The Story of Light (1)
The Crown Princess opened her eyes and sat up from her bed.
She stretched and began tidying the futon.
No one had told her to, and she didn't need to.
The girl was destined to lead this empire one day.
Such trivial matters could be left to the servants below.
“Your Highness. Did you cough?”
“Mmm! Thank you!”
“Aigo. You tidied the futon yourself again. You could have left it to the maids.”
“I can do this much!”
The Crown Princess placed her hand on her waist and puffed out her chest proudly.
The maid who attended her smiled and bowed her head.
After washing her face, she changed into clothes comfortable for movement.
Then she dashed to where the Emperor and Empress were.
“Father! Mother!”
“Are you awake?”
“Come quickly.”
This was the Emperor's leisure time before diving into serious business.
The family was the reason people could spend a day.
Today, too, to move forward with this reason engraved in her heart.
The Empress held the Crown Princess in her arms and stroked her hair.
The Emperor looked at his wife and daughter with a happy smile.
Gratefully, anew, to the being who had returned this peace.
If not for that being, even thinking about it was terrifying.
Perhaps he and the Empress would have gone mad.
“Ah! Father! Father!”
The Crown Princess approached with her hand raised high.
“I-I saw it again!”
“Hm?”
What did she mean by that? The Emperor asked.
The Empress blinked and looked at her daughter.
“It was a dream! It came again. It's huge! A red bird!”
“...Eh?”
“Huh?”
If it had been before, she would have dismissed it with ‘Oh, I see.’
It was natural for children to have such dreams.
The Emperor and Empress had dreamed the same in their childhood.
When they heard about the Primordial Phoenix, they dreamed of it.
When they heard about dragons, they dreamed of dragons.
But now it was different. It said ‘red bird’.
The being who bestowed blessings was here.
It was astonishing that such a person appeared in a dream again.
“Crown Princess. Perhaps the Vermilion Bird...”
“Empress.”
“Hmm! What did the red bird say?”
“Um... It did say something, but it wasn't to me.”
Dreams fade when you wake up.
The Crown Princess struggled to recall, grumbling.
“Um. So. The red bird was scolding people in white clothes.”
“People in white clothes...”
“...Scolding?”
“Yes. It seemed to scold them very harshly. They were apologizing for their mistakes.”
Perhaps they had done a huge wrong to the red bird.
The innocent Crown Princess just chatted with a smile.
“...”
“...”
But the Emperor and Empress's expressions hardened moment by moment.
Of course, the other party wasn't an ordinary being.
The Vermilion Bird was scolding someone severely?
What did that mean? Or was he passing something through the Crown Princess?
Or was it a premonition dream the child had?
It could be just guessing the child's dream.
But it was very ambiguous to just brush it off.
The Crown Princess had lived thanks to the Vermilion Bird's blessing.
In the process, she might have been influenced in some way.
Or perhaps something had happened to that being.
Or was this a warning to us?
The Emperor had to spend a truly worrying day.
*
At the same time.
“...”
Cardinal Caelum was reading the Bible.
His face was calm. Faith was reflected.
The appearance of a righteous person who devours the word of God.
Perhaps to disturb, the priests hushed their footsteps.
But the Cardinal's heart was completely different from his outward appearance.
Not quiet, and not particularly devout.
What he cared about so much was only one thing.
“Why, why is there no news at all?”
A report from the Divine Generals that they had reached the north not long ago.
An unidentified red being sighted in the Imperial Capital.
He had said he would start a full investigation for it.
He thought a report on it would come soon.
But from three days ago, contact suddenly cut off.
They were the Divine Generals who reported even if something happened.
Even when fighting against evil beings.
“Who's there?”
“Yes, Your Eminence.”
“Any reports from the Divine Generals?”
“None yet.”
Anxious. Especially if it's the case of success.
What if he got the desired result.
It wouldn't take long. It was his era, in a word.
Whether it was a Primordial Phoenix or the progenitor of the Primordial Phoenix.
No matter what, the Order of Light would soar splendidly.
Those who desired the feather of the Primordial Phoenix were spread across the heavens.
It was the source that extended lifespan even if immortality was impossible.
Who would refuse to live longer?
Not just humans? Other beings also earnestly desired it.
Even that dragon used the feather of the Primordial Phoenix.
“If I could get it in my hand, its utility would be infinite.”
In a way, this was an extremely secular reason.
It was done not for faith but for profit.
What relation did it have with religion?
If it became known that I called the Divine Generals, devout people would rebel.
Cardinal Caelum's cunning was great.
It wasn't that he had good luck in putting the Pope on top.
He made the Divine Generals loyal to the Order of Light, not the God.
He acted as if the Order of Light was for the God.
He manipulated the Order of Light to do good, saying he was doing good.
He eliminated forces opposing the Order of Light by saying he was eradicating evil.
At the same time, he always directed all praise to the Order of Light.
