Chapter 507 (1/2)
The grim-faced, red robed cardinal, Orben led Hao Ren and the rest from the palace and through a secret passageway to a facility near the cathedral. Hao Ren looked about curiously at his surroundings and realised that the palace and the cathedral were rather close. In fact, the two buildings are twin structures and was only separated by wall. It was rare to see such an architectural design elsewhere where two powers co-exists side by side. The monarchy and divinity were almost inseparable, and each operated within their domain to rule the country. Holletta’s political system was indeed a rather unique one.
Night had fallen by then, and the passageway a well hidden path, the silent atmosphere was almost palpable. The pathway was lit by intricate bronze lamps with a gentle white glow. The lamp too cast light upon the silhouettes of the plants alongside the path and from a distance, you could see the great castle walls standing tall against the falling light. Two moons had risen above the Royal Palace’s tallest tower complex, and the red rim of the moons made it looked like a giant was gazing down upon the land.
Lily was excited under the moonlight. She softly nudged her eyes as she caught the raucous cacophony from the bazaar. The shadow of the moon reflected on her golden iris. She took a deep breath and wagged her tail. “Woaaahhh… fresh air. Like a gentle breeze upon a moonlit night, beckoning the wanderer in me home. I remember the house I had at Beiping, I have the best sights of the moon every middle of the month. Heh, but I left that place after the war and never did I manage to see the moon so beautiful again… This world doesn’t seem all that bad, it at least has one extra moon compared to Earth.
Everyone around Lily stared at her as if they saw a monster and scared the latter. “Whaa… What’s with the look?”
“Did you eat something wrong earlier?” Vivian kept her distance from Lily, almost afraid if the husky would bite at any time. “Why did you turn into a poet all the sudden? And whose verse did you stole?”
Lily bare her fangs and growled as she glared at Vivian. “I am a practitioner of art and literature! Even if you have amnesia you can”t be forgetting that right? And stealing? I wrote that myself you know?
Hao Ren too threw Lily a sideway glance. “I know that you are a practitioner of the arts, but your usual self just doesn’t reflect that…. Please warn us in advance before you change personality. Listening to a husky reciting a poem out of nowhere is rather spooky.”
Lily rolled her eyes as she patted her tummy. “I’m stuffed, so I had some inspiration. Most of my works are creating during the after-meal yawns.”
And thus the idle banter persisted throughout the journey. Amazingly, Cardinal Orben, who was leading the party could keep a straight face. The bald faced man’s expression was about as stiff as a wood, and not once did he show a shred of emotion towards the party. Until when the party had arrived at a small chapel-like structure beside the cathedral did he stop and spoke. “This is where the ritual branding and training of the acolytes take place. There’s twenty-two of such facilities city-wide. It is a great honour to be able to undergo the branding in the Royal City.”
Despite being grim-faced, Cardinal Orben was still a courteous host with his explanation.
The cardinal then gently knocked on the door of the chapel and spoke a few words to the attending priests before heading in. “Come, there’s a new acolyte who is going through the branding. You can see how a commoner receive the goddess’ blessing, and become the bearer of her words and wisdom.”
The party went into the chapel, and the place was brightly lit.
The Disciples of Glory was a very large organised religion, and had countless members of the clergy. The branding was a process that even the lowliest of acolytes will need to go through. As such, the chapel had someone receiving the ‘blessing’ almost every hour. The prospective acolytes studied the scripture in this very chapel. Their studies includes the various schools of divinity, training and tests and after meeting a certain standard they will be chosen to undergo the branding in the chapel. Only after that they are given the permission and authority to meet the Pope and take on various holy duties.
Within the brightly lit chapel, a holy yet bizarre ritual was ongoing. Hao Ren and the group was brought into the hall by a servant boy through a side door. Cardinal Orben signalled for them to stay silent, and to just watch.
A two meter wide carpet lay in the centre of the room, on it were many mysterious runic symbols that were obscured by a faint gold dye. Amongst the runes were Letta Runes, while the others were Ancient Runes that were even older and more powerful. All these potent runes glowed faintly and projected blurry images of the runes in the air. A young acolyte dressed in hempen robe lay in the middle of a round mat. Around him where three aged priests, each holding a thick scripture in hand as they chanted the holiest of words from the book. The ones that sounded the most arcane to everyone.
The start of the ritual seems to be when the three priests decided to gang up on the poor acolyte.
The young acolyte noticed that there were unexpected strangers in entering the hall together with Cardinal Orben and was clearly nervous. The cardinal shook his head towards the young lad, and only then did he renewed his focus on the ritual.
After completing the chant of a few verses, one of the old priests placed the scripture on the acolyte’s chest. “Blair Laymont, a servant in the goddess’ grace, do you have the strength of mind and body, to see through the veils of evil. Do you have the faith of steel, to serve the goddess with all of your being. Do you have the strongest of wills, to face any and every challenge that comes you way?”