Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Theologian
The faint moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating the apartment. Beside Luo Ling, Elsa’s soft snores echoed, her face nestled near Luo Ling’s collarbone, her nose twitching slightly, as if sniffing something.
Luo Ling opened her eyes slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face.
She had finished examining the memory. Religious’s early emergence from seclusion wasn’t entirely unexpected. Judging by the memory, his preparations for the ascension ritual hadn’t been going smoothly.
He seemed less composed than before, more impatient, like someone teetering on the edge of a cliff.
“Did something happen within the Harbingers?” Luo Ling pondered, filing the thought away.
The Harbingers’ inactivity was unsettling, and the Company’s cryptic actions felt like the prelude to a storm. Despite her intelligence network, Luo Ling felt like she was grasping at straws, her understanding of the current situation incomplete.
However, even the Company directors and Harbinger leaders hadn’t noticed the hidden third party, their attention focused on each other. This was Luo Ling’s only advantage.
“It seems Religious doesn’t like cults either. Before leaving the cathedral, he even attended mass, seemingly repenting… but why did his prayer sound like he was shifting the blame to the state religion’s deity?”
Examining Felix’s memories, Luo Ling gleaned some insights into Religious’s true character, noticing a familiar trait shared by the other Harbingers she had encountered.
A hint of madness…
“At least I’ve gained his trust. Even if he tries to search my soul, it doesn’t matter. I’ve prepared a false memory.”
Luo Ling composed herself, her eyes narrowing slightly. “It’s time… to meet the Harbingers as the ‘Saint’.”
One of the Harbingers’ operations was now under her control, but this was just a small step. The upcoming meeting with Religious was crucial.
Luo Ling believed her bait was tempting.
Especially… for the current Harbingers.
“I should go check on the situation.” Luo Ling closed her eyes, a part of her consciousness merging with Saint Alyssa.
Elsa, nestled against Luo Ling, stirred slightly, pulling closer. “Mmm, don’t go…”
…….
Under the dim candlelight, a young woman with short, flaxen hair was writing intently, a blindfolded nun sitting beside her, her expression gentle.
Even after becoming the Saint, the two sisters still lived in this humble dwelling, only making minor repairs for shelter.
The nun’s demeanor suddenly shifted, then quickly returned to normal.
As a precaution, Luo Ling hadn’t directly dominated Alyssa, instead observing as a bystander, not interfering with her actions.
Even Stasha could sense the subtle difference, although due to their close bond, it meant that… Luo Ling couldn’t perfectly impersonate Alyssa.
For her initial contact with the Harbingers, Luo Ling wouldn’t risk any mistakes. A single slip-up could ruin everything.
“However, what is Stasha doing…?”
Luo Ling glanced at Stasha’s writing, interpretations of classical texts, including the Victorian state religion’s scriptures.
This was considered taboo in Victoria, only high-ranking clergymen, like bishops, were allowed to interpret scripture.
Alyssa had been brought before the ecclesiastical court for this very reason, eventually excommunicated, forced to live in the slums with Stasha.
However, the rise of the Church of Light was also due to a trial. The state religion had initially considered them heretics, especially Alyssa, the excommunicated nun.
But this trial had a different outcome.
During her first trial, Alyssa had been timid, coerced by the church through her sister, unable to defend herself.
The second time, however, Alyssa had single-handedly silenced the bishops with her calm and reasoned arguments, forcing them to recognize the Church of Light as a legitimate branch, paving the way for its current growth.
“It seems this little girl isn’t as docile as she appears… wait, Stasha and I are the same age, she might even be a few months older.”
A knock echoed on the door, followed by Felix’s respectful voice. “Your Holiness, are you… resting?”
“No.”
Alyssa replied softly. Stasha, hearing the knock, quickly hid her writing.
Glancing at her sister, she retreated to the back room silently.
“May I disturb you for a moment?” Felix asked. “A priest has come from afar, wishing to speak with you.”
“Certainly.”
Alyssa wheeled herself to the door and opened it, a tall man in priest’s robes standing before her, Felix beside him, bowing respectfully.
“You must be Saint Alyssa.”
Religious studied Alyssa with interest, slightly surprised that such a frail, disabled woman had managed to outmaneuver the Victorian state religion’s bishops.
On the way, Religious had learned from Felix about the Church of Light’s recent growth, confirming that most of the credit belonged to Alyssa.
As a former priest, Religious admired this Saint, even willing to discuss religious scriptures with her, regardless of her other identities.
However, there were more pressing matters to discuss.
“The banks of the Thames at dusk in early spring offer a rare beauty. Would Your Holiness be interested in a stroll? I can accompany you.”
Religious’s invitation was impeccably polite, befitting his interaction with Alyssa, a potential new colleague.
“I’d be delighted. Let’s go, Father.”
