Verena stands frozen in the corridor.
Her eyes slowly move around the long hallway.
Along both sides stand rows of Alchemy Iron Knight Golems. Each towering construct stands several meters apart from the next, motionless like statues carved from iron and steel. Their armour is thick and engraved with protective alchemical runes, their swords resting upright in their hands.
The silent guardians line the corridor like an army waiting for a command.
The sight alone is enough to make her nervous.
She swallows quietly.
Her thoughts race.
After meeting the Pope with her grandfather, the Pope had instructed her to walk down this corridor alone while he remained behind to speak privately with her grandfather.
But something had disturbed her during that meeting.
When the Pope spoke of the person who wanted to see her, his voice carried deep reverence.
The Pope.
The highest authority of the Sand Temple.
The man who commanded respect from kings and noble houses alike.
Yet he had spoken with humility when mentioning this person.
Verena's fingers tighten slightly.
She knows the Pope only shows such reverence toward former Popes…
And—
She quickly stops that thought before it can form fully.
She dares not think further.
Her eyes shift toward the enormous golden door before her.
The door is richly decorated.
Across its surface is an ancient mural showing the first tribe of the continent. The figures in the artwork hold different-coloured gems that glow faintly under the corridor lamps.
Verena inhales slowly.
Her heart beats rapidly inside her chest.
Whoever wants to meet her must be incredibly important.
This meeting could help her family escape the dangerous position they currently face.
She cannot afford to make a bad impression.
Verena carefully adjusts her bronze-thread dress.
She smooths the fabric along her waist and shoulders.
Then she takes several slow breaths until her racing heart calms slightly.
Finally, she steps forward.
She raises her hand toward the door—
But before she can knock—
The massive door opens smoothly on its own.
Verena jumps slightly in surprise.
The silent movement of the heavy door startles her.
For a moment, she hesitates.
Then she gathers her courage and steps forward.
The moment she enters the chamber, the door closes quietly behind her.
She instinctively turns her head and glances back.
The golden door seals shut without a sound.
Verena looks at it for a brief moment before turning forward again.
The chamber before her is vast.
Golden pillars rise along both sides of the room, supporting a beautifully decorated ceiling covered in intricate alchemical patterns.
From that ceiling hang several enormous crystal chandeliers. Each one shines with warm golden light that fills the chamber and reflects off the polished surfaces around the room.
The light makes the entire hall glow.
The black marble floor stretches forward beneath her feet.
Its smooth surface mirrors the golden light above.
At the far end of the chamber, the marble floor ends at a wide staircase.
The staircase rises toward a raised platform.
At the centre of the platform stands a throne.
Verena's breath stops when she sees who sits upon it.
The man.
The same man who rescued her and her friends in the desert outside the city a day ago.
She walks slowly forward.
Her footsteps echo softly across the marble floor.
When she reaches a few meters from the staircase, she stops.
Her eyes remain fixed on the figure sitting on the throne.
The man leans back comfortably against the throne.
His eyes are closed as if he were sleeping.
Verena studies him more carefully this time.
And the more she looks, the more she feels stunned.
He is the most beautiful man she has ever seen.
Not simply handsome.
Perfect.
His appearance feels like a masterpiece sculpted by the gods themselves.
His golden hair falls smoothly over his shoulders.
The colour shines softly under the chandelier light like molten sunlight.
His skin carries a healthy bronze tone, smooth and flawless like polished stone.
Even when casually sitting on the throne, his presence radiates quiet elegance.
His face is balanced, its features impossibly harmonious.
Verena finds herself staring longer than she intended.
For a moment, she forgets why she came.
Then she quickly gathers herself.
She lowers her gaze respectfully.
"Sir," she says softly, "what can I do for you?"
The man's eyes open instantly.
Golden eyes.
Bright.
Deep.
They lock onto her.
For a moment, the entire room feels silent.
Then the man speaks calmly.
"Verena."
"I have a proposal for you."
The words hang quietly in the golden chamber.
Verena feels her heart beating faster again.
Questions already swirl through her mind, and now they rise to the surface.
She hesitates for a moment before speaking.
"Sir… what kind of proposal?"
Her voice carries careful politeness, but curiosity and nervousness remain impossible to hide.
The man on the throne—Kaelan—answers without hesitation.
