Chapter 46
It was only natural that everyone searched the temple for Abel. It was only natural that they willingly offered generous sums of money to the temple for the chance to meet him somehow.
And now, today.
Two days had passed since the day of the prayer.
The guests gathered in the garden could not hide the anticipation in their eyes as they watched Abel.
For this moment alone, they pushed aside the resentment and frustration they felt over having donated so much money, only to be denied a private audience with him.
There was only one thing they longed for. They wanted to witness, with their own eyes, another miracle born from Abel’s hands.
At the center of the garden stood a great fountain.
In its midst was a statue with its face veiled, holding a massive water jar from which water poured endlessly into the basin below.
So painstaking was the craftsmanship that every detail had been captured with astonishing precision: the weave of the cloth covering its face, the delicate folds of the robe cascading over its shoulders, even the veins standing out along the hand gripping the water jar.
Then, before the fountain, the Herald of God knelt upon the grass and lifted his gaze toward the statue.
As the long hem of his robes settled against the lush green lawn, several people let out quiet sighs of dismay.
How could someone so exalted be made to kneel directly upon the grass? Yet none of them dared step forward.
The priests who had been waiting quietly took their places, forming a circle around the fountain.
At the same time, a mysterious power began flowing from their bodies.
It was nothing like the overwhelming force Abel had displayed during the prayer, yet the holy power radiating gently from them was clear and refreshing.
The holy power released by the gathered priests spread outward in tranquil waves until it touched the surface of the fountain.
Only then did Abel, who had remained perfectly still until now, begin to move.
Splash.
The hand he slowly extended brushed softly through the water.
At first, the change was barely noticeable.
But as his fingers continued to stir the water with unhurried movements, the once-ordinary water began to shimmer as though it had gathered the light of countless stars.
That sacred radiance spread across the entire fountain before climbing into the stream pouring from the water jar.
From the basin below to the vessel above, the light traveled upward as though the water itself were flowing in reverse.
A moment later, that gentle glow spread across the statue as well.
“Ah…”
It was said that when the Father descended into the mortal world, He had veiled His face to conceal His divine radiance as He bestowed holy water upon humanity.
Yet even so, the holiness that could not be completely concealed drew more and more people into the Father’s faith. And in return for that faith, the Father bestowed holy power upon them.
That ancient legend was being reenacted before their very eyes.
* * *
The priests were not actually necessary to assist him.
For Abel, making holy water was as simple as stirring the water a few times with his hand.
The problem was that it looked far too easy.
Holy water was precious.
Therefore, the process of creating it ought to appear noble and mysterious as well.
That had long been the steadfast opinion of the Order’s higher-ups, which was why the other priests had been brought in.
Besides setting the proper atmosphere, they served another purpose.
Distributing the appropriate amount of holy water to everyone present also fell to them.
After confirming Gregory’s slight nod, Abel accepted the handkerchief offered by one of the priests and wiped his hand.
The reason he had deliberately used the hand that hadn’t been struck, rather than the one Felix had hit, was simply Abel’s own stubbornness.
Though Felix standing beside him didn’t seem interested in the slightest.
Abel was about to hand the handkerchief back to the waiting priest, but changed his mind midway and held it out toward Felix instead.
Without the slightest flicker of emotion, Felix accepted the handkerchief from Abel.
Just as Abel was about to say something, one of the holy knights approached Felix.
“Sir Felix, the Commander is asking for you.”
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