Chapter 4: The Oracle (7)
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Lady Rong Ji seemed to be quite experienced in this sort of thing.
Using tricks akin to magic to deceive the foolish masses, showcasing divine miracles, was the go-to strategy of the Saintess of Light to lure people into her church.
On a dim snowy day, the divine light shone brighter than ever,
and the appearance of this miraculous scene caused the citizens around the church to drop to their knees, wailing for the God of Light to forgive them, the lost little lambs that they were.
What was even more shocking was that it wasn’t just this church that was glowing,
but all seven grand churches throughout the Imperial Capital were simultaneously basking in the holy light.
Within the warm embrace of the holy light, even the flying snow couldn’t intrude, and those kneeling within felt a momentary call from the heavens.
That sense of ethereal transcendence, floating above all living beings, was practically the same as being in the divine perspective.
“God of Light!”
“Oh, great God of Light!”
“Waaah… is this your grand and merciful compassion, oh God of Light?”
In the raging snow, countless dazed figures knelt around the church, starkly contrasting the nearby quiet streets.
Not only were the already converted believers present, but many hesitant citizens ultimately chose to kneel before the church, praying for the God of Light’s protection.
Sure, just a couple of days ago, there had been all sorts of miracles over the Temple of Destiny,
and the appearance of the Messenger of the God of Harmony at the Harpist Academy had caused quite the commotion, spreading like wildfire throughout the capital.
However, given that the Church of Light had expanded aggressively in the capital for years and even received significant support from the imperial royal family, it was utterly unrealistic to expect those who had long devoted themselves to the Church to suddenly switch allegiances and clear their minds.
The concept of “sunk cost” meant they had invested so much that they had no choice but to keep trudging down this well-worn path.
Thus, when the seven churches of the Church of Light all simultaneously emanated their grand holy glow,
they naturally felt that the believers of the Church were likewise cared for by their broad-minded and compassionate deity. And with the apocalypse seemingly around the corner, it was even more crucial to be devout, as they prayed to be spared from the impending disasters.
The emergence of the holy light spread by the Church of Light undoubtedly deepened the divide among the believers in the capital.
Devout followers from other faiths regarded the large-scale kneeling ceremony, which appeared almost comedic to them, with icy glares.
Currently, such a grand worship event could only occur with the Church of Light, for other faiths were splintered with far too many deities, unable to form a collective force similar to that of the Church of Light.
If this continued, the other faiths would soon fade away in the Imperial Capital—only a matter of time.
However, the claims made by the Messenger that the capital would meet its doom within two years undoubtedly threw a wrench in the Church of Light’s plan to squeeze out the other faiths.
Many followers of those other deities had already firmly sided with the Messenger.
After all, the Goddess of Destiny was the figurehead of the pantheon and only her faith had the capability to unite the various factions against the encroachment of the Church of Light.
Thus, at the same time the holy light descended upon the capital, a multitude of followers gathered at the gates of the Temple of Destiny.
They knelt together at the feet of the statue of the Goddess, chanting their respective doctrines,
which represented a rare moment throughout thousands of years since the rise of the various faiths—a unification of followers in the Imperial Capital.
The snow fell for an entire day and night without the slightest intention of stopping.
The entire capital was shrouded in a white, frosty landscape.
The cold air had already been swirling above the continent, and Lin Nan merely summoned it to the capital a bit earlier.
This day, she didn’t return to the manor with Trissa but instead checked into a lavish guest room at the Harpist Academy.
As the Messenger of the God of Harmony, enjoying life a little on her own turf didn’t seem out of the ordinary at all.
“Lord Messenger, the results for yesterday’s graduate evaluations are out.
Trissa and Edith tied for first place, both rated as SS-ranked harpists. It’s the first time in the Academy’s history that two SS-ranked harpists have emerged at once.
This shows that all the fortunate disciples of the Lord Messenger have been able to grasp true insight and progress even further.”
Even in the frigid weather, Janet remained as cool as ever; especially when she bent over, revealing a delightful view that even Lin Nan couldn’t help but sneak a peek at.
“Hmm, it seems the Harpist Academy has had quite the fruitful year.”
“Indeed! The number of harpists rated A-level or above has increased by at least 20% this year compared to prior years.”
Lin Nan stood up, dragging her white floor-length gown, and slowly wandered to the window.
The guest room was located at the highest point of the Harpist Academy, with transparency all around; if the weather were clear, one could even see the imperial palace that was half a city’s distance away.
At this moment, looking down through the endless falling snow,
all she could make out were the outlines of the Academy nearby and the roads covered in snow near the courtyard walls.
It was early morning, silent as a grave, and few souls could be spotted.
The entire capital seemed to be bound by the snow, and its usually bustling streets were now deserted, perhaps only to return to normal after the heavy snowfall had ceased.
“How many summoned harpists have returned?” Lin Nan asked.
Janet sighed, “To be honest, Lord, fewer than fifty harpists have returned; the rest have all made various excuses. Currently, the total combat power at your disposal, combined with the Academy teachers, is around 150.”
Lin Nan nodded, “150 is sufficient.
But when did the nobility’s tradition of marrying harpists begin?”
Janet replied, “A long time ago. If I hadn’t stayed on as a teacher back then, I might have already been married off.”
Lin Nan remarked calmly, “Have you ever thought about the underlying issue?”
Janet blinked, “Underlying issue? You mean…”
She then chuckled bitterly, “The Harpist Academy has gradually come to where it is today, and I do bear some responsibility. However, the customs and habits formed over thousands of years, along with the royal family’s deliberate indulgence, I once tried to change the situation, but regrettably, the empire has enjoyed a prolonged peace—without external pressure, it has become nearly impossible to turn things around.”
“Janet, don’t you find it strange?
Back then, the Four Warriors established the kingdom, with the mage Valentine becoming the first Emperor, the armored warrior Cliff and the assassin Hardy taking up key positions, while the harpist Casey chose to withdraw from politics and dedicate herself to nurturing the next generation.
Thousands of years have passed.
As the descendants of the assassin Hardy have long since perished, the bloodline of the empire’s nobility is mostly inherited from Valentine, Cliff, and Casey’s lines.
With wars raging in both the southern and northern lines of the empire, countless lives lost, yet the harpists have been cooped up in the capital, mostly marrying early.
If this continues, the armored warriors’ descendants will weaken, while the harpists, having never seen a battlefield, will remain merely superficial.
In the end, it’s the great emperor who truly benefits.”
