“Get that carriage out of the way!” Lionnel orders the coachman.

  “Yes, Lord!” The coachman unhooks his horse from his carriage and is now in the process of attaching it to the carriage that is blocking the bridge.

  “What about the bodies?” asks Tarie.

  “Shall we bury them around here?” Annurath suggests, pointing at the vast green plain beside the road.

  “What a destruction of nature!” Iberia stomps her staff. The staff making a jingle sound. “Besides! I do not think that this land is consecrated!”

  “Well, good thing we got a priest here! Now consecrate the dirt here!” says Laquidra to Ibeira while making a digging gesture.

  “I have neither the order, the permission, nor the willingness to do so!”

  “That’s too bad! I thought the church never abandons those who are in need, especially when it comes to the souls!”

  “Why, you!”

  “Then should we take them with us to the next city? Airan is close and that is where our next stop is anyway.” Tarie clasps her hands.

  “Our carriage is small. It’s already cramped enough with just us. Just leave them here.” Targarina kicks a small rock to the side of the road.

  “What?! We cannot do that! If they are not buried then their souls will not be able to properly depart!” Iberia makes a praying gesture.

  “You don’t care when they were alive, so why should you care when they died?” Targarina’s lips twitch.

  “Ha! Hear! Hear!” Lauidra claps three times.

  “This is not a matter of hypocrisy! It is simply the natural order of things!” yells Iberia.

  “Hypocrisy…?” Targarina gives Iberia a questioning look.

  “We… should just bury them here.” Areti finally speaks.

  “But it still is an unconsecrated land! We cann–” Iberia is speaking when a loud noise of something moving can be heard.

  “It’s out of the way!” the coachman yells to the group.

  “W–Well? Whatever we shall do?” Tarie looks at her nails, checking for any signs of chipping.

  “Let’s go.” Lionnel joins where the group is standing.

  “Wait! Father, what about their bodies?”

  “What about their bodies…?”

  “Should we take them with us or bury them here?”

  “What? We’ve no time to do either of that. Leave them as they are.”

  “Wha– But their souls!”

  “They should know the risk when they turn to banditry. Now let us go. I do not want the sunset catching up to us.”

  Areti looks disturbed.

  “I suppose… It is an unconsecrated land after all…” Iberia agrees weakly.

  “Well? Let’s get a move on then!” Laquidra stretches.

  The group, except Areti, walks towards the carriage. She is looking at the strewn bodies of the bandits on the side of the road.

  “Areti, make haste now!” yells Lionnel.

  “So it is alright if it is not your family, Father? This is different from back then when you let your men die just to retrieve mother’s body? What about the rights of the soul you yelled at me back then? Was that speech your way to justify it?” Areti whispers while staring at her father on top of the carriage.

  “What did you say? I cannot hear you!”

  “I need some drink!” yells Areti.

  Areti walks over to the carriage and gets on it. The coachman finally rehooks his horse to his carriage. Lionnel grabs a bottle from a wooden box on the carriage.

  “What is this?” he asks the coachman.

  “That’s mead, Lord.”

  “I would rather you not inebriated, Areti.”

  “I will not. Hand it over, please.”

  “Hmm.” Lionnel gives the bottle to Areti.

  “I shall pay you later,” says Lionnel to the coachman.

  “It’s no trouble, my Lord.”

  “Continue the journey.”

  “Yes, Lord.”

  The carriage is moving again to the original destination, Airan. The group is quiet and the wind is blowing gently.

  ***

  “By my tits! How much longer, ey?!” Laquidra bangs the back of the carriage.

  “Patience, lad! Just a little more. We should arrive any moment now,” the coachman replies to Laquidra.

  “Have any of you ever been to Airan?” asks Tarie.

  “Nope!” Laquidra is wiping her face with a cloth.

  “No,” Annurath answers curtly.

  “Hm… I think I did.” Targarina smiles.

  “You think?” Tarie shows a questioning look.

  “A city where there’s a lot of rivers, right? I vaguely remember.”

  “Oh? You visited as a child?”

  “.......Yeah. I followed a river then found the city.”

  “You were lost?”

  “.......No. Just playing around.”

