Chapter 76: Discoveries

The Three Villages surrounding the Temple of the Seventh Night tend to be very lively at night, every day of the year.

As followers of the Night—its tranquility and its cold wind—the believers of this church have a special love for the Night and all it represents.

In fact, their goddess is the Goddess of the Moon and Tranquility... This is not a recently founded church. It is very old, and its beliefs have been deeply rooted for hundreds or thousands of years in the Kingdom of Toluria—even before it was called Toluria.

The advance of the beasts and the portals did not deter their beliefs; in fact, they grew even stronger, thanks to the great power they have now gained among their followers.

As he made his way through the first town toward the third town, Zaid thought about Kevin’s words.

Nervous guards... He looked specifically at those city guards walking along the busy streets. They eyed him suspiciously; they were waiting for him to make a single misstep so they could pounce on him.

It was clear they didn’t trust strangers.

However, Zaid certainly noticed something odd.

Clumsy steps, awkward movements. They seemed slightly nervous, even though they were trying to hide it.

’Is something going on?’ He wanted to follow a group of guards to see if he could find out anything, but then he remembered the letter he had to deliver and shook his head. ’I’ll do it when I get back.’

He thought it would be better to do it later, since there would be fewer people and more room to maneuver in case he was discovered.

"Haven’t you noticed a significant increase in the number of strangers? I think the leaders have brought too many this time."

A curious, gossipy voice reached Zaid’s keen senses. The voice came from someone far away, but who was looking down at him from the top of a three-story house.

Zaid deliberately slowed his pace. That was another topic Kevin had brought up. He was interested in hearing more.

"I think there are more than 500 strangers in our three villages right now," someone next to him exclaimed, clearly annoyed by the situation.

Another person laughed. "What’s the big deal? Strangers are necessary."

"It’s still annoying to see so many intruders trampling on our sacred grounds."

"But they’re necessary."

"Tsk, put yourself in my shoes, will you? The strangers only serve to make our Goddess glorify herself through us. Why let them into the sacred grounds? It would be the last straw if they were to set foot on our sacred Crucible!"

Zaid froze for a brief moment. Suddenly, many pairs of eyes were fixed on him, as if they were judging him.

Some guards walked toward him, gripping their weapons tightly. "Stranger, you can’t just stand there in the middle of the sidewalk. If you’re not here to get some fresh air or see our sacred lands, I expect you to return to your hotel," the battalion captain told him.

Zaid frowned. He looked up and stared at him intently.

For a moment, his gaze turned menacing, causing the captain to step back and draw his spear.

However, Zaid quickly erased any expression that might have flashed across his face for a second and apologized with an embarrassed smile. "Oh, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought."

He resumed walking, this time at a faster pace, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.

But his mind was in chaos.

’The Crucible? That name again?’ Zaid clenched his fists beneath his pockets.

He had heard that name from that Red Lord—the mastermind, or at least the one pulling the strings, behind the massacre in the Forest of the Undead.

And now someone from this church is saying it... Did they have some connection?

’They also said that strangers are necessary... And that strangers serve to glorify their Goddess...’

Zaid felt a lump in his throat for a moment. He didn’t understand what that meant if he just thought about it. However, when he put the pieces together, it seemed, strangely enough, a bit like the "heads" those guys needed—the ones who later ended up in that massacre.

There was something strange about it.

Zaid quickened his pace and soon reached the walled bridge connecting the first village to the third. He crossed it.

On the other side, there wasn’t much of a difference. Except that this island had far fewer strangers and more powerful people, there wasn’t much of a difference.

It was an ordinary town or city, with many buildings that weren’t very tall—the seventh floor was the highest in any of them. What made it unique was the thickness of its walls, but nothing out of the ordinary.

He walked, looking for the place where he was supposed to deliver his letter: the Local Temple. He could see it from anywhere in town, since it was large and well-lit, which made it stand out. So he couldn’t miss it.

