Night slowly lifts away, emerging slowly, and the dim glow of the sun pierces through the cracks. And from out the window, I just realize the bright white sun seems to look a bit more blue than usual, but it doesn't seem to take my attention away. My nose is filled with the scent of incense, lingering like the prayers of those who have been forgotten. The dim sunlight soon casts a gentle hue upon the stone floor, where I rest my weary feet.
(It wasn't long since the celebration stopped, and things have grown so quiet it feels like what happened yesterday was a dream, or maybe it is just in this place?)
"Harun did say that they were planning to celebrate for a week or 3 days and nights but Kagan makes restoring the city to be priority before continuing the festivities while waiting for the wounded to be healed so they can join in as well."
Resting between the symphony of light and shadow, I look up at the pantheon statues engraved to the walls. Their unfamiliar faces are illuminated by the soft radiant of the sun and candlelight. The tablets beneath them tell of many tales, especially one certain statue...
With long and curly hair that seems like a wave, and a body of a goddess that seem to emerge from the sea, trickling little by little I slowly accept that I might have a divine entitiy inside me...
(What is a God anyway? I never really thought much since they hadn't influenced my personal life too much... Until recently... Yea, Jacky is inside me is she not?)
And by her side is a familiar figure, while the clothes are different the overall shape is the same. Aslan, someone who has achieved Godhood in ancient times. Even in all the tales of heroism, not many have been able to achieve Godhood or ascend as a true deity to be worshipped. Wait, have I been reading obscure tales of heroism so far? I admit, I never visit where the stories take place, but if it wasn't for May's effort to study and Sis Rubeca bringing those tomes and tales back for May... In the middle of my recollection, the door to the chapel finally opens with a screeching creak.
(I should definitely visit some of those places, and that port city with Jacky's statue is a good start when I start my travel)
Planning for my journey ahead, I turn around to a masked individual. Despite the thick gown and ornated mask, her figure easily reveals her as a grown woman. Seeing an amethyst glare piercing through, she starts saying:
"I have been contemplating if I should actually accept an audience with a taboo like you, but what can I expect from an Owlian who desires for nothing but power?"
Coming in hot with sharp words, I softly reply saying:
"That's not such a nice thing to say. For someone you just met."
"Just speak your piece, heretic, as you did save many lives, I'll entertain what you have to say. But bewarn any involvement of the spirit church is an immediate rejection."
(Sigh... And I thought the spirit church wouldn't treat me with so much ire with how my trip with Saya went back then. Maybe a different place, a different culture).
"Then I'll get to the chase. Can I use this chapel's secret room or where the people of the spirit church discusses things?"
"How... Why do you even wish to know?"
As she asked, I can't help but wonder myself... Why did I wish to meet them so secretly? When did I wish to meet them so secretly? Or the idea for doing this? What is happening to me?
As I ponder what to answer, I slowly rise from my seat and look back at her replying:
"For the sake of finishing what I started. And don't try to hide it, I have already found where it is."
"Why do you even bother asking then? You ambitious folk always walk over the spirit church. Especially, a spirit eater like you."
(Spirit eater? I feel like they said that before but I clearly don't remember doing anything with spirits).
"I just need proper permission. Brings an ease of mind, that is all."
"Sigh... If you already know where it is, then go ahead and enter it already... Haah... Here's the key."
She reluctantly hands me a special key that looks like a ball, and I nod, saying:
"Thanks, I'll make sure to tell the Spirit Church greatly about you."
"Hmph, how would a Heretic like you sway the Orders but get smited where you stand? Just finish what you wish to do. I still have wounded to tend."
"Okay, thanks again."
Seeing her leave, I walk towards the altar where the speaker would give their speech. Moving the heavy podium block away, revealing a path down to a dark path. I pull out a thin black pin out of my headband and press the cap before heading down.
*************************************
Returning back at the site of the incident, the entire eastern coast of both the republic and the Kingdom have been restricted and keep under a massive lockdown by none other than the major vote of the international United Nations.
The United Nations, The League of Nations, The World Alliance, called by many names, it all means thr same. A cooperation of all the nation in the world. It is a simple but wonderful idea where all the nations in the whole wide world come together and agree that peace and prosperity are the best policy. And any country or anyone that tries to disturb that prosperity will be swiftly dealt with sanctions and, worst, direct interventions like what is happening recently.
