Even during peaceful times, whenever they look up at the sky, they see a red sun. Planet Buriean's sun is a red dwarf. According to science, in the entire color spectrum, red represents the weakest, while purple is the strongest. Yellow is somewhere in the middle, just enough for it to provide the best living experience for anyone staying on its solar system.
These four had long wished to live in a stable planet. Due to Planet Buriean's tidally locked state, days and nights are only experienced by travelers. On the one side, it was too hot, on the other hand, it was too cold. The only place that the people of Buriean was able to properly settle was the line in-between the hot side and the cold side.
Sure some cities were able to push a bit further into the sunny side like Huelin city, but it still incomparable to the yellow sun in the sky.
Not only was it incomparably bright, without any technology, the whole place felt just at the right temperature. Due to the constant heat produced by the red dwarf, the four had to shave their furs consistently daily, lest they succumb to heatstroke. It was one of the biggest pain for the man-lion as, without his mane, they'd think that their group is made up of four females.
It's not that he doesn't want to be called a female, it's just that for beings with human physiology. The male body's muscles are much tougher than females who have more tender muscles. When it comes to food, the women are easily the tastiest.
At that moment, Hjuutza moved.
To the four below him, it looked like hope is finally descending.
Extremely heartened, the four finally let their eyes rest as they let their vision follow the flaming angel.
Hjuutza remained hovering a meter above them as a subliminal act of establishing dominance.
Having a million thoughts in their minds, the four finally decided to get. Once they tried to push themselves up, they immediately feel the difference in their weight.
Instead of increased gravity, the four connected the happenstance to them becoming healthier. It's not that they couldn't tell which is which, it was just that since their body now is fully healthy. After a little struggle, they finally stood up.
Hjuutza just watched them with interest. Warping was something that cannot be done in a non-vacuum place, especially if it involves living beings. Thus, those who experience the shift in gravity expect it during their descent from space. Not to mention, they'd already had an estimate and is able to change the artificial gravity inside the ship.
Now that a direct planet to planet warp was executed, it was a valuable data for Hjuutza.
That's just how enthusiastic he is when it comes to knowledge and research.
After standing up, the four had an awkward expression. They really weren't religious, to begin with, so being faced with a holy angel, no one knows what to do.
In this era, the art of kneeling became a symbol for an apology rather than wanting to be accepted or showing respect. This was how Hjuutza viewed it, too; thus, Jack was a bit surprised seeing their fidgeting reactions.
The concept of marriage was long gone too, what's left is the concept of blood ties and family. It was something that disappeared long ago during the change of law and the addition of hybrid races. In the end, marriage only became a tradition for religious couples and faded away when most have stopped being faithful to the so-called gods.
Cultures changed along with time, while it surprised Jack, he didn't think too much of it. He immediately sent a new message to Hjuutza.
[Let them kneel, not as a sign of repentance but as a sign of respect and willingness to be accepted in my heaven.]
When Hjuutza saw this, he couldn't help but think, "should I tell them that they're on heaven or on probation in purgatory?"
Like every other god, he could hear the minds of his followers, especially those who he focuses on.
Thinking about it, it made sense. If he immediately tells them that they're in heaven, doesn't that mean everything they have done so far was good? No.
[Tell them is the planet of judgment. The place before heaven. Planet Antecaelum.]
In Jack's time, neo-Latin was a language derived from old Latin. At that point in time, it was made and developed as it was the language most scientists used to name their research findings.
Hjuutza's eyes sparkled. That's right, why should he follow the concept of other religions. Thinking about the place, this really was the right way to do it.
After receiving the message, Hjuutza did not ask them to immediately kneel down. Instead, he opened his arms as if beckoning the four to come for a group hug.
"Welcome to the kingdom of God Hemmons. You currently are in the Planet Antecaelum."
Hjuutza smiled at his god's message. "State your names."
With that, the man stepped up first.
"My name is Adam Congo. I am a half-human and half-lion hybrid. My race is the generic type and has no proper noun."
