Academic gathering with a lich

Facing the strange obedience displayed by the bizarre race before him, Raymond retracted the chains that had bound the other and realized that before him, no one could plot schemes or launch surprise attacks.

Loveday’s gratitude was evident as he thanked Raymond on bended knee, bowing his elongated head low, exposing the vulnerability at the back of his head where his energy was stored; a Star Spirit’s way of expressing submission. It signified complete defenselessness, in the face of someone who would not hesitate to sever his head with a Light Blade.

Raymond felt no warmth toward the creature’s subservience, his voice remaining as cold and authoritative as ever.

"Why such reverence toward me when we have never met before?"

"Star Spirits show respect to any being with great Spiritual Energy, especially someone as powerful as you; your radiance, your strength, would more than qualify you to be a bishop amongst my kind."

"Spiritual Energy?"

"The power of the soul, the force that lurks within the heart of all sentient beings, radiates from you like the brilliant glow of the sun."

"Are you referring to Holy Light?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Holy Light? Is that what you call Spiritual Energy? I understand now, distinguished bishop unknown to me."

Raymond’s demeanor softened slightly, perhaps realising Loveday might be a kinsman of the Holy Light.

"I am Raymond, and you may address me as Mr. Raymond, Loveday. Do you mean that your race, aside from yourself, has also wielded power similar to mine?"

Loveday bowed his head even lower, and the voice that echoed in his mind grew ever so somber.

"Lord Raymond, my race, the Star Spirits, all wield an energy similar to Holy Light. Including myself, I once possessed that golden, glorious brilliance."

"But now you..."

Loveday moved his poor, desolate form in the shadows, retreating slowly. "I have been corrupted, Lord Raymond, by the Shadow in the void of space during our travels."

"Above our heads, in the cosmos, lies an eternal darkness, a void that devours all light. We were forced to wander in that empty space, and the prolonged hardship and exile soaked not just our bodies but our souls in Shadow. Most perished in madness, while a few like myself continue to exist, in this undignified state."

There was a numb sadness and hatred in Loveday’s voice as he loathed his current grotesque form, which he considered dishonorable.

Lyle did not wish to see a creature that had once saved him disparage itself.

"Mr. Loveday, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Even if the Shadow has tainted you, it cannot erode your will. Amidst the chaos, you still offered me your hand, and to me, that is the light piercing through the darkness."

Loveday opened his blue eyes, devoid of pupils, from beneath his dissatisfaction. Lyle saw them sparkle like stars, shimmering in the eyes, but in the next instant, they faded away.

"Lyle, do you know what those shadows outside are? Those creatures you call Shadow Beasts."

"Aren’t they just Shadow Beasts...?" Lyle’s pupils suddenly dilated as he looked at Loveday, also stained by the shadows, and a dreadful suspicion arose in his mind.

Loveday’s laugh, akin to crying, resonated in his thoughts.

"Those things that resemble animated corpses are my kin, and they are also what I will become in the future. The Shadow will gradually gnaw away at my mind, numbing me until, eventually, I can’t even feel numbness and become a puppet to be manipulated at will, just like them. I once wanted to help them find release, but there were too many, each cry fading from my ears signified the end of a once-proud soul. Like the fine sand slipping through the gaps in my fingers, I— I have caught nothing."

Faced with Loveday’s self-pity, Mr. Raymond roared in anger.

"A Holy Light Walker must never speak lightly of giving up! Loveday, have you already cast aside your glory! The Shadow can take away your Holy Light, but it can’t crush your will at this very moment. Do you choose to die like a coward, or do you choose to be remembered as a hero! The Holy Light is not everything to us, you fool! The brother I knew and understood, one of them, had also lost the Holy Light. He was tainted by the Shadow just like you, but he lived in his own style, and I must admit, as much as I see him as a heretic, he lived happily! I understand how you feel, Loveday, the Holy Light is everything to people like us, but in reality, there are many more things in the world that are worth pursuing and are just as significant as the Holy Light. Loveday, you deserve more!"

Mr. Raymond’s roar literally made the ground where Loveday stood sink, indicating the oppression wasn’t just spiritual.

Loveday was stunned at first, then saluted Raymond, and effortlessly jumped out of the pit.

"Lord Raymond, your sermons are the roughest I’ve ever heard, none of the bishops speak quite like you, they are always so fastidious, and their words aren’t as effective as yours. I felt that if I didn’t awaken, something terrible would happen the next moment. Thank you, my lord. If you wish to cleanse the source of all this, please come with me."

"I’m very good at persuading others," Mr. Raymond said as he relaxed his clenched iron fist and walked out with Loveday.

Lyle followed close behind.

"Mr. Raymond, it seems you have a lot of thoughts."

"Yes, Lyle. This is the first time I’ve used George as a positive example for a paladin, and it stirs a mix of feelings in me. I never thought there would come a day when I’d use a damn heretic to inspire another heretic."

Lyle smiled.

"You’ve changed, Mr. Raymond, the Holy Light is no longer your sole standard."

"No," Raymond took a step forward and pulverized the surrounding Shadow Beasts, "the Holy Light is still my only standard, but my understanding of it has deepened. Spiritual Energy, the power of the soul."

Loveday led them deeper into the dense Shadow, and thanks to Mr. Raymond’s inherent ability to repel physical filth, the journey was quite comfortable. However, as they went deeper, Nia became increasingly active, as if something was drawing her in.

Loveday led them into a dilapidated temple, which, despite its severe damage, Lyle recognized as not aligning with the strange style of the Star Spirits. The color and atmosphere of this place were distinctly of Earth’s indigenous architecture, an ancient divine temple.

"We were forced to descend upon this planet, and as we became tainted by the Shadow, lost in confusion, our leader, Bishop Kamphusser led us to this temple. He was the most attuned to the Holy Light among us. He told us that there was a voice calling out to him here, a voice that could help our kin escape their suffering. At the time, I served as a Shadow Warrior outside, and was fortunate to avoid the first onslaught of terror. My kin became the monsters you see now, and so did my leader."

Loveday brought them to the center of the temple. In the midst of a massive, twisted pentagram, a gigantic shadow emitted its voice. It was a huge human silhouette, standing in the center, the head area emitting a faint glow, looking as though it was turning its back to you from every angle. The space was not large, but gazing upon this human silhouette, you felt as distant as if it stood on the horizon, the brightness of its glow or the abyss-like body stirring a sense of dizziness and a sharp pain in your brain.

"That is Bishop Kamphusser, as he is now."

The giant silhouette made snapping and cracking noises as it cradled a massive lump of flesh it was gnawing on. Bits of food and debris fell from the throbbing mass with each chew, landing on the ground, turning into writhing shadows, and eventually becoming stiff Shadow Beasts. The lump of flesh seemed endless, and so the Shadow Beasts were endlessly spawned.

Seeing Nia’s excitedly wriggling tentacles and listening to Loveday’s introduction, Lyle’s astonishment was etched into his eyes.

"That thing already existed here, and when the bizarre Bishop Kamphusser released it from its seal, a single phrase was conveyed from his rigid mind."

"Deity."