Chapter 114

CHAPTER ONE It was said that even God himself turned his back on the sordid and violent academic cities. Aquent was one of the most famous of these cities, but even here, there were places that offered a reprieve from the tumultuous streets. Hidden deep in the alleys of the old city district was a ruined chapel. The Church’s crest no longer hung on the wall, and the pulpit had been long since been sold or turned into firewood, but this place was still being taken care of, which meant the tranquil and noetic atmosphere endured to this day. Much like how God was supposed to be present in all things despite not being visible, despite the absence of the Church’s crest and the pulpit, this was still, ultimately, a place of worship. Col naturally knelt on the floor, clasped his hands together, and began praying. The air was so calm, he could almost feel God’s breath on his skin, and in this precious— “Broootheeer!” A rambunctious girl’s vibrant voice he had heard all too many times accompanied the bang of an opening door. Col resisted the urge to sigh, and as he made every effort to carry on with his prayers, a delectable scent wafted his way. He had skipped breakfast, so he could not help but glance over his shoulder. “Look, Brother! Look! This meat pie is sooo big! C’mon, stand up!” He noticed Myuri’s hair was parted into pigtails, which only reminded him of wolf tails. She grabbed onto Col and yanked him upward, putting her back into it like she was lifting the lid of a heavy cauldron. The distinct scent of smoke, freshly baked bread, and recently kneaded dough wafted from her. Behind her stood Lutia, holding a large tray covered with a handkerchief, so he suspected they had baked the pie together. “There’s a secret to the meat! You put both beef and pork together, and theeen you add a little bit of mutton!” Myuri was practically a professional snack-stealer back home in Nyohhira. She always fled at the first opportunity whenever anyone attempted to teach her how to cook, so she had probably considered making a massive meat pie like this less like cooking and more like playing with dirt. Col helped Myuri rearrange the long tables that had been left behind in the abandoned chapel as she chatted happily about the process of making the pie. Once they were done, Lutia finally placed down the tray. Not long afterward, voices drifted in from outside the chapel; Lutia’s fellow students called out greetings as they brought in drinks and more food. Myuri dashed off to help them while Lutia checked on the pie and murmured, “I made up with Myuri.” She said this in a teasing tone, but she quickly drew up her shoulders in self-reproach, likely because of recent events. Many things had transpired when Col had attempted to free Lutia and her cohort from the vortex of problems that plagued university cities. Lutia’s situation in particular was complicated, and for various reasons, she had taken deliberate steps to ensure her problems would never be solved. She had done that because the lord and lady she cared for deeply had departed this world before her, and she had lost her home. Unable to accept the truth, she did everything she could to avert her eyes from reality. If she had been eternally saddled with the university’s problems, then it was as good as freezing time, and she could remain a student forever. But that was far from healthy. And so even though he knew it wasn’t what she wanted, Col had roused her from her waking dream. She, too, knew deep down that one day, she would have to face reality, and though it was not easy, she eventually accepted Col’s proposal. And while that did settle matters quite nicely, there was still one more problem. Myuri had been moved by Lutia’s plight, and in the process of assisting in her schemes, she had ended up lying to her brother. Lutia was the first wolf Myuri had met who was not her immediate family, and they were even of similar height, which meant she likely felt comfortable around her. That, and Lutia’s problems, held deep significance to Myuri. Even so, Col could not overlook her deceit, and Myuri had tucked her tail between her legs, knowing she had done something bad. Ultimately, Col did what an older brother should and doled out a fitting punishment. He had ended up using Lutia’s tears to this end, but it seemed his punishment had worked a little too well. “You came home stinking like me, and then you said something suggestive to her, didn’t you? That got a response out of her, all right. She was terrified I might take you away from her. Do you know how many times I’ve had to promise her I wouldn’t?” Lutia said, inspecting how well the pie had browned. Myuri, in the meantime, had taken a crate full of food from one of the students, and was carrying it with alarmingly unsteady arms. “For that…I apologize,” Col said. In her most rambunctious days, Myuri would have been hung upside down from her tail, cackling heartily while her brother tried to scold her, and so Col had assumed he would be lucky to affect her at all. “But it is all my fault to begin with. Also…” Lutia paused, bringing her face close with a chuckle. “I felt a little smug telling her I would never take her precious brother away from her, all while keeping what you entrusted to me a secret.” “………” Lutia smiled suggestively for a moment before she barked with laughter. “I’m kidding, obviously.” It was true Col had let her in on a secret he had been keeping, even from Myuri, all to earn her trust. But that was nothing more than a gesture of his faith in her. Or, at least, that was what it was meant to be. “I’ll contact you whenever I learn something about the shape of the world. