The forr of these two saints was a transformation wizard from the Jade Tower of the Kingdom of Dennisiowa.
Instead of inheriting the position of Tower Master, he opted for the occupation of a "forbidden doctor"... studying spells across different schools.
At the sa ti, he also studied the path of ritualism extensively, collecting a vast array of mystical knowledge.
He was a great sage who arrived at the endpoint on both the path of sublimation and the path of ritualism.
It is said he mastered all the rituals in the world and could use all spells... but of course, that’s just "said".
It didn’t surprise anyone that he gained recognition from the Eye of Patience, since he could have beco the pope of the Mysterious Lady’s church if he so wished. To reach such a degree certainly required a person of "imnse patience".
In contrast, the holder of the Skull of Honesty was very different.
If the person "depleted of cunning" was a great being acknowledged by all for their outstanding abilities, then the "The Silent Unspeakable" was so low-key that no one understood why he had beco a saint.
But he was indeed a saint.
Saint Peter was Mr. Radiance’s pope and one of the very few popes who could beco a saint.
On the surface, he was a short man with a mild temper and a discreet manner.
He was so discreet that no one knew what power the Skull of Honesty possessed or why it chose him. He never stepped forward to address people’s questions.
Indeed, compared to attributes like "patience" or "courage," "honesty" is much harder to judge. It’s even more difficult to deduce the qualities he possessed that were recognized by the holy reliquaries as those of a saint.
If honesty is simply about not lying, then there are Martial Monks whose elental power is related to the "realm of truth" who also never tell a lie all their lives.
In fact, several decades ago, a gold-tier Martial Monk developed a grudge because the Skull of Honesty did not choose him but chose such a strange person instead. He held onto that grudge until his soul was exhausted and he died without letting it go.
Saint Peter never even displayed his elental power, nor had he ever fought with others.
—The strangest thing was, he never prayed in front of others.
Unlike other popes of True Gods who would frequently call etings, organize various grand blessing ceremonies and festivals every year, he wasn’t universally gentle and polite to everyone, treating them with a spring breeze while maintaining his dignity.
If this falsehood couldn’t be maintained, people would’ve doubted whether he was the pope of the Lady of Silence rather than Mr. Radiance.
He was just too "silent".
This peculiar pope, no matter what happened, whether it was a festival or worship, would hide in places out of sight from others.
However, as a leader who does nothing, things were bound to get worse. Yet every ti there was a crisis, the situation mysteriously righted itself back on track.
At first, people thought this pope was just lucky, that he had the ability to turn ill fortune into good.
One less polite way to put it is "a fool’s luck".
But being lucky for decades... that’s a bit odd.
So people regarded it as an unfathomable technique—after all, he was the longest-lived among the golden-tier Transcendents, an old turtle that had lived for more than a hundred years. It’s quite normal not to understand his thods.
What’s more noteworthy is that after he received the Skull of Honesty, he never spoke a word in front of others again.
It wasn’t that he had beco mute. At least in the internal cardinal etings and in the Hall of Purity, he still spoke and even served through several papacies. But his silence was indeed a bit too excessive.
It’s a pope’s duty to bestow blessings upon people, to bless the clergy and those who suffer misfortune.
Not to ntion he was the pope of a purification deity... His clergy were always on the frontline fighting nightmares, with a very high mortality rate.
Yet he never spoke a word to the sacrificers, shed a tear, or even attended their funerals.
Even to simply acknowledge the deceased and comfort the living with words like "He was a great person", "He was a good child", or "I am saddened by their passing", he did none of that.
This caused so longstanding discontent among the people of The Holy Nation.
However, although so believe that "maintaining honesty through silence" is indeed unsightly, he has indeed been serving as a saint for nearly a hundred years.
The popes of his generation have changed six tis; even the children of his friends have grown old and died, yet here he remains, steadfast in his papal seat. The connections he accumulated over many years have gradually grown.
Without uttering a word, Mr. Radiance’s church operates in unspoken agreent.
