The entire balcony fell off and fell onto the steps next to the vault. If it's an inch off, we'll have to clear the road. Now that the debris was not interfering with traffic, McAdam stepped steadily through the plaster, pretending that the rubbish beside him was decoration.
The owner doesn't care either. The Mercury Temple is nominally the sanctuary of the Empire's religion, but in fact it is similar to a castle that has been in disrepair. Wizards claimed not to care about appearance, and that the virtue of frugality naturally trumped building repairs. However, the decayed walls only give people a sense of decadence, without any deep connotation or noble virtues. There is not even a gorgeous villa for the noble mistress.
However, in Mike's opinion, the reason for the wizards' thriftiness comes from the emperor's decreasing allocation year by year. It's your own fault. Who taught wizards to be greedy and embezzle donations from monks and clergy. The cabinet had proposed that wizards be separated from the temple and placed under the name of court mages, but the emperor has not yet agreed.
A robed apprentice was waiting in front of the hall. Seeing Mike, he bowed deeply and took two steps back respectfully. "Please follow me, Your Highness."
Mike himself didn't hate wizards. Compared with astrologers, these wizards are very aware of their status and never try to be smart. What they desire also makes them easy to control. The Three God Monks had similar benefits to them, but every time Mike saw the Archbishop of the Empire, he had to bend down and kiss his ring. If that old guy could wash his hands more often after writing, I wouldn't be so disgusted by seeing him.
Bernard was not happy to see him either. The laboratory was dark and dark, with magic swirling ominously. Sterling stood in front of a beaker carved from wood, staring intently into it, as if what was inside was not a solution but the scenery.
"What's that?" Mike asked. He looked around the room. It was difficult to describe the layout as neat or messy. A few utensils were covered in dust, a few were covered with black cloth, and most were in pieces. The rubbish is piled in corners to make room for empty wooden shelves. A saw was inserted into the carpet, the chisel bit and carving knife were left in the tool box, the doors and windows were closed, and wood shavings were a unique herb here. "Changed to carving, Sterling?"
The wizard slowly turned his head away and pulled out the beaker with reluctant eyes. "This thing can only be packed with wood." He pulled out a wooden board and covered the cup. "The church doesn't provide any wood that's even remotely valuable, so I have to pay for it myself."
"I will propose improvements to His Majesty."
"The Archbishop will obstruct it in every possible way. Forget it, you already have enough enemies, there is no need to offend him."
"Our enemy," Mike corrected. He didn't say much on this issue. Naturally, the Prime Minister's brother would not be short of money. "Not to mention the Archbishop, I am more interested in magical creations. What is that?"
"You really care?"
"My fire cares more than I do." Approaching the beaker, the feeling became more intense. Mike felt invigorated and the slight fatigue from staying up late was gone. "It gives me a pick-me-up."
"Hell, that's for you. If it were any normal mysterious creature, he would just drop dead. Okay, I know you're here to push me."
"We have no time." Mike pointed out, "The damn Holly Agreement made His Majesty hesitate again." He frowned unconsciously. "Whether the astrologer's prediction is true or false, it forces him to make a choice."
"What are you worried about? The crown is yours by law."
Laws are made by the emperor and can be changed by the emperor, Veronka reminded him. "That was after our great Majesty passed away. No one knows the specific time. Only the astrologers, I'm sure, they are plotting something. The gods are not discerning, even if the law and most of the court support me, these observations The opinions of star fools also carry weight.”
The wizard turned. Bernard Sterling and the Prime Minister were not similar in appearance, but Mike was so deeply inherited from His Majesty the Emperor that when the two met, the former hardly had a good look on his face. "My opinion is different. The Archbishop can help you improve the situation. He is recently worried about the dark wizards in the south. You can give him the right medicine."
"That's not why I came to you."
"I can't do anything, Your Highness. Astrologers are not rats on the experimental bench, and the Archbishop is a pious old fool, and Otto is a thorn in his side." It can be seen that Bernard did not mention the Archbishop intentionally, he just Wants to kick Mike out of his lab.
"Unfortunately, he can't stand me either."
"Did you really offend him?" The wizard raised his eyebrows.
"This matter is complicated." I couldn't stand him. "Veronka allocated some Silversong Knights to guard the door for you. According to what he said, our Archbishop is as enthusiastic as a newly opened brothel... The problem lies elsewhere. Your belief in the forest of Saint Valoran How much do you know?"
"Heather? She is the goddess of life, responsible for nature and the order of life. In addition to the forest races, there are a few humans and elves who also believe in her. You should know more, Your Highness, you have been fighting with them for six years."
"The forest races have different understandings of faith." He explained, "The Mercury Temple is a professional, and I came here specifically to consult."
"Monks are stupid sheep. We should not waste our talents on theology."
Mike was not here to listen to his preaching: "I don't care about the knowledge of the gods. Do you know Heather's secret?"
