Capítulo 31: As Real as Shadows of Twilight

The library was eerily silent as the clock struck midnight. I made my way through the dimly lit hallways, the soft glow of the moon filtering through the high windows and casting elongated shadows on the walls. My footsteps echoed faintly, a reminder of how alone I was in this cavernous space. Despite the solitude, anticipation and a twinge of anxiety buzzed in my mind.

I reached the history section, the designated meeting place, and found Miss Rose already there. She stood gracefully amidst the towering shelves of ancient tomes, her presence commanding and serene. She turned as I approached, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"Good evening, Jesper," she greeted, her voice a melodic whisper that seemed to harmonize with the silence. "I'm glad you made it."

I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. "Good evening, Miss Rose."

She extended a hand, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and something deeper. "Please, call me Rose. Tonight, I want us to be equals, not just student and teacher."

I took her hand, feeling the coolness of her skin. "Alright, Rose."

She smiled and gestured for me to sit. We settled into a small reading nook, the soft light of a nearby lamp illuminating our faces. "I realized I never properly introduced myself," she began, her tone conversational yet laden with significance. "My full name is Rosaline Obel. My family, the Obels, have long been close allies of the Duke Blackthrone. We share a deep faith in the Goddess Evernight and follow Her church for guidance in matters of the extraordinary."

I listened intently, absorbing her words. The name Blackthrone was familiar—a powerful family known for their influence and mysterious dealings. The rightful ruler of the babel city. The Obel family's connection to them only deepened the enigma surrounding Rose.

"Our faith in the Goddess Evernight had guided us in our endeavors," she continued. "The church provides us with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of the extraordinary world. It's through this faith and alliance that we handle matters beyond the mundane."

Her words were both enlightening and daunting. The mention of the night Goddess and the church hinted at a deeper network of beliefs and practices than I had anticipated.

Rose's gaze turned more probing. "Tell me, Jesper, what do you know of the other churches in Alentris?"

I considered the question. "I know there are four primary churches," I began, trying to recall what I'd heard. "The Church of the God of Wisdom, the Church of the Goddess of the Moon, the Church of Mother Earth, and the Church of the God of War."

Rose nodded approvingly. "Correct. Each church has its own followers and influences."

She continued, her voice resonant with a somber tone, "to fully grasp the perilous nature of Eldritch world, you must understand the four great churches of our kingdom, Alentris. Each church is devoted to a powerful god, and each god is revered by one of the four Duke families. These churches not only guide our spiritual lives but also oversee the activities of the Eldritch among us."

Jesper listened intently, the shadows around them seeming to draw closer as Miss Rose continued.

"The first church is, The Church of mother earth, devoted to, Goddess mother earth, The Giaria Duke family are its most devout followers, their lineage steeped in the arts of light and fire. The Radiant Sun seeks to harness the purifying power of sunlight, believing it can cleanse the world of its impurities. Their faction, known as The Earth Sentinels, patrols the lands to control and guide the wild Eldritch, ensuring they do not succumb to their inner madness and wreak havoc."

She paused, her gaze piercing through Jesper as she spoke of the next church.

"The second is, The Church of Infinite Wisdom, dedicated to the God of Wisdom. The Sage Duke family, has been its faithful patrons for centuries. The Infinite Wisdom believes in the calming and enlightening power of knowledge, using it to soothe the turmoil within Eldritch. Their faction, called, The Enlightened Sentinels, monitors the Eldritch, providing them with the means to control their powers through meditation and intellectual pursuits."

Miss Rose's voice grew softer, almost a whisper, as she spoke of the third church.

"Then there is, The Church of the Eternal Night, which worships, the Goddess of Night. The Black thorne Duke family, are its most ardent followers, known for their mastery of shadow and subtlety. The Eternal Night embraces the mysterious nature of darkness, believing it to be a conduit for hidden truths. Their faction, The Shadow Keepers, ensures that the Eldritch use their powers wisely and that their minds remain untainted by the darkness.

Finally, Miss Rose's tone darkened as she spoke of the last church.

"Lastly, we have, The Church of Unending Conflict, devoted to, the God of War. The Valor Duke family are its staunchest adherents, their roots deep within the martial traditions of Alentris. The Unending Conflict values strength and resilience, seeing it as a means to harness the chaotic energies of the Eldritch. Their faction, known as - The Iron Wardens, keeps a vigilant watch over the Eldritch, ensuring they remain disciplined and do not succumb to the temptations of power."

Jesper's curiosity got the better of him, and he leaned forward. "Gods... they are real, then?"

Miss Rose's eyes flickered with an inscrutable depth. Her voice dropped to a murmur, filled with an enigmatic tone. "Ah, the gods. They are as real as the shadows that dance at twilight. In ancient times, they walked among mortals, their presence both a blessing and a curse. Their touch could ignite civilizations or plunge them into chaos. Or so the bishops at the church says."

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in before continuing. "Long ago, the world was a canvas upon which the gods painted their will. They shaped the lands, whispered secrets to the wind, and wove destinies with threads of fate. But as time passed, their presence became more elusive, their forms more abstract. Now not even there own churches k ows how tgey looked or whats there real name. The reason if it was true is lost to time, or they just don't want us knowing it."

Rosaline's gaze grew distant, as if recalling echoes of a forgotten past. "Either way, The gods, though unseen, still influence the mortal realm. Their essence lingers in the world's extraordinary, manifesting through the deeds of their faithful. The Church of Mother Earth channels the primal forces of the land, the Church of Infinite Wisdom seeks to unlock the ancient knowledge bestowed by the gods, and the Church of Eternal Night delves into the hidden realms of shadow that the gods once traversed."

A faint, wistful smile touched her lips. "They are no longer tangible beings walking among us but whispers in the wind, shadows in the night. Their magic, dark and enigmatic, is woven into the fabric of reality, guiding and shaping the world in ways both grand and subtle. The gods are both everywhere and nowhere, their true nature a puzzle that even the most learned scholars can scarcely comprehend."

Miss Rose leaned closer, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper that carried an undercurrent of foreboding. "Listen well, Jesper. To doubt the gods or to invoke them with a careless heart is to dance on the edge of a razor's blade. They are not benign entities to be trifled with, but rather forces as capricious and relentless as the storm's fury or the serpent's bite."

Her eyes gleamed with a dark intensity as she continued. "The gods are like shadows cast by a flickering flame—ever shifting, ever inscrutable. Their whims are like the tides, pulling mortals into depths they may never escape. To question them or to summon their attention without the gravitas they demand is to invite a tempest upon your soul."

She leaned back, her expression a mask of somber gravity. "Prayers made lightly are but echoes lost in the abyss, swallowed by the void where the gods' gaze turns cold and distant. The gods' gifts are like double-edged daggers—bestowed with a touch that can both uplift and destroy. To approach them with anything less than utmost reverence is to court madness, for the gods are as fickle as the shifting night and as unforgiving as the abyss itself."

A shiver seemed to pass through her as she concluded, "So heed this warning: approach the divine with the solemnity and respect that their nature demands, lest you find yourself ensnared by the dark tendrils of their unfathomable will."