“Hey, have you heard about the new Priest in town?”
“Oh, of course we know. Everyone does by now. After all, he’s the first person in our generation—besides the Saintess and the Apostle—to ever reach the rank of Priest at such a young age.”
“Indeed… I was honestly stunned when the Great Archpriestess herself personally stepped in and promoted him. That never happens.”
“He must be incredibly lucky… or maybe there’s more to him than we know.”
“Hmm… hmm, you might be right.”
Priest Aether quickly became the center of every conversation in the local body.
People talked about him not because he performed miracles or defeated demons, but simply because someone as grand as the Archpriestess had chosen to promote him personally. That alone sparked curiosity, envy, and admiration in equal measure.
And it didn’t stop there. His name began to travel beyond just the local body. Other towns, neighboring regions, and distant parishes started whispering about the young priest who rose so quickly, catching the attention of the highest seat.
Receiving a double promotion so early in his life had turned his world upside down.
Priest Aether suddenly found himself drowning in responsibilities. Yet, unlike others who might falter under pressure, he handled everything with quiet determination.
Gradually, people stopped talking about the Archpriestess’s favor. They began to speak about his actions, his dedication, his tireless work.
He took care of everything. Every single person in his community, no matter their background or status, felt seen by him. Without even a trace of frustration or weariness, he greeted them all with the same calm and warm smile. He became someone people could rely on without hesitation.
He cooked new meals for the community, introduced efficient systems to connect different groups, repaired old streets, managed drainage problems, and took over tasks that normally required several layers of bureaucratic approval.
But he didn’t wait for permission…. He simply did what needed to be done.
He never once complained when his robes got soiled or when his hands turned calloused and sore. He worked from dawn to dusk—not for recognition, but for the people.
And when he saw the children laughing freely, or when he noticed genuine joy glowing on the villagers’ faces, he would pause, take a quiet breath, and feel an unfamiliar yet profound emotion—a firm, peaceful happiness blooming inside him.
That feeling… that was what changed everything.
Now, the people didn’t call him “Priest” because of some title or ceremony or because the Archpriestess had once visited.
They called him that because, in their hearts, he embodied everything that a Priest should be.
“We’re truly blessed to have him in our town. I mean that.”
“Yeah… just a few days ago, he climbed a tree to rescue my cat. He didn’t even hesitate.”
“He came to my house and helped me scrub the floors when I fell ill. Who does that?”
“And when I had no one to watch my children while I went to work, he stayed with them and even cooked dinner for them.”
Even the children adored him. Many of them followed him around, eager to help with small tasks, not because they were asked to, but because they wanted to.
There wasn’t a hint of reluctance in their eyes—only admiration.
In just a few years, he transformed the small town—not by erecting grand buildings or widening roads, but by changing the very rhythm of the people’s lives. He brought lightness, hope, and unity.
The once sleepy town now felt alive, vibrant, and full of purpose.
And he wasn’t just nurturing the present. Through his actions, he was planting seeds in the hearts of the younger generation, inspiring them to follow in his footsteps. His values were becoming their compass.
Inevitably, the whispers reached the Main Temple.
One morning, a formal letter arrived. Priest Aether had been summoned.
He stood at the gates of the Main Temple, his gaze rising to meet the towering white structure that shimmered under the morning sunless light. It looked nothing like the humble chapels he had known. The marble shone like snow, veins of gold ran through the stone, and the air itself seemed sacred.
“This way,” said a voice. The Apostle appeared and, without offering further explanation, led Priest Aether to a secluded corridor at the back of the temple, where a solemn gathering was already in session.
“May I know why I’ve been summoned here?” Priest Aether asked politely, bowing just slightly, his tone calm and respectful.
The Apostle glanced at him with a faint smile playing on his lips, almost as if holding back laughter.
“You’ll understand once y–“
Suddenly, everything changed… A strange sensation washed over him—like a sudden blackout. His vision went dark, flickering like a broken memory or a distorted dream.
The next thing he knew, he was already standing inside the sacred hall. Around him sat a group of high-ranking officials, each clad in ceremonial white robes threaded with shimmering gold—signs of their divine authority.
They sat quietly, their expressions unreadable. In the center sat the Archpriestess herself, her presence commanding. Behind her, the Apostle and the Saintess stood silently like sentinels.
“Do you know why you have been summoned here?” the Archpriestess asked. Her voice was calm, but carried a cold weight, her expression unreadable.
“I do not,” Priest Aether replied sincerely, not trying to guess or speculate.
The Archpriestess gave a slight nod, but her expression tightened as she turned serious.
“Because of your faithful service, your unwavering dedication, and the way you’ve brought genuine happiness, hope, and stability to your people—something no other local body has managed to achieve at such a scale—”
She turned her head slightly, her gaze brushing across the seated High Priests. Some of them lowered their eyes, others clenched their jaws, clearly uneasy.
“You are hereby promoted to High Priest,” she declared, her voice firm and final.
