"everything."
Xi Wang was as determined as before and did not hesitate.
"But everything about you already belongs to me"
"Yes, this is greedy."
"What should you do?"
"I beg you to show me mercy."
Xi Wang just said so.
"………well"
You can hear a sigh coming from Him in front of the throne.
"I really don't know what to say about you, so loyal, so honest, so pious, and yet so rigid, so... stupid"
[He] stood up from the throne and stepped on empty space.
"After ordinary people find power, they will become more or less presumptuous, just because they hold the power in their hands and have their own inner needs to be satisfied. Few people have kept the promises they made to me."
"And you, my devout and foolish believer"
Words with a hint of blame lingered in my ears.
"You only act according to my words. Apart from that, you completely suppress your own emotions and desires. You put on unknown shackles for yourself and made yourself... a different kind of non-human."
[He] walks before you, and an indescribable fragrance lingers around your nose.
"You have seen ignorant believers being carried away by fanatical beliefs and finally committing heinous crimes in madness."
[He] walked past her, and his fingertips lightly tapped on Xiwang's shoulder.
“You know that doing nothing will lead to bad consequences and misunderstandings, but you restrain yourself from taking action and ignoring it.”
“You know that some of your actions will inevitably be considered evil by everyone and will inevitably be misunderstood by everyone, but you still resolutely do it, just because it is my will. You have never explained it, just because I have never agreed to it.”
[He] walked behind Xiwang, brushed his face and hair with his fingertips, then walked around him and stopped in front of Xiwang.
"But have you ever thought that my will is also wrong? Have you ever thought that I have never loved anyone?"
"........."
Xiwang opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
If God does not love humans, then... is he still God?
"To me, you are nothing more than interesting creatures. Faith and worship are just your spontaneous actions. I have never needed these, nor have I ever wanted them. The end of a person has never had anything to do with me."
“I don’t care about it, and I don’t need to care about it”
"I communicate with you only to admire your spirit, your piety, and your heart that yearns for goodness and peace... I am disappointed by your ignorance."
[His] tone became calm, then stern.
"You are already a sinner"
"Even so, do you still think you are qualified to ask for my mercy and love?"
The flames had already climbed up his body, using sin as fuel, burning his body and tormenting his will.
"Yes, I beg you to have mercy and save the world."
But Xi Wang's words were still so firm and without hesitation.
"It's really... stupid"
[He] seemed angry.
"but……"
It seems helpless.
"Your devotion in persisting to this point is both worthy of contempt and... praise."
[He] stretched out his hand, lifted up his hands that were tightly clasped the cross with one hand, and lifted up his face with the other hand, making Xi Wang face [Him].
Xiwang closed her eyes tightly and let Him play with her body.
"For your piety, I can take you to my side and save you from the sufferings of worldly disasters. For your sins, I can throw you into a terrible hell and make you suffer from eternal damnation. For your promise, I can also play with you like a doll. In any case, you have already lost the ability to pray. Even so, do you still want to do this?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"To make up for my mistakes, to atone for my sins, to save this world"
"Even if it's too late?"
"Yes."
"You're begging me to save this world?"
"Yes."
"But...what if I refuse?"
[He] stroked your hand gently, his fingertips sliding back and forth on the cross you were holding tightly, and his tone became frivolous.
"........."
"Ha ha……"
Seeing Xi Wang become embarrassed and speechless, [He] also chuckled twice, seeming to be much happier.
[He] gently pushed his hands, and Xiwang felt the cross resting on his lips, and also felt [He] leaning down and approaching him.
"I'm glad that you can take off the non-existent shackles, become yourself again, and pray to me again as your own self, my devout but foolish believer... No, the young one who will soon come to our side..."
[He] said this softly.
I could feel the fire in my body fading.
I can feel the fragrance approaching rapidly.
I could feel the cool and soft touch of the metal cross on my lips.
? !
Xi Wang opened his eyes subconsciously in surprise, but he could see this pure white land, the empty throne not far away, and "Him" shrouded in light, close at hand, the silver hair fluttering at his side, and... the vague face of "Him", similar to his own, but quite feminine.
It's just like looking in a mirror.
