The Awakened Priest

The white-bearded old man continued walking.

He came before a recently excavated wall.

Above it was a carved stone mural.

It depicted two elderly men in ceremonial robes. One stood before the moon, the other before the sun, both worshipped by countless people.

"I, the Moon Priest of the priestly temple in the ancient city of Pompeii."

"As the administrator of this ancient city of Pompeii."

"Could not avert this disaster."

"Fifty years ago, when I awakened from beneath the ground, from that hardened stone slurry, everything was gone."

"My paradise, the city of Pompeii, was gone as well."

A beautiful light flickered in the white-bearded old man's eyes. "Fortunately, during my slumber, I discovered a new world. It is beautiful. There, one can possess everything with a mere thought, live like nobility, and have endless women."

"So."

A fierce gleam returned to the old man's eyes. "As the supreme Moon Priest beneath the Sun Priest, I must find that world again, so that my surviving people may end their sunless lives, return to the light, and enjoy everlasting bliss!"

The white-bearded old man looked at Fabio, his gaze lofty and contemptuous. "I helped your family attain its status today, yet you are so incompetent. After all this time, you have accomplished nothing!"

Fabio looked terrified. "My Lord Priest, we will have progress soon. The person capable of connecting to that world has already appeared! It's just... he is very powerful. It seems that as long as he eats, he can gain tremendous physical strength. We... for now..."

"Hmph."

"Gaining strength by eating?"

The white-bearded old man slowly walked up to Fabio. With two shriveled fingers, he lifted Fabio's golden cane and narrowed his eyes at it.

Then.

He plucked a tiny Golden Scarab from the cane.

The old man