Although Saint Peter was always getting scolded, he was indeed a well-known figure.
But "Alfonso"...
"In my mory, there doesn’t seem to be anyone nad Alfonso."
Annan stated frankly.
Naifertali fell silent for a mont.
"My brother is the saint who was bestowed with the ’Bone of Courage’ by the teacher,"
she explained tactfully.
...That Saint of Thieves?
Annan frowned slightly.
"I don’t an to be rude..."
he said slowly, "but is your brother still alive?"
Annan had heard so knowledge about the relics of saints in the nightmare created by Bofis.
From what he understood, a soul that hadn’t reached Gold tier simply lacked the strength to bear the power of a saint’s relic. Should one forcibly use a saint’s relic, the soul would quickly collapse and disintegrate... their lifespan would not exceed a month.
Giralda ignored Naifertali’s sowhat embarrassed smile, tapped the table gently, and spoke slowly:
"To my knowledge, those who can truly satisfy a saint’s relic are not Gold tier Transcendents. Not even Transcendents... but ordinary people who haven’t set foot on the path of transcendence nor entered the ritualistic path. They are likely to die in less than a month.
"Or are you suggesting that the ’Bone Healer’ can allow a silver tier Transcendent to use the power of a saint’s relic without dying?"
Upon hearing this, Naifertali’s eyes lit up—
"You really do know about this!"
Ordinary people would not know that it’s not only those at Gold tier who can control a saint’s relic. National leaders concealing this information in any records to prevent people from fighting over the saint’s relics is why!
The power infused by a saint’s relic can elevate an ordinary person to a Gold tier strength in an instant. After their death, they would beco a massive Twisted Tier nightmare.
Therefore, the relic of a saint is not only an extrely rare treasure but also a troubleso matter to deal with.
—Even Elves with magical abilities must create the Draconic Sleep Potion to put the Heart of Justice to sleep.
In order to collect enough Dragon Blood to make the Draconic Sleep Potion, Bofis’s mother even sold a painting to the Dragon Race mber willing to sell their blood—that painting later beca known as the "Paper Princess." And that Dragon Race mber who sold blood later paid with their life and soul for the Paper Princess.
If it weren’t for that incident, perhaps today’s God of Lies would no longer be Paper Princess.
From this perspective, the cost of temporarily putting the Heart of Justice to sleep was once the life of a deity.
Although this claim is sowhat exaggerated, it suffices to illustrate the trouble with a saint’s relic.
"The experint of the teacher at that ti... actually failed halfway."
Naifertali answered honestly, "As you said, my brother’s body is at the brink of collapse. Even with the teacher repairing it, he probably won’t survive the year.
"But if my brother deviates from the Path of Courage and abandons the saint’s relic, then he will die imdiately and turn into a terrible nightmare. And those ignorant ones who co to seek the Bone of Fearlessness have no clue what will happen after they inherit it.
"But the Bone of Fearlessness is plural relics. If soone can inherit the Path of Courage, it could be transplanted in stages. This way, my elder brother might not have to die."
Naifertali explained earnestly, "We have contacted Maria, the ’Lady of the Storm’ from the Winter Principality, and Gregory VII, the ’Light Forger’ from The Holy Nation, as well as our underground’s ’Ship in Stone Captain’ Selicia and ’Winter Reverser’ Vladimir, asking if they wish to inherit the Bone of Fearlessness, but except for Vladimir, all of them have declined.
"But ’Winter Reverser’ Vladimir once betrayed the Winter Principality, and it’s uncertain what he may do after becoming a saint... We don’t want to offend the Winter Principality, but we also don’t want Alfonso to die and beco a nightmare that can’t be resolved."
She said this much, looking eagerly at Annan Winter:
"—Since you have co seeking the Heart of Justice, you must have reached the Gold tier already.
"If I have a way to let you control two saint’s relics at the sa ti, would you be willing to test... your compatibility with the Bone of Fearlessness?"
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