Chapter 73: Clash of Faith

"What do you think?"

"I think you don’t believe in her. At all."

Orion’s lips curved in a slow, mocking smile. "Congratulations. A thousand points to you for that deduction."

Sophia frowned, arms folding across her chest. "You’re serious? You’re the Alpha of your pack. How can you not believe in the Moon Goddess?"

He shrugged as if it was nothing, as if she’d just accused him of not believing a person’s lies and not their goddess.

"Simple. I don’t have to."

Her frown deepened. "But that doesn’t make any sense. How can you be the alpha of your pack when you don’t believe in her? And why wouldn’t you believe in her? She’s the one who..."

"Who what?" he cut in sharply. "Guides us? Protects us? Watched over us like some creep? Hands down miracles like sweets at a market stall?"

Sophia’s brows knitted. "You speak as if she’s not real."

"That’s because she isn’t."

"But she is. She’s real. She’s always been real..."

"How do you know?"

"What?" Sophia asked him with a frown.

"How do you know she’s real?" He asked her.

"That’s because she is. Isn’t it obvious? If she wasn’t then we wouldn’t even be here. You wouldn’t be as strong as you are."

"I’m as strong as I am because of my hardwork."

"Well, yes that too. But you can’t just conclude that she isn’t real. She is. I’ve read books about her. I’ve seen writings about her...She, she’s kind, benevolent, and she watches over her people."

The words came out fervent, almost instinctive, and for a fleeting moment, she saw herself in a room with scrolls opened over the bed. She blinked and it was gone. It was like what she was was just a glimpse? She wasn’t sure. Perhaps it was something she did in her past? Perhaps it was something she couldn’t remember, something that has to do with her memories?

While she was battling with an inner turmoil, Orion, however, rolled his eyes. "Gods, you sound like Madam Tyler. Preaching her sermons about the Great moon goddess. The mother of all living creatures. The one who ensures we are safe."

"I’m not preaching," Sophia shot back, voice rising. "I’m telling you what’s true."

"Truth?" Orion laughed. The laugh was short and humorless. He took a step closer, shadows cutting across his features. "If she’s so kind and benevolent, if she really watches over her people like you say, then explain this to me. Why was the enclave able to strike us the way they did? Why do good people keep dying while the ones who thrive on blood and cruelty live on?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Sophia faltered for just a second, but her stubborn streak refused to back down. "I don’t know the full story of what happened with your pack and the enclave but that doesn’t mean she isn’t real. It means... it means we don’t always understand her ways. Maybe there’s a bigger plan..."

"A bigger plan," he echoed flatly. "That’s what they always say. Every time something goes to shit, it’s either ’her mysterious ways’ or ’her will.’ It’s the easiest excuse in the world."

His voice carried a sharp edge now, not just mocking but cold, like steel forged in old scars.

Sophia’s hands curled into fists at her sides. "It’s not an excuse. Faith is more than that. She gives hope. She gives meaning."

"And that’s the problem." His gaze pinned her, dark and unyielding. "People want something to cling to so badly, they’ll create it if it doesn’t exist. They’ll carve a goddess out of the shadows and call her salvation. Meanwhile, they ignore the fact that it’s their own strength or weakness that decides whether they live or die."

Sophia shook her head, her frustration spilling out. "You can’t just dismiss her like that. She’s real. I’ve felt her presence."

"Have you?" Orion’s voice dropped, almost soft, but no less cutting. "Or have you just been told she’s real so many times that you’ve convinced yourself you’ve felt something?"

Her chest tightened, anger bubbling hot and fast. "I’m not some child clinging to fairy tales."

"No," he agreed smoothly. "You’re just someone repeating everything you’ve been told. Give me facts that she’s real. Tell me something that proves that she’s real."

"I survived!" Sophia screamed at him. "Me, surviving should be proof that she is real. If you had not seen me at the shrine then I may be dead now, who knows."

Orion laughed. "That wasn’t the moon goddess intervening." He told her.

"Then what would you call it?"

"Luck. You were lucky curiosity which you happen to be a friend to, led me to that shrine that day."

"What the hell?" She asked him, more confused than ever.

"I only went to the shrine because I was after someone and they led me to you." He told her.

She swallowed. "You never told me that though."

"You never asked and I did not see a point in telling you. You have one main task, Sophia, and that’s to discover your memories and not let curiosity lead my people into danger. And if you want to pleasure your so-called moon goddess, then do so but don’t try to prove to me that she exists because nothing you tell me will be enough proof that she does." He told her.

Orion didn’t wait for Sophia to reply, he stormed out and began walking towards his home while she stood more confused than ever. How was it that people could dislike the moon goddess? It didn’t seem real. And yet, Orion was one of them which made her wonder if perhaps the writing on the altar had been directed to the moon goddess. If perhaps the person who had written those words were also like Orion.

She needed proof that the moon goddess existed and that she was everything Sophia knew she was. With a low growl, she began moving towards the library which had been her destination before the game with Orion took place. And while she walked, her mind replayed that scene that flashed before her eyes. Perhaps her memory was coming back?

Meanwhile, Holly was at a different place, seething in anger.