290: Chapter 3 The Traveler from the Church_1 290: Chapter 3 The Traveler from the Church_1 “Ding, ding, ding.” The tranquil morning was once again penetrated by the distant chi of a bell emanating from Central Square in the business district.
The sound faintly carried down Fox Street, heralding the start of a new day.
“Step, step, step.” The sound of running echoed on Fox Street.
As with every morning, a lively, youthful figure – Lily – appeared from one end of the street.
As she passed each house, she reached into her sack to fetch newspapers and letters and stuffed them into the mailboxes by the doors.
“Take this!” Before a mansion, the little girl, without even looking up, casually tossed a small stone into the air.
The stone whistled through the air, flying several ters before accurately striking Pannis on the head.
Pannis was carrying out his typical morning routine – squatting atop the mansion’s entrance while stepping on two sharp tal railings, dressed in pyjamas, and yawning lazily toward the sky.
The flying stone hit the top of his head precisely, yet Pannis seed completely unfazed, continuing his daydreaming spell towards the empty street with sleepy eyes.
“Hey, monster uncle, are you okay?” Realising that there was sothing unusual about Pannis’s reaction, Lily kindly probed, “Is sothing the matter?”
“I’m pondering a question.” Pannis’s gaze remained fixed in front of him as he said solemnly, “The question is important, and I need to figure it out quickly or else it’s going to be too late.”
“What problem do you need my help with?” Lily stepped closer, raising her head and asking, “Though I might not be as knowledgeable as you professionals, who knows, I might be able to help.”
“I’m thinking…” Turning his gaze finally to the young girl, Pannis hesitated for a mont before saying seriously, “What should I have for breakfast?
Should I toast so bread and ham or should I make so oatal with milk?
It’s really a tough decision.”
“You’re going down!” Lily was montarily taken aback by Pannis’s question.
She raised her hand to throw another stone at him, shouting furiously, “Stupid uncle, how dare you make fun of !
I’ll kill you!”
“The sa trick won’t work on .” Pannis tilted his head, dodging the incoming stone.
In the sa quick move, he threw sothing back, a dark shadow zipping towards Lily, “Not only does it not work, but I’ll also fight back, you rotten kid!”
“Wham!” Lily extended her hand and caught the object that Pannis had thrown.
Without a glance, she bit into it ferociously, as if biting into Pannis’s flesh.
Once she grabbed the black shadow, it beca clear that it was a juicy, red pasfruit.
As she bit into it, juice splashed all over, its sweetness filling her mouth.
“Thanks, silly uncle.” Lily stopped in front of the mansion for a mont, flexing her arm and leg joints.
After devouring the fruit in her hand, she cheerfully readjusted the bag on her back, full of newspapers and letters, and waved at Pannis.
“I’m going now, see you tomorrow, uncle.”
“Who said anything about seeing you tomorrow?” Pannis remarked with feigned outrage.
“Give back my fruit, you thief!”
“Haha, no way.” Lily’s laughter rang out, her ponytail bouncing playfully as she gradually distanced herself.
“Lily’s family is actually not well off.
Her father died several years ago, and she and her sister get by on her mother’s modest earnings.
So she, even though young, has had to take up the responsibility of earning money for the family.” Catherine stood behind Pannis, speaking in a hushed voice.
She began speaking at so point unknown, “So that’s why you make a fuss every morning, giving her so food that kids like?”
“Absolutely not.” Pannis grumbled through gritted teeth.
“I just want to hit her with sothing.
That damned kid is not cute at all.”
“Pfft.” Catherine could not help but giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.
“You always act this way.
Lily is not a fool; she’s known about this for a while and is quite thankful.
She even privately thanked .”
“Thank you for what?” Pannis glared, indignant.
“If she’s so grateful, then she shouldn’t always be throwing stones at .
Damn it, is it a tradition in the City of Knowledge to throw stones as a way of expressing gratitude?”
“Sohow, I get the sense that you actually enjoy this.” Catherine said, grinning from ear to ear and looking up at Pannis.
“Though you never get any real work done, snoozing on other people’s rooftops all day, pestering girls around town, secretly taking kids to drink, hanging upside down outside people’s shops to scare off their custors, picking flowers at night to give away but never actually doing it…”
“Hey.” Pannis glared sideways at Catherine.
“Hehe, though you seem to make trouble for everyone each day, it looks like the neighbours in the street increasingly like you,” Catherine cheerfully continued.
“It feels like everyone is happier now than before you arrived.
They say you often help them out secretly.
Thanks for that.”
“Nonsense.” Pannis turned his head away, refusing to et Catherine’s gaze.
“Who would help a bunch of morons.”
“You know it yourself.” Catherine remained unoffended, continuing to complete her stretching exercises before turning back to the mansion.
“It seems my recovery is faster than expected.
I guess getting injured often does speed up the recovery process.”
“You could also speed up the dying process,” remarked Pannis while leaping from the top of the gate to Catherine’s side.