Alyssa smiled and nodded, and Felix dutifully pushed her wheelchair.
The priest and the nun strolled along the Thames, another priest pushing the wheelchair. Although a noteworthy sight, the passersby seemed to ignore them.
Contrary to Luo Ling’s expectations, Religious didn’t get straight to the point, instead engaging Alyssa in a theological discussion, their conversation filled with obscure terms and concepts.
Even Luo Ling, with her access to memories, could barely follow.
Possessing memories wasn’t enough. Her attempts at cooking and makeup, based on memories, had been disastrous.
After walking for a while, Religious suddenly stopped. Luo Ling’s spores’ vision vanished, her perception limited to Alyssa’s senses.
In the darkness, she heard Religious’s voice, unusually humble and respectful. “Greetings, sir, I’ve brought her.”
A childish yet world-weary voice replied, a single word.
“Good.”
It was… Educator!
Alarm bells rang in Luo Ling’s mind. She could almost see the boy in scholar’s robes standing before Alyssa, his gaze scrutinizing her.
Her scattered spores were deactivated, seemingly suppressed by Educator or Religious.
However, Luo Ling could still withdraw her consciousness at any time. This suppression couldn’t sever the connection between her and Alyssa, but it would prevent her from using her abilities.
“Father, who is this?”
Alyssa asked Religious, puzzled.
Religious didn’t answer. Without her spores, Luo Ling couldn’t see what he was doing.
This was the first time she had encountered such a situation, making her slightly nervous, but she quickly calmed down.
After an agonizing silence, Educator finally spoke.
“Your Holiness, you may call me Educator, just a senile scholar nearing his end.”
Educator said slowly, his voice undeniably childish, yet his tone carried a weariness that couldn’t be faked.
Luo Ling sighed in relief. It seemed Alyssa had passed Educator’s initial assessment. The Puppet Ballad’s power was truly remarkable, remaining undetected even in this situation.
“Educator is my teacher.” Religious finally spoke. “I apologize for summoning Your Holiness in this manner, but it was necessary…”
“I’ll explain.” Educator interrupted. “Your Holiness, do you wish to heal your legs and eyes?”
Alyssa hesitated, then nodded. “Of course, but…”
“Your desire is enough, Your Holiness.” Educator said. “Let’s make a deal. For your legs, your eyes, and… for this world.
“We invite you to join us, to join the ranks of those who seek to save this world, to become a Harbinger of Calamity, a pioneer guiding humanity, before this broken world reaches its inevitable end.”
As Educator spoke, Luo Ling suddenly saw something.
Not through her vision, but directly in her mind, similar to the Leader’s method, a projected illusion.
Through Alyssa’s perspective, Luo Ling witnessed countless scenes of destruction and despair, the world’s bleak future, accompanied by an indescribable sense of urgency.
“This is…”
Luo Ling focused, and Alyssa’s expression shifted slightly.
“The Harbingers’ recruitment video?”
Having witnessed Boundary collapses, Boundary annihilations, and even a glimpse of Boundary transcendence, Luo Ling found this video incredibly crude, its scenes exaggerated and unrealistic.
She didn’t believe the Harbingers’ understanding of Boundaries was this limited. The likely reason was that… their new recruits couldn’t comprehend such abstract concepts. This easily digestible portrayal of disaster was likely more effective.
“Is… is this real?” Alyssa’s voice trembled, filled with fear and unease. “Our world…”
…It seemed clergymen were indeed skilled actors. Luo Ling sensed Alyssa’s calm inner emotions despite her seemingly distraught facade, remaining silent.
“This… is the true world.”
Educator’s voice echoed, followed by a deep sigh.
Luo Ling wanted to retort that this childish old man was also a good actor, but she sensed a genuine weariness in his sigh.
But the weariness quickly vanished, Educator’s voice returning to its usual calmness.
“Your Holiness, along with those images, I’ve bestowed upon you a power for awakening. Sense it carefully, try to feel the call of an unseen entity.”
Luo Ling instantly recognized the stimulating power accompanying the images, her heart sinking after a brief examination.
“It’s the aura of an Authority…”
Although she didn’t know which Authority it belonged to, directly giving it to an ordinary person was reckless. No wonder even weaker Harbingers like Performer could perceive Boundaries.
They used Authorities for awakening!
If they couldn’t withstand the Authority’s power, they would explode, not even leaving a trace behind.
However, considering the Harbingers’ twisted ideology, it seemed reasonable.
If they couldn’t even withstand an Authority’s power, how could they lead the new world?
The Harbingers didn’t need “weaklings.”
Luo Ling focused, her consciousness touching the Authority’s power. The next moment, it was devoured by her.
“…”
This was awkward.
Luo Ling hadn’t intended to devour it. Such a small amount of power wasn’t even worth her time, especially in this delicate situation.
