Only God

Schiller focused his attention on the world.

Since God created the Path, everything had been changing.

Across the land, many once obscure small nations had risen sharply in a short time, defeating and annexing great nations, only to decline from prosperity to decay just as quickly.

The once mighty empires, some rejuvenated and thriving anew, others rapidly deteriorating, would soon vanish into the long river of history.

In the Celestial Kingdom, two factions of the Divine cast their brilliance upon the earth. Contrary to their expectations, the arrival of God's Path did not diminish the influence of the Gods. Rather, as power emerged, more and more mortals fervently converted to the worship of the Gods, singing praises to the Divines' great deeds.

Meanwhile, the steadily firm world of the True Religion began to waver in the waves of this new era.

The strengthening influence of the Gods meant a diminishing influence for the Church of the True Religion. Some priests, heartbroken and indignant, accused the believers of being easily swayed to revert to witchcraft, betrayal, and blasphemy.

Schiller knew that the Path created by God had brought too many drastic changes.

The world was slowly giving itself over to the new era.

An era that belonged to... both itself and to God.

Schiller was plotting for the future.

This era belonged to God and to himself, but in the next era of this new age, that distant future was going to belong solely to him.

For decades, Schiller had manifested miracles on earth time and again.

It was not hard to predict that those miracles would be recorded in the Miracle Book in the future.

Aside from manifesting miracles, this Great Angel had also begun to exert influence over the Mortal World.

The Fahela Sect was just a small experiment.

The founder of the sect had witnessed a miracle, preached prophecies, and led a life far removed from the secular world.

Before long, the Fahela Sect had grown and strengthened on the borders of the Danschel Empire.

Schiller was quite satisfied with this.

Having said that, he did not pay special attention to the followers of the Fahela Sect.

After all, it was just a minor trial, not worth too much effort.

When would Schiller truly pay attention to the Fahela Sect?

Perhaps, it would be when someone able to capture Schiller's attention appeared.

Standing at the pinnacle of the Sea of Souls, Schiller turned his head and gazed toward Heaven.

He had not returned there for a long time.

The Great Angel longed for that place, missed the angels, and the glory of God.

But he could not return yet, the time was not right.

In his gaze, Schiller seemed to notice something.

"The aura of Solamus... has it been concealed?"

The Great Angel did not know what was happening inside Heaven, nor was he aware that God had given Solamus another mission.

It was as if a god-like being could only sense that he somehow could not perceive Solamus's presence.

"Where has he gone?"

Schiller murmured,

"Where... is he heading?"

................................

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Time was becoming more pressing with each passing day, but Veldor and Casas just could not rescue Eden.

They had pleaded with the Queen, only to be rejected; they had sought the Great Shepherd of Danschel, who remained evasive; they had even attempted bribing the Chief Steward of the Imperial Palace, to no avail...

It could be said that they had exhausted all their options.

"Oh God, do we really have to pray for his death?"

Veldor pressed his forehead, speaking with reluctance.

Pastor Casas looked at Veldor with pity,

"Give up, Veldor, we have tried enough, and there is no other way."

The Pastor's words were accurate, but no matter what, Veldor could not accept them; he clenched his teeth and continuously tugged at his own beard.

"We can't... we can't let it be, I will go directly to the Emperor, demand that he execute me alongside Eden!"

The impulsive nature of Dwarves took over in Veldor's mind; he slammed the table and loudly insisted on finding Constantine VI.

Pastor Casas quickly grabbed him,

"You've gone mad, Veldor, or the Devil has got to you!"

"What Devil's work, I'm a man who has seen the Prophet."

Veldor spoke fiercely.

"Yes, everyone knows you've seen the Prophet, but what good does that do? The Prophet is not here!"

Pastor Casas said in an urgent tone,

"If he were here, performing miracles, then the Emperor would surely spare Eden, but he is not here, and even though you are a man who has seen the Prophet, what use is that? Do you possess any miracle that can convince the Emperor?"

Is there any miracle that can convince the Emperor...

Veldor was feeling pain and frustration,

"Do we always have to rely on miracles?"

Pastor Casas slowly began,

"Miracles always smooth the way; they can make mountains collapse, and calm the seas.

Even God acts through miracles; on Judgment Day, His words cannot be taken to ear, but His miracles will be visible to the eye."

Veldor stubbornly countered,

"There are powers in this world that surpass miracles...

That time, I saw the mountains crumbling and the seas roaring, there was a great shaking in the world, and all the mountains seemed to be attacking us, but at that moment, my Godfather saved me, shouting for one more chance, and he pulled me back from death."

The old man's words were so heartfelt that Pastor Casas seemed moved, and he released Veldor's hand, pacing in place, deep in thought.

Then, the Pastor took a deep breath and said:

"There is one more way, but... it might not be of much use."

Veldor turned excitedly and asked eagerly:

"What is it? We must try whatever it is now."

Pastor Casas looked towards the direction of the Imperial Palace, then at the assembly hall of the Great Council,

"It's difficult, it requires us to convince a few Shepherds, and even if I persuade a few, we still need the Emperor's consent...

So, don't hold out too much hope.

The way is...

To have a public trial of his crimes at the Great Council."