The High Priest sighed, straightened up, and walked diagonally in front of the wheelchair. Facing Taixisen, who sat in it, he closed his eyes and bowed his head.
Below, everyone sensed that the old man's flame of life had gone out. No one wept. They all bowed their heads together in silent mourning.
The Light of Order differed greatly from the doctrinal scriptures of other churches in one respect: other churches described deceased followers as returning to the embrace of some god or to some warm, happy place, to soften the sorrow of death.
The Light of Order contained no such descriptions. When followers of the Order God Church faced a dead companion, they would not say that he would surely return to the embrace of Order.
The Order God Church possessed the ability of Awakening, yet its attitude toward death had always been clearer: it was... the end.
To Order Followers and the culture of Order, the ability of Awakening was more like a final, utterly complete act of "devotion."
Even though I have died, my body remains willing to contribute its last strength to the Order in my heart.
A religious culture that pursued devotion to its utmost would inevitably foster an untroubled attitude toward death.
There was not even fanaticism in this, but rather calm reflection, for the rules of Order were inherently cold in tone.
High Priest Norton turned to face everyone and said:
"I know why Taixisen came out this time. I have received the report on the Mipos Archipelago massacre. This matter involves the Two Great Orthodox Churches, but I promise here that I will give everyone, Order, and the world a true accounting.
"As for this place, the ground beneath our feet-Fire Island.
"What happened here directly led to Taixisen's passing. The evidence