The autumn wind whipped up Wendelina’s wine-red long hair. The light in her eyes as she looked at the boy was tinged with a longing.
In truth, she had known the answer in her heart long ago, yet she had been unwilling to admit it.
But as she looked clearly at the boy before her, she changed her mind.
She wanted to hear what the future sounded like from his lips, even if it cost her her life.
“He is! He definitely is!”
Lu Li struggled to his feet and stumbled toward that gaunt figure.
Anthelia and the surrounding knights quickly stepped in front of him, barring him from drawing near that dangerous heretic.
Hearing his answer, the faintest ghost of a smile flickered across Wendelina’s face.
At the exact moment that smile appeared, the pale flames of Absolution surged from within her body. In a matter of seconds, they consumed her entirely, leaving nothing of her behind in this mortal realm.
This was the first time Lu Li had witnessed death with his own eyes. It was so close, unfolding right before him.
Yet the person who died showed not a trace of regret, as though she had attained everything she had ever desired and departed this world content.
He didn't know whether what he had done was right or wrong, because he didn't know if God truly was merciful and kind.
If God were truly all-knowing and all-powerful, then allowing evil to fester would make Him inherently evil.
If God were truly merciful and kind yet unable to rid the world of evil, then He could not be all-knowing and all-powerful.
Or perhaps... there was no God in this world at all.
The miracles recorded in the scripture, the doctrines of God loving the world—all of it, every single bit of it was false.
Lu Li couldn't describe what he felt in his heart at this moment. He only felt an aching discomfort, a stifling tightness in his chest.
“You look rather downcast.”
A figure suddenly appeared before him.
Lu Li raised his head and met a pair of faintly amused eyes.
It was Morningstar. Right now, she wore a bright red chasuble symbolizing divine flame—the attire used to commemorate martyrs.
“Have you been here the whole time?” he asked.
“I just arrived. I happened to catch the very end.” Morningstar’s voice was lazy, making it impossible to tell if she was speaking the truth.
At that moment, Lu Li suddenly noticed that the wind had come to a stop once more.
Recalling Wendelina’s words, he asked, “Are you a Seraphim?”
“Perhaps.” Morningstar neither affirmed nor denied it.
“You don't really look like one.” Lu Li studied her and shook his head.
Morningstar watched the boy’s actions with amusement, deciding after a brief thought to play along.
A terrifying aura suddenly descended around her. Her deep, mysterious face began to twist and writhe violently, ultimately morphing into a hideous mass of flesh with no discernible features.
“How about now?” Her voice changed tone as well, rumbling like low, muffled thunder.
Startled by the sudden transformation, Lu Li quickly regained his composure.
He looked at the woman before him and rubbed his chin. “Feels like something's missing.”
Indeed, something was missing.
At his words, Morningstar’s body shuddered slightly, and three pairs of holy, pure white wings unfurled behind her.
“Yes, yes, yes! That's it!” Lu Li nodded. She really was a Seraph, almost identical to the one he had seen the first time.
Oh, wait—there were still some differences. Her height and physique were slightly different, and the feeling she gave off was completely distinct.
The first angel he had encountered exuded a suffocating malice.
While Morningstar before him also radiated that same malice, hers flickered like breathing—fading in and out.
Like... light and darkness coexisting as one?
Seeing that the boy wasn't afraid in the slightest, Morningstar found it a bit dull, despite having anticipated his reaction.
She retracted her wings and, in the blink of an eye, reverted to her human appearance.
“You little fellow, you certainly have nerve.”
With that, Morningstar looked away from him and walked toward the spot where Wendelina’s chest had been pierced by the greatsword.
The fiery red robe draped over her seemed slightly ill-fitting, as though borrowed from someone on short notice.
Yet her expression was solemn and dignified as she walked, chanting softly:
“The Lord tests those He chooses, as gold tested in a furnace.”
“He accepts them as a sacrificial offering.”
“When the time comes, they shall be granted glory; grace and peace shall abide with the chosen of the Lord...”
Lu Li watched quietly until she finished reciting the scripture and prayer before slowly speaking up.
“Will you take her soul with you, so she can die like a saint?”
Morningstar turned around, her black eyes quietly fixing upon the boy who had approached her side.
“No,” she said. “There is nothing left of her.”
Nothing left—which naturally included her soul.
Lu Li nodded as that inexplicable emotion surged within him once more.
“You're an angel—have you seen Him?” he asked.
Knowing what "Him" referred to, Morningstar gave a subtle nod.
“What kind of being is He?” Lu Li pressed further.
What kind of being?
Morningstar frowned, looking as though she were lost in a long and painful memory. Soon, however, her brow smoothed out, and she reached out a finger to gently lift the boy's chin.
She carefully scrutinized his face, while he returned her gaze in quiet silence.
After a long pause, Morningstar spoke:
“He is like you.”
He is like you...
Like you...
Like you...
Morningstar’s words echoed through Lu Li’s mind again and again.
He pulled back from her touch and instinctively rolled his eyes.
“Next time you don't want to answer a question, just say you don't know.”
The boy’s voice sounded calm, yet to Morningstar’s ears, it sounded like he was pouting in annoyance, which amused her.
“I am telling the truth. I did not lie to you,” Morningstar said again.
“Yeah, yeah! It's true, you're not lying!” Lu Li replied perfunctorily.
If God really were like him, this world would be utterly doomed!
“I don't eat beef,” the boy added in a cool voice.
However, he subconsciously overlooked a crucial detail: Morningstar had said “He is like you,” not “You are like Him.”
Morningstar blinked in surprise, then asked out of instinct, “Are you fasting?”
Fasting was considered a form of spiritual discipline, one that brought inner peace, piety, and closeness to the divine.
Fast? There was no way he was going to fast. In an era where resources were already scarce, fasting would simply starve him to death.
“Off with you. Go bother someone else,” he said, waving his hand in annoyance.
Morningstar’s eyes curved slightly. She wasn't angry at being shooed away; instead, a lovely smile bloomed on her face.
“You really are interesting. I think... we will meet again.”
Meet again my foot! Angels, stop bothering me!
Morningstar’s figure gradually vanished, and time resumed its flow around them. Lu Li let out a sigh. His inexplicably heavy mood had unexpectedly lightened after her interruption.
“Your Holiness, are you all right?” Amore rushed over, her eyes slightly red. Abandoning all decorum, she grabbed his hand.
Lu Li shook his head and turned his gaze toward the distance. Uncharacteristically, Julia had not worn her red robe today; instead, she was dressed in a black priest's cassock.
Just moments ago, it was she who had given the order for Amore to kill Wendelina.
Rate on N.U.
