"Phaethon! Nag, nag, nag! What's the rush! I just joined the Sanctuary the day before yesterday, and you expect me to perform the legendary Oronyx art—'Oronyx prayer'—that only a Saintess can use at will?" Cyrene frantically threw a few scrolls of parchment at Phaethon.
"Cy... Cyrene? Is it that time of the... month? Why are you so angry?" Phaethon was somewhat surprised. He had only been asking every half hour.
He was just checking on Cyrene's progress with prayers, as the same time undersand her usage of prayers, her spell learning progress, her knowledge of the Oronyx priestess rituals...
"Ahhhhh— Phaethon! I told you! If you're really that bored, go cook a couple more dishes for our lunch! Do not! Ask me! Anything! About the Sanctuary! Again!" Cyrene was clearly irritated by Phaethon.
"Okay, okay, I'll add two more dishes for lunch, two more dishes." Phaethon carefully closed the door, let out a long breath, and then smiled. "Phew— Cyrene really is Cyrene. She's almost reached intermediate priestess level in just two days. We're taking off soon."
"Ah— I'm exhausted." At lunchtime, Cyrene came downstairs and flopped onto the table on the first floor. "Little Phaethon, your Cyrene is starving~"
"Coming~ Coming~" Phaethon placed several plates in front of Cyrene. "Cyrene, the sweet and sour pork ribs you said you liked last time."
"See, little Phaethon is the best to Cyrene ♪" Seemingly revived by the aroma of the food, Cyrene's spirits visibly improved, her speech even regaining its distinctive, cute musical note. "Little Phaethon (munch munch), your cooking is so good (munch munch), and you know how to make all these super delicious dishes I've never even seen before (munch munch), have you thought about opening a restaurant to earn some money? (munch munch) Otherwise, before the stipend comes, your Cyrene will have to survive on hard bread. (munch munch)" Cyrene asked between gnawing on bones.
"Is the Sanctuary's stipend really that small?" Phaethon asked, surprised. These past few days, he just asked Cyrene for money whenever he needed ingredients and didn't know the exact stipend amount.
Cyrene spat out a bone, somewhat angrily. "Don't even get me started on that! That old man is definitely no good! This so-called 'initiate to full' promotion? Anyone can go from initiate to full priestess after just one week if they perform reasonably well!"
"And... to attract more talent, the Sanctuary usually gives people with talent like your Cyrene a treatment level 1-2 positions higher directly! How vile!"
"But the standard residence he arranged for us is indeed in the best location. Close to both the market and the Sanctuary, and it's under the Sanctuary's curfew at night. There are guards patrolling, it's safe and not too noisy." Phaethon added.
"Because this residence is in a good location with high foot traffic, I suggested you open a restaurant, little Phaethon ♪. Please?~ Little Phaethon, your Cyrene doesn't want to chew on hard bread~" Cyrene launched a coquettish attack. It was super effective!
"Alright, alright, Cyrene. But, why do I feel like another reason is that Cyrene wants to be able to eat my cooking whenever she comes back from the Sanctuary, no matter the time?" Phaethon smiled helplessly, rubbing his forehead.
"Hehe, it has to be little Phaethon. You understand your Cyrene's thoughts best. ♪" Seeing her goal achieved, Cyrene dropped the act. "But it's also true that if we have no income soon, Cyrene will be chewing bread~"
...
(Two Days Ago · High Priest Helios's Residence)
In a resplendent study, the air thick with the scent of expensive incense, Helios, one of the three leaders of Janusopolis, named for the 'Sun,' lounged lazily in a soft velvet armchair. His thin, withered fingers toyed with a gleaming gold coin as he listened to his steward's report.
"...Your Eminence, this is three hundred thousand balance coins from the city's silk magnate. He hopes his son can be promoted to High Priest as soon as possible..."
"Such trivial matters, handle them as you see fit." Helios didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice tinged with impatience. "Find an ambiguous old oracle, have his son 'interpret' it. As long as it's not too blatant, say he 'comprehended divine grace, performed with outstanding merit,' and promote him exceptionally."
