"In the archives of the Church, there are records mentioning that some members of the roseSchool of Life worship the Primordial Moon.
We initially believed that the Primordial Moon was merely another aspect of the Bound God… but from what I've seen today, that does not seem to be the case.
On the contrary, there seems to be deep and irreconcilable conflict between your factions…"
After a long silence, colic finally felt the lingering gaze upon him fade away. He exhaled and spoke his understanding of the Primordial Moon.
"You're quite perceptive. And that is precisely why I brought you here," Ael said, his voice carrying a trace of amusement.
He leaned back in his chair and laughed lightly.
"Two demigods, assigned to purge rebel forces in the Southern Continent, suddenly vanish.
Coincidentally, the rebels you were dealing with had strong ties to the Rose School of Thought.
And within the entire Southern Continent, who else would have the capability to make two demigods disappear?"
Ael tapped his fingers against the armrest, his voice carrying a playful tone.
"With such a grave humiliation and loss, who do you think the Intis military and the Eternal Blazing Sun Church will blame?"
A glint of intrigue flashed in his eyes as he continued,
"If my predictions are correct… then two angels will soon descend upon the Southern Continent."
Since everything was already set in motion, Ael saw no harm in revealing part of his plan to colic.
His timing had been carefully chosen—not only to sow discord between Intis and the Rose School but also to create opportunities for himself.
First, he could seize the chance to eliminate some of the Rose School's demigods, potentially gaining favor with the Highland Princess and forging an alliance with her.
Second, he could leverage the Eternal Blazing Sun Church and Intis' military forces to weaken the Rose School's influence in the Southern Continent, clearing the path for the Primordial Moon's followers to expand their presence.
Third, by fueling conflict, he could slow the Bound Mother Tree's encroachment upon the domain of the Moon, allowing the Fallen Mother Goddess to strengthen Her hold over it.
As for whether the Rose School would deny their involvement?
It didn't matter.
Even if they protested their innocence, who would believe them?
"Your Highness… you intend to incite war between us and the Rose School to further your own agenda?"
colic listened intently as Ael laid out his scheme.
After a brief moment of silence, he furrowed his brows and said,
"A battle between angels could devastate the Southern Continent…"
Hearing colic's concerns, Ael let out a chuckle.
"Relax. At most, there will only be minor skirmishes—nothing that would destroy the Southern Continent."
He stood up from his chair, stretching slightly before continuing,
"And even if things spiral out of control, isn't that what the Seven Gods are for? It's hardly our concern."
Turning back to colic, Ael smirked.
"For now, you'll be staying here. Once this matter is resolved, Dean will present our terms and personally escort you back to Cadra City.
Don't worry—we'll ensure you're well taken care of. You'll be provided with the finest Intisian cuisine and beverages daily."
Pausing for a moment, he then playfully added,
"Oh, wait… I nearly forgot. As a devout follower of the Eternal Blazing Sun, you likely abstain from alcohol.
Dean, make sure the kitchen replaces the wine with milk or water for our esteemed guest."
Dean, standing silently at the side, immediately nodded.
"As you command, O Great Son of God."
As he reached the door of the cell, Ael turned back one last time, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"If you wish to pray to the Eternal Blazing Sun every day, be my guest. I won't stop you, nor will I have anyone monitor you.
But let me remind you—no matter how devoutly you pray, He won't hear you."
He chuckled, stepping out of the cell as the iron door slammed shut behind him.
Inside the dimly lit prison, colic clasped his hands together, sighed deeply, and began his silent prayer.
Hallways of the Underground Prison
The torches along the walls flickered, casting long shadows across the narrow passage.
Ael walked ahead, his steps light and unhurried. Beside him, Dean followed silently, his bald head reflecting the dim light.
Without looking back, Ael casually asked,
"I didn't expect you were once a candidate for the next Pontiff of the Earth Mother Church.
If you had stayed with them, you might already be an angel by now.
Tell me, why did you leave?
The official story claims you 'misunderstood' the teachings of the Earth Mother, but I don't buy that."
Dean's footsteps slowed slightly, and for a moment, he remained silent. It was as if the question had brought back memories he would rather forget.
Noticing this, Ael raised an eyebrow and added,
"If you don't wish to talk about it, I won't press you. I'm not the type to pry—I'm merely curious."
Dean shook his head.
"No… It's not a matter of secrecy."
His voice was low, carrying a hint of restrained anger.
"Your Highness, are you familiar with the advancement ritual for a Classical Alchemist?"
Ael thought for a moment before answering,
"If I recall correctly… it involves crafting a Philosopher's Stone?"
Dean nodded.
"Yes. And the process of creating a Philosopher's Stone requires vast amounts of souls—whether from insects, animals, fish, or humans.
However, using human souls yields the highest success rate."
At this revelation, Ael's amused expression froze. He had a vague idea of what was coming next.
Dean continued, his voice steady but filled with an underlying fury.
"My Philosopher's Stone was incomplete. I had used fewer human souls, and as a result, the ritual nearly failed.
I lost control. I lost my sanity. By all accounts, I should have perished.
Yet somehow, I survived and successfully advanced to become a Classical Alchemist.
No one told me how I managed to stabilize…
I assumed it was a miracle. That the Earth Mother had shown me favor.
But then, during an unrelated conversation, I learned the truth."
Dean's scarred face remained expressionless as he spoke the next words.
"During my ritual… the High Priestess secretly sent nearly two hundred slaves—captives from Loen, Feysac, and the Rorsted Archipelago—into the ceremonial chamber.
In my frenzied state, I slaughtered them all.
I devoured their souls.
Only then did my Philosopher's Stone become complete.
Only then was I able to stabilize my advancement."
Ael remained silent for a long moment before sighing.
"So, you questioned the High Priestess' decision… and that was the beginning of your conflict with the Earth Mother Church.
In the end, they put you on trial, didn't they?"
Dean's lips curled slightly in self-mockery.
"Yes. I was sentenced to death.
But I didn't die.
Instead, I found a new path."
Hearing this, Ael let out another sigh. His understanding of the world's churches deepened further.
There was no denying that the major churches contributed to maintaining order. Their NIGHTHAWKS, Adjudicators, and Templars all worked to protect ordinary people from supernatural threats.
Yet, at the same time, the decisions made by their high-ranking members—the so-called 'divine will'—often led to immeasurable suffering.
Even gods were indifferent to mortal lives.
How could their churches be any different?