After finally getting changed, Reine, appearing timid and ashamed after Cairn nearly walked out on her, shrank into herself as she muttered, "I'm sorry if I upset you..."
"If you are, you won't repeat the same actions in the future," contended Cairn. "I'm not angry, but I don't appreciate you trying to compromise my relationship and integrity when I'm trying to help you..."
"Right..." muttered Reine, hanging her head and slumping due to Cairn's admonishment. Even she felt that her behavior was a little extreme, but she was desperate. Cairn wasn't just a kind person; he was also incredibly attractive. She also felt uneasy receiving his kindness one-sidedly, so she wanted to give him 'something' to return his favor...
"Isn't there...anything I can do?" asked Reine, her eyes beginning to mist slightly.
("That's just cheating...") thought Cairn, suddenly feeling that he was in the wrong despite 'knowing' he wasn't. Such was the effect of a beautiful and vulnerable woman's tears.
"You can teach me how to cook," proposed Cairn. "As you saw earlier, I'm not inept in the kitchen, but I'm nowhere near your level..."
Feeling better after Cairn indirectly praised her cooking, a smile returned to Reine's face as she replied, "I'd like that..." in a slightly sobby tone. She would have preferred to repay him using a more 'meaningful' method, but she had fun when they prepared breakfast together...
...
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.
When Kaia returned from escorting Fleur to the Church, Reine locked up the Rainy Day Inn before the trio made their way to their first destination, the Grand Cathedral of Light. Kaia noticed the awkward tension between the two the moment she returned, but instead of prying, she tried easing the awkwardness by making small talk with Reine.
Though Cairn wasn't exactly shy, Kaia had come to understand he wasn't very sociable either. He could exchange tit for tat with people with much greater power and authority than him, but unless he 'had' to speak or was trying to obtain information, he preferred quietude. She initially assumed his silence resulted from him constantly deliberating the future, but when she asked Cairn directly, Kaia was surprised to learn he wasn't thinking at all. Rather, according to Cairn himself, he was just 'vibing,' a curious state that almost sounded like thoughtless meditation from its description...
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Towering above most other buildings in Runegraad, the Grand Cathedral of Light stood as a sublime testament to the authority of the Church. Its central spire, a genuine marvel of engineering, resembled a silvery-white blade that aspired for the heavens, reaching nearly a kilometer at its apex. The temple complex around it covered more than 200 acres of land, much of which had been paved with a special white stone called Holy Lumosite, one of the greatest catalysts for Light Magic and a counter-catalyst for all other forms of Magic.
Unlike the Lesser Grand Cathedral of Austral, which only ever had a few visitors at any given moment, the Grand Cathedral of Light was packed to the brim with tourists and faithful from across the Central Continent. From Cairn's point of view, it was somewhat like a museum or theme park, with Neophytes serving as Tour Guides, guiding guests around in large groups while long queues formed outside specific venues and holy sites.
Fortunately for Cairn and company, it didn't even take three minutes for a group of fully armored Crusaders and a Paladin to intercept them, led by a woman with a cold face, faded brown hair done up in a bun, and pale blue eyes. She was also armed and armored, but unlike the Crusaders wearing full plate mail, she had on a simple, muted silver breastplate over a puffy-sleeved black top, matching gauntlets, a faded white tunic with silver trim, and, most curiously, bandages covering her feet and legs, leaving only her toes exposed...
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Name: Andromeda Rolsche
Species: High Human
Gender: Female
Age: 57
Title: Executioner(Damage Tripled against Followers of Darkness)
Class: Paladin
[Attributes]
Level: 53/79(944,292/951,492)[Neophyte(20), Crusader(20), Paladin(13)
HP: 500,371/541,181
MP: 91,553/147,420
Str: 149+148
Agi: 152
Vit: 648+900
Int: 339+471
Dex: 195+106
Cha: 327+131
Talent(s): [Goddess of Light's Blessing(53/60)], [Corruption Resistance(53/60)], [Prayer(20/20)], [Auto-Resurrection(13/20)], [Leadership(69/88)], [Undead Slayer(63/85)], (Sword Mastery(55/79)], [Mental Fortitude(53/77)], [Pain Tolerance(49/63)], [Resilience(46/60)], [Drug Resistance(45/58)], [Abstinence(38/-)
Skill(s): [Light Healing(MAX)], [Purification(MAX)], [Charge(MAX)], [Piercing Blow(MAX)], [Regen(MAX)], [Blessing of Light(MAX)], [Benediction(MAX)], [Smite(MAX)], [Sacred Shield(MAX)], [Divine Hammer(MAX)], [Turn Undead(MAX)], [Light Imbue(MAX)], [Lifestyle Magic(6/6)]
--------------------------
"I am Andromeda Rolsche, Vice-Commander of the Iudicium Order. We have been awaiting your arrival with great anticipation," said the Paladin, bowing ever so slightly toward Cairn.
