Arc one; six
Chapter one
Church of redemption
"Sainty," my mother called and I stepped into the the bedroom. "Ah," she exclaimed clapping happily. "Mariam really did well, you look good." She tugged my collar this way and that as she stooped before me, touched my hair, then kissed me on the cheek. I just stared at her with resigned solemnity. "OK let's go," she took my hand and led me out of the room. I am a grown man for god sake, I thought, how humiliating. But this is of the least humiliating things that had happened to me since I was reborn, so it's okay I guess.
Soon we went outside the manor and into a carriage that will take us down into the city.
Let me catch you up. It has been six years since my reincarnation. A bitter six years where cousins bully the baby me, maids curse me behind my mother's back, and my father's constant belittling and contempt for me and my mother I had to congest. That's when the old man is not gone for six to ten months to the king's wars or diplomacies though. Jack Highvoid is a feared lord in Crystalis and the king always used him to solve what was otherwise unsolvable. So I grew up being known as the quiet boy that always stared at you with sullen eyes.
Today we were going to church for the weekly service. This world's religions are similar to the other world's. The fellowship of Sian was like Christianity. Even if you ignore their glaring similarities, the fellowship, like Christianity on earth, is the biggest religion in Aliye. Its HQ is in Adaki empire where they practice the fellowship's biggest denomination, Truth of Sain. In Crystalis they practice the second biggest denomination, the Enlightens. Chyralis and the Highvoids though, being villains, practice the not so favored faith of redemption.
The church was a stone round dome roofed structure in the center of the city. Moreover it was an ancient thing badly in need of renovation. When I was reading the story I hadn't thought of it but now I wonder if the author made Chrysalis such a dump because it was the villain's HQ. But this city was horrible. If I hadn't read the story too I would have assumed that's how the whole of Aliye is, but there are brighter grander places in the world like Adaki or Kingsground, Crystalis's capital, and more.
The people turned to our direction as we entered the church and I could hear gasps and sighs. My mother's is one of the three most beautiful women in Crystalis after all and I inherited her looks, so I was a cute if depressed child which makes me all the more cuter. Plus my father as the main villain is not out classed in anything by anyone. Not even in looks.
The church had a mix of highborns and commoners but you could see the contrast even without the guards that usually accompany the nobles. The commoners wore depressing robes of gray or black while the nobles wore bright colors. For example my mother who wore a red sun dress that matched her hair and lips and peach colored hat. Of course in the story it was said that that was different in Adaki and other Truth of Sain countries where almost everyone could afford colored cloths.
My mother sat me beside her in a middle seat. No one sat directly in front of me so I could see the giant statues lining the back wall. The worshippers chatted with each other and even a few came to greet mother, all nobles wanting to build relationship. Mother answered them all aloofly and then finally the bishop arrived.
He was a very old man in a white and red robe, his head was bald for only wisps of white hair. His eyes were sunken and more depressed than mine, and he walked in supported by an elderly priest and nun. They helped him to the pedestal and he placed his bible atop the altar, coughed for a second, then lifted his hand for silence. "By the lord Sain of glory and light....." He recited.
And so the service begun.
That's the chapter. Thanks for reading, please vote and leave a review.
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