Chapter 366 - 365. Peace Treaty (2)
The new Pope, clad in pristine white and gold, moved forward with the grace of someone who carried divine authority. He was strikingly young—far younger than the last Pope, whose greed and corruption had tainted his reign. This one, at least in appearance, seemed to be cut from a different cloth. His indigo hair was tied neatly at the back, and despite the heavy robes draped over him, he carried himself with effortless elegance. But another aspect that I found unique about him was that he was probably blind, he always had the white strip of blindfold that covered his eyes. Still it seemed like he could see something, probably the mana presence of the beings around.
Most importantly, I could sense the divine energy surrounding him. It was subtle yet undeniably potent even more than the late Pope or perhaps the most that I’ve sensed ever.
He raised his hands in blessing, his voice ringing through the hall with an ethereal calm.
"By the will of our Holy Saintess, the Guardian Dragons and the wisdom of the mortals who walk this earth, we gather today to witness a sacred vow—a covenant between kingdoms that have long been divided by steel and strife.
"In the eyes of the heavens, war is but the folly of man, a cycle of destruction that turns brother against brother, kingdom against kingdom. But even amidst the ruin, the great wise Dragon’s blessing has given us the gift of reason, of understanding, and the ability to choose another path.
"Today, Denril and Sestia stand not as enemies, but as seekers of peace. The quill shall now replace the sword, and upon this parchment, an oath shall be written that binds us not in hatred, but in unity."
His words carried a weight that even the skeptics in the crowd could not ignore. Unlike the King’s speech, which had been laced with political formality, the Pope’s address resonated with something deeper—something almost sacred.
I watched as the nobles and dignitaries, even those who had bristled at the idea of a treaty, bowed their heads ever so slightly, acknowledging the presence of something greater than their own grievances.
What was his name again? Ah, right, Cesio Childe. A man who was in his mid thirties was chosen to be the new Pope of the temple of Saintess Miella and the Dragons.
I didn’t have much information about Cesio as he was an orphan who was taken in by the Temple and while he was growing he started showing his capabilities. It was exactly because no one else was carrying the divine power as pure as him that he was chosen apart from the fact that a lot of priests were corrupt and already purged out of the system.
The hall was silent, waiting for the moment that would seal the fate of two warring nations.