A horse-drawn carriage traverses a snowy plain that was once a verdant land filled with grass. The weather does not hinder its progression but it also does not speed up its travel. The sight itself is not rare as several carriages also travel down the road.
City to city, towns to towns, villages to villages, and most of the time, people go around traveling at either said settlements. Their objectives are either travel, trading, group of adventurers escorting or just moving from one place to another and some who are migrating place.
The path leads, however, to Mesola Kingdom Capital, the place where people come to study theology and start training for priesthood or nunnery. It is also the place to receive training in healing spells and other restoration magic through the blessing of divine power bestowed by the archpriest.
In the Mesola Kingdom, the Archpriests make a divine revelation through the prophecy of the gods and choose a rightful heir to the throne with candidates. The Archpriest is also the one who keeps all of the records, books about restoration spells, and much more.
Their whole capital is concentrated to learning and studying. The rest are common places like the adventurer guild, bars, inn, pubs, marketplaces and much more settlements with daily necessities. Through the belief that healing spells are much loved by a party of people, studying the Mesola Kingdom is every worth of coin for some people.
And right now, Eiru together with Mika, Aspara, Sod, Mes, and Reld are all traveling towards such pristine city. Sod and Mes are handling the reins and drives the carriage while the others are inside.
Eiru…hold his head like what Reysha would do if a headache struck her. Mika and Aspara could only look at him pitifully.
“How in the world did it end up like this?!” Eiru screams with utter despair while facing downward.
“Sorry to interrupt your drama but, isn’t this your fault to begin with? Or rather, you can just ignore it since Prince Arytorio doesn’t even know the truth. Let’s keep him deluded for now. As for me, it will be a little problem…” Aspara said as she tried to console Eiru, albeit, a little unconcerned.
“Even if you say that…I can’t turn back now, not after dragging all of you here! I can’t accept it if that Thenea persona would be accepted as an official divine!” Eiru replied with a pale face.
“Fufufu, then let’s wait until you ascend to godhood if you accumulate enough faith.” Mika said jokingly.
“Well, my only concern here is that foolish prince. Good thing I heard the news that he went on a pilgrim to the Mesola Kingdom as soon as I reach the first village in the proximity of our kingdom. I immediately rush back to you guys and ask for some assistance.” Aspara said as she hovers pages by pages of her book.
“Hmph! Why am I dragged into this? I really don’t have real issues but I don’t like working with Sod and Mes.” Reld said as he stared back again outside.
“Sorry, you and those two are the readily available people we could ask. Anyway, Miss Aspara, I am little relieved that your goals coincide with us.” Eiru timidly said towards Aspara who turn to look at him with emotionless eyes.
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“So you say but, stopping that fool is only secondary. The Mesola Kingdom won’t readily go to war with other kingdoms. The worst case scenario is that since this is not a kingdom where your position from other land is recognized, you will be punished accordingly. If Prince Arytorio’s claim of having divine revelation proved to be fraud, he might receive the capital punishment which is death.” Aspara clearly explains her motives, however, saying that the prince’s life is only secondary makes them take another good look at her.
“How in the world did he come up with that conclusion though? I heard that he greatly changed and started doing so much charity that the people of the Kerias Kingdom started following him. That’s how the Cult of Thenea began, right?” Mika asked as he took another look at Eiru’s despairing face.
“You already answered it yourself. The fool believed that Thenea is a visage of a goddess that made a revelation to him and now, he started preaching her words, which came from you, Eiru. Not that I blame you or anything but you should be aware that what you told him that night affected him.” Aspara said as she pointed her finger to Eiru as she slams close her book.
“However you twist your words, you are still downright blaming me…” Eiru could only mutter as he began to be crestfallen.
“Oh, I am verily not blaming you, after all, I told you that that fool is secondary to my concerns. As you have all known, the Mesola Kingdom is a very religious kingdom, however, their prided healing and restoration spells are all but naught against me. I have already unraveled a way to use those magic much more easy and effective.” Aspara boasts as she retrieved another book and opened it.
“But what damaged my pride is that I cannot use that summoning and divine power that that damn Archpriest is boasting! My decades of research are my pride and I won’t allow anything unturned. I’ll dig up whatever those nutjobs have under their noses.” She said as her eyes filled with determination.
“I can respect you for that Miss Aspara. You are really going to such lengths for your passion.” Eiru commented with a little dry smile.
“Of course. I even used my body so many times to get what I want. Even so, it only made my determination grow. That’s why overly talented people piss me off! They can take a shorter route in life with their potentials and such.” Aspara replied to Eiru, however, her face becomes dyed in utter anger but at the same time, loneliness.
After what Aspara said, everything comes to stillness and silence looms over as they watch the outside of the carriage while it traverses in the snowy plains.
“Come to think of it, we’ve been traveling for five days now. Walking would take us a month or so but with the carriage, it will only take a week. Where did we get this carriage from anyway?” Mika asked towards Reld.
“Where you ask…that two rascals stole it you know.” Reld said without even looking at Mika.
“Ahahaha…yeah…we are bandits after all…” Mika could only laugh weakly.
Meanwhile…
“GAAAAAAHHHH! UWAAAAH! PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWN! I BEG OF YOU!” Falikh screams caught the attention of Reysha and Ivy.
Upon hearing his cries, Reysha who carries Falikh in her arms like a baggage put him down flat without any care of what happened to him.
“You know what…you said you wanted to catch up with them because you said it’ll be interesting but then…you just keep screaming like that.” Reysha coldly said towards the huffing Falikh.
“Yeah, Sir Falikh is so weak…” Ivy followed with a rude remark.
“Don’t group me with the two of you monsters! Three days of travel my ass! I am going to die today if that continues! I know I said I wanted to follow but to carry me like that while sprinting at hell loose speed! I am bound to get wobbly!” Falikh protested while still catching up for his breath.
“Tsk! Ten minutes and we will resume running. After that, lucky if we can sleep in a town for tonight, if not, our precious young demon lord here will suffer sleeping out in this cold. I don’t want that too.” Reysha said as she sits on a stone slab.
“I really want to sleep in a bed tonight. After that, let’s go back to running so we can meet that summoned hero.” Ivy said as she stretches her body.