Within the sacred halls of God Ishgaar's temple, a figure of quiet devotion and wisdom emerged in the form of Priest Jivem Kaulsen.
He looked to be in his early 50s by mortal standards, bearing the mark of a life dedicated to divine service. His countenance was etched with lines of experience and spiritual insight.
Jivem's thick beard, adorned with subtle streaks of gray, flowed with a quiet dignity that mirrored the timeless wisdom he carried. Each strand seemed to tell a story, a testament to the years spent in contemplation and communion with the divine.
Clad in a priest robe of muted hues, Jivem moved with a measured grace through the temple's hallowed corridors. The fabric draped over him bore symbols of Ishgaar's dominion over loneliness, a visual representation of the god's teachings that the priest held close to his heart. The robe, worn with both humility and reverence, whispered tales of sacred rituals and solitary vigils.
Jivem's eyes, keen and perceptive, mirrored the deep wells of understanding he had gained through a lifetime of devotion. Whether guiding worshippers in silent prayer or offering solitary blessings to those seeking solace, the priest embodied the tranquil spirit of Ishgaar's teachings.
Jivem was the head of the Ishgaar's Temple in Brol. Usually, his days were spent in quiet contemplation, seeking communion with the divine in the secluded corners of the temple. Jivem's voice, when raised in prayer or ritual, carried a resonance that echoed through the sacred space, stirring the hearts of those who sought the god's presence.
Tonight's night was like usual. Except, Jivem had received an interesting message from Brol's city guard. Thus, he had let Eren enter Ishgaar's temple without any formalities usually observed.
In the soft glow of candlelight placed over the desk, Jivem Kaulsen was seen busy writing something in his journal. "Come in," he said before Akel could knock on the door.
"Archpriest Jivem, I have brought Eren Idril," Akel said and bowed in front of Jivem. After receiving a nod from the latter, Akel exited Jivem's office and let Eren have a word.
"Please come in," Jivem said to Eren before closing his journal. The things Eren had mentioned were too serious not to have his undivided attention.
'This guy… he is stronger than an average S-Ranker from Anfang,' Eren thought to himself as he approached Jivem's desk. He could feel the similar level of mana signatures emanating from the priest as any other Sage. Except, Jivem's mana signatures were more intense and complex at the same time.
Jivem wasn't a Ranker. He was an Arch Priest, a level of existence who could battle with multiple Sage Rankers of his generation. Jivem's Path to Power was closer to the Amazonians. The Amazonians called their S-Ranked-level male entities Valkyrie Guardians and their female entities Valkyrie Priestesses.
Eren had already met up with Valkyrie Priestesses and Valkyrie Guardians in Anfang besides Valeria and others who were Matriarch Priestesses. His interactions with the Amazonians back when he was in Anfang had prepared him to face someone like Jivem while maintaining his calm. Still, he felt as if the man sitting by the other side of the desk was as powerful as two Altair Argas combined.
If Eren was a bit surprised by Jivem's powerful yet calm aura, Jivem was taken aback by the presence emanated by Eren as well. He felt a cloud of invisible mist surrounding the man who had just taken a seat in front of her. Even his trained eyes couldn't see past the subtle veil the man had around himself at all times.
'This young man… he is not ordinary. But I just can't put my finger on what's so extraordinary about him,' the arch-priest thought before welcoming Eren with a light smile on his face.
'Something or someone is protecting him through a special divine blessing maybe? Is he a god? No. That can't be right. He is certainly connected to a divine being. Then again, I have heard from the city guard that he doesn't have a Menaka's Blessing on himself.
Odd. This brat is really odd.'
The Arch Priest quickly let go of his stray thoughts and decided to focus on the task at hand.
"Can I see the sword, young man?"
Jivam said while looking at the sword Eren had strapped to his waist. The latter nodded before placing the Hex artifact on Jivem's desk, allowing the latter to study the artifact.
"So Hildon has become one with perpetual solitude," Jivem mumbled and sighed. "May Ishgaar have mercy on his soul," he said while joining his hand in a prayer.
Tracing the runes etched over the blade and hilt with his fingers, the Archpriest looked at Eren before speaking in a somber tone. "I'd like to keep this sword here if you don't mind, young man. It is the temple's property in the absence of its owner," Jivem said calmly.
Eren wasn't here to claim ownership over Hildon's sword, to begin with. He had never even seen the man. So he nodded immediately, prompting Jivam to store it securely in his personal storage through Menaka's Blessing.
"Tell me everything you know," Jivem reclined into his chair and gave Eren his undivided attention. It was then that Eren started talking about his fictional encounter with Ishgaar's Templars in Brol forest near Kizamgaar's ruins. He then added some truth to his concocted story, giving it a touch of reality.
He portrayed himself as someone who had been caught in the brawl between Ishgaar's Templars and Helenbora coven while he was out exploring Kizamgaar's ruins. The memories he had obtained from his recent victims helped him a lot while weaving such a tragic tale for the Templars, which was nothing but bullshittery.
Before they crossed paths with Eren, Helenbora coven had finished off all of the Ishgaar's Templars they had encountered during the last few days. As a result, they had also been weakened and lost a significant number of witches and subordinates in their coven.
Eren had eradicated the coven as thoroughly as the latter dealt with Ishgaar's Templars. So there was nobody who could question the validity of his narration.
'Kekeke. I just love this world with no Historians in it. Made my job so much easier,' the butcher thought internally as he sold his bullshittery to the Archpriest.
