873 Secret Mission
In the meantime, as Vale was woken up by Denise in the Dragon Chamber, far to the west of the continent, the Church of the Divine Sorcerer was preparing for a grand ceremony.
The majestic cathedral, with its towering spikes and intricate stained glass windows, was filled with people, both Arcanists and those who were not.
Currently, the faithful members of the Church have gathered from all corners of the land to witness the Blessing of the 50 new High Sorcerers of the Church.
The current Pontiff, a venerable figure draped in brilliant robes adorned with Oardic symbols, stood at the altar.
His features could not be seen, but his eyes were glowing with magic. It was a mysterious appearance, and for most of them, this was their first time seeing the Pontiff in person. All of them were feeling blessed even just by the sight of him.
Cling~
A chime of a bell was heard as everyone was filled with anticipation.
The ceremony was an important occasion, marking the ascension of these fifty sorcerers to a higher echelon of power and responsibility.
Among the new High Sorcerers was Claud, the son of the famous Illustrious Liquidator of the Mystic Arts Faction, Clyde.
Clyde was a legendary figure with the Mystic Arts Faction Claud's heart pounded with a mix of excitement and pride. He had trained rigorously for this day, and now he stood on the cusp of greatness.
"Father... This is for you." Claud muttered to himself as Clyde had disappeared during the Abyss Invasion after fighting against three Demon Saints.
At that time, they only found Clyde's favorite red frock coat and pieces of tattered red pants in the battle scene. Clyde had probably been eaten by a Demon Saint or was completely eradicated to the point that almost nothing was left.
Nonetheless, the ceremony continued. The grand hall was illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted candles, as everyone waited for the event to start.
Not long after, the congregation watched in silence as the Pontiff raised his hands, signaling the beginning of the ritual.
"Claud, son of Clyde, you carry the legacy of the past Archbishop," the Pontiff said softly. "Your path will be challenging, but I have faith that you will rise to the occasion. May your journey be guided by the light of the Divine Sorcerer."
Claud bowed deeply, his heart swelling with pride as the Pontiff actually remembered that his father had also served the Church before.
"Thank you, Pontiff. I will honor this Blessing and serve the Church with all my strength."
The ceremony concluded with a final blessing, and the congregation erupted in applause.
The new High Sorcerers were now officially recognized, their status elevated, but their responsibilities had also increased.
As the crowd dispersed, the 50 new High Sorcerers and a few other officials of the Church remained.
As for the Pontiff, he had already returned to his chamber, leaving the Archbishop to handle the rest.
Archbishop Hans surveyed the group; his gaze was sharp, and he was inspecting each of them.
"Good... All of you had gotten stronger... Some of you even gained twenty to thirty Spirit Strands... As for the Power Strands, it's fine even if the increase didn't reach ten. You can check your strands later with the prepared Spirit Converging Crystals..." The Archbishop said before he paused for a moment.
Seeing that everyone was listening, he continued.
"High Sorcerers... You have been blessed and elevated to your new positions. With this honor comes great responsibility. Your first mission is of utmost importance and must be carried out with the utmost secrecy."
The sorcerers listened intently.
Claud stood among them, waiting for the instruction. Everyone was expecting to receive a mission, so they were all filled with anticipation.
"The Church of the Fortune Goddess has been protecting Psychic Arts Practitioners or Mind Controllers," Archbishop Hans continued. "These individuals pose a significant threat to our order and the stability of the land. Your mission is to eliminate them. This task must be executed discreetly and efficiently. The Church of the Divine Sorcerer cannot be implicated in these actions."