Ladin, a young priest in his 30s serving the Church of the WordSpirit, was no ordinary cleric. In truth, he was a combat-oriented priest with a wealth of experience in subjugation missions, endowed with an exceptional talent for sensing evil. He had once roamed dungeons and performed exorcisms with vigor, but upon entering his sabbatical year, he returned to his hometown nestled in a mountain valley. Seizing the opportunity to expand the influence of the Church of the WordSpirit, he established a small pioneer church in his native land. Half a year had passed since then.
On weekdays devoid of services, Ladin’s sole occupation was to savor the tranquil ambiance while copying scriptures. Yet, on this particular day, an unexpected visitor knocked upon the church door. A man stood there, soaked through by the relentless snowfall, his eyes cast downward in a melancholic gaze. He exuded an air of quiet sorrow, as if burdened by a tale yet untold.
“An outsider traveling all this way—what could bring him here? Wait… could this be…?!”
Peering…