Chapter 56

Two days after the festival, Astaroth and Lalitha proceeded to their appointment at the temple with the Pope. On the way there, Astaroth instructed Lalitha to use her magic to sense any abnormalities in the temple. They had two goals for this meeting: to gather more information about the goddess Seraphiel and, if the opportunity arose, to steal the statue of the goddess. It didn't take them long to reach the temple from their inn. When they arrived at the gate, they noticed the priest who had been by the Pope's side standing outside the temple. "He must be waiting for us," Astaroth stated, noting that the Pope seemed to be treating this meeting as an important event, despite not being aware of Astaroth and Lalitha's identities. "I believe so. If not, then there must be another significant group. It does seem odd for the Pope to send someone to greet us outside the temple but we're not important VIPs, Master," Lalitha replied, agreeing with her master's observation.

As they approached the priest, they sensed his displeasure at being assigned as the usher. His frown deepened upon seeing the couple walking at a leisurely pace as if they were sightseeing. If it hadn't been for the Pope's explicit instruction to treat Astaroth with respect, the priest would have already reprimanded them to hurry up. The Pope's words echoed in his mind, "Lohel, tomorrow I need you to be at the forefront of the temple, awaiting our two guests—the ones we encountered outside the Library last week."

"I understand your command, Pope Damianus. Is there anything else you require of me?" Lohel inquired. He had been in the Pope's service since childhood, aware that this task held more significance than initially apparent.

"Yes, the man... I want you to observe him closely. There's something about him that unsettles me. The moment I laid eyes on him, an icy chill ran down my spine. It was a sensation of fear I haven't experienced in a very long time," Pope Damianus revealed, deliberately omitting the fact that the last time he felt such dread was during the perilous ascent to his papal position. The intense power struggle with his most formidable opponent had nearly cost Damianus his life, but he emerged victorious at the final moment.

"I understand. I shall observe the man and see if there are any abnormalities," replied Priest Lohel. Astaroth now stood in front of him, but Lohel couldn't detect anything amiss. The man approached him with a smile and greeted him. True, he had a distinct appearance that marked him as someone, not from the region, but apart from that, Astaroth seemed like any other adventurer. However, Lohel found himself more captivated by Astaroth's female companion, a woman with waist-length white hair and a beautiful face. Though Lohel was a priest, he had had his fair share of encounters with women, and Lalitha's beauty intrigued him.

"Welcome to the temple, esteemed guests of Pope Damianus. I am Lohel, and I will be your guide. Our holy one is currently in the temple, awaiting both of you," greeted Lohel to both Astaroth and Lalitha.

"Thank you for greeting us at the front door, Lohel. We shall be in your care," replied Astaroth. He could sense the priest's immediate desires when he looked into Lohel's eyes. There was no hiding from his demonic gaze. It was obvious that this priest had been indulging in the activities of the flesh. Astaroth nudge Lalitha towards Lohel and saw that the priest's eyes immediately ran all over Lalitha.

As Lohel led them towards the inner temple, he took his time to explain the temple's history, the emergence of the goddess, and the background of Pope Damianus. Astaroth and Lalitha sensed that Lohel's account of Pope Damianus's achievements was exaggerated. Lohel informed them that when the Pope was much younger, he had joined adventurers in conquering demons and monsters.

Finally, upon reaching the inner temple, Lohel concluded his briefing on Pope Damianus. If Astaroth and Lalitha had been ordinary people, they might have believed that the goddess possessed the Pope's body. As they entered the chamber, Astaroth and Lalitha beheld Pope Damianus seated atop a throne-like chair. Even from a distance, Astaroth could discern the chair's opulence, crafted from exquisite materials with gemstones adorning its arms and legs. When the Pope caught sight of them, he assumed an upright posture, emanating an aura of majesty.