  “Your parents must’ve been worried! Imagine your child just wanders off following a river somewhere!” Tarie chuckles at the idea.

  “............Yes. Quite.” Targarina’s expression is blank.

  “But you grew up in Elddim?” Annurath gives Targarina a question.

  “Yes. I moved from here to there.”

  “I see. I was wondering why your name is Targarina when you grew up in Elddim.”

  “You from Elddim too, eh?”

  “Yes, I am. Are you affiliated with Narlurathirath?”

  “.....No, I’m not. And that is a name you just don't say.”

  “Are you sure? When I was doing a job one day, some man with earrings that did not belong to him, threw a body at me.”

  “Oh yeah? What made you so sure that the earrings did not belong to the man?”

  “Simple. The earrings then, now, and always are the identification of Narlurathirath family members. According to what I know, the Narlurathirath clan’s family members all have midnight blue hair. However, the man has purple hair…with cherry streaks.”

  “Hmm… That is quite odd, indeed.” Targarina smiles and nods.

  “The very same hair you have.” Annurath glares at Targarina. “And the same earrings… are on your ears.”

  “Oh? Quite the oddity, indeed. Do you have a contract to find this man?”

  “I have not. Just heard some rumors that there is such a contract.”

  “I see. Thank you for telling me.” Targarina smiles sweetly.

  While Targarina and Annurath are talking, Tarie and Iberia are also talking.

  “I– Wha– I still ponder over it. If it was all true, then why would they have chosen one of the most unjust paths?” Tarie trims her fingernails with her other fingernails while speaking.

  “Because, it was all a lie! A plot! A scheme to make us pity them! Manipulation! The strategy of evil!” Although the words come out perfectly, Iberia’s voice is a little shaky.

  “They did not go to a church? Not even their neighbours for help?”

  “Because they did not! What a preposterous conclusion they have reached if it were all true!”

  Laquidra’s head is downcast but her eyes are looking at the two noblewomen, and her ears are open to their voices.

  “What would you do if you were in their position?”

  “What?!” Iberia is shocked at Tarie’s question. “I have faith that my neighbours and the church will do what is right!”

  “That is true…” Tarie agrees.

  “What if they don’t?” Laquidra interjects and looks at them straight in the eyes.

  The two women look at her, their faces form that of an upset expression.

  “What if they don’t…?” Tarie repeats the question.

  “Surely, they will no–”

  “That’s not what I asked, my Ladies. Suppose the church and neighbours are good, holding their societal duty properly, but what I’m asking is what if they don’t?”

  “Ugh…” Iberia grunts.

  “Why don’t you two sit on that for a little bit, yeah? Might come out with ways to be helpful if something so impossible were to happen.”

  “But surely they will not abandon those unfortunate!”

  “Good grief! I said, sit on it for a little while.”

  The two look at each other. One looks to be sad, and one looks to be angry.

  “Oh, don’t be sad and angry now! It was impossible after all, right?”

  “Why, you!”

  “Huh? I thought it was impossible? How could you be angry at something impossible?”

  “I could, you harlot! It is called blasphemy!”

  “And are you the one who decides that?”

  “No! Speaking ill of the church is blasphemy! Any people with morals understand this!” says Iberia while smiling and frowning her eyebrows.

  “Hah! Fucking sheep!”

  “We are sheeps! The Gods are our shepherds!”

  “Oh yeah? When did they guide you?”

  “Enough of this! I will not explain myself to one who kills for money!”

  “Hah! Suit yourself, princess! Now… what about, eh, lady Tarie?”

  “Huh…? What about me?” Laquidra’s question makes her stop looking at her nails.

  “You’ve always been quiet whenever people are talking. Since princess Iberia here will not, will you entertain my question?”

  “No, she shall not! The same way I do not have to explain myself to a sellsword, she also does not have to explain herself to a sellsword!”

  “Why don’t you let her be the judge of that? Unless… she can’t speak for herself?!” Laquidra gasps mockingly. “Why! That’s simply putting your house name in a bad light!”

  “I… Um…” Tarie is struggling to find the words.

  “Normally, this kind of insult warrants a beheading! You would do well if you watch what you say!” says Iberia sternly.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Then enforce it, princess!”

  “Oh, I shall!”

