Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world-Chapter 445: Baptism? [2]
"Begin the baptism."
Valienne straightened, turned to the priestesses, and raised both hands.
The rows of priestesses lifted their heads in perfect unison and began a low chant.
At the center, directly beneath Rheanne’s statue the massive pool of shimmering liquid began to glow brighter.
The surface rippled, and soft waves spread outward in perfect concentric circles.
Two priestesses stepped forward, lifting Selena’s stretcher between them.
They carried her to the pool’s edge and lowered her carefully onto a raised marble platform that extended over the water like an altar.
Valienne moved to the head of the platform, raised her arms, and raised her voice above the chant.
"In the name of Rheanne Himelle, Flame of Protection, Sovereign of this world... we call upon your light."
The priestesses echoed her "We call upon your light."
Valienne placed both hands on Selena’s forehead, pressing her thumbs gently to her temples.
"By your grace, burn away the shadow. By your will, return this soul to itself."
Silver light poured from Valienne’s palms, pouring into Selena’s body.
Selena’s body jerked once and then arched violently, her back bowing off the platform.
"GUARGHH-"
Black mist erupted from her mouth, and it lashed outward, its tendrils writhing around in all directions.
The priestesses were horrified to see this.
As Callista was about to move and stop the tendrils, Brandon extended his hand and stopped her.
He stepped forward into the pool "Don’t stop the chant."
Hearing his words, the priestesses nodded their heads and continued the ritual.
Their chant grew stronger.
Brandon waded deeper with water rising to his knees, until he stood directly beside Selena’s stretcher
Hm? He suddenly felt a weird energy spiraling into his body, and a silver light flashed through his eyes.
’...Rheanne?’
The silver light surged from his body, flooded Selena’s body, clashing with the black mist inside her.
Selena screamed, and her body convulsed so violently the stretcher rattled against the platform.
As mist poured from her eyes, her nose, and her mouth, fighting desperately to hold on.
Feeling the surge of energy in his body, Brandon squinted his gaze ’The energy because of my resonance with Rheanne?’
He understood instinctively ’I am the conduit.’
He gently raised his hand, and a huge, twenty-foot-tall phantom of Rheanne appeared behind Brandon, leaving everyone in shock.
Her face was serene, yet the sheer presence of her made the air tremble.
Every priestess in the room gasped, some dropping to their knees and others pressing their palms together in prayer.
Valienne’s eyes widened in tears of awe, and she too bowed her head.
Meanwhile, Callista, who was standing behind Brandon, looked at the phantom in utter devotion and dropped to her knees in reverence.
Brandon lowered his hand, and the phantom also lowered its hand, clashing on top of Selena’s body.
The phantom’s light intensified, consuming the shadow inch by inch.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Selena screamed in agony as black mist poured out even more before it got cleansed by the silver light.
Selena’s scream choked off, which turned into a ragged gasp and then silence.
The phantom of Rheanne stayed for one last moment, then dissolved into motes of silver light that drifted upward, vanishing into the domed ceiling.
Brandon lowered his hand and looked down at the unconscious body of Selena.
Her skin was no longer pale as color slowly returned to her cheeks.
The black residue around her eyes and mouth had vanished completely.
Valiene stepped forward and lowered her head "It is done."
Brandon gave a single nod, then turned to the priestesses.
They all had their heads lowered with silent tears of devotion streaming down many faces.
With a gentle wave of his hand, he spoke "Take her back to the chamber."
Two priestesses stepped forward immediately and lifted Selena’s stretcher.
They carried her gently toward the side exit to the recovery wing with their heads still bowed slightly in Brandon’s direction.
The remaining priestesses rose slowly, whispering soft prayers of thanks as they stepped out after the stretcher.
The chamber emptied quickly, with only Brandon, Valiene, and Callistra standing there.
He turned to Valiene and uttered "Go and rest."
"As you command, Lord Herald." Valiene nodded her head and exited the room through the side door.
He then turned to Callista, who was still kneeling in front of him.
Seeing this, he sighed faintly in his heart ’She is really devoted, huh... No wonder Charlotte calls her a Divine Dog.’
As Brandon opened his mouth to speak, his gaze caught something small in the corner of his eye.
A white butterfly.
It fluttered gently in the air above the empty platform where Selena was lying moments ago.
Beating its wings, it darted upward toward the domed ceiling before moving towards the exit.
Brandon frowned and quickly followed the butterfly’s path as it slipped through a narrow archway at the back of the sanctum.
"Huh? My Lord?" Callista stood up and followed without a word.
The butterfly led him deeper, through a short corridor lined with glowing silver runes, then up a narrow spiral stair.
At the top of the stairs, there was a single massive door, carved with Rheanne’s flame sigil on it.
The butterfly landed on the center of the door and then vanished in a soft burst of silver motes that drifted upward and disappeared into the stone.
Callista caught up and stopped just behind Brandon’s shoulder.
"My Lord. That’s the Deep Sanctum Hall. Only the Supreme Pontiff of every generation is allowed inside." - [1]
Brandon turned his head slightly "But my authority is above the Supreme Pontiff, right? So surely I can go in."
Callista nodded her head "Obviously."
"Wait for me outside."
Callista bowed and stepped back, pressing herself against the wall beside the door.
Opening the door, Brandon entered in, and he saw an empty room with a Rheanne statue in front of him.
’This looks like any other room in the church. Why did the butterfly bring me here...’
Closing the door behind him, he walked deeper.
"It’s been a while... my dear Herald."
Hearing a soft voice, his eyes widened, and he raised his head to look at the woman standing on the stairs leading to the statue.
Long white hair cascaded down her back like fresh-fallen snow, and she had deep, clear blue eyes, weearing long white robes.
Rheanne Himelle.
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[1] - Check Chapter 83 if you have forgotten Supreme Pontiff, Triarchs and stuff in Church authority
