Chapter 70 (1/2)
Vur walked alongside Paul, who was holding onto Lillian’s left hand. Lillian’s right arm was linked together with Michelle’s by their elbows. “You have a pretty high tolerance,” Paul said to Vur as he led the girls around a signpost. He shook his head as the girls giggled.
“Isn’t their tolerance just too low?” Vur asked. The four of them were following a sentry towards the temple.
“Hey,” Michelle called out. “Hey. Mr. Sentry. Hey. Who won the warrior competition?”
“The prince won first-place. Trent won second-place,” the sentry said as he continued marching.
“Ah, that stupid egg. I was hoping someone would kick his ass,” Michelle said and stumbled. She giggled and looked at Lillian. “You did a pretty good job.”
Paul sighed. “I can’t believe she only had two glasses of wine,” he said. “Has she never drank before?”
The sentry cleared his throat. “She is the pope’s daughter,” he said as the group arrived in front of the temple. The sentry nodded at the two guards standing in front of the door before he turned around and speed-walked away.
“Well, he seemed to be in an awful hurry to get away,” Michelle said as she staggered up the steps, supporting herself with Lillian’s arm.
“It’s because you’re embarrassing,” Vur said and shrugged.
“You’re embarrassing!” Michelle said and pouted. “Everyone was only staring because of your mask.”
The two guards looked at each other before they opened the door and stepped aside. Paul passed Lillian’s hand to Vur and nodded. “I’ll be waiting right here,” he said.
“What? You’re not coming with us?” Michelle asked as she struggled against Lillian. “Come ‘ere.”
“Only winners are allowed to enter the temple,” the guard to her right said. “He can’t enter.”
“That’s not fair,” Michelle whined. “He’s a good healer, he just couldn’t compete in the main competition because the preliminaries weren’t fair.”
“But then I would have lost to you,” Paul said and scratched his head as Vur tugged the two girls through the door.
“Oh. Right,” Michelle said and giggled. The door guards closed the door.
Paul sighed and shook his head.
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The pope stood in front of an altar, facing the six winners of the competition. A golden fire burned in a white bowl on the altar, emitting a glowing yellow smoke that converged towards the ceiling of the temple.
“The six of you have proven yourselves worthy of receiving the blessing of our god,” the pope said as he spread his arms.
“God?” Vur asked while tilting his head. “I thought we were here to be blessed by spirits.”
“You are,” the pope said as he raised an eyebrow. “Did you not know that our god is the collective whole of our spirits? When we leave our mortal coils for the last time, we become one with our god and our god becomes one with us.”
“He was raised in isolation, Father,” Michelle said and sniffled. “Can you imagine not living with other people? He must’ve been so lonely.” She started to sob and hiccup.
The pope’s brow creased and he frowned as he eyed his daughter, but kept his mouth shut. He turned back towards Vur. “I understand now,” he said and sighed. “You poor soul. You’ve never been enlightened or baptized by their aura before.” The yellow smoke behind the pope thickened and started to swirl in the air above the group. Rays of golden light shone down from the yellow cloud and bathed the seven people in light.
Seven gasps sounded out at the same time as the group shuddered. Vur lost feeling in his legs and his knees buckled, but he managed to stay standing by taking a step forward. The pope fell to the floor and prostrated himself. Michelle fell next, followed by the prince, and then Roy. Lillian let out a moan and also prostrated herself. Trent shuddered and panted, still standing with his hands on his knees. A line of saliva fell out of his mouth before he fell to the floor on one knee. Veins bulged outwards on his forehead.
Chills coursed through Vur’s body, eliciting goosebumps all over. His body slackened and his shoulders drooped. He was about to fall when a roar rang through his head, causing his whole body to tense. Underneath his mask, a dark rune appeared on his forehead. A black aura rushed through his body devouring the golden specks floating in his blood.
A DRAGON DOES NOT KNEEL!
Vur’s eyes narrowed underneath his mask as he straightened his back and crossed his arms, sticking his chest out. He raised his head and stared straight at the glowing cloud, letting the waves of light wash over him. Trent’s lips quirked upwards as he saw Vur’s change in posture from the corner of his eye. Everyone else remained prostrate on the ground with their eyes closed, oblivious to their surroundings.
Time passed and the light dimmed before fading away. Trent wiped his hands on the back of his pants as he stood up. Lillian’s body shuddered as her eyes opened. She climbed to her feet and glanced at her palms. Roy stood up at the same time as Rudolph. Michelle stood up next, her steps no longer unsteady. The pope stood last.