“Please make way, Bai wants to get through.”
Bai tried hard to pull herself free, but the crowd remained indifferent, each person walking their own way, paying no mind to the small girl hurriedly trying to break away by their legs.
“P-please, make way.”
Finally, after much effort, Bai was jostled by an unknown passerby, pushing her from the flow of people into a corner at the side of the street.
Bai looked up in confusion.
Before her stood an unfamiliar building: its black stone spire pierced the gray-blue sky, like a rusted sword.
The red-black bricks were the color of clotted blood, and where wind and rain had worn them down, mottled gray-black patches showed through.
Atop the main entrance’s arched roof, stone angels wore solemn faces, yet their wings were shattered into pieces.
This was actually a Church?
Bai turned her head, wanting to keep searching for Vera, but the shifting crowd seemed to form a wall, giving her no chance at squeezing back in.
“Lost child, what are you searching for?”
A gentle, dignified woman’s voice sounded from behind.
Bai looked back; on the Sanctuary stood a black-haired woman in a Sister’s habit, smiling, her serene and beautiful face quietly watching her.
“Come inside, child. It’s not too late to search again after the crowd passes.” she said softly.
Bai looked at the Church, then at the crowd behind her—she had no hope of squeezing back in. After a struggle, she hesitantly walked inside.
“E-excuse me for disturbing.”
As she entered, everything blocked by the low arched doorway opened up.
Inside was surprisingly spacious: thirty-six white stone columns supported a stained-glass dome.
Sunlight streamed through colorful windows, turning into bands of sacred light flowing across the polished jade tiles like rippling water.
White gauze fluttered on the Sanctuary, silver Scepters glimmered gently in the light.
A giant Statue of the Goddess towered above, her wings spread behind her, stretching out like arms to embrace the entire Church.
She looked down; though her eyes were only outlined in the stone, they gave the illusion of being watched.
The Sister on the Sanctuary still smiled warmly.
That smile felt like a wave of warmth flowing through Bai, even washing away her inner restlessness.
“Child, what is your name?” the Sister suddenly asked.
“Bai.”
“Are you looking for someone?”
Bai nodded and replied, “Bai got separated from an older sister with blond hair, an elf. We were trying to find somewhere to eat, but there were so many people, Bai got pushed out by the crowd and in the blink of an eye, ended up at the Church’s door.”
The Sister’s gentle smile never faded, but she shook her head softly and said, “Not the elf sister. I mean, are you searching for your family, your… sister?”
Bai’s eyes widened in disbelief as she asked, “How did you know that?”
The Sister didn’t answer right away.
She turned, looking up at the Statue of the Goddess, pressing her palms together, her expression devout.
“The Goddess guided you here for a reason. Since the moment you entered the city, your confusion was already noticed by the Light of the Goddess, child.”
Bai tilted her head, lost in a fog, and asked in puzzlement, “What do you mean? Bai doesn’t really understand.”
The Sister turned back again, looking at her gently, and replied, “There’s no need for you to know. The Divine Will of the Goddess is always difficult for mortals to understand. All you need to know is that you are fortunate—because the Goddess, at this very moment, is watching you. Your arrival is also her will.”
The Sister smiled tenderly, gracefully bowed with solemnity, and said, “My name is Flotis Silvisia. I have been waiting for you for a long time, lost child.”
“As for the Divine Will of the Goddess, Bai doesn’t understand. But, do you know where my sister is now? Is she doing well? Has she… has she missed Bai at all?”
“She’s doing very well.”
Silvisia said, slowly walking over to Bai.
Then she gently took Bai’s hand and led her toward the Sanctuary, continuing softly, “However, I cannot yet tell you her whereabouts. That would go against the Divine Will of the Goddess.”
“If the Goddess wants to help Bai, why be so secretive? Wouldn’t it be better just to tell Bai where her sister is!”
Bai said urgently.
This was her first time since returning to the mortal world to hear news about her sister—how could she not be anxious?
“The Goddess’s intentions cannot be guessed. Whatever she does for you will lead to the best outcome. You only need to obey and wait. Your doubts and questions will be replaced by the Gentleness of the Goddess. This is inevitable.”
She tilted her head, smiling gently at Bai once again.
Her golden eyes gazed calmly at her, but for some reason, Bai felt a strange… pang in her heart?
Bai didn’t know why such an emotion would well up, as if her heart was trying to restrain her and warn her about something.
But by the time she came back to herself, she was already standing on the Sanctuary.
Bai looked up at the towering Statue of the Goddess, who seemed to be watching her as well.
Peaceful, serene—and also, bizarre.
Silvisia pressed her hands together again, her face utterly devout, even a little crazed.
“Pray, child. The Goddess will answer your plea and tell you what you must do.”
Bai nodded half-believing, half-doubting.
She imitated Silvisia, putting her palms together and closing her eyes, quietly waiting for the so-called “Divine Will of the Goddess”.
***
At that very moment, elsewhere.
“Bai! Little Bai! Little Bai, where are you!”
Vera was shouting at the top of her lungs in the crowd.
She didn’t know when it had happened, but she suddenly realized the little hand she’d been holding was gone.
Panicking, she hurriedly squeezed her way out, calling Bai’s name loudly to the crowd.
But there was still no sign of her.
“Really, where did she run off to? She’s so tiny… She won’t get trampled, will she?!”
A sudden thought made Vera’s mind go blank, and she grew frightened.
She quickly shook her head, driving away that terrible idea.
“What nonsense, Vera. The most important thing now is to find Bai quickly. But where could she have gone?” she muttered to herself.
She scanned the area, soon focusing on a tall building nearby.
Maybe if she got up high, she could spot her?
With that thought, Vera leapt upward lightly. Her body, as light as a feather, soared to the roof of the six-meter-tall building.
She then ran across the roof tiles, soon reaching the very top.
“Let’s see, where could she be?”
She said, sticking one leg up, raising a hand to shield her eyes as she peered down at the dense crowd.
Soon, she locked onto a white figure.
“Hehe, found you!”
Vera leapt again, heading straight for her target, reaching out to grab.
“Meowaaaaaaah!!!”
That white figure was just a little cat.
It let out a sharp screech, then swiped its claws solidly across Vera’s arm a few times before bolting away like the wind.
“Aaahhhh! My keys! That hurts so much!”
Vera screamed, but by the time she turned her head, the cat was already long gone.
She could only sigh helplessly.
So where on earth was Bai?! If only she’d grown a little taller, it wouldn’t be so hard to find her!