Route 604
Prit East Coast, Tivyán.
In the afternoon, the Church District of Northern Tivyán was bustling with activity. In the wide square in front of St. Hymn Cathedral, citizens from all over Tivyán were gathering, filling the space with a diverse crowd.
Though it was a Sunday, the day when citizens typically attended church, the number of people in the Church District today was unprecedented. It seemed that not only the devout and faithful citizens were present, but also many ordinary people who usually had little interest in religious activities. The reason for their gathering was in the center of the square.
At that moment, a not-so-large wooden platform was temporarily erected in the center of the square, surrounded by guards. At the center of the platform, there was a beautifully crafted glass display case containing a poorly presented, tattered cloth inscribed with the somber scripture. The layout suggested that the wooden platform was built to elevate the display case for better visibility. However, almost everyone’s focus was not on the display case itself but rather on the young nun dressed in white who stood nearby.
“Ahhh… Are you Sister Vania? You’re even more lovely than in the newspapers! No wonder you are a saint blessed by the Holy Mother!”
Amidst the crowd around the wooden platform, an elderly woman stood before the white-clad Sister Vania, her face filled with excitement as she grasped Vania’s hand, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. Hearing this, Vania couldn’t help but respond with a somewhat awkward smile.
“Oh… This elderly lady, I’m just an ordinary nun tasked with safeguarding holy relics, just like you, a mere follower among millions, not a saint…”
“With your deeds, Sister Vania, how can you not be called a saint? I’ve been devout my whole life, praying daily to the Holy Mother, and now the Lord has finally blessed me with the presence of a living saint before my very eyes. Let me touch your hand a little longer so that I can bring some of that saintly light back home for my family’s safety.”
‘What… kind of talk is this…’
The devout elderly woman continued to express her excitement to Vania, who was momentarily at a loss for how to respond, and could only continue shaking hands with an awkward smile.
On the platform, aside from Vania, the elderly woman, and a few guards, many other citizens were present, having queued up from the square below, led by the guards. They stood in an orderly line behind the elderly woman, waiting patiently. Once the elderly woman’s conversation had been cut short by the reluctant guards, the next male citizen approached Vania and spoke without hesitation.
“I’ve finally met you, Sister Vania! You are the pride of Prit! Who would have thought a person like you could achieve so much in such a short time under the Lord’s guidance, even converting those in the fallen city of Moncala! It’s truly remarkable!”
The man excitedly addressed Vania. Hearing his words, she also momentarily didn’t know how to respond, offering an empty laugh in return.
“Thank you… thank you for your support…”
Since Vania was officially appointed as the custodian of the “Holy Relic Scroll” by Sacred Summit and conducted her first pilgrimage in Moncala, over a month had passed. During this time, Vania continued her holy relic tour. After visiting multiple cities including Iwig, Castile, and Faraluo, she finally returned to her hometown, Tivyán in Prit.
In Tivyán, Vania received a warm welcome. Not only did many local citizens crowd at the port, but the Archbishop of Prit, Francesco, personally attended, creating a temporary traffic jam in the port due to the large turnout.
In fact, during her previous tours in various cities, Vania had received enthusiastic welcomes, but none compared to the overwhelming response in Tivyán. This was mainly due to local sentiment; as a Prit and Tivyán native, the citizens were more willing to discuss and acclaim her achievements. The local press was also more willing to provide extensive coverage of Vania’s news, granting her greater influence in her homeland than in other countries. This was evident not only during her welcome ceremony upon returning but also when her holy relic tour officially commenced.
As a world-renowned metropolis, Tivyán’s population far surpassed that of small city-states like Moncala. When the holy relic tour began, the chapel of St. Hymn Cathedral was overcrowded with visitors. In a pinch, the Tivyán Church had to relocate the exhibition to the church square and erected a temporary platform so the citizens could admire the holy relics from a distance while also queuing for a closer look. However, it was clear that the citizens were more interested in the young nun who protected the holy relics than the relics themselves.
