[Western Fantasy] The mystery of life and death

[The Study of the Chief Guard of Huiyue Temple]

After taking over the investigation of Michael's drowning from the elders' meeting, Luoka was detained in the small meeting hall exclusive to the elders every day, and had not seen anyone for more than ten days.Palmer wanted to go in to find him, but was politely refused by the elder's personal guards and refused the door.Palmer had to go to Altai's chief guard's study every day to inquire about news.

When Palmer walked into the chief guard's study, Altay had already prepared golden epiphyllum tea and waited for him as usual.The whole study room is filled with a soft sweet fragrance.

Palmer was holding a silver cup, casually stirring the amber golden epiphyllum honey tea. "Do you think Michel's death was an accident? Or..." He cast a sidelong glance at Palmer, with a noble and languid elegance in his gestures.

Altai took a deep look at him and looked away. "Ever since the elders of the Presbyterian Church took over the investigation, no news has been revealed. But this just shows that this matter is not simple."

Palmer looked out the window thoughtfully.Altai knew who he was thinking about at this moment.

Sure enough, Palmer said, "It's been so long. What do you mean the elders will hold Lorca?"

"Of course it's censorship. Or it's a trick to find out who's behind him."

"Why do you think so?" Palmer smiled gently, "I think maybe they are training a new elder." He raised his tea cup and made a gesture of clinking glasses, "Congratulations to Lorca in advance, he will soon Will become the youngest elder in history."

Altai's face darkened.

"You don't believe me?" Palmer raised his fine eyebrows slightly, "Altai, what do you know? I have known you for so many years, and only recently did I realize that our chief guard is really knowledgeable."

"Soon everyone will know what Loka is now." Altai gritted his teeth.

Palmer's smile faded away, "What the hell do you mean?"

"You will understand soon." Altai came behind him, holding the back of the chair with his hand.

Palmer put down his teacup.

"Why? Don't you like it? The supplies in the secret realm are very tight now, and there are not many golden epiphyllum honey in stock."

Palmer rubbed his forehead, "Well, today's tea is a bit sweet." He frowned, resting one hand on the table to support his temples.

Altai stood silently behind him, looking at Palmer's back with deep and complicated eyes.As if to comfort Palmer, his hand rested lightly on his shoulder.Palmer only focused on holding his forehead, and didn't push his hand away as usual.

"Your Highness, everything I do is to make you no longer suffer." Altai walked away slowly.

Out of the corner of Palmer's eye, he saw Altai walk to the door and activate the restraint.

"Your Highness, I found some interesting things." Altai showed a mysterious smile, and he went to the window and closed the curtains, activating the ban on the window.

Palmer glanced at him lightly, and he remembered the materials in Altai's drawer.Sure enough, Altai walked to the desk and took out some copied manuscripts.

Palmer took it and looked at it page by page.It was different from the materials he read last time when Altai was away.These manuscripts are detailed studies of the mysteries of the Cudillacian Miranda, probably written by two experts, Livingston and Tilda.

"How did you get this?" Palmer asked in a low voice of surprise.Although he knew that the restriction in this room could isolate sound and magical energy fluctuations.These manuscripts are all research materials on the secret spells taught by Kedi Le Shan Miluo.

There are many kinds of secret spells in Kedile Shan Mi Luo, each with different purposes, some are used to sense the location of the victim, some are used to control the mental state of the victim, making them in a trance, and some are used to absorb the vitality of the victim .The principles of most of the secret spells have been deciphered, and the elders have worked out a way to clear the secret spells to save many tribesmen.But there is a secret spell that their research has not overcome so far.

"Your Highness, everything I do is for you!" Altai handed over another manuscript, and Palmer read it, his face darkened.

This manuscript records a special kind of secret spell - "soul sacrifice spell".

This particular spell turns a person into a living walking dead.Their souls have been sacrificed to the Controller.

