Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 905 - 521 Elder in the Dark Sea

Chapter 905: Chapter 521 Elder in the Dark Sea

The night is deep, darkness enveloping everything like an ocean descending silently from the sky. Flickering bonfires illuminate the Lake Capital City, resembling stars scattered across the vast sea, shedding fleeting light. And the grandest island within this dark sea is naturally the towering Great Temple and the Chief Palace hidden behind.

At the top of the Chief Palace is the ancient and timeless hall, etched with the traces of the past. Fish oil candles burn among the divine murals. The faint fragrance from the incense burner wafts in, like secret currents of the sea, or the gentle caress of jellyfish. In this quiet solace, a frail, white-haired elder finally opens his eyes with difficulty from a slumber as deep as the ocean.

"It’s dark..."

The elder gazes at the dome of the sky, his eyes filled with an unbreakable chaos and murkiness. He stares for a long while, gradually reclaiming a bit of clarity, making his gaze deep once more.

"It’s dark again..."

Cevali, the shadow guard commander, purses his lips, standing like a statue behind the elder’s bed. In his arms, he holds a clay pot he seems never to have put down, and at his waist is a sharp bronze axe. A few steps across from him stands Uguel, the tearful Elder Priest holding a towel.

The elder slowly opens his mouth, tasting the honey water inside. He softly exhales, weakly asking.

"Cevali, have I slept for one day or two days?"

"Elder, you have slept for one day."

Cevali bends down carefully, helping the elder sit up against the thick cotton backrest.

"Earlier, Elder Uguel fed you some honey water with added salt and treated avocado."

"Hmm."

The elder nods calmly. Then, he turns his head, gazing at the bonfires across the Capital City outside the windows. Lost in thought for a while, he finally looks at Uguel.

"Uguel, you have been thoughtful."

"Elder... boohoo!"

Uguel hangs his head, his voice quivering, tears continually flowing from his eyes. His face shows genuine grief as well as fear and confusion about the future.

Since last December when the King vowed to march eastward, the elder had been unable to leave his bed, incapable of moving. By March this year, with the expansion of the Great Temple completed, the elder fulfilled a long-held wish but often fell into a coma. He spent much more time asleep than awake during these days. By late May, the elder was already too weak to eat, relying on carefully prepared honey water to survive.

Seeing such a weakened elder and such a dim sun, even though Uguel had always been fearful, he could hardly conceal his inner sadness! After all, since his youth, he had followed the elder’s orders, for nearly forty years now! During these forty years, he had grown from a young apprentice to the Elder Priest of the Capital City, while the immortal elder remained high above, embodying all his reverence and respect, and being his accustomed support...

"Don’t cry... I’m not dead yet."

Watching the child-like crying Uguel, a faint smile flickers across the elder’s face. Then, his expression turns serene once more as he looks out the window. Facing the hall is the completed, more imposing Great Temple.

"Uguel, how long has it been since the expansion of the Great Temple was completed?"

"Six... sixty-three days."

Uguel lifts his head to answer with tearful eyes. Ever since the Great Temple was completed, the elder often asked this question, inquiring about the passage of time. It seemed an important moment deeply etched in the elder’s heart and marked in his life.

"Sixty-three days then..."

The elder gazes out the window for a while, the Great Temple looming in the darkness, outlining a faint silhouette. It resembles the Snake Mountain where the War God resides, or a stairway to the Divine Kingdom, gathering endless mortal beliefs. After a while, the elder slowly, softly lowers his eyes.

Uguel wipes his tears away with a towel and places it back into the bamboo basket, changing to a new one. He brought quite a few towels, mainly to serve the elder. Then, he looks at the elder, who is sunk in contemplation, dazedly waiting for two quarters, only to realize in surprise...

"Huh?"

"Shh, let the elder sleep a bit more."

Cevali extends his hand, asking the Elder Priest to wait patiently.

"Uh... alright."

Then, Uguel sits cross-legged on the ground, while Cevali stands like a sculpture, passing two hours in a blink. Until the night deepens, nearly dawn’s arrival in darkness, the elder faintly awakens once more, opening his eyes again.

"Uguel..."

Uguel, head bowed, is already soundly asleep, even drooling. The elder’s weak call couldn’t wake him.

