945: Chapter 62: Sisters’ New Image 945: Chapter 62: Sisters’ New Image The Temple of the Earth Goddess’s main sanctuary was always enveloped in silence at night.
Spanning several square kiloters, the Holy Sanctuary buzzed with activity during the day as over six hundred clergy worked and lived in the cathedral and various buildings.
Along with the visitors and pilgrims, the area always seed bustling.
However, at night, once the visitors had dispersed and so of the clergy had gone to their hos in Neville City, only about three hundred people remained, concentrated in a few buildings.
Large swathes of the area, save for the occasional patrol, lay cold and deserted, lending an indescribable desolation to the night.
Tonight, the sanctuary was similarly desolate, yet there was a subtle difference.
In the past, to save on expenses, successive archbishops had maintained the sa order: after dark, only the areas where people congregated could use Crystal Energy lights, and where there were fewer than five people, only oil lamps or single candles were permitted.
Thus, as soon as it got dark, most of the area plunged into pitch darkness, with only a very few places illuminated.
But today was different, the current archbishop had apparently cast aside the directives of his predecessors and, uncharacteristically, lit the Crystal Energy lamps from the entrance of the sanctuary all the way to the internal areas of the church, making this pathway stand out in the darkness.
At the end of this path lay the church’s public dining hall, where all the clergy residing in the sanctuary received three daily als free of charge, though the quality of these als was obviously not very high, at least they were free.
Today, in addition to the unusual lighting, the food supply was also different; notifications had been issued by the church’s senior managent earlier in the afternoon explaining that tonight’s dinner service would be canceled and replaced by a banquet to celebrate the confirmation of the heir and the return of the travelers.
Although the archbishop’s words were vague, most of the church knew slightly about the announcent’s implications.
After all, even though more than a decade had passed, the rumors concerning the two individuals hadn’t entirely faded, particularly because Betty, as a mber of the Ascetic Order, had continued living within the sanctuary, slowing the spread of rumors.
So even now, most clergyn had a vague understanding.
Although they weren’t aware of the details, or even what exactly had happened—at the end of the day, only a few people knew the truth—most knew that the archbishop had a clear choice for his successor and that a young and powerful sage had been spreading Denia’s glory among the people.
Therefore, the sudden announcent from the archbishop surprised people, but it wasn’t unexpected; rather, there was so delight.
For a church, having a confird successor while the pope was still alive could reduce most of the internal strife in the future, which was a joyous matter.
As the Moonlight Triplets rose slowly in the sky, Archbishop Cain, perennially reclusive in the depths of the sanctuary, clad in his altered bishop’s vestnts and holding the Scepter of Wheat that symbolized Denia’s authority, entered the public dining hall, supported by two ladies on either side.
As the large two-story dining hall had already gathered over four hundred people—excluding the ascetic monks and so elderly who were too frail to join the festivities—when the three figures entered, they instantly beca the focus of over four hundred pairs of eyes.
The archbishop walking in the middle was already a familiar figure to everyone, while the lady on his left, Archbishop Margaret who managed the logistics of the entire sanctuary and was often involved in disputes over financial issues with various departnts, was also well known.
However, the lady on the left supporting the archbishop was peculiar, covered entirely in a brand new priest’s robe, even her head concealed by a hood, making it impossible to discern her appearance or build.
Only a very few could vaguely guess that this mysterious lady might be Betty, who had previously been part of the Ascetic Order.
“Everyone, please take a seat.
Today isn’t a formal ceremony, just a celebration banquet,” said the old Archbishop, his portly figure and round face making him appear very approachable.
He had always been seen as quite amiable by the clergy, and today was no exception.
As soon as he entered, he said cheerfully, “It’s really just an excuse to gather everyone together for a good al, since the food in our church’s restaurant…
hahaha, everyone understands.
It’s rare that Margaret accepts such reasons, so how could we not take this opportunity to liven things up?”
The old man’s words elicited a knowing laugh from everyone.
Everyone was well aware of the church’s financial situation, and they could understand Archbishop Margaret’s strict and stingy nature; their remarks about her were mostly in jest.
Thus, the Archbishop’s self-deprecating words further bridged the gap between the Archbishop and the clergy, prompting so of the younger apprentices to even start teasing, but all it took was one look from the old Archbishop to send those mischievous kids scurrying to the side, trembling.
“However, everyone will have to wait a little longer,” the old Archbishop walked to his seat in the middle, gesturing with his hands in the air to calm the laughter, “The other protagonist of today will arrive soon.
Please, be a little more patient.
I think so old friends have already guessed, the other protagonist is a Sage, the bearer of ‘Earth’s Praise’ in this generation, a beloved child of our Lord, a Legendary Rank Sage, Helena.
Most—oh, here they co.”
As the sound of approaching footsteps grew closer, several adventurers entered the dining hall under the watchful eyes of those present, with Lina, also cloaked and hooded in a priest’s robe, surrounded by mbers of her adventure team.
The two similarly-dressed ladies identified each other in just a mont, their gazes eting in mid-air as they slowly removed their hoods.
Since leaving the inn not long ago, Lina had maintained her current attire, so her fellow adventure team mbers had not seen her appearance until now.
The reveal shocked those familiar with them.
The priestess’s smooth, silky silver hair was gone, replaced by a bald scalp with seventeen or eighteen fine scars.
Equally surprising was Betty, who, when she lifted her head, revealed a new crescent-shaped scar on her brow—the Sinner’s Mark.
(To be continued.
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