People walked over to the Temple, most were families wearing all black. They had come to mourn for the deceased.
Everyone who came here today has lost someone important to them. They could have been a family member, a good friend or even an acquaintance they got to know about.
But one fact remains common, the grief of loss was shared among all of them.
At the end of Temple's towering figure, a black slate was painted with many names, below it several flowers rested giving a serene and peaceful glow.
Walking toward it, I also placed flowers below it. Unlike others who were crying, I wasn't doing any of that. Not because I have grown cold and detached from people but rather because I knew doing it would be meaningless.
Maybe it was just me acting tough, but too many things have been lost now. And maybe I will continue to lose others as well.— But I won't forget them, any of them. I will keep their memories in me, I will remember who I had lost and who I still need to cherish.
Because that's all I can do– That's what the current me can do.
From the corner of my eyes, I witnessed Morgan sitting on a chair alongside other priests. Instead of wearing her uniform, she was wearing a clean black dress along with a skirt that seemed to reach her ankles.
She still has her rather aloof expression, not looking affected by anything or anyone. Yet somehow I could tell she was also grieving just like others
Does she have trouble expressing herself to others?
This was something new, as someone who was rather direct and crude with words. Morgana's behavior was always odd for me to think about.
But it was also a good experience, I wasn't learning anything about myself but rather I was learning about different type of people and their way to see and interact with the world itself.
This was not an ability that let me get this experience and sensation, it was a plain and simple observation of others that gave this omniscient point of view.
If I learn about others, I always seem to question what would I have done in their places. What kind of choices would I have to make? Will they be good ones or bad ones?
Thinking like this I walked over to one of the benches placed in the square of the Temple, many people were sitting here besides me. Eager to hear the sermons of priest and get their salvation.
I turned to look toward Morgana and surprisingly our eyes stared at each other as we locked our gazes assessing the situation around us. Her lips pursed as she was about to say something then stopped mid-way through it.
Sighing she just gave me a nod of recognition before focusing her attention back to the priest's sermon.
"...Asher" Someone whispered into my ear from the side, making my stomach churn. I looked at the source of the voice only to see Franz who had walked over toward me.
"I still have some duties to attend to, so I will be taking my leave... don't leave soon, I will come to get you in an hour or something. Lady Morgan will meet you after this." He said with his voice lowered.
Even though he said it in a very soft tone his deliberate attempts still caught us some gazes from surrounding people.
"Alright, I will attend the meeting later." I said a bit louder for others to hear, emphasizing the meeting part more.
If someone had caught me staring at her and then heard the talk between Franz and me, this small misunderstanding would surely have turned into a full-blown scandal.
Even if it doesn't affect me in any way, Morgana will be the most affected and I don't want to know what her reaction will be.
I could almost hear Albert coming to tell me the rumor. 'Lover affair between high Priestess Morgana and an awakener of unknown origins found during memorial service'.
It would spread like wildfire through the whispers of the townsfolk.
No, maybe I exaggerated the rumor but it would still be funny to hear for me at the very least, I can't say the same for Morgana though.
"What happened you are not replying?"
Franz shook his hand in front of my face as if to wake me up. Seeing this I coughed, stopping the smirk that was about to appear on my face.
"*Ahem* Sorry I was lost in thoughts for a moment, what did you say again?"
Franz's eyes searched mine for a brief moment before he nodded and whispered, "Remember one hour." He then walked away, leaving me to ponder what this meeting could entail.
I was not planning to leave anyway. I was not someone who focused deeply on topics of religion and I was sure many present here, were like me... Just here for the sake of it or at least to respect those who have died.
The priests came to the front one by one giving their views on life, they were all old people not awakeners like other members of the Temple. Even if strength matters a lot here in this world and age becomes distant with each ascension the human population will still trust in the wisdom of someone old-looking rather than young.
The final priest's speech soon ended after half an hour as he clasped his hand for the final prayer, all of us stood up from our seats and followed his actions.
"Celestia who loves Silver..."
"You are the ruler of Stars..."
"The divine judgment of heavens..."
"The beacon of Justice..."
"And the hope of Civilizations."
The priest continued his prayer for the lost souls but I ended up ignoring them as my mouth was left agape in shock.
Where did the last two lines come from? Even though I had never attended a sermon of Temple in the past, I had heard priest prayers outside. They always contained the first three lines only.
But that was not all, the priest looked at us— All of us and spread his arms wide open toward the sky before saying.
"... Please bless the souls of those we have lost forever and give solace to those left behind... We pray for your divine blessings."
