Chapter 39: The Beginning of the Future
Ten minutes later...
I emerged from the small house with a lackluster expression. They called it a "secret meeting," but in reality, I was turned into a guinea pig to try out their cooking. The upside was that it tasted pretty good...
I walked with my hands in the pockets of my black shorts. A few moments later, I saw Amy looking for me.
Lucas was with her; he saw me coming and awkwardly turned his face away.
Amy immediately approached me with a pout.
"REN! Where have you been? I've been looking all over the park!"
I shrugged softly. "I was kidnapped, if you can call it that..."
"Kidnapped?" she looked at me in shock. "By whom!?"
I pointed at Lucas without hesitation. "The perpetrator right there."
Lucas flinched half a step back. "H-hey! I was just following orders!" He lowered his head slightly.
"and the reward was chocolate..." Lucas muttered softly.
Amy glared at him like a small lion ready to pounce. "Ordered by who?"
Lucas broke out in a cold sweat. "L-Lila..."
Amy glared with wide eyes. "Her again! I already told them not to bother Ren!" she said, annoyed, stomping her foot.
Lucas became more nervous, and for some reason, I felt like laughing. I let out a small sigh. "It's fine, Amy. They just wanted me to try their cooking."
"They forced you to eat?"
"No. But... It's unlike you to worry about me, Amy?" I asked with a teasing smile.
Amy paused for a moment, freezing. Then she said with a scowl and crossed arms.
"Hmph! Who said I was worrying about you! I was just asking!" Amy replied, turning away.
I looked at her gently, "I see," then started walking away from the park, "well, let's go home, or do you still want to play?"
Amy stayed silent for a while, then followed suit. She quickly ran up to me and said in a slightly softer tone.
"Mmm, let's go home. And it's not that I'm obeying you, okay? It's just, Grandpa might be worried!"
I glanced at her briefly, chuckling softly and saying lightly.
"Whatever you say, princess," I said while walking.
Amy scowled more but didn't say anything and walked beside me. I looked up at the sky as we walked.
The sky was bright blue, the clouds looked calm, moving slowly, and the wind carried a gentle, distinctive rural scent.
I took a long breath, then smiled faintly.
*'Today is pretty good, I guess...' *
My hands remained in my pockets, my steps relaxed on the cobblestone road. Internally, I spoke to myself.
"Don't be too relaxed, Ren... The world is vast, and you never know what the future holds, but—"
I looked at the sky again, then continued softly, as if speaking to my future self.
"—I believe, if you are strong, you can do anything, even change the future."
I looked at the village road, glancing at Amy walking beside me. She pretended to be busy kicking a small stone on the road, but occasionally peeked at me from the corner of her eyes.
"Maybe I don't know what awaits me later, but," I stared far ahead with growing determination.
"As long as I keep walking, as long as I don't stop, the future will definitely change. And this time—I want to change it with my own hands."
The afternoon breeze blew softly, making my hair sway. But I just smiled.
Because ever since I arrived in this world, I have been ready to face whatever comes.
POV Abel:
A month had passed since the demon worshipper incident, and on the fifth day, I was brought back to the central church, the Imperial Capital, but the security was tighter, with two Grandmasters accompanying me at that time.
Now I knelt before the main altar, hands folded, bowing deeply in prayer. The air inside the church was so silent, only the sound of my heartbeat could be heard. As a Saintess, I must remain strong.
I prayed... for safety, but also for strength. Strength to protect humanity from evil, disease, and atrocities.
But in the middle of my prayer, that face appeared again—the face of the boy with blue eyes who looked straight at me with a warm smile.
Ren.
I clenched my hands, my nails digging into my skin. "Why am I even thinking of him in a sacred place like this..." I muttered softly. But the more I tried to erase the thought, the stronger his image clung to my mind.
"Saintess..."
The soft yet weighty voice made me turn. An elderly man in white robes—the Archbishop himself—stood not far from me. His gaze was sharp, yet kind enough to calm the heart.
"Your prayer lasted quite long," he said calmly, "is something troubling you?"
I bowed deeply. "No, Your Eminence. Just lost in thought for a moment. Other than that, nothing is happening."
The Archbishop walked closer, his steps softly echoing on the stone floor. "Saintess, ever since you appeared," He paused and stood behind me. "Many things have changed and happened."
He looked at me with a smile. "The world is moving towards change."
"I'm sure you feel it too. Because of that, the Church and the world need you, Saintess Abel," the Archbishop said.
I slowly raised my head, looking at him. "I know, Your Eminence... I also heard the news that a hero has appeared in the Raven Kingdom, the northern imperial territory."
He nodded slightly. "That's right. This is the time the new era begins." He clasped his hands behind his back.
"New era?" I repeated nervously, my hands tightening slightly.
The Archbishop looked at the altar for a moment, before speaking and looking into my eyes.
"Yes... a new era, Saintess. And the world will remember it as the Golden Era—a time when humanity finally rises against the darkness."
I looked at the old figure with a little nervousness. "The Golden Era... but will it truly be a victory?" I asked softly.
The Archbishop smiled faintly. "A good question. But remember, light will not shine without shadow, Abel. And that shadow... grows stronger every day."
The sound of the church bell from the tower softly echoed. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the large stained-glass windows, casting silhouettes on the marble floor.
I stared at him for a long time—and for a moment, I felt the light was colder than usual.
"So be prepared," the Archbishop continued, his voice sharpening slightly. "There will be a time when we will wage war against the demons, and that will be the final war..."
I remained silent, bowing my head, but only my body. My chest felt tight when I heard it, pounding so fast that I worried the Archbishop would hear it.
He smiled subtly, though he could not hide his nervousness and regret, even if only slightly. He raised his hand, patting my head gently, like a grandfather.
"When that time comes, fight until the end," he said encouragingly, lowering his hand.
I clenched my fist, my forehead furrowed. But before I could ask further, the Archbishop turned around and walked away.
The sound of his footsteps slowly faded, leaving an echo in the prayer room that returned to silence.
I looked at the altar one last time, then whispered to myself.
"The Golden Era... or the era of destruction?" I murmured.
Then I shook my head, stood up, and started walking out of the church. At the exit, Luna was waiting for me with both hands behind her back, exactly like a loyal bodyguard.
"Luna, let's go," I said to her while walking past her.
Luna nodded and followed me one step behind. My footsteps echoed in the long corridor of the church. The afternoon light penetrated the colored glass and fell on my shoulder.
I took a slow breath, then smiled with determination.
"If this is indeed the start of something big..." I whispered, looking up at the sky at the end of the door.
"...then I will step forward without hesitation. Because humanity needs me."
Luna, who heard me whisper, tilted her head slightly, her eyebrow raised. "What is it, Abel?"
I glanced at her over my shoulder and shook my head gently, then said.
"Nothing," I replied, smiling without looking at her.
Hearing that, Luna remained silent and did not ask further. I looked forward again, murmuring internally, while thinking about the white-haired boy.
*'I miss, him...' *
...
...
...
Abel and Luna walked in silence, unaware of the harsh future awaiting them and everyone else. The orange sky illuminated the entire Empire, before turning red in time.