The light of guidence

by Wafela_caramela

Summary:

Soldiers do have empathy, they fight on thr battle fields but at the end of the day they are still human, no matter what wrongs they've done while in war. Deities and gods are often depicted as powerful and unstopable but some aren't, not every god can have similar powers.

It's unforgivable what Guest has seen throughout his years on this earth. Even since the day his parents were shot by that bacon and now he was nobody's child, just another youngling in the orphanage. He never expectsd to make friends or anything, though he mourned the loss of his parents. 

As he was sitting inside the room he was assigned, another kid peeked past the crack in the door before pushing the door open and entering the room. She waved cheerly at Guest, smiling profunding "Hi!! I'm Daisy!"

Guest turned his head to the little girl, the corner of his lips curving slightly upwards as he saw her. "Hi, I'm Guest."

Daisy hopped on the bed, sitting next to the other, eyebrows raised and her tonality apologetic. "I heard about your parents. I'm sorry about what happened to them." She turned her head to Guest, a tint of surprise present in his voice. "I can't believe you're one of the last Guests."

His face twitched at the mention of his parents, but Guest quickly pushed it down, thanking Daisy for the apologetic condolences. "Thanks. How long have you been here?"

Daisy clasped her hands together, closing her eyes and excitedly leaning over the edge of the bed. "I'm new here too! And, I'm thinking we could be friends!" She opened them, looking at the other in hopes for agreement.

"That sounds great."

At the answer, she jumped off the bed, signalating Guest to tag along as she got out the room. "Let's go grab some breakfast! I'll show you around the house! Then later, we can go to the park."

As Guest was playing with a ball in the playground, he could hear bantering close by. Dropping the ball, he went to check out of curiosity and his eyes met with the sight of four other kids picking up on his new friend, Daisy. Even her laying on the ground. He approached them, trying to stop the situation. "Hey! Leave her alone!" Guest stopped right in front of the group, being met with the devious eyeing of the four.

"Oh, look! The little rat showed up!" The bully looked at his friends, smirking as he pointed at Guest. He took a step forward, lifting his arms up and preparing himself for an upcoming fight.

"Come fight me, tough guy." Guest took in the same position as the bully but he was only met with a fist in the face, making him drop to the ground despite his effort of protecting Daisy.

His arms fell down, gaze lingering over Guest's defeated frame. "You weak, pathetic Guest. No wonder your species died out." He turned to leave but just as he thought everything was over, another kid jumped on him, tackling him to the ground.

"Go pick on somebody your own size. Yeah?" He turned to Daisy and Guest as the group of bullies left, stopping by them and extending his hand to Guest for a hand shake. "My name is Matt, by the way. Nice to meet you!"

Guest shook his hand but took a step back after. "I'm called Guest."

"And I'm Daisy. Thanks for helping us out."

With given time, the three grew up together in the orphanage, becoming close-bonded friends and almost inseperable from each other. Playing games just the three of them regulary and genuinely having fun.

One night at the orphanage while Daisy and Guest were in the room, Guest couldn't keep it to himself. "Daisy.."

She dropped the console, looking at Guest who was on her left side. "Yeah? What is it?" She raised an eyebrow, questioning what was about to come.

"I really like you." He sat up straight, looking at Daisy in embarrassment.

Daisy's smile dropped, her right hand on her left arm as she looked to a side in disappointment. "I'm sorry but... I only see you as a friend." 

Right then and there, Matt came running inside, barely catching his breath at the door frame. "You need to get up and hide. Quickly!"

Daisy raised from her seat in concern, her gaze turning to Matt. "What's going on?" She rubbed her eyes and the lifted her head again.

"The Bacon Soldiers! They're here!" He looked behind himself to check if anyone intruded the orphanage. "We really need to hide, like, right now!"

And so, the tree of them got in the closet, closing both doors and sitting in line with their knees to their chests, hoping not to get found.

The tension was felt in the air as they heard the door open and the steps scattering on the floor. But the steps were not getting closer, the bacon soldier had open the wrong closet and the police already arrived.

They were escorted out the orphanage safely, Guest especially being pulled over by a soldier, their hand placed on his shoulder. "You're very lucky to be alive. The Bacons seriously don't like your people." The soldier looked to their side and then back down at the Guest, a soft smile appearing on their face. "We can really use your help one day when you are old enough to join..."

Since that day, Guest contemplated joining the army. Life in the military can be harsh and demanding, but it's also rewarding in the end if you turn out fine. As for Guest, he enrolled in the military for the sake of it, for the sake of defending his country even as the last one of his kind against the other party, the Bacons.

The captain already set the base in a selected place, the tents being organized in a line close to the edge, the back at the wired fence, and the entrance facing a wide, spacious ground that separated the left side from the right side. On the corners of the camp there were boxes with resources packed for who knows how long the war could have lasted, but they had to save up in case it lasted more than a few months. Outside of the fence, there were tanks and vehicles for usage, the whole thing being surrounded by sandbags placed on top of each other till they created walls.

Guest got used to this kind of life, the uniform, and the anti-bullet jackets he and his compatriots wore on the front line. After a year or so in the military, you can't be pretentious about what you wear or what you eat as long as you return without a bullet deep in your forearm.

It was the night before the scheduled attack, and Guest and Matt were sitting behind a tent on some boxes with ammo for the turret, their uniforms off as the sleep hour was around the corner.

As they enjoyed the silent presence of each other, Matt turned his head towards Guest's direction, the locks of brunette hair falling onto his face from previous training. His lips lowered in an almost awkward expression, still beholding a bit of worry in it from the twitching. "Sometimes I do wonder why we enrolled in the military. Is risking our lives that important?" Said the brunette, expectantly waiting for a response to the aspect that has been eating him for a while.

Guest, who has been resting his ankle on the right knee, lowers his left leg and hunches his back in a more relaxed position. "We enrolled together for the sake of protecting our country, didn't we? We're doing an honorable act, putting our lives on the line just to protect a nation." He gave his friend a quick smile, seemingly proud of the reasoning he gave.

"But was it worth it?"

At those words, his smile drops slightly. Guest has never contemplated if what he's doing was worth the fight, but he still believed there was a reason to make it important. "I guess so if you think about the lives you can save." His right hand clams over his left fist, holding the both close to each other on his lap.

Matt shifted in his seat, raising a bit from the box to look past the corner of the tent in case the captain was still walking around in camp. But the road was empty, all signs pointing at the sleep schedule they had.

He got up, brushing his clothes with his hand and turning to look at Guest one last time. "I'll see you tomorrow; make sure to sleep. We're packing at 6 A.M.," as he said those words, Matt took the corner, disappearing from sight and going to rest at his tent.

Running a hand through the blue strings of his hair, rearranging it before bed, Guest let out a sigh. It was his first time going against another nation in a war, his first time being a soldier. Till tomorrow morning he needed to find the courage, and cowering in fights is not the best solution.

And so, the day came faster than he thought it would. He and the others were aligned in a straight line in front of the captain, their backs straight and maintaining a good posture.

The captain kept his hands behind his back, looking at the soldiers with the same emotionless expression as he always did. "I think you acknowledge what day it is today." His voice was rough from his old age and from all the screaming and disciplining of the soldiers, but even with those harsh treatments he enforced, the captain managed to train true soldiers, and it was one of the biggest achievements a leader can have.

Making their way to the front, Matt and Guest stayed together behind the same wall of sandbags, shooting together against the common enemy, ignoring the sounds around them.

"You know, if we shoot together, there is a lower chance of them managing to shoot us both! Right, Matt?" But when Guest turned to look at Matt, he had already fallen on the ground, a hand held over his side.

Seeing the pain on his friend's face, Guest drops the rifle, kneeling down to Matt and holding an arm behind his back and head while the other hand tries to move Matt's hand from his side. "Let me see already." Begrudgingly moving his hand away, Guest was met with the sight of a circular wound, the one of a bullet that had cut through the clothing and into the muscle tissue.

He took a glance around the area, still holding Matt, feeling his frustration rise as he ripped a piece of his sleeve. "How many times did I tell you to be careful?" Grabbing a cloth, Guest wrapped it around Matt's abdomen, tying it at the side of his body tightly. He was still breathing, but the shock of the metal caused the brunette to pass out for a moment.

