Noen stood in the wheat field, overseeing the slaves at work.
This had initially been his father’s responsibility, but in recent days Ibia and his father had to take a trip, so the task had fallen onto him.
Noen was a kindhearted soul, simply minded and not prone to cunning, being a slave under Casas’s care. Now, in charge of these working slaves, he would, at most, smash his whip on the ground for sound when he saw any of them slacking.
It was for this reason that the working slaves did not fear him but instead grew close to him because of his disposition, bringing him clean water or softened hard bread, which Noen, being too polite to decline, would invariably accept.
After a few days, Noen had beco well acquainted with this group of slaves. During their free ti, they would gather and converse, the slaves marveling at how such an old servant could have a son like him.
They knew that when Noen’s father watched over them, he never allowed them a mont’s rest; he would always find them sothing to do, even confiscating the wheat stalks they’d secretly hoarded from the harvest upon discovery.
Compared to having the old servant supervise, the slaves would much prefer the lordship of Ibia or young master Casas.
This father and son duo were famously lenient with their slaves.
After all, the Pri Minister’s family was not short on slaves. A little forgiveness rely ant using a few more slaves and also ant sparing themselves so concern.
The group of slaves treated Noen with great attentiveness and without concealnt.
Soon, Noen learned sothing from them.
It was sothing not necessarily significant but not insignificant either.
"Was there an old priest who took you to worship the God of the Elves?"
Noen asked, a touch of astonishnt in his voice.
The slaves nodded, speaking without hesitation:
"That old priest said we have Elven blood flowing in us, and that we should worship that Divine."
Upon hearing this, Noen beca even more puzzled.
"Who is he really? Is he truly a priest?"
Noen rembered that only purebred Three-eyed Ape People could serve as priests.
"And he should be a Three-eyed Ape Person, right? Why would he go worship that Divine and not devote himself to serving Kagawus?"
"Both, believe in both!"
One slave spoke out impatiently to explain:
"He really is a priest, his Eye of Prophecy big and beautiful. He says he believes in both, just like the legendary King Lam!"
At these words, Noen felt a strong curiosity.
He rembered Casas ntioning to him, in that ancient history, King Lam had worshipped both Kagawus and that existence.
Otherwise, there would not be a Temple of the creator on the land of Ajia.
Suddenly, Noen rembered his dream and felt an impulsive urge,
"Where is this priest? Can I et him?!"
Faced with Noen’s questioning, a few slaves showed joy and, after a discussion, agreed:
"Of course, you can. He usually lives over in the shanties, and he spends his days gathering herbs, writing, and painting murals!"
...............
By the next day, the slaves had hurriedly completed their farm work and then took Noen to the shantytown.
Compared to the impoverished freen in the shantytown, these slaves all looked strong and sturdy, a benefit of the Pri Minister’s family’s kindness; after all, adorning one’s slaves was like adorning one’s own facade.
The slaves led Noen through twists and turns, finally finding a small, abandoned Temple amidst the dusty streets.
Noen peered inside and indeed saw an old Priest with fine fuzz and a large, beautiful third eye; he truly appeared to be a purebred Three-eyed Ape-person.
"Honored Priest,"
The slaves stepped forward to introduce Noen to the old Priest,
"This is our master’s close servant—Noen."
The old priest glanced over, scrutinizing Noen up and down, then revealed a smile.
"Honorable priest... I am Noen."
Noen seed sowhat constrained and began to speak.
"Why have you co here?"
As the old priest spoke, he stood up and led everyone into the abandoned temple.
Noen looked at the old priest, who gave off a kind and amiable feeling.
After hesitating for a mont, Noen ntioned his dream.
"Old priest, I was previously sitting on a cal, heading to the Great Temple, to that hall without any Divine Statue, and then when I ca back, I had a dream."
At this point, the old priest turned back and looked at Noen attentively.
"Traveling on a cal to the Great Temple? Oh, soone has ntioned you to , a distinguished lady."
Noen suddenly rembered Queen Isis, he was puzzled for a mont but did not ponder on it, simply continuing:
"I dread of the murals inside the temple, I dread of that prophet-like figure, and the mountain far away was glowing with light."
The old priest sat down and said with a smile:
"That person is Al, the prophet of the Logos people, and as for the light on the mountain, that is the Lord’s radiance. Legend has it, my God stands upon that very mount."
Noen beca imdiately curious and asked eagerly:
"Then do you know what my dream ans?"
"I do not know, child, I am not a Dream Interpreter."
"Oh... it seems Kagawus is not on my side."
Noen said regretfully, feeling sowhat distressed.
"However, your dream might contain so mystery,"
the old priest said to Noen, speaking gently:
"Sotis, the dreams people have are just dreams, no matter how bizarre or peculiar,
and sotis the opposite is true. Those unfathomable dreams may signify divine revelation, the predestination of the unknown."
Noen’s eyes lit up, and he looked directly at the old priest.
"So... what should I do now?"
The old priest looked around and then said with a kindly smile:
"Why not start by trying? Try to believe that your dream has a aning, try to have faith in that Lord upon the high mountain."
After hearing this, Noen beca hesitant instead.
It wasn’t because he was unwilling to believe. At his age, he still didn’t comprehend what faith truly was.
But because he was afraid of his father, the stern old servant under his Ibia master, who might scold and beat him for recklessly worshipping other divine beings.
Observing his hesitation, the old priest simply smiled and said:
"There’s no need to rush, Noen, you are not unwilling to believe, it’s just not the ti yet, the day has not yet co to pass."
"Not the ti yet?"
Noen asked reflexively.
"Yes, so people’s faith cos at a mont when they feel an irrefutable force coming from all directions, taking control of their entire being, compelling them to dedicate themselves, to pray.
When the day has co to pass, at that mont, it’s as though God is calling, and when you look back all of a sudden, you’ll find that every coincidence in the unknown was part of God’s arrangent for your faith."
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