The cycle that gives ripeness and maturity, a reminder of our mortality, that not all things last, they either wither or change.
Pray—do not become something unrecognizable.
Pray—that you are deserving to be remembered.
A beautiful death, before the miracle of eternity.
The Fall season...
September 1, 1917.
A downpour washed the embered streets of Leuvana.
It is one of the four sister towns encircling the great military-industrial power of Złoto, yet a vow bound it beneath the rule of Svet's theocracy.
"Not this again."
Kai'len Imperia muttered to himself. As of now, boredom was seething through his veins.
cough, cough.
"Another week, another mass—the same dull repetition."
Ah, he was a skeptic. Not a very religious fellow, it seemed. He was dreading this moment…
Achoo!
That sound came from Lyn'chael Imperia, the boy's endearing sister, who wore a black trench coat—perfect for the rainy season. Her brother copied her style of clothing, though with their naturally black hair there was no risk of plagiarism there.
"Brother, hurry up!"
Wet fallen leaves and dirty puddles greeted the siblings' boots.
DONG!
They heard it....
The deep toll of the church bells spread the message, service was about to begin.
"We're about to be late!" Lyn'chael quickened her pace.
Since the Church was nearby, their parents had left earlier to buy offerings.
Splash! Splash!
"Eeek!" Lyn'chael nearly slipped in the muddy water—but was saved by... no one, really.
The thought of slipping in the mud in front of her brother sent shivers down her spine, she knew he would cackle diabolically at her demise.
"I will not let you have that fun!" Lyn'chael declared, mentally.
With the power of "I refuse to be ashamed!" she miraculously regained her balance, her feet moving with surprising grace mid-fall! An impressive save indeed.
She looked at her brother with a smirk.
"Are you envious of my graceful skill, brother?"
The spectators, having witnessed her impressive feat, were amused.
"Amazing!"
"Such flexibility!"
Kai'len, on the other hand, felt slightly disappointed.
In his mind, watching his sister fall face-first into the mud would have brought his brotherly heart so much joy.
At the end of the day, he's still her big brother, and he still cares!
"I am, sister, I am," he admitted.
They noticed another boy standing just to their right, staring at them.
He was tall, with sleek brown hair and eyes, well-groomed, and wearing a light brown wool coat.
People in Leuvana are just that fashionable, it seems.
The boy's name was Liam Al'wood, a friend of Kai'len and a woodcutter by trade. He seemed oddly enchanted by Lyn'chael's clumsiness.
"Good morning, Liam," Lyn'chael greeted him.
He struggled to maintain eye contact with the girl, his face flushed.
"G-Good morning to both of you! Heading to church as well?"
"We are!" Lyn'chael replied.
With a pounding heart, Liam couldn't help but smile, hoping she wouldn't notice how nervous he was.
"Where's your brother?" Kai'len asked.
Liam had an older brother, Gareth, who was on the muscular side.
"He already went ahead. Shall we get going?" the boy suggested on which the siblings agreed.
Liam's heart rate seemed to settle.
The three of them made their way towards the church alongside other attendees.
But the town wasn't so peaceful.
As they approached the church, the atmosphere changed.
A protest was underway, and two Luxford students, Sophia and Hanz were taken after protesting against the church's discrimination.
They were born from the Tiberion Empire, where people worshipped Tiberius, god of war, strength and conquest, far different from Svet's god.
Despite pledging to the światian fate, they cannot escape the events of the seventh epoch, the Svet-Tiberion War.
The peace between Svet and Tiberion is laughable, as they're only in a cease-fire after the children of purity pour down the skies threatening humanity at the end of the Seventh epoch.
People are protesting demanding they return the students. What happened to Hanz and Sophia after they were taken by the church? Hanz and Sophia had contributed in many ways towards the community of Leuvana.
But let the adults handle that.
The three young teenagers were silent as they listened to the protest march towards the town hall.
They felt uneasy, knowing that Sophia and Hanz were the same age as them. Rumors spoke of the church's cruelty, and many feared what fate awaited those taken.
Kai'len noticed that Liam was unusually silent. "Are you okay?" he asked, patting his shoulder.
Liam flinched!
"Ah! Yeah, I am. Just the weather—it's cold, isn't it?!"
The teenagers know that it's best to not get involved.
Is it instinct? They too fear for their own safety.
Lyn'chael chimed in, "This is the perfect weather for sleeping!" At her words, a faint smile flickered across Liam's face! his focus drawn to her.
Kai'len was beginning to understand the situation.
"I see it, Liam," he said in a teasing tone.
Liam immediately began denying it, but his growing nervousness only made it worse.
Kai'len will remember this.
The church was in their view, and as they got closer, Lyn'chael shouted, "Mama! Papa!"
Amidst the group of attendees at the black steel gates of the church, two figures stood.
A tall man with a defined build, broad shoulders, and a chiseled face. Elegant as his black hair was neatly combed, he wore a beige trench coat along with an expensive silver watch on his right wrist—Alexander Imperia.
He also looks extra charismatic wearing those prescription glasses!
Beside him stood a slender woman with long, elegant black hair and a melancholic air about her. Her gray trench coat was eye-catching as she stood—Ana'lyn Imperia.
The parents of Kai'len and Lyn'chael.
They carried baskets of fruit they had purchased earlier—apples, cherries, and plums.
"There you are!" Alexander called out.
"You both look wonderful," gentle words from their mother followed.
