The following day, as the mysterious man had foretold, a small battalion of paladins, directly dispatched by the Pope, arrived in the Creast city. They gathered outside the door of Thornwood's chamber, their armor gleaming in the pale sunlight.
The Paladin Chief, a stern and imposing figure, stepped forward and raised his voice, commanding the attention of those around him. "Sinner Thornwood," he proclaimed with unwavering authority, "come outside and be arrested for your crimes against the lives of innocent people by the mages and the nefarious plot set in motion by your hands. Be prepared to face the trials in the Sanctum Pontifex. Now, open the door!"
The moments passed, but there was no response from within Thornwood's chamber. The silence hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the urgency of the situation.
Growing impatient, the Paladin Chief issued a decisive order to his subordinates. "Destroy the door!"
Without hesitation, the paladins raised their enchanted maces and struck the door with a resounding force. The wood splintered and shattered, and with a final strike, the door fell inward.
The paladins stormed into the room, their weapons at the ready, expecting to find Thornwood. However, to their astonishment, the chamber appeared as it had before, with no sign of Thornwood.
The room was empty, save for a peculiar burn mark on the wooden floor, as if a dark and powerful magic had consumed everything in its path.
The chief paladin's brows furrowed as he surveyed the scene. "Search the room," he ordered his men, his voice tinged with frustration and concern.
The paladins meticulously combed through the chamber, inspecting every corner and crevice for any clue that might reveal Thornwood's whereabouts. But all they found were remnants of burnt wood and an oppressive sense of foreboding.
One of the paladins, a seasoned investigator, approached the burn mark on the floor. He knelt down and examined it closely, his gauntleted hand hovering above the scorched wood. His voice trembled as he spoke, "This... this is no ordinary burn mark. It reeks of dark magic, the kind that leaves no trace behind."
The chief paladin's expression darkened as he considered the implications. "Thornwood," he muttered, "what have you gotten yourself into?"
Back in the Sanctum Pontifex, the Pope received word of Thornwood's disappearance. His face contorted with anger, and he slammed his fist onto the table.
"That damn miscreant," he seethed, "he ignored my warning and my bestowed mercy, only to run off with some sinister ally."
Sitting in his ornate chair, leaning back in contemplation. "What to do now?" he muttered to himself. "Even though we desire to confront the Valdyr Kingdom, the Bandit King poses a significant obstacle. And even if we manage to defeat him, it will take years to rebuild our military strength."
With a heavy sigh, the Pope decided on his course of action. He beckoned to a nearby servant and instructed them to deliver a letter to Cardinal Thaddeus Creston.
"Not even as a servant to the Pope. I wonder what he looks like. Is he an elderly man like the Pope, or perhaps a figure as captivating as Archbishop Seraphina Lovelace? It would be a pleasant surprise if the cardinal were a woman. Ah, I've arrived already."
The servant, filled with a mix of fear and curiosity, stood before the door to Cardinal Creston's chamber. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and then knocked softly.
"Enter," came the deep, commanding voice of Cardinal Creston from within.
With cautious steps, the servant pushed the door open and entered the chamber. To his surprise, what he saw inside was not what he had expected.
Cardinal Creston was seated on a plush chair, engrossed in a book. His appearance defied the conventional image of an elderly cardinal. Instead, he appeared to be a man between the ages of 20 and 30.
Notably, Cardinal Creston not only had a strikingly young appearance but also possessed a mane of vibrant green hair like the tree leaves. It was tied neatly and cascaded down from his shoulders, resting on his chest, all while a shrewd smile graced his features. His eye was adorned with a monocle made of gleaming gold.
The servant's eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the sight of the youthful and enigmatic cardinal before him. This was not what he had anticipated, and it left him both intrigued and somewhat perplexed.
The servant, taken aback by the unexpected sight, froze in the doorway. The cardinal, seemingly engrossed in his book, looked up with a shrewd smile, his single golden monocle catching the light.
Cardinal Creston motioned for the servant to approach. "You have a message from the Pope, I presume?"
