CHAPTER 764: SUN CHURCH’S ISSUES

After breaking the table, Gwen went back to her own room and locked herself in.

’Sh*t. . .’ Alice furrowed her brows.

She was in. . . a conflicting mood right now. On one hand, she’s happy at the fact that she managed to gaslight Shiera into thinking that she was her disciple for the time being.

Which technically wasn’t wrong but wasn’t correct either.

But on the other hand, she just got a glimpse at Gwen’s family drama. A lazy God who gives all of his work to his subordinates, even to the point where he doesn’t have time to share a meal.

’Well you have to admit that the Sentinels are partially at fault too. Arax seems like a good person and unless absolutely needed, he won’t leave his daughter behind like this.

’So the fact that he has to means the danger reached a point where he has to make a move.’ Alyss analysed as Cayla paused but eventually agreed with a nod of her head.

[Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you want to look at things, it seems like the current situation of the Sun Church is more dire than I thought. Most of the time, Apostles would rarely make a move unless absolutely needed.] Cayla folded her arms with a frown.

[Kazira moved because she wanted to usurp Enris. Famine is still hiding. Moon keeps Griselda and Nanna by her side and well. . . You know the situation of the Sun now. These tasks should ideally be left to Lords so. . .] Cayla paused.

’The Sun doesn’t have many Lords at hand.’ Alice narrowed her eyes.

[Indeed. With their Apostles being sent to deal with trouble, both of them at that, it means that there are no Lords in the arena to focus on protecting the people while the Apostles are dealing with the danger.

[So both are deployed to enjoy no casualties. They have to keep up the pretence of being the Church that focuses on protection after all.

[Of course, that’s not to say they’re easy pickings just because they’re stretched thin. Considering the lazy nature of their God, it’s also likely that he wants the two to do more so that the people think he cares about them.] Cayla shrugged.

She knew that Solaris was someone who cared about his image so by having Apostles do more work, it could show that he cares more for his people than the other Churches.

But if it was the second option then. . .

’Gwen doesn’t need to suffer like this.’ Alice frowned, looking at Gwen’s door.

’No, she doesn’t.’ Alyss nodded.

While she wasn’t fully aware of her family situation, Alyss still felt pity for the girl.

[I know you two are feeling sorry for her but you still have to remember that at the end of the day, she’s the daughter of an Apostle. And that Apostle, even though he’s overworked, is still helping Solaris.] Cayla warned.

’I know.’ Alice sighed.

Looking at the mess left in the living room, Alice massaged the bridge of her nose.

Shaking her head, she began to clean things up and gathered the broken things off to the side to be thrown out later.

She look at the half cooked meal on the stove and hesitated.

Eventually, she made the choice to simply leave it be for now.

With most of the things cleaned up for now, Alice paused in front of Gwen’s door.

She wasn’t sure if she should knock or simply leave her be.

Dealing with family. . . Is a matter she wasn’t entirely familiar with. She may call Allura her adoptive mother but so far, it’s been a mostly one sided proclamation. Alice’s desire in other words.

And her other experience with family was the Zenia family.

Scratching her hair, Alice let out a sigh and sat down in front of Gwen’s door with her back leaning against it.

"You feeling alright? She asked after a brief pause.

"Sorry. . ." Gwen replied weakly from behind the door.

"What do you have to be sorry about? It’s not your fault that things turned out that way." Alice replied honestly.

It was simply a set of unfortunate circumstances rather than Gwen’s own actions.

"Do you. . . Do you think it’s selfish of me to be like this? To not want my dad to go out and help." Gwen asked from behind the door.

She looked down at her hands and clenched the emblem of Solaris.

"That. . . I’m not sure. I think it’s valid that you want your father to spend more time with you. Honestly. . . I’m the same. There’s a woman out there. She isn’t my mother but I wished she was. I wish that she can spend more time with me instead of going out.

"But I know that she’s doing something important." Alice glanced down at the ground.

"You’re the same huh?" Gwen muttered.

"How do you deal with it? This burning desire." She asked. Even now, she can feel this raging fire within, the anger at the people taking her dad’s time away.

But within this fire, there was also a sadness knowing that this was his duty.

"Hmm. . . I try my best." Alice replied after a moment of contemplation.