On the wooden platform, Vania greeted one holy relic admirer after another, maintaining a polite smile and patiently shaking hands, as these visitors preferred to engage with her rather than the relics in the display case.
This scene reminded Vania of her experiences in Moncala, but the number of people in Tivyán was far greater, making her feel a bit overwhelmed.
Fortunately, compared to some unruly or even lewd visitors in Moncala, the admiration shown by Tivyán’s citizens was much more appropriate. Most of these ordinary citizens were genuinely devout believers who traveled after hearing of Vania’s deeds in the newspapers. Others were proud Prit citizens who viewed her as a notable representative of their nation. Interacting with these two groups was a far more pleasant experience for Vania than it had been in Moncala.
The holy relic exhibition in the square continued for two to three hours. Even in the later moments, there was no sign of the audience diminishing. Just as Vania felt she might not be able to continue much longer, the Tivyán Church officials proactively ended the exhibition for the day, gradually dispersing the attendees. Finally, after a long day, Vania had the chance to rest.
“Ah…”
Sitting on her favorite bench inside St. Hymn Cathedral, Vania took a long sip of water and sighed deeply. She then handed her bottle to a nearby ordinary nun who immediately took it. Soon after, a crowd of ordinary nuns excitedly gathered around her.
“Vania, Vania! Tell us more about what happened when you were captured by the sea marauders! How did you convert them? Did you really receive a revelation from the Lord?”
“Oh, Sophie, I finished that story last night. Now we should continue with the tale of the heretics in Adus. It’s said you fought against them directly; is that true?”
“I wasn’t here yesterday, so I didn’t hear! Come on, just for old times’ sake, tell us more, Vania…”
“What does it feel like to be revealed to by the Lord? Can you share? What are your habits? How can we receive the Lord’s revelation…”
…
As Vania listened to her former companions chirping around her and firing questions one after another, she felt a headache coming on. Having just dealt with countless admirers, she wasn’t sure how to start responding. Just when she felt overwhelmed, a familiar voice rang out like a lifeline.
“What are you all gathered here for? Is your work done? It’s not rest time yet; why are you all slacking off?” A stern voice interrupted the continuous queries from the nuns. Hearing it, all the nuns shivered slightly and turned to see an elderly nun in black robes with a serious expression.
“Anre, Sister Anre?!” Seeing the old nun, all the nuns except for Vania jumped in surprise, hastily stepping away from Vania to stand in formation facing the old nun. After glancing over them, she spoke sternly again.
“What are you dawdling about? Get to work; everyone else is busy preparing for the exhibition, and you six are just idling around. What sort of conduct is this?”
“Yes, Sister Anre!”
Following her directives, the ordinary nuns scattered in response to Sister Anre’s words, leaving only her and Vania. After seeing her former companions disperse, Vania sighed in relief. She then stood up and politely addressed Sister Anre.
“Thank you, Sister Anre; I truly didn’t know how to handle them…”
“Ha ha… No need to thank me, Sister Vania. You’ve worked hard all day and need to rest. How could I let the pride of the Prit district feel uncomfortable in her own homeland?” The elderly nun smiled warmly at Vania, who felt slightly embarrassed.
“The pride of the district? I don’t deserve such a title…”
“What do you mean you don’t deserve it? You are the most famous person in our Prit district for the past two or three hundred years. I never expected that just a pilgrimage journey would lead you to achieve such remarkable accomplishments—those are deeds of saints recorded in the scrolls… Our district has produced an extraordinary figure, and everyone, even the archbishop, is delighted.”
Sister Anre continued to smile while Vania replied modestly.
“I’ve merely been following the teachings of the Lord, doing what I should do… I never anticipated such results; I always thought others could achieve the same things I have, and I’ve just been lucky.”
