Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world-Chapter 77: To the Holy Land [2]

As they continued their walk, Charlotte spoke "That woman must have been sent by the people in higher authority here to check how we would react in a situation like that..."

"She wouldn’t have dared to act like that on her own. So, don’t take it to heart."

Brandon nodded his head "Mhm..."

---

As they continued walking, they finally reached the Inner Sanctum area.

One of the high priestesses who was waiting for their arrival hurriedly came to them and bowed her head.

"Everyone was expecting your arrival..."

She gestured to the side and murmured "This way, please."

Following the woman, they finally reached a big door.

As they pushed the door, Brandon’s gaze flickered around to see the surroundings.

In front of him, there is an enormous statue of the Goddess of Rheanne and then his gaze fell on the numerous figures assembled before him.

At the very center of the room was a massive pool of shimmering liquid, its surface swirling with soft ripples despite the absence of any wind.

The priestesses were lined up in rows, standing in perfect formation with their heads slightly bowed in solemn reverence.

At the forefront of the gathered clergy stood several High Priestesses.

However, what caught his attention was the woman standing in front of them.

Acolyte, Valiene Himmele.

Valiene stepped forward and showed a smile "Brandon Kael..."

Brandon just nodded his head and she spoke "You stand within the holiest sanctum of the Goddess Rheanne, where only the most devout and chosen may tread."

"This is the Font of Divinity, a sacred wellspring that has existed since the founding of the Church," she explained.

"It is within these waters that the Rite of Baptism shall be conducted. The blessing of the Goddess shall be invoked, and your presence in this world shall be acknowledged by the heavens."

Brandon glanced at the pool and frowned slightly "So, I need to step into that?"

Valiene inclined her head. "Correct."

"The waters of the Font shall cleanse your soul, granting you the recognition of the divine order. The ritual is simple, yet it holds significance beyond mortal comprehension."

Brandon resisted the urge to sigh.

He glanced at Charlotte, but she stood beside him silently.

Valiene extended a hand towards the pool "When you are ready, step forward."

Brandon hesitated for only a brief moment before sighing and moving towards the water.

The shimmering liquid within the pool rippled slightly, as if responding to his presence.

He stopped at the edge and his gaze flickered to Valiene, who stood gracefully beside the pool.

She smiled slightly and spoke "The Font of Divinity is a sacred substance, imbued with the blessings of the Goddess herself. Those who step into its depths are forever marked by its touch."

Brandon’s eyes squinted "And what exactly does this ’mark’ mean?"

Valiene’s expression did not change "The waters will not harm you, if that is your concern. They will merely recognize your existence."

She paused and then added, "There is no deception here, Brandon Kael. The church seeks only to affirm what has already become reality: that you are an anomaly within the divine order."

Brandon exhaled gently, but he had already committed to this.

With one final glance at Charlotte, he took the final step forward and lowered himself into the pool.

The moment his skin made contact, a strange sensation shot through his entire body.

The liquid was neither warm nor cold, it was simply there, as if it had no temperature at all.

Yet the instant it touched him, he felt something stir deep within him.

’What the hell? It feels...’

It was subtle at first, like a faint hum in the back of his mind, but then it intensified.

His veins tingled and an inexplicable sensation of weightlessness overtook him.

The water was deeper than it appeared.

Though the pool seemed shallow from the outside, as he moved forward, the water level almost reached his abdomen.

A hush fell over the chamber.

The priestesses, the high clergy, and the assembled figures all watched in absolute silence as the water around Brandon began to glow.

The entire sanctum pulsed and the air thrummed with an invisible energy as the pool began to glow.

Then, all at once, the water surged upward.

A pillar of golden light erupted from the Font, engulfing Brandon entirely.

The force of it was overwhelming, pressing against him from all sides, yet it did not burn.

His body floated weightlessly within the radiant current, and his limbs suspended as If he had been taken beyond the physical realm.

He could no longer hear the chamber around him.

In that moment, there was only the golden light, the unseen voices, and the strange, pulsating rhythm within his own body.

Then, something changed....

A pressure...

It was subtle at first, but suddenly wrapped around his core.

His ether responded and the genesis mark on his chest glowed faintly.

The golden light twisted, forming patterns along his skin and in the instant, the patterns along his body disappeared.

Brandon’s vision blurred and his consciousness wavered.

’What... what is this?’

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pressure released.

The golden light dimmed.

"Haaa... Haa..."

Brandon gasped as he fell forward and his knees hit the bottom of the Font with a splash.

The sacred water rippled around him and now it is totally calm... as if nothing happened.

A moment passed.

Then another.

The chamber remained silent.

Brandon slowly lifted his head and he took quick breaths as a strange feeling racked his body.

His body still tingled, but whatever force touched him... it was gone.

He glanced down at his hands.

Nothing seemed different.

No new markings, no visible changes.

Yet deep inside, he felt something.

’W-What the hell happened just now?’

Valiene, who was looking at him, took a step back in absolute horror ’H-Huh?’

’How?’

Charlotte looked at him and her gaze narrowed ’No harm to his body or core. They all seem perfect...’

---

Inside a dark chamber, eerie blue light passed through the cracks through small holes illuminating the dark space.

Amidst this, a lone figure sat on top of a altar... and the blue light from the crack showed very little of her body features.

The woman’s white eyelashes fluttered open, revealing her blue eyes and she gently raised her gaze.

She opened her lips and a soft voice escaped her lips "The Herald... of Divinity."