CH 453

“Lady Renystar, this way.”

Chita takes me deeper inside the cathedral, to an area inside a semi-basement.

We go down the stairs, and the first thing that catches my eye is the ornaments that use a lot of colored cloths, and don’t really feel like they belong in a church. There are lots of them, sometimes more than one in the same place, all over the room.

In the gaps between the cloths I can see what looks like carvings of rose vines in stone. I can’t see very clearly, but they’re carved like they’re creeping all over the room.

This room feels kind of mystical, with the faint light coming from the walls. It doesn’t really feel solemn, it’s more like it gives off a strange feeling of nostalgia.

And in the center of this room, in a particularly dimly lit place, Taula is kneeling and praying with all her heart.

“Ah.”

Hilda is here too, and she turns my way when she hears the small gasp that escapes from my mouth.

She looks relieved when she sees me, but her eyes get clouded with disappointment again once she sees my expression.

I rush over to her without even thinking, and hug her tightly.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Reny. So your parents…”

“Yes, they weren’t there. We don’t have any clues either. I’m sorry. The 『Vines of Mercy』 of the church are investigating, but apparently they didn’t leave the capital through any normal means.”

“I see… You’re worried about them, aren’t you? Don’t apologize, Reny. Oh, what about Roa? You should tell her, and maybe she can help…”

Hilda and I talk quietly, and suddenly Chita appears near us without a sound.

“Marshal Forth was apparently called to the front on short notice. I was told of this by a 『vine』 that just returned from the royal castle.”

“Ah, Miss Chita. I see… Thank you very much. You were trying to inform Roa, right?”

“Yes. I see you have knowledge of military arts, but you are still a young lady.”

“Yes, I know. I have proven myself with this spear, but your decision makes sense.”

Hilda seems confused by our back and forth.

“Reny, what does that mean?”

“My mother’s clan sort of treats people like adults when they master a martial art. Miss Chita is acting in accordance with that.”

I answer Hilda’s question, and Chita raises her hand.

“Lady Renystar and Lady Hilda, it is almost time.”

Hilda and I immediately stop talking.

“The great oracle rite will start soon.”

And as if prompted by Chita’s words, four sisters appear around us from behind the cloth.

All of them are holding something.

One is holding metal tweezers about the length of a person’s arm.

One is holding a jet black cloth.

One is holding a glass jar.

One is holding a crimson spear.

Are all those magic items? I can see magic elements flowing.

As I think about that, the four sisters stand around Her Eminence Taula. And then, suddenly, they start moving like they’re dancing.

It’s wonderful. It’s very obvious to me that they’ve trained a lot to move like that.

Are they interpreting some sort of story?

I think Chita knows Hilda and I are confused, because she quietly tells us what it is.

“They are extolling the creation of this world.”

They all dance individually, but then they come together. The magic elements in their magic items burst out of them and start to become intertwined, before gathering in Taula. And then, the sisters vanish behind the cloths again.

“It is finally time.”

Says Chita with a pious voice.

That prompts me to face forward again, and I see Taula enveloped in a sublime divine atmosphere.

She gets up and comes this way, almost like she’s sliding. Chita kneels and starts praying to her. There’s a reverence about her that’s like she’s facing god directly.

Hilda and I look at each other, but don’t move from where we’re standing.

But Hilda then grabs my hand tightly, so I gently grab her’s back.

Taula is standing right in front of us. I can’t even look at her directly, because that overflowing divine presence is too bright.

And then, something uses Taula to speak to us.

『Beloved child.』 『Destined child.』 『 Precious child.』

It’s Taula’s voice, but it’s clearly another being speaking. And it feels like this being is talking to me, Hilda, and Chita.

『I must apologize to you.』

Taula’s face is filled with affection, as that being apologizes for some reason.

『A task stretching to the end of infinity has not been completed.』 『Remnants of Araysla hiding in the flow of time.』 『My vines did not capture them, and they went back in time, reaching now.』

The being in Taula’s body takes my hand.

『Beloved child.』 『Take the destined child and the precious child with you.』 『You must not be alone.』 『Head west, towards the origin of your blood…』

Taula’s hands, that are holding mine, suddenly lose their strength.

Chita gets up quickly and catches Taula as she’s falling.

“You went too far… And kept god in your body for too long. You know better than anyone how much of a burden a being that stretches through time puts on your body.”

Chita whispers to Taula, with a worried tone.

Taula is sleeping in her arms, and that divine presence is completely gone from her body by now.