Ogre did not mind the wait that followed.
He was not someone who rushed for quick success, but this wait was unexpectedly long.
“It is never destiny that chooses us, nor is it we who choose destiny. Rather, it is a mutual choice between you and me... We choose ourselves. In the destiny woven by truth, you and I are both but threads.”
—Prumen, the God of Truth.
During this long wait, Ogre began to scan the divine words of truth carved into the walls.
Unlike the Father-like, loving heart of the God of Dawn, the words of the God of Truth read more like those of an older, wiser friend offering guidance.
Ogre walked over to the wall and slowly traced the deep-set marks left by the carved divine words, falling into deep thought, ‘Why hasn't the Church of Truth, which controls the Dandelion Daily, spread its teachings as widely as the faith of the God of Dawn?’
This was a strange phenomenon, but one that very few people would ever think about.
Creak—
With the sound of the clock tower's door being pushed open, Ogre took his hand off the wall.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Maqi. Teacher says he can see you now,” Karen said, slowly tracing her way along the wall to Ogre's side.
‘This wait is certainly a test of patience...’
Ogre estimated that he had waited outside for at least half a quarter-hour, having no idea what was happening inside.
“Sister Karen, I'm over here,” Ogre said, raising his arm and proactively reaching out to Karen.
No matter what, as long as he could see the man, it was fine.
“Don't be afraid,” Karen comforted him.
“Mhm.”
Guided by Karen, Ogre finally stepped into that mysterious room.
‘There are actually twists and turns? Did they build a labyrinth inside this tower?’
Behind the door was yet another door.
Only after winding through numerous twists and turns did Ogre finally reach his destination.
‘I've arrived...’
The room was very simply furnished—apart from a few tables and stools, there were only bookshelves and books.
With the aid of his enhanced vision, Ogre quickly scanned the cramped room, finally laying eyes on the mysterious Cleric he had waited so long for—Abel.
Yet, at this moment, Ogre felt not a single shred of joy.
Because his gaze had locked with that of the room's master!
The instant their eyes met, Ogre was completely paralyzed, his entire body stiffening. On this white-robed figure, bound in shackles and thorns, Ogre felt a genuine, palpable threat of death!
“Teacher,” Karen said, releasing Ogre's hand and taking a respectful step back.
“Wait outside the door, Karen. I have something to say to this child.” Abel, the white-robed man, put down the book in his hands. His lips slowly parted as he spoke, his voice heavy with weakness and exhaustion.
‘What a powerful aura!’
Ogre had never imagined that such contradictory qualities—weakness and power, holiness and eerie strangeness—could coexist so perfectly in a single person.
‘He is clearly so weak, so how is he still this strong? Just a simple exchange of glances was enough to freeze me in place... It's me, my body is feeling instinctual terror!’
This was the first time Ogre had ever felt crushed on a fundamental, existential level. Even though his mind was highly active, his body was completely out of his control, practically screaming at him to submit...
To submit and become food!
Only now did Ogre realize his oversight—he probably shouldn't have opened his eyes!
How could a vampire, a creature that lived in darkness, possibly lack night vision?
“Yes, Teacher,” Karen said. She picked up her basket from the floor with her eyes closed, then slowly backed out of the room along the wall.
With Karen's departure, the crude and cramped room fell into an instant silence.
A moment later, the white-robed man spoke, breaking the silence.
He dragged his shackles, slowly walking over to Ogre. “Little guy, who sent you to find me?”
Only now did Ogre feel the tension release from his body as he regained his ability to move.
‘His aura... Just releasing and withdrawing his aura was enough to pin me down completely... Just how strong is he?!’
At this point, Ogre was completely drenched in sweat.
Even the makeup on his face had become smudged and ruined.
“It was... Teacher Yade.”
Immediately, Ogre reached into his pocket—the black bead left behind by Fula was resting right there.
But very quickly, he let go of it...
He no longer had any confidence in the power Fula had left behind.
“Yade...” The white-robed man fell into deep thought.
Only after a long while did he slowly drag his shackles back to the wooden stool he had been sitting on earlier.
“It could only be him...” Having sat back down, the white-robed man pointed to a nearby wooden stool and spoke in a gentle, soft voice. “Sit, child. Let us take our time to talk.”
Clearly, he had noticed long ago that Ogre's eyes were different.
“Mhm...”
Ogre wiped his face with his sleeve, then chose to obey the white-robed man's words, sitting on the nearby stool.
“Did Yade have anything he wanted to say to me?” the white-robed man asked softly, reaching over to pull a new book from the bookshelf.
If one could look past his corpse-pale skin and his attire, his mannerisms indeed shared about a seventy percent resemblance to Yade's.
Only, he was slightly more warm and approachable.
“No... He only said that once I came here, you would teach me the Path of Mind-Imaging,” Ogre spoke truthfully.
He did not believe he could lie to the vampire standing before him.
“Are you the successor Yade chose for me?” A trace of peculiarity crossed the white-robed man's face.
“Yes, I want to become your new student,” Ogre said, fidgeting slightly.
Even though the other party had already retracted his aura, why did he still instinctively want to obey?
Was he really just a Senior Professional who had lost his Holy Light?
“Child, what did you come here for?” Abel, the white-robed man, flipped open the newly retrieved book, asking without turning his head.
This casual demeanor couldn't help but make Ogre wonder.
Had this man left him waiting outside for so long simply because he was busy reading?
“Power... I came for power,” Ogre answered after a brief hesitation.
“Power?” Abel, the white-robed man, turned a page with his pale finger, his expression unchanging. “A very common answer. And why do you need power?”
Without any hesitation, Ogre said, “Vengeance.”
Having received his answer, Abel paused his reading and turned his gaze back to Ogre's smudged face.
“Then, did Yade ever tell you... that I am very hungry?” Abel revealed his fangs.
In an instant, that terrifyingly oppressive aura crashed down upon Ogre once more.
This unreserved release of pressure not only froze Ogre's body but also momentarily shattered his mind.
Gasp—!
Only after a sharp, instinctual gasp did Ogre's consciousness return to his trembling body.
By now, Abel had already arrived right in front of him.
And opened his mouth!
‘I'm going to die here!’ At this moment, only a single thought echoed in Ogre's mind.
Once again, Ogre felt the shadow of death loom over him—
Yet his body actually leaned forward of its own accord, exposing his fair, pale neck!
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