Chapter 943: Uriel
Chapter 943: Uriel
The Temple was surrounded by walls on all sides with no door. If he hadn't jumped over the wall, even he would not have seen the entrance. Gabriel approached the temple which looked completely identical to the Temple of Archangels he had seen in Elzeira. He didn't understand what it was doing in this universe. Archangels hadn't been able to enter this place. That's why they had sent Elzeirans who were trying to invade. How did something like this appear in a place like this? Did it have something to do with the destruction of Elzeira?
As he entered the temple grounds, he felt a strange energy emanating from within. The air was heavy with a sense of strange power, and the atmosphere seemed even stranger. Inside, Gabriel found himself in a vast chamber adorned with intricate carvings and statues. The walls depicted scenes of celestial battles, divine beings, and ethereal landscapes. All these statues depicted Archangels, but they were different from the statues in the Royal Palace of Elzeira. These Statues did not have faces. It was completely blank where faces were supposed to be. There were no eyes, nose or lips. It was as if someone intentionally didn't carve out the faces. The ceiling stretched high above, adorned with a beautiful mural depicting the heavens and the stars.
Gabriel could not find anyone else here. Despite being in the center of the city, this place was completely empty. As Gabriel explored further, he came across a central altar, adorned with candles and offerings. The candles were only half burned. It was clear that they were lit not long ago. Someone was definitely here. A gentle breeze blew through the temple, causing the flames of the candles to flicker and dance. Gabriel felt a presence, a subtle whisper in his mind, urging him to approach.
He stepped closer to the altar, frowning. He did not know what was happening. Were the Archangels about to descend?
Even if that was true, he approached the altar. Even if it were the Archangels, he wanted to find out about Karyk's whereabouts. He did not believe that he was dead. Suddenly, a soft glow enveloped the room, and a figure materialized before him. It was a being of radiant light, with wings unfurled and a serene expression on its face.
"Welcome, guest," the being spoke, its voice melodic and soothing. "You have been guided to this sacred place for a purpose. I am Uriel, the guardian of this temple."
'Guided?'
Gabriel was certain that he came here himself. Was there something about being guided here as well? He was certain that the radiant figure could not see him. It was like a recorded message that was played on its own when certain criteria was met. Uriel smiled warmly, his light illuminating the chamber even more. "This temple is a sacred sanctuary, a place where the Children of Heaven once gathered. It holds ancient secrets that had long been forgotten, passed down through generations. As for why you were guided here, it is because you possess a unique connection to the divine."
Gabriel frowned. "A connection to the divine?"
It was true in his case, but he had a feeling that the person wasn't talking about that. It was clear that someone was supposed to come to this place. That person was the true recipient of this fate that the person was talking about. "Are you an Archangel?" Just to test his theory, Gabriel asked something that he wasn't supposed to know. Uriel's gaze was kind yet piercing. "You have lived the life of a mortal in this world all your life, but now that you have awakened, it is time to return. Return to your true home."
He completely ignored Gabriel's words. Or rather, he could not hear them at all. That made Gabriel even more convinced. This was a one way conversation where the other side could not even see him or react to his words. It was definitely a message that was recorded long in the past. As Archangels could not descend to this place, even in avatar, this message was sent here a long time ago. "You carry within you the essence of the divine, a spark of celestial energy. That is why you have been drawn to this temple."
Gabriel had confirmed that he was being misunderstood as someone else. But it did not matter to him. This misunderstanding was for the best as it opened a path for him to enter the world of Archangels! Those people had sent someone to kill Karyk. He did not even know what condition Karyk was in if he was even alive. He had promised Karyk that he wasn't going to think about revenge, but that promise depended on Karyk's words that the Archangels weren't going to come for him. The Archangels did not come to target him or his family. But technically, they did come for him, even if it was because of a misunderstanding.
He wanted to live a peaceful life as he had promised. But he also could not forget the past. He could not forgive. He was someone who loved settling the scores. It was even more important as Karyk was his family. Uriel extended a hand towards Gabriel, the light radiating from his being intensifying. "Take the Crystal on the Altar. During the night of the first eclipse, crush this crystal and it will open a path for you."
"Together, we shall unlock the depths of your celestial heritage and guide you towards your true potential." Nôv(el)B\\jnn
With that, the person disappeared. The hall returned to normal, but a crystal was clearly visible in the middle of the altar now. Gabriel stepped forward and reached out his hand to grab the crystal. "Who are you? How did you find this place?"
Just as his fingers touched the crystal, a voice came from behind him. "You must be the person Uriel was looking for."
Gabriel picked up the crystal and kept it in his Spatial Storage.