Chapter 1529 — Secrets Beneath the Night
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 5
"Don't worry too much," came a gentle voice from beside him. A kind-faced woman in a plain robe had appeared by the bench without his noticing. Seeing the acolyte's tension, she spoke with a smile to comfort him. "The Theocratic Council are not ferocious enemies. They are His Majesty's arm, the guardians of this world, and right now they are trying to protect the church—that is a good thing. The Council responded swiftly yet arrested no one, which means matters are still under control."
The acolyte rose and bowed, then spread his hands with a bitter smile. "I know, Your Holiness. The knight-captain said as much earlier—that this is likely just a scare that will pass by morning. But what I saw in the Court of Harvest was truly horrifying. Even now, images from before keep flashing through my mind... those marks on the ground, I can't help but..."
"Do not dwell on it. Do not recall it. Do not question it. You are a devout man, and that is precisely why you must understand where the true trial lies—a thousand prayers in fair weather are no trial at all; the true strength of the faithful is the heart kept whole in dire straits." The woman in the plain robe shook her head gently and laid a hand on the acolyte's shoulder. "This matter is partly my fault as well. When I received word from the Theocratic Council, I should have been more vigilant. I should never have let you linger so long in the Court of Harvest."
"No, Your Holiness, please don't say that. It is my responsibility that I wavered," the acolyte said, waving his hands hastily. "I understand what you mean, and I know what I must do. You needn't worry."
"That's good," the administrator of the Temple of Abundance said with a slight nod, though she could not help adding a few words. "If you feel you cannot hold out, go rest a while in the side hall—the psychological counselors sent by the Council are there as well. Or connect to the neural network and relax. This is not a holy season; a bit of proper leisure does not defy the will of the Three Goddesses."
The acolyte hesitated, then nodded. "Thank you for your concern. I'll go rest in the side hall for a while."
After the acolyte had gone, the Holy Maiden of Abundance sighed softly. She turned to look at the raised dais at the far end of the long hall, where the statues of the Three Goddesses of Abundance stood quietly upon their platform, bathed in the pale radiance shed by the divine-art crystals. The goddesses' half-human, half-deer forms were as elegant and beautiful as ever, and the garlands, wheat ears, and vessels of fine wine offered by the devout clustered about them, preserved incorrupt and undecayed.
After confirming once more that the objects around the statues were still touched by the power of miracles and showed no sign of decay, the Holy Maiden of Abundance relaxed a little. She lowered her head and softly recited the words recorded in the scriptures, flaxen curls falling beside her cheeks—until the sound of metal boots striking the floor suddenly shattered the calm of the long hall, and she jerked her head up toward the source of the sound.
A nun with short silver-white hair and a battle staff in hand was walking toward her through the rows of benches, her face set in a stern expression.
The Holy Maiden of Abundance stepped forward at once, offered the greeting of church etiquette, and asked, "Has something happened?"
"We need you to pray once more—a prayer explicitly directed at a high-order divine art," the silver-haired nun said gravely. "You needn't fully release the divine art, but I hope you will tell me everything you feel during the prayer."
"Another prayer?" The Holy Maiden looked surprised, but quickly nodded. "I understand."
With that, she turned and went straight to the statues of the Three Goddesses at the far end of the long hall, lowered her head, and began to recite the sacred words of prayer.