The forest is full of trees, but walking through it with boots feels like Jenkins is walking on a flat road. He hugged his cat, creating the illusion that the forest was giving him kindness.
"When did I become so narcissistic?"
Although there were still rumbling explosions in the distance, and the ground under my feet would vibrate a few times from time to time, my heart gradually returned to peace.
The destination is under the towering giant tree. At this time, there are only a group of immature children wearing uniform white robes. There are only people from the Church of the Sages here, and these children are the choir.
The grandness of the baptism was somewhat beyond Jenkins' expectations. He stopped hesitantly and looked at the branches and vines hanging down naturally in front of the thick brown tree trunk, and the ground was lush green grass.
Coincidentally, sunlight can penetrate the canopy, illuminating a small circular area under the giant tree. There is a pool of water, the crystal water reflects the sunlight.
"Do I need a change of clothes?"
He whispered to the professor in the crowd.
"No, you don't want to wear clothes for a while."
"Um?"
Before Jenkins could ask any more questions, the Keeper of Secrets, Mr. Smith, came out.
"Everyone!"
He shouted at the crowd: "Please be quiet, our time is limited. You will definitely remember this day in the future. It will be our honor to baptize Mr. Williams. If you can become a real Keepers of secrets will know how important the meaning of today is. Please take your seats now, the ceremony is about to begin, gentlemen, move faster!"
After speaking, he flicked his wrist back, and the invisible shock wave leveled the grass and the outstretched branches, forming a flat road leading to the pool under the giant tree.
The children lined up on both sides of the road, humming softly as the keeper moved.
"Miss Bevanna was supposed to host here, but you know the current situation."
He hurriedly explained in a low voice, while everyone in the priesthood behind him, with pious expressions, came to the pool with some materials and put them into the water.
"Really do it now? I mean, maybe we can wait until it's over."
"It has to be now, it's based on your birthday."
He involuntarily pushed Jenkins to the entrance of the road, while the busy priests stood neatly behind the choir, and the professor in the crowd winked at Jenkins.
Chocolate consciously jumped out of Jenkins' arms, and then ran to a tree beside him. Only the secret keeper stood alone by the pool, raising his hands, and the holy singing immediately rose.
"today… "
He had just opened his mouth when a loud noise came from the back of the valley, but the secret keeper raised his head in horror instead of looking there.
In the sky, a small gap appeared in the sun, and it gradually expanded.
"eclipse?"
Jenkins looks up too, which is a rare astronomical…
"No, a solar eclipse is absolutely impossible today!"
Due to the existence of [Starry Sky and Equilibrium Church] and [Sun and Justice] church, people in this era have extremely accurate predictions about celestial phenomena. And Jenkins can't even be sure that this world is a planet, and the principle of the solar eclipse is most likely related to supernatural forces.
The Keeper's face was terribly gloomy, and the priests were able to keep quiet, but the choir boys rose up.
He left the pool, said something to the oldest priest, and they all left there.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Williams, but this kind of celestial situation cannot hold a ceremony."
"I see."
He nodded, months of study had allowed him to master the most basic ritual content.
"The Holy See should choose another time to notify us, but that's fine, I'm going to see what happened. Mr. Williams, we have other things, it's time to preach the sage to those damned heretics Glorious! But please don't leave here, this valley is absolutely safe."
After hasty instructions, the choir and priesthood followed him. The professor came last, and he had something to say to Jenkins.
The anxiety on the professor's face was even thicker than that of the keeper:
"I had a very strange dream yesterday, yes, very strange."
He put his right hand on Jenkins' shoulder, "I haven't had time to tell anyone about this, but don't leave this forest, the bad feeling is getting stronger and stronger."
"What did you dream about?"
Jenkins couldn't help asking, he still remembered that the opportunity for the professor to become the bestower was guided by the unknown existence in the dream.
"Great shadows cover the sky, the sun is swallowed up, and the stars are hidden in darkness. O God!"
He let out a groan, lowered his head and quickly drew the holy emblem of the sage on his chest.
"Thinking about that dream still scares me. Take this..."
From the deep pocket of his robe he took out a book, the "Kingdom Chronicle", which he used when he went to school for the reading festival.
Jenkins took the book without knowing why, and the professor put his hand on Jenkins' forehead. Out of trust, Jenkins did not resist.
As far as the eye can see, the professor's magic ability is shining brightly. As the old man chanted in a low voice, ancient words and strange syllables were spit out one by one, and some ink stains "crawled" out from the side of the book, slowly spreading along his hands to his whole body.
"This is a protective ability that can only be imposed on others."
While Jenkins peeled off his clothes to check the extra runes on his body, the professor explained hastily.
"I've never heard that Nolan Diocese has such an ability. Is this also given by the existence in the professor's dream?"
"That's all I can help you with. Jenkins, please be careful."
"I understand, you have to be careful."
The professor smiled, nodded at him, and quickly turned around to catch up with the priests who had gone far away.
"your book!"
He didn't remember until the figure of the professor disappeared into the forest, but the old man had already gone far away.
In just a few minutes, Jenkins was the only one left under the giant tree that was still full of people.
But this is only a superficial phenomenon. Looking around, countless light spots are scattered throughout the entire forest. They are right, this is indeed the safest place.
"chocolate!"
I put the professor's textbook in the side pocket, walked quickly to the tree and raised my head to shout up, but I didn't see the graceful figure of the cat jumping down from the dense branches and leaves.
Immediately turned his head, it was really eager to try by the pool.