Chapter 103: The Church of Aurena.

Chapter 103: The Church of Aurena.

Not every business closes on RestDay, as the economy of a town mustnt completely stop on a single day every week. Adventurers may flock into town on any day and at any time, so both the mercenary and hunter guilds must stay open, Barathan explained as we walked through the streets on our way to the temple. Artisans and laborers will take a break on this day. With people enjoying their rest day, taverns and street vendors stay open to serve them.

This was only my first day in town, but I already was wondering why so many people were still working today. You see, RestDay, Peolyncas Sunday, was considered a day of rest so people may pray to the gods and heal their fatigue for the next week of work. However, the hunters guild was half full of people anyway, and even had those three receptionists working.

We left the guild after selling all of our G, F, and E rank monster materials at the guild, earning us a whopping 6743 Davi. To be honest, the only reason why we were able to earn this much was due to the mountain of pelts, claws, scales, carapaces, and fangs Id stored up after every single Idol concert strategy Ive done with Saori. The material from G and F rank monsters were practically worthless compared to those from D and C rank monsters.

We could have made even more by selling the higher tier materials, but we wanted to keep those for equipment. Ruld mentioned a blacksmith, so Ill be waiting until we meet him or her before selling everything. Thank goodness the E rank material was profitable. Saori couldnt stop smiling after we left the guild.

Now to our next destination, the temple, we had to walk through the same street again and that was when I noticed a bustling market nearby. That is when I asked Barathan about RestDay and why so many people were still working.

I see, that is understandable. If you do not work, you do not get to eat. Although the day has a significant religious reason, not every man and woman can afford to not work, Saori stated, earning a sharp nod from Barathan. This is quite different from how you grew up, correct, Tasianna?

She nodded to Saoris response. I grew up praying to Goddess Zephira during the morning of RestDay and then spending the rest of my day frolicking with everybody else. The liveness of this town cannot compete.

This is one of the major reasons why Tasianna has been keeping us updated on the days ever since we met her. As Tasianna was religious and a devout follower of Zephira and Plesia, she took counting the days seriously. During our time together, she always spent a small amount of time in the morning to give those two goddesses a small prayer before returning to her duties, believing a maid should make her mistresss day more peaceful.

If you are wondering if the temple is open today, Lady Hestia, then please do not worry. As servants of the Goddess, they can never rest when their services might be needed. Winter is a dreadful time for everybodys health, though we we are lucky Firwood does not receive storms as often as the north, Barathan informed us before raising his head to the skies and inspecting its blue luster. God Krunal blesses us, he muttered.

Services, huh? Do you mean the white grace? Ive noticed the upper district covered in snow; dont they have one of those temperature regulators like at Lady Ellaines mansion? There would be fewer people sick if it wasnt so cold, I asked, barely noticing the cold myself as my core was managing my body temperature.

Barathan showed me a smile before bowing in respect, continuing where he left off, As expected of you, Lady Hestia. While their wealth may be enough to acquire a [Season Regulator], it is very unlikely that most merchants would buy one due to the maintenance costs. Nobles are born with a high affinity to mana due to their venerable bloodlines, making it easy for them to fuel manatech without the need of mana batteries. However, merchants are commoners; some have the innate talents in magic, but most cannot even write a sentence with a mana pen. A merchant might use their mana batteries for certain luxuries, but their houses are not mansions, so a simple hearth is simpler and more cost-effective.

Ellaine always used these mana pens whenever she needed to write on something. Using her mana as the ink, Ellaine would sometimes fill out documents when I visited her. Considering she never showed signs of exhaustion whenever she wrote with it, most humans must really have low mana.

You surprisingly know a lot about the town, considering youre the seneschal of a village, Barathan, I said in wonder, pleasantly surprised at how he was able to answer every question with confidence.

