The Anomaly's Path

Chapter 234: The High Priestess and the Apostle

The heavy feeling of Sanctyra’s capital was something Arthur had never gotten used to.

Every street of clean white stone, every arched bridge, and every tower reaching for the sky seemed to hum with mana. To a normal person or a devout pilgrim, it felt like divine comfort. To Arthur, it felt like silent judgment.

While the rest of Class Veritas and Class Audax spread out across Luminara Academy to settle into their rooms, Arthur stood at the edge of the courtyard, surrounded by silver-armored paladins.

"Apostle Arthur Vale," the lead knight said, bowing his head just enough to show respect. "The High Priestess requires your presence at the Grand Cathedral immediately."

The tension in the courtyard rose. Standing beside Arthur, Amelia took a step forward. Her eyes were full of protectiveness and worry.

"I am coming with you," she whispered firmly.

But Arthur gently caught her wrist, giving her a tense but reassuring smile. "It is fine, Amelia. She is the High Priestess, it is just a briefing. Stay with the others, settle into the dorms, and look around the academy. I will be back soon."

Amelia lingered for a second, then nodded, stepping back with a small, reluctant smile. "Okay... do not stay too long. We are all waiting for you."

Arthur watched her walk back to the group before turning to the lead paladin. With a quiet breath, he fell into step between the guards.

_

The heavy golden doors of the inner sanctuary groaned as they were pulled open. Arthur stepped inside, his boots clicking on the smooth white stone floor. The knights stepped back, closing the massive doors behind him, leaving him alone in the wide hall.

At the far end, standing beside a large altar lit by the morning sun, was High Priestess Celestia.

She turned to face him slowly. She had long green hair that fell past her waist in loose waves. In the shadows, it looked almost black, but where the light touched it, hints of grey and brown showed through.

Arthur felt a lump in his throat. This was only their second meeting. The first time he had looked into her warm amber-gold eyes was months ago, on the day he was proclaimed the Apostle of the Goddess.

Since then, he had carried the weight of the world. Coming face to face with her Transcendent High aura made him feel completely exposed.

Arthur took a breath and stepped forward. He began to bend his knee, lowering his head. "High Priestess Celestia, I am honored to—"

Before his knee could touch the floor, a soft, warm scent of jasmine and gentle mana surrounded him.

Celestia had moved without a sound. She stepped around the table and caught Arthur by his shoulders. Without any formal words, she pulled him into a tight, motherly hug. She stroked his hair gently.

Arthur stiffened, his arms hanging awkwardly in the air. The scent of dried lavender surrounded him. The crushing pressure of her Transcendent aura vanished, replaced by a soft, warm glow.

"Did I not tell you last time?" Celestia whispered, pulling back to look at him, her lips forming a playful pout. "When no one else is around, you are supposed to call me older sister, Arthur."

Arthur let out a nervous laugh, rubbing his neck as his face turned red. "Ah... Elder Sister Celestia."

"There!" Celestia grinned, puffing out her chest with pride as she let go of his shoulders. "You can always count on your Big Sister! I may be the voice of the Goddess to the world, but to you, I am just the person who makes sure you do not starve under all that weight."

She giggled softly and pointed to a small carved wooden table near the stained-glass window. Fresh fruits, light pastries, and steaming herbal tea were already laid out. "Sit, sit. You must be exhausted from the journey. Tell me everything."

Arthur took a seat across from her, carefully picking up a warm pastry. The sheer contrast between her terrifying status as a Transcendent High, the leader of millions. and her current childish, doting demeanor was striking.

Yet, it was precisely this side of her that made Arthur feel human again.

"Now, tell me. Have your friends from Aegis settled in comfortably? Are the accommodations at Luminara to their liking?" She said, as she poured him a cup of tea.

"Yes, they are settling in well," Arthur replied, holding the warm cup between his hands. "The academy has been very welcoming."

Celestia smiled, her eyes crinkling. She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands as her gaze grew playful. "And what about that gentle girl? Amelia, was it? The one you told me about in your letters, the one your heart beats for?"

Arthur nearly choked on his tea, coughing as he set the cup down. "Amelia? She—she is doing well! She was given the Spirit Queen’s blessing during the exam. She has been working very hard."

"Mmm, I see," Celestia hummed, resting her chin on her hand, her golden eyes twinkling with mischief. "And is my little brother making any progress with her heart, or are you still as dense as a dwarf’s anvil?"

Arthur’s face turned red. "It—it isn’t like that! But to be honest, I was shocked to hear that the Spirit Queen herself had chosen her. I actually wrote to you a few months back to ask if she even existed, because I could not find anything in the Aegis archives."

