God's Game

CHAPTER 2: Godly Visit

CHAPTER 2

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The Basilica of Lord Levi, where Hustasians give their praises and worship, has been our family's home for as long as I can remember. Our holy bloodline gave us the privilege of inhabiting such a massive place. Despite the vast empty spaces of the temple, that creates echoes from a pin drop, I still feel as though I am home with my family. The black, silver, and gold, that wrap around the entire temple which conjure a sense of pureness and elegance on the white concrete background, have been with me through serenity and distress. They're the colors I associate with home.

Now, riding on my brother's back as he ran on the open area in front of the temple while clutching on the hem of my pants, I have never felt relieved coming back home. Ascending the short steps of the temple felt as if we're striding up a hill; I can only imagine the fatigue running through Alexander's body right now. Through the portals of the temple, we saw mother on the altar at the end of the nave where a crowd was already gathered for the weekly worship.

"Excuse me, sorry." My brother combed through the people to the altar. I could feel his lungs rising and falling from his back; the run from the walls to the temple must have been exhausting. Although my ankle is feeling a little numb, I tried my best to remain calm.

"Yes, Alexander? What is it, darling?" My mother, Aurelia, said when he noticed us. My brother didn't muster a word, his eyes went back and forth meaningfully to me and my mother. My mother immediately got the message and raised her eyebrow in a shocked expression for a split second and quickly turned stern again.

A small crowd of people were huddled around us. I gripped the hem of my pants tighter to hide the scales. Carefully, I looked around to see if anyone is observing us; I'm relieved that no one is.

"Arlette," my mother turned to her apprentice, the curly haired woman beside her, and shot her a serious look. "Assist my sons to the chambers, please. I'll be following shortly." My mother calmly said.

"Yes, Priestess Aurelia." Arlette said as she grabbed me by my ankles and Alexander grabs me by the shoulders.

"I'm sorry to everyone but there seems to be quite an emergency. The worship will be moved a little bit later before bed time." I heard my mother said before they disappeared when the door to the chambers closed behind us.

When we reached the chambers, they placed me down gently on the soft white dusty bed that was only used when there are guests. Arlette searched the medicine cabinet for some patches and my brother sat beside me with a concerned look.

"Am I gonna die?" I asked my brother. Concern and worry was wiped from his face and I saw nothing but guilt.

"You're not going to die." He assures. "You're strong. Fight this one, alright?" He tried to lift up my spirits.

My father always said that I was a strong one for I managed to survive an abyssal scale when I was touched by an abyssian when I was a kid. Usually, when you get the abyssal scale, you get thrown into the abyss because the scales spread throughout the body and it becomes infectious which is why we keep it a secret. I don't want to become an abyssian and praise Lord Vathos in the abyss for the rest of my life.