With their presence, peace is always or will be an option. So, with their representative so close and near, not many of the local countries dare to cause trouble and incident, especially when leading them is the current strongest nations in the known world.
In light of the huge and understandably sudden 2 world catastrophe appearing under their noses, a rapid response council was immediately drafted and called upon just 3 weeks ago led by some of the major super powers including the Libera Theocracy, Hyuran Empire, Twin Welkrieg, Rajajuta Sovereign, and where the whole incident takes place, the Rucina Confederation. In but a few days a concessus was made, in prepearation of a main strike force that calls upon all manner of military might, the council have also decided to send a scout force to asses the situation in more detail.
Imagine their relief when good news arrive at the middle of their meeting that the crisis has been solved.
"The Two Archduke Vessel has been defeated! No traces of them are left behind! I repeat, the Two Archduke Vessel has been defeated! No traces of them are left behind!"
While the initial response was fury and agitation, with more of the same news arriving, they take this time to breathe, the council decided to take a step back and reassess the whole situation on how they defeated not 1 but 2 of something their ancestors barely able to contain. Until all information has been dubbed legitimate and approved by the UN, most manner of foreign intervention such as rescue efforts, medical assistance, temporary shelters, and more shall be halted. They will still let local goverments to set their own disaster aid while sending the same scouts to do their duty, and terrain specialists to at least restore some parts while they await and prepare for any developments.
Repesentative of this scouts is a group of Templars who seem to be renown for bearing tranverse crest on their helm, holy seals, capes with personal sigils, and badges of honour, and leading them is an esteemed bishop with an even more array of seals and badges upon his cape. Not only them, other groups like the Terrain Restoration Specialist, a Pioneer, and even a Special Rank Hunter have been called upon by the major powers overseeing the restoration.
And greeting these special guests are nothing but a sea of ash as far as their eyes could see. Like the great dessert in the Indara Frontier neighbouring them, if they're lucky they could find an abundance of "matter" with black cracks wherever they step, as if they have gone to a world forgotten by time. Most of the people involved can't help but sigh and feel irritated for their own reasons by the sudden deployment.
Even more so when all of the representatives here know the true history and start to question when does the United Nations even start to care? They let a whole continent with a massive population sink because one major power rejected the idea and the poor souls have to escape on their own, then they left the now former nation of Eastern Aologi Empire, the same nation that help form this United League of Nations see its own creation refuse to help as the Aologi Empire rip itself apart in their own civil war, which in turn causes the world economy to crash and then cause the Owlian diaspora before ravaging their corpse themselves, and most recently they let a whole international triad group ran rampant because their leader seem to hold deep secrets to some of the major powers. All in all, despite the potential dangers, the representatives here can be summed up in one way...
None of them are taking any of this seriously.
Or at least some of them. After all, usually not even their own home country can order them like this and they only come out from massive incentives and luckily with such a generous and noble goal, volunteers are always very plenty and more importantly, enthusiatic. So, not everything is forceful.
"Hey! Did any of you find the center?", "I can't use magic in this place, and everything seems to crack, and be careful on where you step!", "Oh, Libera, is this hell?", "Hey, did you hear? Someone from the World Hunter's Main 5 is here.", "What...!? Really!? I gotta grab an autograph! Who is it?" "Huh? What's so special about Hunters? Aren't they just glorified animal poachers?", "Hey isn't there an Idol tower near here as well? Maybe we should visit some of the local countries, better make good use of those special UN Visa and UN cards.", "Wait, really? We can just use this card to buy stuff? I should get a souvenir for my wife and kids." "There's a limit to those cards, you know. There's no way to buy those limited stuff item with those." "Idols? Are you guys talking about those dolls you worship? Or is this something else?" "Uwaaah! Heeeelp! Blegh! Got some aaash!", "Aargh, my eyes! Water!", "Dammit, you're embarrassing our country!", "Hey! Stay clear of the shallow waters unless you wish to turn into dust! That place is absolutely radiated with unknown power!", "Wait, don't wash with the ocean you doofus!" "Ack! This quick sand, I mean ash! Aaah! Heeelp!", "Don't forget to put on your masks!" "Uh, guys, what time is it now? This damn pile of ash is worse than the volcano erruption back at my home. I can't even see the sun anymore." "More like the peninsula, this will take around months to clear the sky of any ash if we're lucky. Luckily, the contract doesn't tell us to restore the season.", "I feel bad man, aren't we here to help? Shouldn't we do things thoroughly?", "Hah, greenhorn like you always makes me laugh. They should be happy to get any help at all. Our country aren't so fortunate either and we never got any aid." "I hope the people here love no summer for years to come and harsh winters... They better start taking notes from the Eclipse Empire to the south end or the Hyuran Empire to the north end on how to deal with eternal winters."