Guest laid Matt back down, rushing from behind the sandbags and straightforwardly attacking one of the bacon soldiers of the other nation with a kick. He threw hands with the ones around him, rolling with no care of getting dirty or getting a scratch. And in the end, at the top of a hill on the battleground, he has managed to reach the captain of the bacons as he fell on the ground face first before him.

At the sight of Guest, he kneeled down onto his left knee, the gun in his hand and pointing at the soldier. "Well, pleasure it is to meet you, *the last guest*. Any last words before I shoot you?" The leader wiggled his gun expectantly.

Looking around, he saw the oil canister, an idea sparkling in his mind. "Yeah, go to hell." And so, Guest took out a grenade, breaking off the safety lip and throwing it, managing to blow up the canister.

The battle has been won, one battle at least, but Matt was still not in the base. The captain and some other soldiers gathered up in the tent at the orders of him.

He firmly stood up, looking at a paper with the names of the soldiers, seeing the absence of one of the signatures. "There's one missing soldier that hasn't returned yet." He lifted his head up, peering at the others inside the room.

The tension in the air was present, and Molly felt the need to step up. With her heart high, she stepped forward, ready to tell the information she knew. "Last time I saw him with Guest behind the sandbags, but he has fallen. Maybe he's still there?" She said, looking directly at the captain and maintaining eye contact, her expression telling no joke but the gravity of the situation.

The captain turned to the other two soldiers, who were leaning against the wall of the tent, listening attentively to the conversation between the captain and Molly. "We might need to carry him back to the camp." 

Hearing what the captain said, the two soldiers immediately denied the request, nervously leaning harder into the wall. "Don't think about us, boss. We both injured our knees on the front line; we can barely walk."

The situation was grave, and it only took a brave heart to go on the battlegrounds and rescue an injured comrade. "I'll go with you, Captain." Molly placed a hand on her chest, expressing her motivation to go and help the soldier.

"Very well then."

They got in the car, driving over the hills of the battlefield till they reached the spot with sandbags, where at first glance it seemed empty. Molly pushed the door open, taking a step outside, her boot leaving a faint mark in the sand as her hair flew to the side from the still persisting wind. She distanced herself from the parked place, starting to look around behind the sandbag walls, and there he was: Matt with his back against the bags, still half unconscious about it all.

Molly stood up, waving her hand from behind the wall as her voice rose to call for the captain. "Captain, here!"

Guest, on the other hand, was in another hospital room, holding one of the bacons with scissors at his neck, threatening the doctor bacon and the other. "Stay where you are."

Jez, the bacon, looked at Guest pleadingly. "We don't want to hurt you; we are here to help." He watched as the guest lowered the arm holding the scissors and, looking at the two in confusion, a tint of untrusting air still lingering in the room, said, "I'm the general's son. You were injured in the explosion that killed my father." He lowered his head in shame at the recalling of his older man. "He was an evil man; he killed thousands of innocent people, including your parents and my mother."

Guest was flabbergasted as he heard the confession of the bacon captain's son. But he didn't have much time to react as the doctor beckoned and turned to catch his attention. "We are part of a resistance that wants to end this ragene." Jez cuts the doctor off, speaking in concern. "Unfortunately, the Colonel has taken command. Who is just as sadistic and power-hungry as my father was."

The sad moment was interrupted by the camera footage showing someone entering the gate of the camp. Guest hurried to the camera, looking closer, his fist tightening. "Who... are they?"

"Those are the Colonel's elite guards." Said the doctor, taking a look himself at the footage.

The injuries that Matt was put through managed to get him in a hospital after being carried by one of the trusted soldiers and the captain out of the front line and into the base, later to be hospitalized. The room was clean; only colors of white and light blue were scattered around the place. On the nightstand next to the bed were two photos of him and Guest to remember old memories they had together. When Matt opened his eyes, the first sight before him was Molly, a soldier from the military base he's been in.

Molly kept her good posture, still wearing the military uniform as her eyes landed on the limp state of her compatriot. "I've been told I can find you here. I'm Molly." She said, introducing herself to the injured soldier.

A smile plastered over Matt's face as he turned his head weakly to the other, his eyes sparkling in gratitude. "I owe you my life. Thank you." His voice was almost breathless, still feeling the tingling sensation of the bullet wound in his side.

Guest and Jez were sitting in a hidden room, awaiting the colonel, as Jez turned to look at Guest, his words flew out with no filter. "There are other guests alive, being held in a prison camp."

He jumped at the revelation, his eyes widening in surprise that there were others like him; he wasn't the only one alive. "What?!"

"If we can figure out a way to rescue them, you can lead the guests back home." He raised himself up, moving away from the guest. "I need to go speak to my friend Rose. I'll explain everything on the way."

At the last words, Guest got up from the ground, following after the bacon as they both walked out of the room and into the forest together. Hiding behind a pine tree, they looked around with precaution, their sight being met with security guards near the fence.

They got out from their hiding spot, beating the two bacon soldiers and knocking them unconscious. Jez eyed the Guest, giving him a signal as Guest laid the two bacons and left them at the fence before going after Jez. Once he arrived at the fence, where the wires were a little dilated enough to make a hole. He was Jez, and another Guest, presumably Rose.

Guest looked at the state of Rose, feeling some strings pull at his heart at the cruelty other guests had faced. "We need to come up with a plan to get you out."

Rose nodded, a smile on her face as she held her hands on the fence from the other side. "I think I know how. There is an underground passageway... Just outside the prison to transport guests from the camp to the arena. During Guest Games, we're taken through a steel doorway; the bacon soldiers lead us through the winding passageways... There are guards posted at different points along the tunnel. You will need to figure out how to get past them."

So, the plan was set. Jez and Guest traveled all the way to the tunnel entrance, knocking over the bacons with kicks and putting them to the ground, opening the passageway, and entering the labyrinth-like tunnels, managing to make it all the way to the other side with no scratch.

"Something doesn't seem right. It's too... quiet." Guest turns to Jez as the door opens and they enter the arena. But it wasn't long before the colonel showed from behind them, bringing multiple soldiers into the arena.

The colonel turned with a smirk to the guest. "You would have thought I didn't know about your friend's plan to rescue all the guests? In fact, you may be surprised." He pulled a lever down, the gate raising and showing Rose walking out, her face twisting awkwardly, knowing what was about to happen. "Rose has been my eyes and ears. Telling me all your plans and feeding you false information all this time. Rose was never going to be in the guest games; you and Jez were."

Back at the hospital, Molly, Matt, and Richards, the new captain of the army, were in the hallways of the facility. Molly smiled at Matt despite seeing him with his leg fractured and tightly encapsulated.

"You'll make a great lieutenant, Molly." Matt's eyes flow to Molly, a smile appearing on his face upon hearing the rank change Molly has gotten.

Richard places a hand on Matt's shoulder brotherly, a smile under his beard being noticeably moving. "I would like you to be my other lieutenant. Your words could influence and inspire many. I want you up front with Molly and me, leading the Roblox army."

Guest, Jaz, and Rose were in an underground tunnel, silently trying to figure out a way out of the situation to escape the Guest Games. Jez looked at Guest in determination. "You have to kill me in the Guest Games and go back to the military; there is no other way."

But just as the metal door opened, the Doctor Bacon showed up again, alerting the guards that were eyeing the three.

"Why are you here?" One of the guards got up to the doctor, the gun tightly in his hands.

"To treat an unconscious Bacon." And before the bacon could respond, the doctor injected him and the other two with an anesthetic, making them all fall to the ground limply.

The doctor looked at the three and signalated with his hand for the younger ones to follow him as he led them back to the basement and and closing the door for their own safety.

As they relaxed in the basement, an alarm suddenly went off, signaling enemies entering the camp, and Guest got a brilliant idea that now was the time to release all the guests into freedom.

The four of them made their way to the prison, releasing all the guests, and with the help of Guest and the army, they were led to fight against the Bacons and the colonel.

