Gun of Ashes

”Who are they?”

Lorenzo looked at the slowly dispersing crowd, curious about these people who suddenly emerged from the shadows.

”Workers, seems like they just got off work,” Eve said.

”No, this is downtown, there are no factories nearby,” Hebdo observed more carefully than Eve.

”It’s really a diverse group of people...”

Lorenzo watched the crowd, there were men and women, old and young. From their attire and demeanor, it was clear they held different positions in society, yet they were gathered for a common reason.

”Who do you think they are?”

Eve asked, suddenly remembering that the person before her was a detective, surely this wouldn’t stump him.

”Believers, Orthodox believers, they’ve just finished a gathering,”

Lorenzo answered decisively.

”How can you be so sure?” Eve didn’t understand.

”These people have nothing in common, their professions and personalities vary. Look at how they disperse, they don’t linger or chat excessively, most of them probably don’t know each other.”

Lorenzo focused intently on the crowd, at this moment he truly seemed like a detective.

”Just think about it roughly, what else could gather them together apart from a meeting? A supermarket sale?”

”Although the government is preparing to support Orthodoxy, the Evangelical Church remains mainstream within Gaulunaro, although it’s not as powerful as before. They don’t dare hold public gatherings, they have to choose places away from prying eyes.”

As Lorenzo spoke, he approached the slowly dispersing crowd.

”What are you going to do?”

Hebdo called out urgently, thinking Lorenzo was about to wreak havoc here.

”I want to understand Orthodoxy, after all, all my knowledge about it comes from your accounts. I want to hear what it looks like in the eyes of the believers.”

Lorenzo adjusted his collar, smiled at Hebdo, and said,

”Speaking of which, you might not believe it, I was once a priest.”

With that, Lorenzo walked over confidently, leaving Hebdo and Eve standing in place.

”Is his life always so colorful?”

Hebdo still couldn’t quite believe the fact that Lorenzo used to be a priest.

Eve thought for a moment, then nodded.

”It’s a pity you met us too late, otherwise when Lorenzo used a train to smash the demon, he might have taken you along,”

Eve looked at Hebdo’s strong body and solid muscles and added again.

”You would definitely be good at slaying demons.”

…

After a full meal, everyone’s faces carried a bit of relaxation and joy, not only from satisfying hunger but also from a slight inner touch.

Huao was pushed onto the street by the crowd, and in the chaos, he saw faces similar to his own. He didn’t know how others felt, but at least Huao himself felt that for the first time in his life, he experienced kindness and was valued.

He glanced at Liya beside him, the girl was also full and let out a burp while walking.

”How do I join the Orthodoxy?” Huao asked, looking down.

This was not just for the Eucharist; Huao longed for the atmosphere and the feeling of acceptance. Although it had only been a few minutes, Huao felt that he truly came alive only there.

”Join? You are already an Orthodox believer,”

Liya smiled.

”How...” Huao was a bit confused.

”Orthodoxy has no so-called threshold for faith. If you are willing to believe, then you are, and the doors of Orthodoxy will open to anyone in need,”

Liya stretched her arms, feeling bloated from eating too much.

”I should be going back. See you at the next meeting.”

She hopped away like a happy little deer, though due to having eaten too much, her jumps were slightly sluggish.

Gradually, the crowd dispersed, and Huao stood stunned for a long time, staring at a nearby gas streetlamp, looking directly at its bright core until tears streamed from his eyes, forcing him to turn his head away.

He looked at the dusty ground, and soon a shadow approached and stopped not far from him. Huao looked up to see a man smiling at him.

”Hello, I presume you are an Orthodox believer, right?”

Huao was taken by surprise, his words faltering. Although Liya had affirmed him, Huao was still unsure and lacked confidence.

But this situation didn’t last long; he nodded.

”Yes.”

”Oh, so you just finished a gathering?”

The man sniffed the air around them. Huao thought he was smelling the fishy scent on himself but was disarmed by what the man said next.

”The smell of food? Did you just finish the Eucharist?”

Seeing Huao’s puzzled expression, the man continued.

”I have a sensitive nose.”

Huao watched the man warily, recalling what Liya had told him: Believers of the Evangelical Church do not welcome Orthodox followers, and some extreme individuals even see them as heretics and use violence.

He suspected the seemingly friendly man before him might be one of those people, prying for information.

”Let me introduce myself, I am Lorenzo Holmes, a traveler from Ingwig,”

Lorenzo extended his hand friendly, and upon hearing the word traveler, Huao’s expression relaxed slightly, though he remained cautious as he responded.