Waving goodbye to the departing carriage, Aerian's smile faltered for a moment. Seeing Aerian's face, Kanito smiled slightly as he suspected that despite Aerian's sardonic and humorous exterior, he may harbour deep affection for his father.
With the jocular mask of mischief slipping back onto his face, Aerian opened the wooden case and extracted out the scroll. It's yellow parchment crackled softly as he unrolled it.
Kanito tried to catch a glance of the scroll's contents, however, Aerian quickly folded the scroll and placed it back inside the case, "Ah, trivial, trivial matter."
'Yes, if it's trivial to you then it's definitely something important.'
"Where do we find Priest Lucius?" Kanito asked normally, trying to hide his growing interest in the contents of the scroll.
Aerian glanced at the sky with squinted eyes, "It seems like it has already been thirty minutes past 5pm. The priests would be attending to their duties at the temple around now. We should meet up with Archpriest Lucius." He said indifferently, eschewing any hint of emotion.
Kanito mustered up a little courage in order to speak on behalf of the Human-Beast World, "I was wondering how you measure time in this world. The perpetual orange sky is quite... perturbing."
Aerian said in a clear voice, "In our world, measurement of time was linked to celestial observations in Toesh era. In mordern day, the sky has nothing to do with timekeeping. The whole day is normally divided into ten hours and after six, its considered 'night' as you call it. So yeah, the firmament will always be orange."
Aerian's explanation was vivid but a specific phrase caught Kanito's attention more than the others.
'Toesh era? Yuriel mentioned this age before. As far as I can remember, he briefly mentioned it in the context of demon invasions and how the invasion resumed after this era. But if this is a time period in the history of the Human-Beast World, why is he using this term? It is possibly a term used by both worlds to mark a significant time period? I should better remember this term.'
He redirected his attention to the orange sky, "I see. The least I can say is that it sounds utterly abberant." Kanito said with genuine astonisment.
Aerian chuckled at Kanito's awestruck face and said in a casual yet affirming tone, "Imagining unfamiliar scenes is daunting, isn't it? I too was shocked and terrified when I first heard about the nights of your world, how the sky turns totally dark, as if the world was engulfed by the tenebrous tentacles of a cataclysmic demon. As a kid, I found it scarring. However, I may find such a phenomena enjoyable now."
'What Imagery! Aerian was surely a Lovecraft fan in his previous life.'
Kanito smirked playfully and added, "Oh, so if our world were to be engulfed by such an entity, you would find it enjoyable?"
Aerian giggled, "Bad phrasing from my end, I wouldn't say 'enjoyable' exactly, rather fascinating."
They both shared a short giggle. Aerian's expressions, however, lost the glee gradually as they continued their walk. Kanito couldn't help but notice that Aerian's smile slowly yielded to a sincere countenance that felt true and pure, devoid of any pretense.
"I want to step out of this world... just once." For some reason, the honest tone of Aerian's voice unsettled Kanito as he furrowed his brows in fear.
Both of them continued their journey, jostling through the multitude of pilgrims. Seeing the sheer number, Kanito felt slightly shocked, "Are all these people here for Baptism?"
Aerian chortled, "Obviously not. People come here for various purposes. To seek spiritual guidance, for funeral rites, exorcisms or simply to offer prayers."
'Exorcisms huh? So possessions are a thing in this world as well. Only difference being that the existence of demons was not confirmed back then, but it is confirmed now. So I guess it's nothing to be surprised about. Also, what is the view of the educated and progressive people of this world regarding religion, god, heaven, hell, afterlife. Do they deem them superstitious? If I have to survive and blend in with this world, I will do so with the educated, middle-class.'
They finally arrived at the base of the stone steps that led to the Sun Temple, they both gazed up to view the majestic monument.
"You see that huge structure? That's the Sun Temple." Aerian said while pointing at the temple on the peak.
'The proud grin on your face ! You are talking like you own the temple.' Kanito controlled his laugh.
Kanito followed Aerian up the grey stone steps. They soon entered a courtyard arched by colonnades. Several doorways lead to the interiors of the temple.
"Wait." Aerian suddenly stopped in his path as he noticed something. Among the countless faces that crowded the area, he recognized one.
Kanito saw that Aerian's eyes were focused on a man who seemed to be in his twenties. Tall and muscular, with a formidable build, the man wore a fancy, black tunic and had a brown leather bag slung across his shoulders. He was drying his wet, black hair with a towel. He looked serious, sincere and potentially rude. Kanito's memory stirred, recalling this known face.
