After dropping that bombshell, the Grand Inquisitor led us to a rather well-appointed drawing room. The furniture looked old, but well-maintained and comfortable. Antiques, in other words.
As with the rest of the Hall of Inquisition, the decorations were all religious in nature. However, rather than focus on just Sol and Luna, iconography and symbols from other well known gods were present. This included Tempest, in the form of a painting that depicted a hurricane in the shape of a man.
The drawing room was such a sharp contrast to the rest of the Hall of Inquisition, that the re sight of it would've taken off guard under normal circumstances. However, I was still reeling from the revelation that the Grand Inquisitor knew about the regression. From the way he reacted, Grand Priest Darius knew about it too.
I wasn't the only one shocked either. Anna went on the defensive right away. For a mont, I feared that she would attack the Grand Inquisitor. However, reason prevailed and she followed the Grand Inquisitor to the drawing room. That didn't stop her from eyeing him with suspicion the entire ti.
Once we arrived in the drawing room, the four of us settled down around a low wooden table. The Grand Inquisitor pulled out an entire tea set from an inventory ring. It ca complete with so freshly brewed tea.
"I don't trust any food or drink handled by other people," he explained. "The chances of being poisoned are too high."
He then poured each of us a cup of tea. I looked down at mine for a mont, before I looked back up at him.
"If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't need poison," the Grand Inquisitor said, answering my unasked question.
Anna slamd her hand on the table.
"Who cares about the tea?" she growled, before pointing a finger at him. "How do you know about the regression?"
Grand Priest Darius and the Grand Inquisitor shared a look. The latter gestured for the forr to go right ahead.
"The gods inford us right after it happened," Grand Priest Darius said. "However, they didn't share anything else. We know the regression occurred, but we don't know anything beyond that, including the identities of the regressors." He gestured to us. "That said, your actions over the past few months made it fairly obvious."
A part of wanted to point out that I was just a transmigrator, not a regressor, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. If they believed that I was also a regressor chosen by the gods, then they'd be more likely to aid us.
Besides, I think half the reason why the Grand Inquisitor had been so lenient with , even though I was infested with a soul parasite, was because he thought I was a regressor. I wasn't above using that to my advantage.
"The gods told you?" Anna said, scoffing. "How convenient."
Grand Priest Darius raised an eyebrow at her.
"Is that so difficult to accept?" he asked. "The gods might have chosen you to save the world, but we are still their representatives here in the mortal realm."
"In that case, why didn't they tell you everything?"
I placed a hand on Anna's arm.
"Easy now," I said in a gentle tone. "We're all friends here. No need to make any unnecessary enemies."
Anna glared at . However, a mont later, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, she appeared calr.
"I apologize for losing my composure," Anna said. "However, the regression is one of our biggest secrets. The more people who know, the more likely it is that our enemies will find out about it."
Wasn't she the one who told Lorelei Frostheart, Cally's cousin, and Corie about the regression?
"In that case, you don't have to worry," the Grand Inquisitor said after sipping his tea. "The only ones among us who know are the grand priests and the Voice of the Sun."
I sucked in a breath. The Voice of the Sun was the grand priest of Sol and the leader of the Church of the Sun as a whole. His authority was second only to the Sun Emperor's.
"As for why the gods didn't tell us everything," the Grand Inquisitor continued. "They didn't see the need to. If they wanted us to know about the events that occurred before the regression, they would've made us the regressors."
This led to ponder a question that had been bugging for a long ti. Why were Anna, Cally, Kaylee, and others the regressors? Why not more powerful and more influential figures, like the Grand Inquisitor and the Voice of the Sun? Hell, why not make the Sun Emperor a regressor? Were there rules and restrictions on who could be a regressor or not? If so, what were those rules?
I felt tempted to ask these questions out loud, but decided against it. I doubted either Grand Priest Darius or the Grand Inquisitor could give the answers I sought. Even if they could, that didn't an they could tell .
No. If I wanted to know the truth, I would have to ask the gods themselves.
"So," I said instead. "Since we're all on the sa page, let's discuss the details. You're offering us your support, correct?"
Grand Priest Darius and the Grand Inquisitor both nodded.
"As the chief servants of the gods, it is our duty to aid you in your mission," the Grand Inquisitor said.
Grand Priest Darius gave us a wry smile.
"Besides, your mission involves the fate of the world," Grand Priest Darius said. "As soone who lives here, I have a vested interest in protecting it."
"So, what sort of support are you offering?" Anna asked, gesturing towards him.
Grand Priest Darius shrugged.
"Resources, manpower, anything you might need really." He gave a sideways glance. "You've called upon us for aid a few tis already, so we might as well make it official."
I grinned at him.
"We will also give you access to the Inquisition's network of spies and informants," the Grand Inquisitor said.
