10 Splendor
After nearly six hours of standing in line, garnering considerable attention from onlookers, Cairn and Kai'ankh reached the front of the queue before being called into the checking station. There, they were brought before a portly, middle-aged man with heavy bags under his green eyes and a receding hairline that created a perfect, hemispherical bald spot atop his head.
"Name, affiliation, and transit passes," said the man, prompting Kai'ankh to produce the totem identifying her as a Neophyte of the Restia Church.
"My name is Kai'ankh, daughter of Kai'nuk and Su'anah. We are currently on a pilgrimage to visit the Grand Cathedral in Runegraad. Please permit us passage."
Seeing Kai'ankh's totem, the middle-aged man's eyes widened slightly as he remarked, "A Karakut Neophyte? Now I've seen everything..." However, despite his fairly rude remark, he used one of three stamps, a large silver one, on two pieces of paper as he explained, "The city is currently under Quarantine due to an outbreak in the sewers. These passes expire a week from now, but all the Inns have been pre-booked to accommodate people dispatched by the Freelance Company. If you can't secure lodgings at the Church, I suggest you leave the city and move on to your next destination as soon as possible."
Accepting the two slips of paper, Kai'ankh politely said, "Thank you for your assistance and advice," before handing one to Cairn. Then, without any additional obstructions, they passed under the many gates lining the nearly hundred-meter-thick wall and entered the city.
Seeing the city open up before him, Cairn muttered, "Holy shit..." under his breath. He expected Austral Castle Town to be decently developed, but what he saw shocked him to the core. The architecture was fairly uniform and distinctly fantasy, consisting of white-walled buildings, red-shingled roofs, and a few pointed towers, but the infrastructure was comparable to post-industrial Europe. From where he was standing, he could see trolley cars ferrying people to their destinations, horseless carriages, and what looked like floating platforms used to transport cargo.
Raising his gaze from the streets before him, Cairn felt a sense of awe as he saw the castle for which the city was named. He could see the tip of its silvery white spires from outside the city, but it was far grander than he could have imagined. Even compared to the Great Wall, it was a marvel of engineering, appearing to have been hand sculpted by the Gods, using an entire mountain as its base.
Liberating Cairn from his grandeur-induced paralysis, Kai'ankh muttered, "So this is what the world beyond the wall is like..."
"Is this your first time entering Austral Castle Town?" asked Cairn, taking the initiative to step off to the side so they wouldn't be impeding the flow of traffic in and out of the gate.
Nodding in affirmation, Kai'ankh replied, "I have read about Cliabhaan in books and seen plenty of illustrations, but this is my first time seeing the marvels produced during the Age of Restoration directly. I don't believe I could live here comfortably, but I can see why humans would be reluctant to part with such splendor and abundance."
"Comfort has its consequences..." contended Cairn, looking around at the Names, Titles, and Levels of people walking about. With few exceptions, most were casually dressed Commoners between the Levels of 5-20. Those wearing custom armor and equipment were a bit stronger, but very few exceeded Level 30, even among those guarding the gate.
"Anyways, we should probably head to the church," said Cairn. "Any idea where it's located?"
"There are likely to be smaller churches interspaced throughout the city, but our destination is there," said Kai'ankh, pointing to the massive castle in the distance. More specifically, she was pointing to one of its annexes, a structure matching the castle's architecture but with a twelve-winged statue of the Goddess present atop its steepled facade.
"That's got to be at least twenty kilometers away," said Cairn, suggesting, "We should find a place to eat and rest before we move on. I'm curious to see how the food in this world tastes."
Though she would have preferred to head directly to the Church, Kai'ankh didn't argue with Cairn. Instead, she raised her nose and sniffed the air, saying, "I smell the scent of meat, barley, and spices nearby. But we need to be mindful. I received some funds from my father before my departure, but they will quickly dry up if we're not careful."
"I'll leave you to lead the way and decide what we purchase," said Cairn. "Then, once I have a source of income, I'll be sure to return the favor in full."
