The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Trinity.
"Three" held a unique place. It could mean creation and love, or the destruction of all things.
It encompassed a great deal.
For instance, the creation of the world, the creation of life, God loving the world, God being with humanity, all the way to bringing down calamities, destroying the world, and starting everything anew.
"Did you understand?"
The old man sat before the campfire, feebly stirring the firewood with a poker to make it burn a little brighter.
The firelight reflected in his vacant eyes.
Sitting opposite him was a young woman.
She wore a cloak and a hood that concealed her figure and face, and knelt properly on the ground, quietly listening to what the old man had just said.
This old man wanted to kill himself.
The reason was simple-he hoped to please God and regain Grace.
When he first attempted suicide, the young woman saved him. Rather than thanking her, he hurled abuse at her and prepared for a second attempt.
The young woman was Melina, whose right eye alone was open.
Her left eye was closed, its lid marked with a black design resembling a bird's claw with only three toes.
In the Lands Between, three toes were an ill omen. Four-toed bird feet were therefore considered symbols of extraordinary good fortune and were given as gifts.
The marking over Melina's eye looked very unlucky indeed.
Just now, the old man had explained to Melina why suicide was necessary, then asked whether she understood.
Although Melina had not been in the world for long and was not particularly quick-witted,
she still knew that suicide had absolutely nothing to do with pleasing God or regaining Grace.
A strange voice had called her awake, and she found