There were thirteen apostles in total, each standing atop a separate pyramid.
Benerro noticed that although they were separated by considerable distances, he could somehow see every one of them with perfect clarity.
Then he realized something else.
The other twelve apostles were all dressed in magnificent crimson robes.
Golden flames were embroidered across the fabric. The intricate patterns curled around their collars and sleeves like living fire.
Even the finest craftsmen of Myr could never have created garments of such exquisite quality.
For the first time, Benerro felt slightly self-conscious.
People naturally accorded greater respect to those who were better dressed. It was a truth that held in any world.
Still, he was the High Priest of Volantis.
His bearing spoke for itself. Even if his clothing was inferior, his dignity would not be.
Just as he reached up to straighten his tattered robe, he froze.
His clothing had changed.
He, too, was now wearing the same crimson robe adorned with golden flames.
This must be R'hllor's blessing!
Benerro's heart shook with awe.
At that moment, all doubt vanished.
He no longer questioned that the owner of the mysterious voice truly was R'hllor.
Silence lingered for some time.
Finally, Benerro cleared his throat, signaling that he wished to speak first.
Though he did not know the identities of the others, the voice had already made one thing clear.
They were all followers of the Lord of Light.
As the High Priest of Volantis, his status was surely among the highest present.
"My friends," he began, "allow me to introduce myself. My name is Benerro. I am the High Priest of the Temple of the Lord of Light in Volantis."
The moment they heard his name, several of the others immediately recognized him, and their attitudes became noticeably more respectful.
"So it's the High Priest himself. My name is Thoros. I currently reside in King's Landing," said a short, broad-shouldered Red Priest.
"You're Thoros of Myr?" another man exclaimed in recognition. He wore a reddish-brown beard and appeared somewhat weathered.
"That's right. I am. I currently serve King Robert Baratheon."
"My name is Durrenmo. I am in Myr."
As Benerro listened to their introductions, he felt increasingly astonished.
He himself was in Volantis.
Thoros was in King's Landing across the Narrow Sea.
Durrenmo was in Myr.
Could these thirteen people truly have come from every corner of the world?
Before long, his suspicion was confirmed.
King's Landing.
Oldtown.
Braavos.
Myr.
Norvos.
Volantis.
Even Slaver's Bay...
And Asshai.
At first, every one of them had harbored doubts about the being claiming to be the Lord of Light.
Now, only reverence remained.
There was simply no other explanation.
Who besides R'hllor himself could possess such unimaginable power?
Who else could gather his followers together from every corner of the world?
Then Benerro noticed something else.
Among them stood a woman wearing a mask.
A mask...
Wasn't that the mark of a shadowbinder?
Could the power of the shadowbinders also come from the Lord of Light?
After some thought, Benerro decided not to ask.
Everyone present had received R'hllor's acknowledgment. That made them allies.
And allies should help one another.
At that moment, a Red Priest spoke.
"My friends, I am Erus, a Red Priest from Braavos. My followers and I have been expelled by the Sealord, Freygo."
After hearing him, Durrenmo from Myr spoke up as well.
"So have we. The governors of Myr have also driven us out."
The two consecutive testimonies immediately made everyone realize the seriousness of the situation.
"The temple I built for the Lord of Light in Volantis has also been seized by the triarchs," Benerro said, taking the opportunity to explain his own plight. "I have failed the Lord of Light."
"Someone is clearly targeting the followers of the Lord of Light. Such people deserve to burn in holy fire!"
The speaker was a heavily built Red Priest from Norvos.
Among everyone present, he possessed the most imposing physique and the loudest voice.
Every word he spoke boomed like a war drum, stirring an instinctive desire to follow him into battle.
"Our temples have never come into conflict with the local rulers or secular authorities," said another Red Priest who appeared to be from Slaver's Bay.
"Then why are we suddenly being treated this way?"
Thoros, standing in King's Landing, looked toward Benerro.
"High Priest Benerro, as I recall, your Temple of the Lord of Light commands a thousand Hands of the Sacred Flame.
And nearly half of the Tiger Cloaks within the Black Walls are your followers.
You shouldn't have been defeated without putting up a fight.
Can you tell us what happened?"
Everyone turned toward Benerro.
The Temple of the Lord of Light in Volantis had long been regarded as a place of pilgrimage by Red Priests throughout the world.
Now even their spiritual homeland had fallen.
That was difficult to believe.
"I believe it was House Targaryen," Benerro said gravely. "More specifically... Viserys Targaryen."
Although the rebirth of dragons had occurred only recently, and the news had not yet spread across the world, those chosen by R'hllor were no ordinary people.
Even without receiving definite reports, they had all sensed the sudden increase in magical power throughout the world.
From that alone, many had already deduced that dragons had returned.
Benerro merely filled in the missing details.
"I believe Viserys conspired with the triarchs of Volantis to destroy our temple.
He even ambushed me with Valyrian steel arrows. Had the Lord of Light not mercifully saved my life, I would already be dead."
The others responded with sympathy.
At the same time, they were awed by the Lord of Light's power.
"But why would Viserys oppose the Lord of Light?" the masked woman asked.
"Born amidst salt and smoke. Awakening dragons from stone. Aren't those the very signs foretold of the promised savior?"
"The savior I saw within the flames was not him," Benerro replied.
"The Lord of Light revealed to me that the true savior is Viserys's sister, Daenerys."
"Yes," Thoros said from King's Landing. "I witnessed the same prophecy in the flames. It was Daenerys."
"These prophecies have existed for thousands of years," another Red Priest from Slaver's Bay said thoughtfully.
"When Azor Ahai led mankind through the Long Night, did he hatch dragons?
Was he born amidst salt and smoke?
Our influence throughout the Free Cities is being destroyed, and immediately afterward, the Lord of Light gathers us all together.
Could it be that he intends for us to help Viserys conquer the world?"
"If that's the case," the massive Red Priest from Norvos declared, raising his powerful voice, "then since the Lord of Light has gathered us here, he must want us united."
"...Perhaps he even wishes us to destroy House Targaryen in retaliation. We should begin discussing exactly how to accomplish that."
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