  “Hah! Then what weak nobles! You preach that killing is a sin but If your little feelings get hurt it justifies a murder, huh? Such is the way of the nobles!”

  “I order you to shut your mouth!”

  “Oh…? A noble just ordered me! Whatever shall I do….” Laquidra grins.

  “Uh… Um… I think… that if… if it were true that… they were speaking the truth… and… they were abandoned… justice calls for an investigation.” Tarie carefully speaks what she thinks.

  “If! Because they were not!” Iberia slams her staff on the floor of the carriage.

  “Good grief! Fine… If! If they were speaking the truth! That’s what I’m asking!” Laquidra holds her own head.

  “I have already given my answer! I shall not explain any more!”

  “Oh, uh… Me as well.”

  Laquidra sighs deeply, but she is smiling weakly at the two noblewomen.

  “Well, at least one of you is close.”

  Areti is listening to Laquidra talking with Iberia and Tarie.

  “What do you think, Father?”

  “In regards to what?”

  “If it was… If it was true. If they were not lying…”

  “It matters not. If you turn to banditry you have chosen one path, death.”

  “Yes… However, if it was true that they were abandoned and were forced to choose that path. Shouldn’t we… investigate?”

  “I have told you this already. You know our mission. We cannot afford distractions. And it is not your duty to investigate. Leave this to the church.”

  The creaking of the carriage’s wheels fills the air now. The group is quiet, waiting just for the coachman’s signal that they have arrived in their destination, Airan, a city of rivers.

  “Airan is within sight!” says the coachman.

  “Finally!” Laquidra stretches her arms.

  In the distance, a large wall can be seen from the carriage and it is getting bigger and bigger as they are getting closer.

  “We’re staying the night?” asks Laquidra.

  “That is the plan. We need to move quickly.”

  “Fine by me.”

  The group’s carriage arrives at the gate. Two armored guards approach them.

  “Good afternoon! Who are you and what is your business in Airan?” asks one of the guards to the coachman.

  “The name’s Adlan Ralei, and I’m ‘ere escorting visitors from Faihte.”

  “I see. May we see your identification or travel pass?”

  “Yes, mister knight, sir!” The coachman takes a small silver coin and a parchment out of his bag. “Here, you are.” He gives them the guard.

  The other guard walks behind the carriage and looks at the passengers one by one. Laquidra waves at the man while the others are nonchalant. However, the guard’s inspection comes to a halt when he sees a man wearing two lion gauntlets.

  “Oh…” The guard bows slightly at Lionnel.

  Lionnel nods at him. After bowing, the guard goes back to his partner.

  “They are fine.”

  “Hmm. Very well.” He gives the silver coin and the parchment back to the coachman after inspecting it.

  “You are free to enter.” The guard gives a signal to the guards on the wall and the big gate is opening.

  Finally, the carriage arrives at the city of rivers, Airan.

  “Hm… I might visit the church in this city,” Iberia speaks to herself.

  “Shouldn’t you refrain from wandering around?” Laquidra asks a question to Iberia.

  “I probably should not, but I am doing it nonetheless.” Iberia smiles at her.

  Laquidra clicks her tongue.

  “Is that fine?” She looks over to Lionnel.

  “Should be fine, so long as one of you comes with her.”

  “You people are pretty lax knowing there is an armed group coming after you, huh? Hell! Might even be armed groups! Haha!”

  “Huh. I’ll come with her.” Targarina raises his hand.

  “Tarie, will you come with Iberia too?” Lionnel asks her.

  “Yes, I will.”

  “Good”

  “What are we doing for the evening, Father?”

  “I am tired. I shall go to the inn.”

  “But you were sleeping all day…”

  “When you have reached my age, you will understand.”

  The carriage stops at the parking spot for carriages. This spot overlooks a big river surrounded by buildings along its path. The group comes out of the carriage one by one. Aside from Annurath and Laquidra, all of them leave the spot. Annurath leans on a railing made from stone. He looks at the river peacefully ushering water.

  “You are right,” Annurath speaks.

  “About…?”

  “This group is quite nonchalant. Knowing they are being hunted, they still choose to wander around.”

  “Ah, you know. Nobles and their whim. They tell you to hurry then suddenly they slow down to sightsee. Hell! Some might even go to a church and take people’s confessions!”