That was not so long ago, back when Guest was still a soldier and when he won with the help of his comrades against the Bacons. Now, he was a major general, a two-star symbol that showed his merits, his achievements, and the respect the country had for him.

He was standing near the gate of the military camp in the city, the medals on his uniform dangling to a side as he gazed at his surroundings. Guest felt a heavy hand on his left shoulder that caught his attention. He abruptly turned around, Matt appearing before his sight.

The brunette's hand pats his shoulder softly, his eyes looking back at the camp. "Hey man, I think you need to get inside a little. We all haven't eaten since morning." Matt turned to walk towards the camp tent's door, making his way through the place.

Guest, baffled, raises his sleeve to look at his watch in confusion as he sees the already prominent 2 P.M. "So it's already lunchtime?" He raised his head, looking at his friend, and then quickly went after him to catch up at the tent.

As Matt pushes the door to a side, allowing Guest and himself to enter, he continues, "You've spent quite a lot of time around the gates. Must be boring having almost nothing to do." Sitting down at one of the tables, expectantly waiting for the other to sit next to him, he patted the table with his finger.

Guest took the fork in his hand, moving it left and right between the index and middle fingers. "I guess so. I know I'm supposed to get a mission soon; I just don't know when." He leans back, looking around the room for a glimpse of the captain, maybe a talk with him about the next mission.

The brunette soldier puts his hands at the back of Guest's head, pushing him forward teasingly. "You worry too much. Just because you're a general now doesn't mean you can't enjoy a good meal!" He turned his glance back at his place, taking in the image of the food. The food didn't look pleasant in general, but it was enough for a soldier.

"...I guess you're right."

Lunchtime doesn't last much usually, a maximum of an hour or an hour and a half; it was enough time to eat and be efficient at the same time since there are many important tasks to be taken care of before dawn. At the end of the lunch hour, everyone was leaving the tent under the Captain's supervision; it was Guest's turn in the line, and when he made the first step forward to get out of the place, the Captain suddenly stopped him.

He extended his arm in front of Guest, stopping him from going further, and immediately pushed him to the side. "You stay here; we need to discuss." The captain only shot Guest a serious look to puncture his words, to which the general nodded and remained silently to the side to wait for everyone to leave.

Once everyone else was out of sight, the captain finally turned to Guest, his eyebrows narrowed and the corner of his lips held sternly. "You do acknowledge that there is a mission you have to take care of." He took a few steps forward, stopping right in front of Guest.

Guest squinted his eyes with his head lowered before standing up. "I know that. What's the mission, Captain?"

He watched as the captain took out a folder, holding it in front of the general and opening it to lift the first paper out of it. "There is an ongoing cult around the East-northern part of our country, isolated from the town at a mere eighty-four kilometers away from the main street. They count down the days till their so-called God comes back on earth, and lately the countdown is coming closer and closer to an end. Approximatively..." he pushed the papers around inside the folder with his fingers, lifting up another one. "Two weeks. By the time you arrive there, it should be a few days before the arrival." He extended his hand, letting the folder fall in Guest's hands.

Guest nodded, looking at the folder given to him by the captain. "And when do I have to leave? What will I do, Captain?" He put the folder on the table, glancing at the captain for answers.

"Tomorrow. And you'll pretend to join the cult for further investigation. If that God really turns out to be real, we might need to see it for ourselves." He turned around, his back facing Guest as he made his way to the exit. "Be careful, Guest."

He woke up earlier that morning, around the start of the sunrise, and prepared himself for the trip that was about to come. Placing the folder at the bottom of his bag and covering it with his spare clothes, food, and other objects, he considered it needed to fully hide the main papers of the mission. By the time Guest left the house, it was already 7 A.M.; he took his goodbyes from the other soldiers and went on the journey.

The first few hours of walking weren't much of a trouble; he knew the forest separating the city from the other towns like the back of his palm. With a map in his hand, he made his way out of the city and into the first town, Stowe. It was a small town he knew, but his main goal here wasn't small talk; it was to get some sort of transportation to reach the town he was supposed to go to faster.

Guest looked up from the map, walking on the rock-filled road, the sand getting on the bottom of his boots. The houses were on each side of the road, close to each other in a line over the hill, with small bridges built out of stone making space from the road to the house. It seemed quite empty or at least filled with elders more than young blooms. The forest was quite close to the town. He raised his hand to his forehead to cover his eyes from the sunlight as he picked up the silhouette of a person on the hill leaning onto something.

Guest made his way up the hill, the image becoming clearer. It was a horse-drawn carriage; maybe he could ask the elder about borrowing it. He approached the man, an elder in his 60s, his face wrinkled with his chin covered by a graying beard that reached his mid-neck; he was wearing a button-up with a few stains on the end of the sleeves from the hard work. "Good day, sir." Guest smiled respectfully at the elder, greeting him as vigorously as he would greet a family member.

The elder turned to him, not saying anything at first but seemingly taking in the sight of Guest. With a cracked voice from the heat, he said, "Good day to you too, bucko. What made you approach me, eh?" He turned his head, spitting on the ground and then rubbing his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I was wondering if you could lend me the carriage. I'm on a mission, coming from the military ground, and I have no transport. I was thinking maybe I could find some here." He placed his hand on the carriage, feeling the wooden structure under his fingers and testing the strength of it silently.

The elder looked at the carriage and the horse in the front, then back at the general before his eyes. "I'll let you take it for your journey, but make sure to bring it back to me; I wouldn't want to lose Becky." 

Guest raised an eyebrow at the unidentified name. "Becky? Who's Becky?" He said, taking his hand off the carriage and eyeing the elder.

He made his way to the front of the carriage, placing his right hand on the horse's nose and holding it indicatively. "My horse."

"I understand, sir. I'll bring it back once I'm done, and I'll make sure Becky is going to return in a better state than I took her." With those words said, Guest got up in the carriage, holding the harness of the horse and waving it up once to make the horse take off.

The horse galloped on the ground, sand dusting around the wheels of the carriage like faint smoke from a house horn. With a loose nail found on the front seat, Guest pinned down the map to the wood to be easier to look at while traveling. There were many forests around the area; he just had to make his way through them on the pre-made road and make sure he didn't get lost. The journey was supposed to be at most a week, unless he managed to arrive in less than a week. They passed through Morristown and Eden in the first two days of the journey, the highway getting thinner and rockier. Guest knew by his surroundings that he was getting closer, but it's still a long way and a big forest awaiting them.

They reached the intersection, and they had to change their route towards the Long Trail Forest to be able to get closer to the road towards their destined town.

The forest was linear; big trees that were at least triple the size of a human covered the area, and the ground beheld mushrooms and even a river. Guest pulled the harness, stopping the horse at the river to let it drink some water as well as taking some of the water too in a bottle.

Guest sat down on the grass surrounding the river, turning his head in the horse's direction, his eyebrows frowning and his eyelids dropping. "We still have a long way to go, Becky. At least three or four days." The horse lifted its head from the river and just looked to the side.

They didn't stay much and got back on track to the journey. Today was more cloudy than usual; it meant it's going to be colder the next days. It might even rain; at most they can try and find some shelter or just continue riding through the rain. "I guess we'll have to hurry."

He lifted the harness and dropped it back down twice, the horse picking up the message, the clicking of its hooves echoing through the forest, reaching the end of it, and continuing on empty plains of grass.

They walked and walked until it came to a week and a day of the journey, when they finally entered the town they were supposed to arrive at. It looked exactly like in the photo, just more lifeless and darker. Guest patted the horse on the neck to calm its huffings. "Take it easy, Becky. Only a few more kilometers left and you can rest." He took his hand away, the carriage shifting from the uneven ground as they entered their last forestial zone. There were faint lights in the forest, leading to something that can only be described as architectural. The stone walls outside the area were tall and carved; a tower right over the entrance was held by pillars with a few windows at the top and a cone-shaped roof. The doors were big and made out of wood with a black metal frame to keep them in place. Guest got off the carriage, tying the horse to a wood log that seemed shoved in the ground to keep it in place.

