Chapter 132
The Little Priest of the Gods (Part 2)
Patro once again traversed the corridor intertwined with lights and shadows, making his way to the main shrine lit by flickering candles.
He walked with a humble bow of his head, holding an earthenware tray brimming with aromatic stewed lamb, soft bread, and fresh fruits, all of which the High Priest loved to eat.
But this time, before Patro could step into the main shrine, he noticed that there was more than just the High Priest present. In front of the golden and ivory statue of their god, the handsome, young city-state leader held the slender shoulder of the beautiful priest, his voice filled with pain and struggle: "Cai Cai, must you really do this?"
The person he held remained calm, his delicate white hands resting on the muscular arm of the man. He lifted his head to meet the other's gaze, carrying a hint of pity: "My Lord, for the sake of the city-state, this is what I must do."
"Our drought has been ongoing for a long time. The poor people barely have food to eat and must endure the scorching sun. The land is split with giant cracks, and evil locusts are stirring under its surface. Soon, they will hatch and roam, gnawing off every bit of vegetation on our remaining fields."
The young ruler's eyes were red: "We've been making sacrifices! We've offered cattle, sheep, fruits, and pristine water to the gods! The gods will help us! There's no need for you, no need for you…"
His words were cut short when a pair of cool, gentle hands cupped his cheeks. The man nearly held in his embrace looked tenderly at the young king: "We've been offering sacrifices to the gods for two entire months, yet the drought persists. Let's not waste food any longer, distribute it among the people instead. I believe the gods need something different."
The ruler's hands unintentionally tightened then quickly relaxed, fearing he might hurt the young man in his embrace. He gritted his teeth almost to the point of chipping them: "What kind of god requires a human as a sacrifice? He is merely..."
A delicate, white finger pressed against his lips. The beautiful and pure priest's face cooled, sternly admonishing: "My Lord, be careful with your words."
The young ruler's preceding momentum seemed to deflate instantly, leaning further into the priest: "But Cai Cai, even if a human sacrifice is required, it doesn't have to be you..."
As Patro stepped inside the main shrine carrying the porcelain tray, he tactlessly interrupted the tense atmosphere: "Great High Priest, your meal is ready."
The ruler's words abruptly ended. He turned his head, his face twisted with anger, and his eyes, akin to those of a young wolf king on the plains, stared menacingly ahead.
However, all he received in response was a Purifier’s bowed head and reverently offered food.
It was then that the ruler realized, belatedly, that it was time for Cai Cai to eat. His High Priest was skinny, his silhouette even more delicate than the most beautiful young girl in the city-state. His meals weren't something that could be delayed.
Upon thinking about this, Cross's resentment towards the Purifier who had disturbed his conversation with Cai Cai lessened. The young lord immediately ceased his discussion, changing the subject instead: "Cai Cai, you should eat first."
The bare feet of Mu Cai were graceful and as white as snow, making no sound as they touched the ground. Adorned in a symbolic white robe, he moved nimbly like a cat. He glanced at the tray in Patro's hands, sighing quietly, a distraught expression crossed his face: "At a time like this, I'm still able to enjoy such a fine meal."
While speaking, his captivating eyes flicked over to the lord alongside him. His black and shiny pupils were as if washed in water: "My Lord, see. I am not involved in production, but I am beloved and revered by the people all year round. They eat coarse bread, drink bland broth, gnaw on sour fruit and leaves, but they offer me the softest bread made from the finely sifted wheat, the best cut of mutton stewed until it's fragrant, and the sweetest, juiciest fruits."
"I'm constantly treated so well, so in times of crisis, should I not step up as the sacrifice, rather than letting the hard-working children of God offer their lives? If I, as the High Priest, cannot protect my people, what is the purpose of my existence?"
Upon hearing this, Cross became impassioned: "You have many reasons to exist! You practice astrology, create calendars, manage the congregation, oversee the construction..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the High Priest in front of him: "My student, Themis, is intelligent and talented. Having studied under me for four to five years, he has already grasped the essence of astrology. He also has ventured into other areas of learning. I believe he can learn from the books of his predecessors and decipher my notes by himself."