"That isn't necessary," contended Kai'ankh, preempting Cairn's response by asserting, "We are allies who share a common destiny. So long as Sir Cairn does not abandon our mission, everything I own is as much yours as it is mine. Without that degree of trust, attaining the qualifications to enter the Tower of Ascension would be impossible."
"That's not 'untrue,'" admitted Cairn, adopting a wry smile. "But you need to relax a bit. We're going to be on this journey for the next ten years, so you don't need to be so formal and serious. For example, no need to call me Sir. Cairn, by itself, is more than enough."
"I see..." muttered Kai'ankh, her ears angling backward as she lowered her gaze, sporting a thoughtful look. Cairn waited for her to speak, and when she did, she looked up at him and expressed, "Then you may call me Kaia. It is how my parents, siblings, and friends address me."
"It's also a lot easier to pronounce," mused Cairn, extending his right hand for a handshake. "Well then, it's a little belated, but nice to meet you, Kaia. Let's do our best from now on."
Reciprocating Cairn's gesture, this time while making sure to control her strength, Kaia offered a polite, "I'll be in your care, Cairn." while sporting a slightly narrow-eyed smile. Her facial structure was too distinctly different from a human's for Cairn to find attractive, but when she smiled, the world seemed to become just a tad bit brighter...
...
..
.
After purchasing some skewers made from the meat of a Bolt Rabbit, a monster found in a nearby Dungeon, Cairn and Kai'ankh made their way up the incline leading to the center of Austral Castle Town on foot. Cairn initially wanted to use a magic-powered trolley to save time, but since she was on a pilgrimage, Kai'ankh had to travel as much as she could on foot. She said he could travel ahead of her if he wanted, but since it was their first time entering the city, Cairn decided it was best they stick together.
"I wonder if this is what pedestrians in San Franciso feel like..." groaned Cairn, feeling the burn in his chest and legs after walking up and down several slopes, including a steep incline more than a kilometer in length.
"I don't know what this 'San Franciso' is...but I can empathize with the sentiment you're trying to convey..." replied Kaia, beige bangs matted to her face and audibly panting. The climate in the city was regulated by a powerful magical barrier that kept the temperature a balmy 24°C, but the reason for her exhaustion was the terrain. She would have been fine if the slopes were covered in grass, but the paved, sun-warmed roads caused the fleshy pads on her feet to feel tenderized, interfering with her ability to regulate her body temperature.
"Well, at least we're here..." said Cairn, staring up at the massive, arching gateway serving as the entrance to the Church. It had to be at least 20m tall and ten wide, framed by hundreds of reliefs depicting various animals and what Cairn assumed to be Heroes of the Sovereign Races. The nave beyond looked like it could hold a congregation of tens of thousands, but despite being midday, only a few people were present within, including a woman with flame-like white hair garbed in an outfit that looked like a mix between a Nun and a Knight.
--------------------------
Name: Sophia Adranis
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 38
Title: Iron Maiden(Vit+50%)
Class: Crusader(Epic)
[Attributes]
Level: 47/69[Neophyte(20), Knight(20), Crusader(7)]
HP: 175,890/175,890
MP: 24,703/26,998
Str: 129+78
Agi: 67+12
Vit: 490+740
Int: 238+145
Dex: 81+32
Cha: 205+125
Talent(s): [Goddess of Light's Blessing(27/40)], [Corruption Resistance(27/40)], [Valor(20/20)], [Nine Lives(7/20)], [Alcohol Tolerance(51/69)], [Undead Slayer(50/66)], [Mace Mastery(44/62)], [Cooking(35/57)], [Pain Tolerance(34/50)], [Swordsmanship(27/49)], [Shield Mastery(25/44)], [Riding(22/38)], (Camping(22/34)]
Skill(s): [Light Healing(MAX)], [Purification(MAX)], [Charge(MAX)], [Shield Bash(MAX)], [Stalwart(MAX)], [Blessing of Light(MAX)], [Lunge(MAX)], [Divine Hammer(MAX)], [Benediction(MAX)], [Turn Undead(MAX)], [Light Imbue(MAX)], [Smite(MAX)], [Lifestyle Magic(5/5)]
--------------------------
As if sensing Cairn's gaze, Sophia looked up from the people praying in front of her, meeting his gaze before looking at Kaia and smiling from ear to ear.