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so enthusiastic about the pursuit of knowledge.” What Col had told Lutia a few days prior, during the height of the commotion, was the most heretical of ideas. “It’s…you know. It ties into that new continent stuff, doesn’t it? Myuri’s been constantly inviting me to move there.” Lutia’s smile was complicated. Her eyes turned to Myuri, who was busy setting up their feast, and Col didn’t miss the hint of longing in that gaze. “I never even considered that might be a way to make a place for people like us.” There, beings like Lutia, who had to endure the loss of those she loved and respected, would no longer have to fear loneliness. As that thought crossed Col’s mind, Lutia brought her lips right up to his ear. “And if you’re going to be there, then maybe I’ll consider moving.” “You—” Before he managed to do more than sputter, Lutia stepped away. She was already back to her normal self, giving directions to the other students as they prepared the feast. Col stared at Lutia and sighed; apparently there were no wolves who knew the meaning of restraint. The moment they spotted a sheep, they couldn’t help but tease it. And if Myuri got a whiff of this, he would not know peace for a long, long time. Col decided his time would be better spent helping with the preparations. As they positioned more food and drink around the pie, the centerpiece of the occasion, the students received portions of bread and meat and went home. In their place came Canaan, Canaan’s bodyguard, and Le Roi. This feast was meant to be a thank-you for resolving the problems of the poorer students from the north, but Lutia had already paid them back plenty. Le Roi summarized it quite neatly. “We have managed to secure a great deal of paper, thanks to Madam Lutia’s help. We should have more than enough for printing the scripture.” They had come to Aquent to acquire the mountain of materials they needed, but the vast quantities of paper required to print textbooks meant nearly the entire city’s supply was normally earmarked, so it wasn’t as simple as showing up and buying it all. Moreover, Aquent was much too far from Winfiel for any of them to regularly manage future orders of paper they would need. That was why it was an enormous help that Lutia would take up this task on their behalf. “It wasn’t me—it’s all thanks to Canaan. After he gave the professors’ guild a real good talking to, none of the new textbooks have to be printed anymore. Now all the classes use cheap theology books, and there are mountains of those already.” As Lutia elaborated, Canaan quickly set aside the slice of pie he had just bit into and drew up his shoulders in embarrassment. “Oh, no, I wouldn’t say I gave them a talking to…” But despite his denial, Col knew no one else who could get so impassioned in a conversation about faith. He could easily imagine the young archivist yelling at the professors who clung so desperately to their vested interests. “The students also thoughtfully delivered this to us just now,” Le Roi said as he and Canaan stood and unfolded a large piece of paper. “Whoa, a map?!” Myuri, who was reaching for her third piece of pie, stared at it with wide eyes. “You can always count on an academic city! Students who have been living on the road put their heads together and drew a very detailed map. This is an invaluable gift. More than one trading company would do whatever it takes to obtain it.” It was a map of the mainland with Aquent sitting in the middle. Myuri stared, enraptured, momentarily forgetting about the pie in her hand. “This map exists for one reason and one reason only: helping the Twilight Cardinal gather allies.” The moment Le Roi finished speaking, an audible gulp echoed in the room, though it was hard to tell exactly where it came from. Col turned toward the sound and saw Myuri stuffing more pie in her mouth. The glint in her eyes made her seem like a warrior preparing for battle. “As you know, the Church is concerned about their reputation, which is why they have decided to hold the ecumenical council for the first time in eighty years. Clergy from every corner of the world will be in attendance. The Twilight Cardinal has also been invited, though there is little doubt a plot is afoot. If we wish to win this fight, we will need all the help we can possibly find.” “Prepare for battle!” Col rapped his fist against Myuri’s head, reminding her to swallow before speaking, all while praying God would find room in his heart to forgive this rambunctious child. “We will not be crossing swords, but a certain phrase does come to mind—a battle of wits.” Myuri had never heard this saying before, and it plucked at her heartstrings. She sat up with a shiver of anticipation. Le Roi smiled at the excitable girl as he continued. “Before we return to Winfiel, I believe we should keep an eye out for allies here on the mainland. