"The lost lamb did not turn back in time to seek the light. He sank even deeper into that dark abyss... If the Baiye family's upright and kind ancestors knew that their only remaining descendants had embarked upon an evil road strewn with thorns, who knew how heartbroken they would be."
There was still no playing hard to get or repeatedly yielding ground in exchanges between Legendary professionals. Punk's rejection essentially counted as a "failed recruitment" for the Elven Royal Court and the Pantheon. Knowing this, Aikar, the Morningstar Priest, openly voiced his sentiments in a tone that seemed to pity and pray. Yet in his eyes... Punk saw not the slightest genuine regret or disappointment...
Yes, that was the truly strange part.
The Elven Royal Court's recruitment had failed, and the Pantheon's attempt to poach him had turned to nothing from the outset. Yet as the Grand High Priest of the Church of Life, a Pious One who carried out the Goddess of Life's will in the "mortal world," not only was Aikar not displeased, he seemed indifferent to the caster's attitude—and even faintly pleased?
Although Aikar's expression still bore that unchanged gentle smile, and although the two "Legendary attendants" standing behind him and watching Punk warily could never have noticed the thoughts in their own Grand High Priest's eyes, the cautious Whisper of Destruction was certain he had neither misseen nor misunderstood—this Pious One was genuinely delighted by his decisive refusal of the Lawful Good alignment's recruitment!
*This is truly too strange. No wonder that old fox Aikar's recruitment pitch was so stiff and irritating. Was it all deliberate? Hmm, although even the most powerful Deities rarely choose truly fanatical believers as their Legendary Priests in order to prevent faith from becoming too corrosive, there is still no