The Temple was quiet, with only the occasional soft footsteps and whispers.
Priestesses in simple long dresses moved silently through it.
They either tended to the potted herbs placed in the niches or spoke in low voices with believers who came seeking help.
As rumored, the Temple of Melitele was a sanctuary for women.
As far as the eye could see, almost everyone present was female: women with haggard faces praying for offspring,
pregnant women waiting anxiously for childbirth, and mothers bringing their children to pray.
Men like Karl, Raymond, and Dalton stood out conspicuously here, attracting many curious yet restrained glances.
The Goddess meritelli was primarily regarded as the patron of fertility, conception, and childbirth, the most devout object of prayer for women during labor.
Of course, she also presided over love, cultivation, hearth, and other aspects closely related to life.
But undoubtedly, fertility was her most core and sublime power in the hearts of Mortals.
Therefore, this Temple lacked nothing but women, who were most abundant.
From the Duchesses of the principality to common women, all might seek spiritual solace and the Goddess's blessing here.
Nenneke led them through the spacious main hall, heading deeper into the Temple.
The further they went, the more serene the environment became, and a certain aura permeating the air seemed to grow thicker.
As they approached an entrance, partially obscured by curtains, clearly the core area at the back of the Temple,
Nenneke stopped. She turned around, her kind but unwavering gaze sweeping over Geralt and Dalton.
She said gently but firmly, "The Goddess's healing ritual requires tranquility and focus. It is not suitable for too many people to be noisy, so as not to disturb the sacred atmosphere. You two, please stop and wait here."
Geralt seemed to have expected this; the Witcher was familiar with the rules of various religious places.
He nodded, his amber eyes glancing at Karl, indicating he was fine, and then leaned against a stone pillar in the corridor with his arms crossed. Dalton looked at Karl with some hesitation, and after receiving Karl's affirmative look,
he bowed slightly and remained with Geralt, watching Karl assist Raymond and follow Nenneke's figure as she disappeared behind the gently swaying curtain.
Entering the back of the Temple, the light became softer, originating from some self-luminous moss or soft crystals embedded in the walls.
The space here was not too large, with a meticulously carved stone altar in the center.
And the most striking feature was undoubtedly the tall, integrated stone statue behind the altar.
The statue vividly depicted a trinity of female figures: on the left was a young girl radiating youthful vitality, holding a garland.
Her face was pure and flawless, her eyes full of longing for the future; in the middle was a pregnant woman with a heavily swollen belly, her expression serene and gentle.
Her hands gently caressed her bulging abdomen, and a maternal glow emanated from her.
On the right was an old woman with wisdom wrinkles on her face, holding a spindle. Her eyes were deep and peaceful, seemingly seeing through the Reincarnation of life.
This trinity collectively symbolized the Maiden, Mother, and Crone represented by the Goddess meritelli, which is the entire process of life's birth, growth, and decay.
Nenneke motioned for Karl to help Raymond to the altar, allowing him to sit leaning against the altar's edge.
Raymond gasped weakly, his cloudy eyes staring blankly at the three-faced statue, lacking even the strength to concentrate.
Karl settled Raymond, straightened up, and his gaze also fell upon the statue of meritelli.
He held hope in his heart, but also a hint of caution stemming from his wariness of deities.
Nenneke stood before the altar, facing the statue, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet space.
"Karl, to cure your father's pallor sickness is beyond what Mortals can do; it requires the grace of the Goddess."
"All I can do is act as a medium, to pray devoutly on behalf of you and your father to the Benevolent Mother."
Before Karl could ask how to proceed or what price he needed to pay,
Nenneke had already slowly closed her eyes. She clasped her hands together, placing them devoutly before her chest.
Then, she bowed her head deeply, turned around, and faced the three-faced statue completely.
She began to chant ancient and obscure prayers in a low voice, the syllables beautiful and rhythmic.
The language was neither the common tongue nor any local dialect Karl knew.
Her voice was not loud, yet it seemed to resonate strangely with the entire Temple and with this statue.
The surrounding air seemed to tremble slightly with it. Seeing this, Karl could only swallow the words he was about to speak.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his somewhat chaotic mind.
Mimicking Nenneke, he looked up, gazing at the three faces of the statue, each representing a different stage of life.
At first, everything seemed normal; only Nenneke's distant and devout prayers echoed.
However, in the very next moment, Karl's eyes gradually widened, his pupils slightly contracted, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.
Under his superhuman gaze, the wooden statue, which had been motionless, actually—came alive!
Not in a physical sense of movement, but a deeper, more fundamental change.
The faces of the trinity statue seemed to be infused with the breath of life.
The Maiden's eyes seemed to blink, shimmering with clear, curious light.
The pregnant woman's lips curved slightly upward, forming an even gentler, more loving smile.
In the deep eyes of the old woman, endless wisdom seemed to twinkle.
Immediately after, those three "living" eyes simultaneously turned and precisely fixed upon him.
It was a gaze difficult to describe in words: inclusive, loving, compassionate—as if it gathered all the deepest emotions of mothers in the world for their children.
They gave him a silent yet incredibly clear, gentle smile that could melt all ice.
Karl felt a warm current instantly pour from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, his whole body tingling as if electrified.
Before he could react, a slight sensation of weightlessness suddenly struck him, and the scene before his eyes blurred and distorted.
In just the blink of an eye, he found himself—no longer in the quiet back of the Temple.
He stood on a beautiful land, with soft, carpet-like emerald green grass beneath his feet.
It was dotted with countless unknown small flowers that emitted a soft glow.
Towering ancient trees had lush branches and leaves, and sunlight streamed through the gaps, forming golden pillars of light.
The air was filled with a rich Qi of life, so fresh that every pore of his body expanded.
Gentle animals were everywhere; elk walked past him with light steps, curiously observing him.
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