Tiyne Is The High Priest?

The high priest gave her a broken smile. He was waiting for Laura to give an answer, but she was speechless and still trying to process the information into her head. Laura was lost for words, not knowing what to think and what to say to him.

"Do you need proof?" The high priest asked.

"If you can convince me then please," Laura asked politely.

After hearing this, a golden light was suddenly flashed, which was blinding to Laura's eyes. Using her hands to shield her eyes, she was only able to peek through her fingers and was able to witness the transformation of the high priest. His body shrank and his face was filled with wrinkles.

And suddenly, the person she saw a second ago was now looking exactly like how Tiyne had looked. The white hair stayed the same, it was just the face and body that had changed.

With the transformation of the high priest, Laura was convinced that he wasn't lying. Especially knowing that a few can only do transformation with magic.

"Are you now convinced my dear?" The high priest asked, holding his hand together at the back.

"I am. Wow.. as expected of the high priest, you can do anything with your powerful mana," Laura said.

The high priest then changed back to his original form and his lips were quirked up. He had always wanted to meet Laura in his original form but didn't have time to.

It was because he had kept his identity to the people as a secret. But if it was Laura he didn't mind.

"Please call me Gusion. I don't really like formalities."

"Okay…" Laura said, feeling unsure. She didn't know if it was okay to casually call a high priest through his name.

"I can guess why you are here today," Gusion said, pointing his finger on the table and flashed a tea set for two. 

With one finger Gusion used his magic to levitate the teapot and pour tea into a cup. It was Laura's first time seeing such magic used by a person, and she was very fascinated. Her eyes would shine as she watched the floating teapot pour tea.

Gusion watched the young girl's expression and felt entertained. It felt like Laura was his younger sister. He then coughed catching Laura's attention and gestured for her to sit. She then sat back on the couch and suddenly a thought occurred to her and she suddenly had a shift in mood.

Her shining eyes darkened and her face placed an unreadable one. That's right, she had almost forgotten the real reason why she was here.

"Have you heard about the latest news? About the saintess," Laura asked.

"Of course I heard it and I'm sure you're here to ask if she's a child of Septus."

"As expected of a person who disguised an old wise woman," Laura joked, which earned a laugh from the high priest.

"The truth is lately I can't hear his voice. He's weak right now and I don't have an idea why," Gusion frowned.

"I remember him telling me that he can't show me his true form because he was weak. However, it has almost been 4 months since then."

"But I do know that he only has two children and you are one of them," Gusion said.

"Then what about Erwin Ferguson? I think you know him," Laura asked.

From what she had remembered with what was written in the journal, Laura felt that Erwin was telling the truth and she wasn't the only one who was given another chance to live. It was as if a red string of fate had connected them.

"I heard something similar from Septus. But honestly, I can't believe he did this.. perhaps it was out of pity?" Gusion asked, sighing out loud, leaving Laura confused.

Laura brought the journal out that she had been burying in her hood and showed it to Gusion. 'This is what he had asked for.' she remembered.

Gusion held the book and gently touched the journal with a frown. In case Septus was to not appear again, he wanted to see it for the last time and to know if it was well, because it was a possession from Septus.

From the face Gusion had made, Laura became worried. It was evident that even if he had given it to her, it was as if he didn't want to give it. But he was left without a choice. After all, it was an order from Septus.

"Are you two close?" Laura asked.

"Well, you can say that he has been by my side since birth."

Legend says that Septus, the god of life and death, would personally choose his apprentice. And it was determined the newborn baby held a golden leaf on his hand, would be the chosen one.

Every fifty years, a special one is chosen and would be trained by the church after entering into his teens. It was something the chosen one cannot avoid because of the fact that they are the only ones who can hear the voice of Septus.

Having the ability to hear the voice of Septus is what makes them special. There are some groups who disagree with how it works, but they were left with no choice but to follow.

However, aside from being chosen by Septus to be his apprentice, some can also be chosen by him later on, not to be his apprentice or his disciple, but to be his child. Children of Septus are special as they are given a chance to go back in time and change their fate.

