The Confrontation and the Dawn Hero’s Tale

“Mrs. Beard, this is a church. I must ask you to be quiet.”

“What’s wrong, Pastor? Do you believe that merely being in this church grants you the authority of the Goddess?”

With just a few words, the tension between Elise and the woman soared. The woman, completely disregarding the angry stares of others in the church, strode directly toward Elise. Clearly, she was Jack’s mother, Mr. Beard’s wife—Mrs. Vera Beard.

Upon his mother’s arrival, Jack’s face showed no trace of joy. He straightened his posture, yet his gaze remained evasive.

“Look at what you’ve done, dragging my son to this church just so you can show off the Goddess’s glory you’ve supposedly acquired.”

“Mrs. Beard, you should try to calm down.”

“I am perfectly calm. I saw you and your little maid chastising my son! This is not your Theocracy, Pastor. In Vernus (The Sun-Kissed Kingdom), the Goddess is not all-powerful.”

“This has nothing to do with the Goddess, madam. I was merely guiding him toward the right path.”

“Guiding? You have no such authority. He is a child of the Beard family, and how he is taught is our concern. You should know that better than anyone.”

“……”

Elise gazed at the aggressive Mrs. Beard, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. She tightened her grip on the badge emblazoned with the Lolline flower, about to speak again, when her peripheral vision caught sight of South Creek standing uneasily to the side. After a brief silence, Elise simply shook her head.

“Then please, take Jack home. This is a time for everyone to pray. If you have anything you wish to convey to the Goddess, I ask that you quietly take a seat.”

“Pray? I would never do such a thing. What the Goddess can bestow, I can achieve with my own hands.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Mrs. Beard took Jack’s hand and, just as abruptly as she had arrived, marched straight out of the church.

“Sister Elise…”

South Creek opened her mouth, intending to speak, but Elise gently interrupted her.

“South Creek, don’t dwell too much on today’s events. If Jack ever comes looking for you again, simply tell me. No matter what happens, always prioritize protecting yourself.”

In the hushed church, only Elise’s voice echoed. The other congregants had all ceased their prayers in unison. As dusk approached, the last sliver of sunlight streamed through the skylight, illuminating the slightly mildewed floorboards. The ancient bas-relief of the Goddess on the wall, now cloaked in shadow, appeared even more indistinct.

“Tonight, I will tell you a secret.”

Whispering softly into South Creek’s ear, Elise gently stroked the girl’s hair, her words carrying a faint trace of weariness.

Perhaps it was merely South Creek’s imagination, but the nights in this world always seemed exceptionally long. Even during the day, the sun was often obscured by dense, gathering clouds. Yet where these clouds converged, no rain fell; only a simple, profound darkness descended.

Carefully, Elise lit a candle. She and South Creek sat together on the edge of the bed. Elise’s right hand gently kneaded the girl’s shoulder, while South Creek’s own right hand was tightly clasped in Elise’s left. The two nestled intimately together, cherishing the warmth of the moment.

“Before I tell you this secret, let me first recount a story.”

“Is it still… the story of the hero?”

South Creek asked curiously, for she had heard this ancient tale more than once in her memories. When South Creek was younger, Elise had narrated countless stories to her, and among them, the legend of the hero was the one she told most frequently. Elise recounted it again and again, and South Creek listened repeatedly, never once growing weary.

“Yes… it’s the Dawn Hero… and today’s part is the most thrilling.”

Gently closing her eyes, Elise seemed to be recalling something as she began humming an ancient ballad. South Creek, in turn, obediently sealed her lips, ready to quietly listen to the story that would unfold.

“The Dawn Hero… on an ordinary day, received guidance from a spirit, who invited her to be a guest in the forest where the spirits resided. And so, the Hero ventured alone into the legendary, mysterious, and beautiful Forest of Avalada (Life’s Genesis).”

The Dawn Hero mounted her handsome steed and galloped towards the southern lands. The northern winds and rains were left far behind as the forest spirit guided her path forward.

Spanning from east to west flowed a great river, home to a legendary deity named Norielus. Capricious and prone to fits of temper, he delighted in conjuring storms. The Hero paused by the riverbank, realizing that her steed alone could not traverse such a vast and turbulent expanse. Thus, she called out to the water deity.

“Venerable Norielus, would you be willing to part a path across this river for me?”

“You cannot cross here, Hero. I am the omnipotent deity of this river, and I shall not grant you the right to pass.”

The deity coldly rejected the Hero’s plea, preventing her from advancing further. Norielus unleashed towering waves upon the river, submerging all vessels within their colossal embrace.

Helpless, the Hero could only raise her shining sword and cry out to the heavens, imploring the Goddess for guidance. In an instant, the formerly serene sky churned with dark clouds, a fierce wind began to howl, and torrential rain cascaded down.

Standing alone amidst the storm, the Hero gazed at the raging river and the profound sky. There, she saw a white bird soaring above the water, swayed neither by storm nor surging waves. Its graceful form was like the most elegant dancer beneath the heavens. The Hero understood the Goddess’s message. She dismounted her steed and invited a playful wind spirit nearby to dance with her across the tumultuous river.

The wind spirit joyfully agreed. The Hero took the wind’s hand, and her horse stepped onto its arm as they danced gracefully above the great river. Even as the river raged with tumultuous waves and towering surges, the wind led them on, brushing past the spray.

Norielus witnessed all this. He furiously waved his hands, intending to strike the insolent transgressors down into the river. However, his omnipotence was confined solely to the river; the sky was not his domain. Roaring loudly, the deity could only watch helplessly as the Hero, dancing with the wind above the river, crossed the broad expanse with elegant steps.

Having crossed the turbulent river, the Dawn Hero joyfully thanked the wind, her graceful dance partner. The wind spirit, in turn, offered its own elegant acknowledgment. Mounting her steed once more, the Hero continued her journey towards the southern forest.