He took a step forward to the door, admiring the models carved on the wood, which resembled mostly stars or a type of pentagram remade at least fifteen times on a single wood plank. Guest grabbed the circular handle, knocking it on the door, and not even a few seconds later the door was opened by one of the members, wearing bulky black clothing besides the necklace with the symbol on the white bracelet on his left arm. He was wearing a mask, a sad comedy mask that covered any visual expression of his.

As the man opened the door just enough to see who was outside and scan for any possible threat to Guest's arrival at their establishment, although unnervingly calm he still carried a wave of suspicion. "Esteemed visitors! Have you arrived to partake in the eagerly anticipated unveiling of Noli?" He pushed the door slightly more open, extending his hand to Guest for a handshake, which the general grabbed reluctantly. "Pray, step inside; do make yourself at home. I imagine you are quite famished after your travels. Noli is well aware of the sacrifices you have endured in the face of hunger and thirst." The masked man moved to the side, letting Guest cross the entrance.

He took a few steps; the surroundings looked like a new world to him. There were white roads leading to different parts of the establishment. One was the church, a tall architectural one with the vault having inscriptions on it in both Latin and another language, the pillars out of marble carved at the top to resemble the entrance of temples, while the windows on top were lighter in color than the whole structure, almost as if light was piercing through inside. On the left it was a temple, with the roof pointy and thin, tiny details scattered around not only on the pillars but also on the walls and stairs too. The stairs had symbols on top of them, while the walls were nicely arranged, giving it a whole new look, similar to the one of a castle.

Further back Guest could see the housing. A linear house with multiple rooms for each dorm layered in multiple floors, each one having at least twenty dorms per floor. The whole road was accompanied by flowers around the edges, specifically white ones to give it a cleaner look, and some trees around the area. He couldn't help but feel mesmerized by the details put into such structures, but he was quickly pulled back to reality as the masked man placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Pray, let us not tarry, for the day is fleeting. I shall escort you to your lodgings, allowing you the opportunity to unpack your belongings. Subsequently, we shall present to you various pursuits emblematic of our commitment to the esteemed principles of Noli." He walked in front of Guest, quietly leading him to the dorms at the other side of the stone wall. Guest didn't say anything, grabbed his bag, and followed suit after the man. Once at the building, the masked man led him to the door seventeen, opening it and letting the blue-haired one enter. "Please, do make yourself at home; in but an hour, dinner shall be prepared for your delight." He closed the door, leaving Guest by himself in the dorm.

It was nicely arranged, just like a cabin. There was a bed with packed, ironed clothes enough to fit him, a closet, a white carpet with the pentagram, and an office table with only a chair and a lamp on it. Guest sighed, unpacking his stuff and placing them in their specific places. He took out the book he packed for the investigation, placing it on the table with the pen, as he was already too tired to write in it. He needed to focus to get in all the details needed for the mission.

In about an hour, he got dressed in the clothes that were on the bed, seemingly their own uniform of some sort. He got out of the room, closing the door and making his way on the wooden steps down to the dining hall near the place. Entering the place, he was met with dimly lighted candles and the eyes of some of the members at the table, wearing distinct masks and waiting for the guest to sit down himself.

Awkwardly, he sat down at a table near the middle of the room just for the masked me to raise up straight from his seat, others following suit, and so did Guest. "It is a widely acknowledged custom that we ought to recite the prayer prior to partaking in our repast."

Putting their hands together, all the people in the dining hall raised their heads up towards the sky and recited:

«Blessed are you, Noli, our God,

maker of heaven and earth

and parent of all your people:

we give you glory for your goodness.

and for your loving care for us.

Bless this food.

and grant that all who eat it

may be strong in body

and grow in your love.

Blessed are you, Noli, our God,

forever and ever.»

After the prayer was said, everyone sat down at the tables, beginning to eat their meal. Guest was appreciative of the meal; it actually tasted way better than the usual military food, but despite the taste, he felt slightly guilty for partaking in the prayer, even if it was a requirement. Everyone ate; the place was noticeably well-behaved, and it was quiet. Almost too quiet.

One of the younger cult members approached the masked man, pulling on his sleeve. "Father Robert, we got new members? Or is my sight mistaking me before my eyes?" The masked one, now known as Father Robert, turned his head to the youngling, rising from the table at the end of the meal and clapping his hands together. "Ah, indeed we do. Esteemed Guest, may I implore you to present yourself to the family? It is rather disheartening for Noli to remain unacquainted with their newfound admirers."

At the calling, Guest dropped his spoon in the bowl, rising from his seat and smiling, almost forcefully. "I'm Guest. I've come to reconstitute my beliefs and choose the true way to the skies."

Robert clapped his hands together tightly, his voice rising in excitement. "Splendid! Another genuine adherent of Noli! I beseech you, what inspired your pursuit of the sole and authentic path?" He leaned over the table to listen more closely to Guest's reasoning.

"I guess the death of my family would be a primordial reason?" He placed a hand at the back of his head, scratching his head in tension, hoping they'll bite the lie.

Silence fell over the establishment, he could almost hear the crickets singing and the attention gazes of the other members over him at the answer he gave.

After what felt like forever, the masked man just answered with a tint of unpleasement. "That is a rather unforeseen response." He looked Guest straight in the eyes for a moment before sitting down and continuing to eat.

He awkwardly waited for everyone to finish their meals so he could get to his dorm already.

Now it was midnight; Guest was lying restlessly in the hard bed inside his dorm, listening to the outside. A particular sound caught his attention: a loud thud. He rose from the bed, holding his head and going to the window. In the yard there was a black figure, child-like with a red glowing cone over its head. It seemed lost from afar. The sight of a child, even a toddler, being alone at midnight in grass was unusual. Guest put on the slippers, got out of the dorm, and went down the stairs, slowly approaching the figure.

The child picked up on the sounds and raised his head to Guest in confusion at the approach, but the blue-haired general was not backing up. He got in the grass field and kneeled down to the child. "Are you lost, kid? What's your name?"

The toddler held a hand at their head, trying to remember their name. "Azpx. My name is Aspx." They turned their gaze back at Guest once they managed to remember.

"Aspx, huh? What a weird name. And you're alone?" Guest fully sat down in the grass with the kid, looking at it in misunderstanding.

The kid scoffed poutingly. "No, I wanted to pay!" They raised their arms in the air, calmly responding to Guest.

He looked at the child in bewilderment. "Pay what?"

"Pay! Like running and game."

He thought for a second, trying to connect the dots before realizing the spelling mistake of the child. "You mean play." He said sternly, almost like a question to the toddler.

The toddler's eyes light up once Guest finally manages to understand their words. "Yes, pay!" Aspx clapped their hands happily and, getting up from the ground, started to run. "You can't cach me!"

Guest sighed, rising from the ground and walking after the kid, pretending to try and chase it. Once he finally caught up with Aspx, they were near the stone wall, and the kid moved his finger to his mouth to silence the other.

"Did you find something?" Guest leaned against the wall, looking down at the kid pressing their ear on the concrete.

"I herd there is hidden stuff about Noli once da count down comes closer to an end." They raised their head away, still holding both palms on the concrete.

Guest hummed softly, looking at the clock on his wrist in curiosity. It was already 02:53 A.M., quite late to be searching for secrets. He looked back at the kid who was still trying to figure something out on the wall. "Aspx, I think it's time to go back to your room and sleep."

Aspx turned their head to Guest, and with a calm voice, they grabbed at his pants. "Can you puch the wall for me?" They pointed their finger at a certain spot in the wall.

He looked at the wall and then at Aspx. "For what should I punch it? Isn't concrete quite hard?" He asked, softly banging his fist against the concrete to prove his point.

"It's softer than concrete here."

The kid's words raised uncertainty in Guest; he kneeled down, pushing Aspx away, and punched the certain spot, breaking it easily. Inside there was an amulet with a lion on it. "What's this?"

"That's L in heroglif."

"Hieroglyphics, you say?" He looked back at the amulet and put it in his pocket. "Do you think there are more?"

Aspx looks around, thinking about the possibility of more amulets existing. "I think evey corner has one." Aspx took a step forward towards the other side of the wall. "But only at night."

