Chapter Twelve: Another Realm

This was not a time for prayer, and with wild winds howling outside, the sanctuary stood empty save for a single priest. He greeted Mulan’s approach with visible delight, striving to present a kindly demeanor.

Irwin had a vivid impression of Mulan. For someone like her to come to the sanctuary of her own accord suggested a longing for the holy light, for divine forgiveness—a hopeful sign.

Mulan paused at the entrance, gazing at the young priest and asking, “Sir, may I pray inside now?”

“Of course, any time. Please, come in!” Irwin pushed open the door, extending his hand toward the sanctuary’s interior. Mulan entered, curiosity and reverence in her steps.

For Mulan, who had rarely prayed in sanctuaries, everything inside felt fresh and novel. The layout resembled the church architecture of her previous life, but at the deepest point stood not an idol, but three golden pillars gently converging upward—symbols of the holy light descending upon the mortal realm.

In her former world, people often imagined gods with human features after centuries of societal development, but here, the divine form was unfathomable, beyond mortal imagination.

Strangely, upon entering the sanctuary, the discomfort plaguing Mulan’s mind eased considerably. Irwin silently followed, observing the man’s movements; it seemed he seldom visited such places.

“Priest, I’ve been having nightmares lately, unable to rest properly. The doctor suggested I visit the sanctuary,” Mulan said.

Irwin smiled, inviting Mulan to sit on a pew, taking the seat beside him.

“Tell me about your nightmares, and whether anything unusual happened beforehand.”

“I have many questions I hope to resolve,” Mulan replied.

Even this brief encounter revealed to Mulan that the priest possessed a natural, inviting warmth. He quickly realized this was no ordinary priest. Such ease of connection might mean little to most, but for someone who had survived brutal wars and held the discipline of an elite officer, it was decidedly abnormal.

“When I returned from service, I traveled aboard the Princess Nishelier. That stormy night at sea…” Mulan skipped over his arrival in this new world, beginning instead with the incident involving the sea witch. His skillful narration and attention to detail recreated the scene faithfully, albeit from the perspective of a retired officer.

Irwin’s expression darkened as Mulan described their disembarkation.

“So, you all left the ship…” Irwin murmured.

Mulan, already piecing together possibilities, maintained a façade of ignorance—curious whether these clergy truly could “listen to the hearts of the faithful.”

“Priest, is something wrong?”

Irwin’s perception of the retired officer had undergone a complete reversal. Where he had once suspected a cruel villain, intuition now told him that Mulan was a man of high character and strong sense of justice.

“Mr. Jonest, ordinary physicians cannot cure your ailment. If you trust me, I can assist you.”

Mulan instinctively wanted to ask about the cost, but phrased it differently.

“What must I offer in return?”

Irwin smiled. “Only sincerity toward God.”

As Mulan pondered this, Irwin considered the potential of such a distinguished talent and began to entertain other thoughts.

“Mr. Jonest—”

“Priest, just call me Mulan.”

“Very well, Mulan. Given your firsthand experience, do you truly believe the sea witch incident was merely a routine murder?”

Of course not, Mulan thought, though he feigned surprise. “Wasn’t it?”

“No,” Irwin shook his head. “There was a wicked ritual conducted aboard. The unfortunate girl, after enduring immense suffering and dying, her vengeful spirit could not leave her body and, amidst the storm, gradually transformed into a new sea witch.”

“There really are sea witches?” Mulan’s surprise was more genuine this time.

“Yes, though they are rare. They have existed since ancient times, and now their numbers seem to be increasing.”

Seeing Mulan’s expected reaction, Irwin sighed and continued, “Not only sea witches exist, but also far more dreadful, evil things. Yet the worst are not the monsters, but those who fall into madness and wickedness—their twisted souls are beyond even God’s reach, and only the holy light can purge them…”

So, reason cannot prevail, only forceful destruction? Mulan frowned at each of Irwin’s words, interpreting them in his own way and asking timely questions to prompt further explanation.

“Why, then, do I rarely hear of such incidents? The newspapers seldom report them.”

Irwin smiled. Curiosity in this realm was dangerous for most, but for Mulan, it was beneficial.

“Our world has multiple layers, each with its own names. We exist in one world, while another, hidden realm lies beyond reach. In that darker layer, foulness and shadow swirl, evil spirits and demons lurk, countless horrors hide from sight. They watch us, covet us, their greedy eyes ever poised to pounce… But!”

“Matters of this liminal world rarely touch reality directly. Its existence depends on chaotic and tainted minds—born from clashes of resentment, greed, and cunning, compounded by divine protection. To reach mortals, they require mortals to approach them. The more you know, the greater the danger.”

Mulan paused. Was this a sort of ‘inner world’?

Wait, mortals must approach them, and knowing more is more dangerous?

Mulan glanced at the priest, whose gentle smile suddenly seemed sinister. Why was he telling him so much? Perhaps this amount of information was still safe?

A vein pulsed on Mulan’s forehead; he felt a surge of annoyance toward the priest. He was no devout believer and felt little psychological burden, but his rationality prevailed—he considered his own treatment and suppressed the urge.

“Mulan, do you believe the coming storm is merely an ordinary tempest? Do you think the sudden end to the brutal war means the Dirga Empire simply could not endure?”

These questions stirred Mulan’s thoughts, and Irwin did not keep him in suspense.

“Our world has been changing slowly for ages. The holy light of the true god, the cults of evil gods, the temptations and influences of demons, war and intrigue—all the ugliness and darkness in the human realm have accelerated this change. The terrifying legends are drawing ever closer, and I sense that the power of the holy light has been growing steadily as a result…”

Irwin spoke with a mixture of worry and excitement, continuing his narrative.

“These things must be difficult for you to grasp. Your heart must be full of doubt and fear, but child, in time you will understand. You will come to see our predicament, and know our responsibility…”

Listening to Irwin’s account, Mulan’s pupils unconsciously widened.

Trust me, Priest Irwin, my comprehension is far greater than you imagine. As Irwin described these phenomena, Mulan’s mind raced, and he deduced a term both apt and perhaps out of place—spiritual revival?