Grant Me Your Grace

“What an abomination, Priest Arnan.”

Aghast at Priest Hovan’s criticism, the Priest bowed to the ground.

“Ho, Priest Hovan. That’s not what I meant…”

“A gift from the gods is but one grace that the gods have sent for our nation of Bahran.”

Hovan’s piercing eyes turned to Hissin.

“If a man cannot truly see the gods because he bows to their shadows, how can he be called a servant of their will?”

The others assembled in the temple looked at each other in disbelief. For they had all been worshiping him too much lately, and the custom of worshiping him as if Hissin were a god was growing. 

As the priest who would succeed the high priest, it was his duty to stop it.

“We serve the gods, not the sticks of the gods.”

“I— I apologize. Priest Hovan. Please forgive me.”

“Forgiveness is not for me, but for the Nuit Goddess. Have you not yet realized the error of your ways?”

At Hovan’s stern question, the priest’s face turned an ashen color and he trembled.

Hovan was always fiercely principled, refusing to see or say anything that was not the will of the gods. He could not easily forgive an assistant priest for daring to speak of the gods.

Eventually, the High Priest Aaron, who was watching, intervened.

“Enough, Priest Hovan, that’s a clumsy way of saying that the gift of the gods is hard at work.”

He meant that no matter how right he was, he shouldn’t say too much in front of the others.

Hovan reluctantly fell silent.

“You are right, Priest Hovan.”

Hissin spoke in a soft voice.

“I am merely a tool in the hands of the Nuit Goddess, nothing more, nothing less.”

“A gift from the goddess, you need not lower yourself so degrading.”

“High Priest, please do not think too highly of me either. I am lacking and unworthy, and I need the help of those here to be used appropriately.”

His humble demeanor, despite his ability to rise above others, impressed the people even more, and they admired him deeply.

Only Hovan had a keen eye for such a man.

He smiled gently at Hovan, who was clearly displeased.

“I will try harder, Priest Hovan.”

“…It’s almost time for prayer, so let’s all make our way to the prayer hall in time.”

Hovan rose and left first. One by one, they consoled Hissin, and once again he soothed their hearts like a gentle saint.

“All will be as the goddess wills.”

Everyone felt sorry for the seemingly vulnerable Hissin and genuinely sympathized with him. 

Hissin rose from his seat, and they headed to the prayer hall.

Just before entering the prayer hall, his red eyes turned toward the heavens with an ethereal gaze for a moment before disappearing into the depths of space.

✨

“Priest Hovan.”

After the prayer was over, Aaron the High Priest called Hovan, who had stayed behind to clean up the prayer hall.

“Why don’t you walk with me for a while? The night air is good.”

Aaron smiled kindly, and Hovan followed him out.

They walked side by side along the walls of the temple. The new grass, just sprouting, tilted gently under their feet.

Aaron’s soothing voice echoed over their silent steps. 

“This temple, so solemn and tranquil, has suddenly come to life, and I’m sure it’s been a busy few days.”

It’s a nice way of putting the slight friction from earlier into perspective. Hovan bowed his head in shame.

“I apologize for the disturbance, High Priest,” said Hovan.

“You have nothing to apologize for. You were only trying to uphold the true meaning of the god’s will.”

Hovan bowed his head in silence. He walked on in wordless silence for a long time, then spoke cautiously.

“There is one thing I would like to ask you.”

“Please tell me.”

“I understand that being a High Priest requires more responsibility than most.”

Hovan raised his amber gaze to Aaron.

“Have you ever been afraid?”

“Of what?”

“Of lending your lips to speak on behalf of the Priests who have been entrusted to you.”

He paused, remembering the dim past.

“Long ago, when I brought you the prophecy of the Gift of the Gods… you announced it without question.”

At that, Aaron paused and looked to the sky.

In Bahran, all prophecies were to be announced through the High Priest, to ensure that the oracles of the Nuit Goddess were not misrepresented. 

