Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Seeing the Grand Priest coming, the clerics immediately knelt down, and the guards followed their example.
The Krakoks did not have a monarch or class system. They were all considered equal with the exception of the Grand Priest. To the other Krakoks, Grand Priest was the embodiment of wisdom, who guided their entire race to their present life and the future.
This was why those who met the Grand Priest would show their greatest respect regardless of the situation.
“Now, stand.” The old priest asked, “Aren’t you all going to arrange the election stage?”
“We-we came for something important, Grand Priest.”
“Yes, sir. We just paid a visit to Lady Fiona to ask her about the election, but she…”
“What is it?” The old man appeared as peaceful as ever.
“… She wishes to change the election ground, which is inside the Centenary Palace, and—”
The Grand Priest lowered his head while listening.
“—and Lady Fiona said she’s tired. I think she doesn’t wish to show the election to our people this time.”
“Sir, we already prepared the stage. What should we do now?” The other clerics grew anxious again.
“Yeah, our tradition remained unchanged for a thousand years, we can’t just alter it all of a sudden! Our people are waiting!”
They couldn’t raise their questions in front of Fiona, but now that they were talking to the center of intelligence of all Krakoks, the clerics all began to express their minds.
The Grand Priest knocked his cane on the floor, and an energy ripple powerful enough to shock souls silenced everyone.
“Quiet! It’s just a trivial matter.”
“That’s not trivial! Our brothers outside—”
“Silence! Do you not remember who we are? And what ‘Hymns of Fairies’ is telling us?!” The old man bellowed, “We have what we have today all thanks to the saints from Citadel. If they wish to change something, we will do it!”
“But, the election spot was decided by Lady Isabelle, our first savior a thousand years ago…” a cleric muttered.
Upon hearing Isabelle’s name, the Grand Priest’s eyes revealed a grim glimmer. However, he quickly hid it back.
“No buts. The saints granted us everything, and we shall listen to their commands. If Fiona tells us to use somewhere else, we will.”
The clerics could only nod and agree.
“Now go and prepare according to her request.”
After sending everyone away, the old priest remained silent and thought about something. A while later, he found one of the guards.
“Prepare a hummingbird for me. I’m going to visit Lady Fiona personally.”
Next, he moved back to the front of the pulsing aura in the center of the temple.
“A chance suddenly showed up. Or is it? Nevertheless… If we can make the revolution happen this time, maybe all of you will finally be set free from the abyss…”
He reached a hand slowly into the grayish aura.
His already dimmed eyes grew darker like those of a blind man, while his skin quickly turned aged.
When he exited through the temple door again, the guards were terrified to see their Grand Priest in worse shape than ever.
They knew about a certain rumor that the Grand Priest could foretell their fate and lead them to prosperity.
At the cost of his life.
So he just did it again?
“Priest, sir…” The guards knelt down and almost cried.
The old man walked past his people with a plain expression, which he always used to hide his true feelings.
Fortune Telling that guided their path? Heh. Beautiful words.
He was no sage that guided the Krakoks; he was but a criminal that assisted the devil.
…
The hummingbird was tiny but swift. It only took the creature a quarter of an hour to reach the Centenary Palace.
Angor was preparing to head out to explore the mountain temple when he heard someone approaching again.
He facepalmed and moaned helplessly.
“Lady Fiona, it is Beyer. May I have an audience?” Someone spoke in a slow, aged voice.
Angor found it familiar. Who the heck was Beyer?
He unleashed spirit feelers and saw someone he knew—the Grand Priest of all Krakoks. It was both expected and… not.
The old man had his head lowered politely, which looked completely different from the careless manners displayed by those clerics.
Angor was actually planning to go and meet this figure. He didn’t expect the old Krakok to come alone instead.
He considered, and without using any tricks, he replied in his own voice, “Come in.”
The old priest wasn’t surprised at all when he heard the man’s voice.
When the hummingbird carried him onto a desk, Angor swiftly crafted a tiny chair to make the old Krakok comfortable.
The priest bowed deeply to Angor and accepted the seat.
Neither of them spoke for the next moment. Using the chance, Angor carefully inspected the old man in front of him.
He never got a good look at the old Krakok back at the mountain due to the distance and surging energy ripples. Now, he could clearly see the bald head, speckles, and white beard thick enough to be used as a cleaning mop.
Also, those terribly, sickly, emotionless eyes…
Besides, he was very interested in the energy he sensed from the old man, which felt the same as the ripples around the holy mountain.
“So, you aren’t questioning why me instead of Fiona?” Angor spoke first.
“I already saw it coming. I am here to see you, good sir,” the old man replied in a plain tone.
“Me?” Angor chuckled. “Do you want anything from me?”
“No… But I think you have something to ask from me, and the temple isn’t a good place to talk. So I’ve come here.”
Angor noticed a secret line from those words. The old man was intentionally hinting something just now.
Was the temple always being monitored?
It made a lot of sense though. The core of law was extremely valuable, and there was no way Dark Castle only left a mortal in the temple to protect it.
“Are you perhaps feeling discontent with Dark Castle, Grand Priest?”
“No. Our people have survived the brutal history until today all thanks to Citadel. I don’t feel discontent. I cannot.”
“I see. Do you know about the magic array hidden under Hippocrotee then?” Angor changed the topic. He could somewhat understand the purpose of the sudden visit if the Grand Priest did know about the magic array.
The old man’s face twitched a little. His most painful mental scar was brought up so soon.
“I… do.” The priest closed his eyes.
“And you still don’t hate Dark Castle?”
The old man stayed silent. He finally shook his head and said, “I do not.”
“Do you know I’m not from Dark Castle?”
“Yes. I noticed it the day you two came to Hippocrotee.”
“How did you find us?” Angor grew curious.
“The Soul Essence, inside the temple. With it, I can see everything that’s happening around Hippocrotee.”
Angor knew that the “Soul Essence” meant the core of this garden’s law. However, he wasn’t going to tell the old man his true intention before he learned the old man’s plan first.
“Since you know I’m an outsider, you don’t have to worry about your true thoughts being heard by them. I’ll ask again, do you hate Dark Castle?”
“I do not.” The old man shook his head willingly.
Angor nodded. Since the leader of Krakoks said so, he wasn’t going to interfere with their business as an outsider.
“So, you already found us out. Why didn’t you report us to Dark Castle then?”
The priest looked up at Angor with his dimmed yet meaningful gaze. “I wish that… one day, we can open the ‘gap’ and release the torrent which has been staying dormant for a long time.”
“Gap? Torrent?” Angor grew confused again.
“The peace that Krakoks enjoy is a fake delusion that has lasted for a thousand years. I wish for a chance which can lead us to revolution.”
The priest did not hide anything from his words, but he didn’t explain his exact plan.
Angor decided to put it aside for now. He then asked a question that he derived from the priest’s original question. “You said I have something to ask from you, and that the temple isn’t a good place to talk. So… what do I possibly need to ask?”
The Grand Priest considered for a moment.
“The Soul Essence.”