"I'll keep that in mind. We can search for more next night. Let's just go sleep." He extended his hand for the kid to grab it, leading the both of them to the dorms.

Inside the room, Guest remaind a little up to write in his journal.

5 days until Noli's arrival.

"The establishment looks great and everyone here is so nice but I can't tear away the fact that it's way too quiet. It's reserved and the prayers are changed. They venerate their own God which is equivalent to cults but the fact there a countdown for the arrival makes me question a few things. Just like that kid, fully black body and a simple red cone on it who can't really talk but knows their surroundings and some secrets about so-called «amulets» that contain Hieroglyphics to form out Noli's name. So far it's going fine, no abnormal stuff happening. I just have to wait and see for what's about to come. I can't let myself be blinded by their kindness."

The next morning, the sunlight flared through the window of the dorm, waking up Guest groggily at the start of the morning. He rose out of bed and went outside the room, but as he was about to go down the stairs, Father Robert appeared before him.

"May the Almighty Noli bestow benevolence upon you. Allow me to remind you that this day is indeed a Sunday, for which your presence is earnestly required at church. We must not squander a day as hallowed as this one in idleness." The masked man placed a heavy arm around the back of Guest's shoulders, leading him down the stairs and on the path to the church.

He felt the arm almost pushing him forward to walk inside the holy building at such an ungodly hour. "Right now? It's a bit early." Guets turned his head around, looking at his surroundings.

As they slowly entered the church, Father Robert closed the entrance, letting the candles inside light up. "Pray tell, when might it be otherwise? We wish to avoid any discontent from Noli in the final five days leading to his anticipated arrival." He said, moving away from the guest and going to the altar, entering a small room behind it that was covered by a wall with oil paintings.

Looking around, the inside had a few oil paintings on the ceiling of the church depicting the God and different actions of theirs, but one particular painting stood out to Guest. It was a painting of the same dark kid with a red cone on top of his head sitting by the side of Noli, the same darkened kid he saw the previous night. As he made his way further inside, stepping on the red carpet, he was met with the gazes of other members, some new and some he saw last night at the dining hall, separated by the left and right of the carpet. He moves so in line with them, waiting for the Father to get out from the small room.

Some of the candles that provided light were stopped, leaving the light from windows to enter the room, the Father finally getting out of the room and at the altar wearing a black robe and carrying a thick book in his hands. He placed it on the bookstand, opened it at a certain page, and started reading:

"Revelation 26:3. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Aspx, who, though they were in the form of Noli, did not count equality with Noli a thing to be grasped, but emptied themself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Therefore Noli has highly exalted Aspx and bestowed on them the name that is above every name, so that at the name every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Aspx is Lord, to the glory of Noli."

Once the quoting was done, Robert stood straight, bringing a hand to his chest while the other hand was held in a fist down towards the crowd. "Gloria Noli, et Filio Aspx, et sancta patria."

Guest looked around at the ones around him, silently observing the position of having both hands placed on top of the chest, right above the heart. As he saw, he did the same, placing the left hand on his chest and the right one above the left, slightly more clenched than the other. Despite partaking in the prayer, Guest's eyes lingered at the paintings on the windows and walls; tonight he was supposed to meet with Aspx again and search for the amulets. His thoughts were abruptly disturbed by the Father quoting once again.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, «Behold, the dwelling place of Noli is with man. Noli will dwell with them, and they will be Noli's people, and Noli themself will be with them as their God. Noli will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.»"

Father Robert closed the book, taking in the sight of the church attendants, and lifted a piece of jewelry with the end of it having the pentagram, holding it in his hand. "Ere we conclude this assembly, I wish to reiterate that Noli, our savior, is anticipated to grace us with their formidable presence in but five days' time. I entreat you all to cast aside any trepidation regarding the divine judgment that may befall us on that fateful day, for it is only those who lack faith that shall endure Noli's reprimand."

Five days. In five days, Guest would finally be able to see if he can come back to the military base with information or not. He let his arms fall next to his torso limply, turning to leave the church along with everyone else.

He watched with the corner of his eye as the masked man waved to the others, giving them one last reminder. "Do not neglect to prepare our venerations to Noli at the break of dawn."

Venerations were supposed to happen around that time; offerings and some cults even used sacrifices as offerings. Whatever it was, Guest needed to get his job done faster; Robert's voice was alluring and almost convincing on the whole «Noli is coming.» As he walked towards the dorms, he saw a figure behind the building rushing to hide the moment he turned his head at it, piquing Guest's curiosity. He decided to approach after checking to see if anyone was looking, his steps making faint sounds of grass being crushed. He looked past the corner and was met with the sight of Aspx, sitting behind the wall, their fists clenched.

Guest couldn't believe his eyes at the sudden encounter. The kid was sure up to no good hiding behind buildings like that. "Aspx? What are you doing here? I thought you only came at night." He got closer to the toddler, looking down at it.

"I culdn't wait till tunight." They responded bluntly, suddenly standing up from the grass, their fists tightly grasped.

"Right..." His gaze fell down to the fists of the kid, a corner of the thing they were holding poking out through their fingers, the sun making it shine. "What are you holding?"

"Amulet. N." Aspx opened theirs first, revealing a wavy argent amulet, almost like waves, letting Guest take a look at it.

He picked it up, checking the status of it. It looked and felt almost like brand new, like it was made yesterday. He the. Shoved it in his pocket with the other amulet. "Where did you find this?"

Aspx puts a hand at their chin, thinking a little before pointing at a spot in the grass field. "In grass." They said, their voice seemingly nonchalant, way more relaxed than the previous night.

"Did you manage to locate the other two amulets?"

To the question, the kid shaped their head in negation. "Nio. I'll try." Then Aspx turned around to leave, walking past the other corner of the house.

Following them and looming past the second corner, Guest was met with the disappearance of the toddler. They just took the corner and disappeared from view. He could have sworn he was going crazy at this rate, and no one will believe him if he says he is the son of Noli multiple times already, not even Father Robert.

He sighed, getting out from behind the dorm house, walking on the made path towards the temple, and avoding the looks of other members. Just walking to the temple without a real order from the masked man has drawn a few unwanted stares from the other members. Arriving at the temple, Guest placed his hand on the pillar; it was solid rock, and the floor was marble, every step of his echoing in the room. He climbed the stairs at the end of the temple, and there he saw it. A whole coffin with the frames out of argent missing four spaces similar to hieroglyphics, the same letters that spelled out N, O, L, and I.

He shoved his hand in the pocket, taking out the two amulets and placing them over the empty spots. They fit, but Guest only had N and L. The remaining two amulets were supposed to be found before the arrival, but where could O and I hide? He rubbed his temples, a pang of pain hitting him as he took a step away from the coffin.

"Damned puzzle. 5 days and I still need to find two more. Maybe Aspx could find them for me, but that will take a while too..." He turned to look behind, noticing a faint figure approaching the temple. Guest's heart stopped for a second, and he quickly went down the stairs and out on the side of the temple, running a little to reach the wall of the church and hide behind it.

He watched as the figure checked the state of the temple, walking up to the coffin and placing a hand on it. Guest covered his mouth with his left hand, trying to be as quiet as possible to not get detected.

A young voice came from the blind spot of his view, and he felt a hand pulling his pants. "Mister Guest, you're going to miss our activities if you keep playing hide-and-seek!" He looked behind him and saw the younger cult member, wearing a comedy mask with the sides of the mouth rolled into a smile.

Guest raised an eyebrow, his breathing a little uneven from the running. "What activities are you talking about?" He turned to fully face the youngling, his arms crossed above his chest.

"Oil painting, bible study, pentagram drawing, and many more. Just pursue what you find more pleasing. Noli likes us always active; don't be lazy, that only upsets them."

It sounded actually nice, at least at first glance. Now he was having second thoughts; he was told the cult was dangerous and worshipped an unethical god, but it all just seemed too nice to be true now that he had integrated. They had activities and a pretty strong bond in the collective, making each other feel like home. "I guess I could try. Lead the way."