This was to protect those who received the oracles, even if they were against the Emperor.

As a result, some of the greatest priests of all time lost their lives for their prophecies.

And it was Priest Hovan who predicted the date of the gift’s appearance and his appearance.

“If the gift had not appeared that day, you would have had to risk your position and even your life.”

Aaron’s mouth twitched at Hovan’s words.

“Are you afraid? That I will inherit your position?”

“…I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.”

Aaron replied, his voice sounding vulnerable.

“I, I can only have faith.”

His eyes, deepened by years of life’s wisdom, turned to a star in the distant sky.

“The Nuit Goddess always keeps her promises. Even if her will is not in harmony with the wishes of men, I simply trust that it must be her will.”

“…”

“Then the Goddess will surely answer you.”

Aaron smiled softly and looked back at Hovan. 

Hovan regarded the smile with puzzled eyes and answered, “The Goddess will recognize your holy heart, High Priest,” he said.

“I believe she will.”

Hovan resumed his walk in silence.

Aaron followed more quietly behind him, watching the silhouette of the priest who would one day take the path of holiness.

✨

Bahran Otthar Khankundra, Emperor of the Bahran Nation, was a fierce Emperor who ruled over a whole continent in a short time.

From his earliest days, Khankundra was bold and militant. He was not a crown prince by birth and had to prove himself against many of his brothers.

Fortunately, he was endowed with an extraordinary mind, and his military prowess was such that he was recognized by the greatest generals of his time.

As Khankundra roamed the vast continent of Missilan, he quickly absorbed the neighboring nations, and no one stood a chance against the hundred thousand men he personally trained and led.

The goddess was impressed with Khankundra.

One day, the crown prince, who possessed divine powers, and the prince himself were attacked and killed by mysterious assailants. 

Shortly thereafter, Khankundra’s divine powers were manifested.

It was the first time this had happened in the thousands of years of Bahran history.

The empire began to recognize Khankundra as the chosen one of the goddess Nuit, which allowed him to ascend to the throne as her chosen one.

Once he became emperor, Khankundra continued to expand his territory. He spread Bahran’s fame far and wide, covering the entire continent.

Over time, the Bahran nation grew to enormous proportions and became an Empire that few other nations dared to compare to.

The longest-lived nation on the continent of Missilan was the nation of Bahran Otthar Khankundra.

However, all things become dull with age.

“Emperor, Lord Chancellor Jeta Mindhu wishes to see you.”

“Be my guest.”

After a prolonged period of recumbent in bed and being massaged by his servants, Khankundra rose to his feet. 

The peaceful years had worn away the young man’s muscles and willpower, and his vigorous and daring personality had become dull.

Such was the emperor’s closest attendant and supporter.

“I come to see the Emperor.”

Jeta Mindhu, the chancellor of the Bahran nation, bowed to the emperor.

His hairless head was streaked with the blue veins that marked his countless years, and his thick, dark eyebrows stood straight out from beneath the furrows of his age-etched forehead.

The thin, shapely pupils of his eyes reflected the loyalty of decades of service to Khankundra, from his days as a prince to his current position as his advisor, but the lips beneath them were as shallow as a snake’s. 

It was the face of a typical traitor.

“May the Nuit Goddess be with you again tonight.”

“And yet, my lord, I have been expecting you.”

Khankundra returned Mindhu’s bow and greeted him impatiently. 

Mindhu’s thin lips stretched into an even longer line as he saw what he wanted.

“Oh, how dare I make His Majesty wait… I have such poor manners.”

“You know very well that I do not blame you.”

When Mindhu blamed himself, Khankundra became even more restless and soothed him. It was almost as if he couldn’t bear even the slightest delay now.

“Mindhu, come on.”

Khankundra called his name in a soft, childlike voice.

How he had waited for this day to come. One corner of his mouth curled up in a sneer, and Mindhu gestured behind him.