Chapter One: Departure
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the thin mist, the dawn slowly pulled back its curtain.
With a small bundle strapped to my back, I stood alongside Carlos in front of the Holy Church’s War Chariot, behind us were Grandma Claire, who came to see us off, and Barry, looking utterly miserable.
“…You must take the main road. Don’t try to cut corners; you’ll run into mountain bandits,” Grandma chattered while fussing over the wrinkles in my clothes. “I’ve washed your cloak and packed it in your bundle, along with those berry pies you love. You can munch on them to stave off hunger on the road.”
“Got it, Grandma.”
“Lord Carlos, I’m entrusting Little Shay to you for now. Although I can’t make sense of what you are off to do, you are an important figure. However, Little Shay is still young, so please be patient with her. All I want is for her to be healthy and happy…”
Grandma Claire grasped my hand, her eyes brimming with reluctance.
Let’s be real; from the moment I laid eyes on Little Shay, I knew she was different from them, destined to leave this little place behind. I just didn’t expect the farewell to come so quickly. Grandma Claire genuinely adored this sweet, beautiful girl, but now it was time to part ways, and she was off with the legendary great hero, bound for monumental adventures beyond imagination.
Of course, Grandma felt proud to see her go, but the gnawing emptiness in her heart was hard to shake.
“Don’t worry, Grandma.”
For once, Carlos donned a serious expression and gently nodded at the elder.
“Grandma, I’m off now!”
I gazed longingly at Grandma’s wrinkled face, took a deep breath to suppress my emotions, flashed her a bright smile, and then stepped up to board the chariot.
“Silvya!” The quiet boy, at the last moment, finally seemed to find some resolve, his face determined as he slowly spoke, “I know you must know many amazing, talented people… You probably see me as just a silly little boy, someone not worthy of your attention.”
Under the golden sunlight, the boy was tense, his voice trembling, glancing shyly at Carlos with an uncertain gaze, courage bubbling up within him.
“Although I’m really reluctant… I can’t help but think, once you leave, will we ever meet again? Some things, if I don’t say them, I won’t be at peace… I mean, the moment I first saw you, I wanted to say, I, I, I…”
His fists clenched, struggling to get the words out, but eventually, he sighed and lowered his head, flushed and avoiding my gaze.
“…You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen! There, I’ve said my piece; you can go now.”
He never managed to say what he truly wanted to… but it’s fine. Next time—if there is a next time—I’ll tell her properly. Before that, I need to become someone worth noticing.
At that moment, determination shone in the boy’s eyes.
“Barry, thank you.” I smiled brightly.
How could I not see the feelings he harbored? But… let’s be serious. That’s just not an option. Regardless of how great he is, it’s not the issue at hand.
Even if I’m stuck in this female body—an unavoidable situation—if someone really expects me to swoon over a man…
Ugh—
I shivered at the thought and darted into the chariot.
“Well, we’ll see each other again.”
Carlos gallantly bowed to the two, then turned and hopped onto the chariot to sit across from me.
The vehicle slowly started moving.
I poked my little head out and looked back at the familiar village one last time. It was the first place to accept me in this strange world, a place where love lingered.
“Grandma, I’ll be back!”
With tears prickling at my eyes, I waved my little hand vigorously toward Grandma and Barry until their figures vanished from sight.
I hastily wiped my eyes, settled back in the chariot, and found Carlos staring at me with a peculiar smile.
“What are you smiling at?” I shot back, not in the mood.
“Can’t I just smile?”
Carlos made a ridiculously exaggerated expression.
“…No.”
I glared at him menacingly, trying to convey that I was not in a good place right now, and he should back off. Instead, it seemed to have the opposite effect as Carlos’s smile grew even more mischievous.
“What, are you going to miss your village?”
“Not your concern.”
I didn’t want to discuss this topic because I felt like if I continued, I’d break down into tears.
Ever since my body changed, a lot of things shifted without me even realizing it. I used to be rational and composed, always able to make logical decisions without being swayed by emotions. But now, I was extraordinarily emotional, getting angry easily, flushing at the drop of a hat, and wanting to cry whenever I was sad.
What’s worse, I found myself caring about things I never gave a hoot about before, like despising dirt, adoring pretty clothes, dreaming of delicious food, and becoming mesmerized by shiny objects. Compliments about my looks? They made me extremely happy!
