The Eternal Pope's Speculation

The Eternal Theocracy.

Contrary to what most Avalon imagine, the Eternal Pope does not live in a bright, magnificent, pure white palace.

White has never been the representative color of the Theocracy; it was merely the Avalon ' imagination of order and holiness.

Some people might know a little more. They know that elves actually live in a giant tree, so they imagine that elves love to embrace nature and live in lush forests.

But green is not the representative color of the Theocracy either. Green is the color of adaptation and beauty, the hue of the Iris People.

The only color revered in the Theocracy is red.

Blood and flames. Heart and candle.

Those are all symbols of sacrifice and dedication.

In terms of land area alone, the territory of the Theocracy may be less than one-seventh the size of Avalon. However, the number of its citizens living in the Theocracy is more than one-fifth the size of Avalon's. Even so, the Theocracy does not feel crowded.

Because it's very simple.

The Theocracy is not actually a "flat" country.

A colossal tree, reaching to the sky, grows on the island, occupying nearly 70% of its area.

Legend has it that this giant tree voluntarily offered its heartwood so that it could house small creatures; it offered its trunk to protect those lives more fragile and fragile than itself; and it offered all its sap so that some of them might receive the blood of immortals. These immortals chosen by the giant tree are the elves.

He is the father of fathers and the mother of mothers among the elves.

Because of this great achievement, the giant tree also became one of the candle keeper's most beloved apostles.

From this perspective, the Eternal Theocracy is actually a nation built within the body of an apostle.

That is why the elves have the utmost respect for the candle keeper.

Even though His spirit had long since departed for the Dream Realm, His enormous physical form, which remained in the Material Realm, persisted, continued to grow, and thrived. And this reddish-brown bark and trunk became the foundation of the Eternal Theocracy.

The Eternal Theocracy built twenty-two concentric rings around this colossal tree that reached to the heavens. Strictly speaking, all the buildings "grew" out of the tree. It was warm in winter and cool in summer, and it would never rot or become damp, and it also had an inexhaustible supply of fruit to sustain itself.

Even the candles the elves lit daily came from the giant tree—they ground the sacred bark into powder, which became a crucial raw material for the candles used on the priests' crowns. Thus, wherever they were, they felt as if they were at home, as long as the sacred candles were lit.

Each level of the giant tree is a vast circular city, with slightly different environments on each level. Elves live for hundreds of years, and many elves never leave the Eternal Theocracy in their entire lives, because the Theocracy itself is sufficient for their needs.

At this very moment, on the twenty-second floor of the Eternal Theocracy.

The girl, dressed in a pure white robe, slowly opened her eyes and got up from the bed.

She wore a white, knee-length robe, white boots, and white silk gloves. Her hair was also pure white, and her pupils were silvery-white. She shimmered in the candlelight, like an illusion or a ghost.

Without a word, she removed her clothes. As the girl stood up and walked, her white robe, gloves, and stockings fell to the ground. After she removed all her clothes, a heavy red and black robe was revealed on her body.

The robe revealed intricate patterns—resembling a deer's head or thorns.

Then, black thorns began to spread from within the robe, climbing up and embedding themselves in her collarbone, neck, ears, and forehead. The parts hidden by the robe—her back, chest, abdomen, legs, and hands—were also entangled and embedded in the thorns.

The thorns seemed to grow inside her, fitting her perfectly.

Even so, it couldn't be without pain—blood dripped as she walked, falling to the ground or soaking her robes.

But she remained oblivious to all of this. She simply walked calmly toward her pure white, jade-like Holy Seat.

As she sat on the Holy Seat, the black thorns began to spread outwards. Only after they had climbed all the way up the Holy Seat did they finally quiet down.

Her will finally synchronized with the entire Theocracy.

She gazed ahead, yet it seemed as if she were piercing through the void.

"What do you think of Iver, Matilda?"

She said that.

Meanwhile, the blue-haired female elf on the thirteenth floor removed her disguise and casually replied, "I think... for human standards, it's quite good. But actually, it's just so-so... However, this might be because we know little about him and have seen little of him. Since Si Zhu is satisfied with him enough, then we should just carry out the orders."

"It wasn't just the Candle Master. Weizhe was inside me before, Constant Self also came. Even Amber took a look through my eyes... It was the Crown Master who didn't come, which surprised me a little."

"... Amber? Why did He come?"

The female elf Matilda, who was using the alias Jacaranda, paused slightly in her movements. "Mr. Iver, do you still have the adaptability to the Path of Twilight?"

She was clearly surprised that the Pillar God of the Path of Twilight was paying attention to a mortal.

Amber hadn't been touched in a long time—the only things that could usually attract its attention these days were people's research into the art of immortality and those extraordinary individuals who extended their lives through various means.

"It seems he used some kind of divine technique to extend someone's life. Without violating the principles of the Hourglass, he broke the predetermined death. Amber was curious and came to take a look. If nothing unexpected happens, it might be related to the Celestials. Generally speaking, the Pillar God only care so much about things related to the Celestials."

"I suspect He might be a descendant of some celestial official, or even a reincarnation."

Do you know which celestial official it is?

"I guess it's Butterfly Angel, after all, Butterfly Angel is good at death and rebirth. I noticed that he was controlling a kind of fire butterfly, and that unknown phantom demon had a very high rank. It is very likely that it is a descendant or clone of Butterfly Angel."

"... What a remarkably adaptable young man. In that case, how about I personally teach him Advanced Divine Arts?"

Matilda rubbed her face, transforming from a middle-aged human woman into the appearance of a young elf in her twenties or thirties. "Also, Oswald has returned. Since you have some time, would you like to see him?"

"I won't see him. Let my knight get some rest; I'm almost out of time too."

The elven girl declined, saying, "And... let Grey handle the matter of teaching Iver divine magic."

The Eternal Pope said softly, "I have a feeling that he might be able to solve Grey's problem."

"Your holy decree, Your Majesty. But we should inform Grey first... after all, you have been impersonating her."

"Then you go, Matilda ... Recount everything that happened in your dream to Grey, so she doesn't give herself away... Play the role of 'Pure White' well. Just in case, also tell Topaz ... I won't go looking for him..."

The Pope spoke, his voice growing softer and softer, as if he were getting sleepy. "I'm a little tired, Matilda... I'm going to sleep again."

Good night, Your Majesty.

Matilda said softly, "Call me anytime you wake up."

"Um..."

She murmured, "If I'm still not awake by next March, wake me up..."

Before the words were finished, the Eternal Pope with the appearance of a young girl tilted her head slightly, lost consciousness, and fell backward onto the Holy Seat into a deep sleep.

Her blood was slowly and steadily sucked by the thorns of sin atop the Holy Seat.

This de facto strongest person in the world, whose youthful appearance of only fifteen or sixteen years old is gradually changing—is continuously reversing his age towards around thirteen or fourteen.