86 Holy Temple (1/2)
Nathan, who was carrying a [Grade D] Large Axe on his hand, and the young man, who was acting as his guide, arrived at the Holy Temple.
The Holy Temple was located at the outer edge of the village to the North.
To Nathan's surprise, rather than a temple, the Holy Temple was a garden with an open-air platform made up of stones that had two pillars in the middle, serving as a door.
He concluded that the two pillars in the middle of the platform served as a door because there was a red portal between them.
It was the same ominous-looking portal he had seen when he entered the Divine Tower.
On the side of the road leading to the platform, there were villages on their knees with their heads down praying.
On the sides of the platform, there were eleven women wearing the same clothes that the woman referred to as Priestess whom Nathan met earlier at the Village Hall.
All of them, except for one, were on their knees with their heads down and praying.
The one that wasn't on her knees was the High Priestess. She was this ungodly beautiful woman in her early 30s with silver hair. In fact, among the priestesses, she was the most beautiful of them all.
She was standing between the other ten priestesses and praying with her eyes closed.
Nathan tried to look for the other Traveling Mercenaries around, but there was no one was on sight.
'Perhaps they've already entered the portal?'
”Great Chosen One, this is where we part ways. I pray that you will have a safe and bountiful journey,” whispered the young man on his side before heading to the side to join the villagers.
Nathan turned to him.
”Wait.”
The young man stopped and turned.
”Yes, Great Chosen One?”
”What's your name?”
”My name is Gadostizaraza, Great Chosen One.”
The young man offered a quick bow.
Hearing his name, Nathan couldn't help but knit his brows for a quick moment because it was a name that would cause him to bite his tongue every time he says it.
However, there was no denying that this young man was of great help to him. If he hadn't been there to support him, acting as his guide, who knows how much time he would've wasted.
”Thank you, Gadostizaraza. I will remember this gesture you did for me. Just call me Nathan, by the way.”
”Great Chosen One Nathan, it was an honor to be of service. My God bless us all in the Holy Night Ceremony.”
Nathan shook his head and smiled. ”Yeah, sure.”
Gadostizaraza turned around and went to join the villagers on the side of the road.
Nathan checked his watch.
12:07 pm.
He walked down the road leading the platform.
As he drew closer, the High Priestess opened her silver-colored eyes and looked at Nathan.
The expression on her eyes was neither haughty nor humble. It was neutral as if she didn't care whether Nathan was a Chosen One or not.
She went in front of the platform and waited there.
When Nathan got near the High Priestess, she spoke first and held out her hand.
”Greetings, Traveling Mercenary. I believe you have something of ours.”
Just like her eyes, the tone of her voice was neither haughty and humble as well.
Nathan frowned.
For some reason, his instincts were screaming at him that this woman in front of him was extremely dangerous. He doesn't know why but it just felt like that. Plus, she reminded him of those die-hard religious freaks that are always a headache to deal with because of their extreme dogmatism and are best left alone.
'What is this bitch saying?'
But then he thought about the ring that was given to him by that priestess he met earlier so he took it out.
”You mean this one?”
”Yes.”
Following the warning of his instincts, instead of telling the woman to come over and take it herself or throwing it at her or just ignoring her, he placed the ring on her palm.
Once she had the ring, she immediately put down her hand.
”The others have already entered the portal. Go and complete the Holy Night Ceremony. I may not be able to hold the portal any longer.”
'Others? Hmm… So they really have entered already. But I wonder how many are they… And this bitch has the power to hold the portal? Interesting…'
This place, both inside and out, had so many mysteries that Nathan wanted to unearth. But unfortunately for him, he lacked the time and there was also that restriction.
Right now, all he was doing was just going with the flow. If he had just entered at a much earlier time, perhaps he could've investigated and prepared more.
'Perhaps next time… If I do survive and be able to return here.'
Nathan walked passed the High Priestess and continued walking until he was in front of the red portal.
'Sigh… This is it. But first… System.'
***
Level: 25
Exp: 0.4425048828125%
Stats:
STR – 38 (+4)
VIT – 36
AGI – 33 (+30)
INT – 33
Mana: 66/66
Equipment: