In a castle adorned with majestic stained glass and resounding with the harmonious voices of worshippers, a young man in his twenties stood at the pulpit, passionately delivering his sermon to a captivated audience. With his immaculate black hair and flawlessly handsome face, he possessed an extraordinary charisma that set him apart from other priests. His physique was remarkably well-toned, a feature not commonly associated with members of the clergy.
"People, it is the holy church that holds the power to save our souls," the young man proclaimed, his voice resonating through the hall. "The Life Tree Church and Horde Church may attempt to sway you with their false beliefs, but look around you. Are not the elves and orcs saved by our church?"
For two uninterrupted hours, the man continued to deliver his sermon, praising and exalting the church. The hall was filled with an air of reverence and awe as the congregation hung onto his every word.
As the young man, named Ian, concluded his sermon, a fellow priest named Jonathan approached him, clad in a white robe.
"Priest Ian, the bishop has summoned you. He wishes to impart some instructions," Jonathan informed him.
"Then why are you lingering here? Let us go immediately," Ian replied hurriedly, striding towards the bishop's office.
As they walked, the congregants respectfully bowed their heads in deference to Ian, recognizing his elevated position as a priest. Sensing a change in Jonathan's demeanor over the past few days, Ian offered him a warm smile and asked, "Jonathan, do you require additional deacons? I know that serving as the head deacon can be exhausting. If you need more companions, please let me know."
Jonathan, his smile strained and his eyes downcast, responded, "No, we have enough. But isn't being a priest tiring? Why don't you give up your position and become a merchant instead?"
Ian's expression shifted to one of surprise. "Jonathan, you have known me since we were mere deacons in this church. You know how deeply I love this institution. Have you not heard about the recent Horde attacks on neighboring countries? They have repeatedly inflicted damage upon our church! I am needed here to help those lost souls." Ian's voice carried a tinge of irritation, perplexed by Jonathan's sudden change in attitude.
Jonathan fell silent, offering no further response, and continued walking alongside Ian.
Finally, they reached the bishop's office, where a guard opened the door and ushered them in. Bishop Dave, a man in his fifties, greeted Ian with a warm smile.
"Ian, you have arrived," Bishop Dave said, his smile unwavering.
"Bishop Dave, I apologize for my late arrival. I had just finished my sermon," Ian bowed respectfully, expressing his apologies.
Dave waved his hand dismissively, still smiling. "No need for apologies. I summoned you because I have an important mission for you to undertake," he explained, pushing a stack of papers towards Ian.
Curiosity piqued, Ian sat down and began reading through the documents. As he delved deeper into the file, his expression morphed into one of shock and confusion. He looked up at Bishop Dave, who maintained his benevolent smile.
"What is this, Bishop? The documents speak of a village called Hunrio, propagating the Shadowgod. What does all of this mean? Who is that Shadowgod" Ian inquired, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"As you can see, our networks have informed us that a village on the border is spreading the teachings of the in Shadowgod. They are already proselytizing to neighboring villages, After you go there you will know what is that kind of heretics." Bishop Dave responded, his smile fading as he slammed his hand on the table in frustration.
"Do you want me to arrest these heretics?" Ian asked, rising from his seat, a surge of pride emanating from him, eager to embark on a mission outside the confines of the church.
The bishop chuckled. "No need to be hasty. Take some holy knights with you. I don't want you to arrest them. I want you to exterminate the villagers," he commanded, rising from his seat and locking his gaze with Ian's.
Ian recoiled, taken aback by the bishop's words. "But Bishop Dave, the teachings of the church advocate for the conversion and forgiveness of heretics. Should we not strive to guide them towards redemption?"
"Ian, if you aspire to attain a higher rank and receive the blessings of the Almighty, you must come to terms with the nature of our work. The church has been in operation for over five centuries. Do you believe we have only been arresting heretics during that time?" Bishop Dave responded, a touch of sinister satisfaction dancing in his eyes as he patted Ian's shoulder.
Ian stared blankly, his face draining of color. He never expected the church to be so ruthless. Though he had heard rumors of such missions, he had refused to believe them, fueled by the church's previous acts of kindness towards him. As the weight of the situation settled upon him, Ian realized that Bishop Dave had already left the room, leaving him to grapple with his thoughts.
With a heavy sigh, Ian turned to Jonathan, who had remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. "Jonathan, let us proceed to the Knights Hall. We must fulfill this mission," Ian declared, his face still pale from the revelations that weighed heavily on his mind.
"Ian, why don't we seek refuge in the Kingdom of Other Races? They would surely welcome you there. You don't have to take anyone's life," Jonathan implored, attempting to dissuade Ian from following the church's command.
"Jonathan, you know these heretics must be eliminated. They are corrupting the sanctity of the Divinitium," Ian responded, forcing himself to believe in the church's cause, though his teeth were clenched and his heart heavy.
"That village is my village!" Jonathan shouted as Ian who heard those words we're rooted in his feet. " Please, let them go, they are innocent." he added walking toward Ian with a begging expression.
"Stop, you heretic!" Ian brandished his cane angrily as he didnt thought that his friend would be one of those heretics who taint the church name.
Jonathan looked at Ian, he didn't thought that Ian would try to attack him with magic, his expression a mixture of sorrow and determination, before finally turning towards the exit of the castle.
"I suppose we are now enemies," Jonathan murmured, his voice barely audible, as he disappeared into the horizon.
Ian remained rooted to the spot, grappling with conflicting emotions. His knuckles whitened as he tightly gripped his cane, his eyes welling up with tears, glimmering with the unspoken turmoil within him.