Surprising both Sophia and Kaia, Cairn unhesitantly replied, "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. It hasn't even been two days since I arrived, so my Level is rock bottom. If we fought now, it would be like an infant trying to uproot a tree with its umbilical still attached. I need some time to grow."
Though Kaia was noticeably disgusted by Cairn's metaphor, a throaty, feminine laugh emanated from Sophia's throat. Afterward, she sported a naturally alluring smile and asked, "Then what do you want to do? To be perfectly honest, we don't exactly have a standard operating procedure for things like this. The last Champion was King Runegraad, and that was more than a thousand years ago. If you have a plan of action, the Church will do its best to aid you. Within the bounds of our tenets, of course."
"Then let's start with that," said Cairn. "What, exactly, are the tenets of the Restia Church? Before I reveal my plans or start making requests, it would be nice to know what I'm working with."
Blinking in surprise, Sophia asked, "You don't know? I would have thought that Lady Restia's Champion would be the 'most' familiar with her ways. I suppose that's why she sent this one to your side..."
Directing her gaze to Kaia, Sophia's expression softened as she asked, "Would you like to do the honors, my adorable little Neophyte?"
"It would be my pleasure, Lady Bishop," replied Kaia, placing her hand over her chest and lowering her head as a show of respect. Then, after sitting up straight, she looked to Cairn and explained, "The tenets Lady Restia issued to the Sovereign Races are as such: The First Tenet states that no one who follows the Path of Light has the right to rule the life of another. Relationships such as Master and Apprentice, Student and Teacher are permitted, but anyone who attempts to supplant the Divine Mother as an object of worship will suffer the Penance of the Earth. Every step they take will be heavier than the last, their heads drawn to the earth until not even the grass is beneath them..."
"..."
Though he had already decided to stay on Restia's good side, hearing Kaia recite the first tenet cemented Cairn's status as a 'Goddess-fearing' man. He hadn't been religious in his previous life, unable to understand how anyone could believe in a God that let the world go to shit, but here, where the world's creator actively communed with her faithful, Cairn had no intention of fucking around and finding out.
Continuing where she left off, Kaia stated, "The Second Tenet says that all of Lady Restia's children are held in equal regard. A person's worth is not tied to the circumstances of their birth but by their deeds. There is no shame in being proud of one's parents and forebears, but one should not rest on the laurels of others. True power can only be obtained by oneself or by joining hands with others."
Piggybacking off Kaia's words, Sophia added, "The Second Tenet reflects Lady Restia's belief in personal merit and the potential for growth inherent in her children. It highlights the importance of personal responsibility and emphasizes power gained, not inherited. It encourages self-reliance while emphasizing the value of collaboration and the strength that can be found in unity."
"It's a good tenet," agreed Cairn. If the people in his previous world held such values, systemic issues related to race and cultural divides wouldn't have existed. There would doubtlessly be 'some' tensions, but if the Gods actively penalized those who stepped too far out of line, people would be far more 'reasonable.' At least outwardly.
After a brief pause, Kaia continued, "The Third Tenet says that knowledge is the shared heritage of all people. All born under the Light have a right to the knowledge and wisdom of their forebears, regardless of the tribe in which they were born. And so long as the research does not infringe upon the rights of any individual or group, even delving into the Darkness is not taboo."
Raising his brows, Cairn remarked, "Sounds like a recipe for disaster, that one."
"It is because all things in the world, either by design or happenstance, are Lady Restia's creations," said Sophia. "In other words, there is no such thing as inherent evil. Evil is a product of circumstance and the erosion of time. Prohibiting research and declaring certain knowledge forbidden will simply encourage those with malicious intentions to research and attempt to attain it secretly."
"Fair enough," replied Cairn.
"And that brings us to the Fourth Tenet, the first serving as a guideline for others but a decree for those seeking to become representatives of Lady Restia," expressed Kaia. "It states that the body and mind are corrupted by the pursuit of comfort and the adherence to mortal vices. To become a vessel capable of receiving Lady Restia's Blessing, one must abstain from indulgence and seek to understand the nature of suffering. Only then can you wield Lady Restia's power to soothe the woes of others and shepherd them toward the Light."
"Is that why you must walk everywhere during your pilgrimage?" asked Cairn.
"Not everywhere," replied Kaia. "We're allowed to use Warp Crystals and other means of transport when it concerns the execution of our duties, but when we're on a pilgrimage, we're advised to travel as much as we can on foot. That way, we can experience the splendor of Lady Restia's creation directly and aid those in need. Just as you helped me."
"There are Warp Crystals?" asked Cairn. "As in, something that lets you teleport from one place to another?"
Instead of answering Cairn's questions, Sophia asked one of her own, specifically, "You truly are from another world, aren't you?"
"I'm not sure how it works, but yeah," replied Cairn. "But don't let the concept excite you too much. The world I originated from was a shithole ruled by people who prioritized personal wealth over everything, even the world itself. There were dozens of religions, but none could prove the existence of their supposedly all-powerful, all-knowing Gods. Most just used it as an excuse to increase their wealth, marginalize, murder, and erase the cultures of anyone who contradicted their beliefs. And the air was so polluted, acid rained from the sky, and you had to cover your face to avoid breathing in too many toxic fumes..."
