Alma 80 Fourth Heaven

"Mm… I just want to get this over with as soon as possible. That's all."

Something had happened to him and the damn wretch won't tell me what happened even though she was there. He's gone quiet on the inside, too. No doubt keeping his thoughts away from me…

Lu'um observed the brooding, silent figure beside her and wondered what he had heard from the old man… What could have caused such a change? She did not know but it seemed like whatever the old man had said to him had taken hold in him…

Reed looked out of the hovercraft and saw shifting, emerald landscapes blur into one another as they sped along towards the Holy Church's city-state, Fourth Heaven.

It was the original location where the Holy Church had been formed after the devastating Great Barrier War that had consumed the entire Northern section of the continent. Formed several millennia ago, this organization even predated the formation of the Four Empires…

Located in the center of the continent, Fourth Heaven served and followed the will of the enigmatic, divine figure known as the Goddess.

For the acolytes of the modern-day, she was a figment of myth and known only through ancient, fragmented texts of unclear origin.

But to the oldest of the clergy, she was as real could be. They were not like their young, skeptical children. No — they had seen Her themselves.

Before the Great Barrier existed — when the Infestation had broken into Heaven. An era that only a handful still remembered these days...

Reed shut his eyes and said, "Wake me when we get there. I'm going to get some shuteye while I can…"

"Sweet dreams, Ka'an…"

I wish they were. I really do. But I think we both know that they're…

He slowly stopped thinking, let his mind wander and eventually, his fatigue got the best of him. A black, slumbering veil shrouded him and Reed fell asleep…

Lu'um wondered what she'd find if she looked into his mind right now, but knew her attempt would likely be blocked by the wretch. She had become strangely defensive of him ever since that day.

"What did he hear? Tell me."

"He heard something he needed to hear from the old fellow."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to. Know that it was a good thing for him and be patient. Give him some time to process what he has learned."

"Patient? Me? Did I hear you tell me to be patient?!"

"You're not the only one, you know. I— We have all been—"

Reed suddenly grumbled and shifted his posture in discomfort. He curled up a little bit and then returned to his slumber.

Lacrima and Lu'um held themselves in place as they observed Reed cautiously and waited for what seemed like an eternity until they felt like it was safe for them to talk again.

"Let us leave this discussion for another time, girl. It is neither the time nor the place to be talking about this..."

"So be it. Another time, then..."

Eventually, they reached their destination after a couple of hours. In the distance, a large city could be seen glowing under the radiant shine of a massive cathedral. A dome made of golden Anima covered the city as a shield that protected the Holy Church's domain and allowed only those that they permitted.

As a result, the Holy Church remained isolated from the rest of the world. For the devoted, the Fourth Heaven was a sacred place that could not be allowed to be tainted by the nonsense of the Four Empires.

They would not allow others into their home and in return, they would not interfere with whatever happened outside.

An unspoken pact had also been made between the Four Empires and the Holy Church. That they could spread their gospel across their empires so as long as they kept their conquerors in their domain where they would remain.

Keep their old monsters sealed, they would be allowed to perform their so-called divine work for their Goddess…

In such a manner, the Holy Church had established their millennilong neutrality.

Reed let out a long yawn and wearily rubbed his eyes when he got out of the hovercraft. He looked around and recoiled when he saw thousands of people staring at him in silence and respect.

Hundreds of soldiers in neat rows and formed an impressive wall of flesh and polished steel as they stood guard in front of Reed's hovercraft.

In the distance, the deep chime of enormous bells filled the air across the city. Crowds of devoted worshipers, acolytes, and priests watched Reed with interest as they whispered amongst each other.

Oh man, not this shit again... Just play it cool, Reed. Don't worry about it…

A tall, elderly man walked out of the void in front of the hovercraft and said, "We are honored by your presence and welcome you to our home with open arms, Prince Leon. I, Bishop Poe, am at your service, your highness."

Reed nodded and said, "I was not told that this would be a public appearance, Bishop Poe. Had I known, I would have not brought…"

When Lu'um stepped out of the hovercraft, Bishop Poe said, "Oh no, no. It is perfectly fine; you needn't worry about that…"

Poe bowed toward Lu'um and said, "Greetings to you, fair maiden—"

"I am Maya Goldentree — Fiancee of Prince Leon."

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Don't introduce yourself like that, woman! What are you doing?!!

Reed calmly smiled and said, "Forgive her, Bishop, she is just a bit under the weather…"

Poe abruptly coughed and then said, "Your highness, we welcome you as well to our home. The Pope has been expecting you and was delighted when he heard of your arrival. Please, if you don't mind…"

He gestured toward the path that had been laid — the long carpet made of crimson and gold. It lead toward an elegant vehicle on the other side where even more soldiers were posted on guard.

They've really made a whole show out of this… Goddammit.

But there was no going back now. Reed knew that, so he clenched his teeth and resigned himself to his fate. He put on his best smile and then threw himself into the fire…

It was a full-fledged nightmare for Reed as he had expected. The whole city had been apparently alerted to his arrival and what should have been a simple drive to the Sacred Cathedral had turned into a godforsaken parade.

The worst part was that the vehicle that had driven him to the Sacred Cathedral had been constructed with a convertible roof. As soon as it took off down the main street, the roof popped off and the madness began.

Reed, Lu'um, and Bishop Poe had been drowned to brim with flowers, to the point that it had nearly filled the hovercraft. He'd been forced to smile and wave like a statue for a solid twenty minutes as people hurled flowers at him as if they were going out of style.

Lu'um, on the other hand, had enjoyed the experience to the fullest. The crowds chanted, "Beauty of the East," and "Jem of the North," the entire way through the parade as they hurled roses on her side of the hovercraft.

Poe chuckled and said, "As you have seen, the city's filled with love. Especially for you, Prince Leon. After the Pope spoke about your touching coronation speech during mass, your popularity blew up around here, so to speak."

"So it seems…" said Reed as he brushed flowers out of his hair. "Fourth Heaven is mighty welcoming, that's sure."

"And very… beautiful, too," said Lu'um as she plucked out a flower that had gotten entangled in back of Reed's head. "The architecture here is unlike anything I've ever seen before. It's magnificent…"

Poe nodded and said, "Yes, indeed, Lady Maya. This city boasts the most accurate representation of Ancient Mulian architecture in the world. It is the life's work of our archbishops who wanted to emulate the beauty of the Gods. Alas, it will never truly match the splendor of what once was according to them..."

Lu'um smiled and said, "Even so, they have done quite well. They should be proud of what they have accomplished even if it'll never match the original…"

Reed coughed and looked at Lu'um with a scolding gaze.

Keep your petty insults to yourself, woman. Don't make my life harder, please...

"If only, Lady Maya, if only. But the Archbishops are a… dedicated bunch. Very devoted to their beliefs and of course, the Goddess."

When the hovercraft approached the front of the Sacred Cathedral its large, wooden doors opened and an enormous congregation of old men and women walked out in unison.

Reed suddenly felt his blood freeze.

Oh, fuck! It's them…! There's so many of them…!

The ambient Anima in the area suddenly overflowed like mad and condensed enough that an aurora was cast above the Sacred Cathedral for kilometers without end.

They had personally come to meet and escort Reed to the Holy Pope himself.

The old monsters had arrived.

Chapter end