"Same," said Ruth. She did not know that the numbers of the indulgences were never repeated.
Maybe it was misprinted. Just a coincidence, Hitarian thought. It doesn't matter. Priests make mistakes too, and only they are the same. She picked out the two identical indulgences and burned them completely with fire. Whatever the indulgence had to do with that damn book, they couldn't be terrorized now.
"Gaia is up." She prayed to the god, "Lucia is up. Ruth, come with me." She called her sister and went straight to the church.
The priest received them without asking why and without taking the money. The two girls stood by the warm spring water and received the blessing of divine magic. Hitarian gradually calmed down, and Ruth reached out to try to catch the floating golden light.
"Confessions." After Shitarion explained the reason, the priest thought about the strange book. "I haven't heard of it. After all, people come here to Gaia to repent of their mistakes. Yes, forgiveness is a virtue." His gentle and calm voice sounded very soothing.
Hitarian looked at his expression and said before the priest asked about the whereabouts of the book: "Then please forgive my rashness. My lord, I burned it. I was too scared."
"You are right. Mysteries need to be revealed through a medium. Incineration is the most intense method of purification, but it is also the most thorough. Good boy, you have protected you and your family."
"I am willing to convert to Gaia," Hitarian said carefully. Of course she knew what it meant to burn Lucia's gospel. Believers converted to gods not only for support in their hearts, but also for tangible relief. Lucia has three food shops in Yotsuba City, but they will definitely not give bread to someone who has blasphemed the goddess. However, as long as Gaia is willing to accept her, the corresponding relief station will be open for her.
The priest agreed. "What you need now is care, not justice." He even invited them to stay here for a night: "There are benches and carpets to lie down on, and a warm fire. Why not have a peaceful sleep here?" Children, good children, don’t be afraid, you are protected by the goddess.”
Sleep here? church? Hitarian didn't even dare to think about it and refused immediately. The priest didn't force it. She returned to the shed with Ruth in less time than she had left. After putting his sister to sleep, Hitarian began to regret the trouble tonight.
He was watching me as we left, Shitarian thought. Maybe it wasn't looking at her, but Ruth... I shouldn't have taken her out. The clergy of the Church of Gaia had never heard of any rumors of bad deeds, but Hitarian knew that their father had planned to send them to a monastery in the east of the city. There were many girls living there, but there were also men visiting from time to time. Hitarian had seen some girls holding babies. At that time, she was still a follower of Lucia. She had never seen such a sight and was deeply frightened by it. Later, before her father could make up his mind, she ran away with Ruth.
Of course, that was just a misunderstanding. Now Hitarian has long known that this is a place for unwed mothers, and most of the men who come there are their family members. They do not want their daughters or sisters to be spurned or even humiliated by others, so they reluctantly separate from them. Hitarian and Ruth did not have such a good father, he just wanted to get rid of two burdens.
Maybe I should have gone to Gaia's church. Although Lucia was the first god she believed in, the confession and the nightmare frightened Hitarian... It seems that I am not as pious as I thought. Hitarian does not put much restraint on his blasphemous thoughts. The goddess Gaia has always been gentle, so what good is the sun?
Only Ruth was different. Hitarian had always had plans for her future, which did not include sending Ruth to a church as a nun. A nobleman might like her face, or even a wealthy businessman might accept a well-behaved and beautiful girl as his lover. However, their situation will change. Hitarian didn't mind this kind of thing, especially when he was too hungry to sleep. In the final analysis, they are just humble street children, and their dignity and honor have nothing to do with them. But the Church of Gaia…
The church is a holy place where people pray and worship God, not just because of the statues in the fountain. The mysterious power of the Cross Knights and clergy is the source of faith. Mortals still have flaws that allow Ruth's luck to work, but the mysterious creature itself is an anomaly. Hitarian doesn't dare to take risks, just like she never chooses a patrol knight as a target when stealing. Ruth's good fortune was a secret, and telling others would make them wary. It just so happened that there was an alchemical potion widely spread in the Gaia Church, which made people unable to lie.
Maybe she fell into a deep sleep due to worry. After the nightmare was dispelled by magic, a new dream replaced the blood red and white bones. Hitarian heard a noise at the window. It was Leisen, a boy from the neighborhood, throwing stones at the glass. Lisson was two years older than her and was full of energy every day. He was a very nice person, and he taught Hitarian how to steal. Of course she knew why she dreamed about him.
