The Holy Cathedral

Andrea lifted his glass of beer, which the hostess had just placed, and took a few sips before placing his glass back on the table. He tilted his head slightly back, lost in his thoughts.

"Mmmh... The world, isn't it? Indeed, I can see it myself. After all, if a city like Ophelia finds itself pushed to its limits like this, then it's not hard to believe that the world is in a dire situation. Unfortunately, I think you overestimate my influence. I only have a few well-placed connections, nothing more. At best, I can arrange an audience with the king for you."

Tahrren smiled slightly and took a few sips of beer himself. Truth be told, he wasn't expecting much, as Andrea was just a priest.

He had planned to discuss it with the king along with their request for help for Ophelia, but the timing would have been ill-advised. But thanks to Andrea, he would have an ideal opportunity to speak with the king, especially on such an important matter. If their plan to save Ophelia succeeds, the Soul Chasers will never have had such a chance to convince the dwarves to help them. The fate of many people will then be in his hands.

"Very well, that's already excellent news. I'll do my best to convince King Myr-Khandur, Már Baran."

Andrea smiled at his companion's response. He picked up the ale he had barely touched and forcefully clinked glasses with Tahrren, who still had his pint in his hand.

"Excellent! I hope you'll find the right words to convince him."

Tahrren's smile turned into an awkward laugh, but one that emphasized his relief.

"I hope so too. But now that this burden is lifted from me, at least for the moment, I can fully focus on our mission."

They both fell silent for a brief moment before Andrea resumed the conversation in an unusually deep voice.

"The mission... Hahaha."

The dwarf suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, the reason of which was unknown to Tahrren. His laughter was so genuine that he couldn't help but accompany it with a few slaps on the table, causing it to tremble and spilling a few drops of beer.

"You'd have to be completely insane to want to infiltrate the Cathedral of the Saints. And even more so to target the Pope and his temple! But here you three show up, save my life, and then tell me that we must defeat the most powerful man in the region if we want to save everyone."

Taken aback by his companion's sudden outburst, Tahrren remained stoic for a few moments before a wide smile spread across his face, so wide that his eyes squinted.

"And we also want an army of dwarves to march on the most influential city in the region to create a diversion. It's true. This plan is completely insane." He gradually regained his seriousness before continuing. "But if we fail, many people are likely to perish."

The two men continued to discuss this for over an hour before they went to rest for a while in their room.

In the evening, the small group gathered in the bar and didn't hesitate to eat until their stomachs could take no more. It could very well be one of their last meals. Moreover, it helped Ophelia forget her stress in a situation that allowed no mistakes.

They then went to bed, and all four woke before the first rays of sunlight pierced through the cloudy sky.

Tahrren led them to the stables, where all four retrieved their horses. Fortunately, Andrea already had his horse waiting for him in the stable, as none of them had enough money to buy one, even if they pooled their resources.

A few tens of minutes after waking up, they set off on the road that separated them from Ophelia. Unfortunately, they had to endure wind and rain, which inevitably slowed them down.

They arrived in the middle of the afternoon. They passed through the gates without any trouble, thanks in particular to the presence of Andrea, well-known to the guards as he had been wandering the streets of the city dressed in his cassock for over a century.

After getting rid of their horses, the four gathered at the corner of an alley. Quickly, Tahrren gave his instructions.

"We shouldn't waste any time. The Pope's plans are gradually accelerating, and we could be caught off guard. I will infiltrate the cathedral tonight and steal the scepter. Eiji, in the meantime, will roam the streets and gather information on the latest news, especially regarding the temple and the traveling merchants. We need to know how fast the anima spreads in the region."

Eiji nodded. He would have preferred to play a more significant and proactive role, but as a former guard, he knew that information was vital. In a way, there was nothing else he could do, and conversely, no one else could fulfill this role.

"As for you, Andrea, Ophelia, you will hide in an inn," Tahrren continued. "You have until tomorrow to come up with a speech that can convince not only the guards but also the dwarves. We're counting on you because the entire plan relies on your performance."