We already had Crawford, who was a very good informant, but having the Inquisition on our side wasn't a bad deal either.
"If you're worried about that friend of yours, Crawford, don't be," the Grand Inquisitor continued. "We've already made contact with him, and he's agreed to work with us. Consider him the liaison between us and the rest of your group."
I blinked at the Grand Inquisitor in surprise. Was he a mind reader or sothing?
"No, I'm not a mind reader," the Grand Inquisitor said. "However, I've dealt with countless people over the decades." He looked right in the eyes. "A kid like you is an open book to ."
I narrowed my eyes and insulted him several tis in my mind. He appeared amused.
"What do you think, Anna?" I asked, looking at my fiancée.
"It's a good offer," Anna said with a thoughtful expression on her face.
I nodded. Their offer was a good one. We couldn't afford to turn it down. While we were doing well so far, there was only so much we could do on our own. Even with aid from our respective families, we had our limits. The Church of the Sun, on the other hand, was much bigger and more powerful than any individual House or Clan. Their support would make things much easier for us.
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The question was, what would it cost us? Even in the face of the apocalypse, people looked after their own interests. While I trusted Grand Priest Darius, and the Grand Inquisitor to a degree, that didn't an I trusted the Church of the Sun as a whole. The gods were flawed, and humans even more so.
"They have a saying, back on Earth, 'There's no such thing as a free lunch,'" I said. "The Church's help must co with so kind of catch or caveat."
Grand Priest Darius nodded with a serious expression on his face.
"Yes, there is," he said. "In exchange for the church's help, your group will lose so of its independence."
"You want to subordinate us underneath the church's authority," Anna said in a cold voice.
I grimaced. That sounded both annoying and unpleasant.
"Just a little," Grand Priest Darius said, holding his thumb and index finger a hair's width apart. "Considering what we're offering, this isn't a bad deal at all. We just want a mber of the church to join your group as a liaison."
I frowned.
"I thought you said that Crawford would be the liaison," I said.
"Between your group and the Inquisition's network of spies and informants, yes," Grand Priest Darius said. "However, the other grand priests and I also want one of our own people to join your group."
I snorted at that. Despite Grand Priest Darius' words, the grand priests were not a unified group. When it ca to matters of the Church of the Sun as a whole, yes. Otherwise, no. After all, they all served different gods, and the gods vied with each other for power and influence.
"It sounds to that the grand priests want to use this as an excuse to further their respective gods' influence," I said.
Grand Priest Darius made a helpless gesture.
"That's because it is," he said. "At least in part." He gestured to himself. "The only reason why I'm the one talking with you two is because I have a personal connection with House Sturm, and you in particular, Gabriel. Otherwise, you would've had this conversation with another grand priest." He gestured to the Grand Inquisitor. "As for this one, he's considered neutral when it cos to the church's factional politics."
I resisted the urge to close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.
"So, who did you decide on?" Anna asked. "Which lucky priest or priestess will beco a mber of our group?" She frowned and turned towards . "We need a na. We can't just go around calling ourselves the Regressors."
I nodded.
"True," I said. "Though let's save that discussion for later."
"To answer your question," Grand Priest Darius said. "After much discussion and arguing, we decided to leave the choice to you. Rather, pick a god and we'll have a priest or priestess of that god join you."
Anna and I groaned in unison.
"Of course you leave the most annoying choice to us," I complained.
Grand Priest Darius grinned at .
"Believe , we tried to work it out ourselves," he said. "However, we couldn't co to a consensus." He shrugged. "I argued for a priest of Tempest, but the other grand priests shouted down. They said that Tempest already has too much influence over your group because of you."
I sighed. The Church of the Sun's factional politics were… interesting, to say the least. Not only did the church's factions have to consider their own interests, they also had to take their respective gods' interests into consideration.
For example, Tempest was rivals with Aeros, the God of Air. According to the legends, Aeros grew jealous that Tempest was the God of Storms. As the God of Air, he considered storms his purview. After much arguing, the two even fought a battle over the matter, a battle which Tempest won.
Aeros has held a grudge about the matter ever since then, and his worshipers followed suit. If our group picked a priest or priestess of Tempest to join us, that would upset the Followers of Aeros.
And this matter involved just two of the gods. There were several. No matter who we picked, we would upset at least half of them.
Staying neutral wasn't an option either. Not picking a side ant that there would be no one on our side when we needed it most.
"You don't have to make a decision right away," Grand Priest Darius said, amused. "Take a few days to think it over."
"Thank you," I said. "Besides, this isn't our decision alone to make. We need to discuss this with our comrades."
Anna nodded.
"Speaking of which, would you like to see them?" Grand Priest Darius asked. "I know they've been worried about you."
I gave him a grateful smile.
"Yes, please."
The Grand Inquisitor held up a hand.
