"Yes, if what we heard is true, then she is also a revered individual who has come in direct contact with a god," Patriarch Rylan interrupted, shaking his head wearily.
"Since there is a 'Divine Apostle' here, I also thought there would be a high chance of a temple nearby, granting me the opportunity to come in direct contact with a divine being. But it seems that will not be possible anymore," he added, sighing for the umpteenth time.
Though he didn't know who Aerialia, the goddess of the hunting moon, was, since Iris had mentioned that the goddess was already dead, he understood there was no chance for him to contact her again.
Also, after realizing that the Prismerions had a 'Divine Apostle' and gaining a glimpse into their background, Patriarch Rylan finally understood why he had never heard about them until today. However, he still couldn't understand how they came in contact with the Village, managed to settle comfortably with each other, and how the Village had developed itself and built such large structures in such a short period, to this very extent.
Still, no matter how disappointed he was, he was sure of one thing: his decision to come here was right.
"Patriarch, but she didn't mention she was the only one. She also mentioned several others like her," Leona said.
Leona had initially dismissed the Prismerions as barely strong and not worth mentioning simply because they couldn't use the Vylkr energy.
However, after listening to Patriarch Rylan's explanation about what a 'Divine Apostle' was, she suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine when she thought about the kind of power the woman they had spoken to wielded. And recalling a few more individuals like her within these cities, Leona couldn't help but question whether this was truly the same place the Patriarch visited every year.
Patriarch Rylan furrowed his brows deeply, a frown etching as he recalled Iris mentioning those exact words. "Yes, you're right. Though if it were before, I would have believed it impossible for such a place to possess not only one 'Divine Apostle' but more than two. However, after what just occurred, I'm afraid I don't know what to believe anymore," he said, his shoulders slumping and his expression growing wearier by the moment.
Ronan was about to speak to discover why Patriarch Rylan was so anxious to see the goddess. However, before he could utter a word, the entire building suddenly trembled, and the resounding knock of a finger rasping against a door echoed through the air.
They all halted in their spots, wondering who would be making such a disturbance. They had only just settled into the building today and hadn't encountered anyone besides the key figures of the territory and a few warriors.
"I'll go and check who it is. Maybe it's one of the warriors," Leif suggested.
"I'll follow you," Lyndon chimed in.
Leif nodded in agreement to the prince's offer, and together, they left the room to find out who it was.
…....
Outside Patriarch Rylan's new mansion, the Village Chief and Stronghold Leaders Zogar and Seth waited patiently as they observed the figure of Leif darting back into the building.
Meanwhile, Leif stood with furrowed brows, his gaze fixed on the Village Chief and the others.
"Chief… Are you certain Captain Seig confessed to such a thing?" Leif asked hesitantly, his eyes fixed on the Village Chief.
The Village Chief nodded solemnly. "Yes. We interrogated the two attackers from earlier today, and they divulged everything, including the presence of a traitor among the gods' chosen. This traitor may have enabled Captain Seig and his men to locate the Four-eared elves, no matter how hard you attempted to evade them," he confirmed.
Upon hearing the Village Chief's response, Leif remained rooted to his spot, his doubts evaporating into thin air.
Ronan? Who would have thought that Ronan could be why Captain Seig and his lieutenant always seemed to find them, regardless of their efforts to evade capture?
"That scoundrel," Leif muttered through clenched teeth, his fists tightening in frustration. He redirected his attention to the Village Chief.
"Chief, please allow us to handle this matter ourselves. After the trouble this traitor has caused us, I assure you everyone will be eager to ensure he pays dearly for his actions," Leif said, his voice laced with anger.
The Village Chief regarded Leif briefly before nodding in understanding. "Alright, just ensure that whatever you do, I want him removed from this city. But before that, I need to speak with Patriarch Rylan privately about some matters," he responded.
He had no worries about entrusting Leif and the others with the task, as he had already intended to leave this issue to Patriarch Rylan, especially since it concerned the Four-Eared race. His primary concern was ensuring that Ronan no longer remained in the city, as someone with such behaviour was unwelcome.
Leif nodded appreciatively at the Village Chief before turning toward the door. At that moment, Patriarch Rylan emerged, accompanied by Isadora and Lyndon, with the rest of the gods' chosen following closely behind.
"Village Chief Brane, I didn't expect to see you here at this hour. I assume you have important news to share?" Patriarch Rylan said, focusing intently on the Village Chief's serious demeanour.
From the solemn atmosphere, he could sense that whatever the Village Chief had to say was significant.
Meanwhile, Leif's furious gaze immediately fixated on Ronan's figure.
Ronan noticed Leif's intense glare and felt a chill run down his spine, causing his body to tense. A sense of foreboding gripped his heart as he swallowed nervously, shifting his attention to the Village Chief.
"Patriarch Rylan, I am here to inform you that there is an intruder among you —a traitor responsible for aiding Captain Seig and his men in tracking your movements, no matter how hard you tried to evade them," the Village Chief said, his words echoing through the ears of Patriarch Rylan, Isadora, and the other gods' chosen, freezing them in place with shock.
.....
Author's Note: Would Orion have taken the same action?
