Chapter 6 The Envoy From Parthia (Part 1)

"Thanks to the interest of our farmers, Italy has learned to grow almost all the fruits of the world." - Ancient Roman agriculturist Columella

————————————————————

"There is nothing rude." When the high priest saw Li Xilia's situation, he also felt sentimental, as if he had returned to the past when he first came to Rome and served as the custodian of the holy treasury, "Just lie down like this. "Then the high priest sat on a single chair next to him, looking at the cold furnishings in the entire room, feeling a little overwhelmed. It was obvious that he had something to ask this person, but it was a bit difficult to tell him.

Li Xilia was lying on the bed like this, with her face raised, as if talking to herself, "When I was ten years old, I began to serve the holy flame for a full thirty years. In fact, even before you came here, It’s time for me to retire, leave the priesthood, and live an independent life.”

"But you didn't retreat. What's the reason? Is it because of the Sibyl prophecy?" the high priest asked in a deep voice.

"Maybe. It has always been a notorious book since the founding of Rome. People are afraid of it and can't live without it. King Numa handed it over to the Virgin Group for management, but even King Numa Such a character cannot control the story of the witch. It was from the Sibyl prophecy that I received the revelation, which was why I did not leave the position of the chief virgin until the moment when the omen came true. The seat was passed to Zeno.”

"Zeno, is she the daughter of you and Crassus, as the rumors say?" Lepidus looked at the virgin standing at the door, then turned around and asked.

Li Xilia laughed, "It's not important. It's not important at all. You just need to understand. The flame of the Kitchen God and the Sibyl Prophecy will be passed down from generation to generation. Zeno is just a chosen person. But Clara Su deceived and played with my feelings when he was young. When he was hiding in Spain, he once felt the power of the gods, but he quickly forgot about it. He pursued me and made my heart beat, but his real purpose was to deceive me. It doesn’t matter, he is the divine property of the temple. He was eventually punished for offending the gods - I’m right, right, high priest, no, Calabis.” After saying that, Li Xilia turned her eyes. It is meaningful to know Lepidus. Seeing the high priest's hands trembling slightly, there is a secret in it. Lepida became even more restless.

"But you are very good. You are a restrained bad guy, that's why you were chosen by the gods. In fact, you knew earlier that Zeno once admired you in his heart, but you resolved this kind of desire. You always will Zeno is treated as a daughter, or a sister." Li Xilia sighed, "But Zeno is a poor child, just as pitiful as me. The Virgin began to serve Vesta in the temple when she was about ten years old. After 20 years, even if they can get the so-called freedom, we have lost the age to pursue and enjoy sweetness, and because of the long-term confinement and chastity in our hearts, we can no longer integrate into normal people's lives. Is it the best ending for me?”

But the high priest was already a little impatient to listen to her inner journey. He was more concerned about things, "The Sibyl Prophecy is actually the controller of history and the future, isn't it? It is the measure of the gods."

After hearing this, Li Xilia nodded slightly, "Yes, but why don't you ask me directly and hand over the prophecy book to you, or your Aemilius family will take charge..."

The high priest was stunned for a while, and then he and Li Xilia laughed together, but the latter's laughter was obviously much more difficult, "No, respected chief virgin, even like me, I am not so stupid." Sibyl Prophecy , it is by no means as simple as this book. Even if I take it away, even if I burn it, will it change anything? Since fate has chosen me, I will go on step by step. "

"Respect the gods' choice, no matter what the future holds." Li Xilia closed her eyes with satisfaction, and the sunlight from the window shone on her face. "Perhaps one day, the Sibyl Prophecy itself will also play a role in history. It turned into nothing in the vastness.”

Lepidus respectfully placed his hand on Li Xilia's forehead, as if he was caring for the dying person, and the virgins outside who saw this scene burst into tears.

Who would have thought that Li Xilia suddenly half-opened her eyes and mysteriously said to Lebid, "Do you want to know your lifespan? In return for comforting me, I can tell you..."

The high priest instinctively and curiously lowered his face, Li Xilia whispered a number, and then closed her eyes again, "Thank you, but you should have more important things, I will probably visit you for a day or two. to die."

Then, the high priest stood up dumbfounded. He didn't know what thoughts and attitudes he should have towards Li Xilia's "gift". This is how people are: since ancient times, they have tried to find out their lifespan through prophets and wizards, but When it is nakedly placed in front of you, you will feel sad and helpless, and you will feel great regret in your heart, just like opening Pandora's box.

"That's it. It's better not to know than to know. It's better not to know than to know." The high priest repeated this sentence and walked out slowly. Then he looked at Zeno standing in front of him. The girl of the past had grown up. Her round and pretty face was somewhat marked by the years. She was wearing a square virgin's smock, a bun, and a slender white neck. Only her pure eyes were the same as before, just like the moment when they first met on the streets of Subra District. "Perform your duties well for the Republic." This was what the high priest said to her, or rather, an exhortation. Then Lepidus came to the courtyard and looked at the walnut tree from Greece for a long time, then shook his head, nodded, and walked out of the wall of the Virgin Apartment under the escort of the guards.

In the following days, the war machine was turning rapidly. Another four legions had begun to set off to Brindisi, and another four legions that had completed the pacification mission in Spain were also coming on the fleet.

Brutus became more and more anxious. On the day he had set, he called everyone together again and personally drew out the dagger that Cassius had given him, which was the one used to assassinate Caesar. "We can't delay any longer! Are you still holding on to your previous ideas and not changing them?"

Everyone nodded in the seats, and then Brutus sighed, "Then let's vote!"

The final voting result was that the young forces such as Horace and Virgil had the upper hand, and decided that six legions would immediately go out to attack Epirus and fight a decisive battle with the seven legions left by Turinus. (To be continued...)