6037-chapter-21
Chapter 21
Wearing a white priest’s robe and a hat adorned with the emblem of the sun, High Priest Julius approached the young child carefully. He spoke to her in a friendly manner.
“Hello, young one. I am High Priest Julius.”
“Hewwo, Hwing Pwiest Juwius. (Hello, High Priest Julius.)”
“Oh, you have learned how to speak like humans. You can communicate now.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what a High Priest is?”
“Yes, the pewson who communicates with gods. Stwongest pewson in the temple. (Yes. The person who communicates with the gods. The strongest person in the temple.)”
High Priest Julius felt that this child, despite her innocent appearance, was quite intelligent. The High Priest chuckled and said, “Young one, do you happen to possess a mysterious power?”
“No, I dwon’t have such a thing. (No, I don’t have such a thing.)”
The child shook her little head.
“The power of a warm light, I mean.”
“…I dwon’t know. (I don’t know.)”
“I hope that you are the Child of the Sun. If you ever need my assistance, feel free to come to me.”
“No, I can do it bwy myself. (No. I can do it by myself.)”
The High Priest Julius narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean by doing it by yourself? Indeed! Have you already gained power? Could you show me once?”
The child closed her small mouth. Eventually, she let go of her own hand she was holding and pulled High Priest Julius along. As he followed the lead of the small, chubby hand, he arrived at a secluded grove where no one’s footsteps could be heard.
“Jwust a moment, pwomise me one thing before showing you my powel.”
“Sure, tell me.”
“Twis is a secret from the other pwiests. And if thewe’s a way to enhwance my power, tell me.”
Although slightly surprised by the child’s mature words and actions, High Priest Julius immediately responded, “I promise both things.”
Elliana nodded her head in response to the High Priest’s words and then conjured a bright, small sun in the air, which shone with an incredible radiance. Even though he was witnessing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it. It was truly a miracle. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears welled up in High Priest Julius’ aged eyes. Encountering the power of the sun, which would save the harsh lands of Crovache, his heart pounded. The gods had blessed this land so abundantly!
“Oh, oh, oh! Is it true? Has God truly sent the Child of the Sun to us?”
Seeing the astonished High Priest sitting beside her, Elliana plucked a leaf and placed it on his mouth.
“…Hmph.”
“Shh.”
This wasn’t the time for that, Julius thought. The Sun Scroll had to be returned to its rightful owner. The High Priest, with the leaf still in his mouth, spat it out and regained his composure, speaking softly.
“The Sun Scroll is kept in the Riott Temple. Please follow me.”
? ? ?
Elliana followed behind High Priest Julius with small, slow steps. Stepping into the Riott Temple was a new experience for her. The temple officials they encountered all greeted High Priest Julius with respect and courtesy. They passed majestic and beautiful silver lion statues and arrived at the reception room in front of the High Priest’s office, where an artificial fountain stood. Just looking at the clear and transparent water made her feel a sense of reverence in her heart.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Elliana waited briefly in front of the fountain for the return of the High Priest. At that moment, a faint voice reached her ears.
“Hello, cutie. We meet again like this. Are you using the power I taught you well?”
“Oh! Twat voice is the sunflower!”
“I’m not the sunflower, I’m the Spirit of the Sun, Lioferranda.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m here in the sacred fountain. People often call it Holy Water. Try putting your face in it.”
“Do you want to drown me?”
“Oh, come on. What do you take me for?”
Elliana dismissed her doubts and approached the sacred fountain, gazing at the clear, rippling water. Her own round face reflected back at her.
“Don’t worry, just immerse yourself for a while. You won’t drown.”
After gathering her courage, Elliana tightly closed her eyes and, after counting silently, put her face into the water. One, two, three. Bubbling sounds were heard alongside the emergence of bubbles. Tiny transparent fragments were scattered on the base of the fountain.
‘What are those?’
“When you immerse your head in the sacred fountain, you can glimpse the fragments inside your subconsciousness. Those fragments are your dreams, the ones you remember and the ones you don’t. To see them all, you need to bring a special dreamcatcher.”
‘Dreamcatcher? I don’t know what that is, but I’ll need to get one. I have to see all those dreams to fully understand my past lives. Only then can I prepare for whatever lies ahead. It might become my weapon.’
With that thought in mind, Elliana raised her head again. Strangely, her face remained dry, and even the droplets fell neatly away.
“Where can I find it?”
“Go to a general store. Bring it back and call me here again. I am the spirit devoted to Riott, so I’m always listening in the temple’s fountain.”
“What about the sunflower?”
“I used my power specifically to meet you. By the way, didn’t you got separated from your friend, the bee?”
Elliana sadly nodded her head.
“It’s too cwold here for bees. They can’t suwvive without sunlight.”
“If you enhance your sun power, Vinn will find a way to come to you. Don’t worry. Well then, see you later. The High Priest is a trustworthy person, so it’s good to get closer to him.”
The voice of the spirit, Lioferranda, disappeared. If she could guarantee that he was trustworthy, then it should be fine, right?
Elliana blinked her black eyes. At that time, High Priest Julius approached her, holding a sturdy scroll in his hands. He knelt down for a moment, specifically for the young Elliana, and showed her the scroll.
“This is the ‘Sun Scroll’. It’s been kept for a long time, and I’m glad to finally find its owner.”
The scroll was sealed with a golden circular emblem resembling the sun.
Thump, thump. Thud, thud, thud.
Elliana’s heart tightened, and it thumped loudly.
“Well, how do I use this?”
High Priest Julius spoke in response, “The Sun Scroll is sealed with a very powerful force. Only you, as the chosen one, can break the seal. It is said that only those with the qualification can unlock it.”
“So, I hwave to learn it on my own?”
“I have learned that sun power and divine power have a similar nature. I will teach you how to wield this power step by step. Whenever you have time in the future, I will meet you here. I will ensure that you have unrestricted access to this place.”
“Twank you, Hwigh Pwiest.”
As Elliana politely bowed in gratitude, her plump cheeks jiggled, causing the Sun Scroll she was holding to slip and fall. The sight of her tiny body wriggling and moving clumsily was both trivial and endearing.
Her soft, brownish hair swayed like fluffy cotton, her fair skin puffed up like soft bread, and her precious black eyes shimmered like obsidian, complemented by her small and adorable features. Although he had never seen his descendants before, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a grandchild like her.
After a light cough, High Priest Julius cautiously spoke after realizing the word ‘High Priest’ was difficult for the child.
“If you don’t mind, you can just call me Grandpa.”
“Gwandpa.”
“Oh, you’re quite smart.”
A small smile formed on his lips. She was the first to call him grandfather. It was a new experience for him, having lived alone all his life.
“If it’s alright, I would also like to give a small gift to you.”
High Priest Julius smiled at Elliana and brought his hands together, drawing a round circle in the air. Then, using the divine power gathered in his heart, he drew the same circle above the child’s head while silently praying. A sparkling, transparent light enveloped Elliana’s head.
