Chapter 106 : Audience (1)
The Holy Order’s sanctuary, Aquiris, was located on an island in the middle of the sea, so we had to travel by ship.
Bea, I and the priests of the Holy Order arrived at the port, seen off by Rodos.
“...It was a good decision to leave Kipaso.”
Bea admired the sea endlessly.
A vast horizon with no end in sight.
With each wave, foam broke with a pleasant sound.
The shimring sunlight on the waves was also beautiful.
I, too, was srized by the scenery of the sea, which I was seeing for the first ti in this world.
While we were admiring the scenery, the priests of the Holy Order offered prayers for a safe voyage.
After finishing their prayers, they pointed to the ship in front of us and said,
“Then we shall depart.”
The ship the Holy Order priests pointed to was painted entirely white.
It wasn't very large, but its beautiful appearance, which set it apart from other ships, and the faint light it emitted, made it stand out.
It seed to be the effect of the blessing called divine power.
‘It’s amazing that the blessing is maintained even while crossing the sea.’
Was the flawless, unblemished exterior also an effect of the blessing?
No matter how many servants one had, it would be impossible to clean and paint the exterior of a docked ship every day.
The captain and crew on the ship were all dressed in white, suggesting they were also followers of the Holy Order, and there weren't many of them.
Thus, Bea and I boarded the mysterious ship.
Soon, the ship began to sail across the vast sea.
***
“I should have stayed in Kipaso... Ah…”
Bea suffered on the ship, which swayed up, down, left and right due to the waves.
I was also very seasick.
The priests looked at us with concern.
Although priests were famous for being stiff, they didn't ignore us suffering from seasickness.
“The blessing is balancing the ship, but you still seem to be having a hard ti.”
The priests didn't seem particularly pleased to be traveling with us, but we were guests of the Holy Order nonetheless.
Even if it was just a formal greeting, we were the ones who had accepted their invitation.
“I will grant you a blessing to reduce seasickness. However, since we cannot eliminate the ship’s vibrations, please try to get used to the flow of the sea.”
Soon, the priest closed his eyes, clasped his hands tightly, and muttered an unknown incantation.
A warm energy spread from him and settled upon Bea and .
“Thank you, Father. I feel much better now.”
“...I thank you as well.”
The Holy Order’s divine power was very mysterious.
I have benefited greatly from Dragon Heart so far.
Even when I was injured, high-quality Mana would gush out and heal .
However, after receiving a real healing spell, a Heal, I understood clearly.
The Dragon Heart’s healing effect was limited to enhancing the body’s own immunity and recovery functions.
‘This must be why a healer is essential in a party.’
Bea also looked surprised.
Living her whole life in Kipaso, renowned for its intellect, she must have naturally healed from most wounds and illnesses.
But a genuine Heal was on a different level.
It felt as if the root cause of the pain had been removed.
My twisted insides felt incredibly at ease.
“Bend your knees slightly and plant the soles of your feet firmly on the ground.That way, you will gradually get used to the flow of the waves.”
Following the priest’s demonstration, Bea and I stood on the deck in an awkward posture.
Whether it was thanks to the Heal or this awkward posture, my stomach definitely felt better.
Only then did the sea scenery co back into view.
The sea, which had seed nothing but beautiful from the port, now looked quite ferocious.
The waves soared high as if to swallow the ship, striking the bow, port, and starboard sides without distinction.
Nevertheless, the Holy Order’s ship sailed on peacefully.
It seed that the claim that the ship was shaking less due to the influence of divine power was true.
The ship moved forward silently, as if ignoring the laws of physics.
It neither tilted nor swayed in the rough waves.
Due to the protective shield covering the ship, not a single drop of water fell on the deck.
During this voyage, I was able to feel the power of divine power in various ways.
“By the way, why are you going to the Holy Order’s sanctuary?”
Bea, having regained her composure, asked .
Having rushed to Aquiris Sanctuary after the banquet, I hadn’t had a chance to speak with Bea alone.
This was because greetings with Marquis Rodos, Baron Renwood, and other nobles of the Western Noble Coalition, as well as the attendees of the banquet, had been incessant.
“I apologize for not consulting with you first.”
“No, it’s alright.
I figured you had a plan.
But I am curious about the reason for your visit.”
Bea had trusted and followed .
I had no intention of hiding the purpose of our journey from her.
“When you first shot the Light Arrow, I was able to converse with the World Tree for a brief mont.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Bea was stunned.
To the elves, the World Tree was like a god, so I might seem like an apostle who had spoken with a god.
“So… that’s how you were able to control the spirits. Now I understand.”
“It’s more like making a request than controlling them and now you can do it too, can’t you? Anyway, the World Tree revealed its na.”
“What is the true na of the World Tree?”
“It said its na was Maron.”
“Ah… Lord Maron.”
Bea was moved by learning the na of the World Tree, but she didn’t know that Maron was the na of the God of Death.
Since there were almost no records left from the Mythic Era, it was only natural.
“But is there a connection between the World Tree’s true na and going to the Holy Order?”
I had thought Bea, being an elf, might have so knowledge passed down through the generations, but seeing her bewildered expression, I realized she was no different from .
I, too, was just heading to Aquiris following Maron’s words.
