SHK CH 791

The night air was cool against Sol’s face as he floated above the Church of Castitas, his black robes shifting silently in the breeze. His silver hair caught the moonlight, and his rainbow eyes observed the building below with quiet contemplation.

It had been a peaceful day with Isis. After their talk and the intimate night that followed, Sol felt recharged in a way that had nothing to do with mana or power. Sometimes, what a man needed most wasn’t strength or strategy, but simply to be with someone who mattered to him.

But duty never truly rested, and Sol found himself drawn to the church.

He needed to understand how things were operating without a Supreme Daughter or Holy Daughter at its helm. Camelia had lost her blessing during the war after using Divine Descent, and Dawn had vanished entirely after stealing the concept of Love from Euphoria. 

With no leader, The church should have been in chaos.

Yet from his vantage point, Sol could see that the building was anything but empty. Light spilled from the windows, and he could hear voices. Many voices. Far more than should be present at this hour.

What is going on? He was briefly tempted to simply sweep through everything with his dimension. But he held back. Someone was coming to clue him in and he didn’t want to kill her fun.

“Fufufu~ I wondered when you would notice.”

Sol turned to find Nent floating beside him, her crimson hair flowing in the night breeze. The voluptuous woman wore a simple but elegant dress that did little to hide her generous curves. Her brown skin seemed to glow under the moonlight, and her eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Nent.” Sol greeted her with a small smile then hugged her tightly. “What brings you here?”

“The same thing that brings you, I imagine.” She gestured toward the church below with a smile that was equal parts proud and mischievous. “Though I suspect you haven’t seen the full extent of what’s happening yet.”

“Enlighten me.”

Instead of answering directly, Nent pointed toward one of the large windows, barely containing her laughter. “Look there. Your beloved is at it again.”

Sol focused his perception, his rainbow eyes allowing him to see through the stained glass with perfect clarity. What he saw made him smile slightly in recognition.

The main hall of the church was packed. Absolutely packed. Commoners, nobles, soldiers, merchants. People of all walks of life sat shoulder to shoulder, their attention riveted on the figure standing at the altar.

Nefertiti.

Nent’s granddaughter stood at the center of the church, her brown hair with hints of silver catching the candlelight. Her pink eyes were bright with fervor as she addressed the crowd, and her delicate brown skin seemed to radiate warmth. She wore white and gold robes that gave her an almost saintly appearance.

“She’s preaching again,” Sol observed with a touch of amusement. “She did something similar in the elven kingdom, didn’t she?”

“She did.” Nent’s smile widened with pride. “Though she’s refined her approach considerably since then. The girl has a real talent for this. Listen.”

Sol extended his senses, focusing on Nefertiti’s words. He had to admit, watching her work was always entertaining.

“…and so we come to the passage from the Adventures of a Lustful Prince,” Nefertiti’s voice rang out clearly, reaching every corner of the packed hall. “Chapter Seven, Verse Twelve. ‘And the Prince, blessed by Luxuria herself, walked among the people not as a tyrant demanding obedience, but as a servant offering understanding.’”

Sol felt a familiar mixture of exasperation and fondness. The Adventures of a Lustful Prince—that book had been circulating throughout the kingdom, chronicling his deeds in a rather embellished manner. Leave it to Nefertiti to turn it into scripture.

“Some call him wicked,” Nefertiti continued, her voice carrying the practiced cadence of an experienced preacher. “Some say he indulges in excess, that he embraces sin without shame. But I ask you, dear brothers and sisters, what is sin but a word used by those who fear to live fully?”

A murmur ran through the crowd. Sol could see some of the older priests shifting uncomfortably, but the younger ones, and especially the common folk, leaned forward with interest.

“The goddess Luxuria teaches us that desire is not evil,” Nefertiti said, raising her hands in a gesture that encompassed the entire congregation. “Desire is human. To love, to want, to yearn for connection—these are not sins. These are the very essence of what makes us alive!”

“Yes!” someone in the crowd called out.

“But!” Nefertiti’s voice sharpened, and the hall fell silent. “Desire without discipline is destruction. Lust without love is emptiness. This is why the Prince is blessed not only by Luxuria, but also by Castitas herself!”

“She’s really gotten the rhythm down,” Sol murmured to Nent. “Much smoother than when she started.”