"Pope Damianus, I have brought esteemed guests, Astaroth and his companion, Lalitha," Lohel proclaimed, his voice amplified. Upon hearing the introduction, Astaroth and Lalitha respectfully inclined their heads in a slight bow towards the Pope. "Welcome, Astaroth and Lalitha. It's good to see both of you again. I hope you are both in good health. Did you enjoy the Festival of Thanks?" Pope Damianus spoke from his seat.

"We have been well, Pope Damianus. Yes, we both enjoyed the festival," Astaroth replied. Lohel guided both of them to a side of the chamber where chairs and a table were already set up. Once they were all seated, Pope Damianus continued.

"Good to hear that. Now, I understand that both of you have been in the library, searching for records of Sanctavia and the Goddess Seraphiel," Pope Damianus began, inquiring about the books Astaroth and Lalitha had been reading. The Pope wanted to know what these two were doing in his temple. "Did you find what you want?"

"We have delved into history and records, and we are amazed by the captivating stories written within them," Astaroth responded thoughtfully. "However, there is one aspect that piques my curiosity. As a non-resident of Sanctavia, I have noticed numerous statues depicting the Goddess Seraphiel, yet each one is unique. Does this not show disrespect towards the temple?"

"Ah, I understand now. If it's the variation in statues you're referring to, allow me to explain," the speaker began. "When the esteemed Goddess Seraphiel first founded Sanctavia, she expressly forbade the creation of any drawings or carvings depicting her likeness in wood or stone. She desired not to be confined to a mere image. However, the people of Sanctavia, yearning to worship and seek solace in her presence, voiced their opposition. They longed for a tangible symbol of their devotion. Eventually, the compassionate Goddess relented, permitting the creation of her statues and drawings, but with one stipulation. Only skilled artists were granted the privilege, and they were tasked with using their imagination to conjure her divine image."

Pope Damianus explained the reason why the city of Sanctavia lacked identical statues. He continued by stating that there were no existing records depicting the true appearance of the goddess. Whenever an artist attempted to create an image of the goddess, they would have to purify themselves and spend time meditating in the temple until they received a divine revelation of the goddess's likeness. As Pope Damianus spoke, temple helpers entered the room, serving meals and beverages to the guests. Lohel feigned busyness as he attended to the guests, but in reality, he was discreetly observing Astaroth and Lalitha.

"I now have a better understanding, and I thank you for the explanation, Pope Damianus," Astaroth expressed, recalling the details shared by Glenda. "I am curious, has any artist ever successfully captured the true image of the goddess in their carving?" Astaroth inquired, referring to the story Glenda had recounted. There exists a solitary statue in this world that precisely replicates the goddess's form.

"None. There is nothing in this world that was created in the image of a goddess," Pope Damianus flatly denied, without missing a beat.

"I see. I have another question. Do only artists who meditate in this temple get to see the goddess? Has anyone who is not an artist tried it out?" Astaroth inquired, his curiosity piqued about whether the divine revelation was exclusive to artists within the confines of this temple.

"Hmm, that's an intriguing question. I believe only artisans seeking to create their masterpieces come here for revelations. The process of sanctification and meditation is not a simple one. You need to establish a connection with the goddess, which we refer to as the Fate Thread.'" Pope Damianus answered Astaroth's queries.

"Fate thread?" Lalitha interjected. "I've heard that term before. It is said that those who wish to practice white magic must possess it, as it serves as a bridge between the human realm and the realm of the gods."

Pope Damianus turned his face to look at Lalitha before he responded, "I see that you are familiar with white magic and the Fate Thread. Yes, it is the same concept. As priests, we are blessed by the goddess and have a stronger and more substantial fate thread. For artisans, their Fate Thread is temporary. They acquire it through meditation, and once they complete their creation, the fate thread dissipates. No matter how they sanctify and meditate in the temple, they cannot obtain another one. This is believed to be the way of Goddess Seraphiel."

"Are you also able to use white magic?" Pope Damianus asked, he was surprised that the woman knew about the Fate Thread. Although it is not a secret but it was not a fact that many people know as well. Only those who are priests of Sanctavia know about it and the white magicians.