"The only one"

That evening, they all sat together and ate Shengwu meat. Sera was annoyed, Lar sat and barely touched his food.

"So much effort... And now it's just food... I thought we'd sell it..."

"Shut up and eat already, your whining just makes it worse."

"Sera, Lar, quiet down and eat! Be glad you're alive. I don't need you two fighting here too."

At night, everyone was already asleep. Days passed, one, two, three. Sera had grown used to them, even sleeping peacefully here. One morning, as they all sat at the table, he asked:

"So, who are these cultists?"

"What do you mean, Sera?" Layla asked, pouring coffee and setting the table.

"What did they want from me, and who did they worship? And how did you know I'd come here?"

"As you know, in Rondon, there's only one god ever since King Aaron issued the decree, and now, with the truce after a 500-year war..."

"Can you make it shorter? I know the history already."

"Alright. Cultists choose people who are similar in character to their gods, in order to resurrect them using a mask."

"How's that? I don't quite understand. Necromancy was only in novels; such nonsense doesn't exist."

"Not like that. There are many theories. One of them is this: every living being has a soul core, and gods have it too. They use fragments of their god's soul to create a mask."

"Do you believe in this yourselves?"

"I don't know, anything is possible. But listen to this: this mask becomes a vessel for that god's soul. When it's worn, the god's soul interacts with the mask bearer's soul, erasing the person's soul, memory, and personality, replacing it with the divine."

"Sounds like a children's scare story, nothing more."

"Sera, maybe it seems that way to you, but for me, it's quite logical so far. Please continue, lady Layla."

"But if your soul and will overpower the divine, or the ritual is interrupted, no matter how, you gain divine power."

"Okay, this is getting more interesting. But where's my darling then?"

"I told you, it's just a theory."

"Lady Layla, maybe Sera and I should go for a walk? I think it wouldn't hurt us."

The woman nodded, watching them as Sera and Lar walked into the forest.

"What do you think a soul core is?"

"Lar, why are you asking me? I know it looks like a glass sphere with some mist inside."

They walked deeper and deeper into the forest, continuing to talk about various things. Red leaves surrounded them. After the recent rain, the bloody trail had been washed away.

"Lar, the atmosphere isn't so oppressive here now."

"But it's still a bit spooky," Lar chuckled, looking around the trees, remembering that unusual incident.

***

Among the stone columns in the temple in the middle of the forest, there were people and priests.

Among them was a young man with long red hair and clear eyes.

Above all, he genuinely believed in Ajax, the god of war and art. One day, he sat on his throne, holding a crown in his hands.

Walking to the window, a brilliant idea came to his mind: "Why not make Him the one, true God?"

A faint smile played on his face as he gazed upon his kingdom.

***

Sera and Lar were still walking in the forest. Everywhere there were trees covered in red leaves; Rondon was famous for them. Lar suddenly stopped and looked at Sera.

"Stop, it's dangerous deeper in the forest. Let's go back."

"As you say. I haven't been in this forest a thousand thousand times. Maybe there are other places we can wander?"

"There's an old, half-ruined temple nearby. Maybe we could check it out?"

"Okay, but just look at it. I don't want problems again."

They changed their direction and took another path. Lar walked first, as he was the one who knew the way between the two of them. They reached a large, monumental structure. The temple was half-ruined, covered in cracks and overgrown with moss. Intricate patterns carved directly into the stone walls adorned them. Strangely, the temple seemed to beckon them to enter.