But not Leeson. Hitarian woke with a start, the window rattling. Nor the wind. I didn't feel the wind. Shacks are not qualified as wind shelters, and you can most likely feel the violent movement of air inside the house. Where did this sound come from? She realized someone was outside. She had woken up countless times tonight, but this time she didn't actually fall asleep.
The ground was shaking, and the sound of horse hooves could be heard from the end of the street. Hitarian quickly pushed Ruth awake. They saw bright lights in the distance and wondered what was going on. Ruth also heard the window. In order to prevent her from rolling around on the bed, Hitarian lay outside, so it was too late to reach out to stop her from opening the window.
"That's the Cross Knight." A dark figure stood outside the window. Somehow neither Hitarian nor Ruth felt afraid. "Coming to find you." Black Shadow said. He was actually covered in black mist, and then the mist dispersed.
"Who are you?" Hitarian asked reluctantly.
"Leave now." He did not answer her, but warned her, "The Cross Knights are no longer protecting you. Leave here quickly."
No more protection? "What's the meaning?"
"For that book. The Confessions. It's not Lucia's Gospel, but it's not Gaia's either. The Council of Light and the Church of Gaia want it anyway. You shouldn't go to church."
"I do not believe you."
The only thing she was wary of was a smile from the stranger. "That's not a problem." He stretched out his hand and covered them with mist.
Hitarian screamed subconsciously.
"It's just a little trick." He gestured to the girl to look at the window, their reflection lost on the glass. "We hide."
"Are you a mysterious creature?"
"How about a more bizarre guess. Demon?"
demon. Strangely, the word didn't make her flinch. "Are you the Nameless One?" Hitarian asked. She felt her heart racing, but she was more excited than afraid. The day finally arrived. She squeezed her sister's hand.
But then the cavalry arrived outside the door. "They're coming."
The dark armor of the Cross Knight undulated silently in the night, and the pure white cloak behind him floated with his steps. Hitarian did not dare to express her anger. She was vaguely aware that the kindness emanating from these church knights was anything but friendly. After finding no one in the house, the knights began searching. They worked in groups of three and searched every corner of the house, especially the ashes after burning.
"We're lucky," the stranger said after they walked out the door. "The church didn't use magic to search, maybe because they thought you hadn't been exposed to mystery. It's strange, they are rarely so careless."
Hitarian knew the reason and squeezed Ruth's hand. My sister must have been pinched by her, but she still didn't make a sound. My luck is her, not the carelessness of the Cross Knight. Hitarian started to say something, but the stranger stopped her and motioned for the girls to follow him out the door. Hitarian found himself doing so.
I shouldn't be relaxing like this. But almost the moment she realized her relaxation, the bright orange-red light flashed in front of her eyes and disappeared.
"!"
Hitarian stayed where he was, watching the flames rise from the shack.
"Incineration is the most intense method of purification, but it is also the most thorough."
The priest's words passed through her mind. It was the only thing Shitarion could think of. They intend to purify us, not aid. How could they do this?
The fire burned for a short time, leaving behind dark charcoal on the ground and thick smoke rising into the sky. It was quiet everywhere, no one was awakened, and no patrol came to check. Hitarian and Ruth's home disappeared in the fire, as neglected as a broken piece of grass in a flower bed.
"Fortunately, I moved quickly." The stranger sighed.
The intense stimulation of the aftermath of the disaster made Hitarian kneel down, but he didn't know whether he should cry. At this moment, she even forgot how to cry. No. Why is this?
Everything went crazy. "Them." She said with difficulty, "What...how...?"
"This is how the church deals with the unknown." The stranger explained, "Even if you come to find the 'Confessions', you must have a reason. Now you are devils in people's eyes." He stroked his fingers. Thin black mist, as if they were flowing silk. "Who says it isn't?"
Hitarian stared blankly at the dilapidated shack engulfed in flames. "Who are you?" she asked. She had never paid attention to the stranger's words before.
"Get to know me, I am Witek Shazo. I specialize in providing help to homeless people. Children, would you like to change a place to spend the night?" Mr. Black Mist said, "After all, the streets are empty and the autumn wind is cold. "
His smile was no more kind than that of the priest, but the Hitarian soul was willing to believe him. Fortunately, this feeling was separated by a layer and could not completely influence her will. She is connected to Ruth...but it seems that so is Witek Shazo.
Hitarian had also speculated about his sister's good fortune. Only then did she realize how dangerous her behavior of going to the church for help was. But maybe he's not dangerous. She tried to tell herself that, although it didn't work well. But now that the matter was over, she had no way to express her rejection. Mortals cannot resist mystery.
She just hoped that she would not regret it again.
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