They nodded in turn, understanding the importance of their mission.

"Very well, let's not waste any more time. Let's split up."

Tahrren turned around and walked away in a hurry. He didn't want to waste time and wanted to start scouting the area before nightfall. However, after covering just a few meters, a small hand grabbed and held him back.

"Tahrren! Wait!"

It was Ophelia who had chased after him.

"Is there a problem?" he asked.

"Yes! And a big one! If you go in like that, the staff will reject you! Remember, I sealed it. Only I can wield it."

Slightly annoyed, Tahrren lost his composure. Although he didn't raise his voice, it was clear that he didn't appreciate the situation.

"And you couldn't tell us this earlier? What are we supposed to do if it's untouchable?"

Ophelia sighed lightly before responding.

"It's not like it's completely unmovable, or they would never have been able to bring it into this cathedral, and it wouldn't be so heavily guarded. The simplest solution for us is for me to integrate a part of my mana into your body. That way, when you take the scepter in your hands, it will detect it and accept you."

Tahrren pondered for a few seconds before nodding.

"I see. Very well. Let's do that then."

Ophelia took Tahrren's hands and placed her crystal-embedded hand on the back of one of them.

She concentrated her magic in her palm and sent it directly into the elf's body. The process lasted only a few seconds, and he felt absolutely nothing. When she finished, she removed her hands and smiled at him.

"There you go, it's done! Good luck and best wishes."

She turned back towards the rest of the group, waving a final goodbye to him.

Tahrren smiled back at her before heading off. Once she rejoined the others, she approached Eiji.

"Good luck to you too, Eiji. May we meet again tonight."

Eiji smiled and let out a light laugh, gently patting her head.

"There shouldn't be any problems with that. I'm just gathering information. It'll be up to you guys to ensure success."

Admiring the scene right next to them, Andrea couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Eiji is right, Ophelia. We should also hurry. Time doesn't wait. If we want to be ready in time, we can't afford to waste a minute."

The princess slipped away from the young Higashito's grasp. She waved him a slight goodbye and shared one last fleeting glance before walking away. Accompanied by Andrea, they went to find a hidden spot away from prying eyes.

On his side, Tahrren arrived near the cathedral. His first move was to circle the cathedral, analyzing the exteriors. There was no shortage of entrances and exits: in addition to the main entrance, many access routes were open. These were often restricted, with the public only able to enter the cathedral through the main door.

The cathedral's walls were surrounded by a vast garden where countless flowers and bushes bloomed in the colors of an approaching winter. The number of men patrolling the area was high, and it would be difficult for someone to cross it without being noticed.

Finally, partially enclosing this garden, a massive gate almost three meters high rose from the ground, protecting this sacred place from intrusions.

Faced with the magnitude of the project, Tahrren decided to enter the cathedral. During the day, it was open to the public. Each person entering was counted, up to a maximum quota. Those leaving the building were counted again, and if the count wasn't accurate at the end of the day, the premises were thoroughly searched until it was sure that no one was left inside.

The interior was rather simplistic yet elegantly decorated. Built like a simple church, the nave was flooded with light of different colors, thanks to the numerous stained glass windows surrounding it. These masterpieces were crafted by the city's few stained glass artists, experts in painting, glasswork, and metallurgy.

The benches lining the nave were all made of polished birch wood, perfectly reflecting those colorful lights. On the walls, countless mythological paintings depicted the history of the city-state and its territory. Solid gold decorations adorned them here and there, as well as the finely carved pillars supporting the structure.

However, the transept crossing was inaccessible. Beyond the many guards guarding it, if one concentrated their mana in their gaze and heightened their sensitivity, they would realize that an immense and powerful barrier blocked all entry. And for good reason: the transept housed the quarters of the Saint.

Finally, beyond this barrier was also the sanctuary, the place of reflection and prayer for the Saint, but also a storage area where many relics were kept, including the Original Saintess Scepter.

"Well, how am I supposed to retrieve this staff now?" Tahrren wondered.