Chương 172: Chapter 169 - Holy endeavours

Scarlett looked out of the carriage window at the stone buildings outside as they slowly traveled down Bridgespell's cobbled streets, watching the colorful storefronts and inviting establishments they passed by. Although it was one of the empire's larger cities, Bridgespell's Kilnstone district was a winding labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways unless one followed the main thoroughfare, which their journey had taken them off not long after arriving in the city.

That wasn't to say that the traffic was any less intense along their current route. It was simply more cramped. Pedestrians scurried to make way for the carriages and wagons, and the crowds weaved between the buildings like a swarm of ants.

"Ah, this brings back memories," Rosa hummed to Scarlett's left, leaning forward in her seat with her chin resting on her palm. Her gaze followed Scarlett's out the window.

"There's no place quite like Bridgespell if you want to experience what it's like to be a sardine packed into a barrel."

"You've been here before?" Allyssa asked from her seat across from Rosa.

"Of course," the bard replied, casting an amused look at Allyssa. The Shielder returned it.

"Is there anywhere around the Empire you haven't been?" Rosa furrowed her brows, tapping a finger against her cheek.

"I suppose I haven't visited the Rising Isle yet. Or the Forgotten Tower, for that matter. They're close enough to the empire in my book that I can't not hit them up eventually." She shot a sly smile in Scarlett's direction.

"If I stick close to this one for long enough, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I get the chance as well. I've already checked off reaching the summit of one of the highest mountains on the continent, thanks to her."" No one has ever been to the Forgotten Tower," Allyssa remarked.

"And doesn't the Rising Isle only allow mages?"

"They don't have any policy against non-mages visiting the island." Shin said, looking up from the book that he was reading.

"They haven't for a long time. I would imagine that there are at least some living there who aren't mages, and there have been several collaborations between the empire and the Isle in recent decades, allowing visitors from our side."

"Ok, well, yes, sure. If that's the case, I'll admit that I wouldn't be surprised if Scarlett somehow ended up taking us there someday." Allyssa shook her head.

"But my imagination draws the line at the Forgotten Tower. That's a bit too far-fetched, don't you think?"

"Hmm, I don't know~" Rosa glanced at Scarlett, her smile growing into a smirk.

"Is it?" Scarlett looked at the bard for a moment, then returned her gaze to the passing cityscape.

"I do not believe you are quite ready for that yet." She could picture the grin on Rosa's face widening even further at that, even as Allyssa let out a noise of bewilderment.

"W-Wait, you can't say that. Then I might actually believe you're serious," the young Shielder protested.

"You are joking, right?" Scarlett shifted her eyes to look at the girl.

"Of course," she answered after a brief pause. Allyssa blinked.

"Nonono. Now you're saying it like that. Like you do when you know something we don't. But you have to be joking, don't you?" She turned to Fynn.

"She's not serious, is she? Please tell me she isn't." The young man glanced at Scarlett, then back at Allyssa.

"I've been told not to share things like that anymore." Rosa chuckled, while Allyssa seemed at a loss for words. As the girl turned to Shin, attempting to persuade him into convincing her that Scarlett had to be joking, Rosa leaned closer to Scarlett.

"Just for the record, are you actually serious?" the bard whispered, a glint of interest in her eyes. Scarlett met her gaze for a second, then simply shrugged her shoulders.

"Who knows?" The Forgotten Tower was a remnant of ages past and had been a mystery among the countries on the continent for centuries. Someone visiting that place would truly be a discovery like none other. With that statement, she turned around and resumed her city watching. Rosa wasn't the only one who could have some fun at others' expense. The carriage continued its journey through the city, eventually arriving in what appeared to be one of Bridgespell's older sections.

The buildings and streets here bore unmistakable signs of age, particularly in their architectural style, but they still remained well-preserved. Some of the structures were also grander in scale, and it was clear that some care went into maintaining the area's charm. This place was called the Emberwood Ward. Before their trip to Bridgespell, Scarlett had spent a good amount of time researching the city's layout and its various wards, since it would be relevant to their visit this time.

"What's our agenda here for today?" Shin asked after a while, having set aside his book to take in the sights outside.

"You mentioned that we'll be exploring a couple of caves and ruins here in Bridgespell, as well as an old Follower shrine, but I assumed those were outside the city. Is there a reason why we're starting with this part of the city? Is this where we will be staying?"

"It is not, no," Scarlett replied.

"For the duration of our stay in Bridgespell, we will be lodging at the Golden Griffin Inn, situated in the Upper Ward. Before we arrive there, however, there are some other matters to attend to. Our first order of business is to visit the main temple of the Followers of Ittar in the city."

