Free Web NovelChapter 1626: Fa[m]i(th)/[ly]
[...and that’s what we discovered,] Zhen Liu said to capstone his report to Serena.
It was weird for Zhen Liu being the one doing the reporting as opposed to being the one being reported to, but it made sense given the current context and situation.
The Sacred Flame Theocracy was technically her fight moreso than his own, well, save for the fact that he wanted the power of the [Sacred Flame] for his own purposes.
Details and feelings aside, though, Serena looked contemplative and a little sad once she finished processing the news.
So much so that the other little protokaijin that Zhen Liu wasn’t using as a mouthpiece had rolled over to try and comfort her.
[It’s okay, milady.] fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
[We’ll be loyal to the end.]
Zhen Liu could even feel that the protokaijin he was currently borrowing, Copper, felt compelled to go over and comfort the woman who was doing her best to put on a brave face.
’Huh...’
Once again, Zhen Liu was reminded of another woman in his life who suffered a similar problem of having an unnecessarily heavy burden placed upon their head just because the universe demanded it so.
However, just like that sheepish princess who was much tougher than she appeared, Serena was showing him that she was more than capable of dealing with anything and everything the universe wanted to throw at her.
Especially traitorous priests with a literal army of zombies.
Speaking of...
[Actually, would you mind explaining something to me?]
"Yes."
[That...other flame, the one that Hulna and Ferroxa were paying fealty to, mentioned being an offshoot of the Sacred Flame. Do you know when that occurred? Or, I guess a better question would be, how that could occur?]
"That..."
Serena went quiet for a few moments as she tried to rack her brain for a possible answer. Well, to be more precise, she went quiet because she was thinking about whether or not she should be exposing yet another secret that was being hidden from the rest of the wider world.
"Okay...you did me a massive favor by exposing a very deep conspiracy, I suppose it’s only fair that I share with you one that may or may not be relevant in both of our futures."
[Ah, well, that’s ominous as fuck.]
Ignoring Zhen Liu’s cursing, Serena picked up Copper, Silvie, and Goldie, and proceeded to walk out of her study and towards the one other place her position allowed her to have complete isolation: the Central Hearth Chamber.
...One walk through the halls of the mega-cathedral later...
[Wait, is it even remotely safe for me and the others to be—NYAH!]
Before Zhen Liu could ask his question about the safety of being exposed to the [Sacred Flame], Serena had already entered the room and expose him and the other two protokaijin to the fully majesty of the [Sacred Flame].
A feeling of warmth, safety, and love overwhelmed the senses of Copper, Silvie, and Goldie, to the point that Zhen Liu was feeling that same thing in spades.
However, even though the feeling was somewhat all encompassing and surprisingly comforting, Zhen Liu couldn’t help but to notice that the feeling coming from the flame...didn’t feel as intense as he thought it would be.
In fact, if he had to hazard a guess...it felt as if the [Sacred Flame] was actually sleeping.
"I have actually learned how to read the expressions of my little friends here since they learned to emote the way they do, so I can tell that you’re confused about the state of the [Sacred Flame], especially since this other flame you mentioned seemed more lively," Serena said once she noticed Copper’s silence. "Well, allow me to address that concern with a simple answer: the [Sacred Flame] actually used to talk people too. More specifically, she would always talk to my big...she would always talk to my predecessor."
[...]
Zhen Liu noticed the slip of the tongue, but didn’t say anything as he didn’t want to unpack that box of questions, especially given his current companions, quite yet. So instead, he opted to move the conversation along.
[Let me guess, after your predecessor’s assassination, that bonfire of peace and love over there suddenly went to sleep?]
"Yes," Serena nodded.
Serena then explained how shortly after the assassination, but before her selection as Hearth Tender, the [Sacred Flame] had exploded in a fury of energy and released a sweeping pulse over the entirety of Emberona.
The priests told the public it was because it had taken in the previous Hearth Tender’s soul into its loving embrace and had become one with them. In reality, it was trying to find whoever performed this murder most foul and tried to tag them for the others to punish them for their crime.
Alas, that didn’t pan out.
The [Sacred Flame] expended a lot of energy in that moment, only to find its efforts not only repelled, but stolen at the same time. And the worst part was that it couldn’t identify where and how the deed was done.
Either way, the end result was that the [Sacred Flame] was forced into entering recovery mode.
"In it’s current state, the [Sacred Flame] won’t awaken until about...a century from now, maybe longer," Serena informed Zhen Liu. "Well, unless we can find the three sacred artifacts of the True First Hearth Tender, but we only had the one and it was stolen."
[I...see...]
Zhen Liu kept mum about probably having these artifacts by accident, especially since he realized a very important implication of this revelation. Especially given the deal he had struck with Serena days ago.
[Hang on, were you trying to cheat me when you said you’d offer part of the Sacred Flame to me if I helped you? Because the Sacred Flame doesn’t look to be in any state to—]
"Oh, no, I was dead serious in giving you part of the [Sacred Flame] as promised," Serena answered. "It would just mean that the flame would take a little bit longer to fully recover than my initial estimate. About half a century more."
[Oh...]
Immediately after information was shared with him, Zhen Liu immediately revised his opinion of Serena of being a duplicitous religious figurehead, to die hard devout willing to make any sacrifice necessary.
[You really cared about your sister, huh?]
As soon as that question left his lips, Serena noticeably tensed up.
At the same time, Silvie and Goldie directed offended gazes in Zhen Liu’s direction. Even Copper seemed to tense up, despite being possessed.
Odd.
"How...how did you figure that out?"
[Slip of the tongue,] Zhen Liu initially answered before giving an actual answer. [That and the sheer conviction in your voice about finding her killer. I’ve only heard that sort of iron in a voice in three situations: lovers, family, and close friends. You mentioned finding my cousin attractive, and the way you described her seem way too familiar to be simply a matter of friendship. As such, I could only conclude that she was...family.]
At this answer, Serena couldn’t help but to release a breath that was both tense and oddly relieving.
"Is being that perceptive yet blunt a trait of all Kaijin Lords or just you? I think I asked that before."
[Column A, Column B,] Zhen Liu answered while shrugging Copper’s shoulders. [Either way, now that the cat has been removed from the box and has been confirmed to somehow fused with the nuclear radiation to be a super cat, mind telling me the whole story?]
"That depends, will it make it so that Hulna and Ferroxa won’t be able to convince you to help them instead?" Serena sardonically asked.
[Well, I’m someone who is more moved by my heart than my head and general good will over cold profits,] Zhen Liu retorted, [so perhaps a sob story from the heart will cement my loyalties.]
"I can’t tell if that endearing or infuriating."
[Both?]
"Both."
Serena took another deep breath, getting into the mindset of sharing a story that she had long since buried once she had been elevated to her current rank.
"Well...I suppose I should start with saying that neither my sister nor I are actually native to Emberona...."
...Storytime...
Once upon a time, in a land far away, lived three sisters that were born three years apart.
The eldest was six, the middle was three, and the youngest was just born.
These three little girls lived on a farm with their mother and father, living a life growing turnips and raising sheep.
A good life that could last for generations.
But alas, such a simple life was not meant to be.
One day, for no reason in particular, a monster came and uprooted the lives of this humble little family, scattering them in opposite directions.
The mother and father had managed to take the baby with them in the direction they were sent flying, but the eldest and middle child were sent the other way to parts unknown.
Little did either know, but their lives were going to be very, very different.
