Chapter 29
Beneath the palace, I descended a cool, spiraling stone staircase.
With each step, the clamor from the floors above faded farther away, replaced by the damp scent of stone rising to meet me.
At the lowest level, a massive wooden door reinforced with thick iron bands blocked my way.
Beside it, the relief of an angel missing one wing cast a shadow in the candlelight.
I inserted the silver key the bureau director had entrusted to me.
It turned smoothly, without resistance.
From a narrow, high window near the ceiling, set just above ground level, the last light of the setting sun over the plaza pierced the dark room in a single, sharp beam.
Within that beam, specks of dust, fine as could be, danced silently.
The polished marble floor gleamed beneath me.
A pure white linen cloth covered the altar, while silver candlesticks arranged symmetrically on either side gleamed dully in the underground stillness.
Opposite them, five rows of benches stood in neat order on either side of the central aisle.
—As expected of the bureau director. To think he could secure a place like this...
I transferred the flame I carried to the silver candlesticks set on either side of the altar.
One by one, I lit the candles on both sides.
As the flickering flames spread, the intricate reliefs covering the walls cast orderly patterns of shadow.
Finally, I lit the largest candle, set in the center of the altar.
Its flame wavered, revealing the portrait of Saint Volo hanging behind the altar.
The chapel fell silent, its air cool and heavy.
The faint scent of wax mingled with the chill of stone, seeping deep into my chest.
I sat on the front bench, back straight, and watched the light flicker.
Before long, the door to the small chapel opened quietly.
“Elios-san, and everyone else. It’s been a long time.”
I rose and turned to greet them.
Led by Elios, a dozen or so familiar faces slowly entered the small chapel.
The candlelight showed how they had grown from boys into young men.
Their expressions held unmistakable confidence and resolve.
“Deacon Noah, thank you for inviting us to the study group. We owe our success as healers to you.”
Elios spoke on behalf of the group, offering his thanks.
I bowed my head slightly and smiled warmly.
“Not at all. Your success is thanks to the Lord’s mercy and your own hard work.”
At my words, the attendees nodded lightly and exchanged glances.
A faint air of tension and anticipation filled the quiet chapel.
“Now, I’d like to explain the purpose of today’s gathering. Please, take a seat.”
With that, I stood before the altar.
“I founded this study group because—I wanted us to keep improving together as healers.”
A brief silence fell. The candle flames wavered, casting shadows across the mosaics on the walls.
“The tips on magic I taught you at the Cocoon of Light were only a starting point. You’ve spent longer than I have putting them into practice and refining them in the field. So this time, I hope you’ll teach me, too.”
After a brief pause, I looked over the faces illuminated by the altar’s light.
“Of course, I intend to share things I couldn’t teach you before. However—”
I paused.
I steadied my breathing and continued in a low voice.
“This knowledge isn’t found in the scriptures. If we’re not careful, it could be branded heresy.”
I looked around at each attendee in turn.
“Only those prepared to face the consequences should stay.”
When I finished, a moment of silence settled over the chapel.
Only the candle flames wavered softly.
Yet not a single person rose from their seat.
Everyone’s gaze remained fixed on me, illuminated by the altar’s light.
I met each gaze in turn.
Everyone here was still loyal to me, and had made up their minds to stay.
“As some of you may know, my magic attribute isn’t Light.”
I stepped down from the altar and walked between the benches.
“But I can use mana to examine the condition inside the body in detail.”
As I spoke, I touched Elios’s shoulder and channeled mana into him.
“You’ve built up quite a bit of fatigue.”
I encouraged the flow of lymph, where waste products had accumulated, and used ‘Heal’ to stimulate the liver and kidneys that processed them.
His autonomic nervous system was out of balance, too. No wonder he couldn’t sleep at night, his mind wide awake.
I used ‘Calm’ to quiet his agitation and bring his parasympathetic nervous system to the fore.
“My body... feels lighter.”
Elios’s eyes widened.
“Once you understand how the body works, you can tell how to respond to any given symptom.”
I made my way among the attendees, easing everyone’s fatigue.
As they felt my gentle mana, their gazes grew fervent, filled with expectation and curiosity.
“This isn’t a miracle of God, but something based on pure truth. However—”
I lowered my voice and looked around.
“This is a heretical way of thinking. You must not let anything you learn here reach the outside world.”
In the silence, my words seemed to sink into the walls of the small chapel.
“We will speak of truth only in this small chapel. Here, we will pursue the truth.”
I paused, slowly, and looked each attendee in the eye.
“I’ll call this study group... the ‘School of Truth-Seeking.’”
A soft murmur of assent rose from here and there.
“Some of you may be assigned far away in the future. We should decide on a sign to recognize new allies when that happens.”
I lightly grasped my left wrist with my right hand.
“It’s a gesture for taking your pulse. Anyone who sees it will know we’re one of them.”
The attendees exchanged glances, smiled, and made the same gesture.
The quiet chapel filled with a secret bond of unity and the sense that a new faction was beginning.