"I try my best and hope that’s enough. To get stronger so that I can relieve her burden. To let her see that I’m strong enough to stand on my own so she wouldn’t worry. And to eventually thank her for everything she has done for me."

"Aren’t you afraid your hopes will get let down? Your expectations shattered like mine just now?" Gwen sighed.

"Oh of course. I fear that every day. But that’s not a reason for me to stop everything and stand still. If. . . If that day comes where my hopes are destroyed. . . Well. . . I hope that day doesn’t come." Alice let out a dry chuckle. "At least for now, I don’t want to look back and blame myself for not trying harder. So I try my best now and hope that’s enough. And if it’s not, I’ll keep trying until it is."

Gwen was silent.

"Did you know that an Apostle died recently? It’s got the Gods spooked." She opened her mouth.

Alice listened silently despite knowing she was the cause.

"Kazira, Apostle of War died in this very nation. Unthinkable is how I would’ve responded in the past. My dad is strong, strong enough where Lords can’t even dream of bringing him down. But. . ." She bit her lip.

"But this has just proved that even Apostles can die. They are not the unbeatable fighters I thought they were. What if. . . What if one day, that person who died wasn’t Kazira but instead my dad!

"I’ve already lost my mum. . . I don’t want to lose my dad as well." Gwen gritted her teeth.

"And Solaris. Despite knowing that an Apostle had died, he still sent my dad here! To surround this nation so that he can catch that person! Does he not care if my dad is caught up in the fight?! Why can’t the Gods do this themselves?! Why does it have to be my dad of all people!!!" She threw the emblem of Solaris against the wall.

Her eyes were burning with a blazing hatred towards the God.

"I’m scared Kaia. I’m scared that one day I’ll see my dad’s body in front of me. I’m scared that I’ll lose my only family. I’m. . . scared that I’m not strong enough to get revenge if that happens."

". . ." Alice looked down.

Apostles. . . beings that are above the realm of Lord and the left and right hands of the divine. Beings that should be untouchable.

Had it. . . had it not been her that killed Kazira, but someone she didn’t know about. . . Alice might feel the same fear.

The same worry for Kaden and Allura.

Now that an Apostle has died, a seed of doubt was planted into the mind.

Alice herself knew that killing an Apostle was no easy feat. In fact, her victory was practically a miracle. Had any of the factors gone wrong, even one, she would have been the one dead on the ground rather than Kazira.

And once again, she is reminded that she is a manufactured anomaly. A byproduct and creation of Nyer.

Hell, even just looking at the Hybrids created by the Zenia family gave her a sense of worry. What happens if they create a Lord level Hybrid? What happens if they find a way to surpass that?

What if she were in Gwen’s position and danger was slowly creeping towards Allura and Kaden?

She would feel just as worried.

However. . .

"Even if you’re scared, I still think the best way to combat that is to try your best. And if your best isn’t possible, just an effort would be fine as well. If a step can’t be taken, try a little nudge. Anything is better than nothing. And. . .

"If you keep looking down, you wouldn’t even know if you’ve just walked past something important." Alice chuckled.

It’s why she has to keep moving forward. To a better future, a future where Allura isn’t plagued by her wounds anymore.

Hearing these words, Gwen couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

"Aren’t you optimistic? I thought you were supposed to be the broody type."

"Hah?! Isn’t that a bit rude? I may have gone through a lot of crap but that doesn’t mean I’m the brooding type." Alice pursed her lips in annoyance while Gwen simply laughed.

"But you’re right. . . Dad’s already trying his best. I should work harder so he isn’t dragged away because people can’t protect themselves." Gwen stood up and wiped away the tears. The corners of her eyes were red and sore but there was a burning passion in her pupils. A renewed will.

"And to do that, I have to reach Lordship. I’m thinking of hunting something for my Seventh Sigil, can I rely on your help?"

"Who do you think I am? I’m still here, aren’t I?" Alice smirked.

"Aren’t you here because you still need to learn Vision from me or Aunty?"

*COUGH!!!

Choking on her saliva, Alice fell backwards as Gwen opened the door.

"Perv~ Looking up at a lady from below." Gwen teased as Alice rolled her eyes.

"How do you go from being depressed to joking around with a snap of the finger?"

"Fufu~ That’s just how I am." Gwen grinned.

She’s truly happy that Kaia was here.