Chapter 201: Silia Kingdom
They spent an entire day avoiding the rain, but even the next morning, departure wasnt possible.
The land had become saturated from the constant downpour that persisted for over half a day.
The captain of the knights scowled at the sodden terrain.
It seems difficult to depart this afternoon.
The vice-captain, standing beside him, flashed a wry smile.
Indeed. The horses will tire as well.
Well, what can we do? We just have to wait for the ground to harden.
The path was not well-traveled and had turned into a quagmire.
If they forced a march, their horses would be spent in less than two days.
The unforeseen circumstances forced them to camp once more.
With ample time available, the paladins honed their weapons and rested, while the healers dedicated time to prayer.
The dewy grass and the strikingly blue sky combined to rejuvenate their spirits.
Bathed in the warm sunlight, Ray found it easy to sprawl out and relax.
Only after a full day of rest did the ground begin to harden.
They had lost two days, despite having just embarked on their journey.
As a result, the Holy Kingdoms party hastened their pace.
Iriel peered out of the carriage window and remarked,
Its hard to believe how much it rained.
She slid open the carriage window, and a cool breeze wafted in.
The air, perpetually fresh, caressed them softly.
Isnt moving about like this more pleasant than being bogged down by work?
Well Thats true. At least its not oppressive.
She smiled radiantly, enjoying the breeze.
Dont you ever think about just running away?
Ray responded with a chuckle to her query.
Everyone harbors such thoughts at times.
Just leaving everything behind?
No response came.
After a year in the Holy Kingdom, Ray had grown accustomed to Iriels silence.
Her lack of response was a tacit agreement.
How could he tell?
Because Iriel, possibly bound by her pact with the deity, always refutes what she can.
It must be her method of coping with stress.
Unable to say or do what she wanted, it was an inevitable situation.
At such times, he would scratch where it itched for her.
Indeed, this deity demands too much. Do this, do that. Offers a bit of divine power from somewhere unseen and tries to take full advantage.
Blasphemy flowed smoothly from the Saints mouth.
Even though he had cast a Silent spell inside the carriage, it was still a bold move.
Iriel chuckled at him.
She couldnt join in the banter, but laughing along was the most rebellion she could afford.
While they exchanged jokes and talked, the carriage slowly approached the Silia Kingdom.
They arrived at the royal castle of Silia Kingdom.
The elegant castle, with white bricks and a blue roof, caught their eye at once.
The castle, boasting a visual straight out of a painting, revealed its simple yet beautiful form.
Wow, its impressive every time I see it.
Silia Kingdom is a nation rich in funds.
Its quite palpable.
Compared to the Holy Kingdom, the size of this castle was slightly different.
Celonia Castle in the Holy Kingdom, pursuing simplicity, was luxurious yet somehow straightforward.
But the Silia Royal Castle in front of them was the epitome of opulence.
The elaborate decorations on each blue roof and the sturdy pillars supporting them could rightly be called works of art.
If someone asked what building materials were used, one might well say money.
The splendor of Silia Royal Castle was unapproachable.
Several nobles who had come to greet the Holy Kingdoms envoys approached with smiles on their faces.
It was evident how far and wide the influence of the Holy Kingdom had spread, as nobles of the host country themselves came out to the castle gates.
We welcome the two saints. You must be tired from the long journey.
Thank you for the hospitality.
You must be exhausted; let us guide you to your accommodations.
As he spoke and looked at the standing servants, they began to guide the Holy Kingdoms party with familiar gestures.
The annex was situated at the most critical part of the castle, which could be considered the innermost.
Usually, an annex is not built near the area close to the kings dwelling, to avoid risking the kings life.
Building an annex so close indicated their confidence in national strength.
It was also a statement of ensuring the utmost safety for honored guests.
The king must be a man of great vision, to create goodwill with just the location of the annex.
Indeed, the faces of those from the Holy Kingdom appeared satisfied.
Each knight commander and high-ranking healer, including Ray and Iriel, were guided to their guest rooms, while the rest of the soldiers were led to the annex.
But exactly how is the pilgrimage conducted?
Before entering their room, he inquired, and Iriel explained the pilgrimage.
Well ride in a carriage and tour the village.
Thats it?
Thats it.
It was somewhat underwhelming.