  “Sure, but I am talking more about Lionnel. For one supposedly on a secret mission, he loudly used his name in the mercenary network to hire sellswords, and he lets his group disperse casually now. I cannot understand him.”

  “Exactly my point! It is useless to try to understand them. They will say one thing and do the other. Thinking that just because there are bodyguards with the priestess will make things safer is blue blood thinking. Throw money at it and the problem goes away! And if it doesn’t go away? Just throw more money at it! Haha! Personally, I hope they keep being idiots with money, that way my business will always be lucrative!”

  “But your life is still on the line for this.”

  “Now that I’ve got the money? I can just bail!”

  “Regardless… I am worried trouble will come when we are dispersed like this.”

  “Oh, you can bet on it! I pray that I am away when that happens!”

  “And abandon your job?”

  “Job? Oh please! I have the job right here!” Laquidra shows Annurath the bank token she got back in Faihte village.

  “Then you could just bail now. Why not?”

  “I want to see what kind of expression they have when I abandon them as they are being killed! Especially those fucking girls!”

  “Huh… And will seeing them squirm worth putting your life on the line? And didn’t you just say you pray when that happens you will be away?”

  “It will be my pleasure,” says Laquidra, her face not smiling.

  “You do you. As for me, I’ll sample this city’s ale.”

  ***

  “What do you want to check?” asks Tarie to Iberia.

  “I suppose… I shall see how they operate in this city. How many confessions do they take daily, how many alms do they receive and give… things like that.”

  “I see.”

  “Hm… Seems to me what happened today does bother you, huh?” Targarina smiles.

  “It does not. This is simply a routine check as a member of House Losandra, biggest sponsor of the Church of the Pantheon!”

  “Especially because you are a member of House Losandra, biggest sponsor of the Church of the Pantheon!”

  “Rightly so!”

  “Uh… I do not think he is complimenting you, dear Iberia…”

  “Anyway, we’ve been walking quite a bit. You sure this is the right way?”

  “I believe so. According to that elderly man we asked, a little further along the river. We shall see this city’s church shortly.” Tarie opens her small notebook.

  “One of the churches of this city! The one we are going to is simply the biggest one in the city!” Iberia points her index finger up, like a parent lecturing her child.

  “There are a lot of people at this hour. Is this normal?”

  “Of course it is, Rina! We are nearing daily sermon hours after all!”

  “Rina?” Targarina stops for a moment. “Huh, sure, let’s go with that.”

  “Hear! Hear! As promised! Listen to the Great Father Jascone Impura’s sermon this evening! He will deliver today’s sermon at the church on Saint Inala Street! But don’t worry if you miss it today! He will deliver the same sermon in all of the thirteen churches in Airan!” a church spokesman yells out to the crowd.

  “I wha–” Iberia stammers. She quickly approaches the spokesman standing on a small stage.

  “Oh, yes, my lady? Do you have a question?”

  “Is that true?! Is what you say the truth?! Great Father Jascone Impura is going to deliver a sermon tonight?!” says Iberia, barely containing her excitement.

  “Why, yes! The Great Father himself! He has come all the way from the capital to impart his wisdom in this city!”

  “Well, I’ll be! This is news to me! Pleasant news! Now we absolutely have to go! Oh the Gods work in mysterious ways!”

  “What? ‘The Gods work in mysterious ways’?” Targarina mumbles to himself. “They do, huh?”

  “They do, indeed! Now! Let us make haste! We do not want to be late!” Iberia rushes off.

  “The Great Father Jascone Impura, huh? Even in Elddim I’ve heard his name.”

  “Is that so? I always thought that he was only famous around Aporue.” Tarie writes in her small notebook.

  “Hm…. Now I’m curious. What will the esteemed Great Father say tonight? By the way… Are you religious, Tarie?”

  “Just like the average person, I’d say. Why do you ask?”

  “Good to know. Good to know.” Targarina walks off to follow Iberia.

  Tarie scratches her cheek gently, and she follows him.

  As they are getting closer to the church, more and more people can be seen crowding the streets.

  “Hey, Iberia. You said that people’s piousness is highly decreasing in the capital and even more so outside. This crowd seems like a lot to me.”