So, he followed the cultist towards another part of the whole fortress, stopping at a certain field of grass with a blanket laid ontop of it, knitting ustensils, canvas, natural paint made out of flower petals... He sat down on the blanket, between the other cultists, he could feel their glares, grabbing the ball of wool, he felt a hand touch his as he looked to the right to see another cultist.

"Do tell, what you like most to do? Are there any activities you like?" The cultist moves closer, their mask tilting to the left as it was loosely tied behind their head.

Guest tensed up a little but loosen just a bit once he was who it was. "I guess I like training?" He tried to push the hand off of his but it was fruitless effort as the cultist was not letting go.

"Ah, I can see why you chose to believe in Noli. We have the secrets to self-improvement. You can be like us and become something special." They moves their hand away, holding the knitting yarn and starting their own project in their hands.

He sighed, grabbing the knitting needles and attemping to make a model, he had little to no experience in knitting but at least he was trying.

The cultist who had brought him here, turned to look at Guest, their voice questioning and lingering in concern. "You seem bothered, what might it be on your soul?"

He looked down at the ball of wool, focusing on his knitting. "Nothing, I'm fine. That's just my normal face."

"Our ideology answers all questions to all problems, you don't have to hide anything." They dropped the brush on a support, kneeling down to Guest and looking straight at his face. "You can tell us what you're missing."

"Maybe my friends, I've came here alone."

"It doesn't sound like they really love you if they can't support your new decision and come with you. Maybe it's best if you stay away from them. It's unhealthy for you to be around unenlightened people anyway."

He nodded, continuing to knit in silence, listening to birds singing in the tree above themselves, trying to loosen up and relax for once but it only made him more stressful trying to knit a symbol.

That was until the dawn, when the candles were the only things lighting up the area, as well as a wooden circle with spikes pointing out of it that was hung in the middle of a hay pile. Guest took the candle in his hand, lighting it up, and with a smile going down towards the circle. The veneration and gifting looked quite weird, but he didn't put much thought into it.

Father Robert walked to the event at last, followed by two other important members. He threw a look at the structure and then at the man on his left. "May Noli bestow upon you the utmost, for your architectural prowess never ceases to astound me, David." He clapped slowly, his head moving to the right and nodding. "Illuminate the hearth, dear Olivia. All others are to bestow their tributes at the base of the crown. Let it be proclaimed that we patiently await the arrival of Noli."

Olivia nodded her head, hurrying to the dorms to bring some fire. Unlike the other members, Olivia, David, and Robert were dressed slightly differently, wearing crowns with tiny horns around them and the pentagram on the right side of their chests, as well as the suits and masks with a tint of purple.

By the time Olivia got back with the fire torch, the members had placed a small object at the bottom of the statue. Some gold, others books or chalices, and a few even candles with the support, including Guest. Eventually everything was set, Father Robert taking out the Bible and opening it to almost the end of the book, Olivia stepping closer to the structure, stopping inches before it with the torch, and listening to the masked man's saying.

With strong determination, Robert held the book by the edges, looking at the paragraph and quoting: "An altar of earth you shall make for Noli and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where Noli will cause their name to be remembered, they will come to you and bless you."

At the end of the quote, Olivia extended her arm, letting the torch touch the hay as it caught on fire, the flames chaotically moving upwards on the statue as well as downwards at the offerings, the structure burning in a lively shade of orange. They left it to burn for a while; Guest watches as a little further sway from the circle is formed, taking in the mental note of the situation. Burning valuable stuff for the sake of offering. As the flames died down, the place fell into complete silence.

"The hour grows late. With merely four days remaining, I implore you to conduct yourself with utmost decorum. May the presence of Noli accompany you, along with the sanctified spirit." Father Robert turned to leave towards his own dorm, followed by Olivia and David, leaving the cult members on their own. Many went to sleep, and Guest waited for the place to empty, taking one last look at the decaying statue, turning his back, and going to the dorm.

In the comfort of his bed, lying tensely, he heard the mere sounds of bells and horns singing outside his window. Each call of the horn was getting louder as Guest found no other way to sleep; he got up and opened the dorm door to check outside, the horn calls suddenly stopping, being replaced by a faint sound of a harp covered half by the harsh wind.

He retreated back to his dorm, sitting at the table and opening the book again, taking the pen in his hand.

4 days before the arrival of Noli.

"I've taken part in one of their church meetings, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary; it felt almost exactly like basic Christian church meetings. What was more uncommon was the sudden sacrification of valuable objects as offerings to Noli near 8 P.M. in the garden. The structure was burned to a crisp, and so were the objects. It hasn't been more than a few hours since I participated in the offering, and I already think I'm hearing things. No, not things but instruments used for religious choirs, horns and all. The people are nice and all, but I still need to collect more information."

On the third morning, Guest woke up more tired than usual due to the constant musical sounds from the previous night; he decided to take a stroll after attending church to clear his mind. While walking around the area, he spotted Father Robert and Olivia talking at the stairs of the temple. Guest hid behind the wall of the church, trying to make out their words, but the two were too far away; all he could notice was the tints of purple from the clothes were gone, and one of the pentagrams Robert used to wear the night before was gone as well.

He waited for the two to leave the area, watching them walk in different directions, Olivia going to the entrance of the gate and Father Robert walking towards the church. Once they were out of the picture, Guest took small steps towards the temple, sneaking inside and going straight at the coffin, checking the empty spots on top of it. Unlike before, there weren't four empty spots now; one was filled, and the second one was filled with a balloon amulet already. That was the O, so far three amulets and three days left. Guest put his finger under the string of the amulet, attempting to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge at all. Defeated, Guest decided to leave it there; he was supposed to bring them all in the end anyway. 

He got out of the temple and towards the garden, searching for any trace of Aspx, but they were nowhere to be found. Being the offspring of a deity must be busy, but he still needed that kid to finish his searching.

He searched and looked behind every corner, but Aspx was not in any spot; they disappeared yesterday afternoon and disappeared for good. Therefore, after a fruitless search, the major general decided to wait until tonight. Maybe they weren't free at the moment, and he just had to wait.

As he was thinking to himself, lost in his own thoughts, the cultist previously met the other day, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why are you behind the church?"

"I was just trying to explore the place more." He turned his head to a side, looking over his shoulder at the wall that was surrounding the whole area they were in.

The member took the hand off of Guest's shoulder, their voice softer and soothening once they spoke again. "Nothing in this world has value unless it relates to Noli or the ultimate purpose." The cultist turned to walk towards the stone path, their hands held together behind their back. "Get up now, perhaps you'll need some bible studies to clear your mind from such obnoxious behaviors."

Guest nodded as he stood up and rushed to catch onto the cultist's pace of walking. Being led to the library inside one of the structures, the member swiftly snaked their way through the shelves, taking out one of the books, taking a seat on one of the chairs near a table.

They opened the book, their hands ruffling through the pages of it till almost the middle of it, gesturing for Guest to take a seat across themself.

Guest relunctly sat down himself, looking at the book that has been set on the table, his finger tips faintly touching the paper under them, it was old, the cult wasn't a recent thing, it been going for decades.

"Let's begin with a preach." The member turned the book around and pushed it in front of Guest, urging him to read the paragraph.

«The Lord is my Light; I shall not want. Noli makes me lie down in green pastures. Noli leads me beside still waters. Noli restores my soul. Noli leads me in paths of righteousness for their name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.»

Guest lifted his head from the book, looking at the cult member and letting the book back on the table. "Why am I reading this?" He put a hand to the side of his head, his index finger tapping against the right temple of his forehead.

The cultist grabbed the book with one hand, closing it and holding their hands over the book's cover. "Don't be silly, you have to read the bible once you've sinned. Don't want Noli to be upset with your traspasses right before the arrival." They leaned forward, giving Guest an amulet with the symbol of the cult, the pentagram.

Guest grabbed the amulet, holding it in his hand as he laid his back against the chair, his arms dropping to the sides of his body. "What sin did I commit, may I ask?" He lifted an eyebrow alongside with the question.

