Chapter 845: Veyra’s Saintess Advent [2]

"To accompany us today, and to stand beside the Saintess during this historic reveal, we have invited several great figures of our world," he announced.

The doors at both sides of the stage opened.

Figures began to emerge from the corridors, drawing immediate attention from the crowd.

The first person to appear was an elderly man with a bald head, narrow slanted eyes, and a kind smile resting gently on his lips. Though his body appeared frail beneath his ceremonial robes, there was a quiet spiritual weight to his presence that made the entire Forum seem to grow more respectful.

Aslan smiled and inclined his head toward him.

"The Holy Pope of the Church of Eden," Aslan declared. "His Holiness, Francis Higer Eden."

Cheers and applause erupted at once.

The Pope bowed deeply to the enormous crowd. His kind expression did not change as he slowly made his way toward the scarlet velvet chairs arranged to the left of the lectern. He took his seat, folding his hands neatly across his lap.

"The Pope himself came," Victor said, clearly impressed. "That is quite something."

"You tell the entire world they will be watching, and anyone important will show up," John scoffed.

"Stop being so petty already," Amelia said, reaching down to ruffle his hair.

John frowned and brushed her hand away, though he did not protest further.

The next person to enter had been waiting behind the Pope.

He was also bald, but the resemblance ended there.

Where Pope Francis possessed a fragile and gentle appearance, this man was immense. His build was broad, powerful, and almost absurdly muscular. He wore a formal coat suit clearly intended to make him look dignified, though the thick fabric strained around his chest and shoulders. The buttons looked as if they could burst open at any moment under the pressure of his physique.

King Aslan’s voice rose again.

"Lord Brutus Sparrow," he announced. "A highly respected member of the Eden Council. His role carries great importance across our world, as he stands among those responsible for overseeing and guarding the Dungeons of the world."

The crowd applauded loudly.

"As residents of Edenis Raphiel," Aslan continued, "we understand this responsibility deeply. Our realm holds the greatest number of Enigma Dungeons in the world. The Eden Council’s work remains essential in managing the dangers and crises that may arise from those places."

Brutus nodded to the crowd with a proud smile. He appeared completely comfortable beneath the immense attention as he walked toward the stage seating. When he lowered himself into the chair beside Pope Francis, the contrast between his massive frame and the elegant scarlet seat was almost comical.

"A gorilla wearing a coat suit," Selene muttered, blinking at the giant man shown close up on the large screen.

Amelia pressed a hand over her mouth to hide a laugh.

Even Victor could not hold back a quiet chuckle.

"He clearly put effort into dressing properly and making a good impression," he said.

Before anyone could reply, King Aslan spoke again.

This time, Victor’s crimson eyes brightened immediately. He leaned forward in his seat, the faint amusement leaving his face.

"Everyone here should know the great Guardian of the Holy Tree of Eden," Aslan said.

An elderly elf emerged from the corridor, holding a long staff in one hand. He wore white robes embroidered with subtle golden thread, and his white hair fell neatly around a face marked by age, wisdom, and gentle warmth. His posture remained upright despite his years, and a soft smile rested on his lips as he looked out over the enormous crowd.

"Lord Guardian, Alector Raonpherys," King Aslan announced.

Another powerful round of cheers erupted across the Grand Forum.

"I thought he would not come," Victor said with a pleased chuckle. "It is good to see him here."

Alector nodded respectfully toward King Aslan, then made his way to the dignitaries’ seats. He took the chair beside Brutus without needing any further greeting. They had most likely already met and exchanged formalities backstage.

Victor watched his mentor settle into place with a smile.

Aslan then turned his attention toward the doors of the right corridor.

On the stage, one vacant scarlet chair remained beside Alector. It was most likely reserved for Aslan himself once he had finished addressing the crowd. That meant four more guests were expected to fill the remaining seats positioned on the other side of the lectern.

The right doors opened.

The first person to emerge was a mature woman who appeared to be in her forties.

She had black hair streaked with soft shades of gray, cut neatly around the length of her neck, and wore a pair of elegant glasses that gave her an intelligent, composed presence. Her outfit stood apart from the more ceremonial clothing worn by the four male dignitaries opposite her. She wore a fashionable long skirt and blouse, refined and modern.

The moment her face appeared across the immense screens, a strong reaction rose from parts of the audience.

Many people from Edenis Raphiel clearly recognized her. Cheers broke out, accompanied by excited murmurs and applause that spread rapidly through the Forum.

"Wait, I know her..." Amelia said, her eyes widening.

"Really?" John asked, turning toward her.

Amelia nodded, looking genuinely stunned.

On the screen, King Aslan smiled toward the woman.

"Lady Isabel Arclight," he announced. "The acting founder of Arclight Industries."

His voice echoed through the speakers, and the applause grew louder.

"Arclight?" Victor said, the name immediately familiar. "That sounds very familiar."

Rodolf nodded. "Yeah. It is that enormous new mana technology industry. It mostly operated in the Western Continent before, but I heard it has been expanding everywhere recently."

King Aslan waited for the crowd’s reaction to settle, then continued.

"As many of you may already know, Lady Arclight has become a sponsor not only for the Holy Academy, but for Edenis Raphiel as a whole. We live in a progressive world, one that moves forward through knowledge, cooperation, and innovation. Lady Arclight has accepted to take part in our project for a new world."

Isabel’s composed smile warmed slightly. She walked across the stage with elegant confidence, lifting one hand in a polite wave toward the cheering audience.

"Well," Amelia said, watching her with open admiration, "managing to gain Isabel Arclight’s sponsorship is a huge achievement. There could not have been a better partnership."

"Definitely," Victor agreed. "Edenis Raphiel already has the most influential position in the world, and now it has one of the fastest growing technology industries supporting it. They are certainly being spoiled."

"Sancta Vedelia will likely receive her support eventually too," Cylien said, though there was a hopeful note beneath her calm voice. "It would help us a great deal. We still have much to rebuild, and new mana technologies could make a real difference for our kingdoms."

Victor nodded quietly.