Intermezzo: Zion (1)

The Holy City of Zion: a neutral area where political practice is strictly limited. A place that becomes a stopover for those lost in this world and for the natives to keep their souls pure. Zion's difficult geography makes all its inhabitants help and trust each other. For them, their geography is enough to be a problem, please don't add another problem.

Located in a steep mountainous area does not make them complain. Quite the contrary, they felt closer to the Gods of Heaven.

That's what then makes the people of Zion have great trust and strong faith.

"Oh, I think I got it."

"Yes. If you do it as I tell you, you can do it."

"Okay. Thanks for the help, Your Highness!"

Axelle frowned at the call. He had asked everyone in Zion to stop calling him "Your Highness." But that seems like a difficult thing.

"I hope we haven't bothered you, Your Highness." An old priest approached Axelle slowly. A sincere smile graced his face. "Whereas Your Highness only got here yesterday, you've worked hard today."

"Priest Cyrus," Axelle greeted respectfully. "That's not a problem at all. I am happy to share my knowledge to help others," he explained. "Then please don't call me 'Your Highness' again."

"Oh, why?" Priest Cyrus invited Axelle to sit in front of the crowded temple. "You are a member of the Palace family, sun to Rexton. Calling you that title signifies our respect and trust in Your Highness."

Axelle smiled weakly. "I am… the son of a traitor to the kingdom. I came here as a criminal," he explained. "I don't think I deserve that much respect."

"Prince Axelle, in the eyes of the other residents and me, a person's past crimes are meaningless as long as that person admits his guilt. For us, all newcomers to Zion are reborn people, determined to become better people."

The laughter of children playing in the temple yard caught Axelle's attention. They looked happy. Nothing worried them more than schoolwork, perhaps.

Since first coming to the Holy City of Zion, everyone immediately approached Axelle without hesitation. People greeted him warmly even though they didn't know Axelle was a prince. And their attitude was still the same when they found out that Axelle was the Outcast Prince. They treated him as usual, helping him adapt to this difficult place as if they were family.

"Everyone came here with great difficulty," continued Priest Cyrus. "So how could anyone with bad intentions even bother to come here?"

Axelle slowly smiled. "You're right," he said quietly. "Everyone here is nice."

"Don't be afraid to be kind to others. Don't be afraid to accept kindness from others. All of this is a blessing from God, so don't refuse it."

Ah, Axelle remembered what Chas said about her often feeling bad about asking for help.

Priest Cyrus rose from his seat. "Be happy and relaxed while you're here, Your Highness. Isn't there something big you have to do in a moment?"

The big thing, repeated Axelle to himself. He looked at Priest Cyrus with a stunned look. It turned out that this old priest also put his trust in him.

"Your Highness." Suddenly Julius, a knight of his who had joined this journey voluntarily, appeared. "Someone is waiting for you."

"At home? Who?"

"Lady Marioline Colton."

***

Axelle knew he wouldn't be allowed to go alone by anyone.

Elias is too old and Axelle can't bear to take him to Zion. Elias, who insisted on joining, gave up and sent two knights to guard Axelle.

Julius, one of the knights accompanying Axelle, reports that they are being followed by at least three people. Last night, they discovered that only one of the three would eventually enter Zion. That person was Hadrian's man.

At first, Axelle wondered why there was only one person, but it turned out that there was Duke Colton's daughter in Zion. No wonder Duke Colton easily agreed to Axelle's desire to serve and study here.

Even though I won't do anything terrible, Axelle thought.

As soon as he entered the courtyard of his small house, Axelle could see Marioline sitting on the terrace with the other knights accompanying her. Black hair that was neatly rolled up and sharp golden eyes, really like the female version of Chas.

"Good afternoon," Axelle greeted first.

"Your Highness Prince Axelle." Marioline immediately stood up to greet him. "Marioline Colton is here to say hello and meet you. Sorry for coming unannounced."

"No problem, Lady Marioline. Rather than that, please just take it easy." Axelle sat opposite Marioline and asked his knight to leave. "I don't have much to serve, but I hope you like it."

Marioline smiled, a gentle type of smile, unlike Chas' mocking grin. "Just being able to sit in front of Your Highness is an honor for me," she said. "After all, once you set foot in Zion, all the luxuries and pleasures of the world are meaningless, don't they?"

"Yes," said Axelle slowly. The Holy City of Zion teaches simplicity; the important thing is to eat regularly that is nutritious so that the body is healthy, the important thing is to dress neatly and appropriately, the important thing is to have a clean and comfortable home. Everything is nothing to brag about. "So different from life in the Ozera Capital."

"I hope Your Highness feels at home here."

"Of course." Axelle took a sip of his tea. "The atmosphere here is different, but I like it."

More peaceful, more comfortable, and lighter. In Zion, Axelle can breathe and move more freely.

"Zion is a good place for people with great holy power," said Marioline. "People here live happily and naturally, pursuing nothing but grace from Him."

"What do you mean?"

"Your Highness." Marioline suddenly turned serious, then Axelle could feel a surge of holy power emanating from the woman in front of her. "You can feel and see it, right?" Now a pure bluish aura enveloped him. "Because I can too. I, Your Highness, as well as Priest Cyrus possess too much divine power."

In a second, the waves and the holy aura faded away.

Axelle stared at Marioline in disbelief, surprised that someone else knew about his abilities. All this time Axelle had been hiding and suppressing his powers so as not to cause trouble, especially with the Temple of Beulah and High Priest Meical.

"Wait, that means Lady Marioline…"

"Yes, that's why Father sent me here by force. That's why my mother died right after giving birth to me," explained Marioline quietly. "Because I come from the black aristocrats, the waves of aura in our territory are too dense for me to endure which not yet good at controlling this power. I get sick easily, sometimes even making people around me hurt."

"I… never felt that way, even as a child," Axelle said. "Maybe once, but not so badly."

"That's because Prince Axelle has a natural talent for controlling it, just like Priest Cyrus. Coupled with the education Your Highness took during your time at the academy, your ability to control is getting stronger," explained Marioline. "Looks like Your Highness doesn't realize how great your strength is, huh?"

"Yes," admitted Axelle. "All I know is that I have a little more divine power than most people, but not that much."

"Lord." Marioline was now looking at him. "Honestly I'm glad to know your ignorance."

Axelle forced a laugh. "Oh, yes. Actually, I've been hiding that ability all along and suppressed it a lot."

"That's even better." Marioline took a sip of her tea. "Because from what I see, Your Highness' power is capable of making High Priest Meical want to get rid of you."