The off-white dress with lace trim I wore was a gift from Carlos, and it was far prettier and more luxurious than the simple linen clothes I wore back in the village. Though I didn’t want to admit it, the moment I put it on, I felt a certain undeniable joy in my heart.
The thoughts of a girl who seems not to have grown up were becoming increasingly intense over time.
This change in personality deeply frustrated the previously straight-edged me while leaving no remedy in sight. Emotions? They are meant to be suppressed, not controlled.
For instance, right now, I really wanted to punch the grinning j*rk across from me right in the face, and I mean really wanted to.
And so, I did.
BAM—
“Ow——” Carlos yelped dramatically, clutching his face and staring at me in shock. “What was that for?”
“Just felt like it.”
I clapped my little hands together, feeling a lot better inside.
“…So spoiled! Can I hit back?”
“You dare!”
I widened my eyes, glaring at the guy before me.
“…Fine, but I’m a gentleman, and gentlemen don’t hit women.”
After a few seconds of locking eyes, Carlos raised his hands in surrender. I huffed, lifting my chin proudly like a swan.
“So, where are we going next?”
“To Fusair, the headquarters of the Holy Church in the Silgaria Republic, where the Pope will meet you and bestow upon you the honor of being a Pope Knight along with some rewards.”
“Like a lot of coins?”
“…Is that really your only pursuit?”
Carlos’s expression was one of disbelief. I realized I’d embarrassed myself again, my cheeks warming as I quickly changed the topic.
“What does being a Pope Knight entail?”
Immediately, I saw Carlos facepalming himself, looking utterly dumbfounded.
“I think I should start by giving you a crash course in some basics; otherwise, we’re going to have a lot of laughs at your expense… The Pope Knight is merely a title—it’s the highest honor in human society and doesn’t belong to any knightly order. So, aside from you, no one can dictate your actions. You don’t have to salute anyone either, and in certain special situations, even the king must obey your orders because you represent the entire Holy Church. Are you getting this?”
“…Of course. Don’t treat me like an idiot.”
In this world, gods weren’t just abstract beliefs; they were very real. There are the Mother God of Abundance, who governs nature, the God of Wisdom who maintains balance, and the Goddess of Sin who restrains good and evil, among others. The Holy Church, as the closest entity to the divine, grants humanity endless blessings through great miracles and stands above nations.
In a sense, the king is just a high-level manager for the church, a CEO if you will, while the church is like the major shareholder. Therefore, representing the entire church carries significant weight.
I at least had a grasp of these fundamentals.
“Aren’t you just the idiot here?”
“You dare call me that, Kagas?”
“It’s Carlos… Now, repeat after me: Ca, Ro, L, Os… Can you at least say my name right?”
Carlos stared at me seriously, but I clearly wasn’t going to play his fool and repeat it. That was too much.
“Are we staying in Fusair?”
“No, after the ceremony, I’ll take you to the Royal Academy in Ethanbel where you’ll learn the basics of the Power of Order.”
“What? The Power of… Order?”
“Your ability, apart from the chaotic power of the Abyss, is indeed the ability to wield ice—this is the Power of Order… Am I really going to have to start from the very beginning with you?”
I nodded. No one had taken the time to teach me this, and I had just been figuring it out on my own the whole way.
“Ugh, what a hassle…” Carlos grumbled, brushing back his hair, and continued, “Usually, the powers that life can control are divided into three kinds. The first is the power of body refinement, which essentially means physical strength. This is something every life form possesses, but the limits differ between species—like how no matter how much a human trains, they can never outperform a dragon. It’s pretty straightforward. The second is the power of faith, a blessing from the gods, and only the Holy Church can use these miracles. The third one is the Power of Order, which allows you to manipulate rules and harness the laws of nature for your own ends; this is the most crucial one for you.”
Even though Carlos’s face screamed reluctance, I straightened up like a dutiful student, listening intently.
“This world is composed of six fundamental elements: fire, water, earth, wood, wind, and lightning, each governed by their respective rules. I don’t need to explain all that to you, right? What you must know is that a few exceptionally gifted humans will form a bond with one of the elements, allowing them to manipulate it, like my power of lightning order. Sometimes, the elements can morph and blend, creating new rules, like your frost order. In terms of body refinement, humans are generally considered a weak species; that’s why Order and Faith are so important…”
Thud—
The War Chariot, carrying the grumpy Bearded Swordsman and the attentive girl, rolled down a dusty path.
And so, it all began from here.