The bishop in charge of the whole operation can only look away in shame, watching the novices blunder on their jobs. Especially more so when their gear auto-translate the words the volounteer speaks if they don't understand.
"Maybe they should've limited what sort of volounteers can be allowed. This brings so much second-hand shame."
One Templar with forward horns comments seeing the poor state of the volounteers from the TRS but one Templar with orange hair extending beyond the helmet and shoulder makes a praying gesture replying:
"Come now, brother Menelaus, we should pity these lowly subjects by forgiving their first mistakes. Besides, I think we should praise them for taking the call despite only having one day to prepare."
"Oooh, if you're compassionate, why not lend a helping hand, brother Kostas? Your Wind and fire Magic would easily finish the job quicker, right?"
"Oh, how I wish, but I must stay by the side of the Honoured Bishop and conserve my precious holy magic for only when it is truly needed. Who knows, remnants of the accursed beast might still roam this place, and we all know even the slightest of difference can spell doom."
"You'll make a great politician one day, Brother Kostas."
"Why, thank you."
"You-"
"Enough of your childish bickering. There's so much freedom you can get when on a mission, so don't make this any more restrictive..."
The last of the Templar in the group, who seem to be the oldest with hair and beard more grey than the ash around them poking out of his visor, he also wears a distinct pelt of a mighty monster while it head serves as a hood for his helmet. Like beast staring down upon its prey, the senior Templar looks down at the bishop at his height, asking:
"Honored Bishop Alba, forgive me for asking, but we have been on this sad beach for a week now, but it doesn't seem to be making any progress or any development as per your guidance. Shouldn't we be writing a report asking for someone better suited for this... Anomaly? We can go back whenever we want."
The bishop who has been on his knees praying raises a finger as to silent him. Burshing the piles of ash that trickle like fine sand between his fingers, he finally stands and look at the individual who seem to be the most serious about all of this and possibly the person responsible for actually mobilizing everyone in the first place.
2 individuals, to be exact, and both of them are from none other the most renowned Hunter Group in the world. The World Hunters, and part of the main 5. Sadly, even the best have their own limits, with no viable or conventional way to utilize magic, these 2 inidividuals have no choice but to extract information in an unorthodox way.
*lick*
"BLEH... Blergh!"
A girl who looks to be in her teens takes a quick taste of the ash only to spit it out, shaking her head wildly until her hairclip releases her long, deep carmine hair. Despite being part of the world renown group, she is still a Special Rank Rookie. But that doesn't mean her skills lacks on an important mission, but that doesn't help jer image when she's pretty much wearing something equivalent to her pajamas with a green hoodie and bike shorts. In her frustration, she lies down face first on the floor of ash and trashes around like a kid crying to their pillow shouting:
"Aaaah...!!! How are we supposed to find it!? 2 very powerful MK Vessel is definitely here, but...Mmmmgh!"
Her companion who seem to look at her with a tint of dissapointment sigh. A man in his late 50's with silvering hair, early wringkles, and features of someone aging, but despite all that his posture, stance, and certainly his body that seem to be built like a mountain underneath a much thicker layer of ornamental special armour says otherwise, especially the massive greatsword twice his size on his back that seems to look like it's alive.
"Did you get a clue, at least?"
The little girl stops her tantrum and shakes her head while still burying her face saying:
"No...! Of course not! We just arrived here a week ago with barely any equipment and the threat has been dead a week before they even held that conference. We'll be lucky if anything still remained!"
Brushing away the plume of dust she causes, the male hunter looks back at another special guest, a viable witness who seems to know the root cause of this anomaly.
"Sigh... If only someone would actually spill the beans... And if only someone didn't interfere with our job."
Subtly nudging at the peoppe who is being quiet, the two hunters look at both the witness. These two special guests, standing close to assist the two hunters were none other than another pair of people from the Theocracy on a personal pilgrimage. A common clergyman and Templar that doesn't stand out from the rest when someone so renown stand so close... And it is those renown people have been making it difficult.
"Forgive me, esteemed Hunter, but I will bring these secrets to the grave."
"Yes, what Junia said, sad to say but our hands are tied."
