[Narrator]
The town is slowly becoming noisier. The evening is approaching and the population is returning home from their jobs or getting out of their homes to have some fun.
Like every day, the Red Light District is the first one to open its doors.
The market is preparing for the customers who want to shop and get ingredients for their dinner.
Other districts are becoming more silent. The tanneries and blacksmiths are slowly stopping their work. They are not finished yet, but the hard part of the day is over. Now the cleanup and last processing of the products is left.
On the main street of Rias, on the other hand, the commotion is much bigger. Couples, old folks, and young people. Adventurers and merchants. They are all going their own way. Some sell the dead bodies of the beasts they killed. The others are buying them.
In the distance, far behind the two and three-story buildings, the crowd is slowly being divided.
Heads turn and search for the reason as to why they are being pushed to the side.
Just a moment later they can hear the sound of hooves hitting the stone road and horses neighing.
The imposing sound of Bravens galloping across the road hastens the crowds retreat to the sidewalk.
Despite the fact that the crowd is being forced off the street, not a single person is voicing their discontent. Across the sidewalk you can hear the hushed voices of the young and old, guessing as to who is going to pass by.
"Do you think the Guard Captain is making one of her nightly inspections?"
"You should know that she will do so incognito. I think it should be someone of the Order. I heard that some people saw the High One's carriage near the Central Guard Station."
"Really?! Who would be able to enter the High One's carriage? I heard that she is out of town."
"She is. One of the messengers announced that she will be working on a trade agreement with the Demon Country. It would be perfect if she achieved that. I will have to hire some more wagons with drivers..."
"I might as well too. The tunnel to the demons country will be expanded soon."
The conversations about Madelyn's carriage all sparked a flame of curiosity.
Curiosity about the people inside the carriage and the newest rumors about the Order and Madelyn herself. The sounds of expectations, faith, and adoration echoed throughout the street while the carriage slowly rolled into view.
"Look! There's the carriage!"
Several people exclaimed as the carriage came into view. It is not often that you see such an extravagant but at the same time very natural carriage. And not only the carriage. The horses and the escorts caused the spectators to raise their voices.
"Who are the women on the horses? They are all so beautiful?"
"Beautiful? You should be more concerned about their strength! They are escorting the carriage so they must be one the Orders elite troops. Every single one of them would wipe the floor with us all."
"They're still beautiful and I'm not stupid enough to anger them. Not everyone is as dumb as Greg."
The conversations of the crowd quickly switched to the escorts guarding the carriage. While the carriage is an expensive item and very beautiful, the female escorts and their horses are a rare sight.
"Have you seen their horses?! They are all riding Bravens!"
"What?!"
"I heard only the strongest elite troops are given the chance to tame a Braven. I'd love to know who they are guarding..."
While the public was discussing everything and everyone, the escorts were busy surveying the streets. Wherever their gaze passed, the crowd would have goosebumps crawl up their back and arms. Despite the city itself being very safe, the outside factors are anything but tame.
Very regularly groups of 'thugs' would enter the city and cause trouble.
Everyone knows who sends them but without sufficient proof, retaliation would be futile.
Now with an important person on the street, First and her sisters raised their alertness to the utmost.
Alleyways were checked, the roofs were covered and the crowd was kept on distance.
Slowly the carriage made its way over the main street, steadily heading towards the inner parts of Rias. As the carriage passes the crowd, more and more people gather. Gawkers, children and whoever else had nothing better to do. The strong and beautiful escorts together with the beautiful and imposing carriage were a sight to see.
From time to time there would be some women and men who step out of the crowd and bow to the carriage while cupping their hands in front of their heart. They would then proceed to kneel and pray.
Inside the carriage, a young girl, Eva, turned towards Mina and asked her about their strange behavior.
"Young Miss, those people are believers of the One. By cupping their hands in front of their heart, they pledge loyalty and guarantee to say only the truth. It is done to signalize that they shall pray with all their heart and relieve themselves of all burdens."
"I have been thinking about this for quite some time now but who is [The One] actually?"
Eva asked as she had heard the name a few times now but she did not know anything about the organization or the One.
"This question is hard to answer...",
Mina was obviously hard pressed for a good answer. After pondering about the question for some time she came to a conclusion,
"I cannot really tell you 'who' the One is but I can explain what we do and what its influence is."