"Yes, I remember," Celestia said softly. "And I told you then — elemental spirits are well-known. Many mages talk to them. But the Spirit Queen herself? That is hidden knowledge. Almost no one knows she exists. But she does. She watches over the world from the spaces beyond."

Arthur nodded slowly, processing her words.

"Anyway... remember to cherish those bonds, Arthur. The light can be a very lonely place if you try to walk it alone."

She reached across the table, gently patting his hand. Her touch felt like old paper, lined with the faint marks of a life spent in prayer.

As the lighthearted teasing faded, the room settled into a quiet calm. Arthur took a slow sip of tea, looking out the window before turning back to Celestia. The playful warmth in his eyes was replaced by a thoughtful, hesitant look.

"Elder Sister..." Arthur began carefully. "Can I ask you something? About... the other divine beings in this world?"

Celestia set her teacup down and looked at him with gentle eyes. "Of course. What is on your mind?"

"What do you know about... the Moon Goddess?" Arthur asked.

Celestia’s eyebrows twitched. A faint frown touched her lips, not out of anger, but out of surprise. She leaned back, her golden eyes reflecting the light.

"The Moon Goddess..." Celestia repeated softly. "It has been a long time since I heard someone mention her name."

"Does she... exist?" Arthur pressed quietly. "Is there a church for her?"

"The Moon Goddess is very old," Celestia said softly, her voice carrying deep weight.

"The Holy Kingdom does have records of her, passed down through generations. And as the High Priestess, I know about many other divine beings as well. I know the Spirit Queen exists, and I know the other gods and goddesses of this world have their own followers. But... the Moon Goddess is different."

"Is there no church for her here?" Arthur asked.

Celestia shook her head slowly. "No. Most of the world has forgotten her. And she is not a rival to our Divine Mother."

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she locked her gaze on Arthur. The soft glow around her flickered. "Why do you ask about her, Arthur? Did the Goddess show you something in a vision?"

Arthur hesitated. The image of Seris came to mind, her quiet manner. He wondered if he should tell Celestia about Seris being the Moon Goddess’s Apostle.

No, Arthur thought, pulling back. Seris kept her connection hidden for a reason. Prying into her secrets is not my place.

"No," Arthur lied smoothly, lowering his head. "No vision. I just... saw her symbol in an old text and noticed the lack of information. I was curious."

Celestia watched him for a long, silent moment. Her gaze seemed to pierce through his words, but there was no judgment in her eyes. Only that patient understanding.

"I see...," she said softly, letting out a gentle sigh as she stood up. "Do not let your mind be consumed by the ghosts of the past, Apostle. We have enough storms gathering on our horizon."

"The stability across the land is weakening," Celestia said softly, her power flickering with quiet seriousness. "The Gate attacks are increasing. You must prepare yourself."

Arthur felt a chill run down his spine, his hand tightening into a fist. "I will be ready, Sister. I promise."

_

Later that night, hundreds of miles away in the Magic City, the streets were quiet under the glow of magical lamps.

Buzz.

Buzz.

A hard shake against his wrist broke the quiet of the dark room.

Leo was dead to the world, buried under a heavy black blanket, his mind lost in deep sleep. Hours earlier, the moment Roan had left, he had collapsed onto the bed, hoping for a few hours of peace before the chaos of his life caught up to him again.

Leo snapped his eyes open, groaning as the blue glow of his watch lit up his face. He rubbed his eyes hard, blinking away sleep, his jaw tight with irritation.

He tapped the screen, answering the call with a rough, annoyed voice. "What?"

"Where are you, my bro?!" Roan’s loud, energetic voice burst through the speaker. "Do not tell me you are still sleeping! I told you we are going out tonight!"

"I am asleep, you bastard," Leo said, burying his face back into his pillow. "Go away."

"Oh, no you do not!" Alice’s angry shout came from Roan’s side.

"Leo! Get your lazy ass out of bed right now! Everyone is already packed and waiting downstairs! Even, Malva is here. Oh and Riven is already complaining about being hungry! If you make us wait another five minutes, I will come up there and drag you down by your hair!"

In the background, Riven’s angry voice cut in. "Hey! I did not say anything about being hungry, you crazy bitch! Stop using me as an excuse!"

"Shut up, Riven! Move!" Alice yelled back.

Leo let out a long, tired sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as the chaos of his classmates filled his ears. There was no escape.

"Fine," Leo said into the watch, sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. "I am awake. Give me a few minutes to change. I will be down soon."

"That is what I like to hear, bro! Speed it up!" Roan laughed before ending the call.

Leo stared at the blank screen of his watch, a low curse escaping his lips. "Fucking hell..."

He stood up, stretching his aching muscles as he walked toward the wardrobe to change. The night was just beginning, and knowing his luck, a simple night out with his classmates was bound to be anything but peaceful.