Chapter 19
The Temple of Light stood with its back against the snowy mountains, facing the academy across the lake.
To reach the temple from the academy, one had to cross a bridge.
This bridge, a kiloter long, was unlike ordinary stone arch bridges. Narrow in width, it was adorned with a star on the left and a moon on the right, providing only enough space for a single person to stand.
Liu Yu was cradled in Gaia's arms, her gaze falling upon the pure white carved railings. With a slight tilt of her head, she could see the sparkling surface of the lake.
"I've heard that every Temple of Light is connected to the academy by such a Star-Moon Bridge..." Liu Yu asked, "Do you know why?"
"According to the 'Chronicles of Light,' on the day of the god's descent, he tread upon the sun and moon, with the starry sky above his head, thus the Star-Moon Bridge was born. When the bridge was completed, divine miracles reappeared. Since then, the temple has adopted the star and moon as its emblem, and the bridge as its symbol. As for why it only allows one person to stand... perhaps because the path to worship is always a solitary one."
No, dear Mr. Leslie, this is your conspiracy.
Liu Yu pouted, not arguing with him. The omnipresent nurturing and brainwashing by the gods—any skilled farr would be adept at this.
By now, the bridge was empty.
All that could be heard was the gentle trickling of water beneath the bridge, the sound of fish hunting, and the strong, rhythmic heartbeat from Gaia's chest:
Thump, thump, thump...
The body crafted by the god, even its heartbeat, was so similar to that of a human.
Or perhaps humans themselves were created by the gods?
If they could create humans, could they... create gods?
Liu Yu's thoughts wandered aimlessly. If her musings were to be discovered, she would undoubtedly be the first to be dragged to the gallows and burned as a heretic a thousand tis over.
For a mont, the air fell silent, save for the steady rhythm of footsteps. Liu Yu's eyelids grew heavy, and she was engulfed by a deep drowsiness, only to be jolted awake by Gaia's voice:
"We're here."
Gaia gently set her down:
"We're here."
Before them stood a massive white tower.
A pure Baroque structure, its pointed spire topped with a radiant Star-Moon Scepter, so dazzling it was almost blinding—
The scepter held a crystal ball as tall as a person.
"The crystal ball is real."
Gaia, seemingly reading her thoughts, explained.
...They must have plenty of offerings.
Liu Yu thought as she ascended the steps.
At the entrance stood two Golden Knights, swords at their waists. They glanced at her:
"Beiliya Fergus?"
"Yes."
"Go in."
Liu Yu passed through the tall arched doorway, turning back to see the previously stern and handso knights place their right hands over their chests, bowing deeply to Gaia in a gesture of reverence from the lower to the higher:
"Good morning, Mr. Leslie. It's a pleasure to see you."
The young man, who had always been gentle and refined in her presence, seed accustod to such formalities.
He nodded slightly:
"Good morning."
Then, with an air of nonchalance, he stepped forward.
His long, powerful legs, clad in white silk trousers and black riding boots, moved with grace. Even though his white silk shirt was not perfectly pressed and his tailcoat was slightly wrinkled, it still felt as if all the world's courtesies were insufficient for him—
He deserved better.
Is this... the natural aura of a deity?
Yet within the temple, he was rely the lowest on the hierarchy... a God's Favored One.
"Let's go."
Gaia passed by her.
"Alright."
Liu Yu followed, glancing back after they had walked so distance. The two Golden Knights remained bowed, their heads still lowered.
She turned her gaze away:
Is this... what a god is?
Truly fascinating.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
They entered through the temple's back door, avoiding the bustling front hall where the faithful gathered. Following the signs, they wound their way past a hall adorned with star and moon emblems, turned a corner, and arrived at the classroom for the day's divine arts lesson.
The room was packed.
Liu Yu led Gaia inside, and Mary imdiately spotted her.
After all, who could ignore a golden-haired sack of potatoes standing next to the handso Mr. Leslie?