“Practice makes perfect,” Nent replied with a grin. “And she’s had plenty of practice thinking about you.”

“When the Prince took his vows,” Nefertiti continued, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone that somehow still carried to every ear, “when he stood before the altar and pledged himself to his beloved, who blessed that union? Who sanctified that bond? Castitas! The goddess of Chastity herself descended to witness and approve!”

The crowd erupted in excited whispers. Sol remembered that day well. Castitas had indeed blessed his wedding to Medea, shocking everyone present.

“And what does this tell us?” Nefertiti asked, her pink eyes sweeping across the congregation. “It tells us that the Prince embodies both! He is the Avatar of Lust in his passion, in his refusal to deny the desires of his heart. And he is the Avatar of Chastity in his loyalty, in his commitment, in his devotion to those he loves!”

“She’s not wrong,” Nent whispered with barely contained laughter. “You do somehow manage to be both a rake and a devoted husband.”

Sol shook his head with amusement but didn’t respond, watching Nefertiti work her magic on the crowd.

“Let us recite the Litany of Balance,” Nefertiti said, and the congregation stood as one.

Sol raised an eyebrow. “She wrote another litany?”

“Indeed,” Nent said, clearly delighted. “She said the one she used with the Elves would brand her as an heretic. So she had to make a new one.”

“In lust, we find passion,” Nefertiti began.

“In chastity, we find purpose,” the crowd responded in unison.

“In desire, we discover ourselves.”

“In devotion, we discover meaning.”

“The Prince walks both paths.”

“The Prince shows the way.”

“To love freely is divine.”

“To love faithfully is holy.”

“We pray to Luxuria through his passion.”

“We pray to Castitas through his commitment.”

“In honoring him, we honor both goddesses.”

“In following his example, we find balance.”

Sol felt a strange sensation in his chest. It was surreal, hearing hundreds of people essentially praying to him while framing it as worship of the goddesses. Even having witnessed Nefertiti preach before, seeing it on this scale was something else entirely.

More than this though, he could feel the power of Faith gather once again at his fingertips. Solidifying, expanding. 

Perhaps he should broadcast her preaching through Lustburg? Gathering the faith of all humanity would definitely be useful. After all, Faith was the power to create miracles and make the impossible possible. 

“She’s brilliant,” Nent said with obvious pride. “On the surface, she’s preaching for Luxuria and Castitas. No one can accuse her of heresy. But in reality, every word is about you. She’s making you the central figure, the bridge between opposing forces, the living embodiment of divine will.”

“I can see that,” Sol said with a slight smile. “I wonder what the bishops are thinking right now. Some of them must be having fits.”

“Probably,” Nent agreed with a grin. “The older ones at least. The younger generation seems more receptive.”

“It’ll be interesting to see how they respond,” Sol mused. “Who resists, who adapts, who genuinely starts to believe. Human nature is fascinating that way.”

Down below, Nefertiti was still preaching.

“Some ask why the Prince has so many beloved at his side,” she said, addressing what Sol knew was a common point of gossip. “They whisper that it is greed, that it is excess. But I say to you—look at how he treats each one! Does he discard them? Does he neglect them? No! Each is treasured, each is protected, each is loved with the full depth of his being!”

“That’s Luxuria!” someone in the crowd called out.

“Indeed!” Nefertiti agreed. “But it is also Castitas! For what is chastity but the refusal to treat love as something cheap? The Prince does not love carelessly. He does not give his heart to just anyone. When he chooses someone, that choice is absolute, eternal, unbreakable!”

The crowd was eating it up. Sol could see people nodding, eyes shining with fervor.

“She’s turning me into a religious figure,” Sol observed with mild amusement.

“She’s turning you into a saint,” Nent corrected. “Or more accurately, into something that transcends the need for a traditional Blessed. Why pray to an absent goddess through a powerless priestess when you can pray to a living avatar who actually responds?”

“You helped her develop this approach,” Sol said, glancing at his partner. Nent was a skilled manipulator and knew the heart of people. What Nefertiti did through talent and intuition, Nent did through thousand years of experience.

“Of course.” Nent’s smile was unapologetic. “Nefertiti has always been devoted to you. I simply helped her channel that devotion in a way that also solves our church problem. The institution needed leadership, and she’s providing it.”

