"Sorry...sorry, we were just a bit impatient. We definitely did not intend to force him to convert!" Hearing this, the few burly men looked a bit afraid and their attitude softened a lot. It seems this bespectacled priest is no ordinary person. I see them standing in a line with eyes fixed on the foreign tourist.
"The table you broke is worth 100 silver. Pay up as compensation and we'll let this matter rest!"
The shop owner stretched out his palm.
"At least your church still has some conscience!"
Having no choice, the foreign tourist fished out some coins from his pocket and placed them on the other party's hand before leaving the scene.
"This holy city Jethrobaines is really a place of mixed company. And that Pope is also a character - to think cartoon attraction were his idea. He's definitely not ordinary..."
With that, the matter ended. I sat across the street and couldn't help letting out a sigh. Our food orders also arrived at this time, so my attention was drawn to the meals.
Compared to the Western fare popular in the Astralrealm Kingdom, Jethrobaines' culinary culture focuses more on flour-based products. Of course, this brings it a step closer to our familiar cuisine.
"Excuse me ladies, would you allow me to buy you lunch?"
Just as Nicola and I were wolfing down the food, a shadow suddenly appeared before us. Turns out someone had sat down in the seat next to ours. Lifting my head for a look, it was actually the bespectacled priest!
"You..."
Nicola sized him up doubtfully. While we were appreciative of his chivalrous deed previously, it did not mean we were fine with a stranger joining our lunch.
"You are a light mage, yes?"
Sensing the light elemental aura from him explained his particular interest in us. After all, even if we had hidden our wings, those with apt experience would still easily recognize what we are.
"We have our own money. No treats needed. What advice do you have?"
Nicola frowned a little. Jethrobaines having light mages is totally expected, though we had been prepared our identities might be exposed, didn't expect it to happen so fast. With so many people around, the odds were just too low.
"Or are you representing the True Church to contact us now?"
She and I both felt this priest had ulterior motives, plus his unordinary standing displayed earlier. It's likely he specifically came for us.
"Oh no, not at all! I merely sensed stronger light elemental aura from this side by chance and found two angels dining here. That's extremely rare in this holy city, so I specially came by to visit."
Hearing that, the bespectacled priest quickly clarified in a low voice.
"Don't worry, I know Edenmere normally doesn't allow angels into the holy city. I definitely won't expose your identities!"
I see, so he mistook us for angels who had sneaked into the city to sightsee!
Indeed, even if Edenmere did not explicitly show wariness against the holy city, over time True Church would surely notice something amiss - after all angels visit other nations frequently, just not their territory...
"What are your impressions of our Church? Are you interested to find out more?"
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Seeing our silence, the priest forced out a laugh and continued his sales pitch, as expected.
"Not interested!"
Nicola wiped her mouth decisively. She clearly didn't want to entertain him further and stood up to ask me:
"Feliciana, are you done with your food? Let's go!"
"Huh? Leaving now?"
I was taken aback. Since he's part of True Church, I actually wanted to ask about meeting the Pope! But Nicola had voiced her stance so firmly, naturally I couldn't stay on either.
"If you have the chance, do visit the St. Cenin Cathedral where I'm based at. I can bring you around!"
As we left, the bespectacled priest still wouldn't give up and promoted himself.
"My name is Eminem! Just quote me when you visit!"
"That name sounds so familiar..."
Glancing back at his waving arm, I felt I had heard this name somewhere before.
"Probably the church staff in Preston Cathedral mentioned him. Since he works at Saint Cenin, he should be quite a senior figure too."
Nicola brushed it off matter-of-factly. Clearly she was very annoyed by people actively striking up conversations, if not she wouldn't have given up this chance to ask about meeting the Pope so easily.
Back at the hotel, Nicola crashed onto bed and slept immediately while I decided to bathe first before turning in. After all it had been days since my last bath. The ominous prophecy at Makalan City had left me rather rattled, so a hot soak would do me good.
Most importantly, it would be a waste of money not to use the bath since it's included in the room rate...
However, when I stepped into the changing room, it was empty with no one inside. Great! I'd feel more comfortable without many others around.
Despite having gotten used to my body, my erstwhile male mindset still made me somewhat shy about nudity. Too much bare flesh would still make me bashful.
"So this is what they look like on myself? What a strange structure...can't be real right?"
Suddenly, a crisp familiar voice rang out. Curious, I traced the voice behind the lockers and saw a topless Cyra muttering to herself while groping her chest.
"What are you doing? Didn't you say you won't be bathing?"
Feeling puzzled since she had not just transformed, I asked why she was still acting so agitated despite so much time had passed. Had she not seen her own breasts before?
"You again?"
Yet her reaction at seeing me was weird. She hurriedly put her clothes back on and looked around the changing room and outside warily, appearing very confused.
"Strange, this looks exactly like the Arcania Hotel alright..."
"Duh, seeing me disappoints you? Weren't you the one who insisted to stay here?"
I rolled my eyes, wondering what bug had bitten her now. I then took off my clothes and cautioned her:
"I'm warning you first! If you insist on bathing with me, keep your distance! I don't want to be taken advantage of by you and your roving hands."
While we had not bathed together before, her lecherous side had long been exposed. She would often find excuses to act perverted under the pretence of waking me up in the mornings.
From "We're both girls, transformed or not still same gender, why so shy!"
To "Come come, let me check if your development is normal!"
I bet no one would believe she's not Playboy reborn!
Even Nicola did not escape initially until she beat Cyra up and plucked out some feathers before she finally behaved. But that was only towards Nicola. To me, she remains a dangerous element, especially when we are both undressed like this!
However, since I had come all the way, I was too lazy to head back to the room. If Cyra dared to try anything funny, I would give her a taste of her own medicine like Nicola!
Yet contrary to expectations, instead of her usual nonchalant dismissal, Cyra looked serious upon hearing me and quickly defended herself:
"That's impossible! As clergy, I've been chaste all these years, devoting my body and soul entirely to the Lord. I absolutely won't go near women!"
"Since I'm done with my bath, please go ahead if you still wish to enter. I have other matters to attend to..."
With that she hastily wrapped herself in the towel and left swiftly without even turning back, leaving me standing there totally astonished.
"What's going on?"
Since when did she learn to spout nonsense so earnestly?
And she says she avoids women? What about the two elf maidens back at the Light Elf Village? And Norma? Does she think I've forgotten?
Despite Cyra's dry hair and the towel draped on her belying the claim she had just bathed, I did not ponder too much over it. Upon entering the pools, I saw not a single soul inside, precisely what I hoped for.
Unlike the large public bath houses I had been to previously, the hotel hot spring pools catered to high end patrons with smaller pools but more exquisite, elegant furnishing. There were also several pools opened at any one time. Although this room had no one inside, I could vaguely hear chatter from the pool beside. I heard some top tier rooms even had private pools - not that such lowly commoners like us staying in the 2000 silver rooms could do anything but envy.
Returning from my bath to the room, I was surprised to find both beds empty with Nicola gone.
Just as I was wondering about it, the room door opened and Nicola walked in. "Where did you go? Weren't both of you going to sleep, how come running about instead?" I asked curiously.