Whispering Poems

Chapter 4248 A Grain of Sunshine

Chapter 4248 A Grain of Sunshine

Shad hadn't expected the witch to ask such a question. Having experienced the previous encounter with the god only at the very end of the [Bloodstained Factory], he was somewhat unaccustomed to the god appearing from the very beginning this time.

"May I?"

"Of course. That god was very merciful, and He promised to wait for us to regain our memories, so He has been waiting for us."

Ms. Thorne stood up as she spoke, seemingly intending to lead Shad there. Shad had no objection to this, but after standing up, he looked at the three remaining people by the fire:

These three

"Don't worry about them, it's perfectly safe here, and they're not capable of wandering around."

Despite her eye ailment, it did not hinder the twelfth-tier witch's movements. She led Shad around the screen wall at the end of the hall from the left. Behind that screen wall was another, slightly empty area. Apart from two sets of rusty decorative armor and a decaying banner hanging on the wall, Shad saw nothing.

Sure enough, there was a gap in each of the walls on the left and right sides, leading to a familiar-looking elevator. As he stepped onto the elevator, Shad realized that although no one had called for light after leaving the fire, and there was no light source inside the temple, it wasn't dark at all.

"The space itself is luminous."

Amid the rumbling sound, Shad spoke, and Ms. Thorne nodded slightly:

"Yes, God is here, and He has given us light."

Stepping out of the elevator, you enter a spacious hall, large enough to host a grand banquet. Two elevators are located on the left and right sides of this hall, and at the far end of the hall are three steps leading to a platform at the top, where two tightly closed, gleaming golden doors await.

The two doors on the left and right depict different stories with religious themes. Although Ms. Thorne did not remind him, Shad knew that the destination was behind those doors.

"You just said that you've encountered gods before, right?"

As they stood before the door, the witch asked in a low voice, and Shad nodded:

"Yes."

"Alright, I won't remind you of the precautions. The point isn't to be respectful or polite, but that when God looks at you, you absolutely cannot collapse to the ground because you can't bear the pressure. That would be extremely impolite."

“I know that.”

Shad tried to keep his expression normal:

"But why did you choose to stay down there instead of staying here?"

Although this place is only separated from the gods by a wall, Shad did not feel any pressure from the gods, so theoretically this is the safest place.

"Because we want to wait for visitors like us and like you, and guide them to know how to meet the divine."

Ms. Thorne said very sincerely, and Shad nodded to indicate that he understood.

He looked at the two large doors in front of him. On the left door, a woman stood on a high place, holding a ball of warm golden light in her left hand. In the light, a wounded baby bird was wrapped, its wings tattered but already sprouting new down. Her right hand hung down, and the light dripping from her fingertips fell on a group of ragged and suffering people below.

On the right-hand doorway, a lady sits gracefully on a rose-covered stone platform, dressed in a simple linen robe, cradling an infant in her arms. Below the platform, a doe and her fawn nestle at the lady's feet, while several injured small animals lick the dewdrops dripping from her robes. The backdrop is a sea of ​​flowers and towering ancient trees covering the mountains.

Should we knock now?

Shad then asked Ms. Thorne for advice, but she shook her head:

“We have arrived here, and God naturally knows we have come. Push open the door yourself, and I will go in with you, but I will not say anything. Be careful, because although that God mercifully loves every life, that is not a reason for us to offend Him at will.”

"I see."

The two large, gleaming golden doors were incredibly heavy. Shad lowered his center of gravity and braced his hands against the doors, finally managing to push them open with tremendous force. He wondered how others had opened them, then recalled some religious tales he had heard from the priests of Augustus, and guessed that everyone had to exert all their strength to open them—the only price to pay for an audience with this god.

If the other areas of the temple are close to late autumn or early winter, then stepping into the room behind the door feels like returning to spring.

A red carpet was laid underfoot, and a magnificent crystal chandelier hung twenty meters above their heads. Rows of brand-new benches, like those in a chapel, lined both sides of the room.

But none of that mattered. The golden cracks of the "divine afterglow" spread little by little across Shad's body as he took a step forward. Although Ms. Thorne was puzzled, she dared not say anything and only lowered her head to follow Shad.