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the ecclesiastical world, and so I leave that in Archivist Canaan’s capable hands.” Canaan chimed in with an earnest expression. “When I was traveling the mainland on the way back from the kingdom, I encountered many who sympathized with your ideals, Master Col, and not just in Aquent. I discovered many potential allies among the nobility who purchased books from Master Le Roi.” “But we cannot make all of the rounds ourselves,” Le Roi added. Myuri’s expression became pensive. It was plain to see that if they tried to visit every place detailed on this map alone, it would take months at least. “Yes, we cannot,” Canaan agreed. “That is why our main thrust will most likely consist of sending out envoys and letters. However, I believe Master Col should personally visit the key locations. And that is why we would like Madam Lutia’s help, due to her connections with students and professors who hail from all over.” “We can’t just go to all the nearby places?” Myuri asked. “That is also a perfectly good option,” Le Roi said. “But this sort of situation demands a unique sort of care. Much like this pie.” “Hmm?” Myuri tilted her head. Le Roi was smiling at the girl, and one glance at him told Col where this story was going. “Essentially, the matter of who receives the first slice and who gets what portion might become a point of contention,” Col said. Myuri, who had been listening blankly, finally understood what he was trying to say. And of course, she immediately pouted. “What is that supposed to mean, Brother?!” “Exactly what I said. Who was it that leaned over the table to beg for the biggest and tastiest-looking slice?” “Rrrgh!” Myuri puffed out her cheeks and turned away in a huff, clearly taking offense. Lutia laughed and sliced into the pie, cutting a fourth piece just for her. Canaan continued with a smile. “Depending on who we ask first, some will agree to be our allies and some will become very cross with us. Typically, we should start enlisting aid from those in greater positions of power.” However, contacting high-ranking members of the clergy would almost certainly catch the attention of the Church authorities. It was crucial they carefully select people who would keep this discussion under wraps and were likely to join their cause. At the same time, they needed to move quickly to prevent the Church from divining their intentions. And since the path ahead of them was anything but straight, which road they should take and what order they should visit each court and church was a huge question. It was then that Lutia spoke up. “Since you’re here, why not go straight to the imperial court?” “The imperial court?” Lutia stuck a large baker’s knife into the table and said, “With the Twilight Cardinal’s influence, you probably won’t be turned away at the door. Hunt as much small game as you want; it won’t fill you up. What you really want…is the head of the pack.” She drove her point home by pretending to bite down like a wolf. “Plus, it wasn’t too long ago that the emperor and the pope squabbled over territory. There were even rumors that they came close to dispatching troops, remember? I think you’ll be surprised by how easy it’ll be to win such a big ally.” Now that she mentioned it, Col realized it was not as outlandish a suggestion as he had been thinking. It was Le Roi who replied next. “I have heard of that diplomatic incident. Given our ultimate goal, it would be safe to say that bringing the emperor to our side is absolutely crucial. But the imperial court is easily one of the most labyrinthine places one can find. If we do go there, then we will need to prepare thoroughly.” “Labyrinthine…? Oh, I see. You mean the prince-electors.” “Yes.” Myuri had grown quiet as Lutia’s and Le Roi’s conversation wound on. She tugged on Col’s sleeve with a terribly serious expression and whispered, “I-isn’t the emperor…the one who killed the legendary dragon?” “………” His little sister often failed to distinguish between fantasy and reality, so he quickly explained it to her. The aforementioned emperor ruled what the rest of the world knew as the southern empire. Its proper name was the Holy Vorian Empire and its ruler was the only individual in the world who currently held the title of emperor. The reason this nation used such aggrandized names like Holy Empire and emperor was because they claimed to be the successor state of the ancient empire. Once the ancient empire began to collapse, breakaway territories fought each other in never-ending wars that produced no clear winners. According to