"Secret? No. What secret do they have, that Saint Valorin pretends to surrender?"
He got it. This guy doesn't even know the relationship between the two. It’s really difficult to explain clearly, let alone get an answer. "I met the Blue Saint in Holly Canyon, and she signed the agreement in person. His Majesty appointed me as the envoy, and I was supposed to sign the agreement on behalf of the empire, but the forest race rejected me."
"You still want to fight?" Bernard couldn't help but become interested, "It's exactly what he wanted."
"It was me, Sterling, who they rejected, not the Aurenia Empire, not even the Silver Song Knights." Mike saw the wizard's eyes widen, "The Blue Saint refused to come from the 'Primary Source' Sign a peace agreement. Truth be told, she and her mud-dwelling people think my oath is of no use and are demanding a replacement of the Empire’s representatives.”
The room was quiet for a few seconds. "'Primary Source'." Bernard said softly, "This is your secret, Your Highness."
"It was. And there was a time when you were the only one besides me who knew."
"You're not here to doubt me, are you?"
"The clues are the evidence. Believe me, Sterling, I'm not that kind to traitors." Even if you are the Prime Minister's brother. "It should be because of the forest race. They have a way to determine the 'primary source' without any contact."
"Heather is an ancient god." Bernard said slowly, "The Saint of the Cangzhi Forest... The lifespan of the forest race is much longer than ours. It would not be surprising if they have some kind of identification method that has been passed down. .”
"We are the only ones who are strange." Mike said gloomily, "The emperor knows this secret and will hesitate between me and Selegon."
"Really? I thought he would make a decision faster. 'Primary Origin' is a rare talent. You should have more advantages."
"The Stele of St. Valorin," he confided.
From the moment the agreement was signed, things gradually slipped out of his control. Mike even suspected that Veronca had conspired with Selegon to expose his secrets to His Majesty the Emperor. But Bernard couldn't leak the secret, his magic ensured it. Apart from this, Mike couldn't think of any other channels.
The accusations made by the Blue Saint are one-sided. Even if someone really colludes with the forest race, they can't escape the emperor's eyes. This was the only thing Mike could be sure of, apart from his confidence in magical restraint. Although the Knights of Silversong may be wary of the prophecy of the emperor's death, their loyalty still belongs to my father.
It can only be a forest race. When Mike was a member of the Silver Song Knights, the forest race was their enemy. The green elves are the enemy of the empire and the enemy of mankind. Since Aurenia expanded to the northwest, the war between the two has been throughout the modern history of the empire. Bernard was right, he knew the enemy far better than the monks More. The Blue Saint questioned the validity of the agreement because of his identity as the "Primary Origin". He could not regard her words as a provocation and just ignore it. Maybe I'm just making excuses for myself...
"Veronka thought she was talking nonsense," Mike said. "He even said it to her directly and almost started a fight again. But then the damn nature spirit put the blame on her goddess, who was left by Heather. That stone tablet. I suspect that it is a creation at all and has nothing to do with Heather. Sterling, do you believe that the Archbishop’s prayer is useful?”
"The gods no longer respond. But the relics of the gods...I can't answer you, Your Highness." Bernard said, "But I think you should agree with this statement." He opened the lid of the beaker. Mike was vaguely excited when he saw the brown gelatinous substance inside.
He didn't touch it. "Is this a magic potion?"
"The recipe comes from that."
"how is the progress?"
"No progress. Every experimental subject cannot escape the fate of death...with the exception of 'Primary Source'. But this is not a shortcoming, Your Highness, it can only prove that you are favored by God." The wizard did not understand, "Why did the emperor hesitate? "
exception. Mike looked away. "You don't understand, Sterling. The 'Primary Origin' is advancing at a terrifying speed on the mysterious road. I have now exceeded the ring level."
"Many geniuses are like this too. For example, our Silver Song Knight Commander."
After signing the agreement, Vilonca was promoted. This was Mac's proposal to the Emperor, and the cabinet firmly opposed it until the former Knight Commander was accused of being a partisan. While in the canyon, to avoid any mistakes, Veronka made an agreement with the forest race on his behalf. Better than Selegon interfering. Although Mike was dissatisfied, he had no other choice.
"He is not the 'Primordial'." Mike had to rely on the recognition of forest races to judge talent, and Mike wanted to laugh absurdly.
"He loves it, right? Veronka is just a low-status little nobleman, and now he has climbed onto Thurston's head." The wizard sneered, "He won't be happy, and neither will I. I guarantee, Your Highness, no one will Go to his territory.”
Yeah? I don't want your guarantee. "This low-status little nobleman is as mysterious as the Tower Prophet."
"So what? Mystery doesn't mean power. The nobles hate him."
"But father likes him." Mike said softly, "The emperor has power, and he also hopes to have more...more..."