She and her husband took in the sight of their son and daughter, dressed impeccably for the service. It was no surprise—trench coats lined the family's closets, a signature fit of their wardrobe.
This is...
"Trench coat propaganda."
In front of them stands an old stone church, its walls still glistening from the recent downpour. Golden and crimson leaves clung stubbornly to the surrounding trees, their colors deepened by the rain. Others lay scattered across the cobblestone path, plastered to puddles that mirrored the church's silhouette.
In the silence, faint prayers could be heard, as a group of people assembled for the mass.
"Papa, can we buy pudding later?" Lyn'chael asked, craving the sweet dessert.
Pudding was her childhood treat!
"Good idea," Kai'len added.
Their parents exchanged a glance before smiling.
"Why not?"
A wave of gratitude washed over the siblings, evident in their expressions.
"Liam, we saw your family earlier—they're already inside. Why weren't you with them?" Ana'lyn asked, wondering why Liam wasn't with the rest of the Al'woods—his siblings and parents.
"Ah—uh, Miss Imperia! I was… um, just busy with something, That's why I wasn't with them!" Liam's excuse, while scratching his head.
Kai'len had his own suspicions—he speculated that Liam had intentionally stayed behind just so he could walk alongside Lyn'chael.
DONG!
But then, the church bells rang once more, louder now that they were near—a final signal.
"Well then, let's head inside," Ana'lyn said.
"Be careful—the floor is a bit wet. Don't slip," Alexander warned.
Lyn'chael averted her gaze, recalling her own near-slip just moments ago, while Kai'len shot her a knowing side-eye.
"Thank you for your time, I'm off to see my parents—take care!" Liam said.
The Imperia family offered him a brief farewell as he navigated his way towards the pews to join his family.
"Take care!" Lyn'chael added with a cheerful smile.
To Liam's ears, it was like the voice of an angel.
"T-Thank you," he stammered, trying to keep his composure, though the faint blush on his cheeks didn't help him.
But his face was slowly turning red as a tomato...
"Youth, it's a beautiful thing," Alexander remarked, to which his wife nodded in agreement.
Kai'len, on the other hand, was far less enthusiastic, he was not looking forward to the mass.
The service has begun.
The church interior....the subtle weight of faith was felt by the family, faint lights that are filtered through the windows with ceilings featuring rounded arches that are supported by sturdy columns with ornate capitals.
The usual simple wooden pews that you see in every church lined the space, at the central aisle, an altar on a raised platform, and above it was an elegant stained-glass window, wings with multiple eyes, and a woman with visible tears.
They heard it loud and clear, the rich tones of a piano.
The choir sang a hymn in the holy tongue known only to the church's faithful, the holy language of the światian faith "Luxon."
Their voices were laced with mana, whether it was subtle spell casting in the form of deepening one's faith, as the church insisted it was a blessing from god.
As they sat down in their pews, the singing continued, and the choir's voices rose, filling the space. Lyn'chael, despite not knowing the language, prepared to sing along by mimicking.
Let their voices take you to heaven.
Do not resist.
Oh Światło, let our words please you~
(O Światło, Hee wa muel vae ves~)
May the thoughts that come out of my heart please you~
(Wali veso hei no Ie wa, Veo soe yuweh~)
For I devote my body and soul to you~
(Vei Ie, Hei seva Ie wa velo wa soel yuweh~)
My savior, my savior~
(Ie wa Luha, Ie wa Luha~)
Oh Światło, let our words please you~
(O Światło, Hee wa muel vae ves~)
May the thoughts that come out of my heart please you~
(Wali veso hei no Ie wa, Veo soe yuweh~)
For I devote my body and soul to you~
(Vei Ie, Hei seva Ie wa velo wa soel yuweh~)
My savior, my savior~
(Ie wa Luha, Ie wa Luha~)
The trumpets are for you~
(Vrumpel ei Hei Va wa yuweh~)
My hope and truth are with you~
(Ie wa yae wa yua hei va wa yuweh~)
Oh, Światło~.
(O Światło~)
You are my light.
(Yuweh hei va Ie wa hoel~)
You are my light.
(Yuweh hei va Ie wa hoel~)
My savior, my savior.
(Ie wa Luha, Ie wa Luha~)
My god, oh światło.
(Ie wa Światło, Aei Światło~)
The notes resonate with divine purity, the lyrics sacred in their depth, sung with angelic voices. The people, lost in this world, seem to be transported as though they are listening from heaven itself.
Kai'len tries to open his heart and mind, yet he fails to feel it, failing to see 'why' they believe, 'why' they surrender, 'why' they rely on the spiritual.
"Am I... a sinner for not believing?"
The congregation listened intently, their faces filled with bliss. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they swayed gently to the hymn, completely immersed in its melody.
Alexander was lost to the rhythm, while Ana'lyn remained indifferent.
Kai'len turned to see Lyn'chael, her eyes bright, her lips parted as she sang along. He could see the joy on her face—her belief was pure, untouched by doubt.
The young boy tried to understand, but he couldn't. Perhaps he was too young and naive. Despite being born into a world where deities are part of everyday life, his instincts just shunned them.
Amidst his reverie, the priest appeared. His name was Father Fernand, a well-known town priest who had served this church for years. He made his way to the pulpit, gazing out at the congregation before speaking.
"Let us, brothers and sisters, gather in solemn devotion to honor our Lord, Światło."
Chapter end.