"The god itself is an entity that will never interfere with Earth. However, they will send and choose one of us mortals as their apostle to help all living creatures in this world. If we pray religiously to our believed gods, we may someday become an apostle too!"
What am I doing right now? Why am I sitting in a temple listening to the pope preach? Beside me are Maria and Alex; I was forced to come to the temple by them.
Honestly, watching people of different beliefs sitting in the same place and praying is kind of calming to see—such a peaceful atmosphere despite differences in belief.
Chronos, I will not pray to you. Oh Lord Osiris, please don't add my name to your wanderer list. Say hello to Lord Anubis for me.
When I open my eyes, I see sand under my feet. I look up and see Osiris sitting on his chair.
"Ah, h-hello." Am I dead?
"For what do you pray?"
Oh... why do I keep getting pulled over when trying to pray?
"Am I not allowed to pray? I just feel the need to pray to respect the people around me."
"Wishing not to be included in my list, you wished for immortality."
"No, I wished not to be called too fast." Nah, after seeing Haruto and the Dragon girl, I don't want to become immortal either.
"It is not in my control."
I stand silently, thinking of something to ask. Then I remember something.
"I used my authority to change my fate a while ago. Is that okay?"
He looks at me.
"I see. Why don't you ask the god himself?"
He swings his staff, and a door appears out of nowhere and opens.
"Go."
"Thanks."
I stand in front of the door, feeling scared to meet what's probably the god above all gods. I walk through and see a sunset sky. I'm standing on a floating island in an endless expanse. Turning around, I spot a table with a book and quill. As I approach, I notice the book contains only blank sheets, and the quill is inkless.
"This is the Book of Fate."
Startled, I turn to see a young man with long, black hair and brownish-black eyes. He's wearing something like a robe from a cultivation genre manhua. His face is truly beautiful.
"Come, sit here."
I sit in the chair he points to. He then sits across from me, looking so elegant. Everything he does is like watching a calm, flowing river—a laminar flow. He pours me a cup of tea, and I can't stop watching his movements.
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"Here's a cup of tea for you, as this will be a very long discussion."
I sit there silently, feeling like I can't speak. A book appears out of nowhere.
"What is fate? Is people's fate already written out like a story? Is everything determined already? Here is your brother's Book of Fate, as he's currently alive as another self."
He hands me the book. I flip to the last page and see it's empty. I keep flipping forward until I finally reach a written page. It tells of my brother talking to his friend about games at school. I read the previous page and start crying.
"He's still him..."
I put the book down, wiping my tears.
"The Authority I used..."
"I don't have authority as I am only an archivist."
"Then, what about me removing Alex's bloodline?"
He hands me a book with a bookmark. I flip to the marked page; it says Alex believed my bluff.
"It was only a placebo effect?"
"Yes."
"Then why did Chronos—no, he said it was okay to use my authority."
"That's why he said it's safe to use my authority. I hold no power, and no god is happy with random people using their power."
"So... he mentally cut himself off from Nortis, and the family legacy appreciated his will?"
"Yes."
What the hell, Alex? How much do you resent your family? And now you're forced to become the duke? Poor guy.
"Then what about when I almost died?"
"Your seal broke, awakening your power. Typical plot armor."
"Haha! This is so embarrassing," I say, remembering the cringeworthy words I spouted back then. "Then why did I feel a headache when trying to change the demon's fate?"
"It's a skill to influence someone. The demon was probably too strong for you to influence."
I drink the tea and calm down. So I have a skill to influence people. Is that why Alex's father said I have talent in leadership?
"Are you still looking for your identity?"
"Yes."
"You're so fixated on order. Let's see: you entered X high school because your parents told you to, you became an office worker because your father told you to, you did overtime because your father told you to, and you bought a house because your parents told you to."
"I believe they told me to because of good will. Also my dream isn't really grand. If I feel happy, I don't have any more wishes. I'm not an ambitious person, after all."
He smiles then, his smile gentle.
"What's your opinion about Anima?"
"Scammer."
"If you meet her again, be kind to her. She's a pitiful girl."
The moment I blinked, I returned to the temple. I was the only one remaining; all others had gone. I stood up, my feet feeling numb, and walked outside where I saw Maria and Alex sitting on the stairs.
"Sorry for making both of you wait," I said.
Maria stood up and bowed to me. "Ruby, I'm so sorry! I made you get injured."
"What?"
"I heard from Alex that you collapsed because you got cut in the neck."
"Oh, it's just a lesson for me not to be ignorant. It's okay—I'm his sister's daughter. There's no way he would kill me."
"Y-you're a Nortis too?"
"Apparently, I'm part of the Nortis family."
"No wonder your hair is black!"
She changed moods quickly. Just a moment ago, she was very sad. Is she two-faced? I don't know. All I need to know is that she's on my side.
"Let's go home!" Maria called out, then ran ahead.
I walked over to Alex. "You still haven't told her?"
"My father permitted me to be with her until I'm 10. I still have 7 months left."
He stood up and walked beside me.
"Ruby, can you protect her when I'm gone?"
"It depends, but I'll try my best. After all, she's my friend."
I felt heat rising in my face. Am I blushing right now?
"You two! Hurry up!" Maria shouted.
"I'm coming!" Alex replied.
I watched Alex run to Maria.
I will protect these two, my first friends.