The anointed priest is a priestess
"Guys, can we look around? This place is amazing" Helen said as she recovered from shock.
Francis rolled his eyes.
"sure, I will show you around. You can pick any fruit that you like" Madel smiled at them.
Helen was all over the place, looking at the flowers, insects, touching beasts, she looked like a child.
Cheska and Henry were walking ahead while talking about the questions that bothered them earlier. But, before they went crazy, they decided to receive one blow at a time. If Madel says anything further about the dark forest and its secrets, their sanity might breakdown for real. Everything that they experienced since stepping inside the dark forest till now were all like a part of a dream, illusion or buigilement.
[wait… beguilment?] Henry immediately looked up to check the barrier.
"Madel, can I check the celestial barrier?" Henry asked.
She immediately agreed and asked the Kidon to fly Henry towards the Celestial Barrier. Observing the celestial barrier, Henry's mouth almost dropped to the ground. The Celestial Barrier had many types, that is per the power it wielded, its purpose and its source of power. The one in front of him, was just as the books about the dark forest suggested. It was not a beguilement formation, rather it was a form of protection, the strongest type of Celestial barriers and what surprised him was that it was not build per the positioning of flags or objects, or plates. It was a pure form of spiritual energy mixed with zhenqi. It meant that the barrier that was standing for almost 18 years came from someone else's strength.
He swallowed again. Even immortals would have their power drained in sustaining this barrier for a whole year and to think that it never weakened for years. Just who is the freaking immortal who is wasting his power in this remote forest? There could be a treasure here which made the beasts to break through.
[stop Henry! Curiousity killed the cat, if you keep on being too nosy in this unknown territory you might die without even knowing. Or… worse.. you might lose your mind] He gritted his teeth as he berated himself. But, wait until they get out of this forest. If he needed to tie Madel into to the centree to get his needed answers he would do it.
He let out a naughty smirk, thinking as how to make Madel spill the beans. He knew her weaknesses well.
While flying back to the ground, he saw his friends playing in the meadow. Cheska was making a crown and necklace while happily chatting with Helen and Madel. Helen's happy and carefree mood was communicable. Her presence gave color and smiles to the group. Though she fights with Francis, it appeared cute and sweet from an expectator's point of view. Madel was also beginning to talk more thanks to her influence. Cheska had a protective and motherly love towards the group. Francis was the only one who still seemed distant. It was not a surprise since he was new to them and the environment.
The Kidon did not immediately went down. Instead it gave Henry a small tour to the paradise like garden. He felt touched. The beast was thoughtful and gentle. He then felt pain in his chest. It was pity tinged with guilt. Beasts were either hunted, tamed as a slave, or killed for their blood or core. Remembering how the beasts loved and cared for Madel, and how she considered them as friend, Henry could not help but to reflect.
"My friends… My friends prepared that, I sleep with my friends, my friends helped me.." She often said those words making him and their classmates misinterpret her as someone who uses her body to gain favor. But, thinking about it now, she never looked down on the beasts. What they had in the forest was more like a family.
Feeling the fresh, fragrant and cool breeze in his skin. Henry felt something indescribable in his heart. When he looked down again, he saw the small silhouette of his friends, who were now playing with young beasts. Looking further north he saw a familiar tree.
"Fr….F….Friend, can we go there?" Henry asked the Kidon in a gentle manner.
Looking closely, he realized that the tree in his dream was like the one that he was looking at. He pondered a little. The man who talked to him asked him to meditate in this area during the day of summoning after he was cleansed. It was a week after the selection process for interscholastic competition. He was sure now that it was not a dream, rather a sign that he could start cultivating spiritually for real this time. But, he was not sure about the rituals. While the rituals were clearly described in the book, he did not know any priests who was genuinely anointed by God.
To address the issue, he knelt and ask for guidance. His heartfelt prayer was heard as white big butterfly went out of the tree. He rode the Kidon and asked it to follow the butterfly. He has already guessed where the butterfly was headed to. It was towards his friends. Finally, it landed on Madel's shoulders.
"Come on Henry, let's eat. We are starving." Helen said.
"This cute friends here gave us fruits, the herbs are already here as well." Cheska reported.
Henry kept the matter about rituals to himself.
Francis was already munching some fruits and offered him some.
Sitting down the grass surrounded with flowers while eating fruits felt surreal for the group of friends. While Madel lived her life within the celestial barrier, she felt an overwhelming happiness to be with the person she loves in this garden. The presence of her friends also made her feel truly happy.
Henry shared his little tour in the garden. Helen could not wait to explore it herself.
"By the way Cheska, will you go to the selection of wife for the crown prince?" Helen suddenly remembered as it will be held the next day.
"I will, but I already told them of my purpose of visit. I will just be going to see my parents at the palace. But I won't be participating in the selection process." Cheska said.
"Oh, why not? The crown prince is handsome and will be the next emperor." Helen asked.
"Yah, Cheska, if I were you I would dress my best so the prince notices me" Henry said while flipping his imaginary long hair.
"I don't want to be a part of a Harem. I would rather marry a peasant than to enter such loathsome game." She said with bitterness.
"ohhhh.. so deep" Helen commented.