The steps of Jeanne, Thomas, and Pharnaces II echoed clearly as they entered the Mephisa Church. The air inside felt cold and heavy, as if filled with something invisible. Dim candlelight cast strange shadows on the stone walls, and at the far end of the main hall stood a grand statue. It depicted a woman with a cold face, black wings, and empty eyes. Her left hand gripped a massive sword, while her right hand pointed toward the sky.
Jeanne stopped mid-step, staring sharply at the statue. "Is that… the goddess Mephisa?" she asked softly, her voice reverberating through the empty chamber.
Thomas furrowed his brow as he examined the statue, speaking inwardly. "Navigator, do you know anything about this?"
The Navigator's voice resonated in his mind, calm but filled with uncertainty. "I don't. In the game Astral Point, there was never an NPC, deity, or entity resembling this statue. This could be something entirely new—whether native to this world or something crafted for it. I'm not even certain if the goddess Mephisa truly exists."
Thomas nodded slightly, more to himself than anyone else. The answer didn't bring him any comfort; if anything, his suspicion deepened.
"What did the Navigator say?" Jeanne asked, noticing the shift in his expression.
"He's unsure," Thomas replied flatly. "He says this statue didn't exist in the world he knows. It might be something entirely original to this place."
Pharnaces sighed, his gaze fixed on the statue. "If that's true, then this is even more dangerous. We're walking in darkness without knowing what we're truly facing."
They stood there for a moment, letting the church's silence seep into their thoughts until suddenly, a soft but sharp sound broke the stillness: a familiar ding! A system screen appeared before them, projecting large, clear text:
[Quest update: Kill or spare the Archpriest of the Mephisa Church.]
The three read the text carefully as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Before they could react, another screen appeared with an additional message:
[Warning: This quest contains choices that will affect future storylines. Once made, decisions cannot be undone. Choose wisely, Navigator!]
Jeanne stepped closer to Thomas, her face showing concern. "What is this? A choice to kill or spare? Is this part of our main quest?"
Thomas didn't immediately respond, listening to the Navigator's voice in his mind. "It's true, Thomas. This is a main quest. The choice will determine the storyline ahead. But… it's so sudden. We don't even know what's really going on here."
"The Navigator says this is a main quest," Thomas finally said, looking at Jeanne and Pharnaces. "This decision isn't trivial. The story ahead will change depending on what we choose."
"And we don't know what will happen with either choice," Jeanne added firmly. "It's too risky to decide in haste."
Pharnaces crossed his arms, his focus on the grand statue before them. "So, what do we do? Waiting here won't give us answers."
Thomas felt a tightness in his chest. As someone accustomed to rational thinking, he found himself at a loss in this situation. The choice they made wouldn't just affect this quest—it could ripple out to the entire world around them. But without sufficient information, how could they make the right decision?
Jeanne, usually decisive, appeared uncertain. "We need to learn more about this Archpriest. Who they are, their connection to this church, and why the system is giving us a choice to kill or spare them."
"That means we need to move forward," Thomas said, taking a deep breath. "We can't decide without enough information."
The Navigator, listening to their discussion, finally spoke again in Thomas' mind. "You're right. Learn what you can. But remember, this is a different world. Your choices here might have unpredictable consequences."
Thomas nodded slightly, then spoke to Jeanne and Pharnaces. "Let's find this Archpriest. But we need to be careful. Whatever we find here might not be what we expect."
Their steps were halted by the sound of light footsteps echoing from the shadows. The once-silent church felt heavier, the air growing tense. Jeanne, Thomas, and Pharnaces slowed their movements, staying alert. The shadows, which had previously been still, now seemed to move, stalking from the dark corners of the vast hall.
Suddenly, a priest leaped out of the darkness, lunging toward Jeanne with a dagger raised high. The attack was so swift and sudden that Jeanne froze, her eyes widening in shock.
Before the blade could strike, the sharp clang of metal rang out. Pharnaces, with incredible reflexes, had intercepted the attack with his sword. In one fluid motion, he turned his blade and plunged it into the priest's body. The man staggered, blood pouring from his wound, before collapsing lifelessly onto the cold church floor.
Jeanne gasped, her breath coming in shallow pants. She stared at the lifeless body before her, her hands trembling. Though she had witnessed countless deaths in battle, something about this was different. The killing had been so quick, so close, and so brutal.
"You… killed him," Jeanne whispered, her voice barely audible.
Pharnaces wiped his sword clean with a cloth hanging from his belt. "Of course. He intended to kill you. If I hadn't acted, he would've tried again. You need to accept this reality, Jeanne."
Jeanne lowered her gaze, Pharnaces' words piercing her thoughts like a dagger. Kill or be killed? But… this wasn't war. This was different. How could she justify such an act? She gripped the hilt of her sword, but the heaviness in her heart only grew.
Thomas, who had been silent, spoke with calm yet firm resolve. "Pharnaces is right. In a situation like this, mercy for an enemy is foolishness. Jeanne, you're a soldier. You know that an enemy intent on killing can't be allowed to live."
Jeanne slightly shook her head, but before she could reply, heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor. Several other priests emerged from the shadows, each gripping a dagger in their hands, their faces twisted with deep hatred. They said nothing, but their advancing steps spoke volumes about their intent.
Pharnaces raised his sword, ready for the confrontation. "Jeanne, we don't have time to hesitate. They're here to kill us."
Thomas opened his magic tome, his expression cold and composed. "Navigator, this is a clear situation. There's no room for high morality here. Jeanne must decide: fight or die."
