The King's Beloved

~ [Music Recommendation: "Whom Shall I Fear" by Sarah Reeves (cover version for Rania's melody, original by Chris Tomlin) - instrumental only - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter T_T ~

Instead of thinking logically, prioritizing strategy or wisdom or strength, Elliot heightened his faith and let his hope rest upon the Supreme.

Yes, just like what he should have done from the start …

On the other hand, while everyone began losing hope, there was someone who's faith remained firm and unshaken.

"Too many enemies we can't defeat," Rania thought in her mind as she watched the situation from east to west. "Everyone seemed to lose hope as well. This trial … I wonder what it's about. We were sent to a place preparing for war … then our magic was purposely blocked … and now there's waves after waves of monsters! People are dying every moment! … Why? Why did this happen in the first place? How did it happen? I want to know … But most of all, how are we going to overcome this?"

Sighing heavily, Rania looked up at the sky like Elliot, and prayed. 

"My Lord … I don't know what to do," she confessed. "But I know that you are good and that Your love for us is great. Whatever's happening, we don't know why or how it became like this … but I know that You have the power to deliver us! You are the God of Victory! This battle is not ours to begin with. Yes, this battle is Yours!"

Amazingly, as she prayed in her heart, Rania felt hope rise within her. 

Such great hope … and faith. 

Her spirit began to burn … like a wildfire she couldn't contain.

And so, she dropped her weapon, stood at the highest point of the tower, and began to sing - no, it wasn't singing … she "worshipped" the Most High. 

As absurd as it might sound, to sing in a midst of war. But yes, she did it. It was as if something was telling her that it was the right thing to do … she sang with all her heart.

["Whom Shall I Fear" by Chris Tomlin - see music recommendation at the top]

~ "You hear me when I call

You are my morning song

Though darkness fills the night

It cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear?" ~

Everyone who heard her was surprised. They all wondered why she suddenly started singing. The mage beside Rania reached out her hands to her, and used some of her remaining spiritual energy to echo her voice for everyone to hear … as if something pushed her to do so.

" ~ You crush the enemy

Underneath my feet

You are my sword and shield

Though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear?" ~

Despite the war that was still going on, everyone who heard her couldn't help but listen. And as they listened, there was this … wildfire that began to consume their hearts. It started small - like a spark - but as Rania continued singing, it kept on growing ...

~ "I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side" ~

"Right …," Elliot murmured to himself as he looked at Rania standing tall and worshipping with all her might. He sighed of relief and smiled afterwards. He, too, lowered down his weapon and sang with her. And amazingly, everyone else felt the same thing! One by one, people began worshipping!

~ "My strength is in your name

For you alone can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear?" ~

At last, everyone was worshipping with her! Some even began to cry and pour their hearts out. Elliot was reminded of the people in the Kingdom of Ventus. Of how, even before the war came to them, they were celebrating and praising and worshipping the Supreme, thanking Him and believing in Him!

And thus, everyone turned to the Supreme. They were reminded of a simple truth, one that the Oracle of their time had told them numerous times.

"When we are weak, then we are strong".

~ "I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side" ~

Faith was indeed like a spark of fire in a forest … 

It would always start small ... but once you keep fueling it constantly, it would grow bigger, stronger, until it affects the rest of the trees nearby ...

And once it does, what once was a little spark would become a wildfire that consumes everyone's entire being …

Beyond the mind, beyond the heart, or the flesh, it seeps deep into our soul until we are devoured completely and our lives would never be the same again ...

Cleansing us of our impurities, renewing us, and turning us back into ashes so like phoenixes, we may rise again anew.

Such was what happened to everyone. After worshipping, and renewing their faith to the Supreme, bright lights came down from the heavens. They were like little sparkling snow, falling down from the skies. Everyone wondered first what it was.

The tiny sparkles of lights rested on each of their bodies … lots of them absorbed like water into their skin. Then, they suddenly felt all their lost strength coming back to their bodies … and more! The spiritual energies that were drained out during the long war were all replenished as well! The wounds and injuries they got from the monsters, even fatal ones that seemed impossible to mend, all of them got healed!

And that wasn't all. Those sparkles of lights also touched the monsters' bodies, seeping unto their skin. Only, it had a different effect on them. Instead of healing them, and strengthening them, it cleansed away all the dark aura emanating from their bodies!

And just like that, the tides of battle began to change.