He paused, the coin in his fingers stopping its spin with a faint hum. "No, wait. Put him through the standard procedure, let him pass a simple assessment for promotion. Then... convey a message to that generous gentleman: if he's willing to add another two hundred thousand, making it five hundred thousand Libras total, his son can wear the High Priest insignia tomorrow, without waiting for any assessment. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Eminence Helios! Your wisdom shines like the sun!" The steward bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Just as the steward was about to exit, Helios, as if remembering something, spoke slowly, "Wait... You said that old obstinate Vittorio personally took on a new priestess today?"
A playful, disdainful smile appeared on his aged face. "Hah, has that stubborn, stinking stone finally learned to be 'flexible'? Clever move, using such petty benefits to tie down a potential asset's purse strings for half a lifetime?"
"I thought he could keep spouting 'loyalty to Oronyx' forever, staying aloof to the end. It seems he's no different from the rest of us after all."
...
(Same Time · High Priest Ascalon's Secret Chamber)
In another room of a completely different style, its walls covered with huge city-state maps and power dynamic charts.
High Priest Ascalon, the leader known as the "Power-Spear," stood with his back to the door, staring at a specifically marked city-state on the map.
He was tall and imposing; even in his loose priestly robes, one could sense the power contained beneath. A attendant, clad in light armor and looking more like an officer than a priest, stood rigidly at attention.
"Hah, those pedants from the Sages' Arbor. They claim to respect the Titans the most. And now, when we deliver the oracle to them, they dare not accept it? Even question the oracle's authenticity? They don't know what's good for them!"
"I recall one of the Seven Sages is heavily marginalized, right? Named something like Anaxagoras? Make contact with him. Inform him of the support we can offer."
"As for... Vittorio's move?" Ascalon's voice was low and penetrating, like a war drum. "A new priestess? Hah, has the old ghost finally started laying his 'escape route'?"
"Or... has he discovered something special, worth him setting aside his hypocritical rules to 'invest' in?" He didn't turn around, his finger tapping heavily on the map at the location of that city-state. "Keep watching. Any variable must be within our grasp."
"As for Helios, that greedy old fox... as long as he wants balance coins, let him be. Balance coins can't buy real power."
(High Priest Vittorio's Meditation Chamber)
Meanwhile, in a spartan, minimalistic meditation chamber deep within the Sanctuary. High Priest Vittorio sat on a hard wooden chair, wearing only the simplest linen robe.
His student, Jacob, was carefully helping him remove the outermost robe symbolizing his status, hanging it on a bare clothes rack nearby.
"Teacher..." Jacob hesitated but finally couldn't resist speaking. "Why did you... personally take in that Miss Cyrene today? And... that stipend condition, outsiders might have some... unfavorable gossip." He was referring to the harsh condition of "only half a rank's stipend increase for the new priestess," which almost overturned Vittorio's usual image.
Vittorio didn't answer immediately, just slowly closed his eyes, his deeply wrinkled face etched with profound fatigue.
"Jacob," he said after a long while, opening his eyes, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally clear, "You see the harsh condition, you hear the potential gossip... but did you see what is special about that girl?"
Jacob was taken aback. "Special?"
"A... remarkably powerful talent." Vittorio's gaze seemed to penetrate the walls, looking towards an unknown distance, carrying a trace of worry. "I can even foresee that, if guided properly, she might potentially reach the position of Saintess of Oronyx in the future."
"Saintess?!" Jacob seemed to realize something.
"She is completely unaware of it, tender as a new sprout, with no means to protect herself." Vittorio's voice lowered, filled with deep concern.
"If she unfortunately falls into Helios's hands, that clown who treats oracles as tools for profit, he would treat her as a rare commodity to be hoarded, squeezing out every bit of her value. If discovered by Ascalon..."
He stopped, a flash of pain in his eyes. "That power-hungry madman intent on turning oracles into war commands... He would not hesitate to forge her into a banner. The fate of the last girl with such potential... wasn't that warning enough for us?"
"But Teacher, your reputation..." Jacob remained deeply worried. "For her, is it worth staining your name like this?"
"Reputation?" Vittorio's lips twisted into a desolate, resigned arc. "What use is this empty fame to me? If it can keep the gaze of Helios and Ascalon fixed on me, the 'old obstinate,' making them think I'm just a 'hypocrite' starting to covet petty gains, thus overlooking that true rising star, that is enough."
He leaned back wearily in his chair, murmuring to himself, "And... from today onward, the 'obstinate and rigid' Vittorio in the eyes of the world... should disappear. I have always... only been a prisoner, self-bound before the seat of the gods."