Only God

They were God's people, or rather, these people belonged to God.

In the Church of the True Religion, this was a concept full of divine sanctity and beauty.

In the narrow sense, God's people often referred to Angels, Prophets, or those entrusted with a mission by God. They had often witnessed or felt God's brilliance, were watched over by God, and even performed miracles on Earth.

But in a broader sense, God's people were not limited to these alone. Those old Priests at the Great Council with their heads full of white hair, who called themselves servants of God and devoted their lives to the path of Heaven, they were God's people; those hidden in the forests and mountains, who strictly observed the commandments, indifferent to worldly affairs, and sought only purity and the way of God, they were God's people; those seated in temples, who ruled over all lands with crowns on their heads, Danschel's Emperors, they were God's people; those in rural fields, intertwined with the smell of animal excrement, toiling alongside the crops, they were God's people; those carrying palanquins, rearing horses, doing all the hard and tiring work, and who could never buy their freedom - the slaves, they too were God's people; even those who had fallen into prison, committed grave sins, those who had engaged in arson, murder, adultery, and robbery, they too were God's people...

This concept was so universal, regardless of wealth or poverty, high or low status, whether righteous or wicked, as long as one had faith, then he was equally God's people. This concept seemed to possess an endless grand Magic Power, leading one person after another to take refuge under the Church.

This concept was not even limited to the True Religion; it was also adopted by other religious beliefs. For instance, the Priests of the Dream God claimed that since everyone dreams, every dreaming person belongs to the Dream God Laren; similarly, the Priests of the Storm God said that everyone has seen or heard a storm, so everyone who had contact with a storm belongs to the Storm God Utus; and the Dwarf Priests said that everyone has come into contact with a craftsman's forged items, so everyone who has touched the craftsman's work belongs to the Mountain and Craftsman God Hiris.

But whether in the narrow or broad sense, on the Mortal World, 'God's people' was a concept defined by mortals—whom they decided was or was not God's people was determined by their own ideas.

Over all these years, has anyone pondered who, in God's eyes, truly is 'God's people'?

Are they Kings and Nobles? Those who claim to be servants of God? The commoners? Or those lowly slaves? In God's eyes, who truly is 'God's people'?

Countless sages and wise men, even the philosophers who sprung from untrodden paths, had debated endlessly for thousands of years, each holding to their own view, yet no one could come up with an answer that satisfied everyone.

Because only God could answer that question.

......…

Xilan slowly made his way climbing through the Pasofilo Sixfold Mountain.

There were six total hills in the Pasofilo Sixfold Mountain; thousands of years ago, the Dwarfs built either a Temple or an altar on each hill, and to this day, these religious buildings, despite enduring thousands of years of trials, still stood firm, their roofs glittering in the splendid sunlight.

Xilan had passed three hills, and after trying everything on those three hills, still could not find the Mountain and Craftsman God Hiris.

According to the local Priests, it had been a long time since they had heard Hiris' oracle, even though they offered up a hundred heads of cattle, a hundred sheep, and a hundred pigs—Hiris had not responded to their prayers.

Hiris seemed to have hidden himself away, not even the oldest Priest knew when the Mountain and Craftsman God would reappear in the Mortal World.

It was not uncommon for a Divine being to hide themselves among the Gods.

The deities of the Celestial Kingdom were innumerable, vast like the stars, and among them were those willing to interact with mortals, as well as those who disdained mere mortals. Some deities might have been very enthusiastic about engaging with mortals at some earlier time, often answering prayers, but as time passed, they grew weary of this and became indifferent to mortals, unresponsive even if the faith and Temples eventually fell into ruination.

"Oh Lord, please let me find Hiris, I cannot delay any longer."

Climbing the fourth hill, Xilan muttered to himself.

Soon after, Xilan reached the summit and saw the Temple on the hill. His experience on the fourth hill was naturally no different from the other three.

He still could not find Hiris.

Or rather, Hiris did not wish to see him.

The Hermit, after two days and one night of climbing five hills, had not yet seen the Mountain and Craftsman God, but he had not stopped there.

So, as Xilan climbed over the sixth hill and walked the downhill path, amidst the cool shade of the trees, he found a centaur-like figure with a hammer in hand, on the side of the road.

"Xilan, I recognize you."

Hiris was the first to speak.

"I also recognize Prophet Noen."

Seeing Hiris, Xilan felt a wave of relief.

"Respected Hiris, now that you have appeared, you must know why I am here."

Without any pleasantries, Xilan spoke straightforwardly,

"I hope that you will go to Kaelonde and stop your creations from slaughtering each other."

Hiris looked at Xilan. He had originally not intended to appear; the Death God Nakbet had warned Him that if He did not know what to do, then it was better to do nothing and let nature take its course.