Chapter 145: Missionary Work

A Detective from MSSH came to the scene, due to the police suspecting this was the work of a Pathstrider.

His name is William, a Fourth Step Pathstrider of Truth and Revelation, did indeed find traces of a Pathstrider... And it doesn't look good.

Being one of the field agents, he isn't affected by the creation of the Church of Progress. Still doing his job... but this may be too much for him—

In an instant, he realized he wasn't in reality anymore. He immediately pulled out his gun, aiming at the end of the train.

Then reality broke; the train shattered like glass and brought him to another world... it was a lush green garden; the only thing jarring about this place was the black thorns wrapping around the flora and architecture.

And in front of him was something he knew he could not beat through Truth and Revelation. An actual god...

The Faceless Twilight, he had just received the news an hour ago, the same announcement by the Temple of Fire. About a new God of Justice, who delivers justice for those who cannot deliver it.

"Quite the situation you found yourself in, huh.", she mumbled, "Having to find justice for someone who performed so much injustice."

William gulped to steady himself, taking a step back, "O Ancient One, forgive me, but it is my job to bring light upon a man's death."

If what the Temple of Fire said was right, then this god is an unstable variable. Someone who pursues and offer other a hand to pursue justice without consequences. Can he offer a reasonable explanation for a murder committed by a god?

"I will file a report that it was your work...", he spoke cautiously, "As for the looter..."

Lea understood his plight, being the one who caused the mess. But she doesn't want to ruin her image.

And hey, she got some new tricks after eating Hensu's memories. A black bird made of Cursed Constructs landed on her outstretched hand.

"A thief stealing from evil, as long as that one continues, they will cross paths with me.", she spoke wishfully, "So out you go."

With a light flick of her finger, sending the bird flying. All William could see was endless darkness...

But he sensed that he was back in the real world, and indeed so as the darkness rolled back.

=0=0=

"Praise be to the Lady White, Entelechy of Light!!"

The workers shouted as they pulled strips of metal from the rolling forge, redirecting them toward a giant spinning cylinder.

In just two days, five factories were operational. The power plant generated energy never seen before. The entirety of Anle wore a new form overnight.

With the upgrades from the Steel Titans, the city was brighter than the stars in the sky. The power of technology, and the drives that fuel it. The Hope it brings for a safer future. When the might of men can stand up against the endless trials of the world. The Ambition it brought for those with talent and drive. To test their strength and mind, encroaching upon the territory of nature.

That is the essence of humanity, of life.

Standing on the walls of Camelot, parked right outside of the city, Charlotte stared at the night sky. A sky that was once filled with stars, shining so bright they cast their shadows upon the world.

But now, those lights had dimmed; the galaxy that was once like a rift in the sky had vanished.

"Starless World is my philosophy."

She was talking to Jim, who was feeling better despite his nutrients being in the negative before. Such is the wonder of advancement. It is quite refreshing to see his face, being only 22 years old, retaining its youthful appearance.

Though his black hair now has streaks of white in it, from racing in the darkness beyond light. His heterochromatic eyes are now brighter, shining their black and yellow light.

"How do you feel about Earth's patient gown?", Charlotte asked, her gaze directed at him.

"It's... very comfortable.", he said awkwardly, avoiding Charlotte's gaze. She was beautiful in an uncanny sense, so he turned to the city, "What are you doing?"

"Fulfilling Dawn's request.", she shrugged, "I am the Chalk Princess, so I am merely offering my grace to this world. And she handed me the future of this world to me."

"So, as someone from a world where malice and madness are the drive, I will give this world the power to defend itself.", she held her hands to the stars, "And for a Starless World without light from the void above us all."

Jim leaned against the railing, staring long and hard.

"What is your relationship with Sinclair? I think it is time you tell me the truth, the full truth.", he bravely asked.

Witnessing the comprehensible form of Motion, he realized how weak and insignificant he was in the grand scheme of the universe. But that didn't make him fall into despair; no, it gave him a new sense of courage.

"She is me.", Charlotte spoke simply.

"What...?", Jim gasped.

What does that mean...?

"Sinclair is a version of me who broke time, traveled to the past, and rewrote history. For why she isn't deleted by Time itself...", Charlotte clicked her tongue, "It got me with my consent as its Chosen One, although I guess Time already saw it."

"And somehow, she got off the hook. Though she cannot time travel anymore, with the Warden of Time standing where she would enter at all times."

Jim felt pain in his head, not the pain of Mystery's influence, but from just trying to wrap his head around it...

"But as for what she became, I don't care enough to ask.", Charlotte shrugged again.

"So um... why are you here? You aren't just standing around and talking to yourself, right?", Jim switched the subject.

She chuckled, "Heh, I do love hearing my voice. It is a nice voice, after all. But no, I'm not standing around doing nothing."

Her gaze turned back, looking toward the Western Sea, where she could see an ever-growing pillar of ice.