Your words honor me, Lady Hestia; however, it is only natural. I was once the head butler of House Helvas mansion in Firwood, after all, he stated with pride. My grandfather was the previous seneschal of Carine village, but he, unfortunately, passed away a few winters ago; may the Goddess bless him. I handed over my role as the leading servant here to Manuela and have been living in Helvas County ever since. I would be a failure of a butler if I didnt know this much about the town I once worked at.

My condolences, Sir Barathan, Saori said politely. How is the rest of your family? Were they not at the mansion to greet you, or do they live somewhere else?

My father and mother work as the leading servants at the mansion in Cedaraille, and my brothers and sister work as regular servants at the mansion in Griffonpeak. I presume they are doing well as I have not received a notice. As you might have noticed, my family are loyal servants of House Helvas, and weve been given the family name Kiesmay for our service, he answered with absolute pride, puffing his chest up as his lips curved into a genuine smile.

Barathan continued giving us small historical trivia of the town, exciting Saori enough to awaken the historian inside of her. The two of them conversed mostly one-on-one while Tasianna and I ignored them. After reaching the upper district, we immediately made our way to the temple, which was next to the noble districts gate wed passed through earlier.

Looking at the temple, it fitted perfectly with the nobles decorated mansions, as its walls were pristine white and filled with intricate engravings. Although the building was considered a temple, it looked more like a gothic catholic cathedral to Saori. She drew our attention to the murals and stone ornaments plastered on the temples twin towers, which towered even over the surrounding walls. Beautiful stained glass windows depicted various figures on them. In particular, the largest showed a winged woman shrouded in a veil of light as she smiled peacefully with eyes closed.

A pair of guards stood before the gates to the temple, who prompted us to show our IDs before we entered the temple area. Barathan went forwards before I could say anything and produce the same document he showed the other guards. These guards, however, werent able to read well, so Barathan had to read everything out loud. Suffice to say, those guards will probably remember my partys faces from today onwards.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

Honestly, the amount of people that document has scared is baffling. I know youre the lord of Firwood and a greifnoble but Marquis Sirius, you have sealed an unworldly power into this piece of parchment.

Barathan, I heard white-robed priests are nobles. I wish to avoid them if possible, I told him as we entered the temples premises.

Is that so? he wondered as he raised a brow, but quickly accepted it with a nod, once again showing what a proper butler he was. In that case, you have nothing to fear, Lady Hestia. While it might be true that most white-robed priests are nobles, as your grace is aware, but that doesnt mean commoners cannot become priests.

Barathan then proceeded to give me a quick rundown of how the clergy worked, beginning with the two types of priests: white-robed and grey-robed clergymen. At the bottom, grey-robed priests and priestesses are members of the clergy who are usually either orphans or commoners who were banished there as punishment. Rarely, there will be pious people who wanted to join the church as a grey-robe, but there was usually a better alternative.

The reason for this is cause grey-robes are treated similarly to servants. In the churchs ecosystem, the grey-robes serve the white-robes similar to a servant and master relationship. While they wore the robes of a grey priest, these people were the property of the church. As hard as it was to say, that was the reality of the situation.

As mentioned by the villagers, white-robes are usually nobles. That was why they treated me as one after I introduced myself. However, commoners born with the potential to become mages were also allowed to enter the church to become an official white-robe, theoretically possessing the same influence and power as a noble priest.

Barathan informed me the reason why he tested me with the presents was cause the Count wasnt sure if I was a commoner or not. They had to test me to see what my social rank was by using the Counts name in an attempt to intimidate me.

Both Zephiras and Crustacias shrines almost had the same amounts of offerings, looking prettier than Plesias, giving weight to Ellaines words when she said the Greenveil Duchy also worshipped the Goddesses of Wind and Earth. Being an agricultural land would make you like the two Goddesses responsible for land management.

Lastly, the largest shrine belonged to none other than Aurena herself.

I walked closer to her shrine as everybody else stayed back. I wasnt a religious person in my past life, but, as if something was speaking to me, I knew exactly how to pray to her. I kneeled down, kept my hands together, and closed my eyes. I then focused on the image of the statue on the shrine, the figure of an angel-winged woman with flowing blond hair.

