Gun of Ashes

Heracles was stunned.

”Every child has the opportunity to become a Priest of the Orthodoxy, as long as they pass the theology exam. There’s no need for proof of origin, nor is there a need to donate to the Church...”

Listening to Liya’s words, Heracles even felt a slight twinge of guilt for a moment. If Liya knew that her Pope would be killed in a few days, he wondered what this girl’s feelings would be.

Fortunately, these complicated feelings didn’t last long. Heracles would not be affected by such things.

In this world, there is no absolute good and evil, just different interests mixed together, turning into chaotic gray.

”Is that so? If that’s the case, I’m interested in you guys. How much longer until we arrive?” Heracles asked.

”Not far now. Here, everyone still worships the Evangelical Church; the Orthodoxy is not accepted, so we have to find an inconspicuous place, somewhat secluded; please bear with us.”

Hearing Heracles say this, Liya thought she had successfully proselytized him, looking even happier, like a small deer hopping around.

...

Walking through the somewhat dim corridor, the cool air became slightly warmer, and he could faintly hear whispers, as if people were conversing nearby.

Hu ao swallowed his saliva, lowered his head to double-check the meeting location on the flyer, and raised his head, feeling a bit nervous about the dim path ahead.

No one knows why the Orthodox gathering was held here, dark and remote, uncomfortable. Stopping in his tracks, he could still see the iron plaque nailed to the wall, with its letters eroded by time. Hu ao forcefully wiped the dust and barely made out the words.

This was a refuge, Hu ao suddenly remembered. The captain had mentioned it before: at the end of the Radiant War, after Gaulunaro was repeatedly defeated, they dug many refuges here at Maruri Port to prepare for a possible counterattack from Ingwig onto Gaulunaro’s land. This was one of them.

In the tunnel before him came gusts of warm air, but it couldn’t warm Hu ao’s heart. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but he took a deep breath and stepped forward. At the end of the darkness, a faint light appeared.

The door slowly opened, and for a moment, the noise of the crowd rose to a peak. Hu ao felt like he was in a large square, seeing faces everywhere.

This was a spacious underground hall. Several long tables had been set up in the center, where people found their seats. Some were talking, others sat with their eyes closed, praying.

No one noticed Hu ao’s arrival. He walked slowly into the light when a waiter suddenly stopped him.

”I’m sorry, I will leave immediately...” Hu ao was startled, but his words were interrupted.

”There are still seats, please come this way.”

The waiter took Hu ao’s hand, smiling.

Looking at the waiter, Hu ao found he was a guy much like himself, dirty all over, his face covered in dust. But unlike Hu ao, who felt like a rat hidden in the sewers, the waiter seemed like a real person with a strong smile on his face.

Hu ao said nothing more, allowing the waiter to lead him to an empty seat and sit down.

”Hello.”

Hu ao looked at the girl beside his seat, who was staring at him.

”Hello! Liya.”

Liya replied with a smile, extending a friendly hand.

For a moment, Hu ao hesitated. That damned fishy smell had long seeped into his skin. He didn’t want the girl in front of him to show a look of disgust.

But Liya didn’t notice any of this. She directly grabbed Hu ao’s hand and shook it firmly.

Hu ao was startled, then answered with difficulty.

”Hu ao, you can call me Hu ao.”

”May the Orthodoxy aid you, Hu ao.”

Liya smiled at him, then turned her head and started talking to the man next to her.

In the noise, Heracles apparently did not notice any of this. He sat next to Liya, answering her random questions perfunctorily, such as whether the Iron Whale above Old Dunling would fall, and if not, where they would sleep...

Sitting here, Heracles couldn’t help but feel as if he had stepped into a story. It reminded him of scenes always depicted in books, where a secret meeting group gathers in the shadows before a major epoch-changing event.

Heracles felt this place was very similar. From his observations, apart from some new members, most appeared to be followers of the Orthodoxy, quietly praying, one more devout than the next.

Too eerie, these people were too devout.

A clear bell chime sounded, and all the noise vanished instantly.

The new members were unsure of what was happening, but the believers who had been whispering their prayers opened their eyes.

From the front of the hall, a Priest stepped up, opened a heavy tome, and cleared his throat.

”Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has immortality, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

He said.

In response, the believers began to pray again in hushed voices, the sound gathering like tides.

The Priest said nothing more and motioned into the darkness. The aroma of food wafted over.

Servants emerged from the shadows, delivering prepared food and utensils one by one to the long tables. After everything was set, the Priest began reciting the doctrine again, signaling the start. The believers grabbed their utensils and ate voraciously to the sound of the Priest’s voice.

Facing the food, Hu ao hesitated to start, not because he thought it tasted bad; the dishes before him were quite exquisite. Usually, he would only treat himself to such niceties as a rare indulgence.

He was just... just a little uneasy.

Hu ao remembered his first time out at sea, being beaten and kicked on the ship, eating the lowest quality food, living in the filthiest places. He recalled what they did to him during storms, tying him to the mast as a punishment for stealing food, leaving his fate to the heavens.

Sometimes, he wondered if it was just his bad luck to encounter these things. Hu ao tried to do good; he picked up a lost wallet for a man, only to be beaten as a thief.

From that moment, Hu ao realized the harsh world would not show him kindness; it reserved kindness for those wealthy people while leaving an abundance of malice for those of them dwelling in the shadows.

He didn’t dare eat, afraid of being extorted after the meal, afraid of being hit for dirtying the utensils. But then the sound from beside him broke through.

”Aren’t you hungry?”

Liya looked at him, fruit jam still at the corner of her mouth.

”No... I’m just...”

”Try it.”

Liya said, poking a spoon into Hu ao’s mouth.

In an instant, Hu ao was terrified to the extreme, fearing his premonition would become reality. But nothing happened.

No one came out to beat him, and though he wasn’t sure what he had eaten, it tasted pretty good.

The girl chuckled.

”This is the flesh and blood of God. It’s quite good, isn’t it?”

Hu ao paused for a long time, then nodded.

”Then have some more of God’s flesh and blood.”

Liya said, passing her own portion to him. Then, like a little animal foraging for food, she roamed the long table, standing up to fetch another serving of mashed potatoes, then asked Heracles beside her about where the Iron Serpent sleeps.

A peculiar feeling.

Hu ao had lived through so much hardship; he had become cautious and timid, living carefully. But just now, in that instant, he realized he might not need to be that way.

The Priest’s sermon echoed in his ears. Hu ao looked around and relaxed, shedding that heavy feeling.

Hu ao found himself dazed, then slowly raised his head, gazing above the hall, into a darkness unadorned by light.

It was a strange sensation, a novel feeling he had never experienced in his years of life.

Perhaps... such a thing could be called kindness.

Though they were underground, Hu ao felt as if a light shone upon him, a light arriving who knows how many years late.