RAIWAN AGAINST THE DIVINE

Chapter 19: A Lesson in Morality

The door creaked open softly, and the sound of light footsteps approached Raiwan.

Though his back was turned, he knew it was Manika. Her footsteps were unmistakable—light and steady.

Quickly wiping his tears, he shut his eyes, feigning sleep.

Manika soon sat beside him on the bed, her hand reaching out to gently caress his raven-black hair.

"What happened?" she asked softly.

At first, Raiwan wanted to maintain the pretense, but hearing her question, he realized he couldn't ignore her. It felt wrong.

After a brief pause, he whispered, "Do you think my parents… Mom and Dad… are dead?"

Manika hesitated, as if reluctant to answer. When she finally spoke, her voice was wistful.

"That's the only conclusion I can come to. I'm sorry."

Raiwan's body trembled slightly. Manika leaned in, wrapping her arms around him, pressing a soft kiss to his shoulder.

"But remember," she continued gently, "sovereigns are sovereigns, Raiwan. The King might see more value in capturing them rather than killing them outright. Whatever the case, I'm certain your parents would want you to be brave—for them. Either to save them or to avenge them."

Manika wasn't a divinant, but she was a mother. While divinants thought differently, they still shared some instincts with mundane humans—especially as parents.

If she were in Raiwan's parents' position, what would she want? Probably for Malina to forget about revenge and live a normal life. But would divinants ever think that way? Most disowned their children if they failed to awaken their powers by seventeen.

Given the nature of divinants and everything Raiwan had told her about his parents, Manika was certain of two things: if they were alive, they would want him to save them. If they were dead, they would want him to avenge them.

But more than anything, Manika wanted to give Raiwan something to hold on to. At times like this, people often felt lost. Until they had a purpose, their lives could crumble into chaos.

She offered him that purpose. And she could feel it—the way his body stilled, as though clinging to her words for strength.

Gradually, Raiwan calmed. Then, breaking the silence, he asked, "If someone hopes another person's parents die just so their own parents can survive… does that make them a villain? Is it really that wrong?"

Manika didn't answer immediately. She considered his words carefully. Could his parents have done something that required sacrificing others? Or was this just his own inner conflict?

Finally, she spoke, her tone measured. "Thinking that way isn't good, but it's also not illicit."

She paused, then elaborated. "When something is illicit, it's forbidden, and there's usually a punishment for it. But when something is simply 'not good,' it doesn't necessarily mean it's against any rule—it's just… not right."

She let the words settle before continuing. "Take murder, for example. Murder is forbidden, and anyone who commits it faces punishment. But thinking about murder? That isn't illicit. You could spend your entire life thinking about it, and no one would punish you."

Raiwan chuckled. "You'd need medicine, not punishment."

Manika smiled. "Probably. But remember, Raiwan, thinking about murder isn't good. If you dwell on it long enough, your thoughts might get the better of you. What's 'not good' can turn into a crime."

"I think I understand, Mom," Raiwan murmured.

Manika ruffled his hair and then asked, "If you understand, then tell me this: A god, furious at the sins of one of His creations, decides to destroy them all and start anew. But one of His angels, fearing the god would tarnish His image by shedding innocent blood, massacred all the creations himself. Enraged, the god cast both the angel and the original sinner into hell. What do you understand from this?"

Raiwan stayed silent, thinking deeply. Finally, he said, "The god thought about punishing all for one's sin but didn't act on it. That was discouraged. The angel, on the other hand, had noble intentions—wanting to protect the god's image—but he acted on them by doing exactly what he didn't want the god to do. So, even though his motives were good, his actions were sinful. That's why the god punished him."

He turned to face Manika. "In the end, the difference between a hideous thought and an actual crime is action."

Manika smiled warmly. "Exactly! You're absolutely right. Even the purest saints have vile thoughts sometimes. What defines people isn't their thoughts but their actions. Still, try to avoid such thoughts. Okay?"

"Okay."

But deep down, Raiwan didn't really care if the whole world burned, as long as his parents were alive and with him.

Yet, what truly unsettled him was something his mother had once told him. When he asked why she was so determined to keep people—especially him—from becoming selfish, she had answered:

"You're not strong enough to know the reason. If I told you, you might die."

At first, Raiwan had thought she was joking. How could simply knowing something kill him? That sounded absurd!

But the look on Lisa's face back then… He had never seen her so serious.

She had told him he would understand when he was strong enough.

And Raiwan trusted, believed, respected, and loved his mother. He didn't care if the whole world turned to ashes—only if she did.

She was his compass.

But why did he love her so much?

Manika stood up. "Now, you should go outside and play."

"What? Play? Like a kid?"

Manika's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Oh? You're not a kid?"

Raiwan straightened up, lifting his chin. "I'm all grown up now! A man! Man Raiwan!"

Manika laughed. "Really? Are you sure it's not… Old Raiwan?"

Raiwan smirked. "You don't want to meet Old Raiwan."

She frowned. "Why not?"

"Because you'll only see him as a ghost."

Manika swatted at him playfully, but Raiwan dodged and ran out of the room.

Shaking her head with a smile, she muttered, "This kid… I mean, this man."

---

In the parlor, Raiwan saw Malina struggling to drag a heavy bag toward her father, who stood at the door.

"Careful, Malina!" her father cautioned.

Raiwan stepped forward. "Let me help."

Malina stepped aside, watching as Raiwan lifted the bag with ease and carried it to Ankas at the door.

"Bless you," Ankas said, nodding gratefully.

He waved to everyone before heading off to work.

As Manika returned upstairs, Malina and Raiwan stepped outside together.