"You all should..." The Holy Knight had made his decision. He could only silently pray that this young man would have a favorable outcome, at least in the court trial, where evidence could be found to counter Lucas's accusations. The Holy Knight still believed in the Empire's justice and fairness.

  After all, he was a man of true faith, a devout believer who held onto the light. However, what he didn't know was that Lucas and his group had no intention of taking Kenley and the others to court. Their plan was far more sinister—they only wanted to drag them back to Lucas's mansion for their wicked schemes.

  "Hold it right there!” Kenley immediately interrupted the Holy Knight upon hearing those words. He knew the knight had fallen into the enemy's trap, but he had no intention of sitting idly by.

  Kenley locked eyes with Lucas and stepped forward, slowly reciting:

  "I enter this sacred sanctuary…”

  The moment Kenley spoke, the Holy Knight froze in shock. Tia also gasped, while Lucas and the others simply stared at Kenley in confusion, unable to understand what he was doing.

  "To lament the chaos and imperfection beyond the Forbidden Garden. Even as you repent, suffer, and torment yourself, you continue to seek the truth you pursue. Suffering itself is steeped in sin for the ignorance beyond the door. I do not blame you for resenting my soul, for you have shattered the mirror in which I could not see my own reflection…”

  At that moment, a radiant holy light descended from the heavens. This was the Grand Cathedral of Light—the place closest to divinity. Kenley's words instantly triggered a reaction from the statue of Sanphest!

  "This... This is—!” The Holy Knight's eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing the prayer. Impossible. It was impossible. How could a mere peasant know such a thing?

  Tia took a deep breath. Master… Master… How does he…?

  Only Sylph remained clueless, yet she could feel the overwhelming holiness and solemnity within Kenley's prayer.

  "What nonsense are you spouting?” Lucas's face twisted in anger. He had expected this lowly commoner to argue back, but instead, Kenley was putting on some kind of religious act in front of him."Holy Knight, he's playing tricks! Please stop him at once!”

  Auber, on the other hand, turned pale. He had never expected Kenley to know this. As a scholar, he was all too familiar with those words.

  "Shut your mouth!” The Holy Knight's voice thundered, laced with unmistakable fury. And it was directed at Lucas. It was clear that the knight's patience had reached its limit.

  "Holy Knight?!” Lucas was stunned. Why was the Holy Knight suddenly taking the other side? He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could utter a word—

  "Silence!” the Holy Knight commanded, cutting him off.

  Lucas's expression turned stiff and awkward. Fine. Fine. You won't let me speak? He clenched his fists, his eyes dark with malice. Let this wretch put on his little performance. Once it's over, we'll see how I make him suffer.

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  Kenley completely ignored Lucas's clownish chattering and continued walking forward, reciting,

  "If I am guilty, then scourge me. If I have fallen, then purify me. I do not fear the curses of darkness, for I have witnessed miracles. Yes, you know nothing of me, yet I blame you not, nor do I blame anyone. What you guard is what you hold dear, and what I pursue is what I have dreamed of. Besides your calloused hands, besides your scarred hands, besides your mourning song of death… Now, may your blade, steeped in sin, clash against me. Let it wound me, awaken me, and forever judge me within my slumber!”

  At that moment, the holy light intensified, and everyone could feel an overwhelming force of divine judgment descending from the heavens. The radiance immediately drew the attention of the Inquisition.

  "The Light of Judgment?! Who has triggered the Light of Judgment within the Grand Cathedral?!"

  The High Inquisitor stood at the entrance of the tribunal, staring intently at the descending light. Not only was it the Light of Judgment, but it was also the highest grade of divine radiance—something that the Inquisition would never unleash without the explicit authorization of a bishop.

  "Go and investigate immediately!"

  With that command, a large contingent of inquisitors set off, their synchronized footsteps echoing as they marched swiftly toward the Cathedral of Light.

  Beneath the sacred glow, Kenley ignored the stunned gazes around him and pointed directly at Lucas, raising his voice toward the heavens:

  "O holy and mighty Sun God, I beseech You—judge me! Has Your child committed the crime of theft for the sake of this man's possessions?”

  Kenley suddenly lifted his head, his eyes sharp and unwavering like a wolf's as he fixed his gaze upon Lucas.

  A chill shot up Lucas's spine. He didn't know what this lowly wretch had done, but judging by the Holy Knight's shock and Auber's fearful expression, he knew this was no trivial matter.

  Then, a voice resounded. Deep, sacred, and carrying an infinite echo—

  Not heard, but felt, rising from the depths of the soul.

  "Child, you bear no guilt of theft.”

  That voice—!

  It was truly the Sun God!

  In the Grand Cathedral, within this most sacred place, everyone heard it. And upon witnessing this divine miracle, all who heard the voice trembled with reverence, unable to contain their emotions.

  They dropped to their knees, fervently worshipping the Sun God.

  "Praise the Sun!”

  Even the Holy Knight fell to his knees, his entire body shaking—not out of fear, but out of sheer, overwhelming awe at the presence of his god.

  Tia hastily lifted the hem of her dress and knelt in the direction of the holy light. Sylph, far from foolish, felt the divine presence more acutely than anyone—she, the Golden Child, lowered herself with the highest elven etiquette, half-kneeling in reverence to the Sun God.

  Auber was deathly pale. All the schemes in his mind shattered instantly, cold sweat drenching him as he collapsed to his knees, barely managing to stay upright.

  Seeing the entire assembly kneel, even Lucas, lawless as he was, finally understood the gravity of the moment.

  This was a miracle. A true, undeniable miracle.

  With a loud thud, he dropped to his knees as well. His massive body made the motion look more like an ungainly fall, as though he had simply plopped onto the floor. His fleshy face glistened with cold sweat, his fear evident. He didn't know what would happen next, but an ominous premonition gnawed at him.

  Kenley raised his voice again.

  "O holy and mighty Sun God, I beseech You—judge me! Has Your child committed the sin of impurity?”

  "Child, you bear no guilt of impurity.”

  "O holy and mighty Sun God, I beseech You—judge me! Has Your child spoken falsehoods?”

  "Child, you bear no guilt of falsehood.”

  Kenley placed a hand over his heart and bowed deeply toward the sacred light.

  "O holy and mighty Sun God, I give my deepest gratitude. Your child shall forever walk in the name of light, in the name of love, in the name of justice—pursuing the path of dreams until I reach the other side of the mirror.”

  The moment his words ended, the sacred light began to fade.

  The Grand Cathedral, once engulfed in divine radiance, slowly returned to normal.

  Yet, silence filled the space.

  The sanctity of the scene had left everyone in profound awe.

  Even though the light had vanished, not a single person dared to rise—so shaken were they by the revelation they had just witnessed.

  Then—

  "Arrest these two defilers!”

  It was the Holy Knight's voice, ringing with righteous fury.