Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 186 Training
From the outside, the only special thing about this bookmark is the image of Russell on it.

A bookmark that seems to be related to Russell...

Claire clearly remembered that at the previous party, the "Hanged Man" had manifested to the Fool in a diary entry by Roselle, which mentioned the bookmark.

The diary records that Russell hid the second Blasphemy Card he made in a bookmark.

Russell had previously revealed in his diary that the twenty-two blasphemous cards each concealed twenty-two paths to God.

He deliberately scattered these blasphemous cards to various places. If a certain major event he planned failed, he wanted to use these "blasphemous cards" to destroy the order that the church, certain hidden organizations and even the gods wanted to maintain!
And after his plan fails, this set of blasphemous cards will be his children's greatest support!

The blasphemous card containing the secrets of God is indeed a great support.

But more than one hundred and seventy years have passed since Roselle fell in the White Maple Palace. During these years, there have been no earth-shaking changes in the number of righteous gods or the territories between secular kingdoms.

This current situation does not seem to be consistent with the resentful words in Russell's diary.

It's possible that the blasphemous cards scattered around the place haven't been discovered by the world, or it's possible that these blasphemous cards have fallen into the hands of those people that Russell wanted to avoid.

Of course, it is also possible that more than 170 years is not enough for the lucky ones holding the Blasphemy Card to have the strength to impact the current world order. After all, even the creator of the Blasphemy Card, Emperor Roselle, was murdered in his own palace.

"But the value contained in a Blasphemy Card is still immeasurable." Claire thought calmly, "Is there really a Blasphemy Card hidden in this bookmark? I don't know which one it is..."

Claire longed to be a knower or a secret peeper.

Other sources of blasphemy cards can also enhance Claire's understanding of the corresponding sequence, allowing her to fully unleash the power of "Appraiser" and "Mechanical Expert".

As long as it was a card of blasphemy, Claire would receive a huge boost in both her vision and strength.

Resist the urge to personally reach the gray fog world and touch this bookmark.

Claire shifted her gaze from the bookmark to examine the other things The Fool had placed there.

After all, it is only a guess that this bookmark is the Card of Blasphemy. Who knows, maybe it is a trap set by the Fool?
Let's wait and see if this bookmark reveals anything strange later...

Claire surveyed the entire gray foggy space she could see, but found nothing else worth noting. The gray foggy space's increasingly strong repulsion made her mentally exhausted and weak. After persisting for a while, Claire withdrew her gaze from this place.

This incident didn't delay Claire for long. After coming to her senses, she began to look for the way to the Tranquility Church. Arianna didn't mention the way to the Holy See before she disappeared, but the gravel scattered on the snow like tiny starlight showed Claire a way.

Following the instructions, Claire walked along the winding mountain road and arrived at a half-open stone door of the Tranquil Church. Claire noticed that there was someone inside the stone door.

"Blonde hair, crimson eyes, is that Ms. Galadilla?"

A woman with white hair and black eyes was waiting in the corridor inside the stone gate. When she saw Claire, who was wearing a slightly thin outfit, she came forward and asked. The woman's voice was low and cold, like a piece of ice that would never melt.

"Siga?" Claire exclaimed in surprise as she looked at the beautiful woman in dark clerical robes.

The woman who appeared before her was actually her teammate from Tingen, Xiga Teon!

Xiga's calm temperament, which had not been seen for a long time, had changed a little, even becoming a little gloomy.

Claire knew the reason without even thinking...

Xijia's slightly darkened eyes wrinkled slightly, and he looked at Claire in confusion: "How do you know my name?"

Claire took out her team badge to prove her identity and said, "I participated in the investigation of the Tingen Battle and have a certain understanding of your Tingen team. Ms. Xijia, are you waiting for me?"

"Yes." After Claire walked in, Xijia stepped forward and closed the heavy stone door. Her voice became even deeper and colder. The words "Battle of Tingen" brought back painful memories for her.

But Xijia still managed to explain responsibly: "Archbishop Cecilis asked me to wait here, saying that a 'Nightmare' who had temporarily joined the special training would arrive here."

"So that's how it is. It was actually arranged by an archbishop." Sensing Xijia's suppressed grief, Claire deliberately mentioned two names, hoping to improve Xijia's mood.

"When I was in Backlund, I worked with your former captain, Dunn, and a team member named Leonard Mitchell. They were both very trustworthy people."

