Chapter 219 The Subject Of The Oracle
The High Priest looked at them with a serious expression.
Reaching out on his space pouch, a peculiar looking recording stone. He placed it carefully in the middle of the table so that everyone would have a clear view of what the stone contained.
With a calm yet hair-raising voice, he announced,
"This recording stone is not a typical one. This is a Temple Recording stone that has been modified to sense spiritual magic. This is typically used to observe candidates serving the Temple to assess if any of them had the potential to become a priest.
Now, what I will be telling you is how the Subject of the Oracle successfully protected a person from a deathly curse. Open your eyes and see what happened in this case!"
The High Priest activated the temple recording stone and flashed a scene on the air like it was a holographic projector.
What the projection stone was actually playing was the cleansing rites that the Imperial Family performed during their recent visitation prior to the commencement of the Spectre cleanup operations.
The recording started on Empress Carolina's turn. Their faces showed a trace of interest when they saw her face. However their expression turned normal as they have already known that the Vesalas had ties with the curses.
The group watched closely as Empress Carolina rang the bell and saw that a tiny wisp of black smoke appeared at the handle of the bell artifact!
"What you are seeing right now is the curse being implanted on the artifact. Infact, with this recording alone, we could already assume that the curse magic was also a type of spiritual power as it could be detected by the Temple recording stone." The High Priest commented and explained the contents of the recording for everyone.
Everyone's expression darkened upon hearing this, however they all held their emotions in and silently watched how the situation would proceed.
When it was First Queen Lucia's turn, the wisp of black smoke didn't react at all. It stayed there until she finished her portion. Nothing happened and Queen Lucia was able to go back to her position without any signs of abnormalities.
Then, Queen Tehila appeared in the frame of the scene, a faint white light covering her whole body, even the hem of her clothes. She looked as ethereal as the angels while they watched her walk bathed in the faint light.
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But the moment she touched the artifact, something happened.
Tsss!
The black smoke that was implanted in the artifact was being engulfed mercilessly by the white light!
The white light attacked like an acid, indiscriminately wanting to dissolve the black smoke's existence!
When the black wisp knew that it was no match against the white light, it shot back to Empress Carolina's heart as if it was fleeing!
What's more, as soon as the black smoke entered the Empress, her expression suddenly became filled with pain and her complexion became pale.
The rest could visibly see the contorting of Empress Carolina's face as she tried to endure the pain. When her suffering reached its peak, she weakly collapsed to the ground!
"This!" The investigators, especially Joab, Keren and the Farauld Father-Son duo almost could not stay still on their seats from the shock of the revelation.
There was actually a way to survive the curse! There was actually a person who had been able to resist it and not be damaged at all! That person was none other than their very own second queen!
What's more, what clearly happened on Empress Carolina was some type of a rebounding curse!
"Esteemed High Priest! You mean to say the protection that made Second Queen Tehila safe was actually because of the work of the Subject of the Oracle?" Joab, with his valiant brows looked at the High Priest with excitement and asked enthusiastically.
It was his first time to witness an oracle be fulfilled, much more to witness his or her strength! He felt so fortunate that he got to witness this situation in his life!
Rest of the investigators, aside from Eli, Leon and Kayden also showed the same level of excitement and hope.
"Eherm…" The High Priest was overwhelmed by the energy and agitation of the group. It seemed like showing them that there's hope for the battle against the curse was something that would really make them happy.
"Yes… and with the help of the Emperor, I was also able to obtain the results of the Empress's medical records at that time. The rebounding of the curse ruptured twenty percent of her mana receptors and caused her to be bedridden for an entire half year." He continued.
"No wonder!" The investigators were finally able to piece everything together.
The matter of the Empress suddenly collapsing inside the Temple and become ill for a long time was not a secret in the Capital and the Temple.
"The Subject of the Oracle is powerful!" Keren mumbled full of hope and admiration.
"Indeed!" The rest followed.
Everyone became more excited upon learning the effects of the rebound curses and started discussing how it would be more damaging should the curse be stronger than what they have seen.
"I get that you are excited, however, the problem is still there. The Subject of the Oracle was still one person and was not yet ready to take the fight head on. That is why whatever discoveries we have for this investigation would help a lot." The High Priest didn't mean to dampen their high spirits but he had to tell this to the group.
"Do not worry, High Priest! We will give our best to do our part!" Joab answered with a lively and resolute tone.
"We will do that as well too, Esteemed High Priest!" Nathan also added. While the rest expressed their agreement.
"Hmm!" The High Priest nodded and looked at Leon and Eli meaningfully.
He knew that it was the couple's first time knowing how powerful Eli's ability was against the curse. As such, he also wanted to let them know this as an encouragement.
"Err, High Priest, will we be able to meet the Subject of the Oracle?" Keren asked longingly. Her question also reflected the rest of the team.
"You will, soon. Especially you and Joab, who would be primarily assigned in training the Subject of the Oracle with certain skills. However, that would depend on how fast you bring progress to the investigations." The High Priest said, while stealing a glance at the young couple again.
The two understood. The High Priest's words were not only for Joab and Keren but also to them. The earlier they complete this matter, the more time they can prepare for themselves.
With a little encouragement from the news of the Oracle, the investigation team's morale was renewed and lifted. Evidently, this has also made them more productive for the next few days.
On the contrary, the gloom continued to loom over the Vesalas, Empress Carolina and First Prince Kazimir's place.
Especially First Prince Kazimir who immediately locked himself up in his palace, not wanting to see any of his family members, much more his mother and uncle!
He has been staying in his chambers ever since the incident of him losing favor happened, trashing everything in his room.
As of this moment, even the butler did not even dare to come near him as he had already sent tens of servants, who tried their best to serve him, to critical condition!
"Your Highness Princess Consort, we plead you to talk to His Highness. He did not even take a single sip of water until now…" The butler and the prince's aid knelt in pleading.
The Princess Consort, Kazimir's wife furrowed her brows in anxiousness. She was also afraid of her husband's outburst as she saw how gruesome the conditions of the servants that entered his room were.
She had no confidence that Kazimir would maintain his rational state of mind upon seeing her. However, as the madam of the house and as the princess consort she had to do this responsibility.
She rubbed her temples gloomily as she instructed, "Alright, I heard you. Summon his vice captains to assist me in persuading the First Prince."
She knows that the vice captains of the Amethyst Warlocks could protect her from Kazimir's violent tendencies.
They could also persuade him to think rationally before making any move. These two vice captains had so far contributed the most to her husband's achievements.
The two vice captains arrived shortly, they knelt in front of the Princess Consort and listened to her instructions submissively.
With that, the trio proceeded to Prince Kazimir's bedchambers.
Even standing outside his door, they could already feel the darkness looming inside the room. However, they had to give the First Prince a good talk.
The vice captains worked to forcefully open the door and check the situation inside the bedroom.
Prince Kazimir's bedchamber was so dark and gloomy.
The revolting stench of alcohol and cigar immediately assaulted the Princess Consort's nose, so much that she had the urge to step out of the room and vomit.
However, as the dignified consort, she had to do her duties. She stepped into the dark gloomy room and tried to locate Kazimir inside.
Crack clank, crash!
As they roamed around the area, they couldn't help but step on numerous debris scattered around the floor. The Princess Consort hastened her steps and moved towards the curtains to immediately light up the room.
Swoosh!
The dark gloomy room was immediately lightened up by the golden light of the dusk. Revealing Kazimir's soulless body on the corner, staring at the blank space like a creepy puppet.