Only God

At last, they squeezed into the venue, and the clamor from outside gradually faded away. Before Eden could catch his breath, he was pushed onto the defendant's stand by the guards.

The priests attending the Great Council had been waiting for a long time. Thousands of eyes converged on the defendant's stand, and a heavy atmosphere pressed down on Eden from above.

Veldor and Pastor Casas watched Eden nervously; the latter still didn't know that the public trial was orchestrated by the two of them, who had been working tirelessly on his behalf these days.

Because of the Emperor's and the Great Shepherd's obstruction, Veldor and Pastor Casas had never gotten the chance to see Eden in jail, let alone rehearse the trial with him. Thus, they were extremely anxious, fearing that Eden would continue to be stubborn in his views.

Soon, with a bell toll, the heresy trial began. Under the organization of the Great Shepherd, the witnesses stood up and started a series of statements.

Among these witnesses, there were those who had previously identified Eden as a heretic in the verdict, and there were also priests who had cast opposing votes in that verdict.

Eden slightly raised his head; he saw the figure of the Emperor again. Beside him was the devout and elegant Queen, the co-ruling imperial couple, the annoying Princess Arsia, and a group of foreigners dressed in southern attire. They seemed to be looking in his direction, whispering secretly among themselves.

What were they talking about?

Eden thought to himself.

His gaze fell on Arsia, and he remembered her grating words,

"Good priest, stop reciting Scripture and speak a few startling prophecies instead! Don't act like a righteous man either; be comfortable playing the fool to contrast with my father the Emperor!"

That merciless mockery lingered in his mind, could not be dispelled, and suddenly, Eden felt a surge of hatred toward Arsia. If it weren't for this sinner's words, he would have chosen to become a martyr long ago.

But now, he began to hesitate.

"Defendant Eden, it's your turn."

The Great Shepherd's voice echoed through the venue; the witnesses had finished their statements.

Eden turned around, his mouth opened,

"I… I…"

He was stuck, pausing, and after all this time, he could only utter a faint phrase,

"I am not a heretic."

That statement was as good as none, for a heretic will never admit to being one.

The priests all looked at him, waiting for his next words, but after a long wait, Eden said nothing more.

The Great Shepherd frowned, puzzled,

"Is that it?"

Eden spoke up,

"Just… that's it."

What was this?

Eden's clumsy and vague reply shocked everyone.

Emperor Constantine VI felt puzzled and bemused.

Was this the same man who had dared to offend him?

He had heard from the Prison Director that, even when faced with various tortures, this man hadn't changed his expression.

The Queen looked at Eden with pity, then turned to her daughter and said,

"Look at your sword and shield, what is he then?"

Arsia was extremely impatient; she clenched her fists. Previously, she had mocked Eden relentlessly, but now, due to God's arrangement and fate's mockery, she found herself standing on Eden's side.

Princess Danschel began to regret. If she had known it would turn out like this, why had she even bothered to meet Eden?

The morning trial ended in confusion like this. The Great Shepherd announced a temporary adjournment; everything would have to wait until the afternoon to continue the judgment, when more evidence, such as Eden's theological papers, would be presented.

Eden was temporarily detained, feeling lost and impatient, uncertain of what choice to make.

Kneeling on the ground, the priest prayed to God, seeking supreme mercy.

Eden folded his hands in prayer, tears falling in his panic.

"Oh God, praise be to You, the great Lord, how shall my enemies deal with me...

I used to consider myself steadfast, but now I see my own cowardice.

Lord, what should I do, I do not know how to choose.

What I believe, is it true? Is it undoubtedly the truth? Will there really be a Savior?

If it is true, then I can be martyred at any time, but if it is false, wouldn't my death be meaningless?"

Eden prayed, expressing his agony.

If that's not the truth, wouldn't my death become a mere farce?

Such a terrifying thought.

In the darkness, there was no response; silence was all around, with not a sound to be heard.

Had God listened to my prayers, or had He not...

Eden didn't know, he sat forlornly on the ground, kneeling.

"This is so similar to what Xilan experienced.

He, too, doubted his mission.

But history validated it, his mission was true, not false."

Eden murmured,

"History has proven him right, but how can I know if I am right...

I believe it is the truth, but what if it isn't?"

Suddenly,

Eden wondered, why did he feel that the prophecy could not be the truth?

Because of...

The fear of posthumous disgrace.

He had thought to himself, it's not difficult to be a martyr, but what kind of martyr is one that is scorned by everyone?

"Lord, I am afraid.

Lord, is a martyr still a martyr if scorned by everyone?

Please reveal it!"

The darkness was pervasive; the priest sat alone, his ears perked, listening for God's response, but within and without the darkness, there was no sound, and as time ticked by, he couldn't help wondering, how did the martyrs in the time of the disciples know that what they believed was the truth?

Chirrup, tweet.

It sounded like bird calls, perhaps a robin.

The priest sat in exhaustion, unable to think of anything else; it was the church's most desolate time after the Prophet's departure and before the coming of God's kingdom, fragile like a candle in the wind, yet those believers had faith without fear and were willing to sacrifice their lives for it.

Looking back, their acts seem so great, but to the Three-eyed Ape People of Ajia Land, they seemed so foolish.

The strong power of the King of Aja and the current Emperor's might showed so much similarity.

The priest seemed to catch something, mumbling a line of scripture from the disciples' era,

"Give up your life, give up yourself, for what you believe, you must love, praise, and walk with God."

As the words fell, from outside the cramped room, faintly came the chirrup, tweet of the robin. Eden couldn't see where the robin was, but could hear the faint calls; he looked towards the door, sensing a pair of clear eyes quietly gazing at him, and the priest couldn't help but pray softly,

"Lord, that is the truth, isn't it?"

Vaguely, he seemed to hear some reply.

The priest got up, looking around like a mentally disturbed patient or a prophet speaking various prophecies, and slowly, he calmed down, looking out the door. The robin's calls were gradually fading away, and the priest felt as if he had been baptized.

Eden looked outside, the robin's sounds had completely vanished, but those clear eyes hadn't disappeared; instead, they drew closer.

Who could it be?

Who else has such clear eyes, which martyr's spirit, which angel, or is it...a Prophet?

Eden held his breath, waiting patiently.

But when he saw who it was, he first widened his eyes, and then his face showed great disappointment.

Arsia's good looks were revealed under the torchlight, her eyes so clear, not at all like a sinner, yet she remained a sinner.

"What are you doing here?"

Eden said with an unfriendly tone.

This woman had never brought him any good.

What was she here for, continued mockery and sarcasm, or threats and temptations?

Thinking this, Eden felt a flare of anger, and inwardly spoke with an angry voice:

"I have forgiven you."