I also felt touched when they cried out to express their faith in me and my god. At that moment, Bianca and Hilde carefully asked similar questions from either side of me.
"Allie, then what do we call our god?"
"What is the name of the god we serve?"
The key moment was here. I stretched my back and sat upright. I put on the most serious look I could muster and made my voice sound as reverent as possible.
"The god we serve is the Voice that Shapes the World."
Ding!
â¬Â«System» Progress on the [Calling of the Grand Priest of Voiceism] has been updated.â
â¬Â«Quest» Seventh [Calling of the Grand Priest of Voiceism] (16 of 1,000)
Quest Requirements: Tell 1,000 people that you serve [The Voice that Shapes the World]
Quest progress: 16 of 1,000 people requiredâ
My words were met with exclamations of excitement.
"Voiceism! Yes, we believe in the religion of Voice!"
"Hearing our god's name finally cleared my head."
"I agree. I feel like my chronic migraines are completely gone!"
"Just hearing the name of our god has already had profound effects on us! They must be a magnificent god indeed!"
"We are your servants, the Voice that Shapes the World!"
My grandfather made a solemn statement. "We must set Voiceism as the official religion of the Duchy of Heathfenrir."
Seriously?
Edgar, the chief of staff, set his glasses straight and added his political analysis. "That would be the best solution to keep the Holy Kingdom of Elfenheim at bay, Your Grace. They will have to risk cutting ties with the Duchy of Heathfenrir if they seek to brand Her Eminence as a heretic."
The eyes of my grandfather, my mom, and Hilde flashed dangerously upon hearing his assessment. The political leaders of the Duchy were a force to be reckoned with.
Bianca lowered her gaze and chimed in. "We can mount religious, military, and diplomatic pressure against the holy kingdom. We will also have to bring the kingdom of Vinchester and the Ragneif Republic of Magic into our fold before officially proclaiming Voiceism as the Duchy's official religion. Your Grace, do you have time to spare right now?"
"Of course, Bia... I mean, Lady Bianca of House Gilette! Let us start the meeting immediately."
"Vice-bishop Hilde, please join us."
"Yes, Lady Bianca!"
"Mister Leonard and Dame Elthea, we will need you as well. I would appreciate it if you can speak to the Golden Ivory Tower and Queen Laviosa on our behalf."
They all started preparing for an emergency meeting with serious looks on their faces, so I felt compelled to help as the Grand Priestess.
"Splendid. Then I will start drafting an official statement."
"No." Bianca was gentle but firm in stopping me.
"Bia?"
"Vice-bishop Hilde and I can sort that out."
Bianca and Hilde then exchanged determined looks with each other.
«They got pretty close recently while discussing everything they hate about Muriel.»
It seemed like having a common enemy formed strong bonds within our ranks.
I tried to pitch in once again. "But I'm the Divine Emissary. Don't you think I should do something as well?"
"Allie," Bianca responded.
"Yes?"
"I want you to focus on Sir Tesilid."
I didn't expect such kind consideration, but it wasn't just Bianca. Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. I could finally relax my tensed up shoulders when I realized I didn't have to act like everything was fine.
"Everyone, thank you so much."
Everything felt so warm and happy in the room. The feeling was so infectious, it was as if for a moment the entire world could be a place of kindness and safety. How nice it would've been if Tesilid had been here as well since he was, after all, the biggest part of my world.
I calmed my turbulent heart and got out of bed. There were things I had to take care of before I met Tesilid.
"There are some people I would like to speak with."
â
Ephael and Hestio had been locked up in the guest room located on the fourth floor of Heathfenrir castle, but the terms of their confinement were rather odd. Their door was only guarded by two knights they could easily overpower, but Ephael and Hestio never caused any trouble and stayed put in their room because there was something far more powerful than the security guards keeping them in place.
I would like the two of you to stay here for the time being.
Grand Duke Heathfenrir informed them, his tone gentle but serious, and the two had immediately obliged his request. They also needed some time to think things through before deciding their next steps.
Ephael was sprawled over the long couch, while Hestio curled himself in a chair. There was a reason why they sat in silence in such a dejected state. They couldn't get over the shock of the news they received from the Vatican the other day. Their friend and colleague, Ailette Rodeline, was said to be a heretic.
To make things worse, the council of cardinals unanimously agreed on the matter. The Gate of the Pantheon she had opened on the Litennial Plains irrevocably branded her as a heretic. But she was a Divine Emissary, capable of using the Divine Advent. She herself had been living proof of God's existence, so the shock of her divinity being denounced as heresy was like a rebellion to God's existence itself.