I didn't know what relationship the Holy Order had with Maron, or if there was a solution to find Maron in Aquiris.
“The World Tree is now in my sword and it asked to take it to Aquiris.”
“...”
Bea stared at my sword.
Then she said, as if making a vow,
“Then I will follow. Thank you for granting the World Tree’s wish.”
Bea bowed her head to in thanks, then looked back and forth between my sword and the distant sea.
It seed she had a lot to think about.
Maron had fallen silent again after the shape-shifting.
If only Maron were awake, I could ask about the questions I currently had.
—I don't have much power left in the first place.
I don't want to regret it a second ti, so I'll bet on you.
However, Maron's words about not having any power left seed to be true.
The only way to get hints from Maron was to wait for a response.
To get the rest of the information, I would have to go to Aquiris Sanctuary and do the legwork myself.
“The World Tree promised to lend its power, but it said it has no power right now. But it said there is a way to regain the World Tree's power in Aquiris. From now on, I plan to find out how.”
And I told Bea about the secondary objectives we could expect on our way to Aquiris Sanctuary.
“One of the strongest elders in my family is there. I’m thinking of eting and greeting him.”
“...”
“The Saintess’s brother, one of the Five Morning Stars, is also there. I'm curious about what kind of person he is.”
However, Bea couldn't concentrate on the subsequent conversation at all.
No, she had worshipped the World Tree like a god her whole life, so she would have much more on her mind than I did.
“Lady Bea, it looks like we’ll be arriving soon.”
Just as I was getting used to the ship, I saw the horizon in the distance.
The Holy Order’s Aquiris Sanctuary, represented by a towering ivory-colored tower, ca into view.
***
We entered Aquiris Sanctuary.
People dressed in white, the color of the Holy Order.
Likewise, buildings with white-painted exterior walls.
It was a place where people of various races gathered, regardless of their race, to receive the teachings of God.
It wasn't as flamboyant as the cities of the Empire, but it was a calm place that exuded piety.
‘It’s indeed the largest religion on the continent. It must have cost a fortune to decorate the city so elegantly.’
It was modest but not shabby.
It was hard to tell at first glance because the exterior walls were all white, but a closer look revealed that a lot of capital had gone into each building.
Just by looking around Aquiris Sanctuary, one could guess the influence of the Holy Order spread across the continent.
And a subtle divine power could be felt throughout the city.
The power the priests had used on the ship was enveloping the city.
Divine power is a different kind of power from Mana.
It is a blessing received and used from a god.
‘…How can I find a way to regain Maron's power here?’
I had thought I would get a clue upon arriving at Aquiris Sanctuary, but I still couldn't get a grasp on it.
I even tried shaking Maron, but there was no particular response.
The priests who had traveled with us apologized to Bea and .
“Soone will be here shortly to guide you. Normally, they would have arrived and been waiting for you, but the order is currently in a state of disarray… We ask for your understanding.”
“You really don’t have to guide us. Can we just look around comfortably on our own?”
“No, you are guests of our order.If you wait for a mont, soone you know well, Lord Polarin, will co out.”
Contrary to the priest’s words, the situation in the sanctuary didn't seem that chaotic to my eyes, which made curious.
But an insider's perspective could be different.
Besides, I was also looking forward to seeing soone I might know.
As it was ti to part, Hans, the priest who had given the blessing to quell seasickness, beca more talkative.
“To be honest, I was a bit reluctant about Lord Polarin visiting the order’s sanctuary. So, your reception on the way here might not have been the most comfortable.”
“I didn’t state my purpose clearly, after all. But don’t worry about it. Thanks to the priests, we had a comfortable journey.”
However, the priest continued, undeterred.
“But I realized on the way. What Lord Polarin did in Kipaso was an important matter for the teachings of the Holy Order as well.”
“The teachings of the Holy Order?”
“We serve the God of Peace. As a priest, I will also learn from Lord Polarin's actions of preventing war and uniting greater power through peace.”
Hans, I and Bea bowed to each other to show our respect.
Soon, a man in pristine white plate armor was seen walking towards us with a dignified gait.
He seed to be the guide the priest had ntioned.
He appeared to be a Paladin of the Holy Order.
The sword and shield of the order, boasting extre martial prowess by channeling divine power into combat.
The Paladin’s neatly styled hair and beard were both graying, but his neatly grood, powerful aura felt formidable.
He was a familiar face.
I greeted the Paladin politely.
“Greetings, Lord Itilus. My na is Polarin Adjak.”
“Haha, you know ? Nice to et you, my na is Itilus Adjak.”
“Of course. There is no one in the Adjak family who does not know of Lord Itilus. It is an honor to et you.”
I had t Itilus Adjak, a mber of the Twelve Swords of Adjak, the strongest in the Adjak family.
He smiled and extended his hand to , and I grasped his firm hand.
“Welco to Aquiris. I live more as a mber of the order than the family now, but it feels good to hear that a child of our family is making a na for himself.”
“You are too kind. Lord Itilus’s na is widely known even across the sea.”
The Paladin's lips curled up into a slight smile.
In the amicable atmosphere, Bea also exchanged greetings with Itilus.
Just then, the sword at my waist trembled.
Soon, Maron’s voice was heard.
—et the God of Peace. There is sothing I have entrusted to him.
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