Chapter 51: Saga 51: The Holy Capital
A/N: The first part of Arc 1 has officially come to an end with this new Chapter the second half of Arc will begin. I am thrilled and excited to share all that have in store. Thanks for reading this far . I hope you found my novel interesting and worth your while!
The temple guards stopped a respectful distance away, spears lowered but not sheathed, expressions caught somewhere between suspicion and genuine confusion at the sight of two travelers who had, as far as anyone could tell, simply appeared out of thin air in the middle of Songrel’s most sacred plaza.
"State your business," the taller of the two guards said, voice carrying the particular formality of someone trained to be polite to potential threats. "Foreign travelers are required to register at the western gate before entering the Holy Capital’s inner districts."
"We understand," Sylvia said smoothly, stepping forward with the composed grace of someone who’d talked her way out of considerably worse situations. "Unfortunately, our arrival wasn’t entirely intentional. A teleportation mishap, if you’ll believe it. We’re hunters from the Kingdom of Reinburg, traveling on guild business."
The guard’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Teleportation into the central plaza itself? That would require breaching several layers of ward protection specifically designed to prevent exactly that."
’She’s not wrong. That should be impossible.’ Kael glanced sideways, wondering how Sylvia intended to explain away a logistical impossibility with a straight face.
"My companion possesses an unusually powerful, somewhat unpredictable teleportation talent," Sylvia said, not missing a beat. "We’re equally surprised to find ourselves here, I promise you. If there’s a formal apology or fine required for the ward breach, we’re happy to arrange it."
The guards exchanged a glance, clearly unconvinced but equally unwilling to escalate the situation without further authority. "You’ll need to speak with the Church directly. Ward breaches of this nature require official review, and given the current tensions in the capital, I’d advise cooperating fully."
"Current tensions?" Kael asked, curiosity overriding caution.
The guard’s expression shifted, something guarded entering his tone. "Not something discussed with foreign visitors. Follow us, please. The Cardinal’s office will want to speak with you both."
They were led through the plaza and into the cathedral proper, passing beneath vaulted ceilings painted with murals depicting the founding of the Church of Songrel—saints ascending into golden light, holy wars won through faith rather than force, a history entirely unfamiliar to anyone raised outside the Church’s considerable influence.
"This place is enormous," Kael murmured, craning his neck to take in the sheer scale of the architecture.
"The Church of Songrel predates most current kingdoms," Sylvia said quietly. "My mother always spoke of it with a certain wariness. Powerful institutions with a few thousand years to consolidate influence tend to develop habits other nations find uncomfortable."
They were eventually brought to a waiting chamber adjoining the Cardinal’s private office, instructed to remain until summoned. Kael took the opportunity to lean back against a marble pillar, mind still processing the sheer strangeness of their situation.
’System, any updates on why exactly we got yanked nine hundred miles off course?’
[Working on it. In my defense, the corrupted signature back on the original route was interfering with my calculations pretty significantly. Precision teleportation isn’t exactly plug and play when you’re dodging active corruption fields.]
’Fair enough. Any read on these "current tensions" the guard mentioned?’
[Something’s definitely stirring here. I’m picking up elevated security wards throughout the cathedral complex, well beyond standard protocol. Whatever’s happening, the Church is bracing for something specific.]
Before Kael could press further, the chamber doors swung open, and a severe-looking woman in Cardinal’s vestments entered, flanked by two additional guards. Her expression carried the particular sternness of someone who’d spent decades navigating religious politics and had grown thoroughly tired of surprises.
"Foreign hunters," she said, voice clipped. "I’m told you breached our ward network arriving here. That’s a considerable claim, one I intend to verify personally."
"We understand the concern," Sylvia said, rising to offer a formal bow. "I’m Sylvia, and this is Kael. We serve with Azure Blake, a hunter company operating out of Renodin. Our arrival was unintentional, a side effect of an emergency teleportation to avoid a hostile ambush."
The Cardinal’s sharp eyes studied them both for a long moment. "Azure Blake. I’ve heard whispers of that name reaching us even from Songrel. The group responsible for the incident at the capital, was it not? The awakened Ruin."
"That’s us," Kael confirmed.
Something in the Cardinal’s expression shifted, calculation replacing suspicion. "Interesting. Perhaps this unintentional arrival isn’t entirely without purpose, then." She turned to one of her attendants.
"Summon the Saintess. If we truly have Azure Blake standing in our halls, I’d rather not waste the opportunity their presence represents." Her sublime voice carried through the expanse of the hall.
Kael exchanged a glance with Sylvia, both of them equally uncertain what exactly they’d just been drawn into, but sensing, with growing unease, that this detour was about to become far more significant than either of them had expected.
While they waited for the summons to be answered, the Cardinal studied them both a moment longer, tapping one finger thoughtfully against the arm of her chair. "I should mention, given your unusual arrival—the Church does not typically extend hospitality to foreign hunters without cause. Your presence here, accidental or otherwise, will be noted by certain factions within our walls who do not welcome outside influence."
"Factions?" Kael asked.
"The Church of Songrel is not so unified as our public face suggests," the Cardinal said carefully. "Politics exist here the same as anywhere else, dressed up in holier language perhaps, but no less sharp-edged for it. Tread carefully, and perhaps you’ll find your unexpected visit more welcome than you’d expect."
"That’s oddly ominous for a warm welcome," Sylvia observed.
"I deal in oddly ominous warnings, dear hunter. It’s rather the nature of my position." The Cardinal rose, smoothing her vestments with practiced efficiency. "Come. The Saintess does not enjoy waiting, and I’d rather not test her patience further than necessary today."
They followed her deeper into the cathedral’s heart, past chambers Kael suspected held considerably more secrets than the tour acknowledged, the weight of unfamiliar political currents settling uncomfortably around them with every step further into Songrel’s holy heart, deeper into whatever waited at the center of it all.
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— End of Chapter —
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