Chapter 39: Impersonating the High Priestess
Meanwhile, in the sacred lands of the Bewildering Forest, at dawn.
Although the High Priestess had emerged from her seclusion, she still preferred to reside in the Divine Temple.
The only difference was the addition of a few temple handmaidens to attend to her daily needs.
As a handmaiden, Veranica, approached with the High Priestess’s breakfast, she found Nimora already awake, sitting by the window, her gaze distant.
Startled, Veranica stumbled, almost dropping the tray.
But a gentle force caught her, preventing a disastrous spill.
“Be careful, E… my apologies, Veranica,” the High Priestess’s voice echoed in her ear.
Veranica quickly straightened up, about to apologize profusely.
But Nimora simply waved her hand, taking the tray.
She had lived for a long, long time. She no longer dwelled on such minor mistakes.
Veranica was stunned, not just because the High Priestess had saved her from embarrassment, but because she had remembered her name… even if she had almost said the wrong one.
And in her time here, she had learned that although the High Priestess appeared cold and distant, she possessed a hidden warmth.
“This isn’t what the elders said at all…”
Veranica blushed, her head bowed.
The High Priestess was a revered figure among the elves, a legend they had all grown up with.
So, even the position of handmaiden was a coveted one, and Veranica had only secured this opportunity through her connections with the elders.
“The High Priestess seems… very serious…” Veranica thought, peeking at Nimora, who was eating her breakfast in small, delicate bites. “Is she worried about the future of the Bewildering Forest? Or is she contemplating something important…?”
In reality, Nimora wasn’t contemplating. She was… uneasy.
She had been up all night.
Although a being of her level could go for long periods without sleep, the reason for her insomnia was a source of concern.
Since her last divination, she hadn’t had another vision of the terrifying eye, but strangely, she couldn’t remember her dreams either. They would vanish the moment she awoke, leaving only a lingering sense of dread.
“Why…?”
Due to the backlash from the Great Prophecy, she was still recovering, unable to perform even the simplest divination.
…In other words, her ultimate ability and all related skills were on cooldown.
Everything had been proceeding as planned. The sacred lands’ defenses were strong enough to withstand a full-scale assault from the Abyssal Demon Realm. The only anomaly was the unexplained explosion in the Twilight Marsh.
But before Nimora could act, the council of elders had already dispatched an envoy, so she hadn’t interfered.
But now, this strange dream… it had rekindled her interest in the explosion.
Her intuition told her it was more than just a random event, despite the lack of evidence.
“High Priestess?”
Veranica’s soft voice broke her from her thoughts. Nimora looked up to see her staring at her empty plate.
She looked down, realizing she had been so lost in thought that she had finished her meal without even noticing, her spoon still scraping against the empty plate.
“Thank you,” Nimora said, handing the plate to Veranica.
Veranica took it, her hands trembling slightly, a look of secret delight on her face.
It seemed she had seen another, more human, side of the High Priestess…
Nimora, unfazed by her own lapse, continued to stare out the window, towards the Twilight Marsh, her gaze flickering.
“I remember… Norma should be in charge of the Twilight Marsh. Her identity…”
As if remembering something unpleasant, she sighed and closed the window.
“But it’s been a while since I’ve seen Eleanor. She’s been through a lot. It’s time to bring her back.”
“Otherwise, how can I face… hmph, the one whose true name has been erased.”
“High Priestess, may I leave?” Veranica asked, seeing Nimora had fallen silent again, though she was reluctant to go.
To be in the High Priestess’s presence was a rare honor…
“Wait, Veranica,” Nimora said, surprising her.
“Yes, High Priestess?” Veranica’s voice was filled with a newfound cheerfulness.
“I have a task for you,” Nimora said after a moment of thought.
“A… task?” Veranica asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Yes, a simple one,” Nimora said, standing up and taking Veranica’s hand, leading her to her bed.
Veranica’s mind reeled, her heart pounding. The High Priestess was… leading her to her bed.
“Is… is the High Priestess going to… but she’s the High Priestess. If she wants me, I can’t refuse…”
“Get in,” Nimora said softly, her voice still calm, but Veranica heard a hint of warmth in it.
“High Priestess…” Veranica sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes closed, her body trembling.
But nothing happened. The High Priestess’s voice came again.
“You will stay here for the next few days. I have cast a spell on you. It will allow you to mimic my voice and tone. I need you to… deal with the elders and the handmaidens.”
“Huh?” Veranica opened her eyes, stunned.
“I have to leave for a while, and I don’t want anyone to know,” Nimora said, looking at Veranica. “Your build is similar to mine. You can wear my clothes. Just… try to keep your back to them. Don’t be discovered.”
“Wait, High Priestess, you want me to… impersonate you?” Veranica’s voice trembled. The very thought made her legs weak.
“I will be back soon. I’m counting on you,” Nimora smiled, a magic circle appearing at her feet, and she vanished, leaving the bewildered Veranica alone in the Divine Temple.
