NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 25: Song of the Moon
After entering the temple, Viserys and Dany were struck by the pristine whiteness of the walls, dome, and statues. Sunlight filtered through windows representing different phases of the moon, creating a beautiful circle of light on the ground, giving the impression of a magical circle beneath their feet. This enchanting effect added to the temple's serene and otherworldly atmosphere.
The three statues of goddesses at the front of the temple were the most eye-catching. Carved from marble, each statue stood four or five meters tall, reminiscent of the grandeur of the statue of David that Viserys had seen in his previous life. The central goddess held a book and wore a hood, while the two goddesses on either side, slightly shorter, held a sword and a lamp respectively.
To the right of these statues stood a yellow wooden donation box, where visitors would place money after praying. Viserys noticed someone praying silently before the statues, hands clasped in reverence. Not wanting to disturb the worshipper, he led Dany to explore the murals depicting the legends of the Moon Singers.
One mural caught Dany’s attention. “Brother, look, the moon is cracking,” she whispered.
“Cracking?” Viserys followed her gaze and saw that the moon in the mural indeed appeared to have a crack running through it. At first glance, it looked like a flaw in the wall, but on closer inspection, it was clear the moon was intentionally depicted as cracked.
Viserys recalled the Valyrian legends of dragons emerging from a split moon and wondered why this well-known story wasn’t depicted in the mural. Perhaps there was another explanation, but he decided to leave that mystery for another time.
Once the prayer group left, Viserys led Dany to the statue of the central goddess. Nearby, a tall, thin holy sister wearing a white hood stood attentively, responding to the worshippers based on their donations. Her gaze lingered on the striking siblings as they approached.
Viserys nodded slightly at the holy sister, who seemed captivated by his presence. He closed his eyes, furrowing his brow to convey a sense of deep worry. He knew she would be watching, and to engage her in a meaningful conversation, he needed to leverage the power of his money. Of course, his intention was purely to gain insight and help, not anything untoward.
After about two or three minutes, Viserys approached the yellow donation box. He took a handful of gold coins from his pocket and dropped them into the box through the round hole in the lid. The holy sister’s eyes lit up at the sight of the generous donation. She was struck by the young man's handsome appearance and apparent wealth. Clearly, something was troubling him, and she felt compelled to offer her assistance.
As Viserys turned away from the box, the holy sister approached him. She first drew a circle on her chest, a gesture used by the Moon Singers, and then said, "May the Goddess guide us."
"May the Goddess guide us," Viserys responded in kind.
"I noticed your solemn expression while you were praying. Have you encountered a problem? If you have a family member traveling far away, I have a song of protection. If you have a wife giving birth, I have a song of childbirth. If you are confused about something, I have a song of guidance."
Viserys slightly bowed and replied, "Thank you for your kindness. We don't have any relatives traveling far away. My sister and I are each other's only family."
The holy sister’s eyes widened in surprise. She had assumed that the well-dressed siblings must be from a large, affluent family, but now realized they were orphans. This incorrect assumption made her feel a bit embarrassed.
"I don't have a wife either," Viserys continued, "but as for the confusion..."
Seeing an opportunity to use her skills, the holy sister interjected, "Please, tell me what is troubling you."
Viserys looked embarrassed, hesitating before speaking. "Actually, I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve been having strange dreams lately, and I feel dizzy and exhausted when I wake up. I’m worried that I might have a strange disease, but the Healer told me that my body is in perfect health. So, I came to seek the Goddess's guidance."
The holy sister pondered his words. It didn’t seem like a psychological issue that her usual "talking therapy" could address, but she didn’t want to turn Viserys away without trying to help.
"Is that so? I wonder if you could stay a little longer so I can fetch something that might help you," she suggested.
"Thank you very much," Viserys replied, watching as the holy sister walked past the statue and through a small door.
Everything Viserys had just said entered Dany's ears. She always thought that her brother was an inexhaustible well of energy, waking up before she opened her eyes and falling asleep after she closed them. She never imagined that Viserys would have such a problem with his body, and the realization made her very worried. She couldn’t help but blame herself.
Five minutes later, the holy sister returned, holding a thin booklet in her hand.
“M'lord, I think it may be the things in your dreams that are troubling you. This is the 'Moon Song' of the Moon Chanting Temple. Chanting it under the moonlight will bring peace of mind and may help you.”
Viserys looked at the booklet, noticing it was slightly yellowed, as if the holy sister had used it herself.
“This must be your personal item. It's too precious; I don't think I can accept it…”
The holy sister smiled warmly, pulling the fine lines at the corners of her mouth, which made people feel at ease.
“Don’t worry, I’ve memorized the contents. Consider it a gift.”
“A gift! This…” Viserys hesitated before accepting the booklet, and subconsciously activated his panel.
To his surprise, when his hand touched the booklet, his Magic value immediately recovered by 5 points. It seemed to be a good thing!
Realizing that the trip was worthwhile, Viserys touched himself and found that he was a little short on funds. Then he said apologetically, “I’m sorry, but I think I’ll be back soon. Can I talk to you again then?”
The holy sister smiled and said, “Of course, that’s not a problem.” However, her eyes glanced at the bracelet on Dany’s hand, understanding that her little scrapbook was not worth that.