Four Hundred and Forty-Ninth Headline
…
The second secret transmission is titled “The Bones in the Mountain.” This is an ancient and heavily damaged document. The author of this secret transmission is unknown, but it contains research on the ancient faith of the Stone Prince.
In this summary of the research, the author claims to have ventured into the majestic Spine Mountains on the eastern part of the main continent. There, they discovered ruins of a village hidden deep within the mountains. After long exploration, they found that these ruins once belonged to the remnants of the Stone Prince faith.
This secret transmission documents the author’s findings and insights after a thorough examination of these ruins. In their report, they mention that the entire village was constructed from unprocessed, suitable giant stones. There were no idols or statues dedicated to the Stone Prince; instead, they worshiped the largest mountain they could see, treating the massive peak as a divine statue. The altar was set up in a position that best showcased the grandeur and majesty of the mountain.
Their funeral customs involved preserving complete human bones after cremation and placing them in natural caves on the steep cliffs of the mountain. These places were extremely difficult to reach. The author wondered how ordinary villagers, who were not extraordinary beings, managed to place the bones there.
The author also visited other existing villages nearby, collecting their legends. In these legends, all towering mountains were said to be formed by the slumbering bodies of giants, thus requiring deep reverence for every mountain. Even though these people had largely converted to the Three Saints, traces of mountain worship remained in some of their daily habits.
…
“The faith of the Stone Prince, I never imagined there would still be remnants in such remote areas. From the description in this secret transmission, the faith seems truly primitive and simple, using the mountains themselves as deities instead of carving any statues. It’s very different from the Construct Core, which values crafting and forging…”
Dorothy thought to herself after finishing the second secret transmission. She then asked Brandon far away to store both transmissions safely and began extracting their spirituality.
From Cole Wright’s manuscripts, Dorothy obtained 4 “Stone” and 2 “Enlightenment.” From “The Bones in the Mountain,” she got 3 “Stone” and 1 “Enlightenment.” Combining this with her current spirituality, her storage situation now looks like this:
28 Cups, 11 Stones, 20 Shadows, 4 Lamps, 14 Silences, 40 Enlightenments. Along with 2 Cups and 4 Shadows in storage items and 1850 pounds in cash.
“The spirituality of Stone has increased quite a bit, enough for self-defense at least. But it seems I’ll need more after a fight. Considering my current state, it seems hard to store enough for advancement. Unless I get another opportunity like the one with the XiasTree…”
Looking at her current spirituality reserves, Dorothy pondered, then decided not to dwell on it further. She stood up, put on her coat and shoes, and prepared to go out.
“Never mind, I should focus on my tasks first. Go outside, pick up Brandon, and buy a ticket to Iwig. With the divination tool cooling down in mid-to-late March, I need to hurry to scout Adria.”
With that thought, Dorothy opened the door and walked out. She reached the hotel entrance and looked around before waving down a taxi.
Once on the carriage, Dorothy told the driver her destination. The driver immediately started driving forward. Inside the carriage, Dorothy, feeling bored, glanced at a newspaper placed near the door. Many carriage drivers keep newspapers for passengers to pass the time, and since Dorothy enjoys reading, she picked up the paper and unfolded it.
After scanning the newspaper’s name, “Trua Morning News,” her eyes fell on the headline. She read it with a furrowed brow and couldn’t help but recite it aloud.
“Perilous Pilgrimage Fleet, Holy Mother’s Mercy Reveals Miracles, Divine Light on the Vast Sea, Gospel Spreaders in the Wilderness…
“The story of the most devout young clergy member of today, the light of the present spreading the Holy Mother’s gospel through self-sacrifice, the faithful servant of the Lord, Sister Vania Chapheren…”
Looking at the huge headline that took up the entire front page, seeing the familiar name printed in bold, Dorothy fell silent for a moment. Then, in Prit language, she sighed:
“When I first made the news, it was only a small local paper in Igewent. It took the destruction of Burton’s base and several people to barely secure a spot on the front page. For Vania to dominate the entire front page right off the bat, she’s truly formidable…”
…
At ten in the morning, North Conquer Sea.
On the sea, a fleet of over a dozen warships of varying sizes cut through the waves, orange-yellow circular flags flapping fiercely in the sea breeze.
In the center of the fleet were three ordinary passenger ships, filled with pilgrims who had recently turned the corner from danger. They were protected by a navy twice as powerful as before, ensuring their journey to the predetermined destination without any mishap.
At the forefront of the fleet, on the deck of a massive flagship, stood a nun in white, gazing out at the horizon where land was yet unseen. The sea wind blew her white robe, revealing a hint of worry in her expression.
“Sister Vania, the sea wind is strong. Please enter the cabin to rest.”
At that moment, behind Vania, a strong voice echoed. Turning her head, Vania saw a young man in the uniform of a naval officer of the Order of the Holy Ceremony Knights. From his shoulder insignia, it was clear he held a high rank, equivalent to a senior deacon in the church hierarchy.
This senior deacon, with a respectful look in his eyes, addressed Vania, a mid-level deacon, with reverence.
“Oh… it’s Cleric Andrei. I just wanted to see if we can spot land. How much longer until we reach our destination?”
Vania replied respectfully, to which the other responded immediately.
“Not far. We estimate reaching Card Port tonight. We will stay there overnight and depart in the morning. By afternoon, we should arrive in Adria. Archbishop Antonio has arranged a grand welcome banquet there, where many important guests from Adria and Iwig will be present. As a key figure in the banquet, Sister Vania, please ensure you arrive in Adria with your best spirits. So, please return to the cabin and rest. Don’t let the wind ruin your health.”
