"Why the sudden interest in this group? Looking to join a hobby club? I'd recommend the drama club instead," Felix said as she slid into the driver's seat.
Sonia, after some thought, opted for the backseat, stretching out comfortably on the plush leather upholstery. She responded casually, "I joined the drama club last semester. Turns out it's just a playground for middle-tier women scheming against each other, supported by a crew of low-tier men orbiting them, all vying for the prize of one or two high-quality guys. The prizes last year weren't to my liking, so I quit."
"You only left because you got bored?"
"Well, since you know about the Four Pillars Church, you're aware it's not just another shallow club where teens look for excuses to mingle," Sonia replied, pulling out a wet wipe to dab at the sweat on her neck. "It's much more dangerous than that."
Felix tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully. "Technically, there shouldn't be any information about the Four Pillars Church within the Starry Kingdom. Care to share where you heard about them?"
"From the Handbook for Sorcerers in the virtual realm."
"...You can just say 'I'd rather not tell.' There's no need to concoct unverifiable sources," Felix replied dryly. "Anything from the Handbook is legally inadmissible and hardly credible. You've seen The Legendary Treasure, right?"
"Of course! I've watched the version starring Daidalos at least five times!" Sonia perked up instantly. "But I really did learn about it from the Handbook."
The Legendary Treasure was a widely known tale in the Starry Kingdom, adapted into countless dramas. The story followed a novice sorcerer who, during their journey through the virtual realm, stumbled upon a glowing, golden Handbook for Sorcerers. The handbook detailed the rituals required to uncover the fabled treasure. Driven by greed, the protagonist devoted themselves to mastering sorcery and summoning spirits necessary for the ritual.
When the treasure's gate finally appeared, it didn't lead to wealth or riches but instead unleashed an abyss filled with writhing tentacles and infinite darkness. The protagonist, thinking they could resist, watched in horror as their summoned spirits betrayed them and willingly dove into the abyss.
The ritual had been nothing more than bait. The treasure gate wasn't inherently powerful but was precisely calibrated to prey on those who performed the ritual. It became their ultimate predator, consuming them completely.
The story ended with a young novice discovering the discarded, glowing handbook, perpetuating the cycle.
While the fable warned against greed and shortcuts, it also served as a grim reminder to sorcerers: information from the Handbook for Sorcerers could be perilous.
"If that's really where you learned about the Four Pillars Church, there's no reason to investigate further. Judging by the fact that you're asking me, you've already scoured the library, haven't you? Since when are you so curious? Or is Professor Trozan not giving you enough sword drills?"
"Tch. If you don't want to share, just say so and drive me back to the dorms," Sonia said, clearly irritated.
"Doubting isn't the same as refusing," Felix countered. "I hate the way you assume things." She shifted the car into gear, smoothly backing out onto the road. "But to be honest, I don't know much about the Four Pillars Church either. As I said, there's no written record. The Empire has been very thorough in erasing them."
"So how do you know about them?" Sonia asked, leaning forward over the driver's seat.
"I've heard whispers in noble circles, mostly as macabre curiosities," Felix admitted. "From what I've gathered, the Four Pillars each represent a principle: the Tyrant, who rules through violence; the Schemer, who manipulates through deceit; the Father, who torments through despair; and the Prince, who seduces through indulgence. Naturally, the only one nobles are even remotely drawn to is the Hedonistic Prince."
"Does the Four Pillars Church exist in the Starry Kingdom?" Sonia pressed.
"No, it doesn't," Felix said firmly. "For any cult to thrive, it requires societal dissatisfaction or a yearning for solace. The Starry Kingdom is a great nation; there's no soil for heresy to take root."
"But didn't you just say nobles dabble in the Four Pillars out of curiosity?"
"Everyone has phases of foolishness, nobles included," Felix replied. "But what sets nobles apart is the honor bestowed by their titles, which protects them from succumbing to folly or corruption."
"Nobles owe their elevated status to the blessings of the stars," Sonia recited, "granted by the Empress herself upon receiving their titles. It's said the blessings make them wise, brave, and just… and they really do seem that way."
The rigid class hierarchy of the Starry Kingdom was well-known. No matter how brilliant a sorcerer was, they could never wield imperial authority unless they were a noble. Yet, despite this glaring disparity, the system was rarely challenged.
Even Sonia, who often joked the world owed her a crown, acknowledged the nobles' value. They were genuinely exceptional.
"Just," "brave," and "dedicated" were words commonly associated with nobles. The blessing of the stars ensured they upheld these virtues.
"The core of the blessing," Felix added, glancing at the starlit night sky, "is absolute loyalty to the Starry Kingdom."
"Absolute loyalty? Like brainwashing?"
"Not quite," Felix explained. "Think of it this way: Sonia, you love your mother, enjoy making money, and want to contribute to the Starry Kingdom. But if you had to rank them, your mother would come first, then earning money, and then the kingdom, right?"
"Of course," Sonia nodded, then paused. "Though… if it's a lot of money…"
Felix rolled his eyes. "The blessing merely shifts priorities. It places the welfare of the kingdom above all else. Nobles don't lose their individuality—they can still care for their families and pursue hobbies. It's not mind control. It's alignment."
Sonia considered this. "Would I want to be a noble if given the chance?"
Felix raised a brow. "Well?"
"Probably," Sonia admitted. "If it just means putting the kingdom first, that's fine. It's my home, after all."
"Exactly. And that's why the Four Pillars Church has no place here," Felix said. "The Empire's thorough purging aside, there's simply no demand for it. Without need, a cult like that is doomed to fade into obscurity."
The car rolled to a stop outside the dorms. Felix pressed a button, unlocking the rear door. "That's all I know about the Four Pillars. Anything else?"
"Nope." Sonia hopped out, pausing at the window. "Thanks. See you tomorrow."
Felix watched her skip toward the dormitory, finally exhaling in relief. Talking to her felt like running a mental marathon.
As she gripped the wheel, Felix noticed blood staining the leather. Her left hand was still bleeding from the earlier sparring match. Peeling off her glove, she examined her palm, where a small, circular hole sat neatly in the center—just big enough for an eye.
Raising her hand to her face, Felix's amethyst eyes glimmered like a kaleidoscope as she peered through the hole, watching Sonia's retreating figure.
"Who told her about the Four Pillars?" Felix murmured to herself. "I hate unknown variables."