Before long, the young knight Evans led Solam and Saililefu to the inner prayer hall of Saint Sophia Cathedral, a place specifically used by the church for prayers and meetings.
By the time Solam entered the prayer hall, it was already filled with people. There were priests, as well as members of the Order of the Silver Hand like Evans. At the very end of the hall, before the statue of the Lord of Radiance, a straight-backed figure was kneeling in prayer.
Though that figure was kneeling, to Solam's eyes, he seemed so immense that his entire field of vision was filled with him. This was not merely Solam's subjective impression—it was forced upon him. The figure's powerful aura declared his existence at every moment, causing everything before him to pale into insignificance, as though he were the sole protagonist between heaven and earth.
The sensation was deeply uncomfortable. Other than Arcane One, who had once sought to become a god, no one had ever placed such pressure on Solam—not even Queen Laeral Silverhand. Of course, that did not mean Queen Laeral Silverhand was weaker than the man before him. Rather, her power had surpassed the realm of high legends and returned to a state of simplicity, so Solam felt little pressure in her presence.
The instant Solam realized that the man had seized his mind, his spirit sharpened. He began actively resisting that vast, imposing aura. It was not particularly difficult for him. Soon, his vision began to collapse back into place. The enlarged figure shrank, and everything else gradually returned to Solam's sight.
Just as Solam resisted the aura, the figure kneeling before the statue paused. He clearly had not expected Solam to break free from his aura's lock so quickly.
"Hehehehe. I never expected that little runt