Chapter 22: The 10 Apostles of the Sun
What is a god?
It is a question many people ask themselves regarding the peculiar nature of a god, a being superior to others.
People tend to confuse someone powerful with a god.
For example, a person with enough strength to subjugate the entire universe would earn the title of "god."
But a god is not merely a title granted to the strongest, but an existence that is fundamentally superior.
Inside a vast corridor made of immaculate white marble, stained-glass windows of various shapes depicted the history of Solaria and the Lord.
Unlike during Kafka's visit, the Church of Solaria was no longer empty. On the contrary, people could be seen calmly walking everywhere, people of all ages, races, and genders.
Adam did not discriminate regarding who could become sisters or fathers within the Church. Of course, his system was based on the Christianity of his original world. A system that accepted everyone despite their differences had become extremely popular among the inhabitants.
As he walked while smiling and greeting everyone who crossed his path, his immaculate white priest robe swayed gently with his calm steps. Aside from the robe, he was dressed entirely in white, from his boots to his gloves adorned with silver details. Despite its simplicity, his appearance gave him an air of purity and infinite warmth.
'Now that I have dealt with Elara's situation, she can rely on Stephanie now...no, she must rely on her if she wishes to reach the heights I want her to attain.'
With his warm smile still on his face, Adam continued walking through the long corridor of the Church.
After several minutes of silent walking, he arrived before a large metallic door. Removing his right white glove, he pressed his thumb against a small compartment. A few seconds later, the previously sealed door opened automatically.
He slowly walked inside until he reached a large table. Around it were already several people seated and discussing among themselves. Hearing the door open and close, everyone turned toward the sound.
Adam walked calmly without the slightest hurry while everyone watched him. The seated individuals suddenly rose to their feet at the same time. They appeared to belong to various generations and ages; there was even someone who seemed to be around eighty years old.
"Greetings, Your Holiness!"
A sudden exclamation echoed throughout the room. The voices varied, some deep, others soft, but what united them all was their reverence toward the "Son of God."
Since his awakening and the establishment of the Church, Adam had acquired many titles such as "The Son of God" and "The Child of Light." Over the past five years, these titles had helped his image become increasingly flawless across the entire planet.
The room contained a large rectangular high-tech table with tablets placed before every chair. The environment gave the room a secretive atmosphere, and several iron doors leading to unknown locations could be seen around the chamber.
Seeing everyone's greetings, Adam said nothing and simply continued walking. He reacted as though such commotion was perfectly normal and something he had long grown accustomed to.
As he settled into the largest of the ten chairs, he slowly sat down. Then, placing both hands upon the table, he finally addressed the people standing before him with their heads lowered in respect and gratitude.
"It is fine, you may sit."
As though they had received the grace of an emperor, everyone obeyed immediately.
"How are all of you today?"
After observing everyone, he asked the question casually, as if he were speaking to close friends.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Holiness. Thanks to you and the Lord, this old man can now live a decent life."
The one who answered was the elderly man who appeared to be around eighty years old.
His words might have sounded excessive to outsiders, but everyone present knew they were his honest feelings. In truth, the same applied to everyone in the room. They were all fiercely loyal to the Lord and to His beloved messenger.
The old man wore a white robe that reached the floor. Unlike Adam, who appeared no older than twenty, the wrinkles on his face gave him an aura of wisdom. His white hair and beard only emphasized his advanced age, while his gray eyes revealed both exhaustion and unwavering devotion as he gazed at Adam.
This old man was Paul. At eighty years old, he was one of the most respected members of the Church for several reasons, but especially because he belonged to the "Originals." Although Adam had never officially approved the term, it still circulated throughout the Church.
Its meaning was simple: it referred to those who had believed in the Lord from the very beginning despite the protests and ridicule of many others. Now, it had become the greatest source of pride among the original believers.
"Good to hear."
Adam nodded as though he were genuinely pleased to see the ten people before him happy.
But after ten minutes of ordinary conversation, Adam tapped twice upon the table. The small sound instantly reached everyone's ears.
"Very well. Today, I have gathered you here for two main reasons."
Adam's voice echoed through the room, yet no one interrupted him. On the contrary, everyone became even more attentive.
Seeing everyone so focused despite their curiosity, Adam continued:
"The first matter concerns my daughter, Elara. You may or may not have heard already, but she arrived last week."
Even though each person undoubtedly had their own questions regarding the matter, after all, it was currently one of the Church's hottest topics, though the information had not spread beyond its walls, not a single person interrupted him, and everyone allowed Adam to continue.
"The reason for this is because I wish for her to become the future face of Solaria and eventually take over half of my responsibilities. Her religious name will become Lucia."
The reaction to this declaration left everyone shocked and incredulous. Their saint had just informed them that his daughter, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, would become the future face of the Church.
The people seated around this table were not ordinary individuals. They were the "chosen," personally selected by Adam to manage the affairs of the Church. Beyond the main Church of Solaria, there were countless other branches spread throughout the nation. Naturally, these people also held authority over decisions capable of directly influencing the country itself, including the passing of laws.
They were known as the Ten Apostles of the Sun, and they were the absolute authority of the planet.