Chapter 70 Sacred Tree Church
“Lord Beltanan, you want Vera to go to Sky City?”
As Verafia was pondering, Ig’s voice sounded by her ear.
Obviously, in the young man’s heart, the current Sky City “Enolal” was by no means a peaceful place, and he was not at ease with his girl venturing into danger.
“Haha, this is just my request, of course I won’t force Miss Verafia.”
The elven elder smiled kindly, reaching out to stroke his beard. “Besides, if Miss Verafia wants to leave now, I won’t be willing at all. At least, she needs to absorb the Sacred Spring first.”
“Hmm, such a matter… I will consider it.”
With her golden moon-like pupils shimmering, Verafia nodded. She did not feel offended at all. Regardless of the tone and content, Beltanan’s words were fully considered for her before he subtly sought her opinion, much like an elder asking his young granddaughter.
Seeing Verafia nod, the elven elder also breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head, saying:
“However, the Dark Elves have already infiltrated Ebroal. It seems they intend to attack this place? Heh… That old guy, Zorgua, underestimates me too much.”
Verafia slightly raised her golden eyes. Since arriving in Sacred Spring Town, Verafia had enjoyed several days of peace, but she would not forget that the current situation of the Elf Empire could be described as precarious.
At the foot of the Sacred Tree, the Sacred Spring of Life, even with a legend like Beltanan guarding it, the Dark Elves would certainly not give up. Moreover…
“Miss Verafia, the church of the Sacred Tree is just ahead, we… cough cough cough!”
Suddenly, a harsh cough interrupted Beltanan’s words. Verafia quickly turned her little head to look. The elven elder covered his mouth and nose, gently wiped it away, and on his palm was a conspicuous trace of blood.
“Lord Beltanan, what is this?”
Ig’s voice came. Beltanan was a legendary powerhouse who had comprehended the laws of the Goddess of Life and possessed infinite vitality. What kind of injury could make him spit blood?
More importantly, Beltanan himself had no injuries at all. The reason he coughed up blood was because he had consumed too much of his own life force, causing a backlash that even a legendary body could barely withstand. This was a sign of his life force nearing its end.
Verafia’s small hands also clenched slightly, and her golden eyes looking at the elven elder showed concern.
Just as she had just thought, the Dark Elves were determined to obtain the Sacred Spring of Life. Ebroal, located beside the Sacred Spring, had remained peaceful until now, largely thanks to Beltanan, a legendary powerhouse.
However, if this great elder of the Wood Elves were to exhaust his life force because of the Sacred Spring…
“Haha, Miss Verafia, you don’t need to worry. As long as I’m still alive, Ebroal won’t be so easily defiled by these fallen ones.”
His withered palm wiped away, and the life spiritual power erased the bloodstain. As if seeing the girl’s worry, the elven elder smiled, “Besides, I still want to witness the new blessings bestowed by the Goddess, and I won’t die so easily.”
Verafia gently held her small hands, still looking at him with concern.
“Alright, Miss Verafia, that is the Sacred Tree Church. In normal times, this is where we pray to the Goddess. Coincidentally, I have something to hand over to you there.”
After speaking, Beltanan straightened his withered body slightly, showing no signs of life loss at all. Without waiting for Verafia’s reply, he walked towards the small church he had pointed to not far away.
Looking at the elven elder’s retreating figure, Verafia and Ig exchanged a glance.
To awaken the Goddess of Life, Silolise, Beltanan was willing to sacrifice his life. Verafia certainly didn’t doubt such a thing. But, just as she had thought before, what kind of reason required a legend to sacrifice his life?
Moreover, even so, was this great elder of the Wood Elves really sure that she could awaken the Goddess of Life?
If the Goddess of Life did not awaken, the sacrifice would not be just Beltanan’s life alone. The fall of a legendary powerhouse would bring misfortune not only to Ebroonal, but even to the precarious Elf Empire, which might completely lose the war due to the absence of a legendary powerhouse.
Verafia’s slender fingertips gently brushed a strand of golden hair that had fallen, and a hint of confusion emerged in her raised golden eyes.
In her memory, the former Elder Beltanan was by no means incompetent or impulsive. As a great elder of the Wood Elves with a lifespan of thousands of years, even a hundred years ago, Verafia had heard the bards’ praises of him during Richelieu. He was an embodiment of rationality and wisdom.
“Or, there is something… that I don’t know about…”
Verafia’s tender and delicate lips parted, and her soft voice murmured. Suddenly, her small hand was taken by the black-haired young man. Verafia looked up at him.
“Perhaps, Lord Beltanan has answers prepared for Vera in this church.” Ig looked at the great elder of the Wood Elves.
…
Unlike the Grand Hall of the Sacred Tree where Verafia and her companions were staying, which only held ceremonies during major festivals and entertained distinguished guests, the Sacred Tree Church that Beltanan brought them to was merely a place for the local residents of Sacred Spring Town to pray and bless. It did not need to accommodate guests from the entire Elf Empire like the Grand Hall, so its scale was undoubtedly much smaller.
However, after entering the church, perhaps due to the use of spatial magic, Verafia found that the area of the Sacred Tree Church was not as small as she had imagined.
Although it did not have a magnificent gilded dome, dazzling lights, and various intricate and gorgeous sculptures and decorations, the Sacred Tree Church was not lacking in a religious atmosphere. Exquisite frescoes of the Goddess of Life were visible everywhere in the church, along with various scriptures and hymns praising the Goddess.
Garlands of flowers and branches of trees elucidated the Goddess’s authority. Luxurious light gold was interwoven with threads of life’s emerald green. The floor made of shimmering blue-green glass was smooth and flat, leading to the distance where the statue of the Goddess of Life, painstakingly carved by the most famous artist of the Wood Elves thousands of years ago, quietly watched over the entire congregation.
Her soft and smooth small hand was gently held by Ig as they walked towards the statue of the Goddess. Lightly raising her golden eyes, Verafia looked around at the scene in the church, trying her best to remain quiet and not disturb the solemn atmosphere.
Coming to this homeland of the Elves, whether it was to borrow the power of the Goddess to suppress Herafir in her divine body, or later when Verafia needed to borrow the divine power of life to grow, it was largely due to the Goddess of Life, Silolise.
Even though the Goddess of Life was currently sleeping, Verafia wanted to see the statue that the Elves had sculpted for her first.