The Hunters thought this would be quite the easy endevour soliciting the leader who is suppose to be of much higher rank and esteemed but with just a few words from these two, the Bishop immediately retract his words. The two Hunters scramble on what to do lest they stay stuck here from their own actions.
"2 Archduke my ass, this is turning into a dead end... I guess it's too good to be true."
The girl who seem to slowly lose her drive starts making snow angels on ash when the older Hunter shakes his head replying:
"Well, I think this whole mess can easily be resolve one more way..."
"Well, spit it out~"
"It's..."
Other than the half recovered black box of the Confederation Cruiser that leaves more questions than answer. The only survivors of the MK invasion that are still sane are mostly still in coma like the intern students from the Turquoise Turtle Academy, and if those Demi-Gods barely survived, the mortals who was saved are pretty much stuck in life support, most of them missing limbs and faces or some of their bodies have turn to literal soup. And it was thanks to their evidence that they were able to determine the class and level of the MK but that's not enough.
They still need to find the core and most of all make sure it doesn't spread at the least. Like dealing with an incurable plague they must not allow any chance of it to reammerge again. So the only concrete evidence that can lead to the Monster King Vessels is the one who actually fought it head on and explain this mess... The Hero or more commonly recognize now as the Tragic Star and main contributor behind Killing that World Level Threats...
Sova Anmao.
Background wise, the best they could find of her origin was she is probably a refugee and war orphan from the now dissolve Aologi Empire, and despite the weird coincidence of sharing the exact same name and birthday as the new infamous Silencer of the Confederation, they dimiss the worry as it would be even more weirder in the Confederation of all places to find someone with no similar name or birthday. Plus, they doubt the Silencer is the same person in account of the different gender and especially race on their document.
The only thing of note is that she wileds the Legendary Weapon, Malia which belongs to the previous Confederation's God of War, she is also the disciple of the famed Pioneer close to being a Void Explorer that is helping them now, and she also Garner the Favour of the Ex Baratai Lord too making her the fastest person to be promoted as an Adventurer.
A bonafied, true, and true, someone who went on a Hero's Journey. A story you would find being publish to kids of how a youngster chosen by a legendary weapon sets out on a journey to the greater world... Sadly not with a happy ending.
The senior hunter ponders and remember how much his leader would love to meet her and assess her talents into the main 5. Sadly as of now, despite the miracle of victory and not losing the entire southern known world, Sova's body was never found, so the best course of action now would be...
"To focus all our effort on recovering the Tragic Hero. Dead or Alive, she will definitely aid us."
Ideas start to fill the mind of the little girl as she finally gets to leave this dead end endevour. Bouncing up like a kid who just awaken during vacation, she pumps her hands to the air shouting:
"Oh? Oh! Are we going on an adventure?! But, we already turn this ashland upsidedown literally. Even with my tracing magic, this cursed land prevents any magic to be traced. Her body, if lucky, would be inside some migrating monster or unlucky she becomes a new MK after so long."
Her enthusiasm diminished as she recounted the possible outcomes, but the senior Hunter simply leaves, saying:
"Or she could be stuck in one of the winding caves of these coasts? Or if she really is alive or an MK, then the easier we can find her than to search the entire black sea. If we still find nothing, then we can just write this as a simple terrain recovery mission, and I'll gladly take the full blame for the scouting mission.
But if I remember correctly, one of my old pals chose to retire in this peninsula, and he is the best tracker and coincidentaly best cook we can ever have... I hope we'll be eating good for the rest of the mission."
"Eeeeh!? Wait! Wait! Wait! Retire...!? Could it be one of the survivors of the original company like you!? Why didn't you say that!? Let's go! Go! Go! GO!!!"
The girl grabs the senior by arm drag him along like a kid trying to bring their parents, but the older hunter hesitates, saying:
"Oh, don't put hopes up. I heard there was a war recently close to his home, and it'll be lucky if he didn't flee the continent."
"Well, even more reason to check quickly! I'm sure you all heard him! We're going out!"
The girl tries dragging him along, but his massive stature stands still like a pillar as he holds his ground, saying:
"And continue your restoration project. If any situation arises don't hesitate to call for us."
"Oh? What's this? Where's our Special Rank Hunters heading to? If you're heading to the Kingdom of Silla, bring me along ~!"