Waiting for Eva's approval, Mina turns her gaze to her Young Miss. Eva raises her head and looks at Mina. She realizes that Mina really does not know about the One and slumps her shoulders.
Slightly disappointed she speaks,
"Ok...then tell me about the Order."
"Very well.",
holding herself back from grabbing and cuddling Eva, Mina coughs and focuses her attention on explaining the Order,
"As you know, the Mistress is the Leader of the Order. Her title is [High One] and it stands for her connection to the One himself. She herself said that she does not know much about the One but she did tell us some things. Most of what she said conforms with the Order's belief and historical documents.
The Order itself was founded some 500 years ago. The founder, Milam Teren, was a wandering healer of high renown. He spent his days helping the poor and healing the unfortunate. Due to his high cultivation and his talent for the Holy and the Water element he had a strong vitality and by the time he founded the Order he had spent 43 years as a wandering healer.
He later wrote down as to why he founded the Order.
He said that he never intended to found an Order and was happy with the way he spent his days.
In his records, he said that after he had healed a family of farmers who had fallen ill because of a severe case of [Deaths Touch]. (AN: meningitis, but slightly different)
Most people would die after a few hours and a few days at the latest. To their luck, Milam had seen this disease a few times and because of its death rate, he developed a treatment.
After healing them he spent a few days on their farm before he left.
Just as he left he suddenly fainted and collapsed. The farmers took him back into the house and cared for him. He awakened only five days later.
Milam himself wrote down that he suddenly found himself inside a tunnel. He wrote that the tunnel was made of light and he followed the tunnel for two days before he reached a hall. He mentioned that he could feel a growing pressure the further he went.
He described the hall as splendid. He said that he was lost in its beauty and was only awakened by a voice. This voice originated from a painting hung above a throne that stood elevated from the hall.
As he neared the throne, the voice grew louder until he could finally understand it.
"You have finally arrived. I thought that you might fail."
"Who are you?"
"That is of no importance. The important part is you. Are you worthy or are you just another mortal, bound to desire?"
It is written that after a long period of silence the voice uttered its approval and Milam was suddenly overwhelmed by darkness and ensuing pain. After that, he awoke inside the farmer's house. They filled him in on what happened.
After he fainted, the farmers took care of him and two days later he was emitting a bright light filled with warmth.
Milam never wrote down or mentioned what exactly he gained but he wrote that he was something similar to a messenger. In exchange for whatever he got, he was tasked with building the Order and spreading its name as well as the name of the One."
Mina's story was interrupted by an excited Eva.
"Do you know why the One wanted Milam to spread his name?"
"Sadly I do not",
is what Mina answered,
"The Mistress might know, but I do not."
"Anyway",
continued Mina,
"After the whole incident, Milam used his fame and renown to gather promising youths and slowly build the Order. At first, he wandered with his disciples and spread the name of the One. After he laid a sufficient foundation he settled his Order near the Country of Demons and the Kingdom of Fiores. After a few years of strenuous work, the Order was widely known for its skills and beneficence.
At that point, Milam was no longer required to actively spread the One's name.
Over time the Order grew and grew and grew. By now the Order extends into every single country and has significant influence. Normally the Mistress would not be able to become its head but she was actually chosen by the One himself. This is also the reason as to why the 'headquarters' of the Order are in Rias.
The real Order is still located in its mountainside in between Mifodris and Fiores. This is something like a private residence for the High One."
As Mina wanted to continue her explanation and story, the door of the carriage was knocked on and opened. First appeared in the door and reported that they had arrived at the mansion.
Excited for her new home for quite a long time, Eva hurriedly stood up and left the carriage, leaving Mina with an open mouth in the middle of her story.
With a bitter smile, Mina grabbed Eva's temporary [Citizien Pass] and left the carriage.
In front of Mina and Eva, the imposing entrance of a giant mansion unfolded in the form of a massive archway. Carved leaves and vines paired with the images of mountains, rivers, and clouds adorned the pillars. Behind the archway, the main house could be seen behind a small path.
The pathway of inlaid stone lead through a small grass patch with trees to the main entrance.
The main entrance stood elevated from the ground, from both sides, a winding stair leads all guests up. The walls of the mansion were interspaced with windows to allow significant light exposure.
