Heart-Dream Aspect

The moment Diana saw the gift, her delicate azure eyes contracted sharply, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

The wooden box nearly slipped from her hands, but fortunately, she reacted quickly and managed to control the muscles in her hand.

The smile on Logan's face stiffened as well. He clearly hadn't expected the gift to be this. His brow furrowed at once, and he was just about to ask when Bishop Tarik began to explain:

"Don't be afraid. This is one of the sacred relics of the Church of Divine Grace.

My dear Logan, didn't you say you wanted your daughter to become a Beyonder?

If she carries this eyeball for a week and doesn't develop any mental problems, then she'll qualify to become a Beyonder."

"Bishop Tarik, you can't be serious. What does carrying something like this have to do with becoming a Beyonder?" Logan stared sternly at Bishop Tarik.

Although he wanted his daughter to pursue the supernatural, he wouldn't gamble with her mental health.

Hearing this, the latter only smiled and shook his head. He didn't explain further, giving the mayor a moment to process it.

"Diana, give it back to Bishop Tarik. We're not taking part in this kind of trial."

But Diana lightly pressed a fingertip against the lid. With a click, she closed the box again and withdrew her hand.

"No, I think Bishop Tarik is right. If I want to become a Beyonder, I should have to face some trials. I can't hide somewhere safe forever."

Bishop Tarik raised an eyebrow, surprise flickering in his eyes.

He had expected the seemingly delicate girl to be frightened and throw it away, but he hadn't anticipated her resolve.

The words he'd prepared to use to persuade Logan were no longer needed. A hint of curiosity entered his gaze as he looked at Diana.

Just moments earlier, the instant Ivan saw the eyeball, he had thought of another Aspect of the Church of Divine Grace: the extraordinary ability associated with the Eyes of the Lord.

"An eyeball... Could it be an extraordinary material like God Blood?"

"Diana, accept it. Our church has other uses for it," Ivan's voice sounded in Diana's mind.

She came back to herself, recovering from her fear and shock at the sight of the eyeball. Without questioning it, she accepted the gift, following her Lord's revelation.

"Diana, you..." Hearing her answer, Mr. Logan's eyes widened in surprise.

He knew his daughter was interested in mysterious things and had a strong capacity to accept them, but he hadn't expected her to be so accepting.

She'd accepted it even faster than he had, her own father. After all, it was a bizarre eyeball, and from Bishop Tarik's description, it seemed capable of affecting a person's mind.

Logan stared at the strange eyeball, his brow tightly furrowed. Then, the conversation from a private dinner two days earlier suddenly echoed in his ears.

The banquet hall had been softly lit that day, the clinking of glasses mingling with laughter.

Father Tarik had worn an understated black clerical robe. Sitting across from him, he'd seemed warm and confident.

"My dear Father Tarik." He'd held his glass, keeping his voice low.

"Cult activity has been so rampant in the city lately. City Hall has sent out a great deal of manpower and resources, but we still haven't found a trace of the cultists... You know the public's panic is spreading, and that's very bad for public order."

Father Tarik had smiled gently and clinked his glass against Logan's. The wine had traced an elegant arc along the side of the glass.

"Don't worry, my dear Mr. Mayor." His voice had carried a soothing certainty.

"I promise the Church of Divine Grace will keep the public safe and root the cultists out of the city as soon as possible. After all, it is our sacred duty."

The bishop's eyes had narrowed to slits, his smile widening. "If you're still concerned, I have some items here that can protect you and your family from the cult..."

His memory was hazy; he couldn't recall the rest of the conversation.

He only remembered that Bishop Tarik had invited him and his daughter to attend a special service, and said he would give Diana some miraculous items to help her become a Beyonder...

But the bloodshot, sideways-pupiled eyeball before him was nothing like the "miraculous" thing he had imagined.

"What's going on? Why didn't I ask for details before agreeing to the bishop's invitation?"

Unease surged through him like a rising tide. He even forgot his usual composure, his voice growing more urgent:

"Your Grace, what... what creature does this eyeball belong to?"

"A sheep."

Tarik's answer was brief and calm.

Logan finally understood. No wonder the shape of the pupil had seemed so strange. It was a sheep's pupil.

But even so, his worry didn't ease. If anything, it grew stronger:

"Your Grace, if you'll forgive another question, what exactly is a Beyonder? You know I can't let my daughter take an unknown risk."

Tarik nodded with a smile, as if he'd expected the question, and began to explain:

"A Beyonder is, as the name suggests, someone who transcends the ordinary and possesses extraordinary powers.

"They receive the Lord's divine grace, form a connection with one of the Lord's Aspects, and, through a specific ritual or trial, use extraordinary materials to brew a Magic Potion. In the end, they gain various powers.

"Through a specific ritual or trial, they form a connection with a particular 'Aspect' and thereby gain abilities beyond those of ordinary people."

Tarik's gaze shifted between Diana and Logan as he continued:

"The Aspect I belong to is the Heart-Dream Aspect. I gained my extraordinary abilities by following the guidance of the Eyes of the Lord."

"It can grant you some extraordinary abilities related to the mind and dreams."

Outside the church, Ivan nodded in surprise. "As expected, the process by which ordinary people become Beyonders is basically the same as I'd deduced."

He just hadn't expected Bishop Tarik to reveal the secrets of Beyonders so readily.

"But the way I granted Little George and Diana extraordinary abilities is rather unusual. Maybe I've opened up an entirely new path?"

Standing beside her father, Diana blinked her big eyes again and again before finally giving in to her curiosity:

"Revered Bishop Tarik, if I pass this trial, can I also receive a Magic Potion from the church and become a Beyonder of the Heart-Dream Aspect?"

Seeing that the girl was quick to understand, Tarik nodded in satisfaction. "That's right."

"Praise the great Lord!" Diana clasped her hands together, her heels tapping the floor twice as she seemed to grow very excited.

"You should say, 'Praise the great Lord's Eyes'..." Tarik kindly corrected her.

The girl seemed not to hear him, keeping her eyes closed in prayer. Bishop Tarik shook his head, but didn't take offense at her irreverence.

Logan still felt uneasy. He turned to Diana:

"My dear Diana, isn't this a little too dangerous?

"I'm sure the church's Beyonders will soon use their extraordinary powers to root out the cult in the city. There's no need for us to get mixed up in these mysterious affairs."

He'd assumed he'd only agreed to let his daughter become a Beyonder because he couldn't hold his liquor. Thinking about it now, the whole thing was far too dangerous.

The scent of the church's incense hung in the air, mingling with the smell of old wood. The atmosphere felt both solemn and oppressive.

After a long while, Diana seemed to make up her mind and slowly spoke:

"Father, don't you understand? We need power to protect ourselves and our family.

"Otherwise, we can only watch helplessly, like we did back then, as Mother was killed by a villain..."