"I must apologize, dear lambs, but some important guests have arrived," said Sophia, placing her right hand over her heart and bowing toward the kneeling group before promptly sidestepping around them. Both they and the people sitting in the pews silently followed her movements, but when they saw Kaia, one woman openly gasped, crying out, "Forsaken...!" like a hissing cat.
Stopping mid-step, Sophia turned toward the woman, adopting a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as she asserted, "Lady Restia loves all of her children. Furthermore, this is a place of tolerance and compassion. If you find yourself lacking in either, please leave and do not return until you have reflected on yourself and the values of the Restia Church."
Without waiting to hear the woman's response, Sophia turned away to continue approaching Cairn and Kaia, placing her hand over her chest when she reached them. "Welcome to the Ancilliary Grand Cathedral of Austral. I am Bishop Adranis, also known as Austral's Iron Maiden. And the two of you must be Sir Cairn and Lady Kai'ankh. I have been looking forward to your arrival for some time."
Before Cairn or Kai'ankh could respond to return her greeting, Sophia gestured to an ornate door that looked like it led to a confessional but was the entrance to the private quarters of the Church's clergymen and women.
"The matters we need to discuss should not be made public at this time," said Sophia. "If the two of you will join me in my meditation room, I would be honored to prepare tea and snacks while you rest."
"That's fine with me, but what about your congregation?" asked Cairn, looking past Sophia at the thirty or so people staring at them, some with curiosity and others with visibly annoyed looks. Since they were all under Level 20, however, Cairn didn't think they were anyone important.
"Those who serve Lady Restia are kind, patient, and conscientious of others," said Sophia, not looking back but making sure she spoke loud enough for everyone in the nave to hear. Most of them were people who were down on their luck or had aspirations of becoming a member of the Church, so upon hearing Sophia's words, they returned to their prayers and minded their own business...
...
..
.
With Sophia leading the way, Cairn and Kaia soon found themselves in a cold stone room with minimalistic furniture, a bed with threadbare sheets, and a subtly glowing statue of the Goddess, Restia. Sophia literally had to bring in a chair for him to sit on before disappearing for a few minutes to prepare tea, cookies, and even a tiny bowl of chocolate. In the period she was gone, Cairn considered the possibility they had fallen into a trap, but when he got up to check the incredibly thick metal door, he discovered it locked from the inside.
While presenting the tea and snacks to Cairn and Kaia, Sophia, noticing the former's thinly veiled intrigue, adopted a faint smile and explained, "I apologize if you find our accommodations lacking, Sir Cairn. This all must appear very strange to you, but you see, when one moves up the ranks of the Restia Church, we are obligated to forego certain comforts. It can be challenging at times, but enduring hardship and overcoming trials are two of the most vital tenets of our faith."
Though he was tempted to point out Sophia's [Alcohol Tolerance], Cairn responded with a curt, "Sounds rough." before asking, "So, what did you want to talk about? You said you were waiting for us."
Nodding in affirmation, Sophia replied, "Indeed. You are the Champion designated by Lady Restia. Though our tenets limit the support we can provide, everyone above the rank of Bishop is aware of your identity and prepared to assist you in any way we can."
Shifting her steely gaze to Kai'ankh, a glimmer of mischief appeared in Sophia's obsidian eyes as she added, "To that end, once the two of you have rested and finished recuperating from your journey, I would like to ascertain your capabilities via a spar. After that, well, it depends on how well you perform. Both individually and as a team..."
...
..
.
(A/N: Fear the drunken Nun...)