"You planning on picking up the red cloth?" Rosa asked, playfully nudging Scarlett's side, though the woman barely made any real contact. Scarlett eyed her.

"…I am not. However, I am now considering inquiring whether they have need for an obstreperous bard." Rosa blinked, then erupted into a lengthy, melodious laugh.

"That doesn't actually sound that bad. I'd prefer a less posh and obnoxious-sounding description, but who knows? Maybe I'd fit right in with the priests and their gaggle of knee-benders. I have been called divine on more than one occasion." She patted the neck of her klert instrument, which leaned against the seat between her legs.

"And they've asked, you know? Had a priest that followed me around from village to village for a while, giving me the whole spiel and trying to convince me to join up. But if I did, I'd have to deprive the world of my ravishing visage." The woman added a fake shudder with an expression of dread.

"That would just be too cruel." Just as she finished, the carriage came to a halt at the end of a long rectangular square teeming with vehicles and people. A grand temple, hewn from pale stone and white marble, sprawled along both sides of the square, covering nearly half of it. The temple boasted tall pillars that flanked its two wings next to walkway balconies, their bases embellished with intricate gold filigree.

At the opposite end of the square, a long set of stairs, guarded on either side by statues with their arms raised to the sky, ascended to the temple's entrance. The entrance itself comprised a broad archway, further adorned with pillars and a colossal, featureless man's face carved into the stone above it. While most of the people moving about the area seemed to be ordinary citizens, there were a decent number who were dressed in thick red robes embellished with glistening gold accents.

They wore white masks that concealed their faces, and some sported more intricate variants with two squares intersecting at right angles, along with thin cloth hangings. The attire marked them as priests of Ittar. Scarlett disembarked from the carriage along with the others, wasting no time in making her way towards the temple's entrance. She passed by both clergy members and civilians as she began climbing the staircase.

Upon entering the temple, she was greeted by a spacious vestibule with a wide glass-panelled ceiling that bathed the area in sunlight. The marble floors gleamed under the golden rays, while the delicate fragrance of incense wafted through the air from thuribles decorating the walls. Several archways led to different parts of the temple, and a tall statue of Ittar stood at the heart of the room.

Some individuals knelt before the statue, engrossed in prayer, while a couple of clergy members moved among them, bestowing what might have been blessings. Scarlett noticed one priest sitting on a stool near the entrance, their face concealed by one of those white masks. She assumed they were a woman, and based on the mask, likely an acolyte. The clergy member turned her head towards Scarlett as she approached, briefly glancing over the group of four that followed her.

"Welcome, child of the sun, to the sacred abode of Ittar's dwelling. May the blessings of his radiant light shine upon you. Is there something I can help you with?"

"There is," Scarlett replied.

"I am Baroness Scarlett Hartford, and I seek an audience with either the high priest or the ritual master of this temple, should they be available." The acolyte seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"…The ritual master is currently presiding over a sermon, so I am afraid she is unavailable. I can see if the high priest is occupied at the moment, if you would be so kind as to wait here." Stolen story; please report.

"Certainly." The masked woman stood and turned to leave, and Scarlett braced herself for having to wait for some time. While it wasn't exactly an accurate comparison, getting in contact with a manager in customer service was never straightforward.

"Why do they all wear masks?" Fynn asked after a minute had passed, his attention fixed on the priests moving around the room.

"So that people can't see the funny faces they're making," Rosa answered.

"That's how they convince people to join."

"I have a sneaking suspicion that isn't as appealing a perk as you think it is…" Allyssa said, casting a skeptical look at the bard. She then turned to Fynn.

"I think it's fair to ignore her on this one. The masks are symbolic."

"Symbolic of what?" Allyssa waved her hand, gesturing around the room.

"It's supposed to symbolize the connection between Ittar and us mortals. The masks serve as the representation of him and his radiant nature, you know? You can't really gaze at the sun without hurting your eyes, and it's the same idea, kinda. Stops you from seeing their faces."

"It's also to show humility and equality," Shin added. He squinted against the brightness in the room, the scar over his left eye knitting together.

"By covering their faces, the Followers emphasize that they're only conduits for Ittar's teachings, and that anyone can stand among their ranks." Fynn furrowed his brow.

"Can they?"

"To a large extent, yes. The Followers accept anyone into their fold, and I'm not aware of any particular biases on that front." Shin shrugged his shoulders.

