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Translator: CinderTL
Corona Lands.
As the luminous sphere in the hand of Lothander's colossal statue slowly rotated to a precise angle, a beam of sunlight, as focused as a solid ray, pierced through the window lattice and illuminated Roland's resolute profile without wavering.
He exhaled deeply, opened his eyes, and a faint trace of satisfaction flickered in his gaze.
His battle with Leonard had accelerated his mastery of the dragon bloodline's power, but occasional clumsiness still lingered in its application.
After a month of dedicated asceticism, he had finally tamed the wild, surging power within his bloodline, completely integrating it into his being, as responsive as an extension of his own will.
Furthermore, through continuous training, the experience points for his ascetic's proclamation skill had steadily accumulated.
However, perhaps due to the skill's low level, Roland had yet to perceive any significant enhancements. He could only sense a foreign, subtle energy circulating within him, unlike any power he had encountered before.
Standing motionless, he meticulously savored the newfound, formidable strength coursing through his body.
As fiery as molten lava and as awakened as a slumbering dragon, this power had finally merged seamlessly with his will, leaving no trace of separation.
At that moment, a crisp knock echoed from beyond the door.
Before he could respond, the door swung open.
Galvis entered with his signature, slightly exaggerated smile, Theresa following silently behind as always.
"Ah ha! I hope we haven't disturbed a hero's training?" Galvis bowed dramatically, his fingers casually strumming a few lively notes on the lute. "How do you feel, my dear Roland? Do you think you could now single-handedly take down a fully grown mountain giant?"
Roland ignored his teasing, his gaze sweeping past the poet as he asked in a deep voice, "What's the situation outside?"
Hearing the serious tone, Galvis toned down his theatrics slightly, though his voice still carried the bard's characteristic flair.
"Oh! The situation is epic enough to be immortalized in verse! Duke Arno of the Golden Valley Kingdom has elevated the art of accusation to new heights, weaving a tapestry of crimes against the River Domain Nations that almost sounds convincing."
Theresa's cool voice added succinctly, "They're defending themselves."
"Precisely, defending themselves!" Galvis picked up the thread, gesturing dramatically with his hand. "The envoys of the River Domain Nations have been exhausting their tongues with denials and clarifications. Their performance is impeccable, successfully stalling for time and preventing a formal declaration of war between the two nations—but..."
His tone shifted, his expression turning subtle as he lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret.
"Along the eastern frontier of the Golden Valley Kingdom, behind those canyons and fortresses, armies are massing like swarming ants. The glint of their armor nearly illuminates the entire valley! Anyone with eyes can see that diplomatic denials are as futile as trying to stop a flood with paper. War is now inevitable."
Galvis's face then lit up with that smug "praise me for my insider knowledge" look. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"And here's the most intriguing part: Duke, the 'Sandstone Lion' of the Western Territory, is personally leading his elite legion eastward in a grand march! My dear Roland, it seems your schemes have finally borne fruit!"
Upon hearing this news, a flicker of undisguised surprise flashed across Roland's eyes.
He knew Gloria possessed ambition, but he hadn't anticipated such decisive and swift action, her execution far exceeding his expectations.
Just as the three were discussing this,
Knock, knock, knock.
A clear, restrained knock echoed through the room, shattering the silence.
Roland called out, and the door swung open to reveal High Priest Bodo.
Today, Bodo wore a solemn white ceremonial robe trimmed with gold. His expression was grave, yet when he looked at Roland, an almost fanatical light burned in his eyes.
"Lord Roland," Bodo said, bowing slightly, his voice unusually fervent and respectful.
"Today, on the Day of the Corona, is the perfect time to perform the Radiant Blessing ceremony. It is one of our church's most sacred rites. Would you be interested in attending? It would be an immense honor for us."
"Radiant Blessing?" Galvis, standing nearby, immediately perked up. He let out a sharp whistle and leaned forward with keen interest.
"That sounds fascinating! High Priest Bodo, would we also have the privilege of..."
"No!" Bodo cut him off sharply. The warmth he had shown Roland vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, rigid tone that brooked no argument.
"This sacred rite is exceptionally holy. Only core members of the church are permitted to witness it. Lord Roland is the sole exception."
When he turned back to Roland, his expression softened again, even taking on a hint of cautious anticipation.
"Of course, everything depends entirely on your wishes, Lord Roland."
