Chương 103: Chapter 91. Locking Eyes

Warrick and I were led by Aqua into the main hall of the Church. What I saw was surprising. All black walls and black tinted windows. Religious paraphernalia hung all around. Statues made of straw, stone and I think metal? Candles were lit to help light the halls to stop it from being pitch black in the Church. And to top it off, a bunch of strange Demons I never saw before were staring at me. It's like a scene from a horror movie. I turn to Warrick and Aqua." Is this normal?"" What do you mean?"" Like...

The whole ambiance?"" Hm? Ah! Yeah, it might be a little strange for someone who's never experienced it. The Gods we worship are specialized in darkness, Matthew. So, we praise and celebrate them in the dark. We praise the others as well, but our Faith is called the Faith of the Dark Gods for a reason." Warrick answered my question. I let my observation leak out." It looks like I'm about to be sacrificed to a dark lord or God."" Well, that depends on how you view Our Daughter I gue--- Ouch, Aqua!"

Warrick began to speak his mind and was elbowed in his side by Aqua. She began to speak." To alleviate some of your concerns, Matthew. Warrick and I's Wedding was just like this. The darkness is two-fold for our Faith. The 1st being that the Faith of the Dark Gods is a more conservative Religion. The darkness allows a person to pray in complete privacy. Along with that, it allows the kiss of a Marrying Couple to be hidden from other's eyes and make it a moment shared only between Husband, Wife and the Gods.

The 2nd reason being that the Faith of the Dark Gods preaches for equality between all beings. And all beings are equal in the dark."" I understand, Aqua. I take it you're a devout follower of the Faith then?"" I do practice it. The Gods have brought me My Husband and Our Children after all. I feel that my Gods have even brought you, Matthew. I prayed and prayed for answers in my times of need. Sarah's Curse being no different.

I said one final prayer, for My Daughter's wellbeing and to bring a smile back to her face before we attempted the Summoning Spell. And you were brought before us. Not only did you heal her, but you also make her smile in a way I've never seen before." What she said froze me up. I didn't expect her to express her gratitude towards me again. Warrick began to speak after silence had come between us." What we are trying to say is thank you, Matthew. Also, please, look after her from now on as well, would you?""

Of course, I will. You have my word on that." They both smiled at me. Then we were approached by a man with the head of a goat with black fur and 3 red eyes.... Yeah... Sacrificed to a Demon is starting to look like an actual scenario right now..." Ah, Little Warrick, Little Aqua. I take it this is, Matthew?"" Yes, Father Wock. You're ready to guide him from here, I take it?"" Yes, I can take the Groom to the Altar. Come now, Child, I'll lead you to the Groom's place."

From the goat, I heard a pretty calm, deep, gentle voice coming from it... Seeing the puzzled expression I had on my face, the goat spoke again." Ah! Sorry, I'm so used to people knowing me here. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wock, I'm the Head Priest of this Church. You may not know, but I'm the Priest who presided over Warrick and Aqua's Wedding."" Ah, you guys got the same Priest for Sarah's Wedding Day. That's sweet of you."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. I smiled at Warrick and Aqua. I then turned back to Father Wock." Well then, Father Wock, please take care of me."" Of course, Child, please follow after me. Wock guided me to the center of the Hall. Even though they call it a Church, I think in my world it would be called a Cathedral. We walked for about 2 minutes to get to the Altar. I couldn't see anyone, but I felt presences all around me.

It had to be close to 1000 people sitting in the pews all around us. Wock happily explained everything I had to do. It more or less was the same as how a Groom would act in my world. The thing that puzzled me though, was the way Wock acted. I couldn't feel a hint of malice from him." What's the matter, Matthew?" He must have noticed how I was feeling somehow." Do you not hate Humans, Father Wock?"" Hm? Ah. Yes, the way that my Countrymen have treated you must have been an ordeal in a way."

Wock took a deep breath before turning to the pews behind us." You see, Matthew, the Religion I gave my life to is one that preaches equality. I live my life according to that Doctrine. Admittedly there was a time where I was young, I was filled with hate at what was taken from me, I found likeminded men just like me in no time at all. We proceeded to hurt others with our hate as we saw fit. There were times where I wanted to hurt and maim more than I wanted my next breath."" What happened to you?""

What happened was a tale as old as Our Country. My Parents fought against an invasion. And they sacrificed themselves for the Country to survive. I heard that you were able to stop the advancement of the Hero of Promethia. Back in my youth, we didn't have a Paladin to handle such a situation. When news reached me of my Father and Mother's deaths. I had one thought that consumed me.

"Make them all pay". I failed to realize that all I was doing was continuing a cycle. Like a water wheel. I was on top and crushing those beneath me. Just as those who took my Parents did to me."" What made you change, Father Wock?" Wock turned and looked at me with his red eyes, they were full of warmth." A Human. She was an older one. Her hair was gray. Her eyes were blue. She had found me when I was critically injured after a raid on a Human Village.

I expected her to kill me, but instead, she brought me medicine. I was confused by her, but more than that, I didn't wish to owe a debt to a Human. The thing that I hated so much. So, I spent time with her. She lived alone in the woods. I worked for her. I drew water for her. I tended to her vegetable garden. I hunted game for her to have good meals. I even was able to find a replacement for the medicine she gave me. I grew to view her as a Friend."" And that's why you view Humans as equals?"

A look of sadness appeared in Wock's eyes." No, Matthew. If only."" Do you want to stop your story, Wock? If it's too much, it's okay."" No. I think it'll be important for you to hear, Matthew." Wock recomposed himself and began to speak in a somber voice." I had left one day to draw water from a nearby river. The river was so clear you could see the bottom 15 feet down. I drew the water and began my way back. I noticed smoke coming from her home.

I thought it was a bit early for her to get her fireplace going, but the bodies of Demons and Humans are different, so I paid it no mind. I returned to the cabin not too long after. I found it on fire."

"Why!?"" My "friends" had finally tracked me down. And they had thought that the Human woman had killed me." I couldn't say anything to Wock. I simply waited for him to continue his story." At least that's what I remember them saying. Between the screams of them asking why I was killing them that is. Honestly, I don't remember much past that. All I truly remember was how wet my cheeks felt from warm tears and scalding hot blood."

"..."" Once I finished killing the last one of my former friends. I woke up to a familiar sound. She was calling for me, Matthew. Weakly, but it was her voice none the less. I ran to her. I thought maybe I could fix this injustice. I was wrong. She didn't want me to try and heal the axe wound to her stomach. She simply wanted to feel my warmth as she passed on to the next life." I'm... So sorry." Warm... Wet... I felt something warm start to fall down my cheek.

Maybe it was his tone, the sadness I could hear in his voice, but Wock was right, it resonated with me... Wock brought a piece of cloth to my cheek." Now, now, Child. This was years ago. There's no need to cry on your Wedding Day."" Still, it's not fair, Wock. How can you expect me to not react to something like that?" Wock looked at me with a warmth in his eyes." It wasn't all bad, Matthew. I wouldn't be here without her. Because I was able to meet her, it all began to make sense.

You see, Matthew, I realized then and there. We were all Equal. No matter the Race we could all hurt each other. We all could choose to hate. But we can choose to be friends. We can even choose to Love each other."" Indeed, we can choose to Love, Father Wock." I turned to see the owner of the familiar, soft voice that brings up the color purple in mind. One of the voices that I've been falling asleep to for some time now. In my view I saw them. The two Women that have come to mean so much to me." Sarah.... Anna."

I smiled at them and then they smiled at me. They both spoke in unison, almost like they practiced the line." Hello, Our Love. We've come to have you make us your Wives."