Hearing Cairn speak of his world, an awkward silence descended upon Kaia and Sophia. The concept of a world without a God to guide it was incredibly alien to them, but neither thought Cairn was lying. If anything, they felt sorry for him and the others of his world as they couldn't imagine living with such 'uncertainty' in their lives...
Catching Cairn completely off guard, Kaia rose to her feet and abruptly embraced his head, cradling his face in her bosom as she caressed his head and whispered, "It must have been difficult for you..."
Not expecting Kaia's actions, Cairn briefly froze, unsure what to say or do. He hadn't exactly been fishing for pity, so it felt incredibly awkward being held and comforted by someone nearly half his age. It didn't help that her fur was incredibly soft, warm, and pleasant-smelling...
Noticing Cairn's discomfort, an amused smile crept upon Sophia's face as she narrowed her eyes and sipped from her cup. It was only after several seconds had passed that she playfully mused, "I am aware that Karakuts have a different sense of boundaries than humans, but there is a time and a place for everything, Neophyte Kai'ankh. Be a darling and let our young Champion go, would you?"
Quickly releasing her hold on Cairn's head, Kai'ankh appeared flustered, her ears waggling as she gesticulated wildly, unsure what to do with her hands. Fortunately, Cairn pretty much recovered the moment she let him go, a wry smile adorning his face as he said, "No need to panic. Rather, I should be thanking you. It wasn't necessary, but I appreciate the fact you were trying to comfort me."
Deflating like a balloon, Kaia sat on her hind legs with her head and ears drooping. Her instinct was to apologize, but after hearing Cairn's words, she wasn't sure it was appropriate.
Making things easier for everyone, Sophia said, "Since our adorable little Neophyte appears indisposed, allow me to state the Fifth and final Tenet. Like the Fourth, it is merely a guideline for the masses, but for those of us who serve as Lady Restia's representatives, it forms the very foundation of the Church..."
Pausing for dramatic effect, Sophia stared deep into Cairn's eyes as she revealed, "The Fifth Tenet states that those who follow the Path of Light have an obligation to pursue self-mastery and shepherd others along the path. All souls invariably return to Lady Restia upon death, but her most heartfelt desire is to welcome them into the Garden of Eternity after they have achieved great things. To that end, we must never yield to the allure of comfort and let ourselves be made passive by abundance. So long as a 'Frontier' still exists, be it a field of knowledge or a physical place, we are duty-bound to explore it."
*Ding*
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Quest Name: Challenging the Frontier
Quest Rank: F-SSS
Description: A life given meaning is limited in its capacity to grow. True purpose can only be found through exploration and experience.
Objective(s): Find purpose by joining an organization or forming one of your own.
Optional Objective(s): Introduce Concepts From Your Past Life Into the Present(0/10), Pioneer a New Field of Study(0/1), Explore Dungeons in the Fronter(0/10), Observe and Document the Ecology of at Least 10 Species of Plant, Animal, or Monster(0/10)
Rewards: Variable
Failure Condition(s): Embrace a sedentary lifestyle and live another life lacking purpose and fulfillment.
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Reading the Quest alert that had materialized before him, Cairn casually remarked, "It looks like Lady Restia wants me to spread my knowledge and explore the Frontier."
"You can commune with the Goddess?" asked Sophia, her obsidian eyes opening to their limits.
"I can't hear her voice or anything, but she sends me messages through the system that allows me to monitor my status and inspect the statuses of others," said Cairn. "That's how I know there's no sense in me sparring with you as I am. You're Level 47 with a stat total of 2,336. My combined stats barely exceed a hundred."
"How interesting..." muttered Sophia, crossing her arms and sporting a thoughtful look as she revealed, "It was said that the First King of Man possessed such insight that he could ascertain the identity and potential of all things at a glance. I've read as much in the records dating back to the Kingdom's foundation, but such chronicles are often embellished. To think the ability to discern all things truly exists..."
"It's pretty useful," admitted Cairn. "Not only does it allow me to choose my battles wisely, but it lets me keep track of my growth and the growth of the people around me. That's why, rather than fighting you, I'd much rather find a place where monsters around the same Level as a Longcat can be found. By defeating them, I can increase my Level and move on to increasingly stronger opponents."
"I see..." muttered Sophia, her eyes becoming unfocused as she fell into an even deeper state of contemplation. She didn't doubt that Cairn was telling the truth about Levels and the existence of stats as research into the topic had been ongoing since the start of the Era of Restoration. King Runegraad himself had introduced the concept, so even though a method to quantify a person's status had yet to be developed, most organizations operated on the premise they existed.
Interrupting Sophia's thoughts, Cairn said, "Before anything else, there's another matter I wanted to address."
Raising her head, Sophia asked, "And that would be...?"
"It's about the refugees outside the Great Wall," said Cairn. "I don't know their exact situation, but there appears to be a food shortage. On our way here, we encountered a group of seventeen children that looked like they hadn't eaten a proper meal in weeks."
Blinking in surprise, Sophia asked, "Truly...?" before frowning when she saw the serious looks on Cairn's and Kaia's faces. She was aware that the Duke had placed the city on lockdown, but protocol dictated that a steady supply of food and water be administered to refugees during moments of crisis. The local militia and Knight Order had certainly petitioned them for emergency supplies, so if they were being misappropriated, it was a 'very' big problem...
...
..
.
(A/N: Someone about to get Crusaded...)