Lockburg was still heavily guarded, except that the knights' robes outside their armor mostly changed from dark red to gray blue, and the insignia on the robes also changed from the crossed double swords and pomegranates of the Boford family to the silver horn and the giant eagle with wings - that was the emblem of the Carlos family.

The castle was busy, and Ed and York soon met Moira. The woman sitting by the window was haggard and pale, with clear lines spreading from the corners of her eyes and lips, but she didn't look as lifeless as Narya had described it.

Ed saluted her, stepping back to introduce her to the young priest behind him, but Moira was already smiling and nodding, "York Tracy." ”

Ed was a little surprised. The priest had told him plainly that he had indeed seen Moira at several ceremonies, but he had no honor in letting her know his name. Even if he was the best of the young priesthood of the Goddess of Dawn, in the Queen...... or in front of the Queen Mother, it is not very important.

York's face was in the same confusion and he bowed his head respectfully.

"I've heard your name. "I've also heard that you're Aurora Lee, the priest favored by the recently deceased High Priest. ”

“...... That's true. York smiled wryly, "But that was when I first entered the temple more than a decade ago...... Within a few years, the priest's body grew weaker and weaker, and he rarely saw anyone again. ”

"But you're still the closest person to her, aren't you?" Moira's smile was faint, like a layer of fog that a breeze could blow away, "I heard she couldn't even walk without help...... But no one knows how she ended up alone at Stoke Fountain Square?"

York was silent for a moment, then lowered his head even deeper.

"I beg your pardon. "We didn't mean to ignore your summons, we just ...... There are many things that we haven't figured out ourselves, so I'm afraid we can't answer your questions. ”

He wasn't lying, but the temple's contemptuous attitude was also an indisputable fact - the clergy never revered the royal power as ordinary people. After all, the dynasty will fall, but God is eternal.

Yet the kingdom was under royal rule. There are some things that the ruler can know if he wants to know.

When she spoke again, Moira's tone softened slightly.

"I have no intention of pursuing that. "I'm just trying to sort things out." I hear that the high priest had never prophesied anything before this?"

"Yes. York replied, "She even once said that any prophecy is in unforeseen danger, because what has happened can be changed, let alone what has not yet happened...... Even if the gods are willing to give us some warning, very few can fully understand it, and can only carefully pursue the truth in it, and never use it as a tool for grandstanding. ”

Ed nodded silently. It sounded like the old priest he had never seen before...... In the end, however, it was she who did what she called "grandstanding."

Is there something else hidden, or has a long time taken away her wisdom?

"More than half a month ago," Moira lowered her eyes, "an elf visited the High Priest?"

“...... Yes. York replied, "That's the messenger of Kao Inari." Inari is the eldest elder among the elves, and also ...... It is the grandfather of the priest who did not know any generation. ”

Moira finally had a little surprised expression: "...... The High Priest is a half-elf?"

"Very meager pedigree. York could only smile bitterly, "I don't know how many hundred years have passed, and I can't even see the characteristics of elves...... But it was said that she was the only descendant of that elven elder, so from time to time messengers would visit her, and we didn't care...... Moreover, the messenger did not say a word to the old priest at all. ”

Aurora was in a coma at the time—she had been sleeping longer and longer in the past two years, and the temple was even ready for her to die in a slumber at some point...... The messenger was ordered to come, and they could only let him see him once. Accompanied by York, the messenger bowed his head slightly and bowed to Aurora before leaving.

The old man's days are numbered, and he can see it at a glance.

"After that, nothing was out of the ordinary. "When I went to visit her, she looked at me as if she didn't recognize who I was......

He paused, realizing that the sudden outpouring of sadness at the moment was meaningless. And in the bottom of his heart, there was a little more happiness that could not be expressed—he knew what kind of panic the priest's final prophecy had caused, but at least she did not die silently, and when she died, not many people even remembered her strength and wisdom.

He knew he shouldn't have pursued such vain glory...... She probably wouldn't want it if she had already entered the temple. But that little delusion and unwillingness are always entangled.

She deserves more people's memory and respect.

“...... I know I'm not qualified to say something like that. "I know what kind of trouble this has caused you...... But I believe that the priest must have a reason for leaving such a prophecy in such a way. ”

It was never taken advantage of or controlled, nor was it because of sanity...... By no means.

Moira bowed her head slightly.

"I think so too. "I just hope no one misunderstands...... Or misinterpret her intentions. ”

"If you need anything, I'm here to help. York looked up with a determined expression, "Whenever you call, I will come at command." ”

.

"The Temple of Dawn is even more chaotic than Lockcastle. ”

After reassuring York and letting him leave for a while, Moira told Ed in an easy-going tone, and even her sitting posture relaxed a lot: "You know what? Rano Boinse, the one who is supposed to be the successor of the High Priest, is only thinking about how to use Aurora's prophecy and her death to give the Temple of Dawn the status that the Temple of Water once had...... But the young pastor, even if he was a little selfish, at least wanted to find out the truth and figure out the true meaning of the 'prophecy', and even when Bornser tried to concoct some more convincing 'facts', he unceremoniously opened his mouth and almost started to do so. ”

Ed raised his eyebrows in surprise, but he didn't feel surprised. York's self-confidence was not unfounded, and in addition to his own strength, he clearly had forces in the temple to support him.

Nor did he ask how Moira knew about it—she was, after all, the Queen Mother, the one who now really wielded the power of the country.

"But I'm not in a hurry to find you because of this. Moira sighed and got up, holding out her hand to him, "Follow me." ”

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