The heroes did not return to the castle immediately after leaving the Church of Elements.
Instead, Halvion led them to a long stone hall beside the church—an annex used for "reflection and discussion." Tall windows lined one wall, letting in pale afternoon light. The other wall was carved with reliefs: gods towering over kneeling mortals, angels guiding crowned kings, cities rising beneath divine symbols.
Benches were arranged in a circle this time, not in rows.
"You have listened," Halvion said as he took his seat. "Now you will think."
Takumi crossed his arms. "Are we allowed to think differently from the church?"
Halvion looked at him calmly. "You are allowed to think. Whether others allow you to speak is a different matter."
That answer alone told them enough.
A younger priest brought water and simple bread, then quietly left. No chanting. No prayers. Just silence.
Riku spoke first. "They talked about gods like they're… laws. Like gravity. But they also talk like gods have feelings. Anger. Favor. Pride."
"Can something be both a law and a person?" Emi asked.
"Maybe," Akira said slowly. "But if they are like laws, then worship shouldn't matter. Gravity doesn't care if you bow to it."
Yui nodded. "But they say faith makes gods stronger."
Mio frowned. "That means gods need people."
Naoki added quietly, "Or at least… want them."
Halvion watched them without interrupting.
Haruto looked at the reliefs on the wall. "Every story they showed… it was always gods giving. Blessing. Punishing. Choosing. But never being judged."
Shun clenched his jaw. "So gods decide what's right… because they're gods."
"Or because no one can stop them," Takumi said.
Silence followed that.
Then Halvion spoke. "What you were shown today is not false. But it is not whole."
All eyes turned to him.
"The Church exists to maintain stability," he continued. "Stability requires belief. Belief requires simple stories. Heroes, villains, gods, sinners."
"Where do we fit?" Yui asked softly.
"In their story?" Halvion replied. "You are heroes chosen by divine will."
"And in reality?" Akira asked.
Halvion met his gaze. "You are weapons summoned by a kingdom, approved by a church, and tolerated by gods."
The words felt heavy.
Riku exhaled slowly. "So… if we die, the story just changes."
"Yes," Halvion said. "They will say you were too weak. Or not faithful enough. Or that the gods had other plans."
Mio hugged her arms. "That's… cruel."
"Cruelty," Halvion said, "is often hidden behind sacred words."
They talked about Heaven again.
"What they told us was vague," Emi said. "No names. No structure. Just 'layers' and 'purity.'"
"That is intentional," Halvion replied. "The less you know, the easier it is to control what you imagine."
Takumi laughed without humor. "So Heaven is just… a mystery box."
"A useful one," Halvion said.
Naoki hesitated before speaking. "Why are you telling us this?"
Halvion was quiet for a moment.
"Because you are not children of this world," he said. "You were not raised inside its stories. That gives you… distance. And distance allows doubt."
Haruto looked down at his hands. "But if we doubt too much… what happens?"
Halvion answered honestly. "Then you become dangerous."
The word hung in the air.
They left the annex later, walking back toward the castle as the sky turned orange.
On the way, they passed a small square where common people gathered. A priest was preaching, voice loud and confident.
"Obey the gods, and you shall be rewarded! Doubt them, and calamity will follow!"
People listened. Some nodded. Some looked afraid. Some looked relieved.
Yui whispered, "They don't want truth. They want safety."
"And fear," Shun added.
That night, the heroes gathered in their shared quarters instead of sleeping early.
Candles burned low.
Mio spoke softly. "Back in our world… people fought over gods too."
Takumi nodded. "And still do."
"But there," Yui said, "no god ever actually answered."
Here… they might.
That made everything heavier.
Haruto finally said, "If gods can be wrong… does that make us right for questioning them?"
Akira replied, "Right and wrong might not matter to gods. Only control."
Riku stared at the floor. "Then what matters to us?"
No one answered immediately.
Then Emi said, "Each other."
Silence followed again—different this time.
Not empty.
Before sleeping, Haruto stood by the window. The church tower was visible in the distance, its symbol glowing faintly with magic.
He thought about the stories they were told.
About heroes kneeling.
About gods judging.
About Heaven that could not be questioned.
He didn't feel hatred.
He felt… unease.
Somewhere far above, gods were being worshipped.
Somewhere far below, monsters waited to be slain.
And in between, twelve students from another world were being shaped into something they did not yet understand.
Not heroes.
Not yet.
Just pieces moving inside a story written by others.