She stared at Beiliya, certain that she must have had a very passionate night, for she looked as radiant and alluring as a rose freshly watered—a night that should have been hers.
She had gone to such lengths to drug Mr. Leslie, only to lose focus at the crucial mont, allowing Beiliya Fergus to reap the benefits—
It was infuriating.
Liu Yu flashed a sweet smile at little Mary.
From the montary guilt and anger in Mary's expression, it was clear that Louis's hypnosis had worked.
Carlo Prince waved enthusiastically at them:
"Mr. Leslie! Miss Fergus! Over here! I saved seats for you."
Mary subtly extended a leg.
Liu Yu noticed as she passed, but she maintained her composure, not altering her stride or pace.
As long as Gaia heard Mary's "thoughts about the drug"...
She would remain the pure, innocent, and kind Beiliya.
"Ah..."
Liu Yu let out a soft cry, "successfully" tripping over Mary's outstretched leg, her arms flailing as she fell.
Gaia reached out and caught her.
The girl's wildly flailing hand accidentally brushed against the silk ribbon tied around his eyes, which, having loosened overnight, slipped off.
The room fell silent.
Mary covered her mouth:
"Mr. Leslie, your eyes..."
Liu Yu froze, turning to look. Where once there had been dark hollows, there now were eyes, a pale, watery green.
Narrow and long, with an exquisitely delicate shape, though a layer of haze dulled their brilliance, leaving a sense of imperfection—
Liu Yu had seen them in their full glory, a beauty that transcended the mundane.
Even so, this incomplete, elusive, and enigmatic beauty stunned everyone present.
"Mary Carlo—"
Gaia pulled Liu Yu to his side, "Please cease your attempts to harm Miss Fergus. Carlo Prince, I trust you will discipline your sister."
Liu Yu smiled faintly.
She was certain that Gaia had heard Mary's "thoughts."
Her innocence had been proven.
As for Mary, she had never seen Mr. Leslie look at her with such coldness. At that mont, she felt as if her breath had been stolen:
"Mr. Leslie, I..."
"My, my, quite the commotion, little Leslie. It's rare to see you so angry."
At that mont, a group entered, led by Bishop Bruce, whom Liu Yu had t before.
He was still dressed in his star and moon embroidered robe, holding the Star-Moon Scepter, surrounded by an entourage.
"How are you, child? Are your eyes well?"
"Thanks to you, they are fine."
Bishop Bruce then turned to the golden-haired girl by Gaia's side, smiling gently:
"We et again, child. It seems you are also blessed by the gods."
The girl's face flushed:
"Thank the gods."
"Thank the gods!"
The entire class echoed.
Liu Yu: ...
Bishop Bruce was ushered to the lectern at the front, where a massive projection of a star and moon appeared on the previously blank white wall.
"For this divine arts lesson, I will be your instructor. How does that sound?" The white-haired, white-bearded elder winked at the class.
The room buzzed with excitent.
"Does anyone know what divine arts are?"
"They are the power bestowed by the gods to protect the world and banish evil!"
Bishop Bruce shook his head, then nodded:
"No, no one truly knows."
"...Two hundred thousand years ago, when the forces of darkness rose, the Elven Continent, Son Continent, and Fissini Continent were engulfed in endless war. The temple's forces were fully deployed, and countless clergy perished in the conflict. Saintess Essia and Saint Carola offered their blood as sacrifice, opening the gates of the Holy Temple to summon the gods, thus ending the thirty-year war. That was the first day of the gods' descent."
"Yes! I know! On the day of the gods' descent, the god rely sighed and said: 'Judgnt.' From that mont, the forces of darkness vanished from the world's stage, becoming like rats scurrying in the shadows, never to regain their forr power."
"Child, you are correct."
