Toka didn't quite understand why Nefarian was anxious. He could only shake his head and stop thinking about things beyond his comprehension.
A few days later, Toka led the procession of believers from Dekonor who had signed up to observe the ceremony, embarking on the road to Gundrak.
Before the procession even reached Gundrak, from a distance, they could already see the towering figure like a snow-capped mountain—Rhunok, the King of the White Mountain.
His massive body cast a long shadow outside Gundrak's remaining city walls, his silver-white fur adorned with golden-red flame patterns.
His golden-red eyes were lowered, calmly accepting the reverence and prostrations of believers who gathered from all directions.
An aura of majestic divinity permeated the cold air.
When they truly stepped into Gundrak's territory, they saw a bustling scene of reconstruction.
Gundrak, once the ancient capital of the Drakkari Frost Trollss, the center of politics and faith, had been almost completely destroyed in the "Siege of Gundrak" battle a year and a half ago.
Now, time had not fully healed the wounds, but hope was stubbornly sprouting from the ruins.
Cleanup had been ongoing for a day and a half, but rubble, broken totem poles, and twisted wreckage still lay scattered throughout the city.
The air was filled with the smell of sawdust, stone, and burning pine resin, and the loud work chants of the Ice Troll laborers echoed in their ears.
Scaffolding covered the main buildings in the core area, with the incessant sound of hammering.
The newly constructed houses were primarily made of stone and wood, their structures more regular than the simple dwellings of Dekonor, bearing a trace of deliberate imitation of past grandeur.
Most striking was the temple district in the city center, which once housed the seven Loa.
The original surface buildings had long been reduced to dust. Now, a massive new structure rose from the original site—two interconnected circular structures, forming an "infinity" symbol.
One side used Obsidian as its main material, while the other was made of carefully selected white stone.
It was not yet fully completed, and artisans toiled like ants on the scaffolding.
As for the vast, deep underground section, its entrance was sealed with stone slabs and iron chains.
The Ice Trolls always lowered their voices when speaking of it, their eyes filled with awe and apprehension.
The remaining traps, vicious curses, and unknown darkness within were beyond the scope of the current reconstruction efforts.
Toka walked through the busy crowd, heading towards Rhunok, who was surrounded by believers.
At the edge of the crowd, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure: Siye.
This woman, now the de facto Patriarch of the Dragon God Church, had quietly left Ital'ruk and appeared here.
She was still wearing her standard black priest robe with gold embroidery, standing quietly, her gaze fixed on Rhunok, her expression complex and unreadable. "Siye?" Toka approached, his voice clearly surprised, "Why are you here? What about Ital'ruk—"
Siye turned her head at the sound, a faint smile on her face.
"Toka." She nodded slightly. "Ital'ruk's church affairs are on track, with ample staff to maintain operations. And my presence is more needed here."
Toka gazed at Siye's expression, vaguely feeling that what she meant was not "my presence is more needed here," but rather "I need to stay here more."
Siye's gaze returned to the double-ringed hall, then slowly moved back to Toka's face.
"The council resolved to elect me as the first Pope." She stated calmly, with little emotion in her voice.
Toka was not surprised; whether it was for founding the church or for years of hard work in supporting it, Siye was the most undisputed candidate.
"This is what you deserve."
Siye, however, gently shook her head, her gaze becoming distant: "No, Toka. I refused."
She paused, seemingly organizing her thoughts, "I recommended Gulen to the council. He is more suitable than I am."
Toka frowned slightly, looking at her in confusion.
Siye was the earliest cornerstone of the church; her ability and prestige were unmatched.
Siye seemed to see through his confusion.
Her voice was low and clear, carrying a sense of relief: "I will always be grateful to Obsidian."
"In my most desperate moment, when my faith collapsed, his light embraced me, giving me and my people a new direction."
"I will always be his most loyal priest; this will not change."
Toka's memory was pulled back several years, to that small tribe called Uglo.
At that time, Siye was still a sharp-eyed huntress.
She and her people had been the most devout followers of the white bear before them, but under the pressure of their tribe's impending extinction, they had made the desperate choice to betray Rhunok.
Siye's voice brought Toka back to reality: "But, Toka, there is always a corner of the human heart that holds an indelible past."
Her fingertips unconsciously stroked an old item hanging at her waist.
It was a bone charm carved from a bear's tooth, its edges somewhat worn, its color dull, bearing the marks of time.
It was the token given to her by the tribal elder when she was a follower of Rhunok, the Bear Father, symbolizing the highest honor of a hunter and the responsibility of guardianship.
"This land, ZulDrak," Siye's gaze swept over the surrounding ruins and the scene of reconstruction, finally settling firmly on Toka.
"And the faith that is re-coalescing on this land needs a purer leader, one who can focus more on the 'future'."
"And I," she gently unfastened the old bone charm, holding it in her palm, "my roots, my past, a part of them will forever remain in the years of believing in the Bear Father."
"This prevents me from taking the position that symbolizes the highest authority of the Dragon God Church with the purest of hearts."
Toka fell silent; he understood Siye's choice.
This was not betrayal, but a deeper loyalty and self-awareness.
Siye said no more. She took a deep breath, turned, and walked step by step towards the mountain-like white bear.
The crowd automatically parted for her.
She stopped below Rhunok's head, looked up, and held up the faded Rhunok bone charm with both hands.
Golden-red eyes slowly lowered, gazing at the tiny token that carried the past.
Time seemed to slow down at this moment.
In the silence, only thoughts flowed quietly between the deity and the former mortal believer.
No one knew what unspoken words Rhunok and Siye exchanged at that moment.
A moment later, Rhunok's bear paw extended, extremely gently.
He carefully picked up the small bone charm with the tip of his claw, his movement almost solemnly cautious.
Rhunok took back the bone charm, and a deep, majestic voice rang out, "Your choice, I know. Your loyalty and path, I shall respect."
Siye bowed her head deeply, performing the most solemn priestly Rei, her voice clear and firm: "Thank you for your understanding, King of the White Mountain."
"As a Dragon God priest, I will serve as the chief priest of the Gundrak diocese, dedicating all my efforts to spreading the glory of my Lord Obsidian here."
Toka stood in the crowd, watching this scene.
The old token was returned, a new path was set, and he was genuinely happy for Siye.
Shortly after Siye bid farewell to Rhunok, the Ascension Ceremony officially began.
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