Mayne was stunned. He stared at the old man in front of him, trying to see something in the other's eyes.
But it was cloudy inside.
His eyes are no longer as deep and intimidating as they used to be, and they can pierce people's hearts. He may have the wisdom passed down by the popes, the knowledge from the Holy Book of Laws, but... nothing is worth the time.
His Majesty was not joking, Mayne realized that his journey had come to an end.
The eyes are a little blurry.
He knelt down again, his forehead touching the ground, and this time, the Crown Prince did not call him up as usual, but waited for him to complete the full set of movements before opening the mouth, "You come with me."
The guards who served helped the Pope onto a cart, and then pushed him towards the gate of the secret district. Maine followed closely, and the group left the Temple of Secret Secrets and turned into a long and narrow tunnel. On the smooth stone wall, every ten steps is embedded with a luminous spar, and when you look around, you can't see the end.
I don't know how long it took before Mayne left the passage, and his sight suddenly became clear. The ground under his feet became a flat slate. He could see the angular walls and the chandeliers hanging on the ceiling. Obviously, this secret passage was connected. A basement.
"We are underground in the Cathedral of the Old Holy City," the Pope said, probably seeing his confusion, "The structure here is exactly the same as the Cathedral, but it was built upside down. I am used to calling it the Reflection Church. "
"Under the cathedral?" Mayne asked in surprise. "I always thought there was no basement there."
"It's not really, because the two are not connected," O'Brien smiled. "You can only get here from the underground passage in the secret area. The roof is made of a mixture of slate and clay, and it is impossible to chisel with ordinary methods. Put on."
"Why... it's designed this way?"
"In order to keep the secret, but not to completely bury the secret," he said, "before any pope ascends the throne, he must come to the Reflection Church to witness the establishment, development and growth of the church, while keeping the church's goals in mind. "
"Defeat the devil." Mayne said solemnly.
But O'Brien didn't nod affirmatively, but sighed softly, "No, child, to win the smile of God."
The Archbishop was stunned, "What?"
The Pope did not respond to him again, but directed the guards to move on. From the direction of the stairs and ramps, they should be climbing upwards. Soon the group came to a grand hall, which Mayne recognized based on the familiar structures around it, which should be the prayer room of the Reflection Church.
The thick wooden door was slowly pushed open, making a creaking sound. Even though it looks like the Pope hasn't visited this hall for a long time, he doesn't smell dust... Apparently someone has been cleaning it up all the time.
"They can only send me here, and then you can push me in," O'Brien said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Mayne took the handle and pushed the Pope into the prayer room. The wooden door behind him closed again, completely blocking out the light of the torch. Now, there is only the soft light emanating from the yellow spar in the room - just like the secret passage arrangement, it is evenly inlaid on both sides of the wall, but the difference is that there is a huge portrait hanging above the spar, he vaguely Remember that the frame should be exactly in the window opening of the above-ground prayer room.
The contents of the portraits are similar with minor differences. They are all busts of characters. They are dressed in gorgeous robes, full of energy, and their eyes are full of energy. They seem to be staring at every visitor who enters the prayer room. And Mayne saw the portrait of O'Brien's crown in it - he was almost like a real person in the painting, staring at him and smiling. This strange feeling made him shiver uncontrollably, and goose bumps appeared on his back.
"Ah, you saw me." The Pope probably sensed the bishop's change in mood. "This painting was completed half a year ago. At that time, I was not as old as I am now, so it should at least look better when I painted it. I should have hung it up after I died," he looked at it carefully, "I'm still too impatient, I want to see what it will look like if I hang it on it earlier."
"Your Majesty, are these..." Mayne felt the dryness in his throat.
"Yes, they are all great pioneers, and they have served as Popes," he said softly, "Go ahead and I will introduce you one by one."
The Archbishop listened to O'Brien's brief description and looked at the portraits - although he knew that they were once the supreme leaders of the church, the inexplicable strangeness still lingered in his heart. The characters in the painting were so realistic that he could not imagine what techniques and dyes the artist would use to create such a bust. Coupled with the not-so-bright yellow light, the upper part of these portraits will gradually fade into darkness as you go far, leaving only the half-section hole grinning at him.
Halfway through the hall, Mayne noticed that the figures in the portrait had become women.
They had different looks and different clothes, but they were all beautiful - such an outstanding appearance rarely appeared on the face of a mortal, and the bishop was no stranger to it, but because of this, he was so confused and surprised. Her Majesty O'Brien didn't seem to react, and still calmly introduced their names, tenures, and achievements.
These people are also the popes of the church.
The prayer room quickly came to an end.
Facing the aisle in the center of the hall, is a full-body portrait occupying the entire wall. It is hung behind the prayer table, surrounded by luminous spar, so the picture is clearer.
Mayne swallowed and looked at the person in the painting.
The moment his eyes fell on the painting, he suddenly felt his heart skip a beat - God is above, she is such an extraordinary woman, apart from this word, it is difficult for him to find other words to describe her. She has both the sweetness of a woman and the fortitude of a man, the two are natural, and there is no conflict at the same time. The red hair on his head is like a burning flame, and the great sword with the cold light in his hand is the frost that is extinguished. She stood leaning on her sword, her eyebrows raised slightly, her eyes looked down at the front, her thin lips were tightly closed, and she was not angry. Under those piercing eyes, Mayne seemed to feel an overwhelming pressure, making him almost want to kneel in front of this woman.
"Your Majesty, this is..."
He tilted his head with difficulty, only to find that O'Brien was already on his knees.
"She is the first pope, above the transcendent, Akalis. At the same time, she also has a nickname - the king of witches."
Mayne felt a sudden jump in his heart, and the previous guess was absolutely correct. This series of popes in the early days of the church were all witches!
"Why is the founder of the church also a witch?"
"Kneel down to her, boy, and then I'll show you everything you want to know."
...