The morning after the royal banquet, the streets became busy for the morning ceremony. The public ceremony was held in the town square of the capital, where commoners are open and free to come.
There were a few nobles who were also watching the event, some were openly boasting their status while some were being discreet.
Moreover, when the citizen heard that it was the Great Saintess herself who would bestow the blessing, the audience doubled in number. While the emperor was busy tending to the envoys of other countries, it was his ministers and the Archmage who overlooked the event.
The crowd became enthusiastic as soon as Saintess Elizabeth came, each of them bowed and prayed as the Saintess gave her blessing.
Some of the older women knelt on their spot and relentlessly murmured their prayer; kids stopped playing and bickering as they witnessed the golden light that exuded upon her hands, showing amazement in their eyes; while maidens held their hands together and looked up at her.
The sight was indeed splendid. As the warmth of the golden light slowly faded with its brightness, the crowd started to cheer and celebrate the foundation of their empire.
Mona was leaning on a distant house, watching things unfold. Her eyes were focused on her friend who was smiling benevolently on the crowd, while her senses were sharp and on alert.
She volunteered to guard her, only from afar, since the Archmage whom she had never met before, was already watching her safety. Though Mona thinks that the Saintess won't probably need protection at all.
The only reason she insisted on coming was so that she could think things alone. When Kyden brought her home last night, she could tell that he wanted to know why she acted that way. But she isn't ready to tell him her doubts. She wants confirmation first.
But thinking of ways to, wasn't easy. She had one in mind, the first high priest, Yunis, to ask but going back to the holy nation meant leaving her companion in the capital. She felt guilty that after taking them with her, she still chose to leave.
So when he was called to the palace again, she used that opportunity to leave the mansion.
"You're lost in thought, again."
She jolted after hearing the Saintess' voice. Looking at her side, she confirmed that it was her indeed.
"You're fast…?" She looked at the platform again, the knights appointed to guard the place were already leaving, the Archmage was nowhere to be found now, and the ministers were scurrying to their carriages already.
Among those vehicles, the golden carriage was already on the streets with the crowd waving. "Second Highest Priest Deuxen?"
"He is in the carriage, I told him he could go back ahead first."
Eli was already wearing a disguise; her blonde hair was now black but her bright green eyes remained.
"Something is troubling you."
She reached Eli's hood and fixed it, they both wearing hooded cloaks. "I was thinking of… whether to go back to the Holy Nation or not."
"I thought you liked it here," Eli answered. They began to walk without a specific destination. "Did you fight with the Grand Duke?"
"No. I just want to rush things. Get answers, which I think only the first high priest can give."
"Then go back, what's stopping you? It's not as if it will take long to come back, at most, two weeks will be enough."
Eli was right. It didn't even take a day for her and Kyden to reach the Lost Pier, and with the advanced magic he put on the boat, it only took hours to the border of the nation. In fact, two weeks are more than enough.
But after hearing what Sandra said back then.
'The barrier only works from outside, my lady. Whoever wants to leave can leave.'
She became doubtful.
"Eli, have you… ever thought of leaving the nation?"
Eli stopped when she asked. She glanced at her, and the answer was already obvious. She didn't wait and walked towards the bench, sitting down, she got a full view of the town square and the parks.
There are few stalls open on the sides of the street, while mini cafes and stores as bustling with customers.
Eli sat beside her and watched the surroundings quietly.
"I met someone who came from the Holy Nation as well." She spoke, not averting her eyes from the sight before them, "Meeting her, I asked immediately how was she able to leave the land. She said, anyone who wants to, can leave. So then, why couldn't I? I've tried jumping out of the barrier but to no avail. Did you know?"
Silence answered her. But still, she waited.
"If you succeed, where do you think have you gone?"
Those mere words sent shivers to her.
'If you succeed, where do you think have you gone?'
'Where do I think…' Mona thought, and, although unclear, she had a stupid realization. She glanced at Eli and found her looking at the sky blankly. Her head rests on the backrest of the bench, completely exposing her face from the cloak. Even so, no one seems to recognize her.
"Were you thinking that if you go back to the Holy Nation again, you will be caged? That the first high priest won't let you out again for years?"
Eli was speaking in her usual tone, but somehow, it felt that she was being scolded.
"In the first place, if you manage to get out, where do you think you will go? You don't even know someone from this world."
She was speechless after hearing her. Again, Eli was right. She felt tremendously ashamed of herself for doubting the place that sheltered her when she was lost in that foreign world.
"I know it, after all… I was the one who put the binding spell on you." Eli finally looked at her, "By the order of High Priest Yunis, of course. And it is to protect you while you're learning about this world. So, don't you dare feel doubtful, you, ingrate."
That last word stabbed her straight in the heart. She lowered her gaze after seeing Eli glared at her. She felt guilty.
"I can't help but be like that." She replied, feeling helpless, "There are so many things I am starting to be uncertain of."
"For example."
She also slid on the bench and gazed at the sky, "Myself."
"You should ask the first high priest then. He's the one who prophesied your coming, after all."
"I should have done it from the start."
"Right. Stupid."
"Let's go now, then. I can't still use portal perfectly, so I might ride my magic beast."
"You've got one?"
"Yeah. Kyden gifted me one."
"Tsk." Eli stood and looked down at her, "I still need to find the ancient relic. So, let's postpone it for now."
She was surprised by her response. She didn't know that there was another reason for her visit rather than the festival. Of course, it was expected for the Holy Nation to settle the matter on its own.
Only Mona did not expect the Saintess to handle that on hand.
"By the way, I didn't know you were familiar with that ancient demon," Eli spoke.
She shook her head, "I'm not. Someone gave me that information."
"Who?"
"The one I told you who came from the Holy Nation as well. Her name is Cassandra, a servant of the Grand Duke." She continued walking, "She was the one appointed on me, and she also… huh?"
But she also stopped when she noticed that Eli wasn't following. She looked back and found her a few feet away, gazing at her with great shock.
Mona was baffled. That was the first time she saw the Saintess with such an expression.