“With so many broken bones and a walk that’s still wobbly, you dare venture out on your own.
You didn’t even think to prepare a cane.
Aren’t you afraid to fall and die?”
“What’s there to fear?” Catherine smirked, “Even if I truly fell, isn’t there soone here ready to catch at any mont?
There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Excuse , both of you, please hold on.” They’d only taken a few steps, bickering all the way, when they heard a loud shout from the door behind them: “Is this the residence of the Nellie Adventure Team?”
“Huh?” replied a surprised Catherine, turning her head to look back.
At the entrance of the mansion, two people dressed as travelers stood.
One had a coarse cloth bodysuit, a dusty grey cloak, and a pair of worn-out leather boots.
The other wore the garb of an ascetic, a frayed monk robe filled with patches and a pair of straw sandals.
Their faces and bodies were covered in black and white patches—it was impossible to know how far they had traveled or how much hardship they had endured.
“Yes, this is No.
6 Fox Street.” Catherine nodded uncertainly.
“May I help you with sothing?”
“Thank goodness, we’ve finally found it.” The two travelers seed to let out a sigh of relief.
The ordinary traveler wiped the sweat from his brow: “Since this is the place, may I ask if Miss Ryan is here?”
“Who is that?” Pannis looked at Catherine, his perplexed question lingering in the air.
“Do we have soone like that here?”
“Yeah, who is that?” Catherine also looked clueless for a long while before she suddenly had an epiphany and said, “Oh, oh, oh, it must be Lina.
I almost forgot Lina’s surna because it’s been so long since I used it.
You two must be looking for Helena Ryan, the traveling priest of the Church of the Earth Goddess, right?”
“Yes, the Sage Helena,” the ascetic’s wrinkles ford into a smile on his craggy face, “May I know if she is here?”
“Yes, she lives here,” Catherine nodded, “but it’s quite early now, she might still be asleep.
Do you have any business with her?”
“We’re from Diersalem City of the Neville Federation,” The ascetic’s face remained expressionless as always, but he bowed slightly in courtesy.
“The sacred temple of the Church of the Earth Goddess has so internal affairs to report and seek help for.”
“Oh, please co in.” Catherine and Pannis exchanged a glance, their eyes hiding a trace of both confusion and worry.
After Catherine signaled, Pannis swiftly opened the gate, inviting the two travelers in and guiding them into the mansion.
Just upon entering the entrance hall, Catherine asked, “May I have you two guests wait in the lounge.
We’ll call Lina down imdiately.
By the way, coming this early in such cold weather, would you like sothing warm to eat or drink?”
“A glass of clear water will be enough, thank you,” The ascetic made a rectangle across his chest and replied impassively.
After glancing at the other traveller and seeing the helpless, bitter smile that spread across his face after hearing the ascetic’s response, Catherine understood and replied with a knowing smile, “Got it, please wait a bit.
Pannis, could you call for Lina?”
“No need, I’m already here,” A series of minor creaks echoed from the stairs as Lina, in loosely disheveled silver hair and a priest’s robe, slowly descended.
“Didn’t expect to see a level two ascetic, and there’s also…
a head priest from which diocese, I wonder?
May I know the reason for your visit?
Just letting you know, I’m just a nominal priest in the Church, and I have no interest in the Church’s internal affairs.”
“Don’t worry, your sage identity is recognized by the Goddess, we won’t disrupt you with ordinary church matters,” explained the traveler, identified as the diocese’s head priest.
“Actually, we have received the Archbishop’s orders to seek your help.”
“The Archbishop?
What happened?” Lina’s fist suddenly tightened, evidently, her feelings were not as serene as her expression.
“Using the term ‘seek help’ must an it’s sothing serious.”
“The Archbishop is fine,” the ascetic declared sharply.
“It’s not the Archbishop who has a problem, but so trouble has erupted in the several districts under his jurisdiction.
The Archbishop himself couldn’t resolve it, so he was hoping you could assist.”
Lina’s clenched fists slowly but imperceptibly loosened as she calmly asked, “Does it involve your district, Head Priest?”
“Yes, it’s my district.” The Head Priest let out a sigh and took off his dust-laden hat, clutching it against his chest, “I’m Priest nto from the Eastern District of the Neville Federation under the Holy Temple of the Church.
Recently, so odd occurrences happened in my district, which caused considerable distress to the District Archbishop.
After seeking help from the Archbishop of the main temple, the Archbishop gave instructions indicating that you might have so ideas.
So, we have audaciously co to seek your help.”
“Odd occurrences?” Lina asked, her confusion apparent.
“What kind of odd occurrences?”
“Sage, please have a look at this.” nto handed Lina a mory Crystal.
“You’ll understand once you’ve watched it.”
As she activated the crystal with many questions in her mind, an image sprang to life.
The mont it appeared, everyone in the adventure team was stunned.
(To be continued.
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