"Your inquisitive nature concerning this establishment is rather excessive. Such curiosity and exploration ought to be conducted in harmony with the leader's guidance, rather than in solitary pursuit. Given your recent arrival, it would have been prudent to undertake your explorations in the company of another. What would Father Robert think of you once he finds out you're wondering around like a mindless animal?" The cultist pushed the chair back, raising onto their feet and making their way quietly out the library, closing the door behind them, leaving Guest at the table on his own.

Guest took a look around, the organization of the library was foregin. Standing up from the table, he touched the books on the middle shelf, pulling them back one by one and reading the titles. To his surprise, the whole row was filled just with the same copies of a singular bible that he saw the cultist take out. Barely any of the books maintianed by the cult were anything other than religious, even the children's books were still based off of religious beliefs. He looked at the door and then back at the books as he turned to leave.

Impatiently waiting for the night to come, Guest didn't even lie in bed or close an eye; he walked a few times back and forth around the dorm, checking outside through the window, and it struck him: it had become midnight, and Aspx was still not showing their face to the world, even once it was pure darkness. He didn't write that night; he was too tired to attempt another writing session and went to sleep, ignoring the trumpet sounds since Guest had already gotten used to the musicality of the sky.

Each day he was getting closer and closer to his objective; three days remained. In the morning, instead of attending the church, Guest sneaked to the temple and placed the N and L in their assigned spots on the coffin, all three amulets shining slightly from being placed. One left, I, and he would have been finally done with this for good.

He spent the evening and afternoon searching for another amulet, but just like searching for Aspx, it was nowhere to be found. Feeling the frustration turn into another headache, he laid down on the grass behind the church, facing the wall of it. 

As he was relaxing on the field, the sunlight washing over him, something caught his eye. Under the church there was a crack, and the crack was shining softly. Guest sat up and leaned over to try and look inside the crack; it was too dark and hard to reach with his bare fingers. He needed something thinner, something that could fit. A stick.

There were a few trees around the area; it was easy to acquire. Guest stood up, going to the nearest tree and grabbing with his hand onto a branch, checking the size of the sticks as he broke off one and went back to the crack.

He kneeled down before it, shoving the stick inside and moving it in all directions till he felt something heavier on it. He pulled the stick back, retreating it and dragging the thing that caught onto it along. Once he managed to take it out, the end of the stick had another amulet, the last one. It was like a feather. Guest took it in his hand, dropping the stick on the ground and rushing back at the temple a second time. He jumped a few steps, reaching the coffin and placing the last amulet in its hole. The thing started to faintly glow, just like the others. The light was pure white, outlining the shapes. He watched in awe at the small spectacle before it dimmed.

The next two days passed in a flash, almost as if they never happened in the first place. The same routines, the sudden distance Father Robert had for Guest. He could have sworn that nowadays, he was only seeing Robert once from afar; he didn't talk much with him anymore.

Here it came, the last day, the day of Noli's arrival that even Guest came to anticipate. They were all gathered around the temple, waiting for Noli. As Guest was leaning against the wall, he felt a small presence in the temple. He looked to his side and saw Aspx, watching the arrival with the same neutrality they always had, though there was still a hint of excitement.

The candles ran out of light, the wind suddenly blowing more powerfully as the members awaited. Nothing. Nothing happened; it was just a small shake of the ground, and that's it. Even Father Robert was a little taken aback by the lack of Holy Presence.

Guest kneeled down to Aspx, a hand at the side of his mouth to keep it a little private. "Isn't Noli supposed to come today?" He asked, a little concerned about the situation.

Aspx looked around the room as much as they could see before responding sadly. "They are."

As silence filled the room, the coffin started shaking again, and to their and the other members' surprise, Noli's figure actually appeared above the coffin. Noli's face was covered by a comedy theatrical mask, their eyes glowing pure white under it, their silhouette slim and with inscriptions right under the light piece of clothing that Noli wore on their body, their right arm covered from the shoulder down to the wrist in the pentagram of the cult, painted with black ink, the hand having the same hieroglyphic symbols of the amulet and the tips fully black, while the other arm had a blood-red Э symbol carved into their skin in the same pattern as the left, this time their right hand having a triskelion right on top of it. Noli's shoulders were covered by a cape with a hood pulled over their head, the Void Star crown floating right above the hood, the star shining in white, and Noli's hair was covered by pieces of argent and jewelry that hung in hoops around the forehead.

The sight of Noli was astonishing to everyone. Guest felt almost guilty that he soon had to just take Noli away from the cult after they waited for them for years.

Father Robert got closer to the coffin, his hands placed above his chest as he kneeled down to Noli. "Is it truly you, our esteemed Noli, who has graced us with your divine presence upon this earthly realm?" He looked up at Noli, his eyes having a glimmer of hope in them.

Noli's mask made no movement; they just looked down at the Father and, with a well-educated voice, spoke out, "As appearances dictate, I indeed am." Their left arm went to their chest, placing it right about the heart.

The members cheered, and the eventful moment slowly calmed down, leaving Noli to roam around the areas of the cult. This was Guest's chance to finally go back home. He got out of the dorm while nobody batted an eye, going to the Temple to meet up with Noli's gaze. There was no coffin anymore, just the throne on which Noli was resting, Aspx next to it, sitting on the stairs, their eyes gazing at the new lighting of the place.

Guest stopped at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at Noli, putting up his best impression. "Greetings, mighty savior Noli. Could I request I speak to your Majesty in private?"

Noli looked down at the awkwardness on Guest's face, their eyebrows shifting in curiosity. "For what purpose have I been called to engage in a private discourse?" Noli pulled their head upwards from the hand, both arms falling on the armrests of the throne.

"It's about something that's bugging me, and your divine knowledge could help." It was a half-assed lie, but Guest still hoped for the agreement.

"If you say so." Noli lifted themself from the throne, stepping down the stairs till they reached the same ground level as Guest. They were shorter than Guest imagined. "Lead the path."

Guest nodded to the demand, leading Noli with him close to the exit of the cult. He packed everything before leaving already, and the only thing left was Noli. He stopped right before the gate, looking at the deity straight in the eyes.

"Tell what you have to tell. I have business to finish." But as Noli finished their sentence, Guest just smiled, holding his hands behind his back.

"I'll make this quick, okay? I need you for the better of the army. I've been sent to take you and bring you to the camp since you'd be a valuable member." He catched his breath, looking at Noli in hope of recieving the help he needs to finish the mission.

Noli huffed in skepticism, their arms folding over their chest as they looked at Guest. "Pray tell, what reward may I anticipate from this endeavor?" They stated, expecting something in return, something enough to make them agree.

Guest looked at the outside of the entrance over his shoulder and at the carriage waiting outside. "We can decide on the way." He said, his eye slingering at Noli's face.

"No, we're deciding now."

He sighed, knowing there is no way of twisting this around, he finally complied. "What would you like in exchange then?" Guest leaned against the wall, his boot crushing the grass under it.

"The notion of perpetual adoration presents itself as an admirable exchange, though many have already embraced this practice. Would the addition of one more participant truly be detrimental? It's not much to ask for." Noli stretched their arms, the hood of their attire falling further over their head as their hands gestured along with Noli's request.

Guest shrugged at the request. "Sure, I can worship you like the others." He turned to look at the carriage, checking if it was still there. "Can we get now in the carriage already?"

"I lament that a mere promise suffices not. I would greatly appreciate your commitment to this endeavor with regularity, if not daily. My reverence for this practice is earnest." Noli took a few steps forward, taking the lead and passing the entrance into the outside world.

Guest followed suit, holding Noli's hand for them to get inside the carriage before sitting down himself in the front, slapping Becky on the cheek to start moving. He coordinated the horse through the forest, holding onto the harness as he turned his head to look at the back and check if Noli didn't disappear. "I know there are repercussions, but the military needs you, and it's my mission to bring you to them." He smiled, turning his head back at the road as they left the town already.

Noli swatted their hand at the consciousness of the other, leaning their back against the material of the carriage, their legs crossed. "Pray, guide the steed with utmost care, for I harbor no wish for untoward mishaps upon our journey." Noli turned their head to look in front of the road past Guest's silhouette. "How long will the journey last?"

"About eight days?" Guest looks up at the sky to check the time, estimating the time in his statement.