"Although I've heard that many of their members hail from those who receive their help. So people from hospices, orphanages, and other institutions they run."

"Yeah, they can be a bit pushy," Rosa said, observing some of the devouts praying in front of the large statue of Ittar. Her demeanor was unusually somber.

"They like extolling all the fancy benefits you get from joining their community. Personally, I never thought I could make it with that many people around me all the time. Can't say I've ever felt especially close to the big sun guy either." Allyssa gave the woman a surprised look.

"Wait, you're saying the Followers actually tried recruiting you specifically before? I thought you were joking." Rosa turned to the girl with an affronted expression.

"Me? Joke? Never. A jest or two, though…" Allyssa shook her head with a small chuckle.

"Anyhow," Rosa continued, "I was telling the truth about that, yes. It was ages ago, though. Back when I was still running around with a gap in my teeth and a hole in my pocket. Stayed at one of their homes for about a month, where I caught the eye of a particularly earnest fellow, but I wasn't too keen on other people at the time." The woman grimaced.

"Ended up running off after I accidentally made the local overseer dance a step or two too close to a pair of stairs. Not my proudest moment. I did patch up the old man's broken ankles before I left, though."

"But does that mean you were—" Before Allyssa could finish her question, the acolyte from before returned and addressed Scarlett.

"The high priest has set aside some time to receive you. If you follow me, I will guide you to his office."

"Seems like time's up," Rosa said, a smile having returned to her face. She looked towards Scarlett.

"What say you about taking the lead, my Lady?" Without any response, Scarlett began following the acolyte, proceeding through the main vestibule and down a long stone corridor connecting to it. After a few twists and turns, and passing through areas where sermons and the like seemed to be held, they finally stopped outside a modest birch door adorned with basic religious imagery. The acolyte turned to them.

"The high priest is inside. The room is not very large, so I ask that only two of you enter." Scarlett signaled for Rosa to join her, a look of surprise flickering across the bard's face as if she genuinely hadn't expected to be chosen. Nonetheless, she followed Scarlett inside without question. Entering the room, Scarlett and Rosa found themselves in a cozy office carved from grey stone. The decor was simple, consisting mainly of plain bookshelves running along the walls and pious paintings hanging above them.

At the desk on the far end sat a man in his late fifties, with streaks of white in his brown hair. He regarded them with a pair of half-wrinkled, sky-blue eyes. The robes he was dressed in were the same type of vestments as most full priests among the Followers wore, though the design differed slightly, featuring more white elements. His helmet rested on a shelf to the side.

"Ittar's grace be upon you, Baroness. Welcome," the man greeted with a nod.

"I am High Priest Matthias, overseeing most of the official matters at this temple and within the diocese."

"Thank you for the warm reception, Your Excellency," Scarlett replied.

"As you know, I am Baroness Scarlett Hartford. This is my retainer, Miss Rosalina Hale." The high priest gave a nod in greeting to Rosa as well, then gestured towards three stacked chairs next to the entrance.

"Please, have a seat. I have been engrossed in secular affairs for most of the day, and I was not expecting a visit from someone of your standing. You will have to excuse the rather modest accommodations."

"I do not mind," Scarlett said. Rosa moved before she could, grabbing two chairs and carrying them across the room to place them before the desk. A bit surprised, Scarlett walked over to sit down. The high priest observed them as they settled in, resting his clasped hands on the desk.

"May I ask about the purpose that brings a baroness to my office today? I typically refrain from involvement in matters concerning nobility, but I happen to recall your name as being one of those recorded in the Hall of Providers this year. For discovering and returning one of the Chalices of Canon, no less. It stirred a good amount of discussion among my fellow clergymen at the time, which piqued my curiosity upon hearing your name in today's context."

"So you were already aware of my contribution during the Providing Ceremony. Then my business here today might be of interest to you." Scarlett folded her hands on her lap.

"I am currently investigating some other findings of a similar nature to those that led me to the Chalice of Canon. These findings point me here, to the Bridgespell region. It is in relation to that I chose to seek you out." The man's brow rose slightly.

"First, the Chalice of Canon, and now another similar undertaking only months later? Can I take it you have a particular interest in uncovering sacred relics? Your devotion is commendable, especially if you are dedicating your personal time to such pursuits. What is it you wanted to ask of me, specifically?"

"Am I correct in understanding that there is an old shrine west of Bridgespell where young acolytes are trained, constructed a little over three centuries ago by one of the first deacons?" Scarlett asked.

"I believe you are referring to the Sunfire Shrine." She nodded.

"Yes. I wish to gain access to it." The high priest frowned.

