Project Schemer: Higeki's chapter: Requiem

Arc 4 - Chapter 3: The world beyond.

"Grand priest Kal."

"There is only one person call me like that, it has been a while now isn't it, Doctor Higeki. Lower your weapon, this man is a guest of honor."

"There is no need for such manner Kal. Eight months right ? You changed a lot."

"All thank to the star."

"But are you sure you don't want to come with us to the haven ? It is a struggle to survive here."

"Please don't worry about us, but children, you can come with him to the haven, i will remain here."

"Why do you have to be such a stubborn person ?"

"There are people out there still need the salvation from the star, i won't stop until i can save everyone. I will spread the faith and the miracle of the star to them."

It is hard to stop someone when they are determined to do something, his crusade to spread faith and father will protect him, father protect his follower and those who devoted will earn his blessing. But my fear, i truly fear something else, something that father could do, the last time father can't control himself, will that happen again ? Father need to control himself or it will be a disaster. But according to Kal, the moment father descend upon him, he still can see and father is merciful, much more than last time, maybe his descent work in a different way. The last time i endure pain and he used that pain and now with Kal's faith and devotion, the same thing happen, his power manifest according to the way people who need his descent.

The church is beautiful building, it was an old building the moment we used this sector as a camp but now, it is a beautiful building. Kal said the building is rebuilt based on the instruction from father, the church is large and there are a lot of rooms, they also have their own greenhouse. They probably know the food made in the city will kill them if they keep eating that, the church also prepare for any attack but most of the time that isn't needed, father will descend upon Kal and help him. At least father bless this church so when we enter there is no need for mask, and this is the moment the strange thought appear in my mind, where did those pollutants go to. Kal guide me to the top of the church and i see the city, there is a black whirlwind surrounding it, the black whirlwind only appeared a few weeks ago according to Kal. Theta also mentioned this but it doesn't affect his mission so we didn't mind about it, the black whirlwind is a way this world adjust to its current state or this is the work of other thaumaturgist we didn't know. But that is the place where all that pollutants gone to.

"This is not father doing."

"Father ?"

"I guess you should know, i am the child of the blue star, his creation and i bear the same name as his name."

"Maybe your appearance in this world is truly a blessing, the god we worship, maybe he is the same as us, he has emotion, sometime he can furious."

"No he isn't, he just do everything he can to protect us, he is the god of water, the god of music and the god of harmony. He doesn't want to hurt anyone, he only does that because he has to."

"To protect us. You also have his power right ?"

"I have that power long ago, maybe it only appear to be stronger when father is stronger. Maybe when father gained faith in this world he also makes his followers stronger, that is the reason why i can control water without the aid of any amplifier."

We talk for a bit longer, Kal doesn't agree with the our advice to go and live in the haven but he accepts our aid. The black wind doesn't have any effect on us but according to Kal, anyone from inside interact with the black wind will immediately fall to their knees. The report show their lungs are damaged and their skin show the sign of damaging, i am suprised, it is nearly five hundred years of pollutants afterall. People still live after touching that wind is a miracle to say the least, but to perform something like this, this must be the work of a really powerful thaumaturgist.

"Do you think this thaumaturgist will harm us ?"

"I don't think so but i believe there is another god exist in this world, this god is not merciful like father. This god is furious, maybe when we worship father, this god also gained some power."

"But to manifest a storm like this."

"Maybe this god is one of the god that remain in this world. I will research more about this god."

The black wind barrier doesn't harm us, we can get close but the city decided they will attack us if we get closer so we decided we will not take the risk. The city can't attack the church so there is nothing we need to be afraid of, but right now, i want to meet this god and this mysterious follower. Beta did the tracking and with Orcress's advice we managed to catch a signal, the signal is weak but it is out there even beyond the outskirt. This is the trip we must make, we must know who is the other thaumaturgist and maybe he has more information than what we are having now.

"Just three of you ? I can come with you three you know."

"Don't worry about us, i need everyone to be to ready if the city decided to attack. Kal will protect us so don't worry about that."

"Since when i am the punching bag."

"Since you are the only adult in three of us."

We travel across the frozen landscape but this time, our path aren't just snow and gloomy sky, we see light, along with that, we also see snow and ice slowly melting. The world beyond Altoris is much more different from what we think, the world beyond Altoris is filled with light and color and we also see people. All kind of skin tone, all kind of clothing and all kind of culture, everyone look at us but they look very friendly, and we keep follow the direction, we also asked if we can stay and most of the time people agree. They also ask we are we from and they show the sign of sympathetic when we tell them we are from the slum, the city doesn't have an official name so we don't know how to say about it and we only can describe it. They offered us some help but we politely decline, we don't want to become burden to someone and we believe this is a trial that we have to pass.

We does encounter some trouble on the way, the leftover of the old war to be exact, Kal bind them with the water string and then attack them with his fist. Turn out, it wasn't just father's blessing but his own power is formidable, Orcress also give him a cube, a portalable weapon to be exact, by its appearance i know this is one of Gamma's objet d'art. The creature is defeated but before i can study anything about it vanish into black dust and leave back no trace but that is the moment i heard the voice of a young boy.

"It doesn't work like that, the moment you kill that creature is the moment it turned into dust and leave nothing behind. Of course, i am forgot to introduce myself, i am Kiux - or you can say i am the thaumaturgist you are looking for."

"But how do you know about us ?"

"Well, let's travel, this is not really the place to talk. This place is dangerous, just as we talk, i hope you can fight too my fellow priests."

Kal ready his hammer and Orcress carry a box in his hand, i can control water with father's blessing and Kiux is drinking something. He throws away the empty vial and his transformation begin, a pair of horns, fur and all that, even his hair shifted its color to some kind of neon and his iris have the same color as his hair. Kal used his hammer and his pure strength but Kiux only need to make a small impact and that is enough to take down the creature. His god is someone who is stronger than father, maybe someone from this world originally, maybe a forgotten god or someone from outside but for now, we don't have much choice but follow him since this place is far too dangerous for a casual talk.

We remain silent because just another sound and something hidden may come out and chase us, it took us about five hours of walking in silent to reach a mansion. Inside i can see a lot of people gathering and there are a lot of doctors, Kiux lead us to a garden behind the mansion, in the middle of the garden is a large lake.

"What are you looking at ?"

"You are..."

"You don't know me but i know all three of you, child of Higeki, a priest saved by Higeki and our lovely ex conductor."

"So you know Higeki."

"You can say that, i always watching like him and the moment he gained power is the moment our plan start."

"So what is your true plan ?"

"My true plan... i want my Altoris back, the Altoris before the saviour appear, the Altoris before the war of warlords. The true Altoris bathed in light and glory."

"I read about that before, you are Orthios - The living saint."

Before us stand a saint, someone who much more powerful than father, Orthios, the man who worshipped as a god and finally become a god. Orthios wants Kal and me call father and what Orthios want is taking his Altoris back, when everything is finished, we can have our life back.