As they descended down the stone steps, the orange sky and the warm and windy enviroment came into view again. The distant lake of purification consecrated in the name of St. Promius, shimmered like a mirror and reflected the vibrant hue of the sky.
"Fresh, fresh air," Aerian smiled and spread his arms wide as he inhaled in the gentle breeze that wafted off the lake's surface. He went closer to the lake and kneeled down, dipping a finger into the lake's surface, "It is warm just as expected."
"Of course it is, Baptism Lakes are formed from the liquification of a deity's divinity." Rougen said.
Kanito arches his brows, as he sensed something off about the lake, "A deity's divinity in liquid form?" he mumbled out.
"Yes. This lake formed in Toesh era, predates the formation of our nation itself. How else do you think this lake is sustaining itself sustain if it's just a normal lake."
'So this lake is imbued with the essence of the Sun God Akhmis himself. Will bathing in it be a problem? Is this the danger Mr. Hoffman was emphasizing on?'
Kanito cleared his throat and prepared himself to ask a question, "Archpriest Rougen, I am aware of my ignorance. What did you imply when you said that this lake is formed from the divinity of a deity?" He maintained the polite demeanour.
"Blaze, better known as divinity, is an attribute of the gods that stems from their gospel, it often manifests as pure white light emanating from the deity's body, however can take shape into whatever the deity desires. One of the many reasons why the gods stopped interacting with us was because we became too fragile to withstand their aura."
Kanito assumed a wondered face as he heard Rougen, the "dangers of mythology" which Mr. Hoffman brought up frequently became less obscure to him.
Kanito forced his mind to think a few thoughts, 'So I have to take a bath in the Sun God's divinity? That would incinerate me to ashes!' The thoughts he crafted were insincere, the fear he attempted to decieve himself with, felt equally artificial.
Kanito was shocked by his own feelings, after thinking too hard about the dangers, he was hopeful that that he would feel a certain defree of fear, however it never came, he felt nothing – no apprehension, no anxiety, not even a flicker of concern.
Was the desire to survive and blend in so overwhelming?
He impulsively smiled and muttered, "Life is the limit." It was because no matter how polite he appeared on the surface, no matter how much he tried to avoid this feeling, he never realized that he had inadvertently accepted the fact that he was growing cold and desperate
The waters of the still lake erupted in chaotic ripples, the lake started to lash like whips as if it was boiled by an invisible force. With his finger still dipped inside the lake's surface, Aerian smiled mischievously, "Just trying out my Propeller ability."
"Do it somewhere else Aerian, the lake is not your toy." Rougen commanded strictly, "Also let us start with the Baptism."
Kanito then thought about a strange problem and his face became red in embarrassment, 'Oh sh*t, why didn't I think of this earlier? Since I will get Baptized, do I.. do I have to get naked? I cannot do that in front of that girl!'
With a deep breath, he asked Rougen, "Uh.. Archpriest Rougen, it will sound strange but.. would it be necessary to remove my.. clothing, for the Baptism?"
Rougen stared at him for a second and then burst out laughing, "Oh no, no. Nothing of that type will happen. It was my fault for not explaining the steps of the ritual to you."
Rougen held his face to stop the excess of laughter, "First, I will look in your Light Space," he placed a finger on Kanito's forehead and closed his eyes, after a minute, he said slowly, "Hmm.. as it was expected, your Light Space is dark and motionless, you really are just a normal human."
"You still need physical contact for that? You haven't practiced Search since my Baptism." Aerian removed his finger from the lake and stood upright.
"I know, me and Archpriest Lucius have yet to master the sermon, Search. If Cardinal Priest Marcellus was present, he would've examined Kanito's Light Space from just a glance." Rougen said with humility.
"Now, I will start with the Anti-Blaze chant," Rougen opened the brass book in his hands to a certain page, as Kanito took a peek of the scripture, he noticed it was written in Agloic however this version of Agloic was more archaic. The title of the page read 'Sun Baptism Ritual' with a sub-heading 'Blaze Precautions.'
Rougen turned the book to Kanito and pointed a certain passage, "This is the Anti-Blaze chant, recite it aloud and your mind and soul will be sealed, that way, the Blaze Waters will only seep into your Light Space."
Kanito held the book and gave the passage a read multiple times, the language was twisted and ancient so he sounded out words he couldn't spell, ensuring he understood the chant correctly.
Finally he read it aloud,
"In thy splendor, Sun, I find benediction of serenity,
In thy light, Sun, I find solace and sagacity,
Thy Baptism confereth sacramental ablution and the sundering of the Zeroth-Lock.
So, I beseech thee, O radiant one,
Shield me from the flames that consume."
