Bro, I'm not an Undead!

“…and in the void of Stagnant Space, the four Deities made the selfless decision to create a world. Aigas. A host of different races that would make it prosper and flourish.”

“All four of the Deities sacrificed their physical forms to create this plane. Suzamete became the sky, Quintess became the land, Listafelle became the seas and Boron… who was termed the ‘Traitor’, created the Under, a place where vile monsters thrive as they are not permitted to live in this plane.”

“We as the Purity are the representatives of the Suzamete, Quintess and Listafelle. We keep the memory of their existence alive and demonstrate their greatness to all living creatures. Is there anything else I missed?”

A gorgeous woman spoke as she gazed tenderly at the figure of a 14 year old boy who was listening to her patiently next to her on the speeding carriage.

Spotless chestnut coloured skin could be seen over the woman with thick, curly, black hair that reached her shoulder complementing it. Her pure hazel eyes had a certain vivaciousness to them, her heart-warming smile formed over red, oval shaped lips being something that all men who saw would gulp at.

She donned a sturdy yet slender golden armour with a three-pointed star sculpted on the chest, her figure exuding a presence befitting her rank.

“No, that was good enough, but you didn’t tell me what came before the Deities, Paladin Champion Elita,” the young boy at her side said while grinning happily which prompted the woman to give a short laugh.

“The Deities lived their lives, just like we do. Only a Deity can share with you what they did before the creation,” the woman said before turning to the figure opposite._.

It was a rather slim man with greying hair and sharp brown eyes donning a white robe with the same three pointed star. He wore a light smile as he watched his son try to act like an all knowing priest.

“He’s well informed. I didn’t expect my knowledge of the doctrine to be scrutinised and judged to be mediocre by such a young boy, Grand Priest,” the woman, whose name was revealed to be Elita. “He is the splitting image of you in both ways.”

“Hahaha! That’s solely his own achievement I’m afraid. He studies the doctrine critically on his own and often argues with me on certain subjects. Our household is very lively as a result,” the slim man said.

Elita merely smiled back without a response and ruffled the hair of the boy beside her. The boy couldn’t help but feel belittled, his brown eyes alternating between Elita and his father.

The carriage that these three rode in was surrounded by a dozen others that looked exactly the same; thick and polished wood with steel ornaments that were riddled with protective runes.

Proud horses pulled the carriages with the drivers giving their utmost attention to the road.

Today, the 89th, 2nd Order Grand Priest of the Purity was being escorted to the city of Eofel in Pelian to commune in the temple.

His position was one of the highest above all else within the Purity, the single recognised organisation that taught about the four Deities.

One of the 12 Paladin Champions of the Purity along with seventy elite knights had even been dispatched to ensure that the Grand Priest would reach the city safely.

As they journeyed, the image of the city was already visible in the distance.

“How goes the situation with apprehending those fanatics? The Green Neolists,” the Grand Priest asked Elita.

The dark skinned woman gave a sigh before delivering an answer.

“We’ve been close to capturing them but I had to order our search parties to withdraw. It felt like we were being led on. Our current strategy needs some revision but we have them cornered, which makes me even more nervous about the potential threat they could cause in that situation.”

“Hmm. I see. A cornered mouse can be a frightening foe in the end. Have you been able to dig out their actual goals?” the Grand Priest asked.

Elita’s eyes flashed a bit in response as she gazed at the Grand Priest to which he understood exactly what she meant. Because his son was in the carriage, the Paladin Champion couldn’t outright talk about the multiple villages where half of the population had been turned into undead and made to prey on the rest.

This was the current development.

“It’s still anyone’s guess at this point,” Elita said.

The Grand Priest sighed and looked out the window. This procession of multiple carriages had been something he was against. He wanted to believe that he didn’t need but then again…

“Why do you think it has become so hard for people to believe in the Deities? To devote their faith. Only those who feel a pull in their strength congregate in the temples to get blessings and enter the Foundation Stage but they never return to pay respects. That is not the devotion we teach,” he said.

“It is not indeed.” Elita said. “I feel the truth is—”

Elita stopped mid-sentence, her gaze turning serious as she sensed fluctuations in the mana within a mile’s worth of distance!

It was pulse. A weak one that most wouldn’t be able to perceived at all.

Her pure hazel coloured eyes turned sharp and ignited with refulgent light that torched the Grand Priest!

In the next moment, a ball of fire appeared amidst the racing carriages, exploding outwards with a fierce roar that covered over 50 meters!

The bright orange flames consumed most of the carriages in an instant as space was distorted for a short while!

However, in that exact same moment, Elita who sensed everything that occurred with the appearance of the ball of fire didn’t panic like the boy beside her or show a shocked expression like the Grand Priest.

She casually pointed downwards with her armoured index finger, a magnificent brilliance gushing out to counter the flames that spontaneously roared into existence!

The flames were instantly extinguished, no horses or coachmen being so much as licked by the flames!

It was like watching a snowy avalanche overwhelm a pillar of fire, as the result was a reassuring calm.

The carriages came to a halt, Elita nodding to the Grand Priest as she then disembarked and flashed to where she had sensed the nucleus of the attack.

Tens of Knights decked in shining silver and white armour barrelled out of carriages and followed after the Paladin Champion, surrounding a point where a crater was smoking, yet to reveal the figure behind this unexpected event.

“Woow!” a loud voice spoke. “Oh crap!”

The figure of a young man with short auburn hair appeared within the crater, donning dirty robes and on his face, a shocked expression.

This young man couldn’t help but internally sigh as he knew just how much he was in for a high jump.

‘Glad to have you back, atrocious luck.’