People who are controlled by the "soul sacrificial spell" are called "sacrifices".It is difficult to describe their state of life.Is it alive or dead.From the outside, they have breathing, heartbeat, temperature, and even daily inertial behavior.But they no longer have souls, and their life operations are all maintained by the "imprint" given by the controller.

When Miluo believers want to perform the soul sacrificial spell on a person, they will draw the ancient runes of Kedile Mountain on his body when the person's soul is completely released, and these runes are attached to the remaining soul of the person breath.After the soul dissipates, these bodies can still maintain daily inertial behavior.When these bodies were intentionally released by Miluo Cultists, everything looked the same as before, only the memory was confused.These bodies are hidden among their relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms, leaving them defenseless.When the controller needs it, the body controlled by the imprint will immediately execute the instructions according to the controller's thoughts, and become a weapon commanded by the controller like an arm. These bodies can even use their previous fighting skills.This brought many heartbreaking tragedies to the people of Alante.The closest person, the most beloved person is by your side, with a familiar face, familiar speech and behavior, but he (she) is no longer the original person, and their bodies have become weapons that demons can drive at will.During those years, everyone was in danger, and they didn't even know when their relatives and best friends around them would suddenly deliver a fatal blow to themselves.

For the victims of the "Soul Sacrifice Curse", there is only one way to completely free them.It is to call the "fire of purgatory" to "purify" them.

After reading these manuscripts, Palmer lost all color on his face and was speechless for a long time.

"Your Highness, please believe that I am your most loyal force." Altai said.

Palmer glanced at Altai, his cool face was as firm as an oath.But he still felt a faint sense of danger.Altai dared to share these secrets with him at this time, was he expressing loyalty, or was he confident?He glanced quietly at the barrier at the door.

"Sacrifice can also be taken, and it will become our strength." Altai laughed sinisterly. "Your Highness, I will prove it to you soon."

Palmer seemed to be hit by his words, and his whole body trembled slightly. "Altai, you are my most trusted friend." Palmer said slowly, thinking about the appropriate sentence. "I know what you mean. Don't forget, this is the Temple of Huiyue. But I don't want to see my best friend do things that are not good for me."

Hearing what he said, Altai's face gradually softened, but when he heard the last sentence, his face turned cold.He sneered in his heart, you want to say that you don't want to do things that are not good for Loka.

"Your Highness, Lorca really can't remember what happened when he disappeared. Isn't it suspicious? That lunatic Mason must have done it! If he has become a sacrifice for the 'Evil Eye', why can't we take him back? ?Become our ally. Be your strength. Do you want him to be discovered and purified by the elders?"

Palmer frowned, where did Altay get the confidence to make such a judgment?Did he do something unknown?But Palmer concealed his doubts and decided to follow Altai's wishes.He raised his head and smiled slightly, and put his hand on the back of Altai's. "Altai, you actually took such a big risk for me. Over the years, I have always known that the most reliable friend by my side is only you." Palmer said softly.

Altai added some golden epiphyllum nectar for him again, and brought the silver cup in front of him, "Your Highness, now you know that I have worked hard."

Palmer took the silver cup and sipped slowly.His worries, nervousness, and doubts gradually dissipated in this sweet and intoxicating breath, and he completely relaxed unconsciously.The passage of time has a wonderful stagnation, and he feels that he is gently surrounded by the flow of time, and his body and mind are extremely light in the chaos.He vaguely heard Altai say, "Your Highness, everything I do is for you." But the voice seemed far away.He seems to have often heard Altai say this recently, but he doesn't remember when Altai said it.

……

dusk.The chief guard's study room was lit up by the magic lighting crystal.Palmer found that he was too absorbed in reading the materials, and the afternoon passed in a flash.The manuscript was spread messily on the table, and a few pages fell on him, on the ground.Maybe he was tired from looking at the ground, and he lay down on the table to take a nap for a while, and he moved a bit, feeling sore and comfortable all over his body, and he didn't want to move lazily.He looked up and saw Altai sitting at the desk, looking very happy, "Your Highness, these materials are too profound. Don't be too tired. I'll take you back to rest first."