"Not yet," he said, gesturing to . "We have one more matter we need to discuss." He leaned forward. "Tell us your account of the events in Eastwatch. More importantly, tell us what happened to your soul afterwards. Where did it go?"
I frowned at him.
"Is that necessary?" I asked.
"Do you want to be detained for observation for the next several months?"
"No."
"Then yes, it is quite necessary."
I sighed in resignation.
"Very well," I said.
Grand Priest Darius leaned forward, a look of anticipation on his face.
I gave Grand Priest Darius and the Grand Inquisitor a brief, very brief, summary of what happened to after Ash ripped my soul out of my body. For example, I didn't ntion the runic circle that Lumina was made up of. Afterwards, they let Anna and I go. The Grand Inquisitor even removed my manacles himself. Grand Priest Darius then escorted us out of the Hall of Inquisition.
The Grand Temple of the Sun, despite its na, was more of a small city than a singular building. It occupied Mt. Sol, one of the most sacred areas in the entirety of the Solarian Empire.
According to the stories, Mt. Sol was where the Sun Emperor first appeared in Lumina. There were many different interpretations of this. So believed that this was where the Sun Emperor descended from the divine realm in order to save humanity. Others believed that Mt. Sol was where he achieved his current state of being. No one knew for certain, other than the Sun Emperor himself. The rest of us could only speculate.
Regardless of how the Sun Emperor ca to be, or ended up in Lumina, it occurred at Mt. Sol. As such, everyone considered the place a holy land. Tens of thousands of people journeyed to Mt. Sol every year on pilgrimages, in the hopes that it would bring them closer to the gods. Whether or not they succeeded depended entirely on their own efforts, and the gods' whims.
Most of Mt. Sol was accessible to the public, but not the summit. The only ones allowed up there were the Voice of the Sun and the Sun Emperor. Well, there was the Moon Queen, but she hadn't visited the Solarian Empire in centuries.
It was evening by the ti our little group erged from the Hall of Inquisition. Tall glowstone lamps illuminated our way and lit up the night. A wide stone pathway led up and down the mountain.
Mt. Sol was covered in trees and other plant life, filling the air with the sll of lush vitality. A cool wind blew through, reminding that it was autumn now and no longer sumr. It brought with it the sound of swaying trees.
Mt. Sol was broad rather than tall. Its slopes were gentle, making it easy to traverse. I wondered if this was intentional on the Sun Emperor's part, or if he picked Mt. Sol for so other purpose. Maybe he chose it on a whim. Regardless, I was glad he picked it. Carriages and other vehicles were forbidden on Mt. Sol, so everyone got around by walking.
The Hall of Inquisition was located near the base of Mt. Sol, while the Temple of Tempest was located close to the summit, so I prepared myself for a long walk. However, to my surprise, Grand Priest Darius started walking down the mountain.
"Wait, I thought my companions were staying with you," I said.
Grand Priest Darius nodded.
"They are," he said. "However, I didn't bring them to the Temple of Tempest." He glanced at . "I didn't want the other grand priests to accuse of trying to sway them. So, I brought them to my private residence in Templeton."
Templeton was a town located at the base of Mt. Sol. It catered to the priests and priestesses of the Church of the Sun, as well as the pilgrims that visited Mt. Sol. It was a neat little place. I had stayed there a few tis, when my family visited Mt. Sol to pay homage to Tempest.
The three of us remained silent as we traveled down Mt. Sol towards Templeton. I wanted to ask Grand Priest Darius for a favor, but considering the circumstances, I didn't know if it was the right ti for it. Grand Priest Darius had already done so much for , and I didn't want to be an ungrateful wretch who only knew how to take instead of reciprocate.
"What's wrong?" Anna asked. "You've been frowning for the past few minutes."
Grand Priest Darius glanced at but didn't say anything.
"Do you rember what we discussed back in Eastwatch?" I asked. "Regarding my fate, that is."
Anna looked thoughtful for a mont, before her eyes lit up with understanding.
"I see," she said. "Well, what are you waiting for? Ask him."
"The problem is that he's already done so much for us, that I feel embarrassed to ask for anything more," I said. "So I'm hoping that by talking about it in front of him, he'll ask first and break the ice."
Grand Priest Darius reached over and rapped his knuckles across my head.
"Brat," he said. "If you have sothing to ask, then just ask. Don't play these little gas."
I clutched my head and glared at him.
"At least tell if there's anything I can do to repay you," I said. "That way I'll feel less embarrassed."
Grand Priest Darius smirked.
"No," he said. "I want you to feel embarrassed. Consider that my revenge for everything you've put through."
I sighed.
"Fine," I said. "I need a favor."
"I figured as much. What kind of favor?"
I stopped walking, and Anna followed suit. Grand Priest Darius kept walking for a few more steps, before he realized what happened and stopped as well.
"I need to speak with Lord Tempest," I said.
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