legend, seven realms grew tired of the incessant fighting and finally decided that instead of pointless bloodshed, they would choose one of their number to lead and they would cooperate to become the righteous inheritors of the ancient empire’s legacy. That was how the seven powers united the people of vast territories into a modern-day empire. Five great noble families and two archbishops stood at the top of this new empire, and since these princes had the right to select the emperor, they were known as the prince-electors. “Huh… Wait, doesn’t that mean the empire’s on the Church’s side?” After listening to the brief overview of the empire’s history, Myuri had noticed there were archbishops among the prince-electors. Canaan, who took a bite of pie and then wiped at the corner of his mouth with his napkin, explained, “It is rather complicated, but the archbishops among the prince-electors take great pride in being direct successors of the old Church from the era of the ancient empire. That pride is why they completely disregard the current pope’s authority.” When Le Roi saw that Myuri still did not quite understand, he elaborated, “The gist is that the descendants of once-great people are fighting over their inheritance. The Church has a very long history, too.” Myuri nodded in understanding at Le Roi’s broad explanation, but Canaan, who was a member of the modern Church, cleared his throat, as though pretending not to hear, and continued his own explanation. “There would be no greater ally than the emperor, but whoever holds the position is little more than an elected individual. And that means appealing to the imperial throne without undercutting the prince-electors will be difficult.” Lutia nodded and unfolded her arms. “I guess that means we do this the reliable, but hard way—going after the kings and archbishops who are the easiest to recruit.” “But we must do so quickly, otherwise the Church may get in our way. I thought you might be well-versed in the geography of the area, Madam Lutia, since you lead students from different regions.” Though some places seemed close on a map, any theoretical direct path would often be blocked by mountains and rivers. Furthermore, the lords of larger territories often had their hands full with local affairs like festivals. Visiting the wrong place at the wrong time could mean a lot of waiting with nothing to show for it, no matter how warm the welcome. They would have to take that into consideration when they decided their route. Lutia shrugged and quickly joined Canaan and Le Roi in conversation before the map. As Col watched them, the sudden realization that his fight on the mainland was about to begin dawned on him. It was not an exaggeration to say the number of allies they could claim would determine the outcome of the ecumenical council. Just as he collected his wits, he realized the rambunctious girl who simply loved conversations like this was oddly quiet. When he scanned the room for Myuri, he found her furiously writing something on a piece of paper. He thought for a moment she was copying the map, but then he noticed she was drawing human figures. “What are you doing?” he asked quietly. Myuri turned to him with a serious look. “You’re going to invade the territory of a bunch of kings soon, right?” “…I am not invading anything. We are going to convince them.” “Isn’t it the same thing?” Myuri seemed annoyed that Col did not seem to understand at all; she took the back of her charcoal and dug it into Col’s chest. “Don’t you get it, Brother?” “Um… What should I be getting?” “Sheesh. You really don’t see anything…” Myuri wearily shook her head, then leaned in close and said, “You’re the Twilight Cardinal, Brother. You shouldn’t wear normal clothes—you have to wear something that matches your title!” His current outfit consisted of simple, unadorned articles he had worked hard to acquire, saving his money for them while working in Nyohhira. He believed there was no outfit more appropriate than the one he wore now, as the one who set off on a journey seeking to restore the Church to its proper ways. Myuri apparently did not share the sentiment. “Look, I’m saying the kings are gonna make fun of you if you show up with that messy hair and those shabby clothes!” Col pressed a hand to his head, wondering if he had cowlicks from sleeping, but it did not seem to be the case. He had his own piece to say, anyhow. “Listen to me, Myuri. No matter who preaches it, God’s rightful teachings are an immutable truth. It matters little what sort of clothes I wear. Those of proper faith will always—” —see what truly matters in my words. He had started full of conviction, but stopped mid-sentence when he realized not only Myuri, but Lutia and Le Roi were also looking at him. “You’re the only one who thinks that, Brother,” Myuri said with an exaggerated sigh and a shrug. She pointed her charcoal at Canaan and declared, “Canaan’s on my side, too.” “Oh, I, um…” Though Canaan stumbled in his reply, he did not outright deny what Myuri said. And by the way he dressed, it