Before the resplendent and golden Aurora Cathedral, it had been a long time since such a sacred religious trial took place.
The white marble plaza was swarming with people, each breath seemingly bearing immense pressure. The faithful jostled, eager to witness the supreme glory of the Cardinal of Light.
The Cardinal looked on with compassion in his eyes at the figure on the pyre, Vincenzo Bianco. It was the pity reserved for the ignorant, akin to observing a naive child.
"Duke Bianco, your 'Heliocentrism' postulates the sun as the center of the universe and the starry world as a massive spherical celestial body, with countless others orbiting the sun. This contradicts the 'Canon of Light.' Given your hereditary noble status, you now have the chance for self-redemption by amending the heretical notions in your book that blaspheme against the Light."
In that moment, Bianco's heart was utterly calm.
He looked towards the religious court's jury, the Pope of Light looming high above, the endless holy light atop the Aurora Cathedral, and the scholars from various academies hidden among the crowd.
He could compromise, altering the natural studies in his book that contradicted the 'Canon of Light' to maintain his ducal title, or he could attempt to rally the scholars in the crowd to fight for his cause.
But when he saw the endless sea of angry and intolerant eyes of the believers in the plaza, he knew his choice.
Bianco realized that if he resisted, 'Heliocentrism' would forever remain a heretical doctrine in their hearts, prolonging the reign of ignorant faith over human thought, and making it harder for truth to break through the thick veil of night and bring enlightenment, reason, and civilization.
Bianco slowly turned to face the twelve Cardinals on the platform.
In their eyes, he saw pity, as if his life's work, 'Heliocentrism,' was merely a fanciful delusion of the ignorant.
This world needed a martyr, a cry for reason, a death for truth. "The starry universe has no Kingdom of Light!"
Bianco roared, looking at the people on the plaza, now drowned in rage and hatred because of his words.
"Death to the traitorous heretic, for he still clings to his perverse scholarship! Burn him!"
"May the Lord have mercy on this lost lamb…"
"How ludicrous, he claims the starry world is a massive sphere? If that were true, why haven't we fallen off, ha ha ha!"
"He dares say there is no heaven! I will not allow him to defile the sanctity of the great Creator of Light, filthy and stupid, all who blaspheme against the Light are heretics and must be burned!"
Some in the crowd picked up stones, hurling them at the pyre to vent their anger.
The few scholars in the crowd, so insignificant, looked at the endless believers, at the pioneer on the pyre enduring their wrath, and shed tears of regret.
Yet Bianco merely accepted it all calmly, looking up at the sky enveloped in holy light, issuing a deeply moving roar.
"The eternal laws of truth can never be extinguished by violence. The cosmic order among celestial bodies, even the so-called Creator of Light, cannot change it!"
The twelve Cardinals showed disappointment.
This ignorant wretch, no longer worthy of salvation, his soul would fall into hell, to be eternally tormented.
But then! At that moment!
Accompanied by the tumultuous holy light at the top of the Aurora Cathedral, came the wrath of the Creator of Light. Amidst the tearful and ecstatic cries of "A miracle!" from the many believers, the previously composed Pope stood in shock. A majestic divine force descended from the sky, engulfing Bianco on the pyre.
Bianco gazed at the magnificent force from the heavens, smiling calmly, facing death.
"You too can feel anger, you too can fear, you are but a higher being, merely a life form that claims to be the God of Light, not an omnipotent creator."
The blazing fire of the God of Light engulfed Bianco completely.
Countless believers knelt, tears streaming down their faces for having witnessed a miracle in their lifetime, swearing to eradicate every heretic, uphold the justice of Light unto death.
Even the scholars among the believers could only submit to theocracy, kneeling reluctantly.
In that moment, the power of the crown bowed to the power of the church, natural science lost to the theology of Light.
Yet.
Among the crowd, some devout believers of the Light, rational beings, were shaken in their hearts, witnessing the divine power of Light descend upon the world, burning Bianco, who died for truth, to ashes. They began to doubt their faith in Light.
Why couldn't the great God of Light show mercy and forgiveness to this ignorant man?'
Hundreds of years later.
The Grand Duchy of Glan, the town of Onyx Lake.
"I understand your feelings."
The priest, with eyes exuding day-to-day compassion, gently patted the boy's shoulder with his smooth, white hand for comfort.
"Although you possess the power of prayer, proving your devout faith in the Lord, Sir Bob, in his support of the church's crusade against heresy, spreading the Light, voluntarily donated a hundred gold coins. He has already secured a missionary position through his selfless offering. You'll have to wait until next year."
It had been forty years since the last crusade of the Light's Cross to the Land of Night. Rumors suggested the new Pope was eager to wash away the shame of the previous failed crusade.
Relo looked up at the priest, full of resentment.
"Last year, when Lars' arbitrator uncle took my spot, you said the same thing!"
The priest's eyes remained full of compassion.
"A hundred gold coins are enough to train several exceptional Knights of Light, maybe even another arbitrator. By relinquishing your spot, you've made a self-sacrificial offering, achieving self-redemption."
"But!"
Relo, a seventeen-year-old boy, seemingly frail yet robust in spirit, was full of indignation.
"They lack the power of prayer, incapable of proclaiming the Lord's greatness! And I, my mother chose to sacrifice herself during childbirth seventeen years ago due to her devout faith. From my first day, I carried original sin, striving to atone for myself! My father, the town's most devout believer, wishes for me to become a missionary, to go to remote and impoverished lands, to proclaim the Lord's greatness. Now he's gravely ill, and only as a clergyman can I beg for the Lord's mercy…"
"Enough!"
The priest said angrily, "Your eyes are full of anger and envy, failing to grasp the true meaning of self-sacrifice and redemption! You're only thinking of your small family, not considering the countless believers suffering under heresy. When you understand the Lord's selfless devotion, come back!"
With that, the priest walked towards the bright and holy church, no longer paying attention to Relo's desperate pleas on the steps.
(End of Chapter)