Eliza’s footsteps echoed softly against the polished starlight marble as she led Jacob through the blinding brilliance of the Hall of Holy Justice.
High above, vaulted ceilings disappeared into shifting constellations carved from pure crystal, each twinkling rune like a prayer frozen in a loop. Rows of silent statues flanked either side, sculpted in the likeness of ancient Holy Kings and ancestors of the Cardinal Spirit Temple.
Without a word, Eliza turned from the central nave and guided Jacob toward a side passage framed by golden archways and flanked by paladins in full ceremonial armor. Though they bowed deeply at Eliza’s passing, their gazes never dared linger on Jacob.
They stepped into a narrower corridor lit by rows of floating crystal lamps. The air grew quieter, almost oppressive in its solemnity, until finally, before them stood a pair of doors—each carved from a single slab of silver-white stone, engraved with shifting spiral patterns that seemed to draw the gaze inward, toward the unknown.
Eliza raised her hand. The doors parted noiselessly, revealing a chamber beyond.
It was a conference room in form, yet nothing like any ordinary hall. The ceiling rose high in a perfect dome, painted with a breathtaking mural of cosmic judgment like blazing angels, chained abominations, and swirling stars.
Massive pillars of pale gold formed a circular perimeter, each etched with holy runes glowing gently in the hushed light.
A single, vast round table of black marble sat at the center, its surface polished to a mirror finish, reflecting the grand mural above. Surrounding it were twelve high-backed chairs wrought from silver and obsidian, their spires resembling stylized angel wings. Behind the table, a raised dais held a solitary, grander throne—clearly reserved for the Holy King herself.
Behind the throne, an enormous stained-glass window dominated the wall, depicting the Holy Justice God in all its splendor—blade pointed downward, wings unfurled, and eyes gazing coldly upon the world. Shafts of colored light filtered through, casting prismatic halos across the marble floor.
Eliza’s robes swept gracefully as she approached the throne, but she did not sit. Instead, she turned, her spiral eyes meeting Jacob’s impassive gaze.
"This is the Sanctum of Concord," Eliza’s voice resonated quietly, carrying an echo of authority. "Where the highest councils of our temple gather—and where the Mythical Coalition has occasionally convened when required."
Jacob’s gaze traveled across the solemn grandeur of the room, taking in the muted glow of the runes and the silent power woven into the stone itself.
"I see," He nodded, his voice calm yet sharp, "It’s my honor to be here."
Eliza inclined her head faintly. "You see, Esteemed Myth, the Sanctum of Concord is special. Here, words weigh as heavily as oaths. It is also protected by an ancient truth-binding formation—no deliberate falsehood can be spoken within this chamber."
’Naïve...’ Jacob’s eyes flickered faintly at that, but he gave no outward sign of unease.
Eliza gestured lightly toward the table. "Please, be seated. We may speak freely here, away from ears and eyes—even from the Star Network."
A flicker of surprise finally surfaced in Jacob’s eyes when he heard the last part, as he couldn’t help but look at Eliza profoundly.
Nonetheless, Jacob stepped forward, his figure seeming to glide as shadows curled around his windbreaker. He drew out a chair, its cold silver frame unyielding to the touch, and sat without ceremony. His lone presence felt strangely at home amidst the oppressive sanctity, like darkness acknowledged rather than denied.
Eliza, still standing, rested a pale hand upon the high back of her throne but did not sit. Instead, she studied Jacob in silence, her spiral eyes revolving slowly, peering beyond flesh, beyond form, seeking the truths that even Myth would hide.
The chamber seemed to tighten, every flickering rune and shard of colored light pausing, as if the entire sanctum held its breath for what would be said next.
Finally, her voice, calm yet edged with cold certainty, broke the stillness, "Now that we are beyond courtesy and the gaze of others... tell me, Esteemed Myth; for what purpose have you truly come to the Great Cosmic Continent of Leo? Were you the one who caused the commotion in the Ashen Mirage Desert? And what is the Temple of the Blazing Flame?"
Jacob wasn’t surprised by Eliza’s questions; in fact, he was well aware that the whole reason Eliza led him into the heart of her territory was to get information about the Temple of the Blazing Flame.
"Since you are so curious, I would be impolite of me not to answer your questions. I was indeed here for the Temple of the Blazing Flame, and I was the one who had awakened it." Jacob impassively replied.
A hint of surprise flashed in Eliza’s eyes before her gaze turned profound, "What lies within the Temple of the Blazing Flames? Since you have claimed the entire temple, it’s pretty clear that the temple itself is a treasure beyond the Legendary Rank.
"However, since you claimed it with your own capability and the temple wasn’t aware of its existence, I won’t dare to lay claim to it. But I’m still very curious about it, and if you can let me study it, anything is open for negotiation." She subtly revealed her true intentions.
Jacob remained silent for a moment before he said, "The Temple of Blazing Flame is indeed above Legendary Plains. However, I merely scratched its surface and only claimed a rudimentary ownership of it after passing the first trial.
"Truthfully, to claim the entire temple and its riches, there are still more trials, but I’m not qualified to take them because my current power is not sufficient. You should understand what I mean, right?"
Eliza’s eyes widened as a hint of greed surfaced in them. How could she not understand what Jacob was implying? A treasure that surpassed the rank of the Legendary Plains, which means a true ’Mythical Treasure’, and it might even surpass it.
However, Eliza’s knowledge was still limited to when it came to the Upper Plains, so she couldn’t guess just how powerful and precious the Temple of the Blazing Flame was.
If she weren’t wary of Jacob, she would’ve already attacked him and snatched away the Temple of the Blazing Flame. But Eliza wasn’t an ordinary woman; she had held her position for thousands of years.
Eliza said in an impassive tone, "Since you revealed this much to me, then it means you are willing to negotiate with me, right? After all, since you can clear the trial and claim the Temple, I can safely assume that if anything happened to you, the Temple might vanish without acknowledging another inheritor."
Although Eliza’s conjecture was wrong, Jacob didn’t point it out, as he wanted her to think this way; the smarter she was, the more she would fall into the quagmire, just as Jacob intended!