Over the past month, Roland had come to realize that the Blazing Sun Church was not an evil cult.
Their faith was unwavering, and though their actions were sometimes fanatical, they adhered to their own principles and boundaries.
What truly piqued his interest, however, was the true meaning of the "Radiant Blessing" ceremony Bodo had mentioned.
From what he understood, this was the core ritual for imprinting the "stigmata" upon those with unwavering faith.
This was the source of the mysterious strength that had allowed Gloria, a mere mortal, to briefly withstand three transcendent assassins.
Such an opportunity was rare, and Roland hesitated only briefly.
He whispered instructions to Theresa and Galvis, telling them to wait here and remain vigilant.
"Let's go, High Priest Bodo," Roland said calmly.
Bodo's face instantly lit up with a look of utter satisfaction. He immediately stepped aside, guiding Roland forward with obsequious deference, his respectful demeanor a stark contrast to the cold indifference he had shown Galvis moments before.
"Ha! That peculiar old man!" Galvis muttered, watching their retreating figures and recalling Bodo's earlier brusqueness. "Look at him fawning over Roland, Theresa! Anyone would think Roland was his long-lost father he'd suddenly reunited with!"
Theresa ignored the bard's grumbling. Without a word, she turned and walked away.
Seeing this, Galvis hurriedly waved his hand and called out, "Hey! Theresa! Where are you going?"
"It's lunchtime," she replied.
Before the words had even finished leaving her lips, the Silver-Haired Woman's slender figure had already vanished around the corner of the corridor.
"One after another! They're all the same!" Galvis grumbled, plucking at his lute strings with a frustrated air, producing a few sullen notes. "No one pays me any attention! Maybe we should just disband!"
Of course, Roland didn't hear Galvis's petulant outburst.
At that moment, he was following in High Priest Bodo's footsteps, passing beneath the solemn statue of Lothander and through rows of neatly arranged stone dwellings, venturing deeper into the Corona Lands, into areas rarely accessible to ordinary believers.
After passing through the final archway guarded by sentinels clad in white robes embroidered with golden patterns, the scene before them opened up dramatically, leaving Roland breathless.
They seemed to have entered a vast, naturally formed dome, its scale far exceeding anything he could have imagined.
The towering dome wasn't carved by human hands but covered in a layer of crystalline, translucent material.
At that moment, sunlight streamed through the natural prism of the crystalline dome, refracting into countless flowing golden bands that drifted slowly through the vast hall like liquid sunlight, intertwining and illuminating the entire space with a radiant, sacred glow.
At the center of the hall stood an enormous circular stone platform.
Its surface was etched with intricate, ancient geometric patterns that resonated with the light cascading from the dome, emitting a faint warmth.
Around the platform, dozens of Blazing Sun Church devotees stood in orderly rows.
Clad in uniform, plain white robes, their expressions were solemn and reverent as they chanted ancient and mystical prayers in low voices.
These murmurs coalesced into a rhythmic, magnetic resonance, like the deep pulse of the earth, harmonizing with the rivers of light that permeated the space.
Standing at the edge of the platform were seven devotees draped in dazzling golden vestments, each holding a different ritual object, forming an arcane formation.
But all eyes were fixed on the figure at the very center of the platform:
Gloria.
She wasn't wearing the plain white robes of the faithful. Instead, she was clad in a pure white ceremonial gown, its design simple yet exquisitely refined.
The silk-like fabric draped smoothly, perfectly accentuating her tall, graceful figure. At the hem, the sacred emblem of the Blazing Sun Church was embroidered with delicate gold thread.
Bathed in the surrounding radiant light, the emblem seemed to come alive, its faint glow flickering in rhythm with her breath, now visible, now hidden.
This attire added an inviolable sacredness and ethereal beauty to her usual Imperial Princess's dignity, as if she herself were the embodiment of light.
Gloria tilted her head slightly upward, her eyes closed, her expression serene, as if fully preparing to receive the ritual's descent.
Yet the moment Roland, accompanied by Bodo, stepped into the sacred hall, she seemed to sense his presence. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she opened her eyes.
Her gaze pierced through the flowing curtain of light, locking precisely onto Roland.
In those azure eyes, clear confusion replaced the previous piety and tranquility.
She clearly hadn't anticipated Roland's presence in this ritual site, a place reserved for core members only.
(End of the Chapter)
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