Water dripped to the ground, sending out silk-like ripples, but in the darkness, nothing could be seen, nor could any sound be heard.
The Church was so quiet it was frightening, so quiet that even the noisy crowds outside seemed to have disappeared at this moment, as if at this very time, Bai was the only person left in this world.
A whispering murmur drifted to her ears, blurry as if in a dream.
Bai frowned, trying to make out what that mysterious voice was saying, but it was as if an invisible wall blocked her ears, isolating her from the already indistinct, unrecognizable whispers.
The sounds by her ear grew noisier, and at the last moment, Bai finally caught a few faint words.
“The Original Sin of Pride”
Bai’s eyes flew open, her heart pounding fiercely, though she couldn’t tell if it was excitement or fear, or perhaps some other emotion.
It was then she realized—at some point, a Dagger had appeared in her hand?
“A Dagger? Did the Goddess give Bai a Dagger?”
Confused, Bai wanted to ask, turning her head, only to find Sylvia squinting as she smiled at her.
For a moment, Bai felt a familiar aura, but it was quickly swallowed by Sylvia’s gentle and dignified presence.
She spoke softly, “The Goddess has already given you her answer, child.”
Bai looked at the Dagger, frowning in confusion.
“Why would the Goddess give Bai a Dagger? Bai wants an answer, not a weapon.”
Sylvia walked forward and gently clasped the hand holding the Dagger.
In her other hand, she held a small golden cup.
“The Blade of Purification—this is the Divine Will. Now, use this Dagger to pierce your skin, let your Blood flow into this Golden Chalice. She will take away your sins and doubts. This is the Divine Will.”
Her tenderness at this moment felt like poison, and the hand holding Bai’s was icy cold.
“Purify…sins, is it Bai’s? Will Bai find Sister if she does this?”
Bai asked softly.
“Yes, as long as you cut your skin and let the sinful Blood flow out, the Goddess will be very pleased. She will help you reach your ideal result.”
She smiled, and deep in her eyes flashed an almost imperceptible hint of madness and longing.
Her golden pupils fixed upon Bai’s neck.
“So as long as Bai bleeds, she can find her Sister…”
Bai murmured, raising the Dagger and pointing it at her scarred wrist—scars left behind when she bled herself for Yarabella.
Is this her sin?
Just as the sharp blade of the Dagger was about to touch her skin, Sylvia’s bewitching voice sounded again.
“Do it, child—’Original Sin of Blood’—this is the Goddess’s answer, your salvation.”
Her hand holding the Dagger paused in midair.
Bai suddenly shook her head slightly, her voice trembling, “No, it’s not like that.”
“Huh?”
“The Goddess’s Will to me was the Original Sin of Pride—not the Original Sin of Blood. The Goddess didn’t tell Bai that! The Goddess’s answer isn’t like this!”
Bai threw the Dagger to the ground with all her strength, and at the moment she turned, she saw it.
Sylvia’s smile had vanished, replaced by an expression cold as ice.
Her voice turned frigid: “You are defying the Divine Will.”
“This is not the Divine Will! The Goddess did not want Bai to hurt herself! You’re lying to Bai!”
Bai shouted desperately.
She retreated, trying to run out of the Church.
But when she turned, she saw that Sylvia, who had just been beside her, was already standing in the center of the Church.
“Child, do you not want to find your Sister? Do you not want to go home? I know, you are serving sin, but if you obey the Divine Will, your sins will be forgiven. She will guide you to the best outcome. You will receive ‘Liberation,’ attain the highest happiness—wondrous beyond the imagination of mortals. Don’t you want to gain ‘freedom’?”
Sylvia spoke slowly, as if coaxing, as if warning.
“Bai doesn’t know who the Goddess is. Bai also doesn’t know why you know about Bai’s Sister, but Bai is sure—the Divine Will is absolutely not this! Bai wants to leave!”
Agitated, Bai frantically tried to escape. For some reason, this place suddenly filled her with unease—not disgust or hatred, but fear.
Bai ran straight past Sylvia, who merely stood there and did not stop her, only watching as Bai rushed out of the Church.
The doors slowly closed. Silence returned to the Church. Sylvia turned around. The tips of her hair began to change, gradually turning to silver, and her golden pupils—like flowing Blood—transformed completely into a bewitching red.
Her cold voice echoed in the great hall.
“Truly…a disobedient child.”
The Statue of the Goddess, standing tall, wept fresh Blood from its eyeless sockets—a stream of bloody tears.
***
Outside, the crowd remained bustling as ever, not diminished in the slightest. Bai ran out of the Church, gasping for breath, and before she could recover, a familiar voice called from nearby.
“There you are, Bai! Where did you run off to? I had to look for you for so long.”
Vera stood with her hands on her hips, scolding with a pout.
Bai just shook her head silently.
Vera, noticing Bai’s strange expression, was stunned for a moment, then asked worriedly, “What happened? You look so flustered.”
“The Church… Bai just went into a Church. There was a really strange Sister inside, talking about the Goddess’s will and making Bai bleed.”
Bai said.
But Vera only looked at her with confusion and asked, “Church? What Church?”
“Huh? It’s just behind Bai…”
Bai turned to point, but saw that the arched doorway had become a solid, impenetrable wall.
She stared blankly.
“It was just here—how did this happen?”
“What is with you? Did you get your head knocked in the crowd?” Vera asked worriedly. Without another word, she grabbed Bai’s hand. “Don’t run off again, okay? I heard there are lots of bad people in the Human Territory!”
Bai nodded absentmindedly, her mind still caught up in thoughts of that Church, the strange, gentle smile of that Sister named Sylvia, and the “Original Sin of Pride”.
***
After that, Vera continued to drag Bai around searching for a long time. By the time the sky was stained with sunset clouds, they still hadn’t found a single place that accepted Elven currency.
“This is awful! They’re just bullying us!”
Vera stomped her feet angrily.
With night falling, not only had they not found a tavern, but not even a place to stay—were they really going to sleep on the streets with empty stomachs?
She, the dignified Princess of the Elven Kingdom, when had she ever been so humiliated?
Reduced to sleeping hungry on the streets.
Vera was thoroughly disheartened, as if all her energy and ideas were spent.
She gloomily said to Bai, “Sorry, I never thought it would turn out like this. If only I’d brought more money before we left.”
Bai shook her head, then…
Took a few gold coins from her pocket.
Vera: ?
“You had Human currency this whole time!”
“Um, Bai is a Human, after all,” Bai answered meekly.
“Why didn’t you take it out sooner!”
“You never asked…”