was clear to anyone he was a high-ranking member of the clergy, befitting someone who worked in the Curia. “And more importantly,” Lutia said, “it’s basic manners to be properly dressed when meeting someone of status.” “Ah.” The only person of noble status in Col’s immediate circle was Hyland, who almost never paid much attention to matters of class. But when he considered that people who were open, friendly, and understanding were surprisingly rare, he thought perhaps what Myuri said may be correct. However, the idea he had to clad himself in expensive clothes simply to preach God’s teachings was one of the Church’s justifications for its greed, which he was hoping to cure. While Col was troubled by this contradiction, Myuri hardly seemed to notice or care; she continued scribbled with her charcoal, adding more garments to the figure on the page. “I’ve heard of awesome priests who stand on the battlefield at the head of bands of knights and pray for God’s protection! They can kill their enemies with a single word and heal all their allies with a single prayer to God. Then they raise the scripture above their heads and the earth splits in two! That’s what you should be, Brother!” It sounded like hagiographies, war epics, and her own fantasy tales were getting jumbled in her head, but Col understood she was talking about chaplains of knightly orders. “Well, I think Aquent would be the perfect place to get clothes tailored for you. There are plenty of tailors here who cater to nobles who are thinking about joining the clergy,” Lutia said. “And I may be of some help when it comes to what the clergy wears.” After both Lutia and Canaan spoke up, Le Roi added a final comment: “Then I shall commission an illustration of Madam Myuri’s ideal warrior priest.” Though that may have been a joke, it seemed unlikely Col would escape getting new clothes. The money he had on hand was probably not enough, so he would have to contact Hyland soon. Though the current state of affairs had sapped him of his energy, there was one thing he just had to say when he looked at Myuri’s illustration. “Priests do not carry big swords.” What did she think military chaplains were? Myuri simply pouted. “Then train harder!” she demanded, offering him advice that missed the point completely. She was being difficult as usual, and Col readied himself for what looked to be yet another exhausting conversation. Before he could address her latest obsession, Myuri suddenly raised her head and focused on something outside the chapel. A moment later, Lutia did the same. Then came the sound of fast-approaching footsteps. The ruined chapel sat deep at the end of one of Aquent’s alleyways, and people rarely passed by. The new arrivals could only have one destination in mind. Right on cue, someone knocked on the chapel door. “Miss Lutia, you have a guest.” It was a boy’s voice. “I think that’s one of my kids… But a guest?” Lutia stood and cautiously made her way to the door. Myuri drew her sheathed sword closer to her, just in case. “I’m sorry. I know you said you were in the middle of an important meal, but he said he wanted to see you right away,” the boy explained. When Lutia saw who stood behind him, she unconsciously took a step back. His hair and beard had grown long and wild. His arms, peeking out from beneath his stained robe, were nothing but skin and bones. Only his eyes glimmered oddly bright. Had he not been carrying a hefty tome under his arm, Col would have taken him for a beggar. “Are you Lady Lutia?! My, you are young!” The man was so shocked, it almost looked like his beard was ready to double in size. He straightened his posture and continued. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Pierre of Ashredge! When I received your letter, I simply had to come right away!” Under Pierre of Ashredge’s arm was a thick tome, and he held a long staff in place of a walking stick that showed he lived on the move. There was a sack slung over his shoulder, and his feet were bare. The first thing that came to Col’s mind was a traveling preacher. He had heard there were priests like this, who would preach with tremendous passion on city corners to anyone who would listen. Even a pebble by the side of the road was enough of an audience. Pierre seemed to be the living embodiment of that very idea, and he came on so strong even Lutia wasn’t sure how to react. “It is truly heartening to know there are noble warriors of God who dare to fight for justice in this sullied world!” “O-oh, uh… Thanks, I guess…” Were her tail out, it would have been tucked between her legs out of sheer bewilderment. Canaan started to stand so he could help. Le Roi simply smiled as though a welcome house guest had arrived. Meanwhile, Myuri was so enthralled by Pierre’s old-fashioned way of talking that she quietly recited his words under her breath. “But I am unworthy. In fact, I am ashamed I was unable to assist with your request to aid your students. Thus, I was determined to take action even God would be proud of, and so I have rushed to your side!”