Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 187

[Vol. 5] Chapter 187: Ayla Light

They’re all a bunch of idiots, like a bunch of scared turtles, ignoring the truth that’s right in front of them. Idiots, pigs, and stubborn old fools!

As Ayla Light hastily cleared away the dishes after a simple dinner, she vented her frustrations in her mind.

She felt a bit annoyed but also experienced a faint sense of pleasure.

Ayla was a scholar at the ?Hall of Theology?, focusing her research on the ?Origins and Structure of Faith-based Magic?.

In fact, there were many scholars within the Holy Academy and the ?Hall of Theology? dedicated to researching faith-based magic. It could even be considered a mainstream topic.

However, the vast majority were only committed to finding more effective ways to develop and apply this power bestowed by the deities. For example, the special barrier surrounding the ?Hall of Theology? was a proud achievement of this kind of research.

Very few, or rather, no one had ever attempted to deeply analyze the truth behind this mysterious power of unknown origins.

Indeed, in Ayla Light’s view, ?faith-based magic? was a mysterious power of unknown origins. Perhaps others could close their eyes and dismiss it as a gift from the goddess, deliberately ignoring the conflicts and contradictions this power displayed with current theories…

But as a member of the Lightborn Tribe, who did not belong to the ?Goddess Church? and had never worshiped the goddess Aurora, she was not among them.

The Lightborn Tribe never worshiped the Goddess of Light. They were born of light and equivalent to it. Therefore, they only revered the concept of light itself, rather than attempting to represent it with something else.

There was no such thing as a Goddess of Light. Even if there were, she certainly did not exact same as described in the Goddess Church’s doctrines.

The memories of her origins told her this.

Ayla was born on a night two hundred years ago, having fallen into the St. Bergen Plains in the deep night, awakening her own consciousness. Since then, she had begun her solitary wanderings.

She traveled to many places, encountered many fresh faces and things, and gradually developed a complete set of values and logic. Until several decades ago, she arrived in the Angel City known as the Holy Capital, where, as a member of the Lightborn Tribe, she was exceptionally admitted to the ?Hall of Theology? and became a scholar there, beginning her long research journey.

She wanted to understand what that thing called ?faith-based magic?, which she had encountered countless times throughout her long journey and which seemed to be present in every corner of the world, truly was.

Why did a power exist that could appear out of nowhere and defy common sense?

Why was the strength of faith-based magic linked to the purity of faith itself?

Why… as a child of light, as a member of the Lightborn Tribe, could she not feel this power?

Ayla spent decades visiting various locations, collecting all kinds of information related to faith-based magic. She even tracked the lives of short-lived races to closely observe how they applied this power at different stages of their lives and the corresponding states they experienced.

However, analyzing faith from a scientific perspective was undoubtedly a significant taboo in a theocratic empire. Her actions gradually attracted the attention of certain factions, leading to warnings, suppression, and even subtle threats attempting to obstruct her progress.

Nevertheless, Ayla did not give up. Her curiosity and thirst for knowledge only intensified during this process, becoming increasingly fervent. Understanding the “truth of faith-based magic” had almost become the most important guiding star in her life.

The research team was disbanded under pressure, and with no one daring to help her, she decided to take her time and go it alone.

With funding cut, she had to find ways to earn money by working or becoming a mercenary, since research inherently required traveling around.

Though she was seen as a strange person, a heretic, and was ostracized everywhere, even facing rumors labeling her a fake member of the Lightborn Tribe…

So what?

The name ?Light? would never be tarnished by the opinions of those mundane individuals and fools. The essence of ?Light? was to freely do what one wanted, go where one wished, unrestrained and spontaneous.

This was an instinct deeply engraved in the soul of every member of the Lightborn Tribe.

That said, the pressure from various fronts had indeed significantly delayed Ayla’s research progress, leaving her stuck in a bottleneck for the past few years without finding any groundbreaking or valuable information.

However, the ?Blood Calamity? that occurred a few days ago in the St. Bergen Mountains, near her birthplace, provided Ayla with immense inspiration.

It was said that under the cover of that blood-red sky, the faith-based magic of all believers instantly lost its effectiveness, rendering them completely powerless and like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

Although the higher-ups of the church intentionally concealed this matter, the disaster and the subsequent battle were so vast in scale that millions were witnesses. And since the church isn’t omnipotent, there was no way to keep the truth hidden.

After learning some of the true circumstances through various channels, Ayla was almost enlightened. She immediately generated several hypotheses regarding the possible reasons for the failure of faith-based magic and quickly began calculations based on certain information she had previously gathered.

Some of the results she had already publicly announced during the annual ?General Assembly? held in the daytime.

Although the response was still as dismal as ever, Ayla, who had long grown accustomed to sarcastic ridicule, didn’t mind at all. In fact, this situation was somewhat different from the past.

Previously, especially in recent years when her research had hit a bottleneck, most of her annual presentations were little more than baseless conjectures, akin to castles in the air. While they sounded plausible, academic research was a very rigorous endeavor, and unverified hypotheses had no place on the stage.

As a result, after her presentations in previous years, she mostly heard disdainful laughter and ruthless criticisms targeting the flaws in her theories.

But today, the hall was silent.

The scholars in the ?Hall of Theology? were oddities, often prideful and high-minded. If they heard something they deemed incorrect, they would usually shout and argue incessantly, not suddenly fall silent.

Silence meant affirmation. It indicated that Ayla’s presentation had indeed made them feel that this was a fact that could completely exist, but due to certain factors, they could not respond with the enthusiastic applause given to other brilliant studies. They could only pretend they hadn’t heard.

…What a stifling country.

Even here, where the claim of high freedom reigns, one still had to tread carefully, afraid to discuss the truth. How could such a place call itself ?Light? and ?Sacred??

After finishing her internal tirade and mockery, Ayla washed the dishes and prepared to leave the dormitory for the laboratory to continue her unfinished research.

She had a premonition that she was very close to the truth. If she could just find and clarify the last few key points, she would be able to unravel the complete process and principles behind the operation of ?faith-based magic?. At that time…

It would surely cause a stir in the world, leaving those despicable people shocked and speechless.

With this thought, the Lightborn Tribe girl, whose dark circles were almost beyond limits, casually wiped her hands on her skirt, changed into her outdoor uniform, and eagerly turned to leave, heading straight for her private research room nearby.

Since she was the only one left, Ayla’s research room was very small, almost the lowest standard within the ?Hall of Theology?’s research team, even smaller than her own rented one-bedroom apartment.

But it didn’t matter, her research didn’t require high-end hardware facilities. The so-called research room was merely a place to store some results and materials, along with a few necessary pieces of equipment, and to record data.

The girl jogged through the night.

Ayla was not afraid of personal threats. The Lightborn Tribe possessed innate powerful abilities and a noble status.

So, there was hardly anyone in the entire Holy Empire who would dare to truly do anything to her. This was one of the main reasons she could continue her research alone until now.

However…

When she saw broken pieces of a door lock scattered on the ground outside her research room, along with the slightly ajar main entrance, a subtle feeling of unease washed over Ayla Light’s heart.