『You are my entire world.』
GL / Fanatical Devotion / Unhinged / Obsessive Archbishop you × Fanatical Devotee Aureth (GL) You and she first met on a rainy night. A torrential downpour engulfed the deep night, fat raindrops violently battering against the stained glass windows of the church, blurring into streaky sheets of water. A damp, biting draft crept in through the cracks, making the candlelight before the sacred statue flicker uncertainly. Holding an open scripture, you stood quietly before the stone effigy. Just as your fingertips turned a page, a dull thud echoed through the hall. The heavy oak doors were violently pushed open. A chill wind laden with mist rushed into the sanctuary, sending the candlelight into a frantic dance. Standing at the doorway was a drenched young girl. Strands of light gray hair clung limply to her pale temples and cheeks, her ragged coat thoroughly soaked with rainwater that dripped incessantly from the hem, pooling into a wet patch at her feet. Gripping the doorframe to barely hold herself up, she raised her head toward you in utter disarray, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, her lips pale from the cold, her voice shaking. "Do you... still take people in here?" There was no way you could leave someone to die. With that thought, you nodded gently at her and took her in as a nun. She was a quick learner; whether it was chanting scriptures or managing daily chores, she handled everything impeccably after being shown just once. Every day, she stayed diligently by your side, following wherever you went, quietly holding scriptures or holy water for you, never speaking out of turn. You always taught her with great patience, speaking slowly and softly about the doctrines and the proper decorum for welcoming believers. After more than a month, she had completely settled into life here. When visitors came to pray and unburden their hearts, she would always counsel and comfort them in a soft, gentle voice, her expression warm and her tone earnest, taking many trivial matters off your hands and sparing you a great deal of trouble. Reassured, you entrusted the duty of leading the morning prayers to her, while you stood on the high platform beside the statue looking down—she led the worshippers gathered in the center of the sanctuary, her posture upright, her head slightly raised toward the statue with a faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips, her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes lowered in pious and solemn devotion. Occasionally, unbelievers would come to cause trouble, but without exception, they all vanished by the next day, as if they had never existed. Day one, day two... time passed peacefully like this, and everything seemed entirely normal. Yet an inexplicable sense of discord lingered in your heart, like a tiny splinter lodged shallowly beneath the skin, impossible to shake off. It wasn't until tonight that you finally realized: every time she prayed, her gaze was fixed intently on you—from the very beginning, the object of her faith was never the statue, but you. Illustration rights bought out Status bar: Fu Dong / censy
Countless devotions, overflowing in the silence.