The elder doesn’t call again. He merely calmly observes that slightly plump face, his eyes slightly flickering, unsure of what he’s contemplating.

"Hmm?"

A night breeze blows in, brushing past everyone’s clothes, slightly cold. Uguel suddenly shivers, opens his eyes abruptly, and sees the elder’s expressionless face and deep-sea-like eyes!

"Ah! Ah!... Elder, you... you’re awake!"

Uguel panics, scrambling to rise from the ground, standing by the bed, then awkwardly wiping away his drool.

The elder’s mouth slightly curled up. He waited patiently until Uguel finished tidying up before asking indifferently.

"How is the situation on the eastern campaign?"

"Reporting to the elder, everything on the eastern campaign is going smoothly!"

Uguel’s heart was pounding. He answered nervously and in a panic.

"The two armies have conquered key strongholds and penetrated deep into Tlaxcala! King Aweit has taken the Northern Divine Pass and Feathered Serpent City, and is about to besiege the three Snake Cities. His Highness Xiulote has conquered Water Valley City and Mountain Peak City in the south, and is currently handling the Holy City..."

"The Holy City?"

"Yes, the Holy City of Cholula. They even sent an envoy to give me gifts... uh!"

At this point, Uguel’s words halted, and his face suddenly turned pale.

"Ah... but... that... I didn’t accept! I really didn’t accept this time!"

The elder remained expressionless, deeply contemplating while looking at Uguel. He did not ask further, nor did he pay attention to the frantic explanations of the Elder Priest, instead, he pondered silently.

"Holy City of Cholula... Holy City, Cholula!..."

The gentle ripples arose in the elder’s heart, carrying with it the icy coldness of the deep sea and the hardness of seabed rocks. Then, a turbulent current surged from the abyss of the sea, silently rushing and swirling, sweeping all the lively fishes in the sea into the bottomless darkness!

"Hmm..."

Only after a long time did the elder lower his gaze and calmly speak to Uguel.

"Uguel, you may leave now. Starting tomorrow, don’t return anymore."

"Ah? Elder! You... you... boohoo!"

Uguel’s heart and mind were utterly shaken, a bone-chilling coldness instantly surged into his heart. He abruptly fell at the bedside, clutching the elder’s old and frail arm, repenting with deep sorrow and regret.

"Boohoo! Elder, I’ll never dare to accept bribes again... I really didn’t take any!..."

The elder’s mouth once again curled into a curve. He looked at Uguel without any emotion for a moment, then slowly said with a smile.

"Go back! Starting tomorrow, go to the High Priesthood, and manage various clerical matters properly... If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask the other elders to clarify... You still have time to learn well."

"Boohoo... Ah?..."

Hearing this, Uguel’s crying suddenly paused. He looked up hesitantly at the elder.

"I... still have time?"

"Yes."

The elder slowly extended his hand, gently ruffling Uguel’s head. That hand was old and gray, devoid of any strength, yet seemed to carry the weight of a thousand pounds.

"Go back. We can... meet again."

"Ah?!..."

Under the successive shocks, Uguel’s brain was blank. Led by the shadow Cevali, he dazedly rose to his feet and walked out of the silent and profound hall. A fresh breeze blew from outside, and he felt like a plump dolphin leaping out of the deep sea.

"This is..."

"Elder Uguel. Please keep today’s events secret."

The shadow Cevali slightly bowed and saluted Uguel. Then, he turned and returned, leaving the slightly chubby Elder Priest alone in the wind.

The long wind stirred the drapery of the Divine, like a dance at the gods’ curtain call, revealing the Chief Divine’s vague visage. The shadow treaded the heavy darkness, returning to the elder’s side, like a long snake guarding the Chief Divine, quiet and silent.

"...Dawn is coming..."

At an unnoticeable moment, the elder lay back on the bed. He stared at the expansive ceiling, smelling the faintly sweet fragrance. An uncontrollable drowsiness overwhelmed his heart once again, carrying the scent of death. Before falling asleep, he left a final, deep, and emotionless remark.

"Invite the High Priest this evening."

"As you command, elder."

The shadow responded quietly. He faded into the background behind the elder, watching as the fragile old man slowly closed his eyes. The candles were then extinguished, and the deep dark sea surged once more, engulfing the last vestige of life in the darkness before dawn~