It was the first time that Lucian experienced something so intense since he arrived in that world. That is, he was constantly having nightmares about the death of the eighth prince, as if it were a warning that he was not yet free from his fate. However, Lucian had a nosebleed from remembering a point in the story.
An important event.
This did not go out of his head even when Lucian arrived in the temple the next day to begin the ritual of purification that precedes his marriage. While a priest guided him and Magnus through the silent, clear corridors of the temple, Lucian's mind wandered in memory of the kidnapping at the hunting festival.
That festival usually took place in the fall, since the prey hunted by the participants guaranteed food in the winter. But because of the war on the border against the kingdom of Geledel, the Emperor had to change the date of the festival to the middle of winter. In the original, Magnus created a plan to disrupt the main couple, and ended up being targeted by the real villain of the story who wants to eliminate him because of his support for Cadec.
However, Lucian had changed many things in history. This made him wonder: would the villain try to do something to Magnus during the hunting festival?
"We will arrange two priests to accompany you during the retreat" The priest explained so quietly, that awakened Lucian from his thoughts "Please change clothes and the priests will take you to their respective meditation spaces."
"Hm... they're already separating us."
"If the goal is purification, staying with you all the time does not guarantee the salvation of my poor soul" Lucian pinned with a lazy smile.
The Grand Duke only snorted and looked at him by the corner of his eyes.
"I'll check on you at night. Don't hide anything from me, you little rat."
Lucian smiled fondly at the little bit of worry that Magnus tried to hide behind his words. Since the night before the omega was being protective with him, wondering if he was okay or just touching his forehead to gauge his temperature. Remembering the way he was embraced when had that memory about the original plot, Lucian did not blame Magnus.
However, it was surprising to see Magnus so worried.
"Haa... now I understand why they always put drama in the stories. This kind of expression is always nice to see."
"What are you talking about?" questioned Magnus raising his eyebrow with suspicion.
Lucian laughed low and just kissed the omega's forehead.
"See you later, behave."
"Tsk, do I look like a child by chance?" Growled the Grand Duke crossing his arms, hiding shame when he turned his face.
Lucian laughed with himself before going to the other room where he would change clothes. It was fun to think that a little drama would be able to deliver new expressions on Magnus Grimwood's funny face. Maybe Lucian should take advantage of this kind of situation in the future just to provoke him a little.
However, now he needed to focus on something else: the final steps for his marriage. The room he entered was ordinary with few furniture, a change of clothes was impeccably folded over the bed, probably separate for the prince. Undressing his heavy robes full of accessories and wearing the white tunic with the gray pants, Lucian tied the long blond hair and looked at himself in the mirror. Felt more comfortable wearing those robes and not the clothes of a prince.
Well, now was not the time for him to reflect on clothes, Lucian was anxious to know how that said ritual would be. I mean, he was about to experience something that wasn't even mentioned in the original. It was such a rare and exciting event!
"Here we go."
Leaving the room, he came across a tall guy with his back to him. His silhouette was not strange... Hearing the noise of the door, the guy in white robes turned and Lucian recognized him immediately.
"Oh! You're that guy... from the other day, that tough guy."
"Skyler, Your Highness. And I thought you'd remembered my name" He smiled as he crossed his arms.
Definitely he did not act like the other priests of that temple.
"Haha, forgive me. I haven't had a good memory lately. Are you responsible for helping me?"
Skyler opened a playful smile and nodded.
"Of course, I am a caring soul who wishes to bless Your Highness. You will need it, since you intend to marry the Grand Duke."
Lucian held the laughter. Honestly he was starting to enjoy seeing the temple and Magnus pinning himself like children.
"So, what do we do now?"
"I will take you to a specific prayer room where you can say your prayers. I hope you have memorized the poem that the High Priest sent you."
"Yes, I have had my time decorating those prayers." Lucian replied disguising the displeased grimace with an innocent smile.
He certainly took a long time decorating the front and back pages that were delivered to him.
Lucian followed Skyer through the corridors of the temple, making the same way to reach the staircase that would lead to the High Priest's office. However, Skyler went under the stairs, opening a door that led to another long and dark corridor.
