Chapter 357 Attack at Home
The Priestess could tell that Mani was intentionally ignoring her. He did not even spare her a glance, maintaining an inscrutable expression.
She didn't blame him for this. After all, many years ago, she had left him with his father to assume her role as the Priestess and protector of the mountain at the heart of the Highland tribes. For her, duty to the Highlanders came before personal feelings, wants, and desires.
Quickly regaining her composure, she hid her momentarily faltering hands under the folds of her gown and turned towards Barbara. "The mountain was attacked," she announced, her voice resonating with a mixture of solemnity and urgency.
Those words instantly captured the attention of everyone in the room. Even the maids, who stood unobtrusively behind the Priestess, stiffened, their eyes widening in shock.
This was news that no one had heard until now. The mountain, soaring towards the heavens at the center of the tribes, was the most fortified place in the Highlands. Guarded by the Union army and watched over by three bronze-rank cultivators, it was inconceivable to think it had been breached.
Barbara's brow furrowed in disbelief. "That's not possible."
The Priestess, pacing slowly, her movements reflecting the gravity of the situation, interjected, "But it is. Our invader did not come from above, but from below. The attack originated from the central point of the Vein that unites the Aura tribes. They were after the energy beneath."
"But the Vein is hundreds of kilometers under that mountain. No one should be able to reach it," Barbara countered, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and skepticism.
Stopping her paced stroll, the Priestess turned to face Barbara, her elderly voice imbued with decades of wisdom. "It's true that no one from the Aura tribes should be able to reach it." As she spoke, she gave Barbara a knowing look, heavy with implications, suggesting that it was another type of energy user at play.
"Spirit energy!" Barbara whispered, her voice laced with a mixture of realization and apprehension. "Is that what you're suggesting?"
The Priestess nodded solemnly. "We both know Spirit energy isn't as constrained in form as Aura energy. Depending on the wielder, such a feat is very much within the realm of possibility."
Barbara, her hand thoughtfully cupping her chin, mused aloud. "This is the heartland of the Aura tribes. Even the Vandorain army wouldn't dare such a brazen act. Besides, with your power, it's something you could easily handle. It can only mean..." Her voice trailed off, a sudden understanding dawning in her eyes.
In that moment of silent realization, the Priestess and Barbara shared a knowing glance. Unspoken thoughts passed between them, both contemplating the same individual.
Suddenly, a voice, smooth and slightly amused, echoed from the earth. "Are both of you discussing me?" From the ground emerged a figure clad in pristine white, adorned with the symbol of the Holy Church on his chest. It was Abel, the corpulent envoy from the Holy Church, known for his ability to pass through walls and even the earth itself. As he rose from the ground, as seamlessly as if carried by an unseen elevator, not a speck of dirt marred his attire.
The Priestess whirled around to face him, her expression a blend of surprise and disapproval. "This gathering is solely for members of the Aura tribes. Your presence is neither invited nor warranted. This matter does not concern you."
However, Abel let out a chuckle, a sound that seemed out of place in the tense atmosphere. "But it does concern me, esteemed Priestess," he said, his voice smooth yet carrying an underlying edge. "Anything that threatens the security of the Aura tribes is a matter of interest to the Holy Church, and thus, to myself." He placed a hand solemnly on his chest, his gesture theatrical yet earnest.
Then, his expression shifted from amiable to serious. "Especially when it involves accusations directed at me." His gaze swept across the room, sharp and calculating. When his eyes landed on Chiron, there was a noticeable pause. Chiron, feeling the weight of Abel's stare, tensed subtly, struggling to maintain an outward appearance of calm. After a moment that felt much longer than it was, Abel's scrutiny moved on, leaving a trace of unease hanging in the air.
The Priestess stepped towards the rotund man, towering over him by a head. Yet, his stature did nothing to diminish the charisma that seemed to radiate from him. "The Holy Church does not have the best history," she stated, her voice tinged with undisguised skepticism. "I don't trust your kind."
Abel responded with a light chuckle, undeterred by her distrust. "But, Priestess, we both understand that this isn't about trust. It's about mutual benefits." He paused, his tone becoming more business-like. "As per our agreement, the Holy Church assists you in your conflict with the Vandorian army, and in return, you consent to a permanent change in the leadership of the Round Table. After all," he said, stepping closer to her, narrowing the physical gap to emphasize his point, "we came to your aid when the Zodiac families did not."
His words, sharp and truthful, hung heavily in the air. The Priestess, however, stood her ground. Her gaze was unwavering, piercing, as if she could look straight through Abel's eyes and into the depths of his soul. She trusted him as little as she did his words.
Suddenly, their tense standoff was shattered by a loud explosion from above. The sound reverberated through the chamber, sending a shockwave of surprise and apprehension across everyone present.
Screams erupted from outside, slicing through the tense air in the room. Abruptly, a cultivator burst in uninvited, his expression etched with panic. "Commander Barbara! We're under attack! It's the Vandorians..." His urgent warning was cut short as a massive boulder crashed through the ceiling with a thunderous roar, reducing him to nothing more than a tragic memory in an instant.
The impact sent a shockwave through the room, dust and debris clouding the air. Everyone inside was momentarily stunned, frozen by the sudden violence of the event. The grim reality of their situation was now unmistakably clear: the attack was not just a distant threat, but a deadly, immediate crisis...
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