"I will help your grandfather advance to the Title Alchemist Stage."
The words strike Verena like thunder.
Her mind freezes.
For a moment, she cannot even breathe.
"Sir…"
She stutters.
"Are you telling the truth?"
Her eyes widen with disbelief.
"Can you really help my grandfather advance to the Title Alchemist Stage?"
Her voice trembles slightly as she asks.
She stares at Kaelan as if trying to determine whether the words were a joke.
She has never heard of anyone being able to help another person advance to the Title Alchemist Stage.
Such advancement depends on talent, comprehension, and fortune.
No one can simply grant it.
At least… that is what she has always believed.
Only one figure in the entire continent could do such a thing.
One person.
But the man sitting before her cannot possibly be that figure.
Kaelan does not react to her disbelief.
Instead, he calmly sends a voice transmission through the spiritual energy network.
"Bring Mahu here."
The message reaches the Pope instantly.
Then Kaelan looks back at Verena.
"Yes," he says simply. "I can help your grandfather advance to the Title Alchemist Stage."
Verena still struggles to process the words.
"Who…?" she begins to ask.
But before she can finish—
Kaelan's gaze shifts past her.
Toward the door behind her.
Verena instinctively turns.
The golden door opens again.
Two figures step into the chamber.
The Pope.
And her grandfather.
Verena's eyes brighten in surprise.
Her grandfather, Mahu, enters the hall slowly.
His first gaze falls upon Verena.
Then his eyes move toward the throne.
His brows knit together slightly.
He studies the young man sitting upon it.
Questions appear immediately in his mind.
Why is this young man sitting on the throne?
Why is the Pope standing beside him?
Why does the Pope not sit?
The young man shows no sign of respect toward the Pope.
Mahu initially wonders whether the man is some arrogant young noble trying to curry favour with the Pope.
But as he walks closer toward Verena, he notices something strange.
From the corner of his eye, he observes the Pope carefully.
The Pope keeps his head slightly lowered.
He does not dare look directly at the man on the throne.
He follows the man's presence respectfully.
Step by step.
Standing beside Verena, the Pope bows slightly.
"Lord," he says respectfully, "I have accomplished your task."
The word freezes both Verena and Mahu.
They turn toward the Pope in shock.
The Pope.
The highest authority of the Sand Temple.
He just called someone—
Lord.
There is only one person the Pope addresses with that title.
Only one.
Verena still struggles to understand.
But Mahu realises immediately.
Without hesitation, he drops to his knees.
"Lord."
His voice carries deep respect.
Verena stares at her grandfather in confusion for a brief moment.
Then she quickly kneels as well.
"Lord."
Her voice follows his example.
Kaelan listens carefully.
He hears the respect in their tone.
But not the overwhelming reverence of believers toward their god.
And that is exactly how he designed it.
Kaelan understands the poison of blind faith.
Faith can corrupt both the believer and the god they worship.
So he tied his religion to Alchemy itself.
People do not worship him directly.
They believe in Alchemy.
Their faith flows toward the path of knowledge and creation.
Through that path, their belief eventually reaches him.
In the Sacred Book of Alchemy, it is written clearly.
Every believer has the opportunity to reach the cultivation stage of their god.
The path is open to all.
After the brief silence settles, Kaelan speaks again.
"Mahu."
His voice echoes gently through the hall.
"I will help you advance to the Title Alchemist Stage."
Then he pauses.
"And in return…"
His golden eyes move toward Verena.
"Your granddaughter Verena will become my lover."
The words stop time.
Both Mahu and Verena freeze.
For several seconds, neither of them speaks.
Mahu slowly turns his head toward Verena.
His mind is conflicted.
Part of him wants to agree immediately.
Such an opportunity is unimaginable.
But another memory rises in his mind.
When he left the mansion earlier, he had said something proudly.
He would never force his granddaughter to sacrifice her happiness for the family.
Now those words return to haunt him.
He cannot speak.
Instead, he looks toward Verena with quiet hope.
The choice must be hers.
Verena remains kneeling.
Slowly, she lifts her eyes toward Kaelan on the throne.
Her heart beats loudly in her chest.
The entire future of her family hangs in this moment.
She takes a breath.
Then speaks.
"I accept."