[Edanian Journey] Elion

Chapter 3: Back Through the Ages

As we pressed on, a priest stood before the blocked path, endlessly demanding that sin be offered. Before him, sinners knelt and confessed their sins over and over.

When we passed judgment upon them, another passage appeared in the <b>History of Iron</b>. It spoke of those who had valued greed above faith, twisting scripture to justify their own desires. Sophia admitted that there were parts of the Church that needed to be cut away, and reflected that she, too, had once stood within it.

The sanctuary made no effort to hide that corruption from us.

We continued onward, reading the records we found along the way. There was the story of a girl once called the avatar of Elion, and of sacred power bestowed upon those who prayed. But the peace that followed only stirred the jealousy of those in power. The avatar was branded a heretic and burned at the stake.

I thought of the Valkyries sacrificed during the Kzarka subjugation. The Church was repeating the same sins.

Following a clue in the records, we made our way toward the <b>Tower of Will</b>. Along the path, we spotted someone standing ahead. She looked remarkably like Lady Enslar.

Her name was <b>Venslar</b>.

Venslar tried to stop us and asked us to leave the sanctuary, but Sophia and I defeated her. Even then, Venslar pleaded with us not to defy the will of God. She said she had begged Elion countless times, but Elion had only listened in silence.

The god now sat with eyes closed, shedding tears while awaiting the day of judgment. The holy water flowing through this land was <b>Elion's Tear</b>, a grace that still raised the dead. But compassion was no longer all those tears carried. Elion's anguish, despair, and regret brought sinners back to endure repentance, and warriors back to deliver judgment.

Venslar explained that she had chosen to follow Elion's silence rather than burden the weak with fear of the coming end. Sophia repeatedly asked whether that was truly the best choice, while I told Venslar it was still too soon to give up.

Once Venslar realized who I was, she hesitated a little longer. But when she heard that I had already stood against other gods, she finally nodded.

In the end, she asked only that I show Elion that mortals still had the will to move forward, and that hope remained.

It was time to carry that possibility before the god.