The Shepherds Are Dense Chapter 22: Touching the Blood of the Candlelighter

### Chapter 22: Touching the Blood of the Candlelighter

Already at version 1.0, the "Phantom Demon: Candlelight Sovereign" has not descended nor been defeated, bringing the Devotion Path to level 50. The highest level character is the Eternal Theocracy's Everlasting Pope.

Aiwass put Bishop Mathers at least level 39.

That's top-rank Arbitration Hall level in Avalon. One rank above would put him one of the world's strongest in this iteration—maybe even level 40 or higher, reaching fifth-tier strength.

Even cardinals of the Theocracy are his equals.

Rembering his adoptive father's words before departing, Aiwass found it only logical.

Bishop Mathers was Candlelight Cathedral's highest ranking bishop—the Nine Pillars Church's highest authority in Avalon.

Such a giant, unless slain in Avalon's impending crisis, probably adopted a new na or alias later.

Aiwass rembered no "Mathers" in the ga.

The Eternal Theocracy, an elven-based regi, is a sluggish lifestyle not all mortals can accommodate. The Church has two-thirds of its leadership posts filled with won, more than 90% elves. The Pope changes every three centuries, with previous Popes becoming saints, going on to give blessings and resolve conflict until too old to carry on. Elves alone are eligible to be Pope.

Mathers, a flesh-and-blood male, was an oddity in the Theocracy's higher circles. Aiwass couldn't recall such an individual in the Church hierarchy.

The Nine Pillars Church has one distinctive characteristic: looks do count.

Not needing breathtaking loveliness, but ugliness is unacceptable.

Devotion Path healing necessitates contact with the flesh; when the recipient doesn't cooperate, efficiency plumts. And "Fire Offering" has a beautifying, age-defying effect, making sure high-ranking clergy are never plain.

But Bishop Mathers…

Was it that he was too old?

Aiwass's face beca subtle.

"Don't look at , Aiwass. Look at the candle," Mathers said firmly, his stern headmaster-like voice slicing through. "There is no light or fire on my face. Looking at won't do any good."

"Yes," Aiwass answered dutifully, redirecting himself.

—*Pay the experience.*

He assented ntally.

As Aiwass refocused, Mathers llowed his tone, going on, "Think of your pain, curses, or weaknesses not as 'sothing lacking' but as 'sothing negative added to a balanced, healthy state.' Visualize it as a running, black liquid, and with your will, send it to your left middle finger.

"It's fuel or smoke, vanishing with a hiss when it touches fla…"

Mathers touched fla with his left middle finger.

The normal fla blazed in a brilliant flare.

A soft fire stretched out from his fingertip, covering him in a glistening fla-colored mbrane.

His agony and senility disappeared as if ti went backward—

Wrinkles erased themselves, his abnormally white hair regained rich brown color and bounce, curving naturally. His hazy, blood-colored eyes cleared to amber.

His stance relaxed, his complexion beca fair, clean, and elastic.

He visibly rejuvenated to the point of being about thirty years old—

Not burning away ailnts or dissolving pain, but restoring his body to an “ideal state,” like a fully refurbished device, free of wear except for inevitable lifespan loss.

No longer an “old bishop,” Mathers adjusted his hexagonal black-frad glasses, smiling proudly. Even his voice youthened. “This is the Candlelighter’s gratitude and gift to Devotion Path followers.

Except for natural loss of lifespan, we are immune to disease. Our bodies remain in the pri state, living far beyond average—others et untily deaths through exhaustion or irreversible illness, but not us. Master 'Fire Offering,' and you beco healthy and long-lived. The Candlelighter asserted, 'Those who live for others need not suffer.' Health is invaluable, unreachable by other Paths, and we cannot share this blessing.".

“I’m forty-six, yet ‘Fire Offering’ restores to under thirty. Bones, muscles, nerves, organs—all rejuvenated.

“With proper exercise and care, soone my age could theoretically look this young. This is ‘Fire Offering’s’ positive effect. Most priests can only reset negatives to zero, not turn zero to positive.”

Mathers’s masterful use of Fire Offering, achieving near-youthful rejuvenation, left even Oswald stunned.

The rejuvenated Mathers smiled smugly.

He held high hopes for Aiwass and wanted him to commit to the Devotion Path.

He’d deliberately aged himself for this mont, knowing a dramatic “rejuvenation” would leave a lasting impression.

Sure thing," said Mathers to discourage Aiwass from rushing, "don't hurry. New priests learning 'Fire Offering' can only partially correct shortcomings. Your recent demon sacrifice probably sapped your energy, so I'm teaching this first to enable you to regain life force, blood, and longevity.".

"Sacred techniques are basic but not instantaneous. 'Fire Offering' normally can be mastered in five days; I suspect you'll get it in two. Illumination is quicker, learnable at once, so we'll do that third. Blessing is most difficult, requiring a week.

"For the ti being, I'll instruct you how to practice, and when you're back ho…"

Mathers broke off in mid-sentence.

Aiwass's eyes went blank.

His dark blue eyes hemorrhaged with sunset-hued crimson, as if the sea at sunset—bluer at the top and golden-red toward the horizon.

Aiwass touched the fla with his left middle finger.

The fire flared, streaming into his veins.

A warm comfort covered him, as soaking in a scented, petal-covered hot spring after fatigue, gentle music playing, soothing him with drowsiness and contentnt.

In his vision of a clean white world, a deer materialized.

Clear, glowing red like the finest ruby, it irresistibly attracted Aiwass's attention.

—The Candlelighter, Devotion Path's highest deity!

Unlike the suffocating presence of the Silver Crown Dragon, looking at the Candlelighter did not bring illusions or pressure. It tad its divinity to draw near mortals—

Black thorns entwined its form, sticking into its skin, oozing red blood. As it moved, blood dropped, leaving burning red fla footprints forever.

Its huge crystal-red antlers, a candelabrum, held dozens of lily-white flas.

The deer nuzzled up to statue-like Aiwass, licking his left hand tenderly as it lay extended.

It nudged a thorn-wounded place on its neck against his palm.

A single drop of blood turned into a tear-shaped ruby.

Three lines materialized in Aiwass's mind—the three trait choices for Path developnt:

[Fla Affinity LV1 (Blue): You crush the Candlelighter's Blood, gaining insight into fire's essence.]

[Enduring Health (White): The Candlelighter's Blood cleanses your body, reinforcing disease resistance.]

[Fla Vessel LV1 (Blue): You drink the Candlelighter's Blood, widening your soul's capacity.]

(End of Chapter)