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The carriage traveled north along the official road. After the changes in Rosé, the surrounding Demons continued to gather toward Rosé, destroying numerous villages and towns along the way. The number of carriages heading to Sis for refuge had clearly increased.
Among the dusty crowd of refugees, the luxurious carriage stood out prominently.
Alicia seemed to have latched onto Arabella, chattering incessantly.
In just one day, Alicia had already changed Arabella's hairstyle three times and continuously adorned her with various dazzling accessories. She appeared to be just an overly enthusiastic upperclassman… if it weren't for the fervent gaze that resembled that of a predator sizing up its prey. That gaze made Arabella feel like a piece of meat being meticulously marinated before being thrown into a pot, aware that she could be cut at any moment.
"Come on, you are a high-ranking High Priest's Demon Attendant. Why doesn't Dorian dress you up a little? It must be tough sticking with that old, cold-faced block of ice," Alicia continued as she started to braid Arabella's hair again. "Once we reach a bigger town, I'll take you to buy some new clothes, all paid for with our mission funds~"
Dorian sat opposite them, his face dark. For someone like him, whose life was lived with mechanical precision and order, almost every word out of Alicia's mouth struck precisely on his sensitive spots. If she were a man, she might already have been dealt with for tempting his Demon Attendant.
"How long has she been like this? What did the doctor say?" he asked, irritated by the noise and the throbbing in his ears from the chattering Witch. Initially, seeing Alicia's strange enthusiasm for Arabella had made him suspect she was assigned by Timothy to eliminate her. However, observing her throughout the journey, he was now fairly certain that she simply had a few screws loose.
"There is a psychological phenomenon known as compensatory behavior. When someone is usually under strict control and their desires are suppressed, once they gain freedom, they tend to release that pent-up energy in a wild manner, behaving more rebelliously than an average person." The healing Priest beside him offered a professional opinion. "From your upbringing, you also have great potential, Dorian." He smiled amiably at the silver-haired Priest.
Dorian choked slightly, caught off guard: "Have healing Priests started treating mental illnesses now?"
"There's no choice; there aren't many positions for high-ranking Priests, so learning more will help rank up faster," Joshua shrugged.
"It feels just like two best friends going on a trip~" Alicia seemed exceptionally pleased to be teaming up with a Witch for the first time.
Normal best friends share dating experiences rather than dismemberment experiences, Arabella thought silently. She couldn't understand why the usual antics of girls turned into strange, terrifying scenarios in the hands of this chief Witch. She was afraid to offend this senior Witch who had an unusual fixation on dismemberment and also wary of Dorian, whose expression was notably grim, potentially ready to erupt at any moment. She felt nervous the whole time.
The carriage finally arrived at the last stop before the journey's end, amid Arabella's relentless anxiety.
Ketter City was located southwest of Rosé City. It had originally been an inconspicuous small town in the north. After Rosé was invaded by Demons, the surrounding villages and towns were also affected, almost entirely devastated. Ketter City became a recent refuge, filled with various crowds fleeing from the direction of Rosé. People rested here briefly, bought food, and then continued their escape toward the safer destinations of Sis or Holy Solan.
This was also the last resupply point for the four-member team before reaching Rosé City.
Amid the chaos and turmoil, the luxurious carriage coming from Sis stood out prominently. The ostentatious attire of those inside the carriage dazzled the eyes of the local people in this small town, making the recently escaped individuals unable to help but internally curse, "These damned wealthy dogs from Sis."
"Do we really have to be this ostentatious?" Arabella weakly inquired, looking out the window at the grim scene outside.
"What does being ostentatious mean?" the blonde Witch beside her asked.
As Ketter Holy See was one of the larger branches of the Temple of Light near Rosé City, it had been doing everything possible to provide assistance after the disturbances in Rosé. Almost all Priests capable of combat had ventured out, but none of them had returned. Now, only a few lower-ranking logistical personnel remained in the church, nervously receiving the four distinguished visitors from afar.
