74 The Holy Grail
Seeing Wayne's agreement, the Fisher King wasted no time in idle chatter. He cast a brief glance at the couple, Cruz and Angela, then grabbed a hatchet and strode purposefully towards the center of Black Tern Island.
Cruz, with an apologetic expression, used his magic to bring his son Fitz to Wayne, bowing respectfully as he spoke, "Excuse me, Wayne, please take my child to meet the goddess. I trust that our Lady Goddess will surely lift his curse."
Wayne turned to observe Lala, who was brimming with excitement and nervousness at the prospect of meeting the goddess in person. Recognizing that her petite frame couldn't bear the weight of her brother, he nodded in understanding. Lifting Fitz, now clad in a fur coat, onto his shoulders, he joined Lala, following the lead of the Fisher King.
The time was around two or three o'clock in the morning, and as they traversed Black Tern Island, the only sounds were the chirping of insects and occasional distant calls of wild animals.
Understanding the character of the Fisher King, Wayne refrained from engaging in conversation. Instead, he noticed Lala, struggling to keep up with her short legs, and lifted her into his arms to ensure she wouldn't lag behind.
With wide, shining eyes, Lala expressed her gratitude to Wayne before nervously glancing at the Fisher King ahead. She seemed fearful of losing the opportunity to meet the goddess if the old man were to disappear suddenly.
Obviously, being able to meet the goddess of the lake is a very meaningful thing for her.
In the dark of night, the group of four journeyed for about half an hour under the guidance of the Fisher King. They traversed fields, entered the forest, and finally halted at the depths of the woods beside a picturesque and pristine small lake.
The scene before them was breathtakingly beautiful. The lake, surrounded by lush vegetation and rocky outcrops, shimmered with crystal clarity. Fish gracefully swam beneath the surface, while gentle creatures like deer and rabbits came to drink from its tranquil shores.
Under the cold moonlight, the lake's surface glimmered with a hazy luminescence, reflecting the ethereal beauty of the surrounding landscape like a scene from a fairy tale.
Silent and reverent, the Fisher King knelt on one knee at the water's edge, bowing his head in silent prayer. Moments later, the stillness of the lake was broken as its surface rippled, and a vision of unparalleled beauty emerged.
Ascending from the water with otherworldly grace, the Goddess of the Lake appeared—a vision of loveliness, her form veiled in the moonlight. With sky-blue eyes, cascading golden locks, and a serene smile, she seemed like a mythical being incarnate, radiating an aura of divine beauty.
Despite her nakedness, there was no hint of desire in Wayne's heart as he beheld her. Instead, he felt a profound sense of peace and purity wash over him, soothing his soul and body alike.
Approaching Wayne, the goddess gently placed her white jade palm upon the shoulder of the Fitz. With a voice as gentle as a breeze and as soothing as rain, she softly intoned a spell.
In an instant, an unseen force lifted Fitz from Wayne's shoulder, causing the cursed child to levitate and slowly descend into the clear waters of the lake. As he submerged, a subtle purification seemed to wash over him, causing his body to tremble and expel dark substances into the water, as if some malevolent force were being purged from his being, dissolving into the depths of the lake.
"The pollution ritual of the evil god Dagan corrupts its heirs, infusing their bodies with seeds of darkness to taint their souls and enslave them," spoke the goddess's voice, resonating like the sweet melodies of a forest dawn. Wayne lifted his gaze to meet her clear, otherworldly eyes, contemplating her words before posing his question.
"Your Majesty, may I inquire as to why you have summoned me here?" Wayne queried, his voice laced with curiosity.
A gentle smile graced the goddess's divine countenance as she met Wayne's gaze. "Warrior, you aided my followers in vanquishing the priests of the evil god Dagan, disrupting its vile rituals and severing its minions. It is a noble deed worthy of reward," she responded softly.
"Yet unbeknownst to you, the eyes of the malevolent god have been upon you, leaving a dark mark on your body. Once you get close to the sea and the area it controls, you will suffer endless revenge from the evil god", she continued, her tone grave with warning.
With a graceful gesture, the goddess extended her slender white jade palm, summoning forth a golden chalice adorned with twelve magnificent gemstones. Held aloft before her, the chalice exuded a captivating fragrance from its contents.
Handing the Holy Grail to Wayne, the goddess spoke tenderly, "Your virtuous deeds should not be met with the vengeance of malevolent gods. Warrior, drink the holy water. It shall cleanse the mark of the evil god from your body, mend the wounds within, and fortify your being."
"This is my reward to you," she concluded, her words imbued with solemn benevolence. As Wayne beheld the legendary Holy Grail and its sacred contents, an overwhelming desire surged within him, signaling his body's recognition of the profound benefits held within the cup's liquid.
However, Wayne was a little hesitant in his heart.
Although the goddess of the lake is a kind and noble god in the legend, would it be too imprudent to accept the gift from the god at will?
But soon, Wayne dismissed this idea. He is just a new witcher. Although he has a little strength, he is definitely not tyrannical. Compared with those powerful mages who can call wind and rain and move mountains and seas, he can only be called an advanced thug.
For a goddess who has lived for thousands of years, there is no need to use conspiracy to murder him. Perhaps this goddess is also a smart person who knows how to invest. She saw his potential and invested in him in advance.
Thinking of this, Wayne respectfully took the Holy Grail with both hands, smelled the fragrant holy water in the Holy Grail, slowly raised the Holy Grail, and drank it down as if drinking a peerless wine. When the liquid in the Holy Grail entered his body, Wayne only felt a warm current like the fire, entering the body along his throat, and then slowly spreading to all parts of the body.
He couldn't help closing his eyes, feeling a sense of comfort that he had never experienced before, as if every limb had a chance to regenerate, and all the cells in his body gave out a satisfied sound. Maybe it was a few minutes. When Wayne opened his eyes again, he instantly felt that his senses were also strengthened. Whether it was hearing, smell, touch, or vision, the whole world seemed to become clearer.
He couldn't help but look at the system interface in his mind, and then he couldn't help but gasp. He didn't expect that just drinking a cup of holy water, he would get a huge increase in all attributes by five.
And just as the goddess said, Wayne could clearly perceive that his body, which suffered various hidden damages during the grass trial period, seemed to have been repaired to some extent under the action of the holy water, and his body genes had become more perfect. In terms of physical fitness, he was not as good as Geralt, Lambert, and Eskel, who were seasoned witchers, and only relying on the benefits of the system, he could barely fight them.
Now, Wayne can be sure that even if he doesn't rely on the system, his physical strength is almost the same as those old witchers from the wolf school. Wayne respectfully handed the Holy Grail back to the Goddess of the Lake, and couldn't help feeling grateful for this generous and kind god.
To be honest, this commission to exterminate the acolytes lair was nothing but an ordinary task for him, and even the task level was only at the expert level, so it wasn't too difficult at all. But I didn't expect that I could get such a generous gift, and I felt like I had won a big prize. Wayne felt that he must not forget this kindness in the future, and must find an opportunity to repay the help of the goddess to him.