Then, the dagger-wielding woman stepped up. "My name is Erica Africa. Just like Adam, I'm a half-human, half-lioness hybrid of the generic type."
After Erica, the woman who got shot before the fight stepped up. "My name is Veronica Africa. Like my sister here, I am a hu-lion of the generic type."
Lastly, the staff woman stepped up. "My name is Ecca Kalahari. Like my cousins, I am a hu-lion of the generic type."
Now, this was Jack's first time hearing about the generic type species. During his era, the emergence of hybrid has only started, and the process of naming hasn't started yet.
The scientists would just call them by the mixture of their scientific names like homo sapien et canis lupus. These are the so-called half-human, half wolves. Due to how familiar the species is to everyone who follows a form of literature, their species was quickly dubbed as the werewolves.
With a sweep of his will, he tried to find the practical knowledge of why it was. Unfortunately for him, no one knows why their race ended up being called as the generic type.
Even Hjuutza did not see anything wrong about it, wasn't he a birdman himself?
Not being able to help himself, Jack immediately asked Hjuutza.
[Are you not of the birdman race?]
Looking at the question, Hjuutza did not think of why Jack asked such a thing and answered simply: "The birdmen race are homo sapien - Accipitridae. Only birds who belong to that family, like hawks, eagles, and vultures, have the right to be called a birdman. I am of the Cardinalidae of the Passerine family, which actually falls to the generic type race."
With that, Jack immediately scanned Mr. and Mrs. Leiman and Nova and found out that they, too, were of the generic type race.
With a nod of understanding, Jack stopped bothering Hjuutza.
Hjuutza, of course, did not see the nod, but after a few seconds of no response, he just assumed that Jack has found the answer to his questions.
The entire thing only happened in less than five seconds, so the four did not notice anything amiss.
"Adam, Erica, Veronica, and Ecca. To enter the true heaven of the lord's kingdom, you must prove to us your will. You will establish your own place here on this planet and shall be dubbed as the Magnafelan race."
When Jack heard Hjuutza, he broke into a burst of laughter.
Keeping his holy appearance, Hjuutza continued. "I will guide you to getting stronger." With a flick of his hand, a scroll appeared, written is the cultivation method to become an advanced species.
"Under the decree of God's angel, if you are able to complete the five levels of the first stage under ten years, then you shall be rewarded with the method to advance to the second stage."
"In his, the lord's kingdom, kneeling is the act of paying one's respect. If you are willing to exist under the guidance of the lord, kneel and become baptized by the holy light of our god Jack Hemmons."
With his words, the four immediately kneeled. "We accept the holy light of the lord."
Deep within their bodies, their white soul turned red.
Jack snapped his fingers as golden light enveloped the four with comfortable warmth. The four felt it and fully accepted the blessings.
After the light dissipated, a voice rang in their minds. It sounded so deep that they immediately thought of their new god.
However, the message Jack left for them left them dumbfounded.
"Go out, live, and spread your seeds."
Spread your seeds? Looking at each other's awkward faces, the four had the same thoughts in their minds.
"But we're all cousins…"
Jack heard it, and he, too, had an awkward face.
The god having an oversight, it was unprecedented. Hjuutza now firmly believes that Jack is still, without a doubt, a human.
"Of course, not with each other but with others who live on the planet," Hjuutza explained for Jack.
"Alright, the next time we meet is if you successfully enter the second stage under ten years. God bless to all of you" Hjuutza immediately added and disappeared in front of the four.
The four still had questions they were keeping to themselves as they did not want to appear disrespectful to their savior.
Yes, savior. With all they've done in the last sixteen years, it wasn't hard to believe they should've gone to hell. It turns out that dying at the hands of the two kids was the best thing that ever happened to them. Not only did they enter a brighter place, they were also able to sacrifice themselves to feed the meager lives of the kids.
Thankful, yes, only because Jack wiped their memory about the ritual and how they were paralyzed by being carried on their scruff like a domestic cat.
Looking once again at the bright yellow sun, which actually shifted a little bit. The four felt hopeful and took the first steps in their new lives.