It was strange to follow such a path, yet Lucian did not feel insecure. The prince kept his guard high, just in case, while watching Skyler's broad back. That is, the little encounter they had when they met did not provide much information, only that Lucian felt no hostility coming from him.
A character that Lucian did not know.
The long corridor gave access to a wide chamber that left Lucian surprised. There were bookshelves, study tables and some pillars that seemed to safely store items and works of art. It didn't seem to be an appropriate environment for a person to pray, in fact Lucian felt that he shouldn't be there.
"Wow... are you sure it's this way?"
"Absolute" Skyler smiled looking over his shoulder "Considering that you are royalty, and that you suffered an attack when you left that day, we made the decision to create a safe space for you."
Damn, it seems that everyone was aware of your attack. It made sense for someone from the temple to know, since the attack took place in its vicinity, and the Emperor must have commented on the matter with the High Priest. However, Lucian was slightly embarrassed to have the temple rearranged.
"I am grateful that you think of it only because of me."
"I am grateful. While His Highness prays, I can escape my duties and take a good nap."
"Hahaha, are you the kind that runs away from duty?"
"Just like the Grimwood run from us."
Lucian laughed low and passed by a display that caught his attention. The glass box exposed what appeared to be a crystal ball, something divinatory that a witch would use. However, the sphere was attached to a stone sculpture of a female figure sitting in a lunar eclipse, with swaying cloths around it. She held bent over the sphere as if looking deeply into it.
Taking steps towards the piece of art, Lucian was surprised. There was nothing special in that work, yet his attention seemed naturally attracted by it.
"Ah, did you see?" Skyler stood by your side and smiled "This is the Goddess Kronosis."
"It's a beautiful sculpture, indeed. But what is this sphere?"
Skyler crossed his arms over his chest and slightly tilted his head as he thought.
"Hm... if I'm not mistaken the material of this sphere has never been identified, but its history is well known. Many decades before the temple was built, a priest on pilgrimage found this sphere, and upon touching it he saw the goddess. Since then she has guided him to erect the temple and become the first High Priest. Years later, this High Priest asked a sculptor to make the image of the Goddess to protect that sphere.
It was in moments like those that Lucian was bewildered with all the detail that a story did not tell. There was a world behind the finite lines and poetic words, which a reader did not know. In his case, he came across a story that sounded so real that it gave him chills.
Leaning towards the sphere, Lucian was bewitched.
"So it is a relic of the temple."
"That's right. After the first High Priest died, few people were able to touch the sphere. Those who did were declared Saints. But I think it's been almost a century since we have had a Saint."
Of course, if there was temple in the story then there would be a character to play the role of savior of the homeland. The Saints were characters who always had a unique gift that brought peace to the people, and was worshipped for it. As if it were hope through the chaos of the world.
However, the Empire of Roveaven was not in any danger. Not even within the original story happened anything that required the intervention of a Saint. At least as far as Lucian could remember.
"Hm... interesting. What do people feel when they touch the sphere?"
"Ancient diaries say that they could see the Goddess, she shows what is necessary for that time. I do not know for sure."
"Wow, you really know a lot."
Skyler opened a lazy smile to the compliment, seeming flattered by the compliment.
"It's not every day that I have lucky to get away from my duties, Your Highness."
"Ha, I understand that well" Lucian murmured as he remembered when Cassander dragged him to decorate the prayers of the temple "But it is interesting it has this bluish color."
"Blue?" Skyler looked at him curious "Where?"
"Inside the sphere, don't you see?"
"No, it was always gray."
"Don't mess with me, it's clearly light blue..."
"No, it's gray."
Frowning, the prince blinked a few times and even scratched his eyes, but he continued to see the blue color inside the sphere. It was like a bright blue mist and mysterious hiding a secret. Lucian even thought the priest was playing with him, but Skyler looked at him with some seriousness.
"What is it?"
"I can't get rid of the feeling that I know you from somewhere, and that there is something coming inside of you" Skyler approached Lucian's face and looked him directly in the eyes, "as if you did not belong to this reality."