Chapter 45: Priest Mekah

Elias and Benjamin entered the Sun Church together, and the moment they crossed the threshold, the noise of the city seemed to fade behind them.

The thick walls muffled the sounds from outside, leaving only the quiet footsteps of the people moving through the spacious hall and the occasional murmur of prayer from somewhere deeper within the building.

Elias slowed his pace as he looked around.

The interior was considerably more impressive than he had expected. Various depictions had been painted and carved across the walls, showing scenes of people kneeling beneath the radiant Sun, warriors standing beneath its light, and spiritualists raising their hands toward the heavens. The images were detailed enough that Elias could almost feel the devotion contained within them.

Rows of wooden pews stretched across the main hall, leaving a wide path between them that led directly toward the raised platform at the front.

A podium stood at the center of the platform, positioned beneath a massive golden sun carved into the front wall. Its numerous rays spread outward across the stone like a crown of light, and the golden surface reflected the sunlight entering through the colorful windows.

Above them, a large chandelier hung from the high ceiling, its numerous crystal ornaments catching the sunlight and scattering faint reflections across the walls.

Elias looked upward for a moment before quietly muttering, "This place is quite beautiful."

Benjamin nodded slightly as he followed Elias’s gaze.

"It is one of the most important buildings in the city, my lord," he whispered.

Before Elias could respond, footsteps approached from the side.

A young man walked toward them, his appearance immediately drawing Elias’s attention.

A stitched scar ran close to one of his eyes, crossing his skin without diminishing the calm expression on his face. He wore a white dalmatic that reached down toward his legs, while a red stole rested around his neck, its two ends decorated with golden symbols of the Sun.

When he reached them, the young man stopped and placed his right hand over his heart before bringing his middle and index fingers toward his lips.

"May the Sun shine on us forever," he said calmly.

Benjamin leaned slightly toward Elias and whispered, "A deacon."

"Ah..." Elias mumbled before quickly copying the man’s gesture and placing his right hand over his heart.

"May the Sun shine on us forever," he repeated.

The deacon’s expression softened into a smile.

"That is not a formality, Sire Elias," he said.

Elias paused and looked at him.

Benjamin immediately leaned closer and whispered, "The members of the Sun Church call noblemen Sire instead of my lord because, to them, the only Lord is the Sun."

"Ah..." Elias mumbled as he nodded in understanding.

The deacon smiled again before introducing himself.

"I am Gram, a Deacon under the holy and rightful grace of the Sun, and I have come to take you to Priest Mekah," he said.

Elias nodded politely.

"Thank you, Deacon Gram."

Gram inclined his head before turning around and beginning to walk toward the deeper part of the church.

Elias and Benjamin followed behind him.

Their footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor as they passed between the rows of pews. Elias occasionally glanced toward the depictions covering the walls, but he didn’t stop to examine them for long, and instead continued following Gram.

After walking through the main hall and passing several corridors, they eventually stopped before a wooden door.

Gram turned toward the door and raised his hand before knocking.

Knock. Knock.

"Sire Elias is here, Your Greatness," Gram announced.

A brief silence followed.

Then an aged voice came from inside.

"You may enter."

Gram reached for the handle and pushed the door open.

Elias and Benjamin walked inside.

The room was considerably less grand than the main hall. There were no enormous golden decorations or elaborate religious paintings covering the walls, and instead, the chamber contained only a simple desk, a few chairs, and the quiet warmth of sunlight falling through an opening above.

Elias’s attention immediately settled on the person sitting behind the desk.

Priest Mekah was an old man whose face was covered with wrinkles that reflected the many years he had lived. His hair had turned completely white with age, and a similarly white beard covered his chin and lower face.

His blue eyes were the most striking part of his appearance.

They seemed to hold the depth of a long life filled with experience, as though the old priest had witnessed countless events and carried the memories of them all within those calm eyes.

His body was frail, and his back was slightly arched forward, giving him a noticeably weaker appearance than the powerful figures Elias had encountered in the Crimson Ducal Clan.

Yet there was a quiet dignity in the way he sat behind the desk.

Mekah lifted his gaze toward Elias.

For several seconds, the old priest simply looked at him, his blue eyes calmly examining the young man standing before him.

Then he slowly raised one hand and gestured toward the chairs.

"Sit, Sire Elias. You are the first to come," Mekah said slowly.

His voice was slightly low, and his words carried the natural heaviness of an elderly man who had spoken for many decades.

Elias nodded respectfully.

"Thank you, Your Greatness," he said before walking toward one of the chairs and sitting down.

Benjamin stood behind his chair.

"You seem worried," Mekah said while curiously watching Elias.

Elias smiled bitterly. "A rift is worrisome."

Mekah shook his head. "I have lived more than I can remember. I once had someone I loved, someone I cared about very deeply. You seemed to hold a similar affection for someone whom I do not need to explain further."

Elias fell silent.

"I know you are worried about them," Mekah said.

"I am," Elias said.

Mekah smiled and turned his gaze to the door.

A second later, Gram knocked at the door and said, "Sire Berlic and the exalted swordsmen of Kilmir Relief Order are here, Your Greatness."

"They may enter."