Chapter 120 - 119: Sanctuary

Chapter 120: Chapter 119: Sanctuary

They left the Land Bird at the hitching post outside the church.

Hesia saw Zoya gazing at the veil-patterned Holy Emblem on the lintel.

Her purple eyes held a hint of reverence for the Holy Emblem, mixed with a sense of detachment from her surroundings.

Figuring it was likely due to her Faith, Hesia said, "You can just wait for us out here."

Zoya nodded gently.

Hulk hoisted the unconscious Beastman, Zande, onto his back, while Hesia stepped forward and gently pushed open the dark wooden door.

As the door swung open on its hinges, a tranquil world that seemed forgotten by time was revealed inside the church.

There were no bright, harsh sources of light.

Moonlight filtered through the high windows and scattered across the floor.

Flickering candlelight cast warm halos of light upon the stone pillars and walls.

The rest of the space was bathed in a soft darkness.

But this darkness wasn’t frightening. Instead, it gave Hesia a sense of peace he had never felt before.

Their footsteps echoed softly in the empty expanse of the church.

Even the normally boisterous Bruce reined in his jaunty trot, padding cautiously at their heels as if afraid his claws might make too much noise.

The moment they stepped into the narthex and stood still, a figure emerged silently from the shadows to the side.

It was a woman dressed in a grey robe of soft fabric, completely without adornment.

A wide hood concealed most of her face, revealing only the elegant, gentle curve of her jaw.

Her gaze first fell on the Beastman on Hulk’s back, lingering for a moment. It then moved slowly to Hulk and Hesia, finally sweeping gently over Bruce, who was looking about curiously with his tongue lolling out.

"May tranquility soothe the weariness of your travels."

Hesia gave a slight nod in return, discreetly pulling his gaze away from the deep red halo above her head. Just then, he noticed the line of her jaw beneath the hood move slightly, as if she were smiling to herself.

Following her line of sight, he saw Bruce by his feet, properly dipping his head at her as if returning her greeting.

This amusing detail made Hesia feel a bit warmer toward this follower of the Night Goddess.

Hulk took a step forward, his tone respectful. "Lady Castian, this Adventurer is severely injured. We used herbs to stop the bleeding, but a strange power clings to the wound, constantly corroding him. No other treatment has been effective."

The Priest, Castian, turned slightly and gestured for them to place Zande on a nearby pew.

Hesia stepped forward as well, and together, he and Hulk laid Zande flat on the pew.

As they unwrapped the bandages, the charred, festering wound was once again exposed.

Castian extended a pale hand, hovering it just above the wound.

A gentle Shadow flowed from her fingertips, enveloping the entire wound like falling night.

At the same time, as if meeting its natural predator, the dark energy writhed frantically, surging out of the flesh to collide with the Shadow and dissolve.

A pained expression crossed the sleeping Zande’s face. His hand shot up, instinctively clawing at the wound.

Just as Hesia moved to hold his hand down, the gentle voice sounded again:

"The night will guard his dreams."

As she spoke, Zande’s tense body gradually relaxed. His breathing grew deep and even, and he fell into a profound sleep once more.

The writhing dark energy at the wound also gradually dissipated.

Castian looked at Hulk and Hesia again, a trace of fatigue in her eyes from beneath the hood.

"There is Calming Tea in the rectory garden, prepared for all travelers who enter these doors. You may rest there for a while. The purification will take some time."

The two nodded their thanks and passed through a side hall to the rectory garden.

Cold moonlight flooded the garden. It was so quiet the only sound was the wind rustling through ivy leaves.

After they had sat in the garden for about fifteen minutes, they finally heard movement from the narthex.

When they returned to the narthex, Zande was already sitting on the pew, looking dazed.

The wound on his midsection was completely healed, leaving only a faint scar.

Seeing Hesia and Hulk, he spoke in a low, rumbling voice, "What... happened?"

Hulk briefly recounted how they had found him in the cave and brought him here.

Yet, even after hearing the brief summary, Zande still looked completely lost.

"...I don’t remember," he mumbled, then looked at the two of them. "Thank you."

[Beastman... +3]

Hesia quickly checked his interface:

[Race: Beastman]

[Decryption Points: 3]

[Term Extraction: Requires 25 Decryption Points]

That was 5 more Points than what was required for a Half-Beastman.

’He has amnesia?’

’Was it because of his severe injuries, or was it Pastor Castian’s treatment...?’

’But, just as the captain said, this Beastman is different.’

’Even with amnesia, his Affinity increased just from hearing Hulk’s brief summary.’

Zande continued to struggle, trying to recall something.

"The cave..."

His dark red pupils contracted violently. He clutched his head, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "The cave... Lily! I have to go save her!"

Castian’s form materialized beside him again, coalescing like the night itself.

Her voice was still gentle, but now it held a sigh, as if she had foreseen this all along.

"Zande, you swore an oath to the Goddess that you would never go near that place again."

Before she finished speaking, she had already raised her hand. A gentle Shadow swirled around her fingertips as she lightly pressed them to his forehead.

Zande’s tense body went slack, and he once again fell into a deep sleep.

Seeing this, Hulk couldn’t help but ask, "Lady, what is this?"

Castian replied softly, "Some memories are themselves wounds that can never heal. Forgetting is the protection the Goddess has bestowed upon him."

’Protection?’ Hesia felt a chill.

’There was a lot packed into that statement. Not only did Castian know Zande, but his amnesia wasn’t an accident—it was a "blessing" she had cast to protect him?’

’What on earth did this Beastman encounter in that fog-filled cave to require forgetting as a form of protection?’

’And if that’s the case, getting any information about the cave from him would be...’

’However...’

After a moment’s hesitation, Hesia decided to ask, "Lady Castian, can you tell us... what exactly is that place, that cave?"

Castian didn’t answer directly. She gazed silently at the sleeping Zande for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh. "It is no blessing to lift some veils too early. For your sakes, it is better not to know."

She then turned to Hesia and Hulk, her tone gentle yet firm in its dismissal. "Zande is already a registered believer of the church. Let him remain here to recuperate for a time. Please, leave the rest to us. You have both done enough for one night."

’Zande was a follower of the Night Goddess all along?’

Hesia glanced at Hulk and could tell from his expression that the captain was also unaware.

’From what he recalled, most Beastmen worshipped their own Divine Spirits.’

’But that would explain why he was living in Rose Town and quietly helping Adventurers on the road.’

Since Castian had put it that way, she was clearly unwilling to reveal anything more.

Hesia didn’t press the issue. After all, he was only curious.

The two of them didn’t linger. They rose, said their goodbyes, and headed for the main door.

Just as Hesia’s foot was about to cross the church threshold, a low, gentle female voice resounded deep in his mind:

"Since a corner of the Goddess’s veil has been lifted for you, it will not be closed to you again. When you need a hidden sanctuary, a moment of oblivion, or simply a corner where you will not be disturbed... remember that this door will always remain ajar for you."

Hesia stopped in his tracks.

’Was that message for me alone, or are those parting words given to every first-time visitor?’

’Perhaps it’s the Priest’s way of spreading her Faith?’

’My knowledge of the continent’s various Divine Spirits is far too limited, and I have no intention of devoting myself to any faith.’

’But...’

He recalled the deep red halo above Castian’s head.

’She is undoubtedly a powerful Professional.’

’Since she’s made an overture of goodwill, maintaining a friendly connection with her could only be to my benefit.’

Hesia paused, giving another slight nod toward the shadows deep within the church. He then turned and melted into the night outside.