Chapter 52: 52 - Holy Land
"Ancestor, how can we pass this calamity?" he muttered, his eyes never leaving the imposing statue.
The statue represented their revered ancestor, the founder of the Serene Sky Holy Land. This ancestor, once a general under the human emperor, had led a crusade against the dark beings and their creator, the Mother Witch. The Serene Sky Holy land was established in the hopes of maintaining the balance of the world.
As the history of this holy land was passed down, so too were the commandments of their ancestor: to protect the human world and prevent the re-emergence of dark beings. This sacred responsibility had been inherited by each generation of Holy Lords, and now it rested on his shoulders.
He sighed deeply, the weight of his duty pressing heavily on him.
"We still have that thing," he murmured to himself. "I\'ll use it if it\'s the last resort."
Thinking about different matters, the Holy Lord\'s gaze softened slightly.
"But it shouldn\'t reach that point," he muttered, reassuring himself. "As long as Zarak finds that little girl, the situation should be under control."
Zarak, the purple-haired disciple he referred to, was the most talented disciple in their holy land. At just eighteen years old, Zarak had already earned the title of top disciple. Raised within the confines of the holy land with minimal contact with the outside world, Zarak had been shielded from mortal desires that might corrupt him.
Now, this young ascendant was powerful enough to conquer an ordinary empire single-handedly, or so they believed based on his performances thus far.
Although Zarak had been sent on various missions before, such as hunting beasts and undertaking minor tasks, this was his first assignment in a human empire. The Holy Lord and the elders had some concerns, but they felt reassured knowing that there were few in the mortal empire who could challenge Zarak. His background alone would deter most from acting against him recklessly.
They would have descended themselves, were it not for the restrictions imposed upon the mortal world.
As far as they could recall, these restrictions had not existed twenty-five years ago. They had appeared suddenly, barring entry to anyone over the age of thirty. Despite their attempts to bypass the restrictions, each effort was met with rejection and a strange thunder tribulation that descended upon them, shocking them severely.
The thunder tribulation was not something they could survive easily, yet miraculously, they emerged mostly unharmed, save for the shock it caused.
Turning to an attendant standing nearby, the Holy Lord inquired, "Did you send the letters to the other Holy lands?"
"Yes, Holy Lord," the attendant replied. "They should have received them by now."
"That\'s good," the Holy Lord nodded.
Their holy land was not the only one; there were five other holy lands, each practicing different arts. All of their ancestors had fought side by side during the ancient skirmishes against the dark beings. These holy lands, much like theirs, were located in places seldom reached by humans and rarely made contact with the mortal world.
"Why do I feel like I forgot something?" the Holy Lord mused aloud, sensing something amiss. He looked to the attendant, seeking a response.
"Well, if the Holy Lord forgot something, then it must not be important," the attendant replied.
"That\'s right," the Holy Lord shrugged off the thought. How could he, a holy lord, forget something important?
…
On the endless grassy plains, a purple-haired figure stood, his gaze scanning the horizon.
"Which way is the human empire?" he muttered to himself. "I forgot to ask the Holy Lord for a map."
Feeling determined not to turn back after coming this far, he looked up at the sky where flocks of birds were flying overhead.
"Maybe if I follow them, I\'ll come across human settlements where I can ask for directions," he reasoned aloud, setting off in the direction the birds seemed to be heading.
[A/N: Changed his hair color, cuz he resembled someone very closely]