And the moment I opened my eyes, all I could see was a white and formless world. I wasnt in the temple anymore and no matter how often I turned my head around, Saori and Tasianna werent there. I was alone.

My surroundings immediately changed the moment I spouted, Where the hell am I? The ground turned into clouds, but it felt soft and stable to stand on. I peaked down, noticing the lack of shadows in this place.

My body was then forcibly turned around before stopping before a room decorated with white and golden furniture only a rich girl could ever possess. The luxury and wealth inside this room would even overshadow Ellaines mansions. It could only be called the epitome of opulence, keeping everything tastefully stylish without including anything gaudy, meaning the designer of this room knew exactly how to decorate fashionably.

Welcome, my dear champion, a serene voice full of warmth suddenly called out for me, filling not only my ears but also my soul with a feeling of relaxation. All the anxiety I had was just swept away with the tone of her voice.

A-Are you, Goddess Aurena? I asked, finally noticing a woman sitting down at a table, sipping her tea inside the beautiful room. Her appearance fitted perfectly the image of the statue I just prayed to.

She smiled so genuinely it felt a bit nostalgic, as she gazed at me with golden irises. You are correct, Hestia. Aurena, the Origin Goddess of Light and a primary administrator of Peolynca, is here. Sit, we only have a limited time together.

As her elegant hand movements mesmerized me, I followed her order and took a seat at the table, before a piercing headache assaulted me. It stung my brain, feeling like a sharp needle was slowly piercing through my head. I clutched the table. The pain was unbearable. I couldnt open my eyes anymore!

Arck!

ARRGGGGH! STOP! STOP! MAJOR HEAL! MAJOR HEAL! ARRGH!

Child!

The pain coursed through me like a wave of blades, slicing not my body but my very soul. I desperately tried to use [Major Heal] to fix myself, out as I have been doing up until now, but magic circle manifested. I couldnt feel my mana. I couldnt invoke my powers. I felt helpless. I felt helpless as I struggled to keep myself sitting on the chair.

But at the next moment, everything was gone. I clutched my chest, breathing heavily as I collapsed with my head on the table, too fatigued to even sit back up. However, even this feeling eventually disappeared completely, replaced by calmness.

What was that?! I thought I was about to die.

I-I apologize for that, Hestia. I was so elated to finally speak to you that I forgot the situation of your soul, a womanly voice apologized softly, causing me to sit back up and face a frowning Aurena frowning, her blond eyebrows furrowed together as she regarded me. She looked more worried and troubled than angry that I nearly slobbered over her white table.

As I kept looking at her with bewilderment, prying her for an answer, she opened up mouth to respond, Do you know how your soul was able to usurp my control over the title I gave you? Yes, due to this rebellion, my divinity was actually overpowering your soul instead of nursing it.

M-My soul?!

Your soul is currently visiting my home, my divine realm. Through the connection from my shrine, you are here with me. I apologize, most mortals who visit me are my followers so this never happened before, she explained to me with a wry smile.

Rebellion?! Usurp?! Oh, scheie!

From the shock of remembering those things, I jumped up like I hadnt just been hurt, waving my arms around in complete denial. Wait, wait, wait! I didnt do it on purpose! I didnt do it! I swear, I swear! I dont know how it even happened in the first place, it just happened out of nowhere, I never even wanted to usurp your title at all. I swear, I swear! almost like my mind was affected by that extreme crushing, I apologized to her profusely.

Hold on, I should be the one to apologize. I invited you here and I nearly erased your soul accidentally.

YOU NEARLY WHAT?!

But before I could freak out again, Aurena only needed to say calm to strip away all the fear I had in my mind, resetting my mindset to tranquility. Please, I meant it when I said we have limited time. Instead of wasting our time on this accident, I must tell you what you must know before we part.

Seeing as she was serious about it, I simply sat back down again and asked her to proceed. Thank you. First, let me tell you exactly why Kargryxmor and I have summoned you to Peolynca, Hestia.