At the far end of this enormous room, with its ceiling a full twenty meters high, warm light permeated the entire space, facing the long benches. On the high platform at the far end of the room, a colossal figure reclined languidly and leisurely among the luxurious bed and soft pillows, his posture relaxed and at ease—that was the God of Compassion.

He did not exist by mortal standards; Shad had to tilt his head back to see His downcast gaze. A soft, warm yellow halo surrounded Him, its light not dazzling, but like the warmth of the sun enveloping all things. His eyes were lowered, a serene and compassionate smile playing on his lips, his hands clasped together in front of him. His face was almost unreal, holy in its purity, his long hair cascading like a dark gold waterfall over his shoulders and onto his platinum robe.

The enormous figure reminded Shad of his first encounter with Grace and Helen. Shad knew he shouldn't have any romantic thoughts in such a sacred setting, but the deity's loose robes revealed a beauty no less striking than Tifa's. Shad looked away, reminding himself not to think that way.

Even in his reclining position, the god's body almost touched the ceiling. Shad had seen many ancient gods in the past, but the sense of "divinity" of this one was the strongest.

"However, this warm, gentle feeling nourishes all things."

Before pushing open the door, Shad was still speculating about the relationship between this god skilled in "healing life" and the [Twilight Creator]. But now, bathed in divine light, Shad was certain that even if the other party was indeed related to the gods of creation, the greater source of their power should be the sun.

The warm sun, the sun that embraces and illuminates all things. Shad had never met any of the gods of the solar system, but he believed his intuition was correct.

Standing behind Shad, Lady Thorne was now only breathing; she was determined not to utter a sound. Shad, on the other hand, was still carefully sensing the power of this deity. Although the other party possessed the pressure unique to the great, Shad could still clearly feel a warm, generous, forgiving, and protective power.

That feeling was like that of a mother.

She suddenly laughed, but Xia De didn't understand what the laughter meant.

He didn't look directly at the deity, but His warm gaze fell directly on Shad. Shad believed that if he had arrived here exhausted, this gaze would have instantly eased his mind; unfortunately, he was in a good state right now.

"Visitor who has come from afar, what do you seek?"

The voice came, warm and gentle. Xia De breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the danger of this mission was far less than the last, so the fact that there was only one reward made sense.

"I came for my lover."

Shad described Vigo's situation to the gods again, even mentioning the Jade Record, which he hadn't discussed with Lady Thorne, as well as the treatments he had already used. He didn't mention what happened in the bath.

God listened, His gentle gaze enveloping him like the spring sun, and after Shad finished speaking, He gave His reply:

“Treating her is not difficult, but the Creator is waiting for a successor. Her congenital condition is related to fate, and I cannot intervene.”

Shad was not disappointed; he already knew that the Old Gods would not interfere in the battle of the Chosen.

However, the warm voice then said:

“But I can help you further suppress her condition, giving her more time and strength to wait for a turning point in her life.”

Without setting any conditions for Shad, nor assigning him any tasks, God simply stated:

“Lift your head and look at me.”

Shad looked up at the enormous figure lying on its side. Although it was somewhat shameful to say it, Shad actually wanted Him to embrace him.

The deity's gentle face wore a loving smile, and the right hand, which had been clasped together, was raised, holding up a tiny golden light.

The ray of light flew towards Shad, and the light and heat merged into Shad's body, flowing throughout his entire being with his blood. The warm feeling was like being immersed in warm water, or even like returning to his mother's embrace.

But this was neither a new magic trick nor a blessing from the gods; "she" told Shad what it was:

[Stranger, you have gained a ray of sunshine. Sunshine exists in your blood. While you possess sunshine, your stamina recovery is greatly increased, the duration of any positive effects on you is enhanced, and the duration of any negative effects on you is weakened.]

[Immune to curses, immune to freezing, and immune to undead damage. Enhances the power of sunlight, fire, light, and lightning.]

[By having your bodily fluids absorbed/releasing the spell "Sunshine Healing," you can give sunshine to others.]

[Note: This sunlight can only exist for 240 minutes.]

[Note that after the sunlight dissipates, it will have a permanent positive effect on the holder's body.]

[Note that fusing this sunlight with "Sunfire" will produce a special flame, but it will lose its healing effects.]

After a slight pause:

[Outsider, the healing effects of your spell "Sunlight Healing" have been permanently enhanced.]