Only God

Above the Sea of Souls.

Schiller and Sofia had already seen the great fire in Kaelonde extinguished.

"Why is this happening? Aren't the Divine at odds with God and His Path? How could the Dream God and the Storm God have betrayed him so quickly?"

Sofia was baffled, unable to understand what had actually happened.

Compared to the Fairy Queen, Schiller, as a Great Angel, seemed to see more of the inner workings.

"How interesting. The Dream God and the Storm God claim they have come to understand themselves, especially that Laren, who even says he has repented and seen his own sins."

Schiller muttered to himself,

"God, what have you done?"

At that moment, the Fairy Queen turned her head, curiously looking at Schiller,

"Do you know something?"

The Great Angel lowered his eyelids slightly and slowly said,

"I might guess a few things."

Sofia let out a long "Oh," and laid down.

"Tell us then.

How can their change be so drastic? Could it be that God Will cast them into Hell to suffer immensely?"

said the Fairy Queen.

Schiller did not hide anything,

"I think, Xilan must have seen them.

With what God has done, neither Laren nor Utus has undergone torture or punishment.

He judged them in a more profound, more heart-striking way, allowing Laren and Utus to see themselves clearly.

I think, perhaps their souls were constantly struggling, constantly suffering, until at the critical moment, God made His presence known."

Sofia took in Schiller's words, continually nodding; the Great Angel's speculation sounded so plausible.

"So, under the judgment of God, everyone must struggle, and everyone will suffer."

Schiller smiled lightly and softly said,

"What does that really mean, though? What is there to complain about?

No one has been without struggle, not even God Himself, no one has been without suffering, not even God Himself.

Do we really expect to face God's interrogation without suffering and struggle?

All we can do is be prepared."

The Great Angel's words were so reasonable, and Sofia kept nodding in agreement.

The Fairy Queen had never seen God; her image of God was almost entirely from Schiller, crafted by this Great Angel.

"That Belvan, a Pioneer of God's Path, his journey ended after this great fire."

Schiller pointed towards the palace in Kaelonde.

His voice carried a tinge of pity.

Sofia understood Schiller's implication.

Both she and Schiller had always kept an eye on everything concerning God's Path and naturally witnessed Belvan's agony.

Belvan's pain stemmed from his powerlessness; he had glimpsed the end of the path, yet despite his best efforts, he could not reach it.

Whether or not Hiris's miracles appeared, Belvan's pain would not be erased.

Because this mighty power came from the Divine, not from mortals.

Facing the gradually calming Kaelonde, the two were briefly silent,

At that moment,

Sofia lifted her head and asked out of nowhere:

"So, what about you?

Schiller, will you one day face judgment?"

Sofia's question caught the Great Angel off guard; Schiller was completely unprepared and froze on the spot.

After a moment, Schiller stiffly spoke,

"What foolishness are you speaking? Why would you say these things?"

Sofia stared intently at the Great Angel,

"My Prophet, do you think I don't know what you have done?

You may hide it from others, but not from me.

I know, you have again taken some power from the Primordial Will.

You once used this power to create us fairies, your purpose must have been achieved by now, so why are you extracting more power again?"

The Fairy Queen directly revealed Schiller's actions, even though at the highest point of the Sea of Souls there were only the two of them, Schiller felt an icy coldness that was public in nature, shivering from the cold.

"Don't talk nonsense, I haven't done anything."

Schiller's voice sounded particularly weak.

Sofia persisted,

"'I haven't done anything,' that's the real nonsense.

Schiller, please tell me what you plan to do, I can't just sit idly by."

The Great Angel fell silent, he said nothing, even turning away, avoiding Sofia's gaze, attempting to pass it off with silence.

Soon after, he succeeded, and Sofia let out a long sigh, whispering,

"Well, it seems I can't get anything out of you.

But no matter what, don't… don't…"

The Fairy Queen faltered, words on the brink of escaping, but found herself unable to speak them, ultimately, they turned into a heavy sigh.

............…

............…

A month later, after re-establishing order following the great fire, Aler and others were very eager to eliminate all the unsettling elements within the Royal City.

The miracle had delivered people from peril, yet miracles are fleeting, the human heart filled with plots and scheming endures much longer.

