I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 502: Nocked Arrow

By noon, the Moonwell Shrine came into view.

The structure rose from the forest like something transported directly from ancient Greece.

White marble columns supported a triangular pediment adorned with intricate carvings depicting Artemis in various scenes.

Hunting with her bow, surrounded by woodland creatures, standing beside a crescent moon that marked her divine symbol.

Statues flanked the entrance, life-sized representations of deer, wolves, and bears carved with such precision they appeared ready to move.

More carvings covered the frieze, showing nymphs dancing, hunters kneeling in reverence, and the goddess herself bestowing blessings on those who sought her favor.

The shrine sat in a clearing surrounded by ancient oaks, their branches forming a natural canopy that filtered sunlight into shafts of gold.

A stone path led from the road to the entrance, lined with smaller statues of woodland creatures: Rabbits, foxes, and birds, each one unique and beautifully crafted.

People moved through the grounds with reverent quiet. Priestesses in flowing white robes tended to gardens filled with herbs and flowers.

Pilgrims knelt before statues, offering prayers or leaving small tokens.

Guards maintained a respectful distance, their presence ensuring order without disrupting the sacred atmosphere.

The carriage stopped near the entrance, and Jack’s party emerged into the afternoon sun that warmed the stone and made the marble gleam.

"It is truly beautiful," Lyra whispered, her gaze following the architecture with a sense of awe. "It consistently captivates my attention."

"Artemis favors natural beauty," Father Caelen observed. "The shrine reflects that in every detail."

They approached the entrance together, climbing stone steps worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims.

The interior opened into a vast space supported by more columns, with alcoves containing smaller shrines dedicated to various aspects of the goddess’s domain.

Dozens of priestesses moved through the space, tending to candles, arranging offerings, and guiding pilgrims to appropriate areas for their prayers.

The atmosphere carried reverence so thick it was almost tangible, the weight of divine presence pressing down on everyone who entered.

A woman emerged from the shadows near the main altar.

She was dressed in vestments befitting her status as the head priestess, her silver hair meticulously styled in an intricate braid, and her countenance exuded the tranquil demeanor of an individual dedicated to divine service for many decades.

"Welcome to the Moonwell Shrine," she said, her voice carrying across the space despite its gentleness. "We’ve been expecting you, Chosen Lyra."

Lyra bowed respectfully. "Thank you for allowing my pilgrimage."

"Artemis welcomes all who seek her with pure hearts," the priestess replied. "Though you’ll need to wait. The goddess has other business to attend first."

Confusion crossed Lyra’s features. "Other business?"

The priestess’s gaze shifted to Jack, her eyes studying him with intensity that suggested divine insight beyond normal perception. "Artemis has been waiting for you, Jack Kaiser."

The words hung in the air like thunder before lightning.

Jack’s eyes narrowed. "Me? Why would Artemis..."

"I don’t question divine will," the priestess interrupted gently. "I only relay what I’m told. The goddess wishes to speak with you. Now, if you’re willing."

Lyra’s expression showed surprise, but more than that, she was confused. "I don’t understand. This is my pilgrimage. Why would Artemis want to see Jack first?"

"That’s between the goddess and her guest," the priestess replied. "You’ll have your audience, Chosen Lyra. But patience is required."

Father Caelen placed a reassuring hand on Lyra’s shoulder. "We’ll wait with you. Whatever Artemis needs with Jack, I’m certain it serves a divine purpose."

Rhys expressed his opinion with a nod of his head, though his discerning gaze conveyed unstated inquiries directed at Jack.

Jack met the priestess’s gaze. "Lead the way."

She turned without another word, moving deeper into the shrine with steps that echoed on marble floors.

Jack followed, leaving his party behind as they descended into passages that led away from the main worship area.

The path took them down. Stone stairs carved into bedrock, spiraling deeper with each turn.

Torches provided light at regular intervals, their flames burning without smoke.

Ten minutes of descent brought them to a chamber that shouldn’t exist this far underground.

Another temple, smaller than the one above but no less beautiful.

Columns supported a domed ceiling painted with constellations that seemed to move when Jack wasn’t looking directly at them, and at the center sat an altar holding a single bowl.

The vessel contained a liquid that had a luster reminiscent of fresh blood, a viscous crimson ichor with a reflective sheen.

"God’s Blood," the priestess said, her tone carrying reverence. "It will transport your spiritual body to meet the goddess. Your physical form will remain here, sleeping, until your audience concludes."

Jack approached the altar, studying the ichor. This wasn’t his first time with God’s Blood. He had gotten used to the taste and the feeling of being transported.

"Drink," the priestess instructed. "And Artemis will receive you."

Jack lifted the bowl, its weight surprisingly light despite the thick liquid it contained. It was different than before.

The small vessel, similar in size to those used for sake, fit comfortably in his palm. The ichor smelled like rust and wildflowers, an impossible combination that marked it as something beyond natural creation.

He sat on his calves in a meditative posture, the bowl held carefully in both hands.

The ichor was warm, coating his throat with thickness that should have made him gag but instead spread pleasant heat through his chest.

The flavor profile was remarkably complex, encompassing both sweet and bitter notes, with metallic and floral undertones, presenting a paradox of familiarity and utter novelty.

Jack’s eyes closed as warmth spread through his entire body.

When they opened a second later, everything had changed.

He stood in a forest unlike any he’d seen in the mortal realm.

Trees rose hundreds of feet, their trunks wider than houses, their branches supporting canopies so dense they blocked the sky entirely. Sunlight filtered through in scattered shafts, painting the undergrowth with patterns of gold and green.

Flowers bloomed in impossible colors.

The blues were intensely vibrant, the purples emanated a distinct luminescence, and the reds possessed a striking vividness that permeated the surrounding atmosphere.

The aroma was quite potent, a blend of all the flourishing vegetation condensed into the air, disorienting Jack’s heightened senses.

Animals moved through the undergrowth.

Deer with antlers that gleamed like polished silver.

Wolves whose eyes burned with an intelligence beyond that of natural creatures.

Bears that stood on their hind legs, observing his every move with curiosity.

Birds whose plumage shifted through colors not found in normal spectrums.

This was a divine realm. A place where Artemis held dominion, where nature existed in its most perfect and terrifying form.

Jack’s instincts screamed a warning a fraction of a second before he heard the sound.

The whisper of an arrow cutting through the air.

He spun, his hand shooting up as his fingers closed around the arrow’s shaft, stopping it mere inches from his face.

The arrowhead gleamed silver, its tip sharp enough to punch through steel.

The fletching, crafted from feathers, exhibited a divine luminescence, while the shaft resonated with an intrinsic energy, indicating that this was more than merely a physical projectile.

Jack’s golden eyes tracked the arrow’s trajectory back to its source.

A figure stood five thousand feet away, partially obscured by ancient trees and flowering undergrowth.

And in their hand, another arrow was already nocked.