"After I dedicate myself to the gods, Themis will take my place. The high council of the Senate has already agreed on this."
When Mu Cai finished speaking, his eyes, as beautiful as the Milky Way in the night sky, were filled with determination. He lowered his voice, leaving no room for doubt: "My Lord, please leave."
Upon hearing this, Cross looked into the eyes of the man in front of him and realized that the matter was irreversible. He felt both resentful towards Mu Cai, who conspired with the elders in hiding this from him, and his own powerlessness.
Standing there, he was at a loss for words and unable to express his emotions, eventually leaving in a hurry.
Mu Cai watched the young lord flee until his tall and strong figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, then calmly returned to sit on his cushion.
Patro approached and placed the tray in his hand on the small table before the cushion, then silently stood by.
Mu Cai reached out with his delicate white hand, took a bite of the soft, wheat-scented bread. His lips, as red as a rose, gently brushed against the coarse bread, taking away a small piece, leaving behind only shallow and fine teeth marks.
He slowly chewed the bread, swallowing it before raising his shiny black eyes to look at the silent Purifier standing by. With a gentle voice, he said: "Thank you for saving me, Patro."
Mu Cai had been serving as a priest for seven or eight years since he entered his teacher's house to study. Although he did not understand worldly affairs, he was quite familiar with this Purifier, who had always been by his side.
The other party was loyal to the gods, usually quiet, doing more than saying, and hardly ever uttering an unnecessary word. Just now, Patro deliberately spoke up, most likely because he saw Mu Cai being restrained by Cross and decided to intervene on his behalf.
Although priests were not subject to the king's jurisdiction, both sides usually complemented each other, and there would inevitably be checks and balances between them, sometimes even restraining each other. Patro was willing to offend the lord for his sake, and Mu Cai naturally appreciated it.
The candlelight illuminated the somewhat dim main hall, casting a warm yellow hue on the pure white robe and black hair of the oracle priest. His eyes flickered with a pair of small, lively sparks, and he looked at Patro with a gentle, grateful expression.
Patro's throat moved slightly.
In fact, he was not as good-hearted as the pure and beautiful priest in front of him thought he was. The reason he spoke up to stop the lord's behavior was only because the scene of the two almost embracing each other annoyed him.
As a Purifier serving the gods and the oracle priest, he did not appear as desireless as he seemed on the surface. Patro knew very well that deep in his heart, desire surged wildly, even worse than ordinary believers.
He yearned for the gaze of the oracle priest, even if it was just a gentle glance for all living beings. He also longed for the care of the oracle priest, even if it was just the way he treated those around him.
What he desired most, however, was the body hidden beneath the priest's pure white robe.
When Mu Cai bathed, no one knew what images appeared in Patro's mind as he stood outside the curtain holding a towel. If the priest in front of him would glimpse even a moment of that scene in Patro's mind, Mu Cai's face and rounded toes would probably turn a shade of pink.
So, Patro would not just stand by and watch as his beloved oracle priest walked towards the altar. However, he wasn't foolish like Cross; he wouldn't directly ask the altruistic priest to halt the ritual.
These thoughts occupied Patro as he observed Mu Cai's gaze deepen while he ate the stewed lamb.
Everything would be resolved in the coming days at the sacrificial ceremony.
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Days later.
The fervent sun scorched the earth, its intense light so blinding that it was nearly impossible to open one's eyes. It felt like being torched with flames. However, even in such scorching weather, numerous people gathered under the sun, kneeling on the burning ground without a care, even if their palms and knees were scorched red.
Because they knew, the oracle priest they've been adoring and worshiping would offer himself as a sacrifice on the altar today, praying for the lifesaving rain.
When they received this news, the populace was shocked.
Since the establishment of this city-state, even in the biggest disasters, there had never been a case of the priest offering himself as a sacrifice to the gods. The usual sacrifices were young boys and girls from amongst the city-state's populace.
