"I sense it too. Could it be that Elora was right? The Grimoire is Darkness has selected an Heir?"
"I don't know, but this aura... It's not complete... The Holy Water Spell has ruined most of this aura, so I can't be sure about it, but it's definitely nothing like I've ever sensed before. It's definitely not an ordinary Mage of Darkness. So it's quite possible that it's the person selected by the Grimoire of Darkness."
"I also have the same feeling. So it's definitely the heir of darkness. No wonder the museum was targeted. They were here for the Ancestral Staff of Darkness, and now they have it. The useless Academy couldn't protect one thing! We never should've let them hold the Ancestral Staff of Darkness!"
"It's because of them that the Dark Mages have the Ancestral Staff as well. This should increase their strength by multiple folds."
"That's certainly a concern, but what's more concerning is that they were able to pass through the barrier, and we didn't even sense it. That in itself is worth worrying about. If the Dark Mages can now enter the city without alerting us, doesn't that mean the city might have hundreds of them that we know nothing about?"
"This is a real headache, for sure. And at a time when we don't have a Holy Priest of Light. Fortunately, the Grimoire is starting to wake up. It won't be long now."
The five Head Priests discussed amongst themselves. Even though they weren't in the same factions and hated others, when it came to the Church, they were together.
"I really hope the Grimoire won't select a newbie like the Grimoire of Water did. We need someone experienced to get that strength at times like this."
"Agreed."
It didn't take the Head Priests long to confirm that Xinci was telling the truth. They waited for Elora, observing their surroundings. They also cast a spell around them so no one but themselves could hear what they were talking about.
"How are we going to deal with it for now?" The old man asked. "If we confirm that it's the work of a Dark Mage, Elora will ask to meet our Holy Priest. But if we lie and say that it wasn't the work of a Dark Mage, that would be bad as well since it's not something we can let pass. It concerns the world."
"Both the options are bad. I think we can only use a third option. Lie and tell that our Holy Priest isn't in the city and that he left last week for something important."
"What if they asked where he went?"
"Just tell them he went to the Lost City to explore as well. Isn't that great?" The dark-haired man smirked. "The Holy Priestesses of Water died because of that place. We can say he went there to find out the secret of that place. That can give us a small window of time which we can stretch for as long as we live."
"Agreed. We have been lying about his existence all this while to maintain the dignity of our Church. Why not lie a little more?"
All the head Priests seemed to be on the same track for now. They decided what they were going to say.
"Alright, we will do that. Now enough discussions. They are coming."
In the distance, they noticed Elora returning with the others.
Elora looked around, seemingly trying to find someone.
"Is your Church Head not here?" she asked, after failing to find.
Even though she had never seen the new Head of the Church of Light, she was sure that it was none of them since she couldn't feel it.
The old man stepped forward. "He won't be able to come."
He told the excuse that they had just decided about how the Head of the Church of Light wasn't in the city anymore.
Hearing their answer, Xinci looked at them weirdly. Didn't they tell her that the Holy Priest of Light was in the Church, and they just didn't want to disturb him? Were they lying now, or did they lie to her? Whatever the case may be, they definitely lied to one.
'As expected, the ones who act like the gatekeeper of purity are the ones who sin the most.' She didn't express her thoughts out loud, keeping them to herself.
Elora was also taken aback, confused as to how he could go to the Lost City of Gods. The only way to even find that city was by using the map that she possessed. She had spent so much money to buy it. Did the Head of the Church of Light also manage to find a map somewhere?
It could definitely be possible since the map that was used by the Holy Priestesses of Water before her was missing. It could've been possible that someone found the map and sold it to the Church of Light.
"That's quite unfortunate."
She also wanted to go to the Lost City, but now that she was facing this headache, she couldn't leave as that would be like leaving the Church of Water on its own to fend off against the Mages of Darkness.
First, she needed to find out how the Mages of Darkness were able to enter the city. But after that, she didn't know what she could do. Locating that person was going to be impossible at this point.
"If only I knew where they would go next..."
"Wait... Lambard!" Elora exclaimed out loud.
The Mages of Darkness who killed her Head Priestesses were dealing with Lambard. He addressed them as sellers who found the artifact and sold it to him!
"I think I know where we will find our Dark Mages!"
"Where?" The old man asked. "And how do you know?!"
"If the Church of Darkness is trying to make a return, not only will they need lots of money but also many other resources as well. And who deals in illegal resources for both sides? Lambard! He is the only one who still deals with Dark Mages as well!" Elora exclaimed.
"The Dark Mages were definitely here for the Ancestral Staff of Darkness, but they stole all the other Artifacts as well, many of which would be useless for them. What would they do with them?" she asked. She was surprised why she didn't think of it before!
"They will sell it to Lambard in exchange for something they need!" The old man realized what she was trying to imply, and it made perfect sense. They had a place to start their search with.
