautiously stepped into the structure, ready for any surprises. "The first thing that strikes me as odd is the location of this church. Why build it 700 meters outside the city?"

"If the story holds, then the ruins in the north were once part of the original city. So why would someone construct a church here under such circumstances?" Ben pondered aloud, his keen instincts prodding at the mysteries of the place. "And even if the church was built for some reason, why would invaders, especially demons, go out of their way to destroy a remote building with seemingly no strategic value?"

Freya was taken aback by Ben's observations. His words highlighted the inconsistencies in Ray's account, casting doubt on the credibility of the information they had received. She assumed a defensive stance, following Ben into the structure, her senses heightened and alert.

Inside the church, an unsettling aura enveloped the space. Unlike any place of worship Ben had seen in his previous life, this church defied the norms. The black-tiled floor that reflected his image, painting the interior in darkness. Above, on the wall, a symbol of the shining silver empire flag caught their attention—a woman riding a dragon, an emblem that stirred further intrigue and confusion.

Ben cautiously surveyed the interior of the church, seeking any anomalies or peculiarities. However, what he discovered left him astounded. The red energy he had been tracking wasn't emanating from any living beings or powerful entities; instead, it seemed to originate from the very structure of the church itself. Every wall, fallen stone, and even the tiniest pebble seemed to pulse with this enigmatic energy.

"But how is it possible? Isn't Blood Vision meant to track only living beings? Does this mean the church is alive or something?" Ben pondered silently, his face reflecting his surprise. n-/0VElb1n

[ It seems that there is more to this church than we can see from the outside... ]

"What do you mean by that?" Ben inquired mentally.

[ Your Blood Vision is designed to detect life energy emanating from any living being, essentially a skill inspired by the Reincarnation System's 'Soul Seeker' skill.]

[ The fact that your Blood Vision is revealing the presence of life energy within this structure suggests that it's a 'Fane.' ]

"Now, what the hell is a Fane?" Ben couldn't help but voice his frustration, catching Freya's attention.

"Are you... talking to me?" she asked, slightly bewildered, but Ben was too absorbed in his conversation with the system to respond immediately.

"No, no, I'm just talking to myself. Give me a moment, okay?" Ben replied, mentally berating himself for the slip-up.

"Hey, system, what is a Fane?" He queried internally this time, making sure not to speak aloud and appear odd to Freya.

[ Ben, I'm afraid you're not ready to know the answer yet. Just understand that there's a small chance that a highly valuable treasure may be stored in this building. ]

"Invaluable treasure, you say? Is that the reason why there are so many people after it?" Ben pondered, his hand stroking his chin. If the system's theory held true, his hunch had hit the mark, increasing the likelihood that the system's supposition was correct.

"So, how do I confirm that your suspicion is correct?" Ben's expression grew resolute.

[ For a simplified understanding, a Fane is somewhat akin to a cult. And for a cult to exist, there must be a group of followers, regular ones at that. ]

"So, you're saying that there must be people directly or indirectly associated with this place. I just need to confirm their presence, and that will validate our suspicion," Ben concluded, his eyes gleaming with newfound insight.

"It appears you're right, System. We just have to wait until nightfall," Ben stated, not allowing the system to respond as if he had unravelled something profoundly valuable.

[ Exercise caution, Ben. ]

"Let's go. We've found our clue," Ben said with a satisfied smile, sheathing his katana, and making his way out of the dilapidated Fane.

"So, have you found your answers? What was strange about that church?" Freya inquired, catching up with hurried steps.

"Not exactly, but I now know when I'll find the answers," Ben replied, casting a glance at the sunlight. Since becoming a vampire, the daylight held a different, less comforting allure.

"So, what's the plan for now?" Freya asked, somewhat bewildered. Every time she posed a question, Ben seemed to plunge her deeper into mysteries without resolving the previous ones.

In response, Ben turned to face Freya, sporting a broad grin on his face. "For now, we're going hunting."

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Yo guys,, happy reading out there.

Just wanted to introduce new events:

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