Chapter 29: Back in the church

Lylia slowly opened her eyes again.

For a moment, she didn’t move. Her body felt light, while her mind was empty, as though the clouds she had been standing on were still beneath her feet. Then, her vision finally cleared.

She was back inside the church, sitting on the floor with her hands clasped in prayer before the statues, the very same scene she remembers before she closed her eyes a while ago.

“Welcome back,” came a familiar gentle voice beside her.

“Wah!” Lylia flinched, glancing to her side. It was the nun was standing there, smiling softly as always with her eyes closed and her hands clasped in prayer.

Lylia blinked and looked around. Through the stained glass window behind the nun, the light outside was dim. The hues of orange and violet painted the air.

“…Is it … evening already?” she muttered.

The nun gave a slow nod. “The sun prepares to rest, as all creation does in its appointed time. It is dusk.”

“Dusk? Oh...” Lylia frowned a little, glancing back at the statues. 'Wait… so the time I spent in the clouds was the same here too? ... no, I don't think I was there that long.' she thought, eyes widening. 'Woah… does that mean I’ve been praying this whole time?'

“Um,” she began, looking back at the nun, “was I… praying all this time? Like… how long was that?”

The nun’s expression did not change. Instead, she asked gently, “May I ask, how was your experience with the God?”

Lylia blinked again. “You… know?”

“Anyone who kneels that long before a god’s statue is one whose heart has been called beyond the veil. Such is the way of divine summons.”

“Ohhh…” Lylia nodded slowly. “So that’s how it works.”

She scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Well… meeting him was… I don’t know how to explain it. It was… unexplainable?”

In truth, she couldn’t find the right words that didn’t sound rude when talking about a god.

The nun folded her hands and spoke softly, voice flowing like scripture. “Words cannot hold what is divine. The mortal tongue falters before the eternal light. To see Him, even for a breath, is to carry eternity in the heart.”

Lylia blinked again. “…Yeah. It is that. Exactly. I think.”

As the nun continued speaking, Lylia’s gaze drifted. She noticed something that had been bugging her for a while. It was about the nun’s eyes were that were still closed. Like, always closed. All this time. From the moment of their first meeting, her first time stepping on this church, through their short conversations, meeting some gods after praying, then here now, back to the church again on the same seat.

It reminded her of those anime characters who smiled kindly and then... Bam! Turns out they were some manipulative villains or what hiding their intentions through always smiling. 'And... this was a church, so… yeah, maybe....' she thought. 

She immediately clasped her hands again. 'My apologies, dear God. I shall remove these doubts in my mind.'

Still… who knows?

“Um… Sister? Can I call you that?" Lylia asked.

"Of course dear." She replied.

Her curiosity then finally got the better of her. "So sister, can I ask you something that may be kinda personal?”

The nun tilted her head slightly. “Ask, my child. I shall listen.”

“Do you… always keep your eyes closed?”

“I do,” the nun answered with serene certainty. “It is my blessing as one who serves the Church. And in time, I believe you shall receive yours, as one who have been allowed to step in heaven.”

"I see. But, are you blind?"

"Not quite."

Lylia mumbled under her breath, “Well, I honestly don’t think I’d like one that will require me to close my eyes forever…”

The nun chuckled softly. “Would you like to see them, then? My eyes.”

That caught Lylia off guard. “Uh, sure?” she said, curiosity flickering.

Slowly, reverently, the nun opened her eyes.

They were brown, but the kind of brown that shimmered like molten gold, glowing softly from within, with a symbol that resembles His 'Great Golden Throne'. As her eyelids lifted, the world around them began to change.

Starting from the floor, a faint golden hue spread outward. Then it rolls across the walls, the ceiling, the statues. The entire church shimmered, bathed in a quiet, sacred brilliance.

Lylia said nothing. She didn’t even blink. She just stared still there, her expression blank but filled with awe.

Then, the nun released her clasped hands and gently touched Lylia’s face, her fingers brushing over her eyes. Lylia didn’t flinch. It was warm. It was almost comforting.

And then, just as quietly, the nun closed her eyes again as the light began to fade, returning to her usual calm smile. The gold drained away, leaving the church as it was before.

Lylia blinked a few times, still dazed. “…What… just happened?”

The nun folded her hands once more. “You have seen the blessing of those who serve the Church.”

Lylia sat still for a moment longer, processing. Then she sighed softly and stood up. “…Right. That’s… definitely something.”

She smiled politely and bowed a little. “Anyway, I haven’t introduced myself properly. I’m Lylia.”

The nun nodded gently. “And I am Sister Aria. May the light of the heavens walk beside you, Lylia.”

“Thanks,” Lylia said, smiling. “And, um, for everything. Though, I think I should get going now."

"Likewise. May the light guide your every step, Lylia. Walk with peace in your heart, and know that the heavens watch kindly over you.” Sister Aria said. "Feel free to come here anytime."

"Mhm." Lylia briefly bowed her head slightly in return.

She turned and began to walk toward the doors of the church. The evening light painted her figure gold for a brief moment before she disappeared through the doorway.

Behind her, Sister Aria stood still, hands clasped in prayer.

Her lips curved into a faint smile as she whispered, “…I look forward to your service, dear Lylia. May your deeds bring glory to our God.”