Another important guest arrived recently as she has been called back from exploring by the UN. A lady in her late twenties with smooth, long black hair and deep amethyst eyes that seem to rumble with power. Clad in quite the intricate ornate armour that makes her look like the Goddess of Thunder, but soon those beautiful designs start to disassemble and retract with a loud boom as she lifts her arms. She casts away her armour that still whirs with sparks of lightning, revealing a casual dress underneath as if she's ready for vacation. She wears her sunglasses pulled from an unknown place and continues saying:
"I'm a local from here, and I'll be a great guide."
"Lady Oka Jin-Yeon, right? I heard you were close to being a Void Explorer, very imppresive... And I also heard the tragic Hero is your disciple, I'm very sorry for your loss."
The male Hunter lowers his head and places his hand on his heart as if mourning.
"Oh? There is no need to be so formal, but I appreciate your kind words. Death may be a normal occurrence in our occupation, but I'm glad to know someone still cares."
"Hrrrgh! Master, she is a dangerous woman, a female fatale-ack!"
Hitting the little girl on the head with a soft chop, the male hunter half bows and drags the force the girl to bow as well saying:
"Forgive my disciple. She is not accustomed to speaking with strangers. I understand that as a master you wish to recover someone so precious, I was planning on asking your help as well before leaving."
"Aw~ how kind of you. Now, then why don't we start around where she lives? Then the capital and then slowly working our way up to the Republic? You're planning to meet with old man Yi-Il, right? Then, where she lived would be a good place. He's the only person I know who is a former World Hunter, and luckily for you, he's still in the peninsula."
The senior Hunter seems surprised hearing her as he wipes away the invisible worry, replying:
"Yi-Il? Is that his name now? Phew, it's a good thing we had a local to guide us. Please do lead the way."
It was a but a moment after she said those words, like a inploding star, a massive blinding light flashes across everyone. Like staring at the sun, everyone without resistance got blinded. Those who can still see look across the mountains and see a gigantic magic circle stack atop like a pillar and gasp at the sheer might of magic before them. What's scaring them is not just the sheer spell but the fact they couldn't even detect any magic being disperse.
Even the people from the Theocracy who are masters of magic is left agape by the sheer scale of spell being cast without any magic. And as the light settles, they soon notice a gigantic black ship. Before any of them could even process the situation, a collosal sword pierced the ship and split it in half, causing it to fall as if they're seeing the infamous Stein Ship disaster being recreated before them.
"Bishop Alba! Orders!"
One Templar with orange hair shouts for orders, but before he could, one of the witness mutters,
"Lord Cardinal..."
Gaining the attention of everyone. The senior Hunter swiftly moves towards the Templar and grabs her by the collar of her armor asking:
"That's an interesting thing to say, Lady Junia. Mind elaborating?"
While a clergy calling for their holier senior in shock is not that special, it is the title of who they call what intrigued him. Cardinals, the highest rank a clergy can get besides the Pope, and a position of complete mystery as the method they're chosen are still a complete mystery, more mysterious from the Saints and Saintess chosen by the Goddess' divine intervention.
For folks not living in the Theocracy like the Senior hunter and most of the people here, their tasks and purpose are a complete mystery. Thanks to their holy and sacred rank, those cardinals rarely, if ever, leave their holy land or temple unless the Pope, Saints, or the Goddess herself wills it.
Though he knew little about the inner workings of the Theocracy, his worldly travels and well-placed connections had granted him a wealth of useful tidbits. One such piece of knowledge was that those of holy rank rarely invoked the sacred without cause. The fact that she had uttered the title "cardinal" in such shock meant she had not only seen one but recognized a Cardinal—an encounter she should never have had, given her position. It might have seemed like grasping at straws, or she may be that lucky and met someone unrelated, but his gut, the instinct that had guided him throughout his career, told him this was a lead worth pursuing.
"Stop right there, Lord Wilbert. No more sudden movement."
As the light faded, the horned templar and the elder templar leveled their blades at the senior Hunter's neck. Rather than fear, this only bolstered his confidence. He knew that these prideful, renowned templars would not act unless their mission demanded it—and if they were involved, someone of even higher authority must be pulling the strings. The situation had escalated rapidly in mere moments.
"Master-Ack!"
That's when another person intervenes. As if the heaven called, the hair of everyone at the coast starts to rise before the Templar found themselves moving their sword away with shaking hands as if they're being forcefully pushed back.
"Wha?"
"What sort of power?"
