Chapter 222: On This Special Day

When the positions of the stars were corrected, this world that was enveloped by magic and the power of the gods would undergo a series of hidden changes.

However, only the minority would be able to detect such changes and be able to observe the knowledge and truth hidden in the depths of this world during normal times.

At Anzu Kingdom’s St. Soniel, in the high-ranked prayer room of the Church of Holy Light.

The “Saint Princess” Veronica was quietly kneeling down in front of the statue of the God of Holy Light. Both her hands were placed on her breast, while her eyes were closed and still. The hazy holy light shrouded her body and illuminated the entire room with warm but bright light. Anyone who saw this scene would feel unbelievable sincerity, purity, and holiness from her.

However, Veronica didn’t pray for long. She slowly opened her eyes and unhurriedly stood up before turning towards the direction of the door. After quietly waiting for two seconds, the door of the prayer room was silently opened.

A high-ranking priestess who had short hair and ordinary looks had walked in. Her body was emitting a serene and gentle light that was similar to Veronica’s sincere and holy aura. After seeing the lingering Holy Light in the prayer room, the priestess nodded and said, “The Pope is looking for you.”

“I understand,” Veronica replied softly. Before leaving the prayer room, she couldn’t help but stop to take a deep look at her good friend whom she had known for many years.

Sandy stood there quietly and was still so quiet and gentle. This kind girl who had grown up together with Veronica was now also an outstanding and highly ranked priestess, but the relationship between the two of them would never be the same as before.

In the eyes of Veronica, Sandy was being wrapped by a bundle of radiance, and the radiance seemingly permeated through her skin and bones, allowing her entire body to present a translucent and golden metallic feeling. Veronica looked at Sandy’s body, at that golden metallic body. The place that was supposed to be the heart was now beating with a crystal-like illumination. Just by looking at the illumination attentively, Veronica felt the Holy Light in her body surging slightly.

“Are there any other questions?” Sandy noticed Veronica’s pause and turned her head slightly to ask.

Veronica shook her head. “Nothing, praise the Holy Light.”

From the prayer room to the Sage Hall, there was an outdoor garden and two long hallways in between. The Church of Holy Light’s highest-ranked priests were walking along the holy stone paths, and these pious and holy people would emit a resonance of Holy Light. Even if this sanctum was in the night, it would be enveloped in a bright radiance. Veronica used her hands to gather the priestess robes’ sleeves and lowered her head slightly as she walked quietly on the path. She didn’t speak with anyone, nor did she look around. She was just like any of the devout priests who were entirely immersed in the Holy Light’s appreciation.

She saw high-ranking priests walking past her one after the other. Their luxurious priest robes were wrapped in hazy radiance, but the radiance was only floating on the surface of their flesh and skin. Some of them had already replaced the innate nature of a “human” — the golden radiance on the body was proof of being devout, and it was also the strongest energy protection from the Church of Holy Light.

Veronica walked through the hallway while the attendants opened the door of the Sage Hall for her. She saw the human representative of the God of Holy Light, the supreme ruler of the Church of Holy Light, the most prestigious religious leader in Loren Continent, Saint Ivan III, quietly seated on the golden seat in the Sage Hall.

This old man who had lived for 150 years had a wizened body, with white hair and a white beard. The uncovered skin revealed old-age spots and wrinkles that were accumulated over time. He seemed to only have a breath of life left; he was old and weak, and it felt as though he might be summoned by The Lord at any moment. However, Veronica knew clearly that this was only his appearance as the boundless Holy Light had bestowed him with true power. As long as this old man’s mind was still operating and his brain wasn’t dead, he would be able to make use of the surging power of the Holy Light to destroy all of the church’s enemy or to protect all the devout believers.

In the eyes of Veronica, Saint Ivan III didn’t possess the form of a human anymore; he was just a torch that was burning with Holy Light. He was seated upright in that luxurious golden seat, and in the hazy and illusory shadows of the Holy Light torch, she could see a trace of the God of Holy Light and vestiges of the god’s realm.

“Veronica, My Lord’s devout child, you are here,” Saint Ivan III spoke. In his deep and slow voice, it contained gentleness and trust. “The Lord is summoning you.”

“I have obtained revelation during my prayers.” Veronica lowered her head and spoke respectfully, “The stars are reaching their correct positions. The power of resonance between the celestial bodies will open a path of truth. The moment to receive inspiration has arrived.”

“Come then, the woman of spirituality who possesses the most talents in the last seven centuries. You have already received the highest inheritance from the Church of Holy Light and have also received my personal guidance. You have contacted the most mysterious knowledge and the purest power. You have done ample preparations for this day…” Saint Ivan III’s old voice echoed in the Sage Hall. As he spoke, a platinum scepter gradually appeared in the air and floated in front of Veronica. “My child, hold this scepter and face the enlightenment given to you by The Lord. This is your destiny.”

