The next morning, the street was empty. Only some merchants were preparing to leave. It seemed that the workers hadn't woken up yet.
After asking several caravans, Jesse came back and said to Gerred helplessly, "There's bad news. These merchants are either going to Goldshire and Stormwind City or Moonbrook. For the next leg to Raven Hill, we may have to walk on our own."
"Walk on our own? Are you kidding?" Gerred said unhappily. "Do you want to swim across the Nefritti River with your body?"
"We can find a bridge to cross." Jesse said.
"Since we have to walk, do we still have to go south to find a bridge?" Gerred let out a painful wail. "That would be too much walking. Wouldn't it be the day after tomorrow when we reach Raven Hill? I really regret coming out with you. I want to go back to Stormwind City!"
"Are you two going to Raven Hill?"
A brand new covered carriage stopped beside them. Jesse glanced at the four horses in front. They were all good horses with beautiful coats. The carriages for transporting goods that he had ridden before all used old horses as thin as wild donkeys.
The speaker was in his fifties. He was wearing a gray robe and holding a long staff in his arms. There was a beautiful gem surrounded by a wooden handle on the top of the staff.
He wore a half-ring cross emblem representing the Holy Light on his chest. This was a priest of the church.
"Yes, sir." Jesse said. "Can you give us a ride?"
"Sure." The priest said. "You two gentlemen can sit in the back. There is no more space here."
Jesse took a peek inside. A paladin wearing a blue shirt was squeezed together with this priest. He was leaning against a shield. In his hand, he was holding a package wrapped in chainmail and placed it on the ground. The other two priests sitting opposite were trying to tuck in their feet because of this package. And the priests were also holding several stacks of books. The top of the carriage was also tied with all kinds of large boxes. It was indeed quite heavily loaded.
There was also a male priest sitting on the several seats at the back of the carriage. Beside him were several travelers like Jesse and Gerred. The remaining vacancies could not seat many people anymore.
"Praise the Holy Light!" Gerred excitedly climbed onto the carriage. Opposite him, a young priest looked at the dwarf who sat down with a big smile on his face, as if the teachings of the Holy Light had just been perfectly spread once.
"Excuse me, how much is the fare for this trip?" Jesse asked after sitting down.
"We don't charge money." The young priest said. "We are just going to Grand Hamlet. We pass by Raven Hill along the way."
"I love the Holy Light." Gerred said. "I loved it when I was in Aerie Peak."
"The Holy Light also loves everyone like you who is full of hope." The young priest said with a smile.
Jesse has never had any special thoughts about the Holy Light. When he was young, he once prayed to the Holy Light with a try-it-out attitude. Since there is really the Holy Light in this world, there is no need for him to stubbornly stick to his former atheistic concept and fight against a fantasy world.
Unsurprisingly, the Holy Light has never responded to his call.
It didn't heal him when he was injured. It didn't heal his heart when he was sad. It didn't stop the severe diarrhea that almost killed him after he ate roasted river crabs.
But he has indeed seen priests summon the Holy Light to heal the diseases of others with his own eyes. It can only be said that maybe the Holy Light doesn't care much about him, an "outsider".
"What are you going to Grand Hamlet for?" Jesse asked curiously.
"To treat diseases." The priest said. "Haven't you heard? There is a plague and necromantic pollution raging in southern Elwynn. Many people in Grand Hamlet are sick. The medical resources there are seriously insufficient. We are going there to support our church brothers on the orders of Archbishop Alonsus Faol."
Jesse looked up at the boxes tied on the top of the carriage and said, "So, are those all potions?"
"Some are." The priest replied. "There are also some food, medical books and so on. If you want, when we rest at Raven Hill, I can give you some."
"Uh, thank you so much." Jesse said. "However, I think the residents of Grand Hamlet need help more than we do."
The priest smiled and said, "You are very young and seem full of energy. Are you interested in helping at the Cathedral of Light in Stormwind City?"
Jesse has thought about becoming a clergy member. But as just said, he is not very compatible with the Holy Light. So he simply didn't get in touch with the church.
This was the first time he had talked to a member of the Holy Light Church for so long. The friendliness and kindness of the other party even made him a bit uncomfortable. Even he, who subconsciously has a vigilant mentality towards missionaries, felt a little loosened.
Of course he knew that this was mainly because the other party was willing to take them to Raven Hill.
But in this dangerous place of Azeroth, don't ordinary people living in hardships need such timely help?
Perhaps because of this, no matter how many disasters there are later, the Holy Light is still the most widespread and deeply rooted belief on this land.
"I will consider it." Jesse said.
"That's great. I am honored even if you just consider it." The priest said.
"I want some." Gerred said. "I know that fruit in the cathedral is especially delicious. Do you happen to have it?"
"That thing is called sunfruit." The priest took out a small cloth bag from behind and took out a yellowish fruit like an orange. He asked, "Is this what you mean?"
Gerred took one and immediately took a bite. Golden juice flowed all over his lips.
"Yes, that's the taste. Sweet!"
Watching Gerred eat so happily, Jesse also licked his lips. The priest had already handed a fruit to him. "Want to try?"
Jesse took a small bite. It tasted a bit sour. The texture was like a plum. It was more fragrant than a plum, but not so sweet.
Considering that there may not be breeding technology from the 21st century in this world, it is already very difficult to have such delicious fruits.It is countless times better than those crooked melons and split dates he ate in Lordaeron.
The priest told many stories about the Holy Light Church fighting against the orc invasion in Redridge Mountains and Hillsbrad Foothills, as well as some heroic deeds of the Silver Hand Knights,which had just been established not long ago. Some of them were even stories that Jesse had never heard before.
To his surprise, the priest also mentioned one of the leaders of the Silver Hand, a well-known figure in the World of Warcraft game and later one of the leaders of the Alliance, Tirion Fordring.
Listening to the stories and exchanging knowledge about the several-year orc war, Gerred talked all the way with gestures. Even the several travelers who were still silent at first joined in.
Time passed quickly. Just after noon, everyone finished eating the food they had prepared. The carriage had already reached the bridge over the Nefritti River.
After crossing the bridge, the carriage had been following the riverbank. They were slowly approaching Duskwood ahead. Gerred had been staring at the direction the carriage was traveling. He wanted to see when it would start to get dark. While the priest and several travelers were taking a nap.
Jesse had been looking at the wide surface of the Nefritti River. This was the longest river on the continent. It flowed from the mountains where Karazhan was located through the entire Elwynn and extended all the way to Stranglethorn Vale in the south and flowed into the sea.
The noon sun shone on the water, and the sparkling waves were very spectacular.
Looking at it, Jesse suddenly saw a white thing floating on the water among the water plants not far away.
He patted Gerred and pointed to that thing and asked, "What's that?"