As if guided by an invisible force, the swords drew away from the Senior Hunter's neck, and he, too, felt the grip of this mysterious power. His gloved fingers, still clutching the Templar, peeled away one by one until he was forced to release his hold as he felt unknown power coursing through every fiber of muscles in his arm. Though everyone present, especially the Templars, was confident in their strength, they found themselves powerless against this unseen force... until their eyes turned to the source of this overwhelming might.
Oka Jin-Yeon, the rumor that the Storm Empress might already have the strength of a Void Explorer, must be true. Lightning encase her body as if it's leaking out of her before she claps with a loud boom as if a lightning has struck beside them. When she did, all the hostility seemed to lift as well when the Templars and the senior Hunter regained their movement.
"Enough of that, while yes, that... Tragedy may seem quite important. But, we still have a much more important mission than to get involved in a local conflict. They got their problems, so leave it to the local government or the Confederation to deal with that, and we must deal with our own. This may sound selfish, but this is still my home, and I would prefer if we could finish this mission as soon as possible."
The senior hunter called Wilbert nodded and bows his head down, saying:
"You're right... Forgive me for my sudden outburst- hm?"
The bishop, who had remained silent and passive since hearing the words of the two suspects, finally stepped forward, approaching the senior Hunter. Expecting the worst, the senior Hunter tensed, but instead, the bishop extended a helping hand, his voice calm as he said:
"You'll need all the help you can get. Take these two along."
"What?"
"Hm?"
Ignoring their confusion, the bishop continued, his tone resolute.
"While they may not offer much in terms of strength compared to you, they can at least aid you in your search... Consider this as... Compensation for the lack of support I've provided."
"Bishop Alba? Wait, I can—Ack!"
"Jun, you imbecile—whoa!"
Oka Jin-Yeon, relieved to receive any form of assistance, eagerly seized the two new recruits, dragging them along with a bright grin.
"Since you insist, honored bishop, thanks! See? The world is so much better when everyone works together. Let's go~!"
The tension seems to lessen as the horned templar sheathe his blade and the orange hair templar seem distant while he waits from his shame.
"Haah... Let's go."
"Y-Yes, master!"
As the rest of the group reluctantly disperses, the old templar shifts his curious gaze towards the bishop. The only sounds that remain are the crashing waves and the mournful wails of the wind and superiors yelling to continue working, creating a solemn and almost sacred atmosphere around the "holy" gathering. The bishop, with eyes that reflect the distant horizon where their homeland lies, finally speaks, his voice carrying the weight of the ocean's whispers and the unseen forces that bind them to this sacred mission.
"(Don't you think it's perculiar?)"
The realization struck the old Templar like a ton of bricks. The fact that a free man—one of the Theocracy's own renowed bishops—was forced to cloak his voice with magic spoke volumes about the gravity of their situation. The old Templar, now fully aware of the dire circumstances, followed suit, masking his own voice with a whispered incantation as he replied:
"(What might be perculiar, Honoured Bishop?)"
"(A female cardinal censor pretending to be an owlian? Don't that sound like someone familiar?)"
The old templar's eyes widened, a sudden realization dawning on him as if a puzzle piece had just snapped in place. Only one person could have orchestrated this.
"You..."
The word slipped from his lips before he could catch himself, his voice laced with disbelief. The shock of the revelation was so profound that it silenced him immediately, leaving him staring ahead in stunned silence.
"(But...)"
"(And the fact that such a massive ritual spell using ancient magic circles just confirms it does it not?)"
"(You... You are right... But, what would one of the Pope's Ebon Seraph be in this backwater boon?)"
"(How could we, mere mortals, ever grasp the workings of those chosen by her grace? But there are only two reasons a Censor would be dispatched, and the evidence lies clearly before us. The absence of the Inquisition is proof enough that someone of higher authority is already present... Dealing with this unforseen circumstance. I should say, as expected from the Guardians of Zeria to react so swiftly, should I not?)"
The old templar followed the bishop's distant gaze toward their homeland, a sense of longing stirring within him. Lamenting the irony of being granted the magic to teleport home, yet bound by duty and obligation that unables him to use it. Freedom, after all, comes at a steep price. He wondered when this seemingly redundant task would finally allow his return. With a resigned sigh, he sheathed his blade, deciding to mirror the bishop's silence and await further developments.
"(You've relayed this to the Archbishop at the UN conference, haven't you?)"
"(Of course, nothing stirs his lazy bum like the thought of the Pope herself watching.)"