Chapter 79: The Hero King
The fervent atmosphere ignited even more fervor.
People had forgotten everything, wanting only to fully experience the vibrant and rich tapestry they were immersed in.
Amidst the throng of hundreds of thousands, King Joffrey I crossed the Central Plaza and ascended Visenya's Hill.
The Gold Cloaks desperately held back the surging crowd in the plaza, and in other areas, there were also people maintaining order and calling for calm. Although it was like trying to stop a boiling pot by scooping out the water, at least the situation didn't escalate to an unmanageable point.
There were far fewer people on the plaza side, allowing Melisandre to stand in the front row and accompany the Prince.
Right in the center of her vision was the Prince's black trousers, like a clear night sky, adorned with shimmering silver stars scattered across it.
She finally managed to recognize a few stars: the Rose, the Falcon, the Trout, the Hunter, the Flayer.
It turned out that each star symbolized a renowned and noble house. The Prince seemed to have taken the sigils of all the houses in the Seven Kingdoms to add some interest to the night sky he wore on his lower body.
She raised her head.
On the Prince's left chest was a proud Stag, on his right chest a roaring Golden Lion, and a Direwolf was galloping across his abdomen.
What a proud Prince!
She couldn't help but be startled, her steps slowing slightly, her mind once again drawn to the Prince's back.
The silver cloak draped over the Prince's back had many simple yet exquisite black and white patterns. Their specific meaning was unclear, but they possessed an indescribable beauty.
There were black and white fish circling each other, one pair spinning clockwise, the other counterclockwise;
There were triangular sickles, several kinds of crosses of varying lengths, four-pointed windmills, five-pointed stars, six-pointed stars, and the Seven-Pointed Star;
There were octagons formed by three lines, long or short, connected or broken;
There were circular wheels with three or six rings, some with no other markings, others with one, two, three, six, or nine tadpoles;
And there were regular swastikas and many others.
The Priestess couldn't help but wonder what these patterns represented. Had the Prince received a divine revelation? Were these the marks bestowed upon him by the Lord of Light?
But at this moment, her thoughts and body were completely blocked by the line of horizontally placed spears in front.
"Watch the ceremony from here, no one is allowed further ahead."
The Priestess looked around. She wasn't the only one; many distinguished individuals in opulent attire, some even embroidered with house sigils, were stopped here.
But this was too far, not even entering the circular plaza in front of the Sept.
She squinted slightly upwards. The Father's Door of the Great Sept of Baelor became a shadow, the exquisite patterns on the door merging into the deep background, disappearing. The closer marble pulpit was only the size of a thumb.
The King would be crowned at the pulpit. At this distance, she could probably only vaguely discern faces.
However, the circular plaza was indeed empty.
She could only watch, like everyone else, as King Joffrey stepped through the Father's Door, performing various ceremonies inside the unreachable Great Sept of Baelor.
People continued to arrive, but were also stopped.
The leading Gold Cloaks officer had only one arm, with an Ironhand fitted onto the stump. Even his speech was as stubborn and inflexible as iron.
"The Commander's orders," he replied to all questions and inquiries with this single sentence.
People finally gave up hope. Clearly, the truly important figures who were qualified to enter the Great Sept were already inside. This was their designated spot.
More than one person showed clear disappointment.
"It's too far."
"If they're not going to let everyone see His Majesty's coronation, why did they even make us come?"
"I really want to know how magnificent it is inside."
So some people began to vividly describe the coronation ceremony.
"After entering the Father's Door, inside is the long 'Hall of Lights,' with colorful glass spheres hanging overhead, like brilliant lights, clearly visible even during the day."
"I dare say, the Hall of Lights is definitely filled with people right now, one row of Monks serving the Father, one row of Septas serving the Mother."
"With every step His Majesty takes, the Monks and Septas will pray to The Seven once, listen to the divine will, and pray for His Majesty's blessings."
"After walking through the long corridor and then through two massive doors, before your eyes is the altar of the High Septons. The seven surrounding bases are seven feet high and twenty-one feet long and wide, and the statues of The Seven are a full seven fathoms tall from head to foot. You have to crane your neck back to look up at the sky to see the eyes of The Seven."
