"Gods have been known to be the protectors and providers of humanity, giving blessings and prosperity to their devoted followers. It is thanks to them that humanity can stay safe and be of less worry.
They even have their Heroes who are chosen from the God they praise, in return they get unimaginable power which helps each chosen to help fight the demons and monsters. To bless the farms and fill our barrels with rain water"
A man standing on a crate holding what seems to be a book and wearing a grey tunic and small bell in his hands preaching his lungs out for the people passing by to hear. A few stood nearby to listen while others passed as if trying not to listen to what he was trying to say.
"I wonder which god he serves ?"
"He really got the raw end of the deal if he is forced to preach under such a sweltering sun"
Passer-byes couldn't help but take a jab on the man. They have heard this story a million times, it is not that they don't have faith in Gods, but with the world being governed by so many Gods, each could only follow the teachings of their own God and won't dare to listen to another's summon.
"Do you think perhaps he found a new God?"
When one of the bystanders said those words. Almost everyone there turned to look at them.
"I'm just asking. Jezz"
It was common knowledge that everyone has a God they follow, even the homeless. To live without God can mean death to you, It was against the law to faithless. So it's common for a child to adopt the believe of a certain God from a very young Age.
Commoners like them can't get recognition from the old Gods, so they also had to go out to seek a god to praise, because in this world, without a God, you receive no blessings and you will not tap the divine seed within you which allows the common folk to use magic. How much magic you have depends on your relationship with your God or how powerful your God is.
Which is why the Nobles and Royal tend to have higher divine magic power, they have the blessings of the Old Gods.
And on top of the old Gods, stands Premodial Gods. There is hardly ever someone known to have been blessed by the primordial Gods. They are rumored to be the pillar of the world who protects this world against invading forces.
Nobody knows for sure if this is true but this knowledge has been passed down generations to generations. As if someone is deliberately trying to keep their existence known.
"The Gods are known to be the most frightening force to shield humanity from the spread of evil, and the plague of the darkness." The Tunic man continued with his preaching.
"But what you all know is, You are worshiping cowards. You are worshiping thieves, You are worshiping your Jailors. This will come as a surprise for you all but you are nothing but slaves thinking themselves free"
The change of tone, voice and attitude, Startled the entire street. The once empty street was now seeing a flood of people, trying to see or hear what this deranged person is trying to say.
"I know and understand this might come out and a crazy man speaking nonsense. But know this, when the cage is big enough, the captives never know that they are enslaved till they walk far enough to see the bars of the cage"
While the man was talking his lungs out. Something was brewing exactly a thousand meters up in the sky. From a far you would see the once clear blue sky being brewed with clouds mixed up with lightning.
"Your Gods limit you then say they have blessed you, you are nothing but....."
Phaaaaaa!
On this fateful day, something horrible happened in the city square that took the lives of dozens of people. The churches came together to investigate this ominous attack in the city. It was found that a demon possessed a civilian. And used his body to get past the city protection seals, also the guardian knights weren't able to sense it as it was a lesser demon with weaker powers.
That demon had created a massive demonic ritual magic cycle, that evoked a lightning, that sacrificed the lives of many. The demon was never found. But what they did find was a Tunic on top of a crate, the body of the person wearing it was not there.
On the other side of town. At an orphanage, A boy who seems to be almost 16 years of age was facing one of the worst days of his life. A cripple, with a deformed body, blind and can't even hear. You could say this boy was dealt the worst hand of anybody to ever live. That wasn't the worst of it.
Today, the head of the orphanage has decided to kick the boy out.
"He has become a young man, my faith has already taken him as far as it can allow me. The God I believe always helps the needy children. But starting Today he is turning 16"
You could hear apathy when Mother Superior spoke. It was as if for the past 16 years, what she did was more of a chore she did because of her faith and less of the love in her heart.
"But Mother Superior, surely you can see that the boy has no where to go, no skills to take care of himself and no voice to speak out his needs, can't you find it in your heart to make an exception for him?"
One of the nuns asked, feeling that the situation is getting out of hand.
"Which Goddess do we serve, Nannia"
"That would be Goddess Raia- Goddess of love and Protection to kids"
"Exactly, And we her devote followers are always shielded under her graceful light with each child we take in as our own, in return that child become her devoted believer who is always under protection. But not once have I seen the light of the Goddess reach that boy."
Mother Superior went and pointed Mike who is sitting on a makeshift wheelchair down stairs facing the sun doing nothing.
"Do you understand what that means? At first I thought perhaps it was because he couldn't speak so he couldn't voice out his praise to the Goddess, but no, you could speak to divine bodies in your heart. I thought he couldn't see so he never seen the Goddess or understand the concept of gods. But no, Gods and Goddesses will always visit you in your dreams."
When mother Superior said this next part, he looked Nannia in the eyes.
"And this has been my biggest suspicion and I know each one of you has asked this very question. Why has this boy been forsaken by the Gods? You want to tell me in this day and age, no god has ever come to him to offer to heal him in exchange for devotion? This boy is a plague to us, and now that we can't legally hold him here any more, if we hold him here any longer, we stand a chance of being targeted by the big churches or even the goddess herself punishing us.
After finally speaking her mind, Mother Superior was panting as if she had been holding this in her chest for a very long time without any place to let it all out.
Quickly silence found itself occupying the room. Nannia along with other Nuns were shocked by the outburst from the person they looked up to. For as long as they could remember Mother Superior graced the cold halls with warmth, replacing the gaping hole of the abandoned children. Even becoming the figure many of the nuns aspire to become.
"Don't give me that look. Your naivety is the reason you will always be sheep. I have a part to play and so should you."
Then she proceeded to throw a stack of paper, showing a formal discharge of Mike Silver. From that moment on, he shall no longer have any more association with the orphanage or the personnel that work there.
Nannia walked forward and picked up the papers from the desk. The dim light in her eye reflected on the writing on the pages. A single tear just collapsed as if announcing a gloomy day under the rays of the sunshine.
"As it would appear, I really am naive. To think I devoted my life to this place and looking at you as my inspiration. This life lesson I shall not forget. Please include my resignation along with these pages. I guess you shall hold on preparing two plates from now on"
A voice of sorrow yet rich of conviction. Every ear in the room couldn't believe the news they were receiving