Who could have imagined that the first Divine Emissary in 500 years had been sent by a foreign god, instead of the Strict Order and Goodness? The Holy Kingdom of Elfenheim usually offered heretics the chance to convert, but they did not extend the same courtesy to Ailette Rodeline. She was to be killed without being given any opportunity for redemption.
"Hey."
"What?"
Ephael removed the book he had placed over his face when Hestio called out to him.
Their gazes met and made them realize how their eyes had become somewhat sunken and hollow in their distress, making them turn their heads away so they wouldn't have to acknowledge the mess they had become.
Hestio asked, "What are your thoughts on the present situation?"
"Thoughts...?" Ephael returned skeptically. "I wasn't really thinking much..."
"Yeah, I shouldn't have asked."
Ephael stared at the patterns on the ceiling, while Hestio's gaze drifted around the room aimlessly. It was only much later that Ephael spoke again.
"What if saintess Muriel is simply framing her? We need to hear Ailette's side of the story as well."
Ephael was grasping at the hope of an alternative explanation, even though he knew very well what the Gate of the Pantheon signified. But Hestio didn't think his colleague was foolish because he also thought it would be wise to listen to both sides of the story.
However, they themselves weren't in a good situation. They had been Divine Emissary Ailette Rodeline's colleagues for about six months after they were assigned to her knight division, and they had even encountered her in their childhood. They could easily be branded as heretics as well if they delayed their return to the religious order.
Nonetheless, they decided that listening to what Ailette had to say was more important than their own safety and position in the order. They wanted to hear from her before deciding their next course of action, even if she told them nothing more than what everyone already had on their minds. So, the pair sat in silence, grimly waiting for what would almost certainly be the end of a friendship, when they heard footsteps approaching from one end of the hallway.
This wasn't the time for a maid to serve their meals or the knights to change duties, but their minds were so saturated with concerns about their rogue friend and commander that they had no space to entertain other questions. That's why they were completely vulnerable to the person who burst into the room after a brisk knock.
"Hello, heretics!"
The loud greeting immediately jolted the two young men out of their lethargic state.
"A-Ailette...!"
Ephael fell off the couch while trying to rush toward her. Meanwhile, Hestio managed to get out of his chair and pointed his finger dramatically at her.
"You... It's you!"
"How have you been?"
"Are you... really...?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Ailette said briskly. "You were worried sick about me, and you feel touched to see me on my feet again, right? Oh, and you missed me? Yes, Hestio. I know."
"I can't believe this!" Hestio managed to control his temper and lowered his finger before he finally managed to ask a proper question. "When did you wake up?"
"About an hour ago."
"How do you feel?"
"Completely fine." Ailette flexed her biceps, jokingly flaunting her muscles.
Seeing her in her usual playful and jolly state made Hestio sadder than he already was.
"Ailette, listen."
"Yeah?"
"Look. I'm really glad... that you finally regained consciousness."
Ailette waited for him to continue. Her expression became serious when she noticed he was on the verge of tears. Hestio had to take a deep breath before he could continue.
"Did you hearâ"
"The news from the Vatican? Yes."
She clarified the situation with a clipped response. Only then were Hestio and Ephael reminded of what Ailette called them when she first entered the room.
Heretics. She had called them heretics.
Hestio clenched his fists as if to suppress something rising in him. "Is it true, then?"
A short silence hung between the three. It was as if they were giving each other enough time to brace themselves for what was to come.
Ailette then continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "Yes. I serve a different god."
"Since when?"
"From the very beginning."
"What about the time we met when we were ten years old?"
"Then too."
That's when Hestio started sounding anxious. "W-we were told a saintess appeared and defeated Count Orshe by using the Divine Advent after we fainted. You were that saintess, weren't you? Then how do you explain that?"
Ailette tried to read between the lines. Did he think Divine Advent was the sole privilege of those who believed in Order and Goodness? Well, that's probably because he has only lived in a monotheistic world. She came to terms with it and started explaining.
"What you know is true. But the power did not come from the Strict Order and Goodness. My Divine Advent is a power given to me by the Voice that Shapes the World."
Hestio and Ephael were clearly shocked to hear what she had to say.
â¬Â«Quest» Seventh [Calling of the Grand Priest of Voiceism] (18 of 1,000)â
Nonetheless, the name of the true God was finally revealed to them.