Nevertheless, Laura didn't know what it meant to be a child of his.

"At least you have someone by your side," Laura murmured, feeling envious which brought a frown to the high priest.

"Anyway, what I can say for sure the new saintess isn't a child of Septus. But for now, you shouldn't make a move, and wait for the journal to tell you something. It's another way for Septus to talk to you," Gusion said, reminding Laura.

"I see...I think I have an idea of how she did it," Laura said, putting a hand on her chin.

There was only one possible way for Tine to have done it. And it was to bribe one of the known priests in the empire. Knowing that priests don't earn much, many of them could be easily swayed by money. Nevertheless, it was ridiculous for them to be greedy with money.

The world was full of corruption and no one can change that.

Laura didn't understand why the other priests in the church did not make their move to do the right thing. But maybe they were left with no choice, but to go with it. After all, they cannot hear the voice of Septus, so they don't really know of the truth either.

Looking at Gusion's desk, a pile of papers and folders were stacked up and suddenly, Laura felt bad for taking the time of a busy man.

"I'm sorry if I'm keeping you for such a long period of time. I better leave, especially when your desk is full of workload," Laura said as she proceeded to stand up.

"Don't remind me of those papers. I don't even want to think about it," Gusion complained, slouching in his seat.

The door suddenly opened and entered a man wearing a white robe. His eyes then landed on Laura and his brows narrowed. He tapped his foot onto the ground, as he averted his gaze and glared at Gusion.

Gusion flinched, looking away. He slowly crept to the desk and took a paper, pretending to do his work.

The man flicked his glasses and greeted Laura. Then his attention went back to Gusion who was seen doing his work or rather was pretending to do his work. 

"You were supposed to work, yet I came here to see that you are here busy talking with someone," The man said and approached Gusion, who buried his face on the table.

"It's not like I have a choice. Laura's an important guest," Gusion shrieked.

The man sighed out loud, squeezing the bridge of his nose, and slowly made his way towards Laura. He bowed and introduced himself as Dilan Saturn. The assistant of Gusion, and one of the few people who knew how the high priest looked like.

"My apologies for being rude," Dilan said, bowing once more.

"No, it's my fault for setting up an appointment with him, despite him being so busy," Laura apologized.

"Laura, you should come back again another time. Please, visit me again in the future. I don't want to be alone with this tyrant," Gusion pouted, whispering the last segment.

"What did you say? It's your fault for ditching your work the other day, and now, you have even more work to do. Do you expect me to do it for you? NO." Dilan said with slight annoyance.

"Dilan's a meanie," Gusion said, sticking his tongue out.

Dilan turned his face towards Gusion, shooting him a glare. It was as if he wanted to murder Gusion, but he obviously he won't.

Dilan Saturn was assigned to be Gusion's assistant recently and after knowing what kind of person he was. He became strict around him and understood why the other priests had given up being his assistant.

But Dilan knew he couldn't just give up on him because Gusion was the one who saved him when he was in despair.

"I should go. Once again, it was nice meeting you uhm…"

"Call me Guison and call that sketchy-looking man Father Dilan," Gusion jokes, earning a slap from Dilan.

"Just call me Dilan. It's quite weird for someone to call me with such a title," He chuckled.

Laura nodded her head and bid them both goodbye as she closed the door behind her. As she passed through the long hallway, she was brought into deep thoughts.

'What will I do now? I can't do anything without Septus.'

Without looking forward, Laura suddenly bumps into a man and falls onto her butt. She then proceeds to apologize to the person she bumped into. However, as she looked up, her jaw dropped.

The man who she just bumped into, was fixing his suit and looked down at Laura who looked terrified.

Laura's heart started to pound and her chest felt tight. It was the last person she wanted to see right now. What is he doing in the church? Still terrified, Laura gathered all her courage and stood up, apologizing profusely.

Laura lifted her dress and bowed, greeting Marquess Rogen Yltra. The man behind Erwin Ferguson's death and the man who desires to claim the title of the duke.