Chapter 163: Chapter 163 - Ceremony End And Speaking With Livia’s Father
The pope lowered his staff, the golden glow around his body slowly vanishing as he did so.
At the same time, most of the people in the room had recovered from their surprise, all their eyes immediately locking back onto the pope.
The pope used the opportunity immediately.
"My children," he said, his voice filled with happiness, "you have been seen, touched, and renewed. Let the light you received today guide you through the darkness, and let your loyalty be the chain that binds us together under the Divine’s will."
Some of the important people lowered their heads in prayer, but most just observed the stage carefully, their understanding of the Imperial Church shaken.
Logan kept his gaze forward, many complex thoughts running through his head as the image of the rainbow beam flashed through his mind, a real reminder of just how massive this display had been.
’Something feels terribly off,’ he thought, a slight shiver rolling down his spine.
The pope turned slowly, facing the Seven Virtues. "Return to your posts, champions of the faith. Your service will echo through the ages."
The Seven bowed their heads slightly in acknowledgement, before turning to their heirs.
Temperance turned to Logan and Livia, giving a small nod in the direction of the door they had just entered the stage from.
Livia immediately stepped forward, joining him with a small smile on her face.
’I’ll think about this later,’ Logan thought to himself, snapping out of his thoughts. ’I don’t want to risk standing out even more now.’
He also stepped forward, joining Temperance and Livia respectfully before exiting the ceremonial platform.
As they reached the backstage area, the music from the continuation of the ceremony slowly got softer behind them.
The knights each bowed as they walked past, not even daring to breathe in the presence of the Seven.
Each of the Seven Virtues had followed after them, heading back to their own balcony rooms to finish overseeing the ceremony.
Logan felt several burning stares in his back, as well as an insane amount of invisible pressure that made him question his life.
No one spoke to each other as they walked through the hallway, only their feet clattering against the marble floors.
’I fully believe Livia now. There’s definitely some internal fighting going on,’ he thought, glancing around. ’The way these people act is nowhere near normal.’
As they reached the balcony room they’d been sitting in before, Logan couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. ’Most of the pressure will be gone in a second,’ he thought, shaking his head slightly.
"Sire Temperance, Lady of Temperance," the two guards bowed, holding the doors open for them.
Once the doors shut behind him, Logan finally realized that there was no one else in the room outside of him, Livia, and her father.
’Where did the knights and bishops go???’ he thought, eyes darting across the room.
Livia and her father sat down in the same chairs they’d been sitting in before, leaving only him standing in confusion.
Feeling several gazes lock onto him from the public, he forced himself to smile while sitting down beside Livia.
Suddenly, he heard the low voice from Livia’s father. "You stood where few are permitted," he said, eyes locking onto Logan.
Logan’s smile froze as he turned to look at him.
"That action will not be forgotten, neither by allies nor by enemies."
Logan gave a small nod, his expression turning serious. "I understand."
Livia’s father let out a low hum. "I wonder if you truly do..."
His gaze lingered for a few more seconds on Logan, before turning back to the ceremony in front of them.
The sound of the choirs entered their ears again as the final part of the ceremony came into sight.
Logan didn’t look away from Livia’s father. He couldn’t, not after hearing another one of his vague warnings.
"Father," Livia’s voice suddenly drew his attention. "You should explain it clearly to him."
Both Logan and Temperance raised an eyebrow as they turned to Livia, neither of them having expected her involvement.
"You’ve been sending quiet and vague warnings to him all day," she continued, shaking her head. "Despite getting him involved in all this trouble yourself."
Temperance’s mouth opened slightly, speechless for a moment.
Then, his eyes narrowed slightly. "You’re right," he said, before glancing at Logan. "I’ll explain it in more detail later on my shuttle. I owe you that much."
Logan nodded, glancing at Livia with gratitude in his eyes. "That would be appreciated."
Another half an hour flew by as the ceremony dragged on with dozens of speeches and choir songs, each praising the Divine One in some way.
Finally, as the bell in the central clock tower swung thirteen times, the pope raised his staff.
Everyone went silent in the hall, as the pope maintained his silence until the last chime of the bell faded.
"On this sacred day," he declared, "you have witnessed the truth of our covenant. You have felt His blessing, not as a story from the past, but as light made real in your very souls."
He paused for a moment. "Remember this moment. Hold it in your hearts when the darkest shadows gather. Let it strengthen you when the world seeks to weaken your faith."
He spread his arms wide, golden light flaring faintly from his staff.
"Go forth as beacons of the Divine One’s will, and let no doubt cloud the path He has set before us."
The crowd erupted, applause and cheers drowning out any other sounds.
Even the crowds outside started clapping and cheering, the sound growing so loud it almost felt like an earthquake.
Temperance remained seated until the pope disappeared into the backstage hallway. Only then did he stand up, his movements silent as he nodded at both of them to follow him.
As they stepped backstage, Logan’s eyes fell on the pope who was rapidly approaching them.
The pope’s golden robes swayed around him as he approached, the soft tapping from his staff immediately attracting Livia and Temperance’s attention as well.
He stopped in front of Temperance first, placing a hand lightly on his arm.
"You did well today, Temperance," he said warmly, his voice filled with approval. "Your composure and guidance were clear to all who watched. The Church is fortunate to have you among the Seven."
Temperance inclined his head slightly. "I only served as was required."
The pope’s gaze then shifted to Logan.
"And you," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "Your words earlier carried weight, young man. A fine speech, and one that will be remembered."
Logan returned the smile, though a faint chill crawled down his spine.
To anyone else, it might’ve sounded like genuine praise, but to him, there was something dangerous about it... as if it had been rehearsed many times.
"Thank you, your holiness," Logan quickly responded, afraid a longer silence would be seen as offensive.
The pope held his gaze for a second longer before his attention drifted to the rest of the hall, his smile never faltering as he walked away to the next members of the virtues.
Logan exhaled deeply, glancing at Temperance.
Livia’s father gave a small nod, before continuing down the hallway.
They continued down the hallway toward the side exit. The cheers from the people outside slowly filled even these paths.
After a few minutes, they finally reached a new set of doors that Logan hadn’t seen before.
Both doors were held open by attendants, allowing Logan to see what was behind.
A large white air shuttle with several grey chain markings all alongside its exterior revealed itself to him, its model build sleek and almost as large as the centerpiece his family owned.
Temperance didn’t slow down. "We’ll speak once we are in the air," he said without looking back.
The hatch of the shuttle slowly opened, a large ramp lowering down in front of them.
’The same shuttle he used to pick Livia up after the dungeon incident,’ Logan thought, a flicker of interest passing through his eyes.
Two guards walked off the ramp, before standing at attention with halberds at their sides beside the ramp.
None of them spoke as they stepped onto the white metal ramp and walked into the shuttle.
Logan’s heart pounded, hearing the ramp click as it started raising behind him.
The two guards walked away, heading for the inside of the actual church after their duties had been completed.
As the hatch shut behind him, Logan glanced around the cabin.
He found a similar lounge area as the one he had inside his ship, though the design here leaned more towards a grey color instead of the black color he used.
Temperance continued on, taking a seat on a chair, while Livia turned around to look at Logan.
"Come," she said, gesturing to the chair in front of her father.
Logan gave a nod, walking to the chair with Livia by his side under Temperance’s gaze.
Temperance folded his hands. "Now," he said, "we can speak without interruption."