The city-state's citizens, who have children of the appropriate age, have been mentally preparing for their children's sacrifices as the drought continued for over two months, and was expected to last for two more years. It never occurred to anyone that their beloved oracle priest would be the one to make the ultimate decision.
They originally wanted to cry, but the longstanding scarcity of water and food nearly depleted their tears. They could only prostrate themselves to offer their gratitude and affection to the noble priest.
When the Senate released the news, a young girl, orphaned and fostered in another family, had intended to replace their beloved Oracle priest on the altar before today's rites. She hoped to preserve his life but was ultimately persuaded to return home by the priest, his hand comforting on her head. Nobody knew what the priest had said to her. The citizens could only watch as the girl was escorted home by the clergy in tears.
Mu Cai, wearing a wreath woven of vine and a white robe symbolizing purity, cast aside his staff - a symbol of the Oracle priest's power. He walked to the sun-scorched altar under the watchful eyes without it.
Several priests surrounded the altar, some old and some young.
Patro was one of them.
Under the escort of the clergy, Mu Cai lied down on the altar. Contrary to his expectations, the altar was only warm despite its prolonged exposure to the scorching sun. To him, it only felt a little hot, not burning.
Perhaps it was a gift from the gods.
That was what the Oracle priest thought. As he pondered about the events to unfold, he felt even more confident that the gods would help them overcome the difficulties. A hint of a smile appeared on his face.
Seeing their beloved priest smiling at this moment, the officiant of the ritual turned away, his voice trembling as he announced,
"Begin!"
Instantly, a uniform, humming chant echoed around the altar. The priests sitting around started to whisper spells to call upon the gods.
The rite had begun, and it could not be stopped midway. Otherwise, the goal of the ceremony would not be met, and it could even provoke the wrath of the gods.
So, despite their helplessness, the people around had to set everything aside.
Except for Patro.
The silent Purifier was usually solemn and meticulous in his work, seldom making mistakes. However, now the expression on his face was increasingly fanatic, and the volume of his spell casting was also rising.
The priest sitting next to him even heard a completely different spell from Patro's mouth!
The people sitting around the altar, disturbed by the wholly inconsistent voice, faltered in their chanting for a moment. An error following the previous major mistake caused everyone at the altar to feel a sudden jolt in their hearts!
At that moment, unexpected changes escalated. The scorching sun gradually hid behind the clouds, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling in the center of the sky. Instantly, a violent wind picked up within the city-state, stirring up dust and stones.
It was as if a storm was about to come.
Mu Cai had no idea what was happening
The altar was large, and the people sitting below it were a bit far from him. The sound of the chant was low, and he could only perceive that the collective voice seemed to pause for a moment. Mu Cai was intending to observe when the sky started to change.
However, as the sacrificial object, he did not feel anything unusual. He only felt that the surface of the altar gradually became hot, which made Mu Cai who was shivering unconsciously from the strong wind feel vaguely warm.
A disturbance in the middle of the ceremony, an unusual meteorological phenomenon like this, might not bring about the desired result. Perhaps the gods would punish them by transforming the drought into a flood.
Since the ceremony had already failed and the signs were changing, Mu Cai wanted to stand up urgently, urging everyone to hurry home and prepare. However, just as he stood up, he felt a white mist suddenly rise from the altar, blocking his sight.
From afar, there seemed to be screams and shouts, but Mu Cai didn't have the mind to listen.
A strong arm encircled his waist tightly, and the sound of flapping wings echoed beside him. A fluffy head leaned against his shoulder from behind, and a deep, magnetically attractive voice sounded in his ear: "Are you the sacrifice given to me?"
Then, Mu Cai felt something slightly damp touch his cheek: "So beautiful. I love it."
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Author's note:
This extra story is not very long, it's probably about four or five chapters.
It's a playful world of a little white rabbit spirit and carrot spirit. Guess who is the gong, and how many are there?
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