After getting out of the town I had always lived in, I moved on to the most laborious part of the journey- sleeping in a carriage headed to Rottheim.
Sleep was just a way to get the time to go by faster and also a necessity because I was barely able to sleep last night. Partly because of the palpitations arising from my heart. The journey itself was a day away by a horse. But with the gentle sways of the carriage cradling me, even a day could only last so long.
I slept throughout the midday all the way to the evening, when the carriage's guards eventually woke me up for dinner. Of course, Mom packed me some. And some for everyone else too. It was a free ride after all.
After dinner, the carriage started to move again, which meant that I had even more time to doze off.
###
{13 days before corruption.}
"Elyan, get up… we're here." A hand gently pushed me.
I opened my eyes to the rising sun as we traversed through the plain. Grass flailing around as far as the eyes could see. Mountains all the way off in the distance. Small hills spawning from flat ground. Animals grazing on grass. From the corner of my vision, I even spotted monsters grazing on animals.
No one thought ill of monsters until they started to go after humans. In my eyes, it was all just part of the food chain. To me, this morning was a beautiful sight I had never seen before.
"What are you spacing out for?" The hand pushed me again.
"Gern?" I looked at the balding man with a white beard. He was the most approachable merchant in the town, and my Dad's friend.
"It's Mister Gern to you." The sturdy man hit my head with some paper. "Never mind that. Look, we're here- it's Rottheim." While I took a minute to process the information in my half-dazed state, Gern pushed my cheek towards a fortress located where the horse was headed.
Ginormous was an understatement. Towering black walls were erected seemingly out of nowhere. I expected it to be built on the ground, but the entire fortress was floating in a crater. The only thing that connected it to the world was a bridge.
It was an entirely fortified city. Well, most of humanity was fortified. That was what you got for living in a world crawling with monsters. But this one was so thoroughly built it almost looked sinister.
They really weren't messing around when they called it the city of adventurers.
But more than its grand sight, what was important what that this was where Luno was.
"Where's the church?" I asked. It was my first time here. Luno left with the envoys of the church. So naturally, I knew nothing.
"It's towards the other side of the town on the top of the slope. There should be a forest there, which leads to the training area so be careful around there. But that aside the church is pretty big, you'll see once you get there."
Finally, we travelled over the gargantuan bridge that was built over the ravine leading to the crater.
And with that, we were now part of the city.
Unlike the gloomy vibes it gave off on the outside, the inside was rather jolly. Kids running around, families of adventurers, booming trade. There were stands and decorations, it was better decorated than our town.
"I'll be going now." Unable to contain myself, I got up as soon as the carriage stopped.
"Sure, kiddo. I'll be here in a week, in the morning, alright?"
"Yes, Mister Gern." I hopped out of the carriage and bowed to Gern and the guards.
Then immediately started looking around the city- with awe.
I hadn't left my town since the day I was born. I had no reason to. You could get everything you needed there. Moreover, you could live a peaceful and fulfilling life without having to worry too much about monsters.
'Why would anyone go out of their way to leave into such a dangerous world?'
Despite my rather conserved outlooks, I had to say, seeing a new side of the world really did feel like a charm.
As I walked around the town, there was a certain spring in my step. This was just like any other town. Just bigger.
'So these were the streets she frequented.'
'So here was where she ate.'
'So these were the people she met.'
Deep down I wanted to live the same life she did. Navigate through it together. Spend the night next to the fire.
Saints, as people of the lord, followed fornication. Needless to say, so did she. But we only had to hold on until marriage. Then we could kiss again. And maybe even go beyond kissing.
Realising my perverseness, I slapped myself lightly. Hold your horses, Elyan.
I sped across my way through the town, I wanted to see her that badly. As I climbed the main road that elevated with every metre, the buildings around me started to thin out. Until they were all left behind and all that was there was a forest.
Just like Gern said, there was a huge church up top. One visible through the tall forest. It shone a bright white unlike the walls surrounding Rottheim.
My heart was starting to beat a little fast. You couldn't blame me, it was my first time seeing her in months.
'I wonder if she looked any different now.' Perhaps she had to cut her hair shorter like the nuns did. I did like her hair longer, but if it helped her get closer to her dream, this was a petty sacrifice to make.
To the right, there was the Luno's home- the church, and to the left, there was a cliff, that fell right down to the practice area.
There was a little sign that read 'Church- Follow the path'.
And so I followed it. First I travelled straight ahead, and then I turned right. In front of me was the place where Luno was.
Large beyond belief. This establishment was more of a cathedral than it was a church. The walls were spotless even from this close. The poppies growing around added a nice tinge of contrast. This place was beautiful.
Nervously, I opened the door and the insides were surprisingly empty. I was expecting the place to be full, but from what I read in Luno's letters, the clergy spent the early mornings buying stuff from the town.
So I just excused myself into the hall. The coloured panes painted the light and the marbled floor reflected it. There was a huge statue of a woman clad in a pure white dress. I slowly paced through the hall looking for Luno to surprise... But to no avail. Maybe she was in the corridor.
I went to the side that looked like people would live and immediately got overwhelmed by the number of rooms.
'Yep, no way will I find her like this.'
So I decided to call out to her but then all of a sudden a sound caught me completely off guard.
"Ahhn~" It was muffled behind closed doors. But it was there.
.
.
.
'A moan?
No way.'