No...it should be that I am similar to Him...
"You can use this power to make up for our mistakes and atone for our sins."
His words rang in my ears, bringing with them a mother’s comfort and a girl’s joy.
“Remember and act according to your heart”
“Remember, always be kind”
[He] stepped back gently, and with his fingertips he hooked away the cross pendant that was tightly held in his palm.
"Remember, from now on, you are your own god"
Everything disappeared with "Him". When Xi Wang came to his senses, he had returned to the church, but the cross pendant in his hand fell to the ground not far in front of him.
Someone walked past you, picked up the pendant, and handed it to Xiwang.
"Father, your pendant fell off."
It was Aponiya. She was a little worried about Xiwang's condition, so she came to find him.
“If you do not hold the token tightly when you pray, you will be punished by [Him].”
As she said this, she slowly took Xiwang's hand and placed the cross pendant in his palm.
But at this moment, Xi Wang held her hands back, intertwined his hands with hers, and together they held the cross pendant.
"Father?"
Abonya was a little at a loss for a moment. You know, ever since he changed "Twilight Street", Xi Wang seldom took the initiative to contact her, and the way he addressed her also changed from her original name to such a general name as "Nun". Even if they met, their interactions and contact with each other were just superficial.
"fine."
Xiwang responded softly, but the emotions contained in his words made Abonya slightly dazed.
"That's fine for now...that's fine..."
“…Is that so? I understand.”
Aponia nodded and had no objection.
After receiving a response, Xi Wang simply pulled her hands slightly closer. Abonya did not resist, and even moved forward a little obediently.
Xi Wang held her hands in front of him, lowered his head, and placed his hands against hers.
"........."
Silence, just silence. Xiwang did not speak, and Aponia did not ask any questions. The two people who were favored by God did not need too many words to each other. Although they would sometimes feel strange about each other's actions and behaviors, they would also understand each other - after all, they were both favored and guided by God.
only……
"Father?"
Aponya felt a wet touch on her hand.
"I'm sorry... I'm... so sorry..."
She could hear the guilt in his voice, could feel the apology emanating from him...all the emotions he had buried deep in his heart since he dedicated himself to Him until now, burst out at this moment.
"…Nothing, Father."
Aponya said softly, moving slightly forward, reaching out, and pulling him into a hug.
"I am by your side... Everything you do is determined by your destiny. However, the end has not yet come. This moment is just a small node on the road."
"You will definitely be able to overcome it, and you will be able to continue to move forward with determination... I will be by your side and walk with you."
"I will watch you until the end."
Aponya said gently.
“You are walking on a long road full of thorns and difficulties, but please keep moving forward firmly... you will eventually reach the light.”
"If you feel tired on the road... don't worry, I will come to your side. With me, you can forget all the troubles in the world and the hardships on the road. With me... take a short rest, and when you are ready again, you can set off again."
Aponia comforted him softly, smoothing out his long-storing emotions until his slightly twitching shoulders calmed down again, and his breathing became steady again.
"…I am sorry to have shown you an embarrassing scene, Sister."
After a long time, Xi Wang moved slightly, broke free from Abonya's arms, and the expression on his face returned to its previous calm.
No, it's a little different from before.
The corners of his mouth were slightly raised, as if he was maintaining a polite smile, and his eyes were much more lively, with a clear self... All this familiarity reminded Abonya of the original Xiwang, who was willing to help others and would smile for others.
"Nothing, Father."
Aponya laughed, a very happy laugh.
“We are partners on the road together. We should help each other, support each other, and depend on each other.”
She was very happy that she had helped Xiwang this time. Even if it was just a small help, she was happy enough.
This time... the temperature of her palm... slightly caught up with his, right?
"However, I still need to deal with this situation... The guilt caused by me should also be resolved by me."
Xi Wang said this and then stood up with the scriptures.
"Sister, please... witness everything and judge me."
"Well, my eyes will stay on you forever."
Aponiya nodded in agreement, and Xiwang also understood and turned to leave.
"...Ah, Father, you should wear your pendant."
Seeing Xi Wang was about to push the door and leave, Abonya suddenly remembered something and quickly pointed to the cross pendant in her hand as a reminder.
