On the Argo.
Odys, who had been pretending to pray, ended with a mumbled word of praise. Then he smiled at Bernadette. "Problem solved."
The Hermit had intervened just now, preventing the conflict between the three major churches from escalating. Odys still felt a chill when he thought about it, but the problem had been resolved.
If those three Beyonder Characteristics had not each returned to their respective gods, the Angels and Saints arriving as reinforcements would have fought over them, and the battle would have continued.
As things stood, the three churches, which had not fought fiercely in centuries, would likely clash again in a series of conflicts.
Even so, this was the best outcome. There had been no further casualties.
Bernadette nodded beside him. "Let's head back."
She saw nothing strange about Odys having prayed the whole time.
Bernadette knew that some mysterious beings in poor condition needed a "coordinate" to guide their power down steadily.
She had also sensed that, while the mysterious being had shown no apparent madness or chaos, the being's power had seemed unstable. Perhaps it needed to keep Odys as its target at all times.
The Argo began its return voyage. The Golden Dream, protected first by Grace Hallet and then by Alfred, had suffered little damage. The two ships formed a fleet once more and sailed toward safer waters.
In the rear courtyard of the Storm Church on Tiana Island.
A priest hurriedly pushed open the bishop's door. "Bishop, the Sea King is here!"
The bishop, reclining in an easy chair, froze. "Who?"
"The Sea King! His Excellency Jahn Kottman!"
The bishop, a man in his fifties, sprang up with a young man's agility. With a flick of his hand, he raised a gust that blew the soft hat from the