Chapter 18: 17: Tragedies of The Past
Beta'd by SnowyEgrett
His teeth clattered as he stumbled away from the damned painting, Lin FenXiang gritted his teeth harshly, feeling the weight of someone's sight on him, he stiffly turned to look at the direction of the gaze.
He saw Tristan Fletcher looking at him with concern in his eyes. They cocked an eyebrow in askance. Lin FenXiang did not react for a moment, then he shook his head to signal he was fine and walked out of the hall, passing by his artworks without sparing them another glance.
He shakily took out his phone from his pocket and texted Bai XiNian.
[I'm going out for a while] he wrote. [Probably to the church nearby.]
[Bai XiNian: ???]
[I want to calm my mind for sometime. Don't worry I'll be back in a while.]
[Bai XiNian: There's a concert in London Music Hall three days later. It's the Last Symphony's show for their London tour, should we go?]
Lin FenXiang paused on his way out as he stared at the text message on his screen.
Last Symphony? Did he want to go yet?
Last Symphony orchestra was from his time till today. In fact Adrastus was a member of the orchestra for sometime. He had conducted a few shows and performed his songs with them.
So, did Lin FenXiang — Drystan — want to go? Did he want to be reminded of the man?
In his entire life Adrastus was probably his only anchor. His memories, his everything Drystan had ever had was enough for him to claw his way out of the abyss of self-loathing.
So he wanted to go.
With shaky fingers, he quickly sent out a text saying 'Okay' and turned off the device.
His breathing accelerated as he nearly sprinted to get out of the shadows of his past, the atrocities he'd committed.
On reaching the road, his steps came to a halt. He wanted to hail for a taxi and go to a church, to find peace, to find quiet.
But the question was did he deserve it?
He was after all but a sinner, did he deserve to step into the parish, the holy property of the merciful God? Could he go there and taint the pristine church with his mere presence?
Was he worthy of salvation at all?
For heaven's sake, even after death, he was far from getting the peace most would take for granted. Was this his damnation, his purgatory?
Did he never deserve peace? Like a ghost, a sinner, wasn't he supposed to rot in the flames of hell? Why? Why? Why did his soul traverse to this world?
Wasn't his suffering not over.
Before he knew it, he has already stepped into the church's marble building and was kneeling in front of the altar of the crucified god.
He bowed his head quietly, not daring to look at the altar any more. He didn't deserve salvation, much less a second chance at life.
He joined his hands together and quietly prayed, for the first time since he had come to this world did he feel truly at peace.
Quiet footsteps echoed in the prayer hall Lin FenXiang slowly opened his eyes, his long and thick eyelashes fluttering as he did so.
Raising his head, he saw an old gentleman in white cassock approach him. The man's lips held a serene smile as he looked at Lin FenXiang with a knowing look in his eyes.
"What burdens do you have, my child?" He asked softly.
Lin FenXiang pursed his lips in silence. "Everything seems to be a burden to me, Father." He answered lowly.
The Father shook his head, his smile never faltering.
"My child, holding grief in one's heart will only result in greater grief. God is merciful, he will listen to your sorrows."
Lin FenXiang bit his lips, silence stretched between them.
"Second chances are not bestowed upon everyone, my dear child. Make wise use of it. Make up for your regrets. Do not wrong yourself, nor the person you hold dear." The Father spoke in a soft voice.
Lin FenXiang felt a chill crawl down his spin as his head snapped up. He stared at the Father without saying a single word.
"Father…"
"Sins are meant to be atoned," the Father shook his head as he held a hand for Lin FenXiang to take. "You might have atoned for them in the past, though the Archangel of Death, Azrael believes you deserve to rest, the Archangel of Mercy, Zadkiel and Archangel of Repentance, Uriel believe you can do better and deserve for kindness from life. Do not let them down, child. Do not throw away this chance."
Lin FenXiang stared at the Priest in dazed stupor, feeling the lump growing at the back of his throat, he swallowed thickly.
"Church of Temperance," he breathed out shakily. "I never believed I was someone worthy of salvation, father." He scoffed at himself.
The Father looked at him in silence, his face nor his eyes held any judgement in them.
"It's not up to you to decide that," he shook his head. "It's the heart of a man which decides their worthiness. Straying from the correct path for the cause you believed in is no indication of your unworthiness—" he placed a gentle hand on Lin FenXiang's chest "—the Archangel saw the ray of kindness in your heart despite everything you've been through and that's enough."
"But Father," Lin FenXiang breathed out harshly, tugging back his hair. "I feel like I'm at the brink of falling apart. What's the point of living if I can't be near my beloved?"
The Father smiled once more, a knowing glint in his eyes. "And yet, here you stand perfectly alright, unharmed and alive while you could have ended your life for his sake. But you did not, why is that?"
Lin FenXiang looked shaken, if not for the Father's support, he might have fallen to the marble floor.
He shook his head quickly. "It's not just me or my life—" he balled his hands into fists "—it is his as well," he whispered. "Lin FenXiang died and made space for me, but this life is not mine alone. I cannot, in my sound mind, end it without a second thought just for my own selfish desires. He has a family, he has two older brothers, a younger sister and he ev-even has parents…"
With a pause, he added. "He has all of the things Drystan Meyer wouldn't have dared to dream of." Feeling wetness on his cheeks, he hastily wiped the rouge tears, choking. "I'm sorry. I just, I guess I am overwhelmed with whatever is going on here."
The priest shook his head, "It's only natural," he said. "I would have told you something but you are not ready for it, not yet."
Lin FenXiang paused, looking at the priest in silence.
"Once you are ready your destiny will lead you there on its own," the priest continued, patting his shoulder encouragingly. "It's your destiny to meet again. To make up for the regrets you've held in your past. I believe in you and do not worry, child, the Archangels are watching you."
Although his words were somewhat unsettling, they were at least reassuring. Lin FenXiang nodded in understanding and bowed before turning around to leave the Church of Temperance.
–
As he watched the young man's retreating back, Father William closed his eyes sighing softly.
Slowly walking behind the church, he entered a hall covered in shadows. In the hall massive statues of hooded figures stood proudly and imposingly.
Standing in the centre of the hall, he looked straight at one of the statues and sighed once more.
"Was this necessary, Archangel Azrael, Archangel Uriel?" He asked. His question was met with a deafening silence.
"I believe so, Father William. Some tragedies of the past deserve a good ending in the future," a disembodied voice spoke. "Fates might have torn them apart once, but not this time."
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Author has something to say:
Well, I guess this explains Drystan's transmigration, somewhat.
Also, look who did a DOUBLE UPDATE!!
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