As he recited the chant, the inside of his body began to heat up. It was as if his mind and soul were wrapped by an armor of fire. This fiery sensation was comforting and securing.
"Your mind and soul are sealed now, I hope." Rougen said as he turned the back to himself.
"Yes," Kanito's senses grew more acute every second.
Soon, an ethereal lock manifested in front of Kanito's neck. The lock shone with an otherwordly, lime green light, hanging before him like a floating necklace.
"What is this?" Kanito asked as he arched his brows, however in lesser confusion than it was expected. His encounters with the supernatural were increasing so events like these will be normalized at some point.
Bellona held her chin and reduced her distance from the group, "I guess, the Zeroth-Lock, breaking this lock will be the onset of the supernatural, you will be irrevocably bind to the machinations of the world."
Rougen nodded at Bellona's words and added, "Very true. As a matter of formality, I must pose this question to you, despite it's seeming strangeness at this moment."
His expressions became solemn as he stared deep into Kanito's eyes, "Innocence is a powerful excuse that grants you protection, however if lost once, is never found. By becoming a mythologer you give up your card of innocence, thereby declaring yourself to be no more in need of divine protection. Therefore, you will neither protest nor lament if you are held responsible for whatever damage is done to the Creation. So I ask you again, do you want to become a mythologer."
A wave of chaotic emotions surged from the deepest recesses of his heart, Kanito looked down at the lake on which his reflection fell, small ripples distorted his image. The lake's warmth was not enough to stop the chilling shiver the words induced down his spine.
Kanito glanced at the green lock in front of him and pondered, 'I already gave up.. rather I was forced to give up my innocence the day Earth was invaded. If I don't become a mythologer, I will never be able to live a normal life again. Only fear will remain in my heart, which will fuel me to keep on running away from imprisonment, torcher and shame. I will sometimes be tagged as a criminal, sometimes as a homeless, helpless refugee. I will wash those adjectives away, I will survive and that too with dignity!'
"I want to become one." Kanito said with a strong voice, showing no pain, pausing for not even a moment for second thoughts.
Rougen turned the book to a certain page and gave it to Kanito again, "Then take the Oath, this is the last step before you inundate your body with the divinity of Lord Akhmis."
On a half-torn page was written a short passage, under the sub-heading "Mythologer's Oath." The passage was written in black letters with archaic words. This time, Kanito didn't sound out the words before reading them aloud, a feeling from within told him there was no need to.
He proceeded to read it in a bold tone, his eyes slowly widened as he realized that he has heard these words before, "We each have a responsibility of receiving a fair share of trials the world has to offer."
He paused for a second to read further,
"I promise to accept the Curse of Mythology : If an apocalyptic event ever happens to strike the world one day, the survivors will surely offer eulogies, but none of those eulogies will be intended for me. By becoming a mythologer, I promise to neither lament nor grieve over this fate."
He removed his eyes from the book to have a look at Rougen's face, "Even though I am doing this job for over twenty years, it still brings me to tears." He rubbed his eyes and gave an empty smile.
"Now, the last step : getting Baptized by Sun." Rougen added, "Step forward and immerse yourself inside the lake three times."
'Thank God, I learned swimming in middle school.'
Gradually, Kanito stepped into the warm waters, his body up until his knees was immersed inside the lake. However, an uneasy feeling rapidly tightened around his thighs. He felt like he was levitating, the lake's floor beneath was very elusive, as if the platform which he stood on was disappearing and reappearing with time.
With a deep breath, Rougen instructed, "Now dip your body inside,"
Kanito held his breath and closed his eyes, then dipped his entire body inside the lake. The waters coursed through his nostrils and ears. He quickly rose to the surface, splashing the waters everywhere. His robe, cloak and sandals were all drenched in the divinity of the Sun God.
"One!" Rougen said loudly.
Kanito repeated the sacred act, drowning himself to rise again.
"Two!" Aerian joined Rougen.
Kanito dipped his body for the third time, this time he saw the green lock shatter and burn away in the waters. After staying inside the lake for a few seconds, he rose his head vigorously and shouted loud, "Three!"
But when he rose his head, everything changed. Rougen, Aerian, Bellona, none of them were there, the brass book, the grey steps, the temple, none remained. When he looked up, not even the sky was tainted by the orange hue anymore. Instead, what remained was impervious darkness.
This new place was disturbing and elusive, however, Kanito could make out that he was no more in water, he was able to feel hard ground below his feet. Has he sinked to the lake's floor? But the floor didn't seem that deep. What was this place?
Kanito felt a tender, almost imperceptible tickle on his right shoulder. It was so subtle, it could've been easily ignored but Kanito noticed it.
A small ray of light flashed from the darkness and with it, he saw a delicate feather with a golden shaft lying gently on his shoulder.