To avoid causing further trouble for the already strained Ketter Holy See, the four-member team did not stay at the Holy See itself but rather took refuge in the largest inn in the city.
Although Dorian knew the true reason Joshua suggested staying at an inn was that Alicia had complained about Ketter Holy See's accommodations, he had to admit that Joshua had a point. Given the current turmoil and the severe shortage of manpower at the Holy See, it made no sense to waste resources on a situation that could be solved with money.
Joshua had a remarkable ability to rationalize Alicia's various eccentric requests, and he always presented his arguments in such a grand manner that made them difficult to refute.
As they moved further along the road, the number of Demons would gradually increase. Sis City had lived a life of luxury for too long; their extravagant carriage would not be able to withstand the challenges ahead. They needed a sturdier carriage and battle horses unafraid of Demons.
Joshua compiled a long shopping list and, along with Dorian, was responsible for procuring supplies, while Alicia pulled Arabella straight into a clothing and jewelry store on the main street.
"The stuff here is far inferior in craftsmanship compared to Sis," Alicia remarked after trying on the most expensive dresses in the store.
Unlike the fanciful and lavish styles of Sis, the northern cities, often targeted by Demons, favored simple and sturdy clothing, typically made of fur, which provided warmth and some defensive properties.
Ultimately, she chose a suede skirt with layers of chiffon lining and metal embellishments for herself and Arabella. "Wrap these two up."
The shopkeeper hesitated. "These two are custom orders; I can't sell them to you. If you'd like, you can place an order now and pick them up in half a month…"
Alicia slammed a Bishop's iron seal onto the counter. The ancient iron cross bore an eagle, the mark of a Sis Bishop. The solid beech wood surface of the table instantly developed a crack, and the blonde Witch smiled at the shopkeeper. "Wrap these two up. Whoever ordered them, I'll pay them ten times the price. Burn the design; I don't want anyone wearing the same clothes as us. Whatever it costs to get the originals, go fetch it from the Holy See, just put it under Timothy's name."
Arabella was experiencing the feeling of being wealthy for the first time in her life. Alicia, using the name of the Sis Bishop, stormed through all the luxury stores in town, spending money without batting an eye. Arabella felt that rather than shopping, Alicia was simply burning money; if it weren't for Joshua, who usually handled the shopping bags, she could have completely cleared out the stores.
"Is this really okay?" Arabella had never seen anyone spend money like this before.
"The Sis Holy Court has plenty of money; if we don't spend it, what's the point?" Alicia lazily leaned against the railing by the river. "We fight tooth and nail against Demons; all the status and prestige belong to them, so what if we spend a little of their money? You could do it too if you wanted." She winked at Arabella.
"Uh… I think I'll pass."
"Dorian is the strongest candidate for the next Bishop. Once that old man Timothy is gone, he'll be the new Sis Bishop, and then you, as the Bishop's wife, will be able to go anywhere with your head held high," Alicia said.
"Where would a Bishop's wife come from?" Arabella's face flushed, and then she recalled something, her expression dimming. "Clergy can't fall in love, right?"
"Did Dorian say that? Don't listen to his nonsense; rambling is just a basic skill for Priests. He's probably the only one in the entire Holy See who takes those rules seriously. After over a decade in the Holy See, he still follows the rules like a rookie. Doesn't he understand what kind of place the Holy See is?"
The blonde Witch looked disdainful, passionately criticizing the silver-haired Priest. "That guy has always had a deadpan expression since he was little, rigid by nature, a heartless machine of law enforcement. After being trained by Seraphina for a few years, he at least looks somewhat human now. To put it simply, a person like him is just asking for a reality check."
She suddenly leaned in closer to Arabella's face. "I have high hopes for you, Arabella. If you like someone, go ahead and tame him!"
Arabella was dumbfounded. It was the first time she had heard words like "tame" used in relation to Dorian. She suddenly felt a bit envious of Alicia's reckless and carefree attitude; being around her made Arabella feel bolder.
It seemed that having a best friend truly felt wonderful.