A strong gust of chilly wind marks the start of the heavy fall of snow. The impending snowstorm from earlier has now manifested itself as the weather of zero temperature, a calamity equal to drought.
People who have been staying out for quite a time outside in hopes to sell their merchandises and stuff have now retreated to their homes. The festival never happened and should not happen because of this weather.
Falikh, Aspara, and Mika rush towards the church to take cover and at the same time, to finalize their goal. In front of them is a church grand in appearance as golden cross peaks atop of the highest roof where a golden bell is being housed too.
The church stands like a castle with decors of angel statues at the entrance and even a pedestal where one can make offerings.
When they enter the church, an array of church pew made of fine wood, a red long carpet the spreads up to the altar with an intricate golden outline. The glass panel on the left and right side of the church is a curated and tantalizing stained glass of bright colors. The ceiling is high with chandeliers hanging.
And finally, before the very altar is podium where the priest that manages the exterior of the church stands to preach and do mass. After the podium stands a large figure of a sculpted man with armor and holds a balancing scale in his right and a shield on the left hand.
Falikh and Co proceed to walk down towards the altar of the empty church. Almost empty as a lone man in front of the altar kneels with his hands clasped together.
The man is Arytorio Kerias.
“Have you people come to the house of the divines to pray too? This snowstorm…seems to take a toll in this town. I just know it.” Said by Arytorio without even glancing at Falikh’s group and continue to pray.
However, Falikh or Aspara either want to say a thing to Arytorio as they don’t want to catch his attention. They kept their lips pursed despite being asked a sincere question.
“I understand. Even without saying anything, you lost shepherd just want to spend your time in silence in the presence of the divine. I am sorry for my intervention.” Arytorio calmly exclaimed to take away any pressure on Falikh and Aspara.
“I am deeply sorry for our presence. You are deep in your prayers but why so?” Mika is the one who broke the silence from his side. He beckons Falikh and Aspara to proceed to the place where they needed to go.
As Falikh and Aspara caught on Mika’s gesture, they both nodded. Falikh then rushes towards behind the altar with light steps with Aspara following behind.
“Are your companions leaving to somewhere?” Arytorio asked. “I will pray for their safety too.” He added.
“Oho? Say, man of faith, where do you pull all of that conviction towards the divines?” Mika asked as she seats in one of the pews in front.
“Are you seeking for an answer? I cannot give you enlightenment as I am also seeking the answer myself.” Arytorio simply replied.
“To be honest with you, I am just sheltering from the snowstorm. But be as you guessed, this snowstorm will hit this city really hard.” Mika simply brushed off Arytorio’s assumption of his visit.
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“I see, if you say sheltering then I’ll leave it at that. The divines smile upon you my friend, may truth or lies is what you’ve breathed.” Arytorio said as he speaks like he already saw through them.
Mika didn’t say anything after that. He just quietly observes the huge sculpture of representation of the divine in this church, though he doesn’t have any idea who the man is.
As Mika started dozing off from boredom, Arytorio’s suddenly spoke.
“This City has been great to me. I am thankful for the people for accepting me. However, I want to extend my gratitude to everyone I met, good or evil, young and old, men and women and lastly, rich and the poor.” Arytorio said with a voice filled with sincerity.
“When I started this puny pilgrim of mine to show the world of the existence of Goddess Thenea, I left everything at my…place. I started traveling with a little coin to spend and only words spoken to me as my weapon and the words of encouragement from the people back at the Kerias Kingdom. Village to village, city to city, town to town, I wandered and spread words of Goddess Thenea. However, throughout my wandering, not only the words of Goddess Thenea that was embedded in my heart…it was…the wonder of this world.” Arytorio’s voice becomes clear and alive as he spoke of Thenea.
Mika’s hearing perks up and his eyes filled with interest as the faithful man started telling the story about his time of traveling.
“Wonders of this world? Could you further elaborate?” Mika asked with his interest piqued by Arytorio’s words.
“I was hungry. One time, I arrived at this village and I was utterly hungry and perched. I walked miles unimaginable if traveled by foot, no less, an ordinary man. What beholds me as I beg for something to consume…was a smile. The smile of the poor who understand what hunger and thirst feel like. When I beg for a place to sleep, people gave me a bed to sleep onto with a roof above. And all that I can repay them was words I heard from the Goddess I firmly believe.” The story of Arytorio suddenly came to a halt.
The snowstorm becomes ever stronger. It felt like the roof of the large church will be torn to the ground. Mika knows well that this intensity of the weather could leave people frozen under its chilly rage.
Death will be inevitable at this rate. People who live in small houses with weak foundations will be buried alive in their own homes. Not only that because as the temperature drops, the biting cold would eventually reap lives.
Mika and Arytorio know those facts.
Mika could only frown upon the impending deaths of thousands of lives and overcome with anxiety as his friends are still outside in this snowstorm.
However, Mika looks at Arytorio…who didn’t even moved an inch from the spot. And now, Mika just noticed but in front of Arytorio is…a portrait of a woman. He immediately assumed that the woman in the portrait that was well painted is Thenea as what Arytorio remembered.
And now…
Prayers and miracles are being wished at this crucial moment. A lone man stayed at the church where he found himself praying to his Goddess to give salvation and miracle, for this situation to be quelled and casualties will be prevented.
“My goddess, I am humbly kneeling to wish for a miracle for the sake of thousands of people. I conveying my pardons for all the sins that this world has, including mine.” Arytorio prayed while kneeling in front of a portrait with exquisite details of how he imagined his Goddess looks like.
“You are a fool. Prayers and such, would they really do something?” Mika said as he leans on a wall while looking at Arytorio with a saddened face. Mika knows well about the Goddess that Arytorio is talking about, however, he is conflicted of whether to tell him the truth or not. He knows that he should not be the one to say anything about it.
“I have faith. Whatever may happen now may simply be the will of the divine. I am no longer compelled to believe that everyone can be saved, however, that is all more of a reason I pray for everyone.” Arytorio replied to Mika without turning his head towards him.
A man fooled by fate, a man who devoted himself to a false idol and lastly, a man created a sense of compassion despite the foolery that was done to him. Arytorio Kerias carry out his faith for the Goddess he thought to exist.
“You can’t ask for a miracle to a goddess who really doesn’t exist as a divine…I am sorry…” Mika could only think as he looks at Arytorio with half-closed eyes.