"Are we just going to walk, or will you tell me where we are going?" I repeated my question for the tenth time, frustration lacing my words.
However, just like the previous nine times, Kai continued to walk silently ahead of me without uttering a response.
"Hey!" I snapped, my impatience getting the better of me.
I quickened my pace and reached out to grab the back of his tailored suit's collar. "I asked you something!"
My sudden pull on his collar caused Kai's body to jerk back, forcing him to come to an abrupt halt.
"Let go, will you?" Kai uttered, his voice filled with annoyance. "People are looking at us."
I glanced around and noticed that a few passersby were indeed turning their heads to look at us as we stood in the middle of the street.
Ignoring their curious gazes, I pressed on, repeating my question again. "First, tell me where we are going?"
"We are already here," Kai replied with a click of his tongue, pointing to our right with his thumb.
Following his gesture, I turned my head and gazed in the direction he was pointing at. As soon as I did that, a frown appeared on my face.
To my surprise, the building he was pointing at was… a church?
"....Huh?!"
It was just an ordinary church building, gleaming under the sunlight like the other silver-like metal structures in the city.
However, it stood apart with its towering spire that reached toward the heavens, making it clear that it was a church.
Atop the spire, a cross was embedded within what appeared to be a silver sun.
You see, in this world, when humans gained god-like powers and access to abundant, clean energy, it caused most of them to abandon their beliefs in religion.
The merging of the world's landmass into one didn't help either.
"Religions are diversities and people should stand united in times of war!" – with that one statement, the now-revered Central Government banned the practice of all religions.
At first, there were several protests and riots, but after a generation and a half, things calmed down as no one could keep on protesting forever.
Besides, most of the people after that generation didn't even know exactly what they were protesting for.
Most of the dwarves, much like humans, agreed with the decision and chose to forsake their religious diversity. Those who didn't, were forced to do it.
However, the Elves strongly opposed this tyrannical rule.
Their whole species practiced a single religion which was deeply intertwined with their culture and race.
After all, they do say that Elves were the favored race of God.
After a long struggle, the Central Government gave up on the Elves.
So now they are now the only race that still practices religion in the world.
Or rather, the Elven religion was the only one that had managed to survive the Government's attempts to eradicate it.
While some Dwarves and Humans also followed the Elven religion, most, especially those from our generation, had forgotten the concept of religion entirely.
That's why I couldn't help but be surprised when Kai brought me to a Church.
"Kai," I called out to him, "Do you believe in God?"
"I do," Kai replied. "I believe there is a God, and he's a madman. He revels in our sufferings as we amuse him through our miseries."
Without saying another word, Kai freed himself from my grip and confidently strode towards the entrance of the church.
Hesitant yet curious, I followed closely behind, my footsteps blending with the bustling sounds of the street.
As we entered the church building, the atmosphere shifted.
The scent of incense sticks mingled with the soft notes of organ music, enveloping us in an ethereal embrace.
Sunbeams danced through the stained glass, painting the interior with a kaleidoscope of colors.
Rows of wooden pews lined the aisle and I could see some people, most of them Elves, sitting scarcely.
It was then that I noticed a plaque near the entrance, bearing the name of the church.
Sun God's Cathedral, it read.
Sun God – one of the three deities alongside the Moon God and the Nature Goddess that the Elves worship.
But I couldn't understand why Kai had brought us to this location or why we were inside an Elven church.
Before I could voice my confusion, a tall, adult Elven man dressed in elegant white robes approached us.
From his appearance, it seemed like he held a prominent position within the church, perhaps even the pope.
"Master Kai!" he exclaimed, coming closer with a warm smile and greeting Kai, who stood on my right. "You are back!"
Then, the man shifted his attention to me before quickly refocusing on Kai.
"Is he a new recruit?" the pope asked, gesturing at me with his chin.
"No," Kai replied with a shake of his head. "But he will be coming here a lot, so I'd like you to remember his face."
"As you wish, Master Kai!" the pope replied, slightly bowing his head in a show of respect.
Waving his hand, Kai resumed walking, moving past the pope as I followed him behind again.
Confusion growing, I trailed behind him as we made our way around the aisle and into a hallway.
Eventually, after walking across the hallway for two minutes, Kai led me to a wooden door.
If not for a big circular, intricate geometric pattern engraved on it, the wooden door appeared ordinary.
Without hesitation, Kai summoned a small metal plaque from his smart bracelet that had the same geometric design on it as the door.
He placed the metal plaque against the door, causing the pattern to emit a vibrant azure glow.
Click—
Immediately, the door unlocked with a satisfying click.
Kai pushed the door open, unveiling a staircase that was going down, probably leading to a basement.
"Hey, are you planning to kill me and bury me in a church basement?" I quipped.
Unamused, Kai shot me a blank glance before heading down the stairs.
"Close the door behind you," he instructed casually.
With a resigned sigh, I followed him again by stepping inside and shutting the door before descending the stairs.
The walls were adorned with embedded light bulbs, so it wasn't dark.
After precisely walking down thirty steps, we stood before another door.
It had to be the entrance to the basement.
Knock, knock—
Knock— Knock—
Knock, knock—
Rather than twisting the doorknob, Kai began rhythmically knocking on the door.
Click—
And after his last knock, the door clicked open again.
However, instead of an ordinary basement, what I saw behind the door was a vision I could've never imagined.
As a result of that, I couldn't help but let out a surprised gasp.
"....Huh?!"
