Chapter CCXI: The Sunset Ritual
The world of dreams is always bizarre, difficult to understand, deconstruct, or contemplate with common sense. The only thing that can be confirmed is that when the soul drifts in a dream, it is not falling, but rising.
It was a peace and serenity like never before, as if being embraced in a boundless hug. Soft, gentle light filled the surroundings, and stars twinkled in the distance, each star a fleeting, ancient dream. Gazing into them, it was as if one could catch a glimpse of a phantom of that dream.
A dim, yellow sky, withered trees, a fallen corona, and… an almost infinitely vast, bottomless, pitch-black void.
“Tris… Tris, are you alright?”
The call echoing in her ears startled Li Wen awake. She came back to her senses and found herself in a magnificent city enveloped in golden light. It was an old woman who had awakened her, her face kind and approachable, clad in classical-style robes similar to those of a priest. Judging by her exceptionally pure, shimmering golden eyes and platinum blonde hair, this old woman might be a Silver Elf.
But pure Silver Elves had long been extinct; only High Elves existed in the mortal realm now, the latter being the product of the Silver Elves’ degenerate bloodline.
In that case, she had indeed infiltrated the dream of that deity, but the timing seemed off…
“Tris, the Sunset Ritual is about to begin, hurry and prepare, child.”
At that moment, the old woman spoke to Li Wen again, her voice soft and gentle, her gaze containing a hint of anticipation.
Was Tris referring to her? What did the Sunset Ritual refer to?
Only then did Li Wen realize she was wearing the same robes as the old woman. Her Emerald Star Cloak and the Goblin Fairy’s treasure pouch were nowhere to be found. However, considering this was a dream, it didn’t seem strange. She seemed to be playing the role of a character named “Tris” in the dream. Realizing this, she seriously examined the old woman, contemplating what role she was playing.
The old woman, as if not noticing Li Wen’s gaze, extended her wrinkled hand towards the dome: “Look, the sun’s crown has reached its zenith, you should go to the Hall of the Dome.”
Following her finger, the majestic temple complex reflected dazzling golden light under the sun. At the top of the central black spire floated a giant sun disc, with twelve fiery arms extending outwards like the points of a crown, as if to tear the entire city apart.
That was definitely not the sun’s crown Li Wen was familiar with, but a form of Xi Yang, offspring of the old days. As for that spire…
“I…” As soon as she spoke, Li Wen was startled to find her voice had become clear and childish, like that of a young child. She raised her hand to look; her slender wrist was adorned with a mithril chain, the pendant being an iridescent stone carved into the shape of a sun disc—this was clearly the attire of an ancient Sun God cult priest during the Golden Age.
“There is no need to be afraid, nor to be nervous,” the old woman’s fingertip brushed her forehead, and a warm power seeped into her skull. “Although this is the first time you will personally lead the Sunset Ritual, all you need to do is believe in yourself, just as all of us believe in you.”
The strange characters flowed into her mind like a torrent, seemingly containing a peculiar ritual to maintain everlasting daylight, Li Wen judged based on her own experience.
Li Wen pressed her throbbing temples. Perfect Amber had said this was a deity’s dreamtide, but the scene before her was terrifyingly real. The frankincense from the bronze censer stung her nostrils, the sensation of the embroidered ritual robe rubbing against her skin was clearly discernible, and even the sacred song from the dome carried the lingering resonance of metal.
There was no need to play Tris well, just complete the Sunset Ritual. She suddenly understood that deviating from the established trajectory in the deity’s dreamtide would likely cause unpredictable disasters.
“I understand.”
Li Wen nodded obediently, but her mind was racing on how to enter that black spire. That should be the location of the Emerald Tablet, as “Impurities” had mentioned.
It is worth mentioning that every aspect of this dream seemed to reveal a kind of strangeness. For example, she had never imagined that in a building with such obvious Norradon style, there would be a group of Silver Elves wearing the robes of Golden Age sun priests, worshipping the offspring of the sun who had died during the Golden Age.
This was too strange and contrary to logic. Xi Yang had fallen during the Golden Age, while the Silver Elves were born only in the Silver Age. Not to mention that the Norradon Silver Elves only began to convert to Glor during the Holy Wars; before that, they had always believed only in truth. However, considering that this was the dream of that deity, it made sense.
The old woman smiled with relief and took Li Wen’s hand, walking towards the temple complex.
As they moved, Li Wen saw countless Silver Elves kneeling on both sides of the street, their pure white hair shimmering like metal in the sunlight, their faces pious and numb. In the depths of these elves’ pupils, tiny golden flames flickered, like souls forcefully ignited by some power.
“Lord Tris, may you be with the sun, and endure with the light…”
“May eternal daylight protect you, just as you, along with the sunlight, protect us…”
Faint prayers surged from all directions. Li Wen suddenly realized—the “Tris” these elves addressed was not an ordinary priest, but the high priest of this Sun Temple, or perhaps… something more revered.
Amidst the many prayers, Li Wen followed the old woman to the front of the temple cluster. The outermost temple gate opened silently, revealing a staircase extending into an unknown distance. The old woman let go of her hand and gently pushed Li Wen from behind: “Go, child, make sure to complete the ritual before sunset.”
Li Wen stepped onto the stairs. The cold stone steps transmitted a slight chill through the thin ritual robe. But with each step upwards, the surrounding air became hotter, as if the entire interior of the temple was burning. She counted the steps until she reached the three hundred and thirty-third step, and her surroundings suddenly opened up.
It was a circular temple hall. In the center floated a golden orb the size of a fist, and twelve crimson light bands extended from the orb to the walls, dividing the entire space into twelve fan-shaped areas. In each area stood a priest clad in black robes embroidered with gold patterns. Their hands were crossed over their chests, their heads bowed, and they chanted in unison.
Li Wen’s gaze was drawn to the orb. It was not a mere luminous body, but something more ancient, more sacred. As she gazed at the orb, it was as if she saw countless suns being born and annihilated within it, seeing the most essential forms of light and heat.
“Tris.”
The oldest priest raised his head. His face was so aged it was almost indistinguishable from tree bark, yet his voice was extraordinarily loud: “The ritual is ready, waiting only for you to preside.”