Raising her head, Andromeda shifted her steely gaze to Reine, causing the color to drain from the latter's face as she asked, "Is this woman one of your companions?"
"Not in the sense you're imagining," replied Cairn, explaining, "She is the owner of the Inn we're presently residing. Her name is Reine Dakota, and I brought her here so she could take the advancement ritual. Will that be a problem?"
"Of course not," replied Andromeda, subsequently gesturing to one of her Crusaders and ordering, "Escort this woman to the Eleventh Sanctum. Be sure to treat her as an honored guest."
"Understood!" exclaimed the Crusader. Then, stepping forward, he placed his hand over his chest and bowed before Reine, asserting, "I vow that no harm will befall you under my watch."
Feeling increasingly nervous, Reine looked to Cairn with a bit of fear and panic in her gaze, asking, "W-What's going on...?" with a shaky voice.
"You'll be fine," assured Cairn. "Just go with him for now. We'll come to find you once we're done."
Though Cairn's words did little to assuage her concerns, Reine swallowed hard and responded with a tentative, "Please don't take too long..." before following after the Crusader, identified as Timothy Anderson by the name hovering above his head.
Once Reine and Timothy were a fair distance away, Andromeda bowed a second time, stating, "His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff Aramaeus, is expecting you. Please allow me to escort you to the Apostolic Palace," in a respectful tone.
"Lead the way," responded Cairn, prompting Andromeda to raise her head, pivot like a machine, and order her Crusaders to form a defensive line around him and Kaia. Her actions garnered considerable attention. However, due to the presence of a 'Forsaken,' virtually everyone in the vicinity was already paying attention to them. Thus, instead of thinking Cairn and Kaia were being escorted, the general consensus was that they were being detained...
...
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As advancing through the ranks of the Church typically meant giving up various comforts, the interior of the Apostolic Palace was nearly devoid of decoration and furnishings. Its walls, floors, and ceiling were also formed from the same white stone as the rest of the temple complex, but rather than feeling eerie or discomfiting, Cairn and Kaia felt increasingly relaxed as they were escorted to a chamber that resembled a prison cell, within which sat an androgynous figure with cascading green hair, barefoot, and garbed in a simple white robe.
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Name: Solosaxian
Species: Andragora
Gender: Male
Age: 6,549
Title: Vicar of Restia(Vit and Cha+500%)
Class: Pope(Unique)
[Attributes]
Level: 100/100(228,410,308/-)[Ancient Dragon(80), Pope(20)]
HP: 143,772,000/143,772,000
MP: 29,257,852/29,257,852
Str: 711+2,702
Agi: 447+1,699
Vit: 4,992+114,818
Int: 3,574+13,581
Dex: 890+3,382
Cha: 735+16,905
Talent(s): [Child of the Light(100/100)], [Goddess of Light's Blessing(100/100)], [Corruption Resistance(100/100)], [Dragon Heart(100/100)], [Ancient Dragon's Constitution(100/100)], [Beacon of Salvation(20/20)], [Traveling Church(20/20)], [Limit Break(10/100)],[Studying(100/100)], [Alchemy(100/100)], [Martial Arts(100/100)], [Undead Slayer(100/100)], [Human Transformation(10/10)
Skill(s): [Divine Sight(MAX)], [Light Dragon's Breath(MAX)], [Gran Rae(MAX)], [Light Magic(MAX)], [Water Magic(MAX)], [Wind Magic(MAX)], [Earth Magic(MAX)], [Fire Magic(MAX)], [Darkness Magic(MAX)], [Space Magic(MAX)], [Armagedon(MAX)], [Devour(MAX)], [Meditation(MAX)], [Light Healing(MAX)], [Purification(MAX)], [Healing Rain(MAX)], [Resurrection(MAX)], [Sacred Field(MAX)], [Southern Cross(MAX)], [Blessing of Light(MAX)], [Benediction(MAX)], [Turn Undead(MAX)], [Light Imbue(MAX)], [Smite(MAX)], [Lifestyle Magic(10/10)]
--------------------------
Seeing the almost frail-looking 'youths' status, Cairn became statuesque. He had thought the Rahagora was in a class of its own in terms of power, but here he was, standing in the presence of someone that might be able to one-shot the seemingly unstoppable beast.