"I presume you are implying that there are unearthed relics within the shrine."

"That is what my findings suggest."

"Can I ask about the nature of these 'findings'?"

"You can, but regrettably, I cannot share that information at this time. The precise details of my research must remain confidential for now. However, I am willing to share the results of my investigation with you, as I did previously with the Chalice." Considering Scarlett's research was largely based on her recollections from the game and what little Arlene had provided, there really wasn't much to share. The man regarded her silently for a moment.

"I hope you do not take offense at my saying so, Baroness, but it's likely that your research holds little worth on this occasion. As you yourself noted, the Sunfire Shrine has been used by our clergy for centuries, built by one of the original deacons. If any relics were hidden there, they would have been discovered long ago. If you could share what you believe to be there, I could have one of our acolytes search our records to confirm it. However, I cannot promise more than that."

Scarlett studied him for a while, a trace of irritation nagging at the back of her mind due to the fact that she actually had to try to convince this guy. In the game, you would first do a bit of sleuthing after getting Arlene's quest, which is what led to discovering the Sunfire Shrine's existence and relevance here. While doing so, you would find an item that served as a convincing argument for the Followers to grant you access.

But getting that item would be a waste of time for Scarlett in this world, which is why she had instead gone straight here. Another option had also been to simply sneak into the shrine without bothering getting permission. That was pretty easy in the game, but it carried significant risk in this world. Especially considering that none of Scarlett's party members were experts at stealth. So she would just have to craft a compelling enough story and splice in a bit of truth.

"I am confident that you will not have found this," she said.

"In my research, I came across references that appear to trace back to the shrine's construction. While I cannot confirm whether the texts were authored by the man himself, they explicitly mentioned Deacon Donovan Emberwood establishing the shrine in honor of one of his closest disciples, as well as the entombing of a powerful relic in a concealed section within the shrine."

She had originally forgotten the specific deacon's name from the game, so she had delved into some old scriptures mentioning the original deacons to piece together the details. The high priest regarded her with a serious expression.

"Are you certain?"

"I am."

"And what relic did these texts refer to?"

"No details were provided regarding its name or purpose." There were a few items of potential interest there, truthfully. She couldn't quite remember the effect of the boss' loot, but it would probably have been a legendary-tier item. Keeping that for herself would have been nice, but she needed to secure the Followers' cooperation here, and since it had been left by one of the first deacons, they wouldn't just let her take it.

But as long as she got her hands on what was actually waiting for her in that place, she would be more than satisfied. The high priest wore a thoughtful expression as he brought a hand to his chin, remaining quiet for some time.

"I will say that this is the first time I have encountered such a claim regarding the shrine, although I am not well-versed in its history. Should your account prove accurate, however, we would of course be interested in further investigating this matter."

"If you would permit me, I am more than willing to lend my assistance in such an endeavour," Scarlett said.

"I could provide valuable insight into ensuring the concealed section's opening without causing damage to the structure. It would also be greatly helpful for my continued research to visit that place personally." The man pressed his lips together, appearing to consider her proposal.

"I am afraid a matter such as this isn't solely within my jurisdiction to decide. Not only is there the Shrine Custodian's opinion to keep in mind, matters pertaining to sacred relics and texts are overseen by the Ecclesiastical Congregation of Sacraments, who are in turn under the purview of the Quorum. I would have to present it to them before I can give you a definitive answer on how to proceed."

"That is understandable. My retainers and I will be staying in the city for some time, so we can wait until a decision has been reached." Scarlett planned to clear as many dungeons in the area as she could while she was here, so a few days' wait wouldn't be a hindrance. In the worst-case scenario, she could try infiltrating the place.

Though she hadn't used it since the incident with Gaven at the Sanctuary of Ittar, she still had the [Memory of the Covenant], which allowed at least one member of her party to conceal their true appearance.

"I appreciate your understanding, Baroness, and the potential opportunity you may have presented. I will do my best to expedite the process of bringing this matter to the attention of the appropriate people and provide you with a response at the earliest convenience."

"Very well. I will be waiting. You may reach me at the Golden Griffin Inn if necessary."

"Was there anything else you wished to discuss, Baroness?" Scarlett shook her head.

"No, that was all. We will take our leave to avoid further disruptions of your duties."

"Then the child from before will lead you back," the high priest said.

"May Ittar's light guide your path." With that, both Scarlett and Rosa exited the man's office and rejoined the others who had been waiting outside. There, the acolyte led them back to the temple's entrance, where they returned to the carriage.