Chapter 166: The Masked Figure

เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มี.ค. 2569 06:14

Chapter 166: The Masked Figure Thalia’s POV Even Thalia was taken aback by the sudden appearance of this masked figure. But that surprise only lasted for a few seconds before recognition quickly set in. That gait. That height. The smile tugging at the edge of the figure’s lips... Keeva might’ve cast her disguise magic to change the way all the Transcendents looked. But Thalia couldn’t be mistaken... That is definitely Arros. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮 Her eyes went to the others immediately, seeing the shock and confusion that was also on their faces. All, except for Deacon. They’re in it together. Thalia ground her teeth in frustration. It seemed putting both of them on the same watch had backfired. When Finn made those bold suggestions yesterday, Thalia had taken note of it, especially when Deacon subtly supported his idea. But never would she have thought their cooperation had progressed as far as them willing to flaunt her orders this blatantly. This abrupt move had just thrown all of their mission objectives in the gutter. Thalia was angry. But underneath that anger was calculation. She knew there must be a reason, an opportunity perhaps, that Finn and Deacon had seen for them to make such a bold move. Already, her mind had shifted into preparing for what came next. The previous plan had been discarded and she was shuffling through impromptu contingency plans on the go. But she was also curious as to what Finn actually wanted to do. "And who may you be?" The Honored one had asked. A frown suddenly colored Thalia’s face. It was only now she realized she had clearly understood what the Honored One had said. In fact, for the past few seconds, she had heard and understood everything the Priest had said too. Deacon. Thalia looked at the Truth Bearer again, then scanned the whole surroundings too. Deacon had suffused the whole perimeter with the effect of his Truth concept! In other words, he had removed every barrier of language and simplified all communication to understanding by intention! Even the Honored One finally noticed the anomaly too. He observed the surroundings with a slight title of his brow. But instead of pointing out the true source, he thought it was the figure in front of him causing this effect. Thalia watched as Finn began an act unlike his natural behavior. First, a low chuckle escaped his lips like he was privy to an inside joke no one else was. Then abruptly, his laughter ceased. And he spoke in a tone laced thick with what seemed to be anger, condescension, haughtiness, and intense pride. "A mere vessel, having the gall to act so daringly. Destroying a temple under The Errant’s protection. Blatantly trying to steal His believers." Finn’s voice rose and trembled with such seething indignation, Thalia was taken aback, wondering for a second whether she had been mistaken about the person behind the mask. The righteous emotions in Finn’s voice made her doubt despite knowing it was him. "The Errant?" The Honored One asked softly, as if he hadn’t heard the rest of Finn’s words. Finn slowly dropped the Priestess from the temple on her feet. She had finally opened her eyes sometime when he was speaking. She looked at him, confused, but with something like hope flickering in her eyes. Finn spread his palms and turned to look at the believers of the Guardian. He spoke in a kind voice that made him seem like a beacon in the dark for these believers who were looking for the slightest sign of light for their broken worldview. "The Guardian did not die." He addressed them without paying the Honored One any mind. He strode over calmly to where most of the believers stood and continued: "What you worshipped was merely a shell. A temporary form. The True Guardian has always been more than beast, more than worm, more than the limited understanding you were capable of grasping." His voice carried conviction. Not the theatrical rage from before, but something that sounded almost... truthful. "The Guardian you knew was supposed to be a temporary god. A form that would evolve as you all grew in knowledge... But instead, it became your prison guard, because you refused to grow." Gasps rippled through the crowd. "You allowed this," Finn continued. "You were kept. Isolated. Cut off from the world beyond the desert, fed just enough comfort to never question, never explore, never grow." He gestured toward the Radiant One’s procession without looking at them. "And when the true Guardian, The Errant, finally broke that shell for you all, when the Guardian’s temporary form died, they rushed in. Like vultures to carrion. Like conquerors to a defeated city. Offering you ’civilization’ and ’light’ and ’prosperity.’" His voice took on an unmistakably mocking tone. "But The Errant will not allow this. He has not abandoned you. The Errant does not need temples of stone, nor does he require priests who speak in His name, nor does he send warriors and merchants to intimidate and bribe." Finn turned, finally facing the Honored One directly. "The Errant simply exists. And those who understand, understand." The Honored One’s expression remained unchanged. Serene. Almost amused. "The Errant," he repeated again, tasting the unfamiliar name. "I have traveled across seven kingdoms. Met with priests of a hundred faiths. Spoken with believers of gods old and new. And I have never heard that name." "Of course you haven’t," Finn said. "The Errant is not a God of the civilized world. Not a deity for those who build temples and raise armies and play at divine politics." He gestured toward the empty space where the Guardian’s temple had stood. "The Errant walks in the spaces between. In the flaws of perfect systems. In the cracks where order fails." Thalia’s eyes widened slightly, realizing what Finn was doing. He’s using his Error as a concept foundation to build a God-identity around his Transcendent nature...? Was this the ’Bold Action’ Finn was referring to? Becoming a God himself in this world? "Interesting," the Honored One said. For some reason, he seemed willing to actually consider what Finn was saying. But the Priests of the Radiant One were having none of it. Their bodies were visibly trembling in anger and righteous indignation at Finn’s heresy. If not for the Honored One being so calm, Finn would have been lynched where he stood. "But what are you exactly?" the Honored One asked, tilting his head slightly. "You are surely not a Priest of this... Errant. And you’re too plain to be a Honored One. I can feel traces of divinity from your existence, but you don’t seem touched by the divine..." He then paused for a second, before speaking, this time solemnly. "Or are you an incarnation?" The surrounding Radiant Priests and warriors stilled immediately. One could literally hear them suck in cold breaths of fear and disbelief. They stared at Finn’s masked figure with a new light in their eyes. That word, incarnation, seemed to carry such a heavy weight that even these fervent believers felt the need to reassess their dismissal of the masked stranger. Finn said nothing. He neither confirmed nor denied the question. The silence stretched, becoming heavy with implication. And in that silence, belief began to take root.

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