Following the High Priest's instructions, Alvan looked around the chamber and located the specific lantern stand the old man had mentioned. He went to it and pressed the crystal embedded in the lantern stand, but it didn't depress like a button would when pressed. He pressed again, and again, and again, but it wasn't happening as he had thought it would.
"High Priest! Nothing is happening! It is not pressing down!" He exclaimed loudly and clearly so that the High Priest could hear him.
"You should harness ethereal or cosmic energy before applying pressure, otherwise, it won't move." Alvan heard the man's reply and understood why he had failed to press the crystal down as he should have. However, his powers have not returned to him yet. This was one of those moments when he always wished he could be just like everyone else.
Emelda walked up to the lantern stand and pressed it, and it moved down the lever. Not only that, they heard a mechanical sound emanating from the stone gate.
On the other side of the stone gate, a mechanical sound was heard, and from the center of the gate, a hole slowly opened, revealing a crystal. The High Priest took out the crystal and reinserted it into the hole. The crystal lit up with a brief, white glow before it was pulled deeper inside the stone gate, sealing off the hole. With a creaking mechanical sound, the stone gate opened up from its middle fissure.
On the other side of the chamber, the High Priest and Kael could now see Alvan and Emelda standing there as if they were waiting for them. And in Alvan's grasp were the tome and the scroll, which the High Priest came here to collect them. The High Priest shifted his gaze from the tome to Alvan.
"It seemed like the bracelet pulled you into this chamber... But I can't help but wonder how you two managed to bypass the vigilant knights without being noticed," he asked, as he cautiously entered the chamber with Kael trailing behind.
Alvan decided to recount how he entered and what he was shown to the High Priest. This man has always considered him as a son, so it wouldn't hurt to tell him everything that happened. The old geezer listened intently to everything Alvan said, his face changing into various expressions: shock, surprise, empathy, and more. The only thing Alvan hadn't told him, and hadn't told anyone, was his mother's dying wish to save Etheloria.
With a face clearly etched with shock, the High Priest asked, "So, the essence of immortality that transferred from the Book of Immortality to your father entered your body when he died?" Alvan nodded. Emelda maintained her expression while Kael glared at Alvan, perplexed.
The High Priest continued, "No wonder, I detected remnants of expended cosmic energy in the passageway. And just as your Mother kept it a secret from everyone else, you should also ensure that you conceal it from others. It is crucial for your safety to be aware that many Elders and higher-ranking individuals would go to extreme lengths, including killing you, to obtain the essence of immortality. Especially since you can't willingly harness it," he paused before giving both Emelda and Kael a warning glare.
"I also hope that both of you will keep whatever you have heard today a secret, especially you, the knight. Else... There is no need to discuss what I am going to do, but just know that I can manipulate your memory."
"Yes, High Priest!" They both responded at the same time.
Alvan handed the Book of Immortality to the High Priest, the only person capable of deciphering the unfamiliar symbols and language in which the tome was written. Then he pointed out, "What is this illustration? I saw it while flipping through the tome." The thing that piqued his curiosity was the illustration, the one he wanted to show Emelda before they kissed.
Just as the High Priest's gaze met the illustration, his face lit up with a combination of shock and excitement. He exclaimed, "The Elixir of Immortality!"
"I actually came to look for information about this," he then went on to tell Alvan and the rest about their plan to create an immortal being that could rival the immortal sorcerer using the Elixir of Immortality. "Mind you, just because the name states 'elixir', doesn't mean that it is actually an elixir... For now, we hope to destroy the shadow plague, as I predicted. It won't be long before the shroud of darkness fully engulfs Etheloria and even threatens the Dome Array that is protecting us."
After hearing what the High Priest had said, these three individuals were lost in their own thoughts, each displaying a unique expression on their face. Emelda had a complicated expression on her face. She didn't like what she was hearing because she didn't want to lose Alvan, just like Elara lost Zamon. Kael appeared indifferent on the outside, but no one knew what was going on in his mind. His gaze was fixed solely on the statue in the chamber. While Alvan's expression was one of sadness as he once again recalled his mother's dying wish. He can't stop wondering if this is what her mother meant when she said he would save Etheloria. Had she known all along that because of the essence of immortality in his body, he would be needed one day.
Next, the High Priest also took the map scroll from Alvan, and he even grinned before he went to press on the crystal lever that he had mentioned earlier. Afterward, they left the chamber while Alvan placed the crystal back into its slit in his bracelet.
As they were leaving the passageway, with the High Priest at the rear, he paused and gazed towards the stone gate before uttering these words: "Zamon, it appears that the responsibility of saving our people truly falls upon your family... I must devise a plan to ensure that he journeys to the Lost Temples."
***
They are now back in the basement, specifically at the platform where the echelons were seated, patiently awaiting the arrival of the High Priest. However, they were surprised to see Alvan and the girl beside him. Yes, Alvan was a teacher at the prestigious Templar Academy, but only a few knew what he truly looked like. However, what had captured their attention most about Alvan was his striking appearance.
Those hypnotizing emerald eyes, the mesmerizing and impeccably sculpted masculine face, and the sleek silver hair adorning his head, left flowing instead of being tied back into a ponytail like most people would do. Then, he was still wearing his well-fitted and elegant teacher's attire. Comparing him to the god-like Azura, one must confess that he is nearly twice as handsome as Azura.
A certain person had already been hypnotized by Alvan, as she had her eyes fixated on him, not wanting to miss any detail of his handsomeness. It was Apphira. She had always wanted to meet her master's son after returning from the rejuvenation plane. But she never expected this at all.
Emelda, who felt uneasy with how Apphira and the other female echelons were gawking at her man, discreetly held his hand. This was a reminder to them that he had been taken, especially the beautiful Apphira. However, they were all pulled out of their staring and gawking competition by the High Priest's throat-clearing.
"I have obtained the Book of Immortality and have also discovered a scroll that reveals the map leading to the whereabouts of the Elixir of Immortality." This time, all the attention shifted to the High Priest, especially since he mentioned the location of the Elixir of Immortality.
"So, what's our plan now? We retrieve the Elixir of Immortality and choose the potential guardian to make them immortal?" The question was asked by the eldest Elder among the echelons. The Elder who had previously irritated the High Priest.
"Perhaps. Before we delve into the quest for the Elixir of Immortality, I believe it is necessary to share with all of you what I have read about it in the Book of Immortality," he paused, scanning the faces of the people seated in front of him, observing any subtle expressions they might be wearing. Since none of them were saying anything, he continued.
"The Elixir of Immortality is located in the Lost Temples. I will talk about the Lost Temples later. However, it can only be removed from its Divine Vial by an Aetherian. Guardians cannot touch it, as it will drain them of their cosmic energy," he paused again, observing the dreadful expressions on the faces of the Elders and guardians. He has successfully excluded the guardians from the picture, but now he still needs to instill more fear in the other echelons who are Aetherians and would want to go for the elixir.
"However, the Lost Temples are not a place anyone would want to venture into, regardless of how powerful they may seem. We guardians would barely make it there and survive. Therefore, in regards to the quest to retrieve the Elixir of Immortality, we will need to assemble a team that is willing to cooperate and overcome any adversity in order to obtain the elixir, which can grant the power to eradicate the shadow plague. I will personally choose the potential members of the team, but anyone is welcome to refute or volunteer."