'If I am not wrong, isn't this Trevor Hoffman? Aerian's elder brother? As Aerian said earlier in the hospital, he is the deputy-guildmaster and the vice-leader of Golden Souls. The one who gives his younger brother no benefits of nepotism.'
Before Kanito could ask anything, Aerian went up to his elder brother and exchanged pleasantries.
'I hope Aerian won't start a fight, given how jealous he is of his brother.'
"Hello Aerian, how now?" Trevor extended a hand and gave his brother a firm handshake.
Trevor noticed Kanito trailing behind his brother and paused for a brief moment. With a sharp, inquiring tone he asked, "And... who is that accompanying you?" He tilted his head and focused at Kanito, his eyes were sage-green with a golden fleck.
Aerian swiftly released Trevor's hand and positioned himself beside Kanito. He grasped Kanito's hand and supinated it into the gesture of a handshake.
'Why do you have to be like this, Aerian? Oh no, Trevor looks scary!'
Aerian extended that grasped hand towards Trevor and introduced him with a perky smile, "His name is Kanito Aramishi. Remember the one who got injured in my and Maxim's fight? I befriended him later on."
Trevor being used to his brother's rowdy and rollicking personality, smiled awkwardly and gave a weak shake to the pressed fingers "Oh, how are you doing now? My brother inadvertently put you in a lot of trouble, I'm so sorry for that."
Seeing a confident and bold appearance, Kanito assumed more of a rude and belittling tone from Trevor, only to find out that his tone was more leaning towards concern than rudeness.
'Stupid me, I was afraid of nothing. Why would he be rude to a person he doesn't know? I should judge less.'
"I'm totally fine now, thank you for asking, sir. I shouldn't have seated myself that close to the arena, so I share some of the blame." Kanito replied, maintaining a polite and respectful tone.
Trevor responded with an elegant smile. He grasped the eges of the damp towel and flicked it to shake off the droplets. After neatly folding it, he tucked it inside his brown leather bag.
Aerian's expressions changed rapidly after seeing this scene. Soon, a torrent of chaotic emotions surged from the deepest chambers of his heart. "Trevor," his voice cracked, like a fragile shell of a bird's egg, "Have you.." The query was like a jagged fragment of a thought that refused to coalesce.
"A Re-Baptism, yes." Trevor said casually in order to downplay the enormity of the situation, trying his best to restore the earlier convivial mood of their conversation.
Kanito looked at Aerian with contorted thoughts, he noticed Aerian's face – it was as if a desolating spear had pierced his being.
'What has Trevor done?'
Trevor adjusted the side bag and smiled gently from the corners of his lips, "Don't worry about me, fool." he said as he patted Aerian's shoulders, "Humans tend to find a way to circumvent most hurdles, they always thrive, sooner or later."
"But why?" Aerian shouted in rage. Immediately, Trevor looked embarassed and shushed him, "This is a sacred place, Aerian."
Aerian repelled Trevor's hand from his shoulders, "The sacredness is not mitigating my state." His eyes became red-rimmed and swollen, "Did Iscariot force you?"
"The guildmaster has huge expectations from me." Trevor said with an empty smile that pretended to connote pride. "Speaking of which, thanks for reminding me about the guildmaster. I will pay him a quick visit before I leave for Saulgor for my Oracle tier task, want some souvenirs?"
Aerian gazed down at the stone paved ground with a numb, emotionless face, "What Domain now?" He asked.
Trevor put a hand in his pocket and produced a white tapering candle, "Maze." He replied with a chuckle, "I guess I will need to learn a little from Harley now."
The distress on Aerian's face remained unchanged. Trevor asked in an inquiring tone, "What brings you here?"
Aerian didn't answer him, he raised his head to glance at his brother for once, only to look away quickly with despondence.
'I have to do something.'
In order to mitigate the tension, Kanito spoke up with adequate politeness, "I am here for Baptism, sir. I wanted to become a mythologer and your brother is gracious enough to guide me."
"I see. That is great but..." Trevor ambled away and stood near the steps that lead down to the foothills. "But always remember these words, the words that every mythologer must hold close to their heart, the ever true axiom — We each have a responsibility of receiving a fair share of trials the world has to offer."
The words, pronounced in a profound voice were just as chaotic and unsettling as they were divulging, as if they revealed an esoteric truth. It was as though a heavy rock was dropped in the middle of a silent lake, and at that instant, the world became filled with sound and life.
"I will remember it." Kanito said in a hushed voice as he tried to eschew the strange feelings that rose up in his heart.
"I will see you later Aerian, roughly after a month." said Trevor as he walked past the two young men. After setting foot on the first step, Trevor turned around quickly and faced them, "Oh, this was so oafish of me, I forgot to introduce myself to you, Kanito."
