"Yes, Your Grace!"
The High Priest and the two knight commanders dropped to one knee at once, as though granted a reprieve, and loudly acknowledged the order.
The solemn atmosphere in the hall seemed to settle at last.
Kairils remained on one knee.
He neither rose nor uttered another word of protest.
His ice-blue eyes watched everything unfold with cold indifference.
The Archbishop glanced sidelong at the silent Kairils, and an almost imperceptible smile finally curled his lips.
"Enough. You may all leave."
"Let our hero rest and prepare for tomorrow's celebration."
The Archbishop waved a hand in satisfaction, ready to dismiss everyone and end this somewhat disappointing meeting.
But just as the High Priest and the two commanders breathed sighs of relief and prepared to rise and leave the hall-
Crack...
A faint sound of ice forming abruptly rang through the hall, as though it came from the very depths of their souls.
The temperature inside the Divine Hall plummeted in an instant!
Deep within the hall, an ancient, unfathomable light suddenly shone from the surface of the Divine Statue towering dozens of meters high!
Though gentle, that light made the souls of everyone present tremble violently!
"This... what is this?!"
The smile on the Archbishop's face froze instantly.
He whipped around and stared wide-eyed at the Divine Statue in the center of the hall!
White frost suddenly formed across the statue's once-flawless white surface.
Then that frost rapidly spread throughout the Divine Hall, freezing the entire building in an instant.
This was the power of a deity.
This was a miracle bestowed by the Lord of Winter and Contracts.
Everyone present immediately understood. They dropped to one knee facing the Divine Statue and bowed their heads in devotion.
Then-
A voice devoid of any emotion slowly rang out,