Chapter 954 — A Troubled Anluo
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 5
Gaoyang and the others were escorted out of the hall of the upper sanctuary, with the high-ranking dragon priest Hragor personally seeing them to the door. Then two priests, likewise robed in sumptuous vestments, emerged from somewhere unknown and led them toward the connecting bridge that ran to the lift.
The first half of the journey passed in peculiar silence—perhaps the solemn atmosphere of the sanctuary still exerted some lingering influence, or perhaps Amber and Virodai felt they remained under that deity's gaze and dared not speak freely out of caution. But halfway along, Amber finally could not hold back. She glanced at the two dragon-kin priests walking ahead in silence, as though they were a pair of mere functionaries, then stealthily poked Gaoyang's arm: "Hey, don't you think something's a bit off..."
Gaoyang glanced at her: "Off how?"
"How come they just suddenly stopped talking..." Amber whispered with extreme caution. "I keep feeling the Dragon God had a lot more to say... and It went out of Its way to stress that we should take a look around Tarronde first..."
"If It wants us to look around, then we look around—isn't that fine?" Gaoyang said with complete indifference. "As for whether It had things It wanted to say but didn't... that's Its business."
Amber blinked, looked at Gaoyang, then glanced back at the sanctuary still magnificent beneath the starry sky, and an expression of thoughtful contemplation—swiftly abandoned—crossed her face.
She patted her cheeks, as though briskly banishing that little knot of confusion from her mind, and muttered: "Ugh... it always feels like nighttime, and I can't stop wanting to nod off..."
Gaoyang slowed his pace a little. He glanced at Amber and saw that the half-elf had perked up again and was wearing her usual grin—the one that seemed it would never fade.
……
"My Lord," Hragor said, returning to the gilded hall of the sanctuary and bowing low before the deity, "they have departed."
"You seem to have accumulated a great many questions?" Enya had returned to the throne at the center of the hall, which had reappeared. It looked down at Its priest. "There is no need for restraint today. Speak whatever is on your mind."
Hragor raised his head for a look, and after a moment's hesitation spoke: "My Lord, why did You speak with them of... matters from one million eight hundred seventy thousand years ago? Such secret and ancient knowledge should not have been part of the plan..."
"There is ancient, secret knowledge that the gods keep from mortals because mortals cannot bear it. Yet after meeting today's guests... I find that perhaps I may speak of a little more," the deity's voice drifted over, tinged with a certain pleasure. "I had thought only that 'Gaoyang Cecil' was somewhat special, but I never expected all three of them to be special. A Listener does not 'suffer damage' as easily as ordinary mortals—this is cause for gladness on my part."
Here It paused, then sighed in admiration: "It has been a long time since I conversed with anyone so easily... so now I look forward all the more to my next private meeting with that 'Gaoyang Cecil.'"
Hragor raised his head in some surprise: "You intend to meet that human king alone next time?"
"A ghost that has survived a thousand years is, in the end, still a ghost; a wanderer who crosses the boundary of dreams into the waking world is, in essence, no more than a resident of the shadow realm. But a 'trespasser' disguised as an ordinary human, one whom even I cannot fathom... that is far more interesting," the deity said unhurriedly. "Next time I shall speak with him alone. And incidentally, I wish to know what interesting new views he will form after seeing the various details of Tarronde with his own eyes."
"Hragor, henceforth leave the task of accompanying the guests to that young blue dragon. You need only keep an eye on the guests' movements and ensure their safety. Unless it is necessary, do not disturb them."