The Sacred Temple (Part 1)
'Galanthus nivalis' or commonly known as Snowdrop, is a flower that symbolizes the Soledad Empire best. Its production was prohibited publicly as it can only be found by hunting on the Living Forest. However, it is abundant inside and outside the walls of the Sacred Temple.
The Snowdrop flower that describes Soledad was the only flower that blossomed even before the land was purified.
Unfortunately I just realized that what I thought were 'vines' clinging on the walls of the Sacred Temple in my timeline were actually dead Snowdrop flowers, that was twisted and elongated to close-off the Sacred Temple as if protecting the people outside before they get consumed by the Life Drain ritual in the Tragedy of Year 1000.
A bitter taste stuck on my mouth as I dropped down the bell tower next to the Sacred Temple.
Before I reached my destination though, I was able to pass by various parks and villages, the Empire Square which had a brightly-lit night market, and despite being very far from here I was able to perceive the shape of what Lady Lilith had mentioned as the Exodus Magic Academy with a glowing cyan mana-flag on top.
The flag itself looked very extravagant and surprisingly, the mana being secreted to the flag was at a decent amount.
"What a luxurious school."
My feet landed on a separate transparent wall above the temple. 'That's astounding. My timeline never had this.' I recall the many times I've ran away from home to read history books on top of the Sacred Temple.
"Forgive me for the disrespect." I lowered my head in respect to the invisible guardian of the temple and jumped straight down to the entrance instead.
'Guess I'll walk since I don't know the spell to teleport.'
A gentle refreshing smell instantly filled my senses and calmness dawned on me as I roam inside.
Preposterous grandeur melted my eyes. Everything was faintly glowing and simple yet absurdly grandeur at the same was what I could describe the unharmed Sacred Temple.
Various plants hung around the walls with no foundation, like a rainbow raining down on the visitors. There was also a grand staircase at the center of the annular main hall.
There wasn't any staircase as far as I've remembered when I entered the Sacred Temple before meeting the heirs' mana souls. Although I could infer that must have been one before the Tragedy, there weren't any traces of it as the temple was untouched before me.
However the familiar intact large chandelier accompanied by parts of burning bushes entered my sight.
'Something must've happened that made them destroy the second floor even before the Tragedy struck'.
I've been greeted by various kinds of lifeforms as I continued to explore the Sacred Temple such as sprites, fairies, dwarves, elves, and orcs.
Of course I almost doubled over when I saw them. According to the books, those myth-like creatures only ever lived within the Living Forest albeit not as hostile as mana beasts sometimes.
I got used to seeing them right before I reach the first on my to-visit-within-the-temple list. Since I've gotten familiar of the Sacred Temple's sights, it's time to enter one of its sanctuaries.
The Sacred Temple despite being a gigantic sanctuary itself has mini or sub-sanctuary rooms that can be entered by anyone who fits the criteria (reaching the fifth level of mana circle), there are four in total according to my history book but I think there are actually five as I look back on the grand staircase to which it leads to a second floor to who-knows-where.
If I sort out the sub-sanctuary areas, it would be:
1. Sanctuary of the Sacred
2. Sanctuary of the Sacred Altar
3. Sanctuary of the Sacred Tree
4. Sanctuary of the Golden Throne
5. ???
Following that list, my feet moved towards the 'Sanctuary of the Sacred', which is technically a museum of locked legendary items or statues of heroes recorded in the long history of the Soledad Empire.
I passed by the long hallway before entering the massive doorway of the museum.
Obviously I was starstrucked by the whiteness of the room and porcelain statues was displayed two times my size, but then a low sniffling noises from across the large expanse to the back of the room.
I wanted to ignore it truthfully.
But my legs had slowly dragged me to where the sound was coming from albeit my eyes taking in the sights of the museum properly.
A sturdy but lean young man who looks to be the same age as Khiel was kneeling down, hands clasped together as if praying, in front of a female statue sitting on the throne. It didn't me any longer to understand that it was an effigy of the Saint and First Ruler of the Empire, Soledad.
"I understand what you're feeling right now. You and me… Yes. The both of us would definitely feel the familiarity of Soledad."
I wanted to refute the warm-skinned man's words but a tear had already rolled down my cheek to my surprise. Because of the weird simulation I've encountered, I hurriedly wiped it away.
"Uhm, no? Soledad and I weren't close. At all" In fact, I haven't met the saint.
He turned to me, tears staining his handsome fae-like face and his icy-lilac, ruffled, long hair was tied by an unnatural wave of mana revealing a high pointy ears.
"I understand the feeling of loss, Tabitha." He murmured as his hand clutched mine gently and I just realize that he was towering over me by half a feet.
"Feeling of loss? I-I doubt that I feel anything in particular right now."
In a state of panic precisely because of his questionable inquiries that didn't make any sense at all, or I am actually just embarrassingly agitated for the breath-taking hunk moving closer.
A body that could easily pluck me off the ground was undoubtedly a view that a 16-year old who have never seen guys that way shouldn't experience this early on in my life.
Of course I was stunned but… I truly might be weak with gorgeous men. He had white hair, tan skin, dreamy honey eyes, and – Oh my god is he leaning in to me?!
'Sixteen years of no romantic bone and was teased for only knowing how to work or read history books all night til the sun comes up… Will I be able to handle this sudden event?'