Gun of Ashes

”Actually, my relationship with the Purification Mechanism is merely cooperative, just like your relationship with them. We simply share the same stance, or one part of it overlaps, so we can become temporary allies.”

”I help the Purification Mechanism develop technology to combat Demons, and they collect those lost alchemical notes for me. If your pursuit is the eradication of Demons, then mine is Truth, that unknown Truth.”

Merlin thought carefully and continued explaining to Lorenzo what he meant to say.

”So back to this, Lorenzo, the Black Angel is very important to me, I believe it is a key to unlocking that long-sealed door.”

”I think you now sound like a charlatan,” Lorenzo said with some fear. These Alchemists were all madmen, though Merlin was relatively calm among them.

”This is the malevolent nature of humanity; we will never understand each other. This is what has triggered the curse of knowledge. Do you remember the ’Divine Favor Baptism’ you mentioned to me?”

Merlin’s expression was filled with yearning, happiness mingling with intense pain.

”Lorenzo, I am a Scholar. Your story hadn’t attracted others’ attention, but I was deeply drawn to it, such a magnificent and beautiful world...

But a more painful fact emerged, Lorenzo. No matter how much I imagine, I can’t construct in my mind that world I’ve never seen. The same goes for you; no matter how detailed your explanations, I remain a blind man to that unknown world, unable to see anything.”

Merlin gazed at the Black Angel above. Under the light, it carried a kind of evil anomaly sacredness, as if it were a sacrificial ceremony.

”I’ve read many alchemical notes, and deciphered much content. The deeper I delve into that knowledge, the more I realize how frightening this aspect is...”

Merlin looked at Lorenzo and expressed his doubts.

”Have you ever thought that Demons might indeed be the unknown? And that our understanding of them is the curse of knowledge?”

”Information gap.”

Lorenzo spoke slowly, beginning to put away his indifferent attitude, increasingly focused as he listened.

”Just like when we first developed the steam engine, it actually upset many people. They felt it was abnormal because this machinery far surpassed human power and broke their ’common sense.’ Before the steam engine, everything worked on human power. Some even believed we were Wizards, binding souls into the machines to work for us.

This is ignorance, this is backwardness, this is an information gap...”

Merlin leaned close to Lorenzo’s ear, speaking softly, as if uttering some taboo or blasphemy.

”Then... is there such a possibility, Lorenzo Holmes?”

In those hollow eyes was nothing but blackness, reflecting the image of Lorenzo.

”Is it possible that Demons were originally a norm, but due to erosion, our understanding of them gradually faded? Just like the world you saw in the ’Divine Favor Baptism,’ no matter how the predecessors explained in the alchemical notes, I couldn’t restore the original image of Demons they saw.”

Merlin slowly stood up, this seeker of Truth looking at the suspended Black Angel, perhaps it would be the key to unlocking the door of Truth.

”It’s like a person from a hundred years ago seeing today’s War Airship. He doesn’t understand and can’t describe it. Telling others about what he saw, they’d merely think he’s mad...”

At this point, Merlin suddenly laughed, murmuring to himself.

”Yes... who would believe it? How could iron fly in the sky?

Perhaps we are cursed, Lorenzo.”

Silence, a long silence, before a voice broke it.

”Your remarks would get you burned at the stake in Florence.”

The speculation revealed in these words was enough to make Lorenzo think too much, feeling his brain seize up, responding only haphazardly.

But Merlin shook his head, looking puzzled at Lorenzo, he asked again.

”Then, is the Church’s doctrine preventing us from understanding the Truth? Were those burned at the stake truly violators of the doctrine, or did they learn something they shouldn’t have?”

Lorenzo was stunned, the steadfast bindings gradually fracturing, revealing the freedom of thought.