The bell of the Church of Elements rang at dawn—not loud, but deep.
It was a sound that sank into the chest rather than the ears.
The twelve heroes gathered in the courtyard of the church, still half-asleep, cloaks drawn tight against the cold morning air. Stone pillars surrounded the wide square, each carved with symbols of fire, water, wind, earth, ice, and lightning. Between them rose tall statues of gods—some holding weapons, some holding tools, some holding nothing at all.
Priests in pale robes waited near the entrance.
Halvion stood among them.
"You are summoned not as warriors today," he said calmly, "but as listeners. The Church has requested that you understand the divine order you now fight under."
Takumi muttered, "So… school again."
They were led inside.
The main hall was enormous. The ceiling was painted like a moving sky—storms of wind and lightning, rivers flowing into seas, volcanoes erupting beside frozen peaks. Every wall showed stories: heroes kneeling before gods, cities being blessed, monsters burning under divine judgment.
They were seated in long rows of wooden benches. A high priest stepped forward, staff tapping softly against stone.
"Children of another world," he began, "you now live beneath the gaze of the gods. You must understand who they are."
He raised his hand, and magic shimmered. An illusion formed in the air.
Six great symbols appeared:
Fire.
Water.
Wind.
Earth.
Ice.
Lightning.
"These are the pillars of existence," the priest said. "Each ruled by an Elemental God. They are not merely beings. They are will given form."
Images shifted—each element taking shape as a towering divine figure.
"Fire governs destruction and renewal.
Water governs life and change.
Wind governs movement and freedom.
Earth governs stability and endurance.
Ice governs stillness and preservation.
Lightning governs speed and judgment."
Yui leaned forward, whispering, "They talk like elements are emotions."
Mio whispered back, "Or like emotions are elements."
The priest continued.
"But the world is not shaped by elements alone."
New images appeared: a god with a sword, one with a book, one with a hammer, one with a crown.
"These are Civilization Gods—war, knowledge, craftsmanship, rule. They guide mortals in building, not surviving."
Akira watched carefully. "So elements shape nature. Civilization shapes people."
Halvion glanced at him, faint approval in his eyes.
The high priest's voice softened.
"And above all is Heaven. The realm of gods. Mortals cannot reach it unless chosen."
Haruto raised his hand slightly. "Who rules Heaven?"
A pause.
Then the priest smiled gently. "Heaven is guided by divine law. No single god owns it. All gods serve the order."
That answer felt… empty.
Riku frowned but said nothing.
The lesson continued.
They were told:
Gods give blessings when pleased.
Gods withdraw favor when angered.
Faith strengthens divine connection.
Disobedience invites calamity.
Stories were shown—cities destroyed after betraying their gods, kings rewarded for loyalty, heroes becoming legends through divine favor.
Shun clenched his fists. "So if a god likes you, you live. If not, you die."
"Sounds fair," Takumi muttered bitterly.
During a break, the heroes gathered near a tall window.
Yui spoke quietly. "Everything they showed… it's always people kneeling."
Naoki nodded. "Never gods kneeling."
Mio whispered, "They never show what happens when gods are wrong."
Emi looked at the painted ceiling. "Or if they can be wrong."
The second session focused on Heaven.
They were told Heaven had many layers—realms for gods, realms for angels, realms for judgment. But no names were given. No maps. Only words like "sacred," "pure," and "beyond mortal understanding."
Haruto finally asked, "If Heaven is perfect… why do wars still happen?"
The priest hesitated, just a moment too long.
"Because mortals are flawed."
"But gods choose kings," Haruto said. "They choose prophets. If those people cause wars… is that still only mortal fault?"
The hall grew quiet.
Halvion spoke before the priest could.
"Questions of blame are dangerous," he said evenly. "Power always carries consequence. Gods are not toys. Neither are mortals."
The lesson ended with prayer.
The heroes were told to kneel.
Some did quickly. Some slowly.
Haruto hesitated—then knelt.
As they bowed, priests chanted praises to the Elemental Gods and several Civilization Gods. Names echoed through the hall, heavy with authority.
Yet Haruto felt nothing.
No warmth. No presence. No answer.
When they left, the sun was already high.
Outside, knights waited to escort them back.
Takumi kicked a stone across the courtyard. "That wasn't education. That was… conditioning."
Yui hugged her cloak tighter. "They didn't lie. But they didn't tell everything either."
Akira said quietly, "They showed us what they want us to believe."
Riku looked back at the church. "And hid what they fear us asking."
Shun exhaled slowly. "If gods really rule everything… then what are we? Heroes… or tools?"
No one answered.
As they walked away, the bells rang again—soft, patient, endless.
And behind them, beneath painted ceilings and silent statues, the gods of men continued to be worshipped exactly as they wished.