People were slow to ears and eyes to praise and cheers.
He made everyone believe this was the right path.
At the same time, he used it cunningly.
He took the Divine Generals as his own private army.
He instantly pulled his position to the highest.
“Now what's left is becoming the most powerful Pope in unprecedented history with great achievements.”
He thought it wouldn't be far. He thought it was close.
He was confident that the last puzzle piece was in the north.
He sent all twelve Divine Generals because of that.
But he never imagined things would turn out like this.
Even the Bible no longer entered his eyes.
Nervously, he placed the Bible on the table.
“Underling!”
If the next shout hadn't come.
He might have knocked the table with the Bible on it.
“Eminence!”
“What is it?”
Opening his mouth while hiding his boiling heart.
And soon he received the awaited news.
“The Divine Generals returned a little while ago.”
“What? Is that true?”
“Yes, Your Eminence. It's definitely true.”
The return of the twelve Divine Generals who went north.
The first emotion that came to mind was not joy.
What came to mind was none other than doubt.
“Divine Generals returned? No contact for three days, then suddenly?”
Cardinal Caelum who came this far is not one with good luck.
He knows how to read the situation. A person full of doubts.
“...Really the Divine Generals?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Did you pass in front of the God while entering?”
A measure to prevent evil beings from invading.
Passing through the sacred door filled with holy power.
The unbreachable defense that has protected the Order of Light until now.
“All of them did. Currently, they are waiting for Your Eminence in the Hall of Great Glory.”
“...Understood. I will go immediately.”
Of course. If they had been attacked by evil, they wouldn't have returned.
Originally, there was no existence that could suppress all of them.
The reason they returned without contact was there must have been some reason.
They would have been cautious that the report might spread if they talked.
“Is it possible?”
Is it possible that it's really the progenitor of the Primordial Phoenix?
They couldn't catch it, but secured evidence of its existence?
When he thought that far, his steps quickened.
The holy knights guarding the Hall of Great Glory opened the door.
Beyond that, the twelve Divine Generals who were waiting crossed themselves.
“We greet Your Eminence.”
“Come in. You who are the spears of the Order of Light. You must have worked hard.”
This time, it was not empty words, but real.
Their appearance and state were not good to say.
They probably know why they came so hurriedly without reporting.
“What happened. What did you see in the north. Did you really find the progenitor of the Primordial Phoenix? Or if not...”
“Your Highness.”
Ada, who was at the forefront, slowly opened her lips.
“First, isn't it appropriate to offer a prayer of gratitude to the God that all of us safely returned?”
“Ah? Um. Yes. That should be first. Come, offer your prayers.”
The one who usually stood in front of the Divine Generals was Quaidro.
But today, Ada is leading at the front.
If the Cardinal's heart hadn't been impatient, he would have realized.
But at this moment, his vision narrowed.
“Come. Now that the prayers are over. Let's talk about the stories.”
“...”
“Wasn't the reason there was no contact or report at all?”
The Cardinal's urging, Ada stares at him.
“Your Eminence. Before that, I have one question.”
“What?”
“What was the reason you sent our twelve Divine Generals to the north?”
“Hm?”
It's the first time. The Divine Generals questioning.
Something's off. But can't not answer.
“It's obvious. Only for the peace of the Order of Light and the world.”
As always. To feel the holy will.
Cardinal Caelum crossed himself and continued.
“The Demonic Dragon died there. Reports of monster sightings came. The extermination squad sent first returned as if fleeing. And the red being that appeared in the Imperial Capital headed north.”
“...”
“This is sufficient reason. Indeed, is it an evil being or not. For that, you, the twelve Divine Generals, must go.”
“Is that so?”
In Ada's expression, doubt still lingers.
Then the Cardinal thought for a moment and added.
“Perhaps it's the Primordial Phoenix. If it's the progenitor. It's also the top priority for our Order of Light to secure it. Think about it. If evil beings take it? Or if a force trying to shake the Order of Light takes it? It will definitely be bad, so it's only right for our Order of Light to move.”
“Is that really so?”
Only then does a faint smile spread on Ada's face.
As if the doubt is resolved, the Cardinal also lets out a relieved laugh.
“Come. Then tell me. What did you see in the north. What did you find. Is it an evil being?”
“No. Your Highness.”
“Then was it a monster?”
“No either.”
All no. Then the remaining answer is one.
The answer he longed for so much. For the future.
“Then, is it the Primordial Phoenix? Was it the progenitor?”
A question full of expectation. A question full of conviction.
Seeing that look, Ada shook her head.
“None of them.”
“No? Then what exactly did you...”
“In the northern sky, we.”
Crossed themselves. Please watch over us.
From now on, we will be very busy.
Not a torch but a torch, come to us.
Please shine upon us who are improving forever.
“We saw the God. We also saw the path that the God taught us.”
“God? You saw the God?”
“And on that path.”
No matter how you look back. You were not there.