“Being able to adhere to the Lord’s teachings and reach this path shows that the Lord’s gaze has always been upon you. This isn’t something that can be explained away as mere luck. Treasure this opportunity, keep examining your heart, and continue your efforts, Vania. Someone on Sacred Summit has already recognized you; your future is limitless.”
“I will…” Vania responded to Sister Anre, who nodded in satisfaction before speaking again.
“By the way, how long do you plan to stay in Tivyán? Prit is your home, and no one will mind if you linger here a bit longer.”
“Well… I actually have plans for this. Since Prit is my home, I intend to stay a while. However, I won’t just remain in Tivyán. I want to conduct a small-range pilgrimage throughout Prit,” Vania explained to Sister Anre. Hearing this, curiosity appeared on Sister Anre’s face.
“Oh? You plan to delve deeper into a pilgrimage across Prit?”
“Yes, after all, I am Pritian. The people here can relate to me more, and the connection in language and culture is stronger, making the results of my preaching more effective than in other countries. Today’s events have already shown that.”
“Thus, I intend to seize this rare opportunity. Besides Tivyán, I want to visit several other cities in Prit to maximize the effects of the pilgrimage.”
“Exploring more cities in Prit? Well… indeed, you’re more likely to make an impact here, so you shouldn’t stay in Tivyán alone. It’s great to visit several places; have you already determined your route and locations?” Sister Anre remarked thoughtfully as she nodded, while Vania immediately affirmed.
“Of course, it’s already determined.”
…
In the southwestern region of Prit, the capital of Hand County, Gramorn.
At dusk, as the sun set, the vast surface of Twinkling Star Lake reflected the dim yellow sunset glow. Under the fading light, small fishing boats were slowly rowing back to the shore. Fish vendors were conducting business at a small wharf, and respectable individuals strolled casually along the tranquil lakeside path. The entire view of Twinkling Star Lake in the sunset exuded a peaceful atmosphere.
Sitting on a grassy hillside, Doro gazed at the expansive lake in the distance, watching the evening glow mirrored on the water’s surface, revealing a hint of contemplation on her face.
‘In the ancient tales of Prit, the First King Arthur obtained the Stone Sword from the Lake Fairy, achieving his kingship. Various tales and myths about the Lake Fairy have been passed down through Prit since ancient times, forming an essential part of Prit’s cultural foundation.
‘The archetype of the Lake Fairy is the Mirror Moon Goddess. Her myth has degraded into legend and fairy tale under the suppression of the Radiant Church. Even after thousands of years of continuous transformation, the concept of a “lake” is still preserved, indicating its significant status in the ancient Mirror Moon faith.
‘So… could the said Mirror of Glahomil refer to Lake Glahomil? Both the mirror and the lake are vital elements of the Mirror Moon belief; the possibility is high…’
As she gazed at the lake, Doro contemplated silently, wondering if the so-called Temple of the Moon might be hidden within these waters.
Carrying such a question, Doro sat quietly by the lakeshore, waiting for nightfall. She wanted to see if this lake would reveal something extraordinary during the night that belonged to the Mirror Moon Goddess under the moonlight.
Time passed slowly. Gradually, the sunlight descended, bringing darkness to the sky. A crescent moon rose, and the reflections of stars and the moon began to twinkle upon the calm lake’s surface, creating a picturesque scene.
As night fell, Doro controlled her scattered Miniature Zombie Puppets, aiming to fly over the lake for a closer look. Just then, a strange sight appeared before her eyes…
In Doro’s spiritual vision, she noticed that after night fell and the waning moon rose, a faint crimson mist suddenly emerged on the previously tranquil dark lake. This dark red mist spread slowly and became broader, resembling a thin fog floating over the vast lake surface.
Seeing this sight triggered a flood of memories in Doro. She recalled the New Year’s night over half a year ago, at the Barret villa on the outskirts of Tivyán, when the crimson mist summoned by the Eight-pointed nearly engulfed her.
