7. Water

Ren stood still in shock for a moment. To think that he had been talking to a spirit that was older than the dungeon itself. 

Ren turned around to see if anyone had seen the old man, but all he saw was people looking at him weirdly as they walked around him. 

It made sense, given that he was standing right in front of the doors mumbling to himself.

Ren blushed as he walked into the temple. He quickly lost his embarrassment as he walked around like a curious chick.

The temple was beautiful, housing many white marble pillars that supported a ceiling covered in serene blue paintings. Blue tinted glass reflected light making the temple seem to be underwater.

At the front of the cathedral was a stunning sculpture sitting on a platform of lapis lazuli and aquamarine. It was a woman with long flowing hair and open arms. She had a smile on her face that seemed to be inviting, and yet Ren couldn't help but feel that it was mistaken.

"You look pitiful..."

Ren felt that the smile was bittersweet. It was weird.

"It's beautiful isn't it?"

Ren was shocked by the voice. He turned to see a clergyman standing beside him.

"Sorry for shocking you, but you seemed so entranced by the statue."

"No, it's no problem at all. You're right. I just can't help but feel that the statue seems... sad? I'm not sure."

The clergyman was a little shocked, but smiled.

"It's been a while since I've heard that. You're right. Many people seem to forget the spirit is such a lamentable existence when they walk into the cathedral.

Anyone would be if they felt abandoned by the one they love. Not to mention that she had sacrificed herself for him. Perhaps this expression was the last one that Fulland had seen as she passed away in his arms."

"Hmm?"

Ren was confused, and this expression was very apparent on his face.

"You don't know the tale of Fulland of Water and Light?"

"Only a little bit I guess."

"Then why did you come to the cathedral?"

"I just found my way here."

The clergyman was dumbfounded. Never before had he met someone who appeared here by coincidence. Almost everyone knew the tale of Fulland. It was one of the more popular stories in the book of Dungeon Oratoria.

"What do you know?"

"That Fulland and the spirit journeyed together to defeat monsters that had escaped the dungeon and that the spirit had died. Though I don't know why."

The clergyman sighed and decided to entertain the young man for a bit.

"Fulland had sworn his love for the spirit when they first met, but he ultimately ended up choosing a saint who had supported him from his early days. The spirit cried enough to create a lake, which is believed to be Lake Lolog in Melen.

She then became angry and decided to kill Fulland. However, she gave up and used her life to save him from a monster. It's said that Fulland never recovered from the event and built this temple in her honour.

There are many rumours about what happened to her body. Many believe that she was buried here. Many believe that her body turned into fragments and scattered away. Many even believe that she turned into a sword."

Ren stood in silence for a minute as he digested this information. He was confused.

A few minutes ago, he believed that he was talking to the spirit of Fulland. He wondered why Fulland didn't tell him the full story.

'Perhaps he was ashamed...'

For his spirit to guard the place he had dedicated to her for a thousand years, Fulland must have felt a deep sense of accountability.

"Can I get closer to the statue?"

"Sure. As long as you don't touch it."

The clergyman left Ren alone to his own devices.

Ren approached the statue. He wasn't the only one as many tourists were doing the same.

Ren stood in silence for a moment before a thought popped into his head.

"You deserved a better fate."

In that moment, as if responding to his heartfelt words, a series of chains appeared behind Ren, attracting the attention of those present.

"What is that?"

"Its coming from that boy over there!"

"What happening!?"

The chains were enchanting, radiating a shimmering gold. They were not tangible, appearing to be purely made of energy. They moved in a mesmerizing dance. Some chains were as thin as a hair, while others were as thick as a house. Their movements cause a harmonious harmony of sorts.

This phenomenon was visible not just to the people in the cathedral, but also to the people in the city of Orario too

They appeared to reach the clouds, drawing the attention of Gods and mortals alike.

One of the chains broke free from the golden cluster and connected Ren and the statue.

Ren's hair started to transform, turning from his black hair and eyes to an iridescent blue. His body floated in the air bathed in a watery radiance.

The audience watched in awe as the transformation occurred. No one could understand what was happening.