Gantz woke with a start as a rabbit leaped onto his chest and dashed away. He looked around and caught a glimpse of the moon filtering through the trees.
— "What the...? My arm!"
He grabbed his left limb, searching for the wound beneath the dried blood, but felt nothing. Rubbing his eyes, he stared at the small, furry mound a few meters away from him.
— "It wasn't a dream. But what the fuck happened? And where did that freak come from? A wolf wouldn't do what that thing did! The mass!" Gantz scrambled to his feet and began to run before coming to a sudden halt. I'm dirty, exhausted, my clothes are torn, and my family is expecting a feast when I get back. He turned around and initially ignored the wolf's carcass, but then took a step back. He walked back to the mound of fur and kicked the body. — "Yeah, it's definitely dead," he pondered. He knelt and inspected the animal's teeth; they weren't dark or rotten. It hadn't been sick—at least not with a normal disease. He widened his eyes, and despite the intense redness of the iris, there was nothing else unusual. He ran his hand over the soft fur. — Should I take it to Mother? It would make a beautiful winter coat. No, who knows what that thing carried. He walked to the center of the clearing, searching for an animal that was still whole to take with him.
He found one of the boars that had been decapitated by a bite. — It shouldn't have any diseases, right? I mean, I checked it before. Either way, I'll cook it thoroughly. He drew his knife, glinting under the moonlight, and with a clean cut, removed the animal's entrails before beginning the journey back home.
The path felt even longer due to his exhausted body and the extra weight. He had to navigate through many branches and fallen trees before finally spotting the open field. Reaching it, he let out a sigh, tossed the carcass aside, and sat on the edge of the porch, gazing at the stars shining in the firmament. He rested for a few minutes before preparing the animal with some spices and baking powder to roast it in an underground pit oven. Right after, he started getting ready to try and catch the end of the festival, putting on his best clothes—a blue shirt with black trousers—and fixing his curly hair while looking in the mirror, running his hand over his well-trimmed stubble. His green eyes gleamed with the reflection of the light. He couldn't be called handsome, but the features inherited from his father gave him a masculine jaw and traits one would expect to see in a nobleman.
...
Observed from above, the people dressed in blue looked like a wave gathering at the largest building in town—a grand navy-blue church completely encrusted with scales and the heads of aquatic animals like whales, sharks, and dolphins. Its doors were so massive they could comfortably allow an elephant to enter. There were small streams crafted from stone slabs through which clear water flowed; fish of varied colors swam back and forth, and children loved to chase them through the channels that led to an enormous fountain in the middle of the courtyard.
The middle-aged priest stood at the door, greeting everyone who entered. The flow of people gradually dwindled until no one was left outside. The great doors were shut, and the pearls of light were extinguished, replaced by a vast number of candles.
Everyone remained in complete silence as the priest walked slowly, without looking sideways, toward the podium at the back of the church. He climbed the stairs slowly and positioned himself facing the congregation.
— "Praise be," he said, barely a whisper, but the design of the church turned the sound booming and reverberant.
— "PRAISE BE!" everyone uttered in unison before returning to silence.
The priest stood still in his blue robe, a beautiful white smile on his face.
— "Today we have a guest. A high-ranking priest has come to grace us with a few words."
He stepped aside, making room for the newcomer—a short man with a powerful torso and toned arms, but with the protruding belly of someone who drank heavily. His face was young, and his eyes were small and sharp, conveying a sense of malice.
— "My beloved faithful, it is an honor to have me here on this day! How good is God!"
— "HOW GOOD IS GOD!" the people uttered with a slight hesitation.
The short man didn't seem to like the hesitation, but he proceeded.
— "We were not the first nor the last to be created, but we were certainly the favorites among all the Lord's children! Father of the seas from whence all life emerged—without water, there is no life!"
— "WITHOUT WATER, THERE IS NO LIFE!" once more the chorus of voices rang out.
— "Our race is not the smartest, nor the strongest, but we are certainly the most creative and capable in the art of craftsmanship. This is the gift given to us, just as our dwarf brothers were given the gift to locate and excavate ores like no other! This church is an example. And of this, we should be proud!"
The mass continued for a few hours. It seemed the short man would never stop talking until he finally appeared tired and decided to conclude.
— "And as a gift, I demonstrate to you the power that only those close to God can wield."
He whispered something, and with a movement of his hand, an enormous blue whale appeared, floating with its white belly right above everyone. Water dripped onto the residents' bodies, seemingly curing their ailments and renewing their faith. The creature made a circular movement in the air before vanishing, and everyone stood up enthusiastically, clapping their hands.
The stream of excited residents poured out of the church and into the courtyard, where a small event with snacks was to take place.
Leonardo, dressed in his beautiful armor and maintaining a fine posture, smiled as several women approached to invite him to spend the night at their homes. Once again, he found himself in a position where he would have to refuse such attractive invitations.
While talking to the beautiful ladies and occasionally stealing a few touches from those whose kisses he couldn't resist, he spotted a young man—curly hair, firm posture, and a trained body just as the holy book described, long legs and a proud chest. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a nobleman in this village. Something about the man made him feel uneasy.
— "Hey, beautiful lady, can you tell me who he is?" He pointed with his gleaming gauntlet.
— "That's Gantz! He lives on a farm near here," another woman replied, intruding into the conversation.
— "Interesting, thank you! Come here, I'm going to give you a present." He took her slender, white chin and kissed her.
The young women around them squealed enthusiastically.