"Are you from Backlund? Are Captain Dunn and that Leonard guy okay?" Xiga's expression softened. She looked at Claire with a hint of surprise, a rare smile on her lips.

"They're all fine." Claire smiled and said, "Ms. Xiga, have you been promoted to 'Nightmare'?"

Xijia led Claire around the inner corridor and walked deeper into the church. "Yes, I was invited to the temple for training. I thought I could catch up with Captain Dunn and Leonard, but I didn't expect them to be sent to Backlund for a mission."

The Tingen team's "acting method" was revealed, and it was reasonable for the experienced Xijia to be promoted. Claire praised: "The Tingen team is full of talents."

Xijia's expression darkened upon hearing this. "Our Tingen team has players who are much better than me, and younger. They should have a brighter future... The progress I've made today is simply due to their legacy."

Claire sighed slightly.

The grief and hatred in the hearts of the Tingen team members could not be dispelled by a few words, unless she and Klein stood before them alive...

After a moment of silence, Claire said, "Siga, can I call you that directly?"

"Of course." Xijia led the way and said, "Maybe after this special training, we can still work together."

Claire continued the conversation, "Siga, are you planning to join the Red Gloves?"

Xijia bit his lip and said in a low voice, "I haven't really thought about this yet. The training organized by the Sanctuary is for both Red Glove reserves and candidates for Nighthawk captains. I plan to become a Red Glove and follow in Captain Dunn's footsteps, but I'm also worried... worried that I'll fall behind again."

Holding back... Xiga is still upset about not being able to participate in the Battle of Tingen.

But enemies of the level of the descendants of the evil god are beyond the capabilities of the Nighthawks.

What's more, there is an old shady guy lurking in the dark.

Seeing Xijia's profile, which showed a loss of confidence, Claire suddenly said, "Dunne's team is extremely short of people. You might not believe that their Red Gloves team only has two people."

"A Red Gloves team with only two people?" Xijia looked at Claire in surprise. Seeing that Claire didn't look like she was joking, he couldn't help but chuckle. "No way... I've been training here for a while, and I've heard that all the Red Gloves teams are short of people... but I've never heard of a team with only two people. Captain Dunn and the others, aren't they being marginalized?"

Xiga's words were clearly meant to be sarcastic.

"How could that be?" Claire sighed, "It's just that Backlund is so short of people." "Is that so...it seems they can't do without me?" Xijia saw Claire's intention to comfort her and smiled slightly. "Then after this special training is over, Galadria, do you want to join Captain Dunn and his team with me? I can guarantee that Dunn is a trustworthy captain. And Leonard, although he looks casual, he is actually a reliable guy."

Claire looked regretful and said, "I actually have a team, but for various reasons, I missed the training before. This can be considered as a make-up lesson."

Hearing Claire say this, Xijia was surprised and said, "No wonder you said you worked with Captain Dunn and the others. Galadilla, you're actually an active Red Glove member?! No wonder you came to the temple differently from us."

"Is it different?" Claire asked.

Xijia nodded and said, "We were all brought here by the Commissioner. It's the first time I've seen someone like you, Galadilla, walking down that path alone."

During the conversation, the two passed a side hall where several people dressed similarly to Xijia were gathered together chatting. Someone greeted Xijia, and Xijia asked them, "Has Grand Master Sersilis finished her class?"

A woman with pale blue eyes glanced at Claire curiously and replied to Xijia, "Yes, Archbishop Cecilis asked us to tell you that she is waiting for you in the side hall of the parish."

"Thank you, Gray."

After thanking her, Xijia took Claire to the parish wing and introduced:
"Those people just now are also participating in this training. The woman who spoke is called Gray, and she is a candidate for captain of the Nighthawks."

"The parish area includes the lecture hall, activity room, reception room, lounge, and a resting hall for bishops. It is all on the first floor of the church and is the main activity area for us trainees."

"Archbishop Cecilis is one of the thirteen archbishops of the church. He is in charge of this round of training and often comes to teach us in person. He is a very kind archbishop."

As they were talking, the two came to the side hall where the bishops rested. The door of the side hall was open. Inside, a lady wearing glasses and with an elegant figure was standing in front of the dark holy emblem, looking up, wondering what she was thinking.

"Archbishop Cecilis." Xiga led Claire forward.

