Looking at Su Lun before her, a trace of satisfaction flickered across the old woman's aged face.
With a scrutinizing gaze, she observed the Saintess before her, the rings on her fingers sparkling as a pale golden barrier silently emerged.
Su Lun's beautiful eyes quivered slightly; she recognized the barrier was designed to isolate sound and movement, preventing the spread of information.
She herself was fond of using this type of device; when she had met with Shiayar in private in Knowledge City Lokiya, she had used it to sneak some snacks.
However, she and Shiayar had used magictech technology, while Aulia, before her, was using Divine Arts.
After completing all this, Aulia finally turned her attention to Su Lun.
"You have passed the trial to join the Golden Dawn."
"I am here today to guide you to our secret gathering."
"The trial... I passed?" Su Lun asked, surprise and delight evident in her voice and expression. "I thought someone like me could only start as a reserve member."
"Originally, that was indeed the case."
Aulia looked down at the girl before her, speaking calmly. "After all, the secret gatherings of the Golden Dawn have always adhered to the principle of prioritizing quality over quantity. Those qualified to become members of the Golden Dawn, to truly join its ranks, are without exception seasoned veterans of Legendary rank, or even beings who have embarked on the path to godhood."
"With your current strength, only after a lengthy assessment period would you have the chance to become a member of the Golden Dawn, and only at the very moment you truly achieved Legendary rank."
"However, Su Lun, you are fortunate," Aulia said with a smile. "Because of your special status as the Dawn Saintess... and additionally, the past connection you had with Shiayar Egutt a few years ago, we have decided to make an exception for you."
When she heard the name Shiayar Egutt, Su Lun couldn't help but gently pinch the soft flesh in the center of her palm with her index finger.
But outwardly, the Dawn Saintess feigned a puzzled expression, tinged with a hint of disgust.
"I did have some dealings with him back then, but now we are worlds apart and will no longer cross paths."
"Moreover, he's clearly entangled with that witch from the White Tower and many other women; he's probably long forgotten about me."
"Most importantly... according to rumors from the Western Continent, isn't Shiayar Egutt already dead?"
Aulia had been scrutinizing Su Lun from beginning to end. Hearing this, she finally nodded slightly.
"That's merely a rumor spread by others."
"However, as members of the Golden Dawn, we naturally know that he himself has not actually passed away."
"After all, he is the one personally chosen by the Eighth Deity..."
The Eighth Deity?
As the Dawn Saintess, Su Lun knew full well that the doctrines and scriptures of the Dawn Church had always listed only seven orthodox gods.
Thus, when Aulia spoke, Su Lun was desperate to learn what she meant. The crucial point wasn't some eighth Dawn Deity, but that this entity Aulia mentioned seemed to have significant ties to Shiayar.
But—
TICK-TOCK.
The chiming of a clock interrupted Aulia's statement.
The old woman glanced at her watch. Instead of continuing the previous topic, she addressed Su Lun directly.
"Time is almost up."
"Let me guide you to the secret gathering of the Golden Dawn."
"Remember, your identity as the Dawn Saintess holds little weight before those individuals."
"Speak less, listen more."
"If any attendees question you, answer truthfully."
As soon as Aulia finished speaking, she waved her scepter lightly.
The next moment, Su Lun felt her vision enveloped by a swirl of black mist.
When she opened her eyes again, an ancient bronze long table met her gaze.
Above the mist-shrouded bronze long table, she thought she saw a Throne woven from golden branches.
On the Throne of woven branches, a figure flickered, seeming to fade in and out of existence.
But when Su Lun blinked, the black mist obscured the Throne and the figure upon it, causing them to vanish as if they were an illusion.