"Please, leave us..." said the green-haired man, the Supreme Pontiff of the Restia Religion, Solosaxian. In response to his words, Andromeda and her Crusaders immediately departed, their movements nearly synchronous as they turned and filed out of the room in neat lines.
Rising to his feet, Solosaxian turned toward Cairn and Kaia, a serene smile on his face as he observed them with pastel green eyes that appeared to exude light from their depths. His delicate features and green hair, nearly touching the ground even as he stood, made him appear 'fragile,' but that couldn't be further from the truth. With the exception of his kin, the Grand Matron of the Elves, the 'Battle God' of the Dwarves, and some 'outliers' in the Frontier, totaling nine people, none could hope to harm so much as a hair on his head.
"So, you've come, Champion of Restia, Wandering Child of Gaia, Adam Masterson," hummed Solosaxian, his tone utterly neutral but possessing the qualities of a captivating song due to his inordinately high Charisma.
Inhaling what felt like his first breath, Cairn avoided Solosaxian's gaze and tried to respond but found himself unable to. When he looked at Kaia, she wasn't faring much better, her eyes wide and body so stock still that she appeared frozen in time.
"Forgive me," said Solosaxian, bowing his head low and apologetically as he explained, "I usually do not meet and converse with people directly. However, given the uniqueness of your situation, it is necessary that we meet at least once face-to-face. After this, I will only appear before you if you request my presence directly."
Materializing a habit-like hood and mantle, Solosaxian veiled the upper half of his face, exponentially decreasing the 'pressure' on Cairn's and Kaia's bodies. Charisma, as a stat, represented how 'loved' an individual was by the world itself. Those with high Charisma walked freely through life and inspired countless others. In cases where one person's Charisma was much higher than another's, however, the one in the inferior position might not even be able to breathe without 'permission.'
"There, that should have made things easier for you," said Solosaxian, and it was true. Unfortunately, with the effects of Charisma functioning almost like a narcotic, Cairn abruptly felt anxious, chills permeating his body like someone going through the early stages of withdrawal. Kaia fared better than him in this regard, her naturally high Charisma and Blessing of Light providing her some degree of resistance against its effects.
"I would like to know your intentions," said Solosaxian. "After that, I have three requests to make of you. Cardinal Benedictus might have informed you of one of them."
"Are you talking about me taking the Saintess with us...?" asked Cairn, swallowing hard as he struggled to suppress the shivering of his body.
"Indeed," replied Solosaxian, adding, "Sera has been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time. However, unless you plan on venturing into a particularly treacherous Dungeon, it might be best for her to stay here until your departure..."
Since he also didn't want to babysit such a high-profile figure, especially when he had yet to get his footing within the Capital, Cairn found himself absentmindedly responding, "Yeah..."
Shaking his head in an effort to regain his senses, Cairn pushed himself to stay focused by forcibly glowering as he said, "We came to the Capital to join the Freelance Company and scout for allies that will accompany us to the Frontier. I have no intention of getting involved in the Church's affairs or the Kingdom's politics..."
"Yes, that much I am aware of," replied Solosaxian. "What I'm curious to know pertains to your discussion with Lady Restia. Have you decided to make this world your home, or will you move on and join the rest of your kin in the Dimensional Corridor at the end of the Tower of Ascension...?"
"By kin, do you mean...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Solosaxian revealed, "Those who, like you, were killed and had their souls preserved by your Goddess, Gaia. You can meet them again if you climb the Tower of Ascension. Then, depending on your decision as a collective, you might even be able to reclaim the world you have lost..."
Adopting a faint smile that sent shivers through the bodies of Cairn and Kaia, Solosaxian added, "You need not make your decision now, but there will come a time, Adam Masterson, when you must choose between love and hatred, forgiveness and retribution. That is what I desire to know, as well as the question you must find the answer to during your journey..."
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(A/N: Solosaxian is the kind of guy that can make even a King of Heroes feel sentimental (O w O)...)