Well, it seemed impossible to go around examining everyone.
Perhaps it was more efficient to heal everyone instantly with divine power, in terms of speed and effectiveness.
She placed her index finger on her lips and said,
Well Most of the work will be done by the healers and priests, so there wont be much for us to do.
So, we just sleep in the carriage?
If you put it extremely, yes?
Heh heh.
He laughed hollowly.
If that was the case, wouldnt it be better to send a high priest instead of a saint?
That would surely shorten the time spent on pilgrimages across many nations.
He sighed and shook his head, but he wasnt completely at ease.
An unexpected situation might arise.
If someone was ill, there had to be a cause, right?
It was good to heal instantly with divine power, but solving the fundamental problem was most important.
For instance, there were cases where diseases treated with divine power recurred because the root cause hadnt been addressed.
Gluten sensitivity is an example of this.
After all, the importance lies in the saint touring the village. It might just be an act to create a good image of the deity.
After a brief exchange, they each went to their respective rooms.
The next evening, a banquet was held to celebrate the pilgrimage.
Given the castles size, the lobby was quite large as well.
Furthermore, many nobles attended to catch a glimpse of the saints.
As the king, the royal family, and nobles with their children began to arrive, the lobby quickly filled with life.
A servant offered Ray ceremonial clothes, but he declined with a wave of his hand.
Iriel had already prepared formal wear for him.
After changing into formal attire in his room, he knocked on Iriels door.
Knock- Knock-
After two dull knocks, she soon opened the door.
Her flowing blonde hair and vibrant eyes were striking at first sight.
Long ribbons cascaded from her hair, and her neckline was elegantly accentuated.
Her dress, which slightly revealed her legs, and ornate shoes appeared to have been crafted by a renowned sculptor.
Even Ray, accustomed to seeing Aira, couldnt help but be amazed.
Clothes do make the man.
Dont you have a sweeter compliment?
It suits you well.
Of course, who do you think I am?
Iriel puffed out her chest proudly.
Alright, lets put aside the compliments.
Praising her only makes her less humble.
As the saying goes, the fuller the ear of rice, the lower it bows, but it seems the more accomplished the saint, the higher her nose rises.
A few more compliments and her nose might reach the heavens, brushing against the Goddess Gaia herself.
Together with a few escort knights, they made their way to the lobby.
A baron who was introducing the nobles at the entrance greeted them.
We are honored to introduce the saints. Thank you for gracing us with your presence.
You flatter us.
He steadied his voice and announced loudly towards the lobby.
The Saint and the Saintess have arrived at the banquet hall!
As they stepped into the lobby, they felt the focus of attention shift to them.
Adorned in well-dressed formal wear, their arrival sparked admiration from all around.
Their appearance was almost elf-like, except for the lack of elongated ears.
Ray and Iriel greeted the king, who was seated in the place of honor.
We greet the King of Silia Kingdom.
We greet the King of Silia Kingdom.
Ha ha ha. Such a fitting pair you two make. Welcome, enjoy the banquet to celebrate your pilgrimage.
Thank you for your consideration.
That concluded the formalities with the king.
Afterward, nobles from all around gathered to meet them.
It was a rare event to have both a saint and a saintess in the same era.
Moreover, the fact that Ray, a late-chosen saint and a war hero of the Holy Kingdom who had defeated a necromancer, added to their allure.
I have heard of your heroic deeds. You stopped a necromancer at the border. Ha ha ha.
I heard you also created Chess
Their past deeds flowed from the mouths of the attendees.
Some nobles, unable to join in, lingered on the outskirts; they were surely nobles of lower rank or influence.
During conversations, it became evident that the Silia Kingdom had a considerable interest in the Holy Kingdom.
Despite their geographical proximity, it wasnt the only reason for their interest; Silias independent intelligence network was also keenly focused on the Holy Kingdom.
Why? That remained unknown.
At present, the Holy Kingdom was struggling with financial difficulties and had suffered significant damage from frequent wars.
Silia Kingdoms interest and the direction of its limited intelligence resources towards them was peculiar.
Yet, their continued interest suggested something.
Perhaps someone in the Holy Kingdom has discovered something beneficial.
Whether that referred to his own power or something else remained to be seen.
Ray glanced briefly at the king.
If this were all intentional, that would be truly frightening.
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