Sol watched as his lover continued her sermon. She spoke with such conviction, such passion, that even he found himself impressed by how much she’d refined her technique.

“Within a few days,” Sol predicted, “Nefertiti will effectively control the church through sheer popular support. The structure will follow where the people lead.”

“Exactly.” Nent looked pleased. “She has many talents. This is just one of them.”

Sol ran a hand through his silver hair thoughtfully. “It would be nice to have a Blessed of Castitas again, though. Not strictly necessary, but it would make certain things easier.”

“The holy ground,” Nent agreed. “The sanctified spaces work only when activated by a Blessed. It’s the ultimate shield in many ways.”

“More than that,” Sol added, his rainbow eyes gleaming with interest, “I want to observe the full process of how a Blessed is chosen. How does a goddess make her selection? What are the criteria? What happens during that moment of connection?” He smiled slightly. “It’s a phenomenon I haven’t had the opportunity to study properly yet.”

Up to now, the only transformation into a Blessed he witnessed was with Setsuna. Back then, he was too weak to grasp all the intricacies at play. But now things would be different.

“Always the researcher,” Nent said with genuine affection. “Even when dealing with matters of faith, you’re thinking about the underlying mechanisms. I guess this is why you fit in so well with Anubis, Ambrosia and Echidna.”

“Knowledge is power,” Sol replied. “Understanding how Blessings work could prove useful. And besides, I’m curious. The goddesses don’t exactly publish their selection criteria.”

“True enough,” Nent chuckled. “Though given how much Castitas seems to favor you, I imagine you could probably influence her choice if you wanted to.”

“Maybe. But I’d rather observe naturally. Interference would compromise the data.”

Below them, Nefertiti was concluding her sermon.

“Go forth, brothers and sisters,” she declared, her voice ringing with authority. “Live with passion but also with purpose. Love freely but also faithfully. In doing so, you honor both goddesses. In doing so, you walk the path the Prince has shown us!”

“All Hail!” the crowd roared.

“May Luxuria bless your desires and Castitas sanctify your devotion!”

“And may the Prince watch over us all!”

Sol shook his head with a small smile. That last addition definitely wasn’t part of any traditional liturgy, but Nefertiti had woven it in so smoothly that it sounded natural.

As the congregation began to disperse, many of them lingering to speak with Nefertiti personally, Sol observed the scene with quiet satisfaction.

“She’s happy,” Nent said, gesturing down at Nefertiti, who was smiling warmly as she spoke with an elderly couple. “She’s found her purpose. Taking care of you in every way she can, including securing your influence over the church.”

“I’ll need to thank her properly later,” Sol said. “Make sure she knows I appreciate what she’s doing.”

“She already knows,” Nent assured him. “But she’d still appreciate hearing it. That woman lives for your approval.”

They floated in comfortable silence for a moment, watching as the church slowly emptied. Sol found himself genuinely curious about how this situation would develop over the coming weeks. The social dynamics alone would be fascinating to observe.

“The bishops must be scrambling right now,” Nent commented. “Trying to figure out how to respond to this.”

“I imagine so,” Sol agreed with amusement. “Some will resist out of principle, others will adapt to maintain their positions. It’ll be interesting to see which is which.”

“Any predictions?”

“A few. But I’d rather wait and see. Reality often surprises you.”

Nent was about to respond when her expression suddenly shifted, her eyes widening slightly as she looked past Sol.

Sol turned, following her gaze.

Floating toward them through the night sky was a figure in white robes. Even from a distance, Sol recognized her immediately.

Camelia.

But something was different. She moved with a grace she hadn’t possessed since losing her blessing. There was no staff to guide her, no hesitation in her flight. And on her face…

A smile.

A genuine, radiant smile that transformed her entire appearance.

She drew closer, and Sol could see that her eyes, though still unseeing, seemed to glow with an inner light. Not the divine glow of Castitas’s blessing, but something else. Something new.

“Sol,” Camelia called out, her voice filled with joy as she closed the distance between them.

And then, before he could react, she crashed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.

“I did it,” she whispered against his shoulder, her voice trembling with emotion. “Sol, I finally did it.”

Sol’s mind raced. Did what? What had changed? Why was she so happy?

But Camelia just held him tighter, and in the distance, the church bells began to ring.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​