Bishop Bruce spoke in an ancient tongue, "...After the gods departed, we found within the Holy Temple a sacred chalice, a divine oracle, and a scroll of divine scripture. The chalice, when tipped, beca the Sacred Pool. Every citizen born on the continent must undergo the Sacred Pool's baptism."
"What about the divine oracle?"
Bishop Bruce smiled mysteriously: "That, my child, is a secret."
"...And on the divine scroll, the most supre spells are recorded. Unfortunately, the language of the gods is too obscure and difficult to comprehend. Up to now, we have only deciphered a small portion. Yet, even this has been enough to spare us from the suffering of war."
"Praise the gods!"
"Praise the gods!"
"Praise the gods!"
Liu Yu blended into the fervent crowd, shouting along with them.
When she turned around after the cheers, she noticed a strange expression on Gaia's face. Feeling sowhat guilty, she quickly averted her gaze.
"Today, let's start with sothing simple, shall we? The Light Bullet. #%@^&%$#*&^#@……&*￥#..."
He rapidly recited an incantation, the pronunciation so convoluted that Liu Yu felt her tongue might tie itself into a knot.
Nevertheless, she relied on her previous morization techniques to commit it to mory.
"Bishop Bruce, this is too difficult... Could you repeat it once more?"
The crowd below wore expressions of distress.
Bishop Bruce smiled gently and beckoned to Gaia warmly:
"Little Leslie, why don't you give it a try?"
"Bishop Bruce, the Saintly Body has nothing to do with the tongue or mory..."
One of the attending deans, who seed familiar with the bishop, chuckled, "Even the fastest among us took an hour back in the day."
"Indeed, my tongue still feels twisted..."
Amid the chaotic classroom, a perfectly round ball of white light suddenly appeared.
The orb shot up into the air with a "bang," exploding like a firework.
The spot where the light ball had risen was precisely where Gaia was seated.
Liu Yu watched in astonishnt as Gaia fluently recited the incantation she had struggled to even pronounce—
It was a tongue that seed almost inhuman.
Bishop Bruce on the stage remarked:
"Oh, by the Light God... I never taught him that."
The bishop's expression was genuine, and soone asked, "Mr. Leslie, did you learn this beforehand?"
Gaia stared blankly at his hands. The mont the light force flowed from his fingers, it felt so familiar, as if he had done it countless tis before.
"I... I don't know," the young man shook his head in confusion. "I don't rember my past."
"...Oh," the surprised onlooker turned away, "Perhaps you learned it at so point."
There were always those unruly divine ssengers who spread the spells beyond the temple.
Gaia successfully conjured another Light Bullet.
This ti, he didn’t even use the incantation.
Now, Bishop Bruce was truly astonished.
The ability to cast spells silently and instantly was a skill only the grand bishops of the Temple of Light across the three continents possessed.
"Gaia Leslie—"
Bishop Bruce swiftly drew a symbol in the air with his staff.
As Liu Yu recited the incantation, she glanced over and felt her eyes nearly dazzled. Just as she sensed the light force within her, Bishop Bruce's aged voice echoed through the classroom:
"Do you recognize this word?"
"Lie."
As Gaia spoke, a beam of white light shot from his fingertips, transforming into countless shimring fragnts before coalescing into a white snow lotus in his palm.
Bishop Bruce stroked his beard and smiled:
"Excellent. The third spell left by the gods: Truth Revealer. Those who lie will be exposed under this spell."
"Leslie, you may choose soone to ask the question you most desire. If they lie, the Truth Revealer will uncover it."
Liu Yu noticed Gaia's gaze turning toward her.
His erald-green eyes, though blind, made her feel with absolute certainty that his question was directed at her.
"Beiliya, who was in your room earlier?"
The young man asked her earnestly.
His long lashes, like lush underwater plants, gently lowered, concealing the beautiful curve of his eyes.
The crystalline snow lotus floated above her head.
Yet, Liu Yu's heart pounded violently, as if she were subrged in scalding magma, on the verge of turning to ash.
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