  “Because it is the Great Father Jascone Impura! Of course people are curious! High Cardinal Frakre Viec must have sent him here on a mission to restore people’s faith!”

  “Uh-huh…”

  “Well, this crowd is nothing like in the capital! The number of people there will drive you insane! Comparing the capital city to Airan is a bit unfair, I’m afraid.”

  “Don’t you need a reservation or something? You can just walk into a sermon?”

  “I’ll be! You have never been to a church?! The church is open to all! That’s why churches are always big!”

  “Uh-huh... Anyway, I’d prefer to not wait in line, you guys go on ahead.”

  “We do not have to. We can get in much faster if I show them my staff!”

  “Open to all, huh?”

  “Well, let us go faster. We might be late if we stay idle here.” Tarie gets between Targarina and Iberia and points to long multiple lines of people entering the church.

  “Oh, right,” Iberia agrees.

  With Iberia in the lead, they are cutting into the long lines of people. If it is not for her recognizable staff which indicates her as a priest, people will be mad at her.

  “Please excuse us. Please excuse us…” Tarie apologizes as she follows Iberia who is pushing people aside gently to make way for the three of them.

  Slowly, they are getting closer to the church. The church is massive. It looks like it can hold thousands of people.

  “Afternoon greetings! May the Gods save your soul!” Iberia greets a guard near the entrance of the church guiding the lines of people with the other guards.

  “Greetings.”

  “Do let us in.” Iberia raises her staff to show to the guard.

  “Very well. Make a little room!” He makes a gesture towards the crowd.

  The crowd makes room for the three. Some begrudgingly and some willingly.

  “Much obliged!” Iberia goes inside the church.

  “Please excuse us…” Tarie apologizes to the crowd as she goes inside.

  Targarina follows them without saying a word, he is smiling, not at the crowd, but to himself.

  Inside the church, echoing murmurs can be heard. People are talking while still trying to respect the place they are in.

  “Look at all these people! So many!” says Targarina.

  “Let us find a seat.” Tarie looks around.

  Targarina looks up. He can see beautiful murals on the roof of the large dome of the church. The murals all depict different people in different kinds of pain. There are so many of them. Some are depicted kneeling, some are depicted lying down, some are depicted standing, some are bleeding, and some are not bleeding but their expressions are that of pain. All of them are holding something in their right hand and they are pressing it on their chest. Above each of their head inscribed: God.

  “The Gods…” Targarina whispers in awe and disgust.

  He directs his gaze back down to the crowd. He sees that the crowd consists of people from a wide range of backgrounds. Most of the people wearing fancy clothes and accessories are seated in the front row of the mass as well as the people wearing alb and white robes, on the other hand, further towards the back of the mass, the people are wearing lesser and lesser fine clothing and are just wearing a simple chiton and peplos made from cheap materials.

  “Looks like men are not equal in the eyes of the church,” Targarina whispers to Tarie.

  “They might have reserved the seats beforehand. It has always been like that,” she replies to him.

  “Exactly!”

  “What does it say about them? It is good that they are willing to spend their fortune on the church!” comments Iberia.

  “Well, now. It seems that all the pews are occupied.” Tarie observes.

  “I’ll be!”

  Iberia leads the other two to the middle row that is a little closer to the front row of the pews. She smiles at the people sitting there and gestures her staff. The people sitting nod and signal their hand to some other people to leave. Three people have no choice but to leave their seats to make room for the priestess, the knight-in-training, and the mercenary.

  “I thank you!” says Iberia.

  Targarina chuckles a little looking at Iberia.

  “Now let us sit.” Iberia sits on the pew.

  The other two follow her and take a seat themselves.

  “So… How long is this going to be?” asks Targarina to Iberia.

  “That depends on the preacher. It could be an hour or even three. But seeing that it is him who is giving the sermon today, it could take only five minutes.”

  “Huh.”

  “Five minutes of powerful words!” says Iberia giddily.

  A loud chime is being ringed and the crowd quiets down. A chanting by a large group of priests and priestesses follows after it. The people are putting their heads down, praying. Iberia raises her staff up, and the rest of the priests and priestesses are raising their own staff too.