Noli raised an eyebrow upon hearing the extended period of the journey. "And you expect me to stay closed off for a week in a carriage?" 

"I guess so. I mean, I could loosen it up a little, but only when we're at least four days down in the expedition. You'll get used to it." 

Guest followed the same path towards his home city, passing the Long Trail Forest in barely a day and making a small stop at the exit of the forest, letting the carriage and horse on the grass field as he laid himself in the carriage next to Noli.

He turned his gaze to Noli, taking in and noticing the calm dementor of the deity. He sat up, looking through his bag and taking out a pillow before turning to Noli. "You want a pillow? For your back at least, so you sit more comfortably."

Noli moves their head away to not look at the other. "What impels you to suggest that I desire aught from you?" Their voice carried a hint of uttered disappointment at the offering of the general. They thought for a while before looking at Guest. "But I guess an offering is an offering, at least you follow suit with your belief in me."

Guest nodded, grabbing the pillow while lifting Noli's head with his hand and letting their head fall back on the pillow. He lay down on the other side of the carriage, his head hitting the wood, and prepared to go to sleep.

"You humans are wasting a lot of time by living in your own dream world, you know that?"

"We do need it to survive." Guest mumbled, turning to a side, facing Noli, his eyes raised up to them tiredly.

"Having observed humanity from my lofty perch for an extensive duration, I have discerned their necessity for slumber as an essential element of survival; however, I lament the manner in which they squander precious moments on trifling pursuits rather than engaging in endeavors of merit. I must concede that even my devout adherents oft fail to uphold the productivity I have emphatically elucidated." Noli's eyes, dim-lighted and looking at the ground, seemingly a bit lost in the memories they beheld. Their left hand moved over Guest's head, landing softly onto his forehead and holding it pressed.

"You behold a lot of knowledge about the past, do you also happen to know what they plan at the military camp?" Guest looked at Noli's face, early awaiting the answers. He was curious himself about the mission and the meanings of it.

"... Attend to the whispers of your soul and convictions, pursue that which appears most appropriate for the circumstance, and do not passively await directives from those of elevated stature. It shall solely bestow upon you a most uncertain commiseration."

The days were passing; Guest was still with the carriage and leading it on the path. They went through the town of Eden and were now in Morristown, still having a long way back. In this time, the presence of Noli made Guest significantly drawn to them; they were a deity, of course they would be beautiful, but this wasn't about beauty. The way Noli sometimes challenged his intellect or told stories about the cults venerating them and Aspx was entertaining, to say the least. Noli has a complex personality; he would describe it as filled with layers, each layer beholding a new truth about them.

As the carriage was shifting left and right, Becky walking slowly across the stone-filled road, Guest looked in the back to check on what Noli was up to. 

Guest turned halfway to look at Noli. "Do you have more stories to share? To kill some time, y'know." He hopped deeper into the carriage, laying on the wooden floor of it with his knee up, smiling as he gazed at the deity.

"I guess I have a few." Noli lifted one of their arm up, the blood-red Э symbol facing the other as his other hand came to point on the symbol. "This emblem signifies the illustrious Cole Family. Albeit not as steadfast in their convictions as the Void Cult, they bestowed upon me a modicum of strength through their devout prayers, which, I must admit, dissipated rather prematurely."

Guest stayed silent, listening to the story told by the deity, his eyes sparkling in curiosity of the subject, before he opened his mouth once again. "That's... fascinating. You've been worshipped by multiple groups of people, must have made you feel powerful." He looked at the symbol once again, noticing the details on it.

"Aspx is alone at the cult again. I wonder what they are doing." Noli placed both hands above their chest, looking up at the fabric that was protecting the interior from the light.

That brought Guest back to reality, It pained him for some reason to hear Noli's concern for Aspx. He did care for that little kid too, not as much as Noli, but he did care. After all, that rascal showed him or directed him to most of the amulets around the yard of the cult; they were helpful even for their age. There was a bit of guilt eating away at him, knowing they played such a big part for a group of people.

As they were reaching closer and closer to Stowe, where Guest previously got the carriage and was supposed to return it and walk from there, he couldn't help but feel down. The thought of returning to the military seemed unwelcoming now; neither did the thought of seeing Matt lighten his day. And what was the captain planning for Noli? What if they treated them as Noli doesn't deserve to? Guest stopped the carriage abruptly, the insides shifting around a little, including Noli.

"Why did you stop the carriage?" Noli looked in confusion from the carriage back at Guest, sitting up.

"Get off, we're walking from here. I need to return the carriage." Guest got off, leaving the carriage at the Elder and thanking him as he grabbed Noli's arm and led them down the path. 

But instead of going to the military base, Guest led Noli to his house, opening the door and letting them inside. He was too afraid of what could happen to Noli rather than finishing his mission.

Noli stepped inside the house, looking at their surroundings. "This isn't the military base you told me about." They turned to look at Guest in bewilderment as to why he would bring them here.

Guest clenched his fists and squinted his eyes slightly before turning to Noli with a frown. "Noli, I'm not taking you to the military base." He looked away in shame, a hand going up at his cheek to sustain his head. "I don't even want to think of what could happen to you if you went there."

"Oh." The deity took in the sight of Guest's distress about the situation, placing their hand on top of his arm. "Then what are you going to do when they ask you about me?"

"I'll just tell them there was no deity to begin with and hope they believe me." Guest turned to get out of the house, turning his head to look at Noli one last time. "Just stay here and wait till I get back; I'll talk it out, and we can go check on ASPX after."

Guest got out of the house, closing the door behind him and heading towards the military base. He was determined to defend Noli, as they were not at fault for any of this. He walked past the gate, the captain immediately looking at Guest with a giant smile on his face.

The captain wrapped an arm around the back of Guest's shoulders, his voice stern and demanding. "Did you manage to bring their so-called God?" He looked at Guest, expecting the report from his major general.

"No." He responded bluntly. "There was no deity, just some weirdos." Guest looked at the ground, almost weirded out by the touch of the captain. Maybe he spent too much time in a different collective.

"That's a pity." The captain pulled away, walking back into the base. "I'll look for another mission for you then."

And so, Guest returned home. Entering the house, he was greeted with Noli waiting on the couch for his return. They stood up and walked up to him, crossing their arms, waiting for the other to talk.

"Well?"

"It's fine; they bit it." Guest sighed, a hand going up and moving his hair back. Arranging it. He then looked at Noli, questioning in his mind how they will turn back to the cult. "Now we have to return. Got any ideas how?"

Noli thought for a little, a hand at their chin, similar to the way Aspx used to think. They extended their hand in front of Guest, palm open. "Grab my hand, I'll just take us there. Close your eyes."

He looked baffled, but he still grabbed their hand, closing his eyes and waiting. The time felt like it was never passing, and by the time he opened his eyes, he could see the Cult area again. It was as beautifully structured as he saw it the first time, except it was missing something. It was way more quiet than he left it. He and Noli crossed the entrance, and as he looked to his right, the temple had fallen, with Aspx standing at the end of it with the ruins still in front of them.

Guest got closer to the ruin, Noli taking the initiative and calling out for Aspx as they got up on the ruins, humming calmly and picking up the kid. Noli got off at the side of the temple, a happy smile formed on their mask.

He looked at the bonding between Noli and Aspx in front of him, a hand at the back of his head. "Now, what are we going to do? This place is mostly a ruin, and there is no trace of the cult." He looked at the way most of the buildings were decaying.

Noli looked at Guest as if it was obvious what was about to happen. "We shall proceed forthwith. This realm does not accommodate our presence." Noli looked down at Aspx, a hand held above the kid.

Guest brings a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing it awkwardly as he raised his head, his eyes meeting Noli's gaze. "You could come live with me. I got enough space." He said, holding his back straight in a good posture ad he spoke, hoping for an agreement.

Aspx looked up to Noli, their eyes sparkling in excitement at the proposal of Guest, a sense of appreciation on their face. "Can wi?" They said, slightly bouncing on the ground.

Noli, seeing the gaze in Aspx's eyes and the excitement of the young one, sighed in acceptance. "Sure. But you better keep your promise on the prayers."

"I always will keep my promise."