He stepped back another tread and bowed slightly forward, "The vice-leader of Golden Souls Elite and the heir of Golden Souls' seat in Parfisto Pact. The Second Sun, Trevor Rupean Hoffman." After Introducing himself, he turned back and descended down the stone steps.
After bowing back, Kanito rose and turned to Aerian, "You didn't ask for a souvenir?" he looked at him with worried eyes.
Wiping off what were potentially tears, Aerian tried to curl his lips, attempting to bring back the old carefree spirit but didn't succeed. Realizing his failure, he smiled softly, "I may get pejorative while taking to you right now, please forgive me in advance."
'What did Trevor even do? Re-Baptism? What does that mean? Does that put you in a greater harm? We each have a responsibility of recieving a fair share of trials the world has to offer... that is challenging but not scary.'
"You are a charming person, Aerian. Your sadness darkens the surroundings, so please cheer up. I'm sure your brother knows what he is doing." Kanito spoke his mind this time, he tried to alleviate his friend's mood.
----
Both of them walked further and arrived infront of the Sun Temple. The imposing pyamidical structure was made of ivory marble and had ten golden rings coiling up the tapering structure, it had fancy carvings emblazoned on the white surface between each ring. Above the tenth ring was the ornate drawing of a bright sun and at the temple's base was a giant, semicircular gate, adorned with bright stones and glyphs.
Kanito studied the design attentively, 'Ten rings... above each ring lies myths and legends in form of carvings. Each layer is representing a layer of heaven I suppose? The sun at the apex of the temple is probably symbolizing that the god of sun is the strongest god, since it is a temple of the Sun God, it will ofcourse glorify its god.'
"Let's go inside." Aerian marched forward and Kanito followed.
As soon as Kanito entered the temple, his pupils dilated, the atmosphere inside the temple was dark and shadowy. The fact that it was occupied by believers was only made out from the soft murmurs they made.
'The inside is like a dark cinema hall ! No one would say that this is a place where the deity of sun is worshipped. Maybe the gods of night and darkness are more suited to be worshipped in here.'
The interior was high-ceilinged and its inner walls had undecipherable mosaics and murals. There were seats arranged in curved, tiered rows, reminiscent of a crescent moon.
Both of them went down the tiered rows and eventually reached the first row, "Where is he?" Kanito asked as he looked around to find no trace of a priestly figure. Aerian looked clueless as well, he turned to a woman who was seated at the edge of the frist row, "Excuse me, Where do we find.."
Aerian halted immediately as the young woman turned around. The girl had long, fringed, brown hair and light blue eyes, she was dressed simply in a wavy, white gown , she looked at Aerian with raised brows that somewhat obscured a brow-shaped scar on her forehead. She closed a book placed on her lap.
"Aerian?" She said adjusting her hair.
"Oh, it's Bellona, almost after two months." Aerian said with a casual face.
'Past lovers?' Kanito observed the woman from a short distance.
"Aerian, how have you been?" Bellona asked in a hesitant voice.
"Pretty good, how are you and your brother doing? Forgive me for not being able to attend your sister's funeral. I know my presence would've been a burden on your family." Aerian's face gained a tint of somberness for a moment.
"That's fine." Bellona said softly while looking away.
"Anyway, we are a little busy now, do you know where is Priest Lucius?" Aerian asked with a straight face.
Bellona gripped the contoured back of the seat and showed an extremely concerned face, she said in a solemn tone, "You became a mythologer, Aerian? Why?"
Agitated by the question, Aerian's face became stoic as he answered her, "To be honest Bellona, when I learned that you can have access to supernatural powers in this world, I couldn't help but imagine myself becoming a mythologer."
Bellona's tone lowered and became more somber, "You know, if Harriet was alive, she would've never let you become a mythologer."
"Oh come on Bellona, enough with your histrionic display of concern." Aerian rolled his eyes in annoyance before adding a grieving sentence, "That's why, it is good that she is dead." As soon as he said it, he immediately covered his mouth, "I'm so sorry."
'Are you stupid? This is a sensitive issue !' Kanito frowned at Aerian.
Bellona got up from her seat and glared at Aerian from the corner of her eyes, "You are still invited to my brother's birthday, come if you care." She exited the row and moved forward.
A man wearing an orange cassock entered the hall from the other side of the pyramid and interrupted Bellona.
"The Sun hovers beyond the ten realms of sky, purifying evils in heaven and earth." The man chanted in a clear voice, his face acquiring a warm smile.