Still slightly dazed, the servant managed to regain his composure and nodded, extending the sealed letter toward the cardinal. "Yes, Your Eminence. A message from Pope Benedictus himself."
Cardinal Creston accepted the letter with a graceful gesture and began to read its contents, his shrewd smile never leaving his face. As he read, he occasionally glanced at the servant with a knowing look, as if he were privy to some hidden truth.
After finishing the letter, Cardinal Creston folded it neatly and placed it on his desk. He leaned back in his chair, his monocle glinting mysteriously.
"Tell Pope Benedictus that I have received his message," the cardinal said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, "and that his orders will be carried out."
The servant, still somewhat in awe of the enigmatic cardinal before him, bowed respectfully. "Yes, Your Eminence. I will relay your response to the Pope immediately."
With that, the servant retreated from the chamber, leaving Cardinal Creston to his book and his enigmatic thoughts, a figure of intrigue within the Church whose youthful appearance belied his true wisdom and influence.
The next day, Cardinal Thaddeus Creston, accompanied by his contingent of 250 paladins, embarked on the journey towards the Valdyr Kingdom's capital, Axum. To give the answers of Thornwood's recent actions to Valdyr kingdom king on behalf of the sky god church and pope.
As Cardinal Thaddeus Creston and his contingent of 250 paladins arrived at the outskirts of Axum, they were met with a breathtaking sight. Stretching before them were vast expanses of farmlands, each teeming with healthy crops, including fields of wheat, barley, and various other bountiful harvests. The soldiers accompanying the cardinal couldn't believe their eyes.
The sight of such abundance left the soldiers in awe, and they couldn't help but exchange amazed whispers among themselves. One soldier, his eyes wide, couldn't contain his astonishment. "Gulp, how much food is this?" he murmured, almost in disbelief.
Another soldier chimed in, equally amazed, "Look at all these farms and crops. With this much, a country could never suffer from famine."
Yet another soldier, his stomach rumbling at the sight, couldn't resist a bit of humor. "With this much, I could eat until I die, and it would still not be finished," he chuckled.
Cardinal Creston's admiration for the impressive farmlands, wearing a shrewd smile, remarked, "Impressive indeed. I had heard of the ambitious farmland reclamation project initiated by the Valdyr Kingdom's prince, but to witness such flourishing farms firsthand is truly remarkable."
As Cardinal Creston marveled at the agricultural prosperity of the Valdyr Kingdom, a group of riders sent by King Rodrick approached them on horseback. Their arrival signaled that it was time to proceed with the purpose of their visit.
As the king's trusted men approached, they came to a halt in front of the cardinal's carriage. Among them was General Barch.
Cardinal Creston, looking out of the window with a stoic expression, inquired, "Are you General Barch, the one who fought alongside your prince in the battle against Thornwood's forces at Silverbrook?"
Upon hearing the question, General Barch, not particularly fond of the visitors, responded curtly, "Yes, I am. Do you have something to ask?"
Cardinal Creston maintained his poker face and acknowledged, "I am honored to meet you. The tale of your battle against overwhelming odds is renowned throughout the land."
He then added with a somewhat eerie smile, "And, of course, equally famous is the prince's reputation as a Void Summoner. However, seeing these bountiful farms, it appears he may need a new title."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips before he continued, "If it's not too much trouble, could you share the secret behind the remarkable fertility of these fields?"
General Barch, not particularly pleased with the presence of the Church and the Cardinal's demeanor, responded with a hint of irritation, "Yes, I am General Barch, and our battle against Thornwood was a matter of necessity, not fame."
He then crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed by Cardinal Creston's comments about the prince's newfound title. "As for the farms," Barch replied, "that's a matter of hard work, dedication, and the new techniques our prince has taught the farmers here. It's a testament to the resilience of our people."
Barch's tone was polite but guarded, as he had no intention of divulging the kingdom's agricultural secrets to a representative of the Church without good reason.
As the wheels of the carriage turned and the procession continued its journey toward Axum, holding the promise of significant discussions within the capital's walls, turning the wheels of kingdoms.