Only God
Chapter 429 - 380 When to Awaken

Chapter 429: Chapter 380 When to Awaken

Six years had passed, and the girl from his memories had gradually become blurred.

Sometimes, Anos would try hard to recall her features, but no matter how hard he reminisced, the past always slipped away. Before long, only a thin outline of the girl would remain in the shared Emperor’s heart.

"It’s already been six years since then..."

Anos murmured to himself.

He stared at the brightly lit Thousand Cities Academy, where students who had not yet obtained their Scholar degrees were celebrating all night long, enjoying the various joys of Rebirth Day.

"I never even saw an opera with her..."

Anos still remembered that Mira was very keen to see an opera. That girl was interested in operas, but his own self, who was still a Princess, took no notice, until these years when numerous once trivial memories would come and go like the tide. Yet now, he can no longer shed the tears to drench his soul.

The Golden Heart had nearly filled his bosom completely.

He became colder with each passing day.

Whether it be a joyful smile, furrowed brows of distress, or tears sliding down his cheeks, all had become customary actions or movements driven by rationality. His every deed, everything he saw, was purely ceremonial.

Yes, he was Anos, the Primordial Messenger.

Co-ruler of the Danschel Empire, the Empire’s future heir.

Anos took one last look at the brightly lit Thousand Cities Academy, then slowly turned around in the Flower Garden, step by step returning to the midst of the feast.

Stepping into the celebration gathered by Nobles, Anos received a fresh cup of wine from a maid, the faint worry ill-matching the festivity, so he wore a smile as he approached his father and the Nobles prostrating before the throne, and then he raised his wine glass.

"To our Lord!"

"Only God can bring us to life anew each day!"

Countless silver goblets were now held aloft, the Nobles celebrating Rebirth Day, thousands of years ago when the land suffered, and miracles descended then—and since then, no more miracles ever appeared in this world.

Drinking the wine in his cup that resembled blood, Anos couldn’t help thinking...

Does this ancient miracle still have the power to bring tears to people’s eyes today?

.......................

.......................

When the dawn of the next day arrived, the Empress of the Empire had already woken from her sleep early. Her personal maids hurried to prepare her usual attire, dressing her and maintaining the dignity of this noble person.

Anos caressed the Longsword in front of the mirror, his slender fingers lingering on its hilt until a maid brought a pair of white gloves, meticulously helping him slide each finger inside.

Looking at the pristine white gloves in his hands,

"If... at that time, my will had been above hers..."

"Would she have been swayed by my words?"

"She was but a child ignorant of the world, I could decieve her however I wished."

At this thought, Anos promptly cut off his own train of thought; he couldn’t stand in his room doing nothing all day long.

After stepping out of the bedroom, the Empress quickly made her way to her exclusive Palace, which was actually more akin to a medium-sized reception hall. There, Anos’s sword-bearing Attendant was already waiting in place, bowing towards the door upon hearing footsteps.

"Your Highness, where would you like to go today?"

An Attendant with a sword stepped forward, volunteering the question.

"Monroe, there’s no need to accompany me today; I will first go see my mother, then I have another place I wish to visit."

The Empress spoke in a tone neither cold nor warm, leaving no room for doubt.

After a moment’s hesitation, the sword-bearing Attendants slightly nodded and then stepped back to the sides.

Anos strode directly through the Palace, heading for his mother’s "sleeping chambers."

The Pastor of the Primordial Church, Flora, had already arrived within Danschel, since in the common impression of the Empire’s populace, Queen Flora had long been deceased, so her identity was concealed, coming as Anos’s Court Tutor.

The lawful spouse of Emperor Leo remained that woman born from the Danschel Family, though the affection between husband and wife was unimaginably thin; ever since she gave birth to that now-deceased brother, Laslo, Anos’s half-sibling Empress rarely stayed alone in the same room with Emperor Leo.

As he passed by the half-sibling Empress’s sleeping chambers, Anos uttered:

"I’ve heard some disconcerting rumors lately about Empress Yulia."

The maids following close behind the Empress suddenly became somewhat twitchy.

Anos let out a cold laugh and continued forward.

....................

After visiting his mother, Anos finally had the leisure to go to the place he wanted to visit.

This time, his mother shared with him many things.

Things that, as a Primordial Messenger, he should do.

Flora subtly mentioned that within the Celestial Kingdom, there is a supreme and towering star that would soon become the throne for Anos’s coronation.

In her words, Prophet Shan’en was the second Primordial Messenger, and Anos was naturally set to inherit the great Prophet’s mantle as the third Primordial Messenger.

Anos had no objections to this.

Power, supreme power, had been her desire since her days as Princess.

Even when she was a princess, nearly losing her right to succession, Anos never relinquished her covetousness for power.

That was her will.

Empress Anos boarded the carriage that servants had prepared for her, following her instructions. This carriage, indistinguishable from those of the ordinary Nobles, was originally used by Leo XI for incognito visits.

The Empress’s destination was the Lofen Opera House.

It was an opera house reserved for the use of the Nobility, where comedies were scarce for they were considered products of laughter provided for the commoners. In fact, centuries ago, comedies were even banned within the Imperial City, as the Pastor at the time said: "Comedies wear away people’s noble will, leading them to mistakenly believe that temporary good fortune can bring about good deeds."

Anos sat in the best viewing box, where the maids had already prepared fine wine and frumenty pudding for her, and a sumptuous lunch of white bread, black pudding, and herb mutton sausages awaited her at midday.

From the viewing box, the Empress watched alone as the actors performed with all their might.

The opera house would perform several operas a day, with half-hour intervals between them. After three such half-hour intervals, it was time for the last morning opera.

Upon seeing the title of the play, Anos slightly furrowed her brows.

It was a story themed around miracles.

And it was related to Solamus, to the Day of Resurrection.

Anos felt a slight repulsion in her heart, being a Primordial Messenger.

However, the Empress had long since tolerated it.

The opera actors performed the catastrophic day with dedication.

There was blood everywhere, and the blaze of war burnt fiercely, unquenching.

The Gods battled in the heavens and on earth, slaughtering each other without the slightest concern for the Mortal World, already ravaged beyond recognition.

Desolation spread far and wide, everything was cast in grey.

People prayed on the earth, but there was no sign anyone listened.

The Empress watched these scenes impassively, unmoved no matter how touching the actors’ voices were beside her.

Over the years, the miracles in the story had long lost their effect on her.

No guessing was needed, she knew the next part; light would appear, Angels would descend.

And that moment came quickly.

As an actor drew back the dome’s curtain, a vast brilliance shone in from the heavens.

Feathers and petals prepared in advance fluttered down inside the theater.

The ending of the story was inevitable, just as the destiny of man is inevitable.

Anos watched all this unfolding before her, she lifted her face to gaze at the bright-lit dome.

The annoying opera was about to end.

Thousands of feathers fell, as actors on the ground strived to portray the arrival of Angels.

Shadows on the ground outlined the shape of a person, she had a pair of wings white as swans.

Anos’s hands trembled slightly, her eyes widening in shock.

It was a girl who laughed as she raised the horn in her hand, blowing it as if in a story.

Anos couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

The horn was so melodious, melodious to the point it seemed to carry one to a reborn sky.

With trembling hands, Anos unconsciously brought them together gently.

She, who had no faith, breathed out tremblingly:

"Lord... why is this?"

The Angel slowly descended, with a face that Anos would remember year after year.

By her ears, the gentle and holy voice of the actors resounded.

"When shall we repent?"

"Tell me, when shall we wake up?"

"Miracles will not descend every time, but love is always eternal."