Alyssa’s sharp hearing picked up some movement. Educator seemed to have sensed the Authority’s disappearance. Luo Ling could imagine his shocked expression.
“This…” Educator hesitated. “Your Holiness, did you feel the sensation I mentioned?”
He asked directly, not noticing anything amiss?
Luo Ling’s mind raced. Perhaps… consumption was normal, but complete consumption wasn’t?
“No.” Alyssa shook her head, then asked hesitantly, “Educator, is it because I lack the aptitude…?”
“No, no, no…” Religious’s voice was filled with shock. “How could you not? Even the former leader—”
“Silence.”
Educator, as a Harbinger leader, quickly regained his composure.
“Yes, sir.”
Religious knew he shouldn’t speak, retreating respectfully.
He was inwardly shocked. He had known the Saint’s aptitude might be strong, but not this strong.
If he didn’t know her past, he would have suspected that a high-order Awakened One who had encountered an Authority was playing a prank on them.
But even high-order Awakened Ones wouldn’t be completely unaffected by an Authority…
“Apologies, Your Holiness, I underestimated you.” Educator’s voice turned grave. “Please try again.”
Another, even stronger surge of Authority’s power flowed into Alyssa.
Luo Ling didn’t interfere this time, knowing it would be devoured anyway. Alyssa focused on sensing the power.
As the Authority’s power was gradually consumed, after about half was gone, Alyssa’s body began to change.
Previously, all of Alyssa’s power had been bestowed by Luo Ling, her body merely modified to better channel the Puppet Ballad’s abilities, not truly awakened.
Perhaps that was why Educator had initially deemed her an ordinary person.
Only after encountering this awakening power did Alyssa truly become an Awakened One.
Luo Ling estimated that Alyssa had consumed about eighty percent of the Authority’s power. If she hadn’t interfered, it should have been… enough.
“Phew…”
Luo Ling seemed to hear both Educator and Religious sighing in relief.
At least this level of consumption was considered normal. Any more… and they would suspect she was a Grotesquery’s avatar.
“I seem to feel… a warm power.”
Alyssa extended her hand, a life force swirling around her wrist, an unseen entity seemingly watching her, guiding her onto a Path.
—Myriad.
A genuine Myriad path Awakened One, although her true identity was a Grotesquery’s Agent.
“Congratulations, Your Holiness, you and I walk the same Path, the Myriad path.” Educator clapped his hands. “And welcome to our ranks. Please remember—”
Educator’s voice turned serious.
“Nothing is true, everything is permitted… in this broken world.”
“We… are the Harbingers of Calamity, those who seek to correct the root cause of the Disorder.”
A wave of sadness washed over Alyssa, and she couldn’t help but shed tears.
“Yes… Educator, we will save the world…”
Educator nodded in satisfaction, exchanging a look with Religious. “I have no doubt, Your Holiness. With your aptitude, you might even become our fourth leader… I mean, fifth.”
Alyssa shook her head. “I only care about the world and its people. Leadership… is irrelevant.”
They were all such good actors…
Luo Ling couldn’t help but feel impressed.
“Within the Harbingers, each member has a specific role, to guide civilization in the new world. Your theological expertise is remarkable. How about… you become our Theologian?”
Educator said gently. He was completely different when speaking to Alyssa compared to Religious, even Religious was surprised.
Especially his slip of the tongue about the “fourth leader,” almost making Religious think his position was gone, given to this newcomer.
“As you wish, Educator.”
Alyssa’s gentle demeanor and frail appearance, blind and crippled, evoked sympathy.
“From now on, all matters regarding the Church of Light are entrusted to you.”
Educator paused, then took out an item and handed it to Alyssa. “By the way, please worship this being from now on. Her true name is—the White Witch.”
“…Again?”
Luo Ling was shocked, then her expression turned grim.
Unlike their previous small-scale attempt, the Harbingers were now fully committed to stealing the White Witch’s power, even risking discovery by the main body.
Wait…
Perhaps not risking it, but not fearing it.
“No problem, Educator.”
Alyssa’s fingers traced the item. From its aura, Luo Ling sensed that it wasn’t ordinary, unlike their previous simple offerings.
“Are the Harbingers making their move…?”
After a few pleasantries, Educator quickly left, and Luo Ling’s suppressed spore vision returned.
She saw the conflicted expression on Religious’s face, like a resentful housewife, and almost laughed.
Educator hadn’t even spoken to Religious properly, only bidding farewell to Alyssa before leaving.
“Father, I’d like to pray alone in the church, seeking guidance for the salvation of mankind. Would you mind escorting me? My legs aren’t very convenient.” Alyssa smiled gently, her blind eyes politely looking towards Religious.
Religious’s expression was complex. He sighed and said,
“Certainly, Your Holiness… I mean, Theologian.”
Leave a Reply