Heliocentric Theory

In front of the magnificent Aurora Grand Cathedral of Light, it had been a long time since such a sacred religious trial had taken place.

The white marble plaza was packed with people, and every breath felt like immense pressure. The believers jostled, eager to catch a glimpse of the supreme glory of the Red Cardinal of Light.

The Red Cardinal's eyes held compassion as he looked at White Niven on the execution by fire.

It was pity for the foolish, as if looking at an ignorant child.

"Duke White Niven, your Heliocentric Theory claims the sun is the center of the universe, that the Star Curtain World is a giant spherical celestial body, and that countless celestial bodies similar to the Star Curtain World revolve around the sun. This violates the Festival of Light. Given your hereditary ducal noble status, you can now complete your final self-salvation by revising the heretical concepts in your book that blaspheme against the God of Light."

White Niven's heart was incredibly calm at this moment.

He looked at the Trial Jury of the Ecclesiastical Court, at the Pope of Light looking down on him from on high, at the endless Holy Light atop the Aurora Grand Cathedral, and at the scholars from various academies hidden within the crowd.

He could compromise, offering to revise the natural research in his book that violated the Festival of Light in exchange for keeping his ducal title. Or he could make a move, giving a command and having the scholars hidden in the crowd fight for him.

But when he saw the furious gazes of the endless believers in the plaza, their intolerance towards a heretic, he knew his choice.

White Niven knew that if he resisted, the Heliocentric Theory would forever be a heretical doctrine in their hearts, the reign of ignorant faith over human thought would be prolonged, and the Law of Truth would find it even harder to break through the heavy night, bringing the brilliance of Wisdom, Reason, and Civilization.

White Niven slowly turned his head and looked at the twelve Red Cardinals on the high platform.

In their eyes, White Niven seemed to see pity for him. His life's work, the Heliocentric Theory he insisted on, was merely the wild fantasy of an ignorant fool in their eyes.

This world needed a martyr, one who would let out a cry of Reason and die for the sake of upholding the truth!

"The Cosmic Starry Sky has no Heavenly Kingdom of Light!"

White Niven roared, looking at the people in the plaza who were consumed by anger and hatred because of his words.

"Damn traitor, he's still clinging to his heretical theories! Burn him!"

"May the Lord have mercy on this Lost Lamb..."

"How ridiculous! He claims the Star Curtain World is a giant sphere? If that were true, why haven't we fallen off? Hahahaha!"

"He actually claims there is no Heavenly Kingdom! I will never allow him to defile the sanctity of the great Creator of Light! Filthy, stupid fellow! All who blaspheme against the God of Light are heretics and must be burned!"

Some people picked up stones and hurled them forcefully at the execution by fire, venting their anger.

The scattered scholars in the crowd were so insignificant. Looking at the endless followers of Light around them, and at the Pioneer enduring the believers' fury on the execution by fire, they shed tears of unwillingness.

However, White Niven calmly endured it all, looking up at the sky enveloped by Holy Light, and let out a heartfelt roar.

"The Law of Truth can never be extinguished by violence! The Law of Order between celestial bodies, even the so-called Creator of Light, cannot possibly change it!"

The twelve Red Cardinals showed expressions of disappointment.

This pathetic wretch, foolish to the point of death, was no longer worth saving. His soul would descend into Hell to suffer eternal torment.

However!

Just then!

Accompanied by the surging Holy Light atop the Aurora Church, it was the Creator of Light's wrath. Amidst the tearful joy of countless believers exclaiming "Miracle!", the previously calm and composed Pope was startled to his feet. A magnificent divine power descended from the sky, engulfing White Niven on the execution by fire.

White Niven looked up at the majestic power from the heavens, which did not belong to the mortal realm, and smiled peacefully, facing death.

"You too can be angry, you too can fear. You are ultimately just a higher-level being, a lifeform that calls itself the God of Light, not an omnipotent Creator."

The blazing Divine Fire of Light completely submerged White Niven.

Countless believers prostrated themselves, their eyes filled with tears of joy at witnessing a divine miracle in their lifetime. They vowed to eradicate every heretic and uphold the righteousness of the Light until death.

Even the scholars mixed among the believers could only submit to Divine Authority and kneel down unwillingly.

At this moment, Imperial Authority bowed to Divine Authority, and Natural Science was defeated by Theology of Light.

However.

Within the crowd, some rational individuals who were once loyal believers of the God of Light, upon witnessing the descent of Divine Power, looked at White Niven, who was reduced to ashes by the Divine Power and faced death bravely for upholding the truth. Their hearts were shaken, and a trace of doubt arose regarding their own faith in the Light.

Why could the great God of Light not show mercy and forgiveness to this foolish person?

Several hundred years later.

Grand Duchy, Lake Onyx Town.

"I understand how you feel."

The Priest's eyes exuded day-after-day benevolence as he patted the boy's shoulder with his fair and delicate right hand, offering comfort.

"Although you already possess the Power of Prayer, proving your pious faith in the Lord, Mr. Bob has voluntarily donated one hundred gold coins to support the Church's expedition against heretics and to spread the Light. Through his selfless dedication, he has already secured a Missionary spot in advance. You will have to wait until next year."

Forty years had passed since the last Crusade of Light against the Night's Veil Land. The legendary new Pope, about to take office, was eager to wash away the disgrace of the previous failed expedition.

Reilo looked up at the Priest, filled with unwillingness.

"You said the same thing last year when Lars's Uncle Arbitrator snatched the spot!"

The Priest's eyes remained as compassionate as ever.

"One hundred gold coins are enough for the Church to train several outstanding Light Knights, and perhaps another Arbitrator will be born. By giving up your spot, you are also practicing Self-Sacrifice and Dedication, completing a form of self-redemption."

"But!"

Although Reilo appeared thin and frail, he was a seventeen-year-old boy full of vigor and unwillingness.

"They don't have the Power of Prayer and cannot preach the Greatness of the Lord at all! My mother, because of her pious faith in the Lord, chose to sacrifice herself when she had a difficult childbirth seventeen years ago. I was born with Original Sin and have been trying to atone for it since the first day of my life! My father is the most devout believer in this town, and his greatest wish is for me to become a Missionary and go to remote and barren lands to preach the Greatness of the Lord. Now he is gravely ill, and only by becoming a Cleric can I beg for the God of Light's mercy..."

"Enough!"

The Priest said angrily, "Your eyes are filled with anger and jealousy. You have completely failed to grasp the true meaning of Self-sacrifice and Redemption! You only think of your own small family and do not consider the vast number of believers persecuted by heretics. Come back when you understand the Lord's selfless dedication!"

With that, the Priest walked towards the Holy and pure church, ignoring Reilo's sorrowful pleas from the steps.