Jeanne looked at the approaching priests, her left hand trembling on the hilt of her sword. They were human... not demons. Perhaps they were only following orders. But if I don't fight...
As the priests launched their attack, Pharnaces moved like a storm. His sword gleamed in the dim candlelight, parrying strikes and cutting down his enemies with deadly precision. Thomas, though not as swift as Pharnaces, displayed tactical skill, countering attacks and exploiting openings to injure the priests with his water magic.
But Jeanne remained rooted in place, her body trembling. She lifted her sword, but her hands refused to move to strike. A priest lunged at her, dagger raised high, and instinct forced her to block the attack. But when the moment came to counter, she froze.
"Jeanne!" Pharnaces shouted, his voice booming. "Fight them! Or you'll die here!"
"I..." Jeanne stammered, her eyes filled with uncertainty.
"This isn't a noble war!" Pharnaces growled, cutting down another priest without hesitation. "This is reality. The world gives us no choice but to kill or be killed!"
His words hit Jeanne like a blow. Kill or be killed. Is this the path I must choose? But if I don't fight... I'll only be a burden to them. She bit her lip, drawing a little blood. With a cry of desperation, she finally swung her sword, though her movements were stiff and hesitant.
The battle ended within minutes. The priests' bodies lay scattered across the church floor, their blood staining the cold stone. Jeanne stood frozen, her sword drenched in blood, but her heart felt heavier than ever.
Pharnaces patted Jeanne on the shoulder, not gently, but firmly. "You did it, Jeanne. You survived. Remember this: enemies intent on killing you don't deserve mercy. You must grow stronger, or you won't survive in this world."
Thomas, having finished his fight, added, "The Navigator said this is an unchangeable story. Our choices here will determine everything."
As they walked further, they came to a large statue of another goddess, Mephisa. The statue, once grand, now stood as a grim shadow of its former glory. Its shattered and broken wings left only a figure holding a sword, pointing to the sky as if giving a warning or command. The oppressive atmosphere grew heavier, but they knew they couldn't stop now. Behind the statue lay a hidden path—a passage leading deeper into the dark secrets of this church.
Pharnaces examined the path with a sharp gaze. "This is where those priests came from," he said quietly, his voice heavy but resolute. He stepped into the dark corridor without hesitation, sword still drawn. "If we want answers, we have to go there."
Thomas followed close behind, his eyes scanning every shadowed corner of the corridor. "What do you think, Navigator?" he asked in his mind, hoping for insight.
But the reply was unsatisfying. "Focus on the quest. That's all that matters," Navigator said flatly, emotionless. There was no curiosity or suspicion, only a push to complete the objective.
Thomas sighed quietly. Why is he so apathetic now? Is this part of the world that even he can't explain?
Behind them, Jeanne walked slowly. Her steps were heavier than before, as though an invisible weight dragged her down. She gripped her sword tightly, but her expression betrayed deep conflict. I don't want this. Killing humans isn't my calling. But if I don't fight, I'll only be a burden... or I'll die.
"Jeanne," Pharnaces' voice suddenly broke her thoughts, sharp but not accusatory. "There's no time to doubt. You're here because you have something to do. If you're not ready, step back now. But if you stay with us, make sure you're prepared for anything."
Jeanne didn't reply. She only nodded slightly and stepped closer, trying to steady her trembling.
The corridor was long, narrow, and dark, lit only by dim torches along the walls. The air grew colder as they descended deeper. There were no signs of life, only the echo of their footsteps.
"Strange," Thomas murmured. "No guards. No one else here."
"The darker the place, the deeper the secret," Pharnaces replied flatly, his eyes remaining alert.
When they finally reached the end of the corridor, the sight before them made them stop. A large room stretched out, lined with rows of iron bars. The cells were scattered along the walls, old and rusted but clearly still in use. Inside some of the cells were torn pieces of fabric, as if belonging to children or those who had been imprisoned there. In another corner stood tools that looked like they were used for torture. The atmosphere in the room was even more suffocating than the corridor.
Jeanne stared at the scene in horror. "This... this isn't a church. It's a prison," she said, her voice trembling. "How can a place like this exist beneath a house of worship?"
Thomas approached one of the cells, examining the bars. "This isn't just a prison," he said, pointing to strange symbols carved into the metal. "These symbols... they don't belong to any church I know."
Pharnaces didn't look surprised. "This church lost its right to be called a house of worship long ago. From what we've seen so far, I doubt they worship a benevolent goddess."
Thomas glanced at Jeanne. "Jeanne, you know more about churches and faith. What do you think of this?"
Jeanne shook her head, her gaze fixed on the bars. "I... I don't know. This is wrong. Everything about this place is wrong. But if children were taken from the orphanage and brought here, we can't leave them."
"They're probably dead," Pharnaces said coldly. "Or worse."
Jeanne frowned, a flicker of anger igniting in her eyes. "That doesn't mean we give up. If there's a chance to save them, we have to try."
"And if it means we have to fight?" Pharnaces asked sharply.
Jeanne fell silent, but this time she didn't back down. "I'll fight if I have to. But I won't kill without reason."
Thomas observed the exchange carefully. This wasn't just about what lay in this place, but about how they would face it. Jeanne had to choose her path, as did all of them. He took a deep breath, trying to gather his scattered thoughts.
"Navigator," he said in his mind. "Do you really feel nothing about this place?"
Navigator's reply remained just as flat. "Focus on the quest. That's all that matters."
Thomas exhaled, his eyes returning to the room. "Alright," he said finally. "If this is part of the main quest, then we have to keep moving. But we can't act recklessly. Something big is happening here, and I doubt we've seen the worst of it yet."
***