Chapter 367 Mother's Love?
Mani entered the dimly lit chamber where his mother, the Priestess, lay resting. The subdued lighting gave the room a slightly oppressive, stuffy feel, yet it was alleviated by the delicate fragrance of sakura blossoms. Their sweet scent intertwined with the sharp, peppery aroma of melted candles, creating a unique and calming atmosphere.
The room was vast and expansive, the very heart of the mountain. Devoid of windows, its walls didn't offer views of the outside world, but this was hardly a drawback. The mountain itself, rich in precious metals, naturally regulated the temperature, providing a sanctuary that was warm in the biting cold of winter and cool during the scorching summer heat.
In the center of this sanctuary was a large bed, where the Priestess lay. Two maids stood by her side, their presence a silent testament to her status and condition. Initially, Mani could barely make out her form from his position. He hesitated, a few steps from the bed, torn by a whirlwind of emotions about approaching closer.
It was her voice, frail and weary, that broke his internal struggle. "Mani," she called out, her hand extending towards him, seeking his touch. Compelled by her call, he took several steps forward, instinctively bowing in reverence. "Priestess..." he began, his voice laced with a mix of respect and concern.
She gently interrupted him, pulling him closer by his hand. It was only then that Mani got a clear view of her face. The change was startling. Her skin was pallid, parts of it flaking away like delicate paper. Her eyes, however, still shimmered with the colors of the rainbow, a lingering sign of the immense power she had wielded in battle.
Seeing her like this, Mani understood without needing words. She was enduring incredible pain. A pang of sorrow tugged at his heart. Outside these walls, the cultivators celebrated their victory with wine and music, blissfully unaware of the true cost of their triumph. Here, in the quiet of this chamber, lay the one who had made it all possible, suffering in silence.
As the depth of their moment became apparent, the maids quietly exited the room, their silent steps a sign of respect, leaving mother and son to their private reunion. The Priestess spoke first, her voice barely above a whisper, each word seemingly drawn from a well of pain and effort. "I am sorry," she murmured, her eyes, still shimmering with the remnants of rainbow aura energy, meeting Mani's. "I am sorry I left you alone all these years. I missed your first steps, your first words... and now, you stand before me as a man. Please, forgive me."
As she spoke, tears tinged with the spectral hues of her aura energy trickled down her cheeks, each one reflecting a spectrum of light and a lifetime of regret.
Mani, recalling Chiron's words about the blessing of having parents who loved him, felt a profound shift in his heart. He looked at the woman before him, not as the mighty Priestess or the fearless warrior, but as a mother, vulnerable and seeking forgiveness from her son.
Her hand, frail yet warm, was enveloped in his own. In her touch, he felt the tremors of her pain, the weight of her sacrifices. The grievances and stubbornness that had long lodged in his heart began to dissolve, washed away by the realization of her humanity.
"I forgive you," Mani said, his voice steady yet laden with emotion. As he spoke, the rune on his chest began to glow with a soft, soothing blue light. This light traveled like a gentle wave, flowing from his body into her hand. The room was bathed in its serene glow, casting a peaceful aura over them.
Before their eyes, a miracle unfolded. The Priestess' body absorbed the blue aura energy, and it coursed through her, working wonders. Her skin, once pallid and flaking, began to heal, taking on the healthy glow of life once more. Her weakened form visibly strengthened, as if the energy was knitting her back together, mending what had been broken.
In that moment, the bond between mother and son was not just restored, but transformed, transcending the boundaries of past grievances and embracing the healing power of forgiveness and love.
After sharing a moment of silent understanding, Mani leaned in and hugged his mother, a gesture filled with newfound warmth and connection. However, unbeknownst to him, as he embraced her, an eerie smile flickered across her face, hinting at unspoken thoughts and plans.
As they stepped out of the room together, Chiron, who was waiting outside, immediately sensed their approach. The smile on Mani's face was all the confirmation he needed of the healing that had taken place. He exchanged a knowing nod with the Priestess, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Mani then turned to Chiron, giving his mother one final glance before joining Chiron to descend the stairs and exit the mountain. Their departure left the Priestess alone in the corridor, her expression contemplative and calculating.
Moments after Mani and Chiron were out of sight, a Bronze-
ranked cultivator materialized beside the Priestess, his arrival silent but urgent. "Will we be able to get it back from him?" he asked, his tone laced with concern and anticipation.
The Priestess nodded, her eyes glinting with a mix of resolve and ambition. "Definitely," she affirmed confidently. "I'm already starting to tap into its power. Soon, I'll have it back and then I can commence with my plans."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication and a hint of sinister intent. The Priestess, usually seen as a figure of sacrifice and suffering, now revealed a more complex, and potentially darker, side of her character.
Meanwhile, she was not aware that her words by the runes slowly being digested on the walls reached foreign ears.
On the other hand, as they desecended down the stairs, Mani paused for a minute, as his eyes lingered up the mountain, "Igbi," he spoke sfotly, "I don't want to lose any one else. I want to protect my mother, and father."
Chiron nodded at his words, intensionally waiting for him to finish.
"Igbi, do you believe we are doing the right thing?"
Chiron sighed, "At least we are doing something. and if it is not right, then I dont know what is."
With a more determined look at Chiron he nodded, "Lets go back to the commander. I change my mind. I will go with the plan!"
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