Chapter 111 Saint Floranne’s Counsel
“Do you know the origin of the abbey’s name?”
Li Wen pondered. Moen Abbey, its name likely meant to be bathed in divine grace, but did it carry a deeper meaning? Many churches within the Glorious Spectrum Series bore similar names.
Sensing Li Wen’s confusion, the old priest smiled and explained, “The abbey’s full name is ‘Saint Floranne’s Blessed Divine Grace Emersion Sacred Abbey.’ With this explanation, you should understand.”
Saint Floranne?
Li Wen was taken aback. In the Glorious Spectrum Series, only those consecrated Glorious Saints could have ‘Saint’ prefixed to their names.
“That’s right, the one who originally established this abbey was the revered Saint Floranne, the twelfth Saint of the Holy Church.” The old priest closed his eyes and uttered a prayer. “Saint Floranne was born in Sigrut. Amidst the war between Arthur and Sigrut for ownership of this land, Saint Floranne established this abbey as a sanctuary for the victims of the war.”
Simply establishing a sanctuary for victims shouldn’t be enough to warrant consecration as a saint. Li Wen felt it wasn’t that simple, but Lauren clearly didn’t wish to elaborate.
“Your path is closely related to Saint Floranne,” he said.
“You mean, Saint Floranne’s path is the same as mine?”
“Precisely.”
For the first time, Li Wen showed surprise. She knew the Path of Light Chasing had an extraordinary origin; otherwise, Moria wouldn’t be so eager to bring her back to the Holy See.
However, there was something that had puzzled her since her promotion to Supplicant: “Light Chasing” was not a traditional path within the Glorious Spectrum Series. Prayer could be used as a curse, Spell-less Arc Light could deal Shadow damage, and Thirst for Light was terrifyingly potent, clearly not resembling orthodox Glorious divine abilities.
Furthermore, this path was obtained from a demon. Li Wen had been contemplating whether it was the Dark Lineage path disguised in Glorious attire.
But now, hearing that even a Saint of the multitude of churches had walked this path, she felt reassured.
“Then do you know anything about the Path of Light Chasing?”
Li Wen came to Leicester not only to seek clues about the original spectrum texts but also to advance to the second stage of the Path of Light Chasing. The requirements and rituals for advancement had been recorded in Li Wen’s mind through that transmission candle, but frankly, the advancement content after Stage One was too brief.
This was understandable, as that transmission candle was only of blue quality and couldn’t record much. It had reached its limit by briefly recording the route for the Path of Light Chasing from Stage One to Stage Seven.
So, now that she had encountered someone related to the Path of Light Chasing, Li Wen naturally had to ask about it. What if he happened to have what Li Wen needed for her advancement, or what if Saint Floranne had left behind something related to the Path of Light Chasing for future generations?
Unfortunately, the old priest merely shook his head.
“I am very sorry, but Saint Floranne did not leave her path in the abbey. After the war ended, she took her path and everything related to it to Canaan.”
Li Wen didn’t feel disappointed. It was already a pleasant surprise to learn something related to the Path of Light Chasing in Leicester.
“However…” Pastor Lauren’s tone shifted. “Saint Floranne left a saying beneath the abbey’s altar. If you are interested, I can take you to see it.”
A saying?
Li Wen wasn’t particularly interested, as she wasn’t a follower of the Glorious Spectrum Series. But now that Bailu had been forcibly logged out and wouldn’t return anytime soon, and there was no movement from the Leader of the Wolf Pack, it seemed the secret treasure had not yet landed at Black Raven Port.
Being in the rain was a way to pass the time, and wandering around the abbey was also a way to pass the time. It might as well be to see the saying left by a saint.
“If it’s possible, I would trouble you.”
The old priest nodded slightly and led the way.
Li Wen followed the priest through a side door and into a corridor. This corridor was also lined with very dense candleholders, as if the abbey had an obsession with the degree of brightness.
The windows on the corridor walls were inlaid with magnificent stained glass, and the rain hitting the glass made a dull sound. Li Wen, however, thought that just moments ago, the sound of these pieces of glass shattering should have reached her ears.
After the corridor, they entered a side hall of the abbey. This was likely where the children adopted by the abbey usually ate. Long tables were lined with low stools, each with a different name written on it. The kitchen was just a few steps away.
Lauren picked up a candle and pushed open the door leading outside.
“The altar is located in the open space behind the abbey,” he explained.
Li Wen naturally had no objections; she considered this trip purely a leisurely stroll to admire this ancient and classical building.
And so, the two walked in the deep dark rainy night. Perhaps fearing Li Wen would feel bored, Pastor Lauren, while leading the way, explained the history of the abbey and shared interesting anecdotes and stories about Moen Abbey and Leicester that Li Wen had never heard before.
Until they arrived at a vast lawn where a stone platform stood. It was estimated that a statue was to be erected on this platform, but for some reason, it wasn’t.
“It is said that the victims who benefited from Saint Floranne’s grace attempted to erect a statue for her, to commemorate her actions and good deeds. However, Saint Floranne firmly refused to have a statue erected, believing that as servants of the Glorious, they should not worship other idols.”
Li Wen nodded thoughtfully, but she noticed that the stone platform… or altar, was pure white and new, as if it had just been built yesterday. However, according to Lauren’s account, the altar’s history could be traced back to before the establishment of the Kingdom of Arthur.
Without dwelling on these details, Li Wen’s attention was quickly drawn to a line of text carved on the front of the altar.
It was a line of very beautiful handwriting, as if written with the best pen and paper, using the ancient Synorissian script.
Li Wen had learned about these characters when studying the rituals left by the Synorossians, so she could roughly understand the meaning of the line.
“We… should revere all of light… not just dwell on the superficial…”
What did this mean? What was all of light? And what was the superficial?
Li Wen found it difficult to understand, as she was not a follower of the Glorious.
As she was pondering, the altar lit up, and from the light, infinite moths emerged, engulfing Li Wen in an instant.
The moment the moths touched Li Wen, they ignited into flames, and Li Wen instantly became a person of fire.
However, Li Wen felt no discomfort in the flames, only warmth, comfort, and tranquility, as if sitting in front of a warm stove in a world of ice and snow.
[You have heard the saint’s whisper and thus obtained “Status – Why Would Moths Sacrifice Themselves for Fire”]
[You have mastered the ability “Sacrifice for Light and Fire Lv1” (will cost 1500 experience points).]