"I am waiting for someone.", her smile deepened, "I am waiting for that person to ask me for help."

Jim turned to the direction Charlotte was looking at, but he saw nothing.

"Oh, and here.", Charlotte threw to him a piece of paper, "It will help you once you are ready."

He opened the paper... and his eyes widened.

=0=0=

Lea got off the train without a hitch; she had used the time she put the Detective in the Dream World to sneak out.

"What should I have for breakfast?", she asked herself.

Since she couldn't locate Mark, she had to go on her own. Or... she could head to the temple for a free meal.

Galfan looked not so modern, which house sparse and narrow roads. Quite different from cities like Rohuang or Ein, but the air felt fresher with the lack of factories. Not that Lea needed to breathe. With her briefcase, she looked up to see where the churches are... she could see four. One bearing the divine symbol of the Three Rings, one bearing the Blood God, the Goddess of Madness... and the one she needed to go.

Lea walked through Galfan's narrow streets, briefcase in hand, letting her feet carry her at an unhurried pace. No destination in a rush. No one hunting her. Just... walking.

A baker was setting out fresh loaves on a wooden rack outside his shop. The smell hit her, warm wheat, butter, something sweet she couldn't name. Lea paused, watching steam curl from the bread like lazy ghosts.

She didn't need to eat. But the sight of it, the way the old man carefully arranged each loaf with practiced hands, humming a tune she didn't recognize...

Something flickered in her chest. Small and quiet.

She kept walking.

The streets were narrow enough that morning light barely reached the cobblestones, filtering down in thin golden shafts between the rooftops. Where the light hit, it caught the dew on window boxes overflowing with herbs and small purple flowers.

A child ran past her, chasing a cat that had stolen something from a merchant's cart. The merchant was laughing rather than chasing, waving his hand dismissively.

"Catch it if you can, little one!!"

The boy disappeared around a corner, the cat's bell jingling as it went.

Lea watched until they vanished.

Further down, two old women sat on wooden stools outside their homes, mending clothes side by side. They didn't speak much, just worked in comfortable silence, occasionally sharing a look that spoke of decades of friendship.

One of them noticed Lea passing and gave a polite nod. Lea returned it.

Simple. Nothing more.

A dog followed her for a while, a scruffy thing with mismatched ears that trotted alongside at a respectful distance. It didn't beg or whine. Just walked with her, tail wagging lazily, as if it simply enjoyed the company.

Lea glanced down at it.

"Don't follow me...", she said quietly, "I'm not good company."

The dog tilted its head, then continued walking beside her anyway.

They parted ways at an intersection where the dog spotted something interesting in an alley and darted off without ceremony. Lea smiled.

The streets began to widen as she approached the temple district. Cobblestones gave way to smoother stone, and the buildings here were taller, more ornate. Galfan's architecture was modest compared to cities like Rohuang, no grand marble columns or copper spires. Just well-maintained wood and stone, built with care rather than ambition.

She could see the temples now, a single burning eye, wreathed in golden flame on its front entrance.

The Temple of Fire here was modest compared to the one in Rohuang. Only a quarter of the size, a place more for visitation than anything.

She walked up the marble stairs; her eyes met with the monk standing guard at the entrance. She recognized him, someone who went on the Fog Wall expedition. He clearly didn't recognize her.

So she pulled out her two emblems from her pocket.

His eyes widened briefly before bowing, "I greet the Envoy of Flame."

Her special emblem, only noticed by the monks, is truly something special. As it carries a fraction of Novala's flame, anyone who dedicates themselves to the God of Fire instinctively knows it. Carrying it means she is the will and voice of The Sacred Flame.

"Ever Burning Torch;

Light of Justice, Protector of the Weak;

Eternal Righteous Flame."

She spoke the Honorific Name of Novala, making the emblem in her hand glow.

"May the Everflame bless you.", he responded.

Lea nodded and headed inside, seeing the head priest of this temple was in the middle of a sermon, with citizens gathering around the priest.

"—When the flame of justice burns those who are evil, they are cleansed of their sins. The final grace of The Sacred Flame...", the head priest opened his eyes, seeing the emblem on Lea's chest.

"It seems like we have a special guest here.", he nodded, "I greet the Envoy of Flame."

Everyone grasped at her title. Lea just smiled through it.

"The Sacred Flame had spoken once more, for the return of His other half, the darkness of justice and righteousness."

She announced.

"For those seeking salvation where light cannot reach, the Executor of Evil, the Hunter of the Wicked shall protect the innocent and hunt down sinners."

She spoke with as much reverence as she could muster.

"Malediction of the Depth;

Silence in Judgement;

Wandering Terror of Twilight."

Then she looked down at the people taking in this divine message.

"The Faceless Twilight shall hunt in the dark, and Her servants shall assist in her Great Hunt."

Lea clasped her hands, "May The Everflame bless you, and the Twilight protect your shadow."