To the left and right of the main entrance trees expanded into the distance, partly covering the bigger part of the mansion behind it.
Captivated by the display of flowers and trees paired with the architectural masterwork, Eva was running from tree to tree and from flower to flower.
At the bottom of the stairs, Madelyn was waiting together with the mansions personal.
Based on their outfit there were two chefs, three gardeners, five maids and some personal.
All woman.
At the front, Madelyn was watching Eva with a beautiful and caring smile. She had somehow noticed that the longer Eva stayed, the more 'childish' she became. As if she opened up to the world. Her new self was open and curious. You can easily notice that she is trying to keep herself focused and distant but she simply cannot do so. Her focus is instantly attracted to something new.
As Eva kneeled down to take a closer look at some roses on the left side of the path, Madelyn stepped forward and opened her mouth,
"You can take one with you if you want to but let us get in. The day has been exhausting and we still have a few things to take care off."
Eva turned around and took a look at Madelyn and her entourage. After a bashful smile, she carefully plucked one of the roses and hurried to follow Madelyn into the mansion.
While running forward, she did not forget to take a few looks on the surrounding scenery. Trees, grass, flowers and small banks and chairs blend perfectly together, creating a peaceful and at the same time exciting picture.
Eva unconsciously slowed down again as she followed the path and when she took a look to the front she saw the smiling expressions of the maids. She instantly lowered her head and hurried inside the mansion.
With big strides, she ascended the stairs and followed First inside the mansion. While Eva was taking her time watching the flowers, First and the others had greeted Madelyn and spread out. Some of them would stand guard, some would prepare Eva's lessons and some would guard her.
Upon stepping into the mansion, Eva was not as surprised as she thought she would be. From the outside, the mansion looks magnificent. On the inside, it was actually slightly 'plain' in comparison.
It is still a feast for the eyes, the plants and wood making up the walls and ceilings but it looks much more 'simplistic'.
Taking her eyes off her surroundings, Eva focuses on Madelyn. She is standing in the middle of the hall and looking at Eva. After she finally entered the hall, Madelyn turned around and proceeded to go up the stairs. Following behind Madelyn, Eva kept quite. She knew that they would have quite a few things to talk about. While she did feel safe and comforted in her new environment, she had yet to become accustomed to the whole guards and maids business.
Walking over the red carpet and following Madelyn up the stairs, turning into a hallway on the left and entering what looks to be an office of some type, Madelyn very naturally sits down behind a big dark brown desk filled with stacks of paper and several metallic constructs of various sorts.
The walls behind her are lined with shelves over shelves over shelves. The shelves actually extend into the wall and disappear in between their own 'forest of shelves'.
As Eva stepped into the room, the doors automatically close behind her back. turning around and taking a close look at the doors, she hears a small cough from behind her and turns around. Seeing Madelyn sitting at her desk with an amused and at the same time exhausted expression, she knows that not only she has been overwhelmed by the ever-increasing load of information to deal with.
Seeing that she has the undivided attention of her new mistress, Madelyn drinks a sip of water from a glass standing on her desk.
"I actually don't want to talk about much right now. I can guess that you and I are very tired and this discussion is probably better placed tomorrow."
The now sitting Eva responds from her comfortable spot on the couch.
"Yes. I agree,"
after a short exhausted sigh, she continues,
"But since we are here I guess that there are a few things to talk about?"
"Yes, but nothing big. I only wish to inform you about the way the next few weeks will be structured.
As Mina has informed you, you will be learning under First and her squad and I will guide you in the way of cultivation. I do not know as to whether or not you have any kind of inheritance or gift from your parents but right now I can only guess that you have none."
"That is not exactly right. My parents did not leave me anything specific, aside from you, but I do possess a sort of inheritance. It will help me in my future path but it is not exactly a 'direct' help or support. I will rely on you for this."
Resting her back against the couch, Eva lets her gaze wander inside the room. The longer she sits on the soft and warm couch, the heavier her eyes grow and she knows that she will fall asleep soon.
But why should she care?
The warm embrace of sleep inside a heated room and the sole person watching is someone who cannot harm her.
As these thoughts pass her mind her body slowly slides of the backrest and lies atop the soft pillows.
Her eyes closed and the last thing she sees is the warm smile of her new caretaker as she drifts off into the peaceful embrace only a land full of dreams can offer.