The woman turned around and looked to be in her forties, but it was difficult to tell her true age, especially for a woman of mid-to-high sequence. To the level of the Archbishop, she must be at least Sequence 5, or even a demigod who had crossed the qualitative transformation level.

Archbishop Cecilis has a calming temperament and is as amiable as Xijia described:
"Thank you for your hard work, Xijia. I'm sorry for wasting your class time. Please take this notebook of mine and study it. Just return it to me when I teach the day after tomorrow."

Xijia took the archbishop's notes with great surprise, nodded to Claire, and tactfully left the parish wing.

After Xijia walked away, the archbishop cast his gaze on Claire:
"Galadia, I know that Her Highness Arianna specially arranged for you."

"Her Highness Arianna has temporarily added your name to the list for this round of training, stating that you accidentally ingested a 'Requiem Master' trait and need to undergo the corresponding training and complete the final 'Requiem Master' trial."

"Although your situation is special, I will not lower any assessment standards for you. To do so would be irresponsible to you."

"This trial is the most difficult task in this round of training. You must be mentally prepared."

Apparently, Archbishop Cecilis not only has a kind side, but also a strict side. No wonder he is in charge of the training of the temple.

After hearing what Archbishop Cecilis said, Claire understood Her Highness Arianna's arrangement, which was for her to use the nightmare doll to disguise herself as a "requiem master" and complete the corresponding trial.

Seeing that Claire showed no dissatisfaction or fear, Archbishop Cecilis smiled gently and said:

"But don't put too much pressure on yourself, and don't rush for success. Even if you fail this round of trials, you can still continue to participate in the next round of training until you pass."

"You must remember that your goal is to master the Requiem Master's abilities. Don't be impatient, or you might lose control at any moment. I will also systematically and completely teach and demonstrate to you all the Requiem Master's experiences."

Being familiar with and proficient in the abilities of the Requiem Master, Claire will be more confident in integrating the Requiem Master's characteristics into the Nightmare Doll!
Her Highness Arianna has thought of everything carefully.

Claire expressed her sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Archbishop Cecilis."

After informing Claire of the most important matters, just when she thought it was time to leave, she was stopped by Archbishop Cecilis.

Next, Archbishop Cecilis arranged food and lodging for Claire and explained the upcoming course schedule.

Claire had never expected that even the trivial matters were handled personally by the archbishop.

Moreover, looking at the way Archbishop Sersilis arranged the journey with great skill and the indifferent expressions of other people on the road - Archbishop Sersilis's behavior seemed to be normal.

"It seems that you don't understand my behavior either?" In the room arranged for Claire, Archbishop Cecilis raised her mirror frame and looked at Claire with a smile.

Claire replied, "I just think it's hard for Archbishop Cecilis to do this."

Archbishop Cecilis smiled gently as she looked back at the past.

"Before becoming a Nighthawk, I was a night school teacher. I unexpectedly became a Sleepless One, and even more unexpectedly, I was promoted all the way... Actually, compared to the title of Archbishop, I prefer you to call me 'Teacher'."

The life experiences of each archbishop could be called legendary. Claire had seen the name "Sesilis" in church texts, and she was a figure who lived a hundred years ago.

The character's early experiences were consistent with the person in front of him, so it seemed to be him without a doubt.

In other words, the person in front of me is most likely a demigod...

"Alright, you can relax now. This morning is your last break. Training will begin after lunch. Since you're a sleepless person, you won't miss out on evening training. Galadilla, be prepared."

I only have one morning to rest...

But Claire was used to being busy.

They first went to the parish cafeteria to fill their stomachs. Claire's astonishing appetite shocked the staff working in the cafeteria and some of the trainees who came to eat breakfast with her.

It was no wonder Claire had such a big appetite. She hadn't eaten in at least a day and a night, and she had just been promoted... If it weren't for her Beyonder physique and strong will, she would have fainted from hunger by now.

After eating and drinking her fill, Claire returned to her room, showered, and planned to catch up on some sleep. She hadn't slept a wink this week, but just then, she sensed unusual movements coming from the gray fog world.

Is "The Fool" online?

Claire perked up and saw The Fool sitting at the head of the table. He picked up the bookmark with Emperor Roselle's image on it from the long bronze table.

"It's not easy to get you..."

The Fool's low sigh echoed softly in the ancient and empty hall.

(End of this chapter)