Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 220 Reunion the Next Day

Canaan and his party followed Garas along the avenue that stretched straight out from the main city tower, leading to a towering temple. The road ended there.

Everyone stopped outside the door and looked up, trying their best to take in the close-up view of the building.

This temple adheres to the consistent architectural style of the Cloud Giants, and its grandeur is to be expected. The overall structure is similar to the architectural style of ancient Rome, with tall stone pillars supporting the main body of the temple. The top is a high dome, and below the dome are four triangular lintels, which serve as the four entrances.

The group entered through the door.

The exterior of this hall looks similar to the main city tower, but once you enter the hall, the feeling of its immense grandeur and vastness is far stronger than that of the city tower.

It should be noted that while the city gate tower was indeed tall, it had five floors. This temple in front of us, however, was only one floor and was a single unit. The Cologne Cathedral I had seen in my previous life was much taller than this one, but that was supported by the height of its twin towers. In terms of the height of the main hall, there was a significant difference.

Inside the temple stood a towering statue of a god. The Canaanite group, who knew little about the giant pantheon, learned from the giant who was there to meet them that the statue of Strommoth stood there.

This giant deity was of extraordinary birth, being the eldest son of Annam, the father of giants. He was in charge of the sky, weather, storms, and thunder, holding a powerful divine position, and was the first-class chief god of the giant pantheon.

To name just one thing, the two most powerful subspecies of giants—the Storm Giants and the Cloud Giants of the good faction—mostly worship this one.

As for the Titans?
They don't consider themselves a mortal race. They consider themselves gods or even self-proclaimed gods, which is just standard practice for these big guys and should be discussed separately.

Several cloud giants, both male and female, prostrate themselves in worship around the statue. They are dressed in magnificent clothes, and their bright silver ornaments and jeweled badges glitter in the sunlight streaming through the skylight.

They chanted in a language Zhang Yuan couldn't understand, probably the language of giants, sometimes high-pitched and sometimes low-pitched, echoing in the hall like rolling thunder, as if the void were trembling.

The protagonist of this ceremony, an old acquaintance, a former trading partner, and a guest from afar—Mr. Grando—was indulging in the pleasure of electrotherapy. As the saying goes, the warm breeze makes the devil drunk, turning Faerûn into a dream.

A high altar stands at the feet of the deity, its material almost completely obscured by dense runes. Four carved pillars surround the altar, each topped with a precious jewel. The jewels are filled with and entangled by lightning clouds, obscuring their true appearance.

At the very center of the altar, Grandor, a shadowy figure, was firmly bound by four chains that shimmered with blue light, the ends of which were the four Thundercloud Orbs.

Moreover, golden rings kept flashing around the demonic figure, as if golden halos were floating and undulating, encircling it in the center like a fence.

These various methods seem to be aimed at preventing Grando from flying away.

“Don’t think that just because he fell into your hands he’s some insignificant nobody. This guy is an advanced variant of the Balrog, and in terms of rank, he’s on the same level as the Balrog.” Garas seemed to have noticed Zhang Yuan’s slight disdain.

“Even the Balrog wouldn’t have forced the Cloud Giants and Moon Elf tribes to ask me for help. This guy’s ability to disguise and hide is one aspect.” The old man raised an eyebrow: “Judging from the abyssal nature this guy has shown, he’s not too far from being a sub-lord. He was just unlucky to run into you when he was at his weakest.”

"Then how did he escape from your hands back then?" If he's not a sub-lord, there's still a fundamental difference. No matter how powerful he is, a projection on the prime material plane can't compare to a legend.

"The other party disguised himself too well, even I was fooled for a while. At the time, I just thought this guy was an evil mage. Later, after he revealed his true colors and then used a body-burning explosion, I thought he had gone back to his abyss home. I didn't expect this." Galas said with some frustration, "Before he was exposed, this guy separated a part of his consciousness and lurked in Tallinda's body. He even deliberately made her run away in fear to cover himself."

The conversation between the old man and the young man didn't last long. The elven elder, Quelmara, whom they had met at the banquet the day before, came forward and respectfully invited Garas to preside over the ceremony.

Zhang Yuan, who thought he was out of the picture, was about to watch the show when the old man beckoned him to follow. Somewhat puzzled, he followed the old man to the altar's ceremonial platform—yes, the platform. This ceremonial platform was originally intended as a table for the Cloud Giants' priests to set out sacrificial vessels and offerings, but due to the arrival of these guests, it had been temporarily converted into a viewing platform.

Together with Garas, they ascended the cloud ladder to the altar, where a few other people stood scattered about. These were the representatives of the Moon Elf clan who had come this time. Talinda was also there, but she stood alone to one side, head down, seemingly indifferent to the outside world.

"Here, go meet your new teammate." The old man shoved Zhang Yuan toward Talinda, then gave him a look of encouragement.

???

What's with this damn blind date vibe?

The monk, who was forced into this situation, felt a little awkward, but since the person was right in front of him, he couldn't just stay silent.
If we show any weakness now, how will we lead this team in the future?

"You are Talinda, the ranger that Lord Skywrath assigned to me? I am the captain of the Canaan Squad, just call me Chanem."

Zhang Yuan walked confidently to Tailinda and waited until she looked up at him before offering a respectful salute.

"You're the one who saved me? And captured that demon?" Talinda said this with a very dazed expression, as if she was remembering something, or perhaps she was simply lost in thought.

"It's down."

"Thank you," the female elf said, bowing.

Zhang Yuan accepted it calmly, looking at the other person: "I've met Ms. Quimara, so what are your thoughts?"

"They ordered me to serve under you, and I will do so, for this is the price I must pay." With that, the female elf lowered her head again and remained silent.

What does this mean? It's like they're forcing a woman into prostitution.

Captain Zhang felt extremely uncomfortable, and the other party was also completely disheartened.

"Are you truly obeying my orders?"

It seems the other side already knows what I've done. Well, he's just a deserter after all.

But when did the reputation of the prestigious Moonfall family become so questioned? Talinda sighed inwardly, but her words remained as still as stagnant water:
"I have nothing to promise, and I have nothing to lose."

"Oh? Is that so?" The monk smiled silently. "Then what's the point of you wallowing in self-pity like this?"

"Admit your mistakes, stand firm when you're punished, and correct your faults. As long as you're true to yourself, why let others' opinions and views punish you?"

Thank you to Lazy Dormouse, Anran Qingcheng, and Gudao Wuwo Wangu Ru Changye for your monthly ticket support!
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(End of this chapter)