Along the way, he heard more people talking about the strangers. Otherwise, they were quite quiet, reserved, and calm. If it weren’t for the guards’ odd behavior and the constant criticism directed at them, he would surely have liked them.

Just before reaching the local temple, he stopped at a corner when he heard something that caught his attention. It was coming from inside some houses.

"Father, Mother, did the Temple Prophet really come this time?" an excited young man asked some older people who had just entered the house.

’Prophet...’ Zaid paused at those words.

The elders nodded in response. "We couldn’t see him, but it’s a fact. The Prophet is resting in his chambers in the central temple. We’ll be able to see him on the Seventh Night!" he exclaimed.

"How exciting! I’ll actually get to meet the Prophet before I ascend..." The young man was overcome with emotion and said a few more words to his parents.

However, they soon sensed something and flung open the window. "Who are you?" the man asked suddenly, staring into the nearby darkness.

However, he couldn’t see or hear anything else.

"Was someone listening to us, Father?" the young man asked, peering out from a wheelchair.

His father smoothed his brow and turned around. "One of the onlookers who surely wanted to hear the same thing you did. Not many are allowed into the temple right now, and we were lucky to be able to do so, so many people want to hear what we have to say."

"My parents are just amazing! Not just anyone can be a high-ranking bishop!" exclaimed the boy, who was about 15 years old, with a proud smile.

His father and mother laughed and, to reassure him, handed him his favorite book. "Go read in your room. Tomorrow is the big day."

"Yes, Dad, Mom!" The young boy, who was paralyzed, rolled his wheelchair over to his room, where he finally shut himself in to read intently... he surely wouldn’t sleep tonight.

Outside, his father frowned and looked at his wife. "A stranger. Go and kill him. I couldn’t see him, so you’ll have to figure it out. If anyone asks why he’s dead, just say he heard something he shouldn’t have."

The woman nodded. "I know what I have to do." With that, she went outside.

-

Zaid moved quickly through the streets. He used his keen senses to throw off a strange pursuer he sensed nearby, blending in with the crowd, and eventually reached the ring of guards surrounding the temple.

"Stop!" the guard shouted.

Zaid’s senses were focused on what was behind him, so he could tell that the one following him was a woman. She was quite strong—probably a Rank B. Her power was strange...

’She’s like a beast. What the hell is going on in this city?"

Fortunately, it wasn’t easy to pinpoint his whereabouts, even though he was right in front of her. He had complete confidence in his ability to hide, and his instincts were sharp; it wasn’t too difficult to blend in among the strangers wandering around the city.

He turned his attention forward and looked at the guard.

"Sir, I have a message for someone at the Temple," Zaid said, pulling out the letter. The guard tried to grab it, but Zaid held on tightly. "I’m sorry, but I was told to deliver it myself. You can see the seal on top."

The guard frowned. He wanted to scold him, but he was standing in front of a temple. He had to avoid sinning here...

He smiled at him. "If that’s the case, let me verify it then." The guard looked at the seal for several seconds. "I’ll take a picture of it and be right back," the guard said.

He took out his cell phone and snapped a photo. He turned around and headed toward the temple...

Three minutes later, the guard returned with a more respectful smile.

"Sir, the Cardinal has indicated that you may enter." He made way for him through the line of guards.

Although several guards were surprised, they didn’t say a word upon hearing that it was the Cardinal himself who had granted permission.

’Cardinal... Does the elderly Anhur have connections with these high-ranking members of the church?’

That was surprising. There are only three cardinals below the head of this church, and all three hold such exalted status that everyone in the kingdom respects them—even members of the guilds. After all, this church is almost like a guild.

Zaid followed the guard, who led him through the temple to the chambers of the temple’s chief cardinal, Cardinal Marcellus.

"It’s right here, sir." The guard stepped aside and took his leave immediately.

Zaid looked at the bronze door in front of him, which swung open to the sides. He sensed an enigmatic presence inside.

"Young man, I had a divine revelation that a Zachary would come to see me. I thought it was Lord Zachary or his son; I didn’t expect it to be you. Please, come in."