Chapter 539 - 464: The Pilgrimage Path (Added two in one)
As the legend of the "Mechanical Book" grew more intense within the Kingdom, both Dwarves and Giants held Hiris in even higher esteem. When people sought the Divine, their faith often became so firm that it left no room for doubt, even verging on fervor. Along the way, the Sects saw nothing but Craftsmen Temples crowded to the brim.
The "Mechanical Book" once again awakened the Dwarves’ reverence for Hiris, and the importance of God started to wane. The Sects continued their preaching, but as time passed, fewer people converted. Those who had recently joined the Sects were agitated, while the older Believers remained unperturbed.
Nevertheless, the situation did not change to suit the desires of the Sects. With fewer converts along the way, the Sects’ finances naturally dwindled. Seeing this, the Sect Priests went to ask the older Believers,
"How much longer can we go on?"
The old Believer replied,
"At most, four or five more cities."
Hearing this, the Sect Priests knew that relying solely on faith was insufficient without money. So, they contemplated using the remaining funds to leave the Dwarf Kingdom and lead everyone on a pilgrimage to the mountains.
The thoughts of the Sect Priests swiftly spread. While the True Believers indeed wanted to go on pilgrimages, they were more inclined to continue preaching, particularly the new initiates to the Sects. They saw the current difficulties as a test from God, something to be confronted, not avoided, for that was an act of cowardice.
A schism arose within the Sect. The zealous younger True Believers yearned to achieve greatness and pour out passion on the preaching trail. They considered pilgrimage a glorified escape, their beliefs fervent, their will strong enough to endure the hunger and cold that lay ahead.
In such an atmosphere, Veldor too was stirred. He sided with the fervent True Believers, not only because of his own youthful vigor but also because he was well aware that if the Sect continued to preach amidst the masses, he would have more opportunities to filch money. Whereas going on a pilgrimage would present him with significant challenges.
The old Believer scoffed at the zeal of the young True Believers.