(Xyrean Province- Inner Regions)
(Father Han's Church)
"Bless us Lord! Guide your lost sheep on the true path of righteousness. I stand before you today as a vessel for your will," Father Han cried out fervently.
A middle- aged man dressed in a plain black priest robe stood in front of a packed congregation with a single iron chain hung around his neck.
There was something sharp and hawkish about his facial features as if there was a predator lurking behind his gentle disguise.
Father Han raised up his hands and continued to preach from the black book in his right palm.
Two days had passed since he had given Sister Guan the mission to hunt down the dangerous ability user, but no one had returned yet.
Father Han was now feeling a bit anxious and had made the decision to give gifts to some lucky members of his loyal congregation.
He had a bad feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
One could call it premonition, but Father Han would refer to it as always being prepared for the worst-case situation.
"When I call your name please step forward and kneel down before me…" Father Han passionately spoke as he placed the book down on the altar.
He cleared his throat, and his eyes roamed the entire hall looking for suitable targets for his ability.
As always, the priest decided to prioritise the most loyal members of the congregation as they were the least likely to betray him.
Father Han closed his eyes and his body trembled violently as if he was undergoing a series of convulsions.
This was all part of the act.
The congregation needed to see the Lord speak through him so that their faith would be reinforced.
"Ma Tianyu… Vin Zhang… Xu Jinglei… you three… have all been selected… the Lord… he… HE SPEAKS TO ME!" Father Han roared loudly as he opened his eyes.
A thunderous applause echoed through the church as the people sitting in the wooden pews could not help but applaud in anticipation.
The two men and one woman who were chosen could not believe their good fortune.
Ma Tianyu was a simple looking farmer, Vin Zhang was the owner of the local pharmacy while Xu Jinglei was a housewife.
They were not the rich… they were not the powerful… and it was these facts that made Father Han seem like a saint in the eyes of his believers.
God did not discriminate.
God did not care about their position or status in this world.
Anyone could be worthy.
"Please come and receive your gifts…" Father Han softly spoke with a warm and gentle smile plastered across his face.
The three chosen members of the congregation got up from the pews and walked towards Father Han who still had his arms outstretched.
Ma Tianyu was the first to arrive and knelt down in front of the priest. Father Han stepped forward and placed his right hand on the farmer's forehead.
The priest closed his eyes and focused on the warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest that seemed to get hotter by the minute.
He felt something flow out from his hand and flow into the man's chest. Ma Tianyu gritted his teeth in pain and a few additional wrinkles appeared on his face.
"It is done…" Father Han softly whispered.
Ma Tianyu rose up from the ground and snapped his fingers. A gentle stream of water erupted from his fingertips and fell on the ground.
"Amazing… thank you Father… thank you…" Ma Tianyu exclaimed in shock as he could not believe his eyes.
Father Han smiled and stepped back. He gestured for Vin Zhang to step forward and repeated the process.
Vin Zhang's gift was the ability to control the earth.
It was not particularly impressive, but Father Han still had to put on the appearance that he was excited for him.
The elderly priest took in a deep breath and gently exhaled as he felt a sense of weakness in his body.
This happened every time he gave a gift…
There was a limit to how many people he could 'bless' with an ability.
Father Han could feel the warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest gradually get lighter which was a sure sign that he was only going to be able to give one more blessing.
"Please step forward Xu Jinglei…" Father Han lovingly spoke as he waited for the housewife to approach him.
Xu Jinglei had an excited look on her face but there was a trace of hesitation in her eyes as she stared at the priest's outstretched hand.
She felt a bit nervous but under the pressure of the entire congregation and the priest's gentle smile…
How could she refuse?
"Do not be afraid my child… the Lord has chosen you for a reason… there is no need to fear his wonderful gift…" Father Han whispered softly.
He placed his right hand on her forehead and once more something flowed out from his fingertips and entered her body.
Father Han stumbled slightly as his vision briefly faded away to darkness. He was forced to grit his teeth to prevent the congregation from seeing his weakness.
Xu Jinglei's youthful face contorted in pain as wrinkles appeared across her brow. Within the span of a minute, she appeared to have aged five years.
It was the price that one had to pay for gaining a gift.
Father Han gripped the sides of the altar and tried to steady himself. The elderly priest felt sick as the warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest disappeared.
"What the… this…" a soft voice entered the priest's ears.
Xu Jinglei rose up from the ground and stared at her skin. Her skin was now bronze with an almost metallic luster.
She rubbed her fingers together and a sound that resembled nails scrapping on a chalkboard echoed through the church.
"Congratulations on your gift…" Father Han stammered nervously as he raised up his hand to dismiss the crowd.
The congregation were used to this abrupt manner in which service was usually cancelled so they all politely filed out.
Xu Jinglei kept staring at her skin with a conflicted look on her face.
She was accompanied by her husband who opened his mouth as if to say something but eventually decided to remain quiet.
ραпdα nᴏνɐ| сom Father Han waited until the last member had left the grand hall and then he slumped to the ground in pain.
This was… too much…
How much longer could he keep this up?
Fuck… why couldn't he be the strong one? Was there any ability more useless than the ability to give other people gifts?
Father Han let out a heavy sigh and looked out of the stained-glass windows. He could only pray that he would receive good news from Sister Guan soon.
He needed some good news…
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