"At this time, the crystalline light shining down from the huge dome of Crystal, glass, and gold also reaches the bottom of your eyes, warm, dazzling, and majestic."
People seemed to truly see that scene.
"Later, His Majesty and the High Septon will hold a ceremony in the center of the altar, paying homage to The Seven."
"Bishops, Monks, Septas, and ministers will all gather around to witness."
"The High Septon will pray for His Majesty's blessings, and His Majesty will announce his peaceful coexistence with The Faith, always remembering the teachings of The Seven, and shepherding His people for The Seven."
"Then the High Septon will announce the will of The Seven and anoint His Majesty with holy oil seven times."
"Finally," the person looked at the pulpit, "His Majesty will receive the coronation from the High Septon on this pulpit, receive the crown and scepter, and become one with The Seven."
Melisandre lowered her head and remained silent. The rituals of the false gods were cumbersome, completely lacking any true power.
A young man burst through the Gold Cloaks' defense line, "Get out of the way! I'm His Majesty's loyal Attendant, Elin Lantel, don't you recognize me? Let me through! I should be serving by His Majesty's side!"
The Father's Door slowly opened.
Nobody paid attention to the strange "attendant" anymore; she looked towards the door along with everyone else.
The voice of the High Septon, wearing the Seven-Pointed Star crown on the pulpit, was faint and completely inaudible. In the end, all she saw was him taking out a dazzling ring.
It was a crown.
Melisandre observed carefully. But at this moment, the Prince took the initiative to snatch the crown and place it on his own head.
Is this normal? Was that person's story wrong?
The Prince's figure moved forward, gradually growing larger, gradually becoming brighter.
What is this?!
With every step the Prince took, his figure expanded at least twofold and brightened twofold.
The Prince took seven steps and transformed into a Giant of Light.
The giant towered over the hill, overlooking the entire city. King's Landing was nothing more than a small toy castle to him. The infinite light he emitted illuminated the world.
The vast city of King's Landing fell completely silent.
She raised her head and looked towards the sky.
Higher than the towering crystal spires of the Great Sept of Baelor were the knees of the Prince, as dazzling as the sun. Just like the painting in the sacred fire.
So it wasn't a veiled prophecy, but the true future.
So the empty circular plaza wasn't a meaningless gesture; it was simply for him to land his feet.
So the crowd gathered in the Central Plaza could also see the crowned King, and so clearly, so brightly, so soul-stirringly.
She felt the surging power of light within the giant.
The giant held a longsword in his right hand, with a raging flame burning on it. In his left hand, he held a scepter, the tip of which bore a bright and holy Sun Disk.
The flames burned through the clouds, distorting the sky.
The Sun Disk emitted a flowing halo of seven colors, purifying everyone in the entire city.
A mighty thunder echoed through the heavens, "The Gods have sent down revelation. The Long Night is coming. The Lord of Darkness, the Other God of Frost, attempts to destroy the world."
"Do not panic, do not despair."
"The Gods have bestowed glory. His mighty power will save the world through our hands."
"Lambs, listen to the will of God."
"Death is not the end. He has promised the Seven Holy Stars as a paradise for the souls of mortals. We will defeat the Doomsday of the Long Night and bring Eternal Summer to the world, returning to eternal peace!"
"Light is eternal!"
Melisandre stared intently at the sword in the giant's hand.
The Ancient Books of Asshai prophesy: "After a long summer, the stars bleed, and a cold darkness will engulf the world.
In this hour of terror, a warrior shall draw a burning sword from the fire; that sword shall be Lightbringer, the red sword of heroes, and he who wields it shall be Azor Ahai reborn, and he shall drive away the darkness."
The giant looked this way, radiating an aura as vast as the sea.
The Red Priestess trembled uncontrollably. The light and heat within her had never been so full and restless.
Her red robe turned into flames.
Flames filled her body, extreme pain, extreme ecstasy, filling her, searing her.
It's him!
Azor Ahai reborn.
The one destined to bring an endless summer.
The Hero King!
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