Veronica looked at the platinum scepter quietly. Her face didn’t have any expression and didn’t make any movements either.

Saint Ivan III’s voice felt as though it drifted over from a remote place. “My child? What are you waiting for?”

The power of light in the Sage Hall was starting to surge while Veronica reached out and grabbed the scepter slowly but resolutely.

“I am ready to converse with The Lord.”

A majestic and vast pillar of light rose from the Sage Hall. The pillar of light had penetrated the thick dome roof of the Sage Hall and pierced through the thick clouds while shooting straight for the ultimate star of mystery in the remote outer space, “Ao”.

At this moment, solemn holy music appeared out of nowhere as all the bells in the churches resounded at the same time. The priests in their churches and the believers in the city had stopped whatever they were doing as they listened to every note of the music. Their faces involuntarily appeared with a calm and indifferent smile while they drew the symbol of the God of Holy Light on their chest and started to pray sincerely.

Veronica felt that her spirit was transcending from her body, and she could “see” her vision rapidly rising above. Soon enough, she had already passed through the Sage Hall’s dome roof, and the entire St. Soniel City was already compressed into a small dot. She passed through the clouds, through the dark starry sky, through countless unknown, strange shadows and phenomena… Finally, her insane journey had stopped in a place that was filled with boundless radiance.

She stood in an extremely spacious place: city walls, towers, and holy crests that were forged with light were erected at the end of her vision. There were stars that were falling, making it look like a river that stretched across the horizon as it poured into the land at a slanted angle.

In front of her vision was “The Lord”.

The Lord was a giant crystal object that was filled with light. The Lord was hovering at the center of this powerful light with the crystal substance forming The Lord’s body. The crystal didn’t have a fixed form as it was just like a crystal core floating in the sky that had many forms, variations, angles, and faces. Even though The Lord wasn’t speaking, Veronica could still hear a voice echoing in her mind.

“Step forward. Touch and listen to The Lord…”

“The Lord is your protector and also the haven that your souls yearn for…”

“You will only be safe with the protection of The Lord…”

Veronica watched that ever-changing and ever-transforming crystal core attentively. Her legs were already starting to tremble, while her body felt as though it wasn’t controlled by her mind as she walked forward. The massive power was also tearing apart her consciousness, allowing her to transform from interior to exterior, being an extension of that ever-changing crystal…

Inexhaustible power, knowledge, mysteries, authority, wealth, and even the eternal life of the gods were now easily obtainable.

Veronica took a deep breath and smiled. “We have waited for this day for too long…”

……

On the second day of the “Days of Stars”, the southern region still had a clear night sky: it was another great day to observe the stars.

After dinner, Heidi immediately returned to her room to retrieve the star observation plate that was made of silver while Rebecca stood at the window and stared blankly at the night sky. She watched those flickering stars and suddenly wrinkled her nose while revealing an angry expression.

But no one noticed the behavior of this viscountess. She merely stared blankly for a moment before she returned to her room.

The “Days of Stars” might be a very important occasion for the Mages, but it was unrelated to her.

She wasn’t able to control the star observation plate and naturally wasn’t able to comprehend the changes in astrology or the mysteries related to magic. When she was young, she would always follow Aunt Heidi and her masters to stand on the balcony and stare at the night sky, but…

It was truly a super-boring thing.

She didn’t like the stars at all.

When Rebecca was on her way back to her room, she was striving to fill her mind with runes and magic circles so that she wouldn’t think of anything else. All of a sudden, a tall and large figure stood in the hallway, and she didn’t have a choice but to stop.

“Lord Ancestor?” She looked at Gawain with surprise and asked, “What is it?”

“Today is the day with the brightest stars. Aren’t you going to the balcony to observe the stars with Heidi?”

“Not going.” Rebecca shook her head forcefully and revealed an unperturbed expression. “I don’t understand it anyway. Every time I look at the stars, I feel like sleeping…”

While looking at this young lady who wasn’t adept at pretending, Gawain couldn’t help but laugh. “I have a present for you.”

“Present?” Rebecca’s eyes lit up slightly. “What present?!”

Gawain took out the successfully completed item that he had painstakingly troubled the craftsmen to produce. “It is a great item that can allow you to see many stars without the need of the star observation plate.”

Rebecca looked at that item with curiosity. It was a long tube made of metal, and it had an uneven thickness. The two ends were seemingly fitted with crystal lenses, and there was an adjustment knob in the middle of the tube. There was also a locking device that could be connected with a frame.

Its style was truly eccentric, and it was different from the machine blueprints that the old ancestor had drawn previously. However, it was unknown why Rebecca was instantly and deeply attracted to it when she first saw the item.

“What is this?” she asked curiously.

“A telescope.” Gawain smiled and said, “Like an Eagle Vision spell that doesn’t need magic.”