Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System

Chapter 422: Chapter 88: The Bell

When the Cardinals walked to the very front of the altar, taking their positions nearest the seat of honor like stone pillars guarding a throne.

The faithful in the square fell to their knees, murmuring prayers, their faces full of piety and excitement.

The honored guests in the viewing area did not kneel, but they all rose to their feet to show their respect.

When all the Clergy had finished lining up on both sides of the altar, the choir’s singing reached a crescendo and then came to an abrupt halt.

An absolute silence fell over the square.

All eyes were fixed upon the wide-open gates, which seemed to lead to the Divine Kingdom.

Finally, a figure slowly appeared in the doorway, at the threshold between light and shadow.

It was Elizabeth.

She wore an unprecedentedly magnificent and solemn Saint’s Robe.

The robe was a pure, flawless moon-white, crafted from the finest Eastern Cloud Pattern Silk. It was as smooth as water, and it flowed like light.

The robe was embroidered with Mithril and the finest Golden Thread, forming intricate patterns of a rising crescent moon, circling stars, and interwoven olive branches and holy scriptures. Every stitch seemed to hold a sacred blessing.

The wide sleeves and floor-length train further accentuated her slender figure, imbuing her with an indescribable, almost divine majesty.

Her black hair was swept up and secured by an exquisitely intricate Star Crown Hair Ornament, revealing a smooth, full forehead and a graceful, slender neck.

She wore little makeup, and against the pure white of her robe, her skin seemed fairer than snow.

Her most striking feature was still her eyes, black as ink, like Obsidian blessed by Oriane.

Elizabeth paused briefly in the doorway. Her gaze seemed to sweep quickly across the viewing area, lingering for an almost imperceptible moment on the spot where Murphy stood, and then...

She lifted her foot and stepped over the threshold of the great hall.

One step, two steps...

Her pace was unhurried, each step seeming to land in time with the collective heartbeat of the crowd.

Her pure white robe trailed across the clean stone slabs without making a sound. As she moved, only the Mithril and Golden Thread embroidery on the fabric seemed to flow, shimmering with a subtle, sacred halo in the morning light.

She passed between the solemn rows of Clergy and walked straight toward the main altar in the center of the square—the highest one, situated directly beneath the Morning Star Bell.

Just as she set foot on the top step of the altar and turned to face the square, the morning sun broke through the clouds. A massive pillar of light formed, enveloping both her and the giant bell that hung silently behind her, a bell covered in verdigris and the ravages of time.

The scene was breathtakingly beautiful, so sacred it was overwhelming.

An irrepressible, tsunami-like wave of cheers and prayers erupted from the square. Countless people were moved to tears, convinced they were witnessing the beginning of a true miracle.

Elizabeth stood in the center of the pillar of light, seemingly oblivious to the roaring crowd below.

She slightly raised her eyes, her gaze seeming to pass over the cheering crowd and toward the distance. It settled on the silent guests in the viewing area, those who held power and authority, and then seemed to reach for every corner of the city.

The ceremony had officially begun.

An elderly Cardinal named Ambrosius, dressed in deep red robes and holding a gold-inlaid Scepter, slowly ascended the altar and stood just to the side and in front of Elizabeth.

As the officiant for the day’s ceremony, Ambrosius’s voice, amplified by Magic, carried clearly to every corner of the square:

"In the name of Oriane, and with the new moon and stars as our witness, we gather here to mark a new Chapter on the path of faith! Saint Elizabeth, blessed with holy favor, has been chosen by the Morning Star. Today, beneath the Holy Bell and before all people, she will fulfill her sacred mission: to awaken the dormant Holy Artifact and, with its toll, proclaim the dawn of a new era!"

As his voice faded, a reverent murmur once again rose from the square.

Next came the reading of long and solemn prayers, recited in turns by several Cardinals.

The prayers traced the history of the Church Court, extolled the great power of faith, and beseeched Oriane to bless the coming "new Chapter."

Sunlight crept across the altar. Incense smoke drifted through the air, and the atmosphere grew solemn and tense.

Bellardi had pushed his way to a spot near the middle of the square. Here, people were packed shoulder to shoulder, and the air was hot and foul.

He could see the faces of those on the altar more clearly now, especially that of the old man, Ambrosius.

’He remembered it clearly. That bastard was originally a supporter of the former Pope, Fuer II. After Noe VII came to power, he’d quickly switched sides and become the New Pope’s right-hand man. And now that Saint Cyril was about to be crowned, he had become a stalwart of Cyril’s faction.’

’These so-called Cardinals, always carving up the pie, always landing on their feet during a change of power.’

Beneath his cloak, Bellardi’s hand clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The chill of the black stone he held was a stark contrast to the burning hatred in his heart.

’Soon... soon...’ His cloudy eyes were fixed on the altar, his breathing ragged.

The prayers finally ended.

Ambrosius turned to face the back of the altar and announced in a voice of utmost reverence and solemnity: "And now, we welcome the true guest of honor today! Guided by Oriane, unanimously elected by the College of Cardinals, the venerable one who will lead the Church Court to new glory—Saint Cyril Cardinal, to be crowned, under the witness of the Holy Bell, as Pope Ete I!"

"The Holy Throne, Ete I!"

"Long live the Pope!"

A wave of pre-arranged cheers erupted from designated areas, quickly igniting the entire square.