Chapter 14: The Chief Priest

Chapter 14: The Chief Priest

As Mark and the middle-aged man entered the mountain, they found themselves in a vast, spacious hall that seemed to stretch on forever. The high ceiling disappeared into darkness, and the air was thick with the scent of old earth and dampness. Mark's eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light, and he saw an old man approaching them, his gait steady and purposeful despite his advanced age.

The old man's face was a map of wrinkles, etched by time and experience. Yet, his body told a different story. The animal fur he wore as clothing struggled to conceal his bulging muscles, which would put many a young man to shame. Mark was caught off guard by the old man's physical presence, his eyes widening in surprise and awe.

As the old man drew near, the middle-aged man bowed deeply, greeting him as their Chief Priest. The old man's eyes twinkled with warmth as he waved his walking stick and touched the middle-aged man's head. He spoke a short prayer, his voice low and soothing, and then smiled, saying, "I can see that you've succeeded in your hunt today."

The middle-aged man nodded his head in respect, and Mark sensed a deep reverence for the Chief Priest emanating from him. The old man's eyes then turned to Mark, and he regarded him with a piercing gaze, as if seeing right through to his very soul. Mark felt a shiver run down his spine under the intensity of that gaze.

The middle-aged man, noticing the Chief Priest's intense gaze on Mark, stepped forward to explain. "We found him on the mountain, Father," he began. "He claims to be from Central Gate, but I sense there's more to him."

The Chief Priest's expression remained skeptical, his eyes narrowing as he studied Mark. But when the middle-aged man added, "The Lord spoke to me, Father. He told me to bring him before you," the priest's demeanor changed. His eyes widened, and he exchanged a series of rapid, cryptic words with the middle-aged man in a language Mark couldn't understand.

The air was thick with tension as the two men conversed, their words dripping with an otherworldly significance. Mark's mind raced, trying to keep up with the sudden turn of events. Then, with a swift motion, the Chief Priest snapped his fingers, and two burly guards emerged from the shadows, their faces expressionless.

The guards grasped Mark's arms, holding him firmly in place. The Chief Priest's voice was firm, commanding, as he said, "Take him to the prison. We will uncover the truth behind his presence here." Mark struggled against the guards' grip, but it was unyielding. He was dragged away, leaving the middle-aged man and the Chief Priest to their mysterious conversation.

"Sir... sir, please! I didn't do anything wrong! Let me go! My friends will be waiting for me by now at the Neitherworld Pit. Please, kind sirs, let me go!" Mark begged and struggled as the guards dragged him out of the hall.

His pleas fell on deaf ears as they marched him to the back of the massive mountain, a journey that took approximately thirty minutes. The guards' grip remained unyielding, their faces expressionless.

When they arrived, one of the guards pushed aside a huge stone door, revealing a five-meter-tall and two-meter-wide entrance. Mark's eyes widened as they stepped inside, and he began to realize the enormity of his situation.

As they walked deeper into the prison, Mark's vision was broadened by the sight of various prisoners, each with their own unique stories etched on their faces. Some looked defeated, while others seemed to burn with a fierce determination.

After fifteen minutes of walking, the guards stopped in front of a prison room. They opened the door, untied Mark, and tossed him inside. The door slammed shut behind him, and Mark heard the sound of locks clicking into place. The guards' footsteps echoed as they walked away, leaving Mark to his fate.

Mark found himself in a small, dimly lit room with stone walls and a cold, earthen floor. A faint smell of mold and decay hung in the air. He was alone, with no sign of escape or hope. The reality of his situation began to sink in, and Mark began wondered if he would ever see the light of day again.

Inside the prison, Mark couldn't help but glance around with a scared expression. He thought to himself, "I didn't offend that middle-aged man or the priest, yet they've captured me and locked me up for no reason." His mind raced with questions and fears.

Suddenly, a slight coughing sound brought Mark back to his senses and scared him shitless. He hurriedly turned around, his eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly. That's when he saw him - a man sitting in the corner of the prison.

Mark was shocked because when he entered the cell, he had scanned everywhere but didn't see anyone. "How come now? Where did he come from?" Mark wondered. The man's age was indistinguishable, his features shrouded in the dim light.

Mark's heart raced as he took a cautious step back, his eyes fixed on the mysterious figure. The man slowly stood up, his movements deliberate and calculated. Mark's instincts screamed at him to be careful, to prepare for the worst.

As the man began to walk towards him, Mark saw that he was tall and gaunt, with sunken eyes that seemed to bore into his soul. Mark's breath caught in his throat, unsure of what to expect next.

The man walked for a bit, then stopped and sat down on the ground again, resting his head on his legs. Mark, still trying to process what was happening, felt an inexplicable resonance within him, as if something inside had shifted. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he sensed a change.

Confused and unsure of what to do, Mark hesitated for a moment before approaching the man. His heart racing, he trembled as he reached out to touch the man's shoulder. The moment their skin made contact, something unexpected happened.

Unbeknownst to Mark, his eyes began to glow with a soft, silver-purple light for a brief instant before reverting back to normal. The man, still sitting with his head down, didn't seem to react, but Mark felt a sudden surge of energy course through his body.

Mark was startled, unsure of what had just occurred. He withdrew his hand, taking a step back as he tried to make sense of the strange sensation. The man slowly lifted his head, his eyes locking onto Mark's with an unnerving intensity. Mark felt like he was staring into the depths of his own soul.