The knights' commander, Sir Roderic, with a calm, languid expression stepped forward, his bright brown hair catching the light.
"Your Grace, Armand." He intoned, bowing slightly. "Thank you for your patience."
I feel like that guy is jabbing at me, is it just my imagination?
"Welcome to Caloth," The Archbishop responded, his voice... I don't know how to describe it properly, but it had a crunchy quality that would rather easily sent shiver down one's spine.
Like a sound that human must not hear.
It was unsettling, almost creepy.
The way he moved his head and back, bobbing gently like a tall tree swaying in the wind, only intensified the unsettling atmosphere that surrounded him.
Each subtle motion of his' seemed to echo the quiet tension in the air, drawing the attention of those nearby, intentionally or unintentionally.
"I apologize for our lateness." It was not my imagination after all.
The Archbishop nodded stiffly, his eyes briefly scanning around before responding.
"Do not be worry about that, you are not late."
Meanwhile, Cecilia gently scratched my back, leaning closer and pulling me near. Her brow furrowed into a knot of unease.
"He doesn't exactly scream piety, does he?"
Her voice, laced with an unsettling tone, was soft, yet, well, strangely sensual, a complex blend of weariness and doubt flickering across her face.
She was a confident women who need not to fear most things, politically or physically. But the subtle lack of trust she harbored was a matter altogether different.
"He gives off a seriously creepy vibe." The way she spoke, half whispering as if afraid he might overhear, made me acutely aware of the vibe that the Archbishop exude.
However... Women! Can you stop doing that?! My boner is confused!
I squirmed lightly as her breath tickled my neck area.
But, most of all, I shot her a look of disbelief.
Really?
His toenails are a solid 10,000 times better than your pathetic insights, you betraying whore.
The monologue reach the tip of my tongue, but it did not left my mouth.
It took my entire will power, every last drop to not unleash that insult.
It was hard to take her seriously when she was throwing shade like that.
"W—what?" She asked.
I steadied my expression, forcing a calmness I didn't quite feel. "It's terrible to judge someone by their looks, Cecilia."
"Are you serious?" She groaned softly, but her mouth no longer close to my neck, her disbelief palpable.
"Look at him!" I did.
"That's asking a lot." She continued. She seemed to not realize her voice have become louder by a few decibel.
It wasn't until I noticed the three other girls eavesdropping that I also realized our conversation had caught more attention than intended.
"Sigh..."
I handed her the reins.
"I'll go talk to him," I said, hoping to shake off the weight of their curious stares.
As I walked past the old commander, I approached the Archbishop and bowed respectfully, acutely aware of the eyes watching us intently.
Turning his attention fully to me, the hero candidate. "Welcome to Caloth."
"Thank you for the hospitality, Your grace. We're honored to be here," I said in a humble tone.
The Bishop's gaze swept over the party, pausing momentarily on each member.
"Ah, I apologize; my appearance isn't quite friendly after all," he chuckled softly(?)
He should not have said that, I thought. That just make the atmosphere more awkward.
I could hear Cecilia gasping a few row behind me, but I brushed it off and smiled, raising my head. "Not at all, Your grace."
"Ha ha ha... I see. Regardless, I welcome you with all I can offer." He continued in that, insect crawling kind of voice.
But, perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere in the air he had just caused, he smiled similarly awkwardly.
And, in an attempt to ease the tension, he look at my rear and around, then spoke again, with a deliberately more friendly tone, though it still did not help.
"Gentlemen, it isn't a very mature act to intimidate a child like that."
As I subtly glanced back to check my party members, I noticed Cecilia looking down with a bright face that illuminate the ground she was gazing in a scarlet hue.
She had attracted quite a few heavy stares from the knights.
But after hearing the Archbishop's reprimand, the men shifted their gazes, their demeanor changing, like nothing happened just now.
The archbishop's eyes shifted to me again, softening slightly, a hint of distorted smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Gentlemans," This time he look at the dozen or so clerics he brought, then back at the knights.
"You must be too tired to hold onto your reins any longer, let us help you." The clerics approach the knights who have dismounted and took their horses away.
"And," He spoke again, "Hero Candidate, the Saintess and the Pope would like to have a word with you, if you are not too tired for it of course."
"I understand."
"Now, now, I feel you must be tired, I understand this must be overwhelming. Let us walk inside now," he said, gesturing towards the city.
No, that is definitely weird. You understand that we have rode the horses for about 5 hours now, yes?
Asking someone to walk after that is not normal. Or I wonder if the common sense of this world is slightly different.
I hesitated for a moment before falling into step beside the archbishop, the knights forming a discreet escort behind us.
Looking back, those old men did not look like they have any problem. The mage though? Well, she deserved it I supposed, even if it would be tiring to walk.
As we made our way through the city, I couldn't help but absorb the vibrant scene of the City.
This place was a fascinating blend of ancient stone buildings that stood so proudly, beside the sleek, modern structures.
It paint a skyline that seemed to narrate the tales of the past side by side with the present, like a parallel lines that never quite meet each other.
Walking through the gates, we caught plenty of curious glances, I guess it was to be expected.
In fact, It was slightly more underwhelming than I would have anticipated.
A group of knights that could potentially subjugate a small towns would appear rather magnetic I suppose, or, it should have been?
Maybe because, Sir Roderic felt my confusion, he spoke up. "We are the last to arrived among the four other candidates."
"Oh, that makes sense." But is it just my imagination or this man is extremely displeased about something?
Nonetheless, the city's lively pulse surrounded us.
While kids darted through the streets, their laughter like a sweet soundtrack to the chaos, just joking, they become quiet after our appearance, most of them.
The air was rich with the irresistible aroma of fresh bread, making my stomach rumble in response.
The archbishop moved with an air of calm, his thin hands clasped behind his back, taking it all in as if he were a part of the rhythm of the city itself, unperturbed by the noise and energy swirling around us.
"Hmm..." I look around.
Surprisingly, there were far more ordinary folks milling about than I'd expected from a city so dominated by the church.
The peasants who came to watch our parade chatted and smile, their faces lit with joy.
It was a stark contrast to the austere atmosphere I usually associated with places like the Vatican, though I have not visited that place.
The air felt vibrant and alive, welcoming rather than oppressive, as if the city itself was itchy for guest.