Following that the bell inside the Temple started ringing loudly, and the stars at the prayer hall shined in blinding intensity as they reached outside.
Everyone stood up with their hands clasped in prayers, while the priest started to kneel with their head bowed down a little.
The star's light came outside as it filled the clear blue sky in a cosmic light—Like a river and it rained upon us.
It was not water that came down on us, but rather the star's light that seemed to have taken physical form itself.
It was warm yet cold, cleansing our minds and soul from all evil as it embraced us.
I had activated Kairosflow immediately yet I couldn't see or feel anything unnatural with it, I observed everyone including myself on what this phenomenon was supposed to do.
Yet, all I felt was that its existence was as natural as the wind itself. This river of Stars was part of nature.
The river of stars reached me, its existence now even clearer than before. Just like the others it came to wrap around me but instead of leaving, it stayed for a moment longer and caressed my cheeks in gentle a touch.
My heart almost stopped beating for a moment at this sudden touch. Keeping calm I waited for the river of Stars to move away.
But?
Eh! Why isn't it moving? Why is it still caressing my cheeks?
Is it angry that I don't know the last chant?
The moment this thought appeared, I quickly dismissed it. There is no reason for the Goddess to even care about such trivial things. Yes, this must be some kind of silly mistake.
Luckily no seem to have noticed it yet, as everyone had closed their eyes— As they were in deep prayer and affected deeply by this divine intervention.
Some people had even teared up a little and were already on their knees, praying for salvation!
'Is it actually?—!'
No, that's not possible, right?
I visibly gulped at my blasphemous thought. The idea of the white world being connected to the sole god of this world— Celestia was anything but sane.
Why would I even be connected to her, and is she even real?
Even though I was seeing a miracle of Goddess right now, my mind was still in doubt— And why wouldn't it be? In this world where people could awaken and tap into origin, anything was possible. This river of Stars could be someone's creation controlling it from afar.
Yes, for my sanity let's go with that—
"Ouch!"
Sudden pain waked me from my thoughts, my eyes widened at what I had witnessed just now. Th—The river of stars just pinched my cheeks before moving away.
No, it didn't actually pinched me but the feeling was similar to it, I rubbed my cheeks with a dazed expression as I looked at the river of starlight finally vanishing in thin air.
"Huh?!"
Oh, Fuck!, hearing the voice from behind I couldn't help but curse. Someone has witnessed this whole scene, haven't they?
Not even giving me the time to monologue on what just happened. But let's just put it back, in a small corner of my mind for now. I was tired from all these surprises today, I couldn't take anymore of them.
Turning my head, I got ready to give countless excuses that could resolve this situation, but seeing the man sitting behind me, my jaw dropped— It was Mathew, the knight who had fought alongside Reaper— That is me.
"Ma—Mathew." I unconsciously blurted out.
"Do I know you?" He frowned briefly and hesitated before asking."... And what was that just now?"
For God's sake! What the hell, Am I doing today?—Why am I messing up at such places?!
I sighed, my mind overloading with new excuses. The old ones were still there, but my honest mistake made them useless— I could almost feel my head turn hot due to the overuse of Kairosflow.
But it was an emergency.
"Ah, no Sir, You don't know but— I know you. You were fighting that night, weren't you? Alongside the Reaper... I saw you fighting bravely together with others." I said awkwardly keeping my voice low, this situation was the river of star's faults! I immediately turned my head, just to check if it came back or not.
"— I heard your name being called during the fights. " I added hastily as I looked at him.
Mathew's frown deepened but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes, "Is that so?" He murmured as he studied me."...And what do you have to say about what happened just now."
I licked my lips and said with a small chuckle.
"Actually, I would like to ask the same— Let me confess it's my first time coming to the Temple. Also, it's my first time hearing the last two lines of Goddess chant— Maybe it's related to this? That goddess got happy upon seeing my devotion and sympathy toward others."
I scratched my checks awkwardly trying to keep my shy act together. But was this truly working?
"I see... The Goddess truly is benevolent, her kindness knows no bounds. She must have known you are a lost lamb coming in her embrace so she showed her love towards all of us, by doing that to you— Yes, that makes the most sense."
Ah, so it is working. Lucky for me, this guy was gullible.
"Anyway, Sir can you tell me— Why do the last two lines appear now? I had never heard them outside the Temple before."
I hastily changed the topic but kept my tone calm. Can't let him have any chances to think— It's better to keep him busy till he forgets what happened.