[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke
Chapter 311: The First Offering On The Altar

Chapter 311: The First Offering On The Altar

Xion raised his head to look at the statue and froze on the spot. Even with his hood drawn up to his forehead, he didn’t blink.

The statue’s lower half was divine.

The marble legs were draped in white silks embroidered with gold thread, making the carved inscription shimmer with a golden sheen.

Her torso looked delicate and flawless. It was as if he were looking at a real lady, just a size too big. It was a body sculpted to inspire worship.

But then came the face. Or what should have been one.

In place of eyes, nose, or any human semblance, there was only a gaping maw. A face-shaped hole, filled with layer upon layer of tiny teeth pulsed faintly as if breathing.

There were no ears, no brow, no hint of identity at all. It gave the illusion that it might open wider still, to consume everything before it.

What was before the statue? Six rows, ten people in each line and that was if Xion didn’t count the guards stepping at every entrance.

He gazed at the horrifying creature with strange hazy eyes. Hushed whispers erupted in the huge hall, and luckily, they managed to jolt Xion out of his trance.

In haste, he pulled the hood down while silently praying that no one saw him. As he snuck a glance at the people around, he was relieved.

Well, the strange creature in front of them had taken all the attention away from him.

Xion had barely sighed in relief when he heard the sharp click of shoes on stone.

The priest raised his hand and all the noise vanished.

Everyone tilted their head to the left, where two maidens were leading the way.They stopped at the entrance directly facing the podium, bowing to someone behind the wall.

As soon as Talia entered the room, Xion had to take a deep unsettling breath. Why did the clothes on the statue match so perfectly with her? Even the inscriptions were the exact same!

The more he thought, the more his head ached.

But, of course, Talia had no such worries.

With soft, elegant steps that were far too calm for the chaos that the statue implied, she stepped onto the small aisle that led straight to the podium.

Her smile was beatific, serene as if she walked beneath divine mandate. Xion might have called her ethereal if not for the knife in her hand.

Each of her steps barely seemed to touch the ground, as though she glided rather than walked.

The priest, the one who had screamed and snarled and smiled like a madman only moments ago, turned to face her.

He whispered, "Your Holiness," with a quivering voice. Like a faithful servant, he extended his hand which Talia took without hesitation.

Xion watched with narrow eyes how the priest helped her ascend the podium and stand right in front of the statue.

Wait a minute, the altar was there to place offerings for the goddess, right? So why, on such a grand occasion, were there no offerings? Not even fruits?

Other than the incense sticks burning there, and the huge goblet that lay at the bottom right side of the altar, it was empty.

However, Xion’s attention was soon taken by yet another bizarre thing. The moment Talia’s feet touched the polished stone platform, the priest came down.

He walked to the side and then stood still, but unlike them who were all facing the ’stage,’ he was facing them.

From his angle, Xion had a perfect view of the priest.

To his disbelief, there was no expression at all. There was no previous gentleness and enthusiasm, nor was there any rage.

The priest just stood there... like a statue?

Something sharp rang at the back of Xion’s mind again as he recalled that lady again.

Both were neurotic, both were working under Talia, and both were equally crazy about the church. It was either this was some sort of cult level brain washing, or something was terribly wrong.

What exactly connected these two holy zealots to Talia?

Xion could sense that he was very close to figuring out something, but his mind was still not up to the task. With terrible headache, he could only turn his attention back to the clown performing on the stage.

Talia stood still for a moment. With her golden lashes lowered, she clasped her hand close to her chest as if in a solemn prayer.

Then she opened her eyes and smiled—a smile so gentle, so pure, it might have comforted even a dying man.

If Xion had to say something good about Talia, he would surely say that she was beautiful. Gorgeous like a siren and capable of luring the innocent to their demise.

Look at all these people. Even when they saw such a creepy creature instead of a goddess, they were still looking at Talia with utmost devotion and love.

"My beloved children," she said in her usual sweet-as-honey voice that rang clearly through the grand hall, "we gather here tonight not merely to repent, but to reshape the sacred."

She extended one pale hand toward the grotesque statue behind her.

"Our goddess once turned away from us. She grew weary of our broken world, of the lies offered in confession, of the hollow prayers whispered for show. But I... I shall bring her back."

With the sharp silver knife that gleamed under the golden light of candles, she drew the blade across her palm.

Blood welled up instantly.

Without flinching, she let the dazzling red drip down her delicate hand into the big wide goblet.

After letting the blood drip until her rosy face paled, she healed herself before turning to the congregation with a bright, innocent smile.

"One soul alone is not enough, of course. But it is a start. Our offering must be sincere. And that sincerity must flow through the altar itself."

Instead of some cult speech, Xion was more interested in what was in the goblet.

Something red unfurled beneath the blood, like a flower made of meat, and dare he say that he seemed to hear the slurping noise.

The terrified system stuttered, [H-Host... that’s a tongue, right?!] Each slurping sound caused a few of its codes to break apart!