  “Laqunairtaramunlahaillah uransimataratarei,” chant Iberia, the priest, and the priestesses.

  They repeat the prayer over and over, filling and reverberating the massive church with chanting. The crowd follows their example and joins in the prayer, except Targarina who is simply looking up at the murals silently. Then, when the chiming stops, the chanting stops too.

  “Our light depends on ourselves,” a loud yet gentle voice suddenly speaks out to the mass. Priests stationed far and between repeat the words spoken by him to spread them throughout the massive church.

  Targarina stops looking up, and he sees a boy in a white robe standing in the large pulpit made from marble in front of the huge mass. All of the people in the church are now directing their attention to the boy. Iberia gasps a little when she recognizes who he is.

  “Oh! It is him! The Great Father!” Iberia squeals.

  “The Great Father is a damn boy?!” Targarina is not impressed.

  “Yes! Despite his age, he has successfully brought the light to so many people! Now… listen and be enlightened, Rina!”

  Iberia’s words do not convince Targarina, instead, they only make him sceptical.

  “People of Airan! You may have come to this holy place seeking for enlightenment, for guidance, for entertainment, or for no particular reason at all. Know that whatever the reason may be, it is the Gods’ will that we meet today in this holy place,” The Great Father gently speaks and the priests are speaking his words throughout the church.

  Targarina slumps back on the pew, seemingly ready to close his eyes.

  “People of Airan! Have you felt suffering?”

  Targarina’s eyes snap back at the boy.

  “People of Airan! How many times have you wished for something better? How many times have you done good? How many times have you done bad?” he says with the loud yet gentle voice of his.

  The Great Father let the questions ring in the air. He does not continue speaking and the people congregating are looking at each other, feeling awkward at the stillness. Even the priests tasked with repeating his words are looking at him for a signal. Iberia, however, still looks at him with all her attention.

  “Have you asked these questions to yourself? Or have these questions only been heard through my lips?” he finally continues. “We are but only mortals. We are fallible. We may realize something on our own and we may realize something only from others. We are human. We are uncertain.”

  Targarina pulls his left ear upon hearing those words.

  “It is said that the Gods made us in their image, meaning, that they are also uncertain.”

  The people in the mass are looking at each other, the priests speak his words with not enough confidence as before.

  “Yes, they did. Before their ascension. Before their divinity. Before their certainty.”

  Targarina looks at Iberia, who is raising her right eyebrow, squinting her eyes, and pulling her lips inward.

  Then, suddenly, a priest approaches the Great Father from behind. From where Targarina is sitting, it looks like the priest is handing the Great Father something.

  “What’s this?” questions Targarina.

  After handing him something, the priest goes back down and leaves the Great Father, while the Great Father himself resumes the sermon.

  “The Gods’ generosity knows no bounds. You need only pray to them to receive salvation. People of Airan? People of Airan! Surely you must be aware of the menace of Hell and the assurance of Heaven? Those who have sinned are like some disgusting insects they hold over a fire. Waiting for only to be cast down and be burned in the fires of Hell. The only thing that holds them up is Gods’ mercy. They are hoping that you will realize your sins and take steps to repent. Pray! People of Airan! You must pray! Pray so that the Gods will accept you! From disgusting insects to their beloved newborn baby! You shall be saved by praying!”

  Targarina looks at Iberia again, this time she is crying silently. Tarie, however, seems indifferent. Targarina gets his head closer to Tarie.

  “Is it really that moving? This seems like the average preaching you hear anywhere. Just endless threats and endless promises,” he whispers to Tarie.

  “You could say that. Although… I am not often seen at a church, so I might be mistaken,” replies Tarie. “Have you been to other churches?”

  Targarina nods three times and goes back to slumping his back on the pew.

  “You can even start now! Pray and do your neighbours a good deed! Donate to the church no matter how small! Donate to the unfortunate no matter how small! For our devotion is unmeasurable, but with materials we can show it!’

  “Haha! What is this drivel?! Are you list–” Targarina tries to speak to the man sitting beside him but stops himself after seeing him tearing up.

  “People of Arian! Have you prayed today?! If not, do so now! The day has not ended!”

  Targarina sighs deeply and closes his eyes.