Chapter 245: The Eternal Pope's Speculation
The Eternal Theocracy.
Contrary to what most Avalonians imagine, the Eternal Pope does not live in a bright and glorious pure white palace.
White has never been the representative color of the Theocracy; it is merely the Avalonians’ imagination of order and holiness.
Some people may know a little more. They know that the elves actually live on a giant tree, so they imagine that the elves love to embrace nature and live in lush forests.
But green is also not the color of the Theocracy. Green is the color of adaptation and beauty, the hue of the Iris people.
The only color respected by the Theocracy is red.
Blood and flames. Hearts and candles.
Those are all symbols of sacrifice and dedication.
In terms of land alone, the Theocracy's territory might be less than one-seventh of Avalon's. However, the number of citizens living in the Theocracy is more than one-fifth of Avalon's. Even so, the Theocracy does not feel crowded.
Because it's simple.
The Theocracy is not actually a "flat" country.
A giant tree that reaches the sky grows on the island, occupying nearly 70% of the island's area.
Legend has it that the giant tree voluntarily donated its heart to accommodate small creatures; it donated its trunk to protect those who were more fragile and easily withered than it; it donated all of its sap, allowing some to obtain the blood of the immortals. These immortals chosen by the giant tree are the elves.
He is the father among fathers and the mother among mothers of the elves.
Also because of this great achievement, the giant tree became one of Sizhu's most beloved apostles.
——From this perspective, the Eternal Kingdom is actually a country built within the body of an apostle.
It is for this reason that the elves respect Sizhu the most.
Even though his spirit had long since departed for the Dream Realm, the massive shell of his body that remained in the material world still remained, constantly growing and thriving. And this reddish-brown bark and trunk became the foundation of the Eternal Theocracy.
The Eternal Theocracy built twenty-two rings around this towering tree. All of the buildings literally "grew" from the tree. Warm in winter and cool in summer, it resisted rotting and dampness, and offered an endless supply of fruit.
Even the candles the elves light come from the giant tree—they grind the sacred bark into powder, which becomes the key ingredient for the candles used in the priests' crowns. As long as the sacred candles are lit, they feel at home no matter where they are.
Each layer of the giant tree is a vast circular city, each with a slightly different environment. Elves have a lifespan of hundreds of years, and many never leave the Eternal Kingdom. This is because the interior of the Kingdom is more than enough for them to live in.
And at this moment, on the 22nd floor of the Eternal Theocracy.
The girl in a pure white robe slowly opened her eyes and stood up from the bed.
She wore a white knee-length gown, white boots, and white silk gloves. Her hair was pure white, and her eyes were silver. She shimmered in the candlelight, like a hallucination, like a ghost.
Without a word, she removed her clothes. As the girl stood up and walked, her white robe, gloves, and stockings fell to the ground. Once she had removed all her clothing, a thick, red and black robe appeared.
The robe revealed intricate patterns - like a deer's head or thorns.
Then, black thorns began to spread from within her robe. They crawled up and embedded themselves in her collarbone, neck, ears, and forehead. The parts of her body covered by the robe—her back, chest, abdomen, legs, and hands—were also entangled and embedded in the thorns.
The thorns seemed to grow inside her body, fitting in so perfectly with her appearance.
But even so, it couldn't help but hurt - as she walked, blood dripped, falling to the ground or soaking into her robes.
But she turned a blind eye to it, and walked towards her pure white jade throne with a calm expression.
As she sat on the throne, the black thorns began to spread everywhere. Only after they climbed up the throne did they finally calm down.
Her will was finally synchronized with that of the entire theocracy.
She looked ahead, but seemed to be seeing through the void.
"What do you think of Aiwass, Matilda?"
She said so.
Meanwhile, the blue-haired female elf on the thirteenth floor removed her disguise and casually replied, "I think... it's pretty good for a human. But it's really just that... but that could be because we know and see so little. Since Sizhu is satisfied with him, we can just follow his orders."
"It's not just Sizhu. Weizhe was also in my body before, and Heng also came. Even Amber used my eyes to take a look... But the Crown Master didn't come, which surprised me a little."
"...Amber? Why did he come?"
Matilda, the female elf who goes by the alias Jacaranda, paused for a moment. "Is Mr. Aiwass still adaptable to the Twilight Path?"
She was obviously surprised that the Pillar God of the Dusk Path paid attention to a mortal.
Amber hasn't moved for a long time - the only things that attract his attention nowadays are usually people's research on the art of immortality and those extraordinary people who extend their lifespans through various means.
"It seems he's used some kind of divine technology to extend life. Without violating the principles of the sand clock, he's broken the predetermined death. Amber was curious and came over to take a look. If nothing unexpected happens, it might be related to the Celestial Master. Generally speaking, only matters related to the Celestial Master would attract the attention of the Pillar Gods."
"I guess he might be the descendant of a certain celestial official, or even a reincarnation."
"Do you know which Celestial Master it is?"
"I guess it's Die Tiansi. After all, Die Tiansi is good at death and rebirth. I noticed that he controls a kind of fire butterfly. That unknown phantom demon has a very high status. It is very likely that he is the descendant or clone of Die Tiansi."
"...What a resilient young man! In that case, how about I personally teach him advanced divine arts?"
Matilda rubbed her face, and her appearance changed from a middle-aged human woman to a young elf in her twenties or thirties. "Also, Mr. Oswald is back. It's rare that you have some time. Would you like to meet him?"
"No. Let my knight rest up. I am running out of time."
The elf girl refused, "Also... let Gray teach Aiwass the magic."
The Eternal Pope said softly, "I have a feeling he might be able to solve Gray's problem."
"Your holy will, Your Majesty. But I must first inform Lady Gray... After all, you are impersonating her."
"Then go ahead, Matilda... Retell Gray everything that happened in your dream so she doesn't reveal anything... Play the role of 'Pure White' well. Just in case, tell Topada about it... I won't go looking for him..."
The Pope spoke, his voice becoming softer and softer, as if he were a little sleepy: "I'm a little tired, Matilda... I want to sleep again."
"Good night, Your Majesty."
Matilda said softly, "When you wake up, call me anytime."
"Um……"
She murmured, "Next March, if I haven't woken up yet, wake me up..."
Before he finished speaking, the Eternal Pope with the appearance of a young girl tilted his head slightly, lost consciousness, fell backwards on the Holy Throne and fell into a deep sleep.
Her blood was slowly and steadily sucked away by the sin thorns on the Holy Throne.
This de facto strongest person in the world, whose youthful appearance seemed to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, was still gradually changing - he was continuously changing back to the age of around thirteen or fourteen.
(End of this chapter)
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