chapter 71: Exalted one

Helis, by the flickering fire, lost in profound contemplation. A young woman, perceptive to his introspective gaze, opted to let him be. Around the bonfire, a congregation of youthful priests and priestesses engaged in discussions spanning from sacred training to kingdom affairs. Amidst the murmurs, a young priest, with obsidian pupils and meticulously combed ginger hair, rose, capturing all attention.

"Fellow devotees," proclaimed Preacher Luke, a veteran of the priestly initiation for five years. "You are the epitome of excellence in my years here. Now, I propose something that shall undoubtedly bring joy to all..." He paused, surveying the expressions of those gathered, before resuming.

" I propose a challenge , where everyone of us here have to participate in. The challenge goes like so , whoever among us fail to exorcise a person within the upcoming year gets to leave and become a rogue priest . Full of knowledge of priesthood but acknowledged by no deity as their servant. Do you all agree?" Luke asked .

Luke's proposal hung in the air, the weight of potential consequences sinking in. After a thoughtful silence, one by one, hands raised in approval. Yet, Helis and the woman beside him abstained. Luke, with a benevolent smile, approached them.

"What are your names?" he inquired, the pleasant curve of his smile unwavering

Huh?" Helis snapped back, meeting the young man's gaze, while the girl beside him observed with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

" Why do you ask?" Helis answered

Luke's composure held, but a twitch in his left eye betrayed a flicker of irritation. Despite the challenge to his authority, he opted for a measured response.

"It seems like you were not listening, hmm?" he began, acknowledging the prevailing despondency in the kingdom. However, before he could conclude, Helis rose to leave, the girl trailing beside him.

Infuriated by this display of disrespect, Luke swiftly materialized in front of Helis, a stretched-out hand obstructing his path. "I was still talking," Luke emphasized, teeth clenched with frustration.

Helis, undeterred, squinted his eyes and retorted, "And I was not listening. Now out of my way, I have places I need to be."

Luke, once the embodiment of charm, erupted into laughter, shedding his amiable façade. "Places you need to be? Like where? Look around you, there is nowhere to go. And as your senior, you are compelled to listen to what I have to say, and I'm not asking you... I'm telling." Luke's visage darkened, an unleashed intensitrevealing a dormant beast within.

Unmoved, Helis continued on his path, leaving Luke standing alone. In response, Luke's eyes turned bloodshot, an aura of spirit coercion emanating from him, directed at Helis, a force intending to suppress and dominate.

Helis, in the decisive moment, turned his gaze toward Luke, unleashing a force that dwarfed the spirit coercion Luke had employed. The impact was profound, sending Luke hurtling backward until his body collided with the unforgiving cavern wall. Struggling to rise, Luke coughed up blood, a visible sign of his vulnerability.

As Helis calmly observed, Luke, once the charismatic figure commanding respect, now bowed deeply, fear etched in his eyes. "Forgive me, I did not know I was in the presence of the first disciple," Luke's words echoed through the cavern, a confession laden with an unexpected humility. Gasps reverberated among the gathered priests and priestesses, their collective astonishment palpable.

Undeterred, Helis turned away and continued his departure, the girl trailing behind him like a silent shadow. The cavern's atmosphere lingered with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

The revelation of Helis as the first disciple rippled through the assembly, a revelation that carried profound significance. First disciples were chosen by the sacred preacher, deemed worthy through the possession of the rare and coveted God's gaze. This innate ability set them apart as exalted individuals, said to be leagues above their peers in both talent and ability. Helis, now identified as one of these select few, left an indelible mark on the minds of those who witnessed the display of his power.

After Helis had departed, Luke, with eyes betraying a suppressed excitement, muttered, "Interesting." Despite the pitiful gazes directed at him, he continued his act of resilience. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he maintained a low head, outwardly displaying a semblance of shame while, in truth, his mind was laser-focused on Helis, the unexpected revelation opening a new chapter in their intricate dynamic.....

Helis, leaning against a massive boulder in a cavern adorned with stalactites and luminescent puddles of emerald water, turned to address the priestess who had been trailing him. With a hint of annoyance in his lazy voice, he queried, "What do you want?"

The priestess, feigning surprise, pointed at herself and stuttered, "You-you can see me?"

Rolling his eyes, Helis dismissed her theatrics. "Cut the crap, lady. What do you want?" he reiterated.

The priestess chuckled lightly, maintaining her smile. "Zenoki sends his regards," she conveyed, her words lingering in the cavern's quietude.

Helis, far from shocked, burst into laughter, the girl joining in, creating an oddly jovial atmosphere. After a while, the laughter subsided, and Helis, with a lingering smile, inquired, "Your master does not give up, does he? What does he hope to accomplish with this?"

The girl giggled, her charm accentuating her beauty. "He really does not give up, does he? Well, I do not know what he wants. I'm just assigned to watch you and report any findings," she confessed.

Helis, maintaining his smile, chose silence. He understood that he was now tethered to her presence, an unknowing pawn in Zenoki's mysterious plans. The certainty that his former master intended to use him as a pawn in some elaborate scheme fueled his determination to resist and protect his autonomy. He would not dare bring disappoinment to his status as an exalted one .