Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Revia took a deep breath to calm her mind. Indeed, she was something more than a just a tool. Despite her upbringing, everything that had happened had a reason.

Or so she was told.

That’s what she had to believe.

She climbed out of the carriage and walked towards the massive building with elegant exterior decorations, different from the temples in other cities.

Extra details that enhanced the temple to make it a more divine looking structure than it was were added.

Three large faceless statues carved with the utmost level of care were at entrance, wide gaps in between them being the passages that congregants would use to scale up the wide and clean steps into the sizable opening that led within the temple.

Apprentice Priestesses and Priests would welcome the joyous entrants with handshakes, smiles and even hugs, the entire atmosphere being devoid of anything but positivity.

Revia looked at this scene from below, her grey eyes tracing along the pristine statues of the Deities.

‘Direction is it? Is this really what I’m supposed to be doing…?’ she gave in to momentary doubt.

Were the events of her past really necessary for her to reach this point? Was it all really ordained and fair?

She didn’t really know.

Perhaps. But only a single reason prevented her from denying it outright._.

When she was grafted into the Purity Knights after having been saved by the man who had appeared at her door, she had met the one person who has truly delivered her from the darkness that welled in her after her brother’s passing.

Elita.

Her sister.

The one who reminded her of her femininity which got to be enjoyed by vile men before she could. Her strength which was used to ease the burden of cruel personages before she could use it for herself.

She gained individuality through the ever-smiling and encouraging sister who saw her as nothing else but a younger sister who needed her guidance and love.

That was why she had a semblance of belief in the Deities. Because she had found someone who looked out for her for a chance.

Revia unconsciously smiled.

Her mood became a little better.

‘If this is were I’m supposed to be, then I’ll save you too sister. Just wait for me,’ she thought before scaling up the steps into temple.

On this journey, she found the people climbing along with her parting to give her space to walk up unhindered.

They all smiled and greeted her warmly to which she reciprocated with a warm smile of her own and a dignified nod.

Though this was different from the genuine welcome she had gotten from Emeradis, she wouldn’t be so rude as to dismiss these people’s goodwill as she was truly happy that they at least seemed to find purpose and joy in this.

Upon entering the temple, a stretch of well positioned benches in neat rows with a gap inbetween diving them into two sides appeared.

The air was surprisingly cool within, the decor of white and gold giving one who entered here for the first time a sense of awe.

Glistening gems were fitted to the walls on either side along with small sparkling trinkets that produced starry lights. The ceiling far above had vertical, closely knit and painted beams in neat columns as they faced down, creating a beautiful collective arching aesthetic when one looked up.

Almost half of the benches were occupied as upon entering, everyone would grow silent, respecting the sanctity of this place.

Up ahead, a man in robes that lightly touched the wooden tiled flooring was addressing two Priests in a hushed tone.

He had sliced back blonde hair and eyes that had begun whitening due to his old age, blindness slowly kicking in. His skin was deeply wrinkled with his earlobes drooping, with each word he said bringing a loose tingle of his flesh.

Even with these features, one couldn’t dismiss the thick aura radiating from him as he donned thick white robes along with red scarf which had a line of three-pointed stars all around.

He held a tall silver construct akin to a staff, which was fitted with a bright, blue orb at its end that released a rainbow coloured flare.

Golden carvings were etched upon this tool and as the man held it, his figure gaining a faint halo that demanded respect.

Revia walked up to the three as she then knelt down on one knee and bowed her head.

“High Priest Valis… I am here to serve,” she said with a tone that depicted a silver of intimacy under a sea of formality.

“Ah, my child. I’m glad you’re finally here. It has been quite the long time since our last meeting. Rise…” the old man said with a voice that oozed of care and joy.

Revia stood and smiled lightly.

“Since when did you grow so formal with me, child? I thought your sister taught you to be anything but that.”

“I couldn’t just leap up and cling to you like a brat in front of the congregation now could I?”

“You… make a fair point. Though, I would wager the Deities wouldn’t disapprove of an old man accepting a child’s embrace after all these years. You’ve grown so much.”

Revia smiled brightly.

Even if she doubted many in the Purity and perhaps even Deities themselves, she couldn’t doubt this man.

High Priest Valis.

The same man who had dragged her from the depths of pain and sorrow all those years ago, replacing her aimlessness with hope that there was something else for her out there in the world.

She saw him as her father and he saw her as his daughter, as asides from all the work in the Purity, he had the air of a fun old fart with a light-hearted personality.

High Order Priests were generally addressed as High Priests. Calling them by their full title each time would be quite excessive after all.

The tool in his hand, the silver staff with the bright blue orb, was the conduit for the Divine Blessing of the Deities.

It had many functions, which depended entirely upon the type of Blessing bestowed upon it.

While the Champion Paladins held individual Divine Blessings, they were more personalised and contained, while the ones within these treasures held and overseen by High Order Priests were usually more powerful and capable of a wider range of effects.

“Has there truly been a rise in the activity of the Evenfall in the Isise? Even with you around?” Revia asked in a hushed tone.

Valis sighed in exasperation, dismissing the Priests and motioning with his head for Revia to follow him several steps from the first line of benches.

“It’s not exactly clear what the trend is going to be. I fear that Elita’s warning may have been inadequate but not unwarranted. I have been feeling restless of late. I feel that something terrible will occur in the future. It turns out that I’m not the only one who shares this sentiment. Apparently, that ghost of a man Erlton the Reader appeared a few days in Eofel, telling folks the same in his own… musical way.”

Revia looked visibly worried.

Was this such a big deal Could there be a threat that the Purity couldn’t handle?

Both notorious groups, the Evenfall and Green Neolists had only been an object of nuisance for a long time. Nothing more.

Was there something else behind this?

“Perhaps it is my old bones that have grown wary because of the constant chase I’ve had to endure with those Evenfall heathens. But, your presence here brings me some much needed relief,” Valis said with short chuckle.

Revia felt jittery.

She couldn’t get used to being praised and relied on in this way. It felt so… redeeming and refreshing.

Her determination to her goal became even more reinforced with this.

“Now, you can just sit down and hear the message for the day and then we can have a lengthy chat afterwards.”

“Yes, High Priest,” Revia said with a bow and a smile as she went over to the front bench where one of the congregants gave up his seat for her.

Revia looked ahead, awaiting for the High Priest to begin his sermon to the congregants when someone beside her respectfully called for her attention.

“Miss…”

Revia turned to this man only for her pupils to dilate in shock.

“Would one such as I be allowed to listen to the message of the Deities?”

Beside Revia sat a man in a white and green mask…