There was a ripple in the chamber. Several priests flinched. Even the Apostle, who rarely showed surprise, raised an eyebrow.
“W-wait… a second, Archpriestess… What’s going on here? Promotion?” A man dressed in ceremonial white robes stood up, his voice trembling with disbelief and confusion.
“Yes,” the Archpriestess responded without flinching. “You assumed this was a discussion about how he was pulling people from your local body into his… Your complaint… only took my interest”
“T-This is blasphem–“
Before the man could speak again, the vision around Aether began to distort. Everything turned black, swallowed by a flickering darkness, like a dream breaking apart.
When it cleared, he found himself standing inside a smaller, private chamber. Only the Archpriestess stood there beside him.
“Ugh… dealing with those High Priests and Priestesses is so damn exhausting,” she muttered in an annoyed tone, rubbing her temple. Then she turned to him and added with a smirk, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not including you in that group… High Priest Aether.”
High Priest Aether flinched at the title, still not used to hearing it. He shifted uncomfortably and replied, “I… I’m not sure I’m ready to accept that—”
“Oh, please,” the Archpriestess interrupted with a casual wave of her hand, sitting herself on the edge of a polished table. “Whether you’re ready or not doesn’t matter anymore. You can’t decline it. Even if you want to, it’s no longer in your hands. High Priest Aether… you need to understand—those people will do anything to drag you down. To them, you’re still just a lowly priest who dared to rise too fast.”
Aether bit his lip, his eyes beginning to tremble as his voice cracked softly, “Even though… all I wanted was to live peacefully… why does it have to be like this?”
The Archpriestess let out a sigh, her expression softening, “Come on, child. You should know how the world works by now. Even the ones who claim to be pure… there’s always a shadow hiding within the light. That darkness only shows when it hits a wall. And right now… you are their wall.”
Aether clenched his fists, his body lightly trembling.
She stepped closer, gently placing her hand on his shoulder, “What you’re doing… it isn’t wrong, Aether. You’ve simply done what you believed was right. And they… they’re doing what they believe protects their power.”
Seeing his turmoil, the Archpriestess exhaled softly and then did something unexpected—she pulled him into a gentle embrace. Her voice became quieter, tender. “Just let it be for now… you’re doing good, no matter what others say. Don’t let their words define you. Just stay true to yourself. I’ll handle the rest, okay?”
Her hand stroked his hair gently, and for a moment, Aether felt like a lost child wrapped in the comforting warmth of a mother’s arms. He nodded slowly, eyes fluttering shut, as if drifting into sleep within that fragile moment of peace.
The Archpriestess smiled, a rare softness gracing her features.
Time moved on… Most of the children who had once clung to Aether for guidance had now grown. They were finding their own paths, shaping their own futures. It was time to let them go, to stop sheltering them, and start preparing the next stage of life—for both them and himself.
He knew deep down that he couldn’t keep holding on to the past, couldn’t protect everyone forever. As he opened his heart to new people, interacted more widely, and experienced the broader world, he too began to change. Slowly but surely—for the better. Accepting the title of High Priest wasn’t just about power.
It became a symbol of responsibility, of purpose. He now governed an entire province, with ten priests working under his guidance.
Then once again, the vision darkened and flickered, dissolving into another scene.
High Priest Aether now stood taller, more composed. He wore pristine white robes embroidered with golden threads, his hair a striking silver-white that glistened under the light. He looked older now, matured—perhaps in his mid-twenties. Handsome, elegant, and dignified. Many whispered that his presence rivaled even the Apostle’s.
“How was your day, High Priest?” a young woman, likely in her early twenties, asked shyly as she noticed him stepping out of the prayer chamber.
High Priest Aether offered her a gentle, radiant smile—so warm and sincere it nearly caused her to stumble. Her heart skipped a beat as if struck by some invisible arrow.
“There is no such thing as a good or bad day, my lady,” he replied in a calm, wisdom-tinged tone. “A day is only what we choose to feel. Be joyful in your heart, and every day will bring its own light.”
With that, he continued walking.
“… He’s incredible,” the woman whispered to herself, her cheeks flushed pink. “I wonder… who he will choose to marry someday…”
As High Priest Aether approached the Main Temple again, he was informed that the Archpriestess had summoned him once more.
Returning to the same ornate meeting chamber, he noticed someone standing just outside the doorway—a solitary figure cloaked in a dark hoodie, completely still.
“Excuse me, sir. Do you need assistance?” Aether asked politely, his usual soft smile present.
The figure slowly turned. “Oh? Help? Of course. I would love some.”
That voice.
That voice pierced through his soul like a cursed echo from a forgotten nightmare.
Aether’s breath caught. His blood ran cold. That voice… he knew it.
Previous iteration of him that had screamed in agony at the sound of it.
His eyes widened in horror, his mouth trembling as he whispered, “M… Master?”
The hooded figure tilted his head slightly, “Oh? You know me?”