Amidst rampant rumors throughout the city, Dwarves pointed their fingers at foreign tribes and heretics such as followers of the Dream God, Storm God, Wine God, followers of the God of the Seasons, and the True Believers, and thus, Aler and others utilized public sentiment to issue decrees, expelling these foreigners and heretics.

In this, countless innocent people were affected, some permanent residents like merchants and travelers fared better, as they had homes to return to, but those Dwarves who did not believe in Hiris suffered greatly, having to leave their homes behind, shedding tears as they watched their houses recede, some converting on the spot, wishing to return to the faith of the Craftsmen Temple, yet it made no difference, they were still required to leave the Royal City.

In such harsh circumstances, even foreigners who had served the Royal Family for generations in the Palace, including human or Three-eyed Ape People weavers, painters, Beastman gladiators, and foreign caretakers of the Royal Garden, were mercilessly expelled from Kaelonde by Aler and others.

And the group of Ancient Language Scholars led by Belvan faced the same plight.

The new decree from the King stated that those Ancient Language Scholars who had come to Kaelonde from other countries must leave within a month, with the royal treasury covering half of their travel expenses. As for security concerns, the Dwarves would dispatch a squad of five hundred men to escort them out of the country.

Faced with these unreasonable commands issued in the name of the King by Aler and others, the Ancient Language Scholars strongly opposed, respected scholars from various countries, drawn to this crude Dwarf city because of the Path of Divine Creation, now, these Dwarves from the Gold Silver Clan were forcing them to pack up and leave, treating them like prostitutes who could be summoned and dismissed at will.

As a result, the scholars penned a vehemently worded joint letter, demanding compensation for the years spent learning Ancient Language and the due honors, otherwise, they refused to leave Kaelonde.

Days after their joint letter was submitted, they not only failed to receive anything they requested, but the conditions proposed by Aler and others became even more severe.

In the new conditions, Aler and others ordered that all research about the Path of Divine Creation be stopped, scholars were not allowed to take any written documents out of Kaelonde, and all existing research results were to be sealed.

"Those petty men, do they not realize that the Path of Divine Creation would benefit not only Kaelonde but the entire world?"

Facing such demands, even that experienced Elf scholar rarely manifested such anger.

The other scholars echoed in agreement, unable to understand why Aler and others were so shortsighted.

If it had been Kafu the Sixth, the King known as "tyrant" might have cut their funding, but he would not have stopped all research.

"They're not seeking benefits,"

Belvan let out a long sigh,

"but secure power, and everlasting rule."

All the scholars looked at Belvan, who since the great fire of Kaelonde, had sunk into a deep melancholy.

It seemed as if overnight, he had lost all passion for Ancient Language.

"Belvan, are you just going to watch them belittle your achievements?"

A human scholar asked, puzzled.

Belvan lifted his eyelids slightly, then let them drop again,

"What else can be done?

You are displeased, you write a joint letter, but it's meaningless and only provokes them further."

Belvan's dejected attitude discomfited everyone, yet they could not rebut.

Then there was silence. By the open window, the sound of the breeze brushing the birch trees was audible, the rustling sound seemingly carrying a burnt odor.

Belvan looked like a statue carved from marble.

The Ancient Language Scholars revealed a pained smile, just as Belvan had said, they couldn't do anything, stripped of the garb of knowledge, they were left powerless.

In that room, everyone quieted down, they all stopped talking, like prisoners waiting for judgment.

After a long while, someone suddenly said,

"Perhaps we should have listened to Xilan, we should have fled Kaelonde then."

As this was said, like a stone cast into a lake, the silence was abruptly broken, and Ancient Language Scholars started to echo, "Yes," "Right," "Why didn't we think of that," voices incessantly resounded.

Xilan had long since disappeared, no one knew where he had gone, they earnestly discussed this person, as if eagerly hoping he would appear.

Belvan slightly lifted his head at this moment, not joining in the discussion, still immersed in his thoughts.

All research on Ancient Language had stopped, and should have stopped long ago, he had not wanted to continue anyway.

The Ancient Language that he once enthusiastically pursued, now seemed like it had lost its meaning, turned into mere stones that could be found anywhere along the road.

He looked up, gazing out the window, murmuring,

"The great fire has died down, but what difference does it make?"