"How long are we going to stay here?"
We preferred eating out. There were several restaurants here but most were too expensive for us. Even the one we eventually settled for was still in the upper mid-range hence it was going to cost us, or perhaps Alustur a lot of money.
I had some money and I had some gems. However, I had my doubts Alustur was going to allow me to use them.
"I have two propositions." Alustur started off, tearing into his bread, dumping it into the beef soup. "We leave right away and take the mountain path. It's a treacherous pathway that would take about two weeks to scale. It's dangerous, has fiends, and quite possibly one of us may die."
Standard affair.
So standard that none of the other patrons of the establishment even bothered to bat an eye. It wasn't terribly big but there were quite a few people here. The lighting was good too. Some guy played a harp in the corner, while the constant drip of the fountain in the other corner was soothing. If this was only upper mid-range, I couldn't even wonder how fancy those actual fancy restaurants were going to be.
"And the second one?"
"We wait here for two weeks. We wait for the Libertrain which should be here by the end of this month. And board it. It'll cross the mountain in two days and is relatively risk free."
"But staying here and the train itself, will be costly, yes?"
I had heard about trains. I'd seen some mechanical carriages, so trains weren't a surprise. However, trains going through a series of mountains, that was a surprise.
"Yes, hence my proposition. We use one of your gemstones."
Ah, that made sense.
"If it's for everyone safety, I don't mind waiting or using my gems," I said. Sure, I wanted to leave as fast as possible but we couldn't get arrogant after all this time, not anymore.
"I don't mind taking the mountain path," Kayla said. "it'll be hard, but we're all strong. I'm sure we'll be fine."
"I'm with her," Arnet said.
"I would want us to stay for the train," Alustur said.
And they all stared at me.
It was my call. Or rather it was my call to make it even.
"I don't want to see more death," I said.
"I have been exaggerating," Alustur said. "It is a dangerous path but one that I've taken many times. I'm sure your parents also took that one. But I do want you to be safe."
"I can respect that. But, to be honest, we need the money. I'm not trying to be a cheapskate but for the next stage of this, we'll need a lot of money. In addition to saving money, if we could reach the other end of the mountains a week earlier, I don't see why we shouldn't take that risk."
"Very well then, we will leave tomorrow morning. Let's rest for the day. And Sol," he paused.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to see the church?"
"Let's save that for when we pass through the actual capital."
I got some weird looks when I mentioned the capital. They didn't care if we took the dangerous mountain path or whatever but they were offended that I referred to the other capital as the real one and not this one.
Talk about needless pride.
"We won't be. We'll take a shortcut that should allow us to reach your village faster."
"I see, in that case I wouldn't mind visiting the church here."
"We'll pass," Kayla said.
Meanwhile, I finished up my breakfast and bid them bye for now.
We had a church to visit!
The roads were pretty clean. Some of the underbelly of the city wasn't and as with any place, this place too had slums somewhere. But when I asked Alustur about it, he just shrugged and told me to mind my own business. So, I did.
The church was roughly four stories tall. There were actual stories and it was white as hell, a pyramid shape. It sorts of resembled a Christian church.
At least on the outside. On the inside, it was like a labyrinth. There were just too many damn walls and segregations.
"You're usually segregated by your class, status, and even your race," Alustur said. "You should go over there, I'll go here," he said, taking the left path while I had to take the right one. Even these paths were somewhat segregated and I had no idea where I was actually going.
So, I stopped by a clerk and asked him.
"If you're a noble go right. If you're related to the church, go left. If both, go in the middle."
Oh, a human. Yeah, most priests were indeed human and people of the Western continent. Actually, there were a lot of humans here which I just took for granted.
"I'm a future paladin," I said. "And a Baron."
"The son of a Baron?" he asked, curious.
I suppose he didn't believe that I was going to be a paladin. Honestly, I only said it because it sounded cool. In actuality, I had no reason or intent on becoming a paladin other than just to further my cause.
"Son of a viscount, and an actual Baron. Soler A. Barack." I offered a noble and courteous bow.
He straightened his back, produced a smile and told me to take the middle road. Apparently now he believed me, or perhaps was humoring me.
Oh well.
This one led to an altar.
A quite large altar.
Some old guys praying.
Most of them looked to be bigshots. I couldn't tell if they were nobles or priests. Well, they're supposed to be both.
The altar was that of a half dragon, half woman. Or was it a man? I couldn't tell. No bits. Just a weird shaped body standing with wings spread.
Looks kinda hot.
"First time seeing the noble guise of our lord?" Some old lady said.
"Yes, usually A- ahem, lord Askavan is depicted as a dragon looking up."
"Yes, but that is only for the masses. For the truly pious, this is their true vestige."
"Why aren't most people allowed here? I thought everyone was equal in the eyes of the church?"
"Who told you that?"
"I think a book on Askavan Church and the religion."
"Well, it is true. We're all equal. But our devotion is not. Nor is our standing. This isn't to stop the believers or to hide the divinity of Lord Askavan but to preserve their true essence from heathens disguised as believers."
Was the lady talking about me?
Not that old. Probably mid-forties. Her eyes were a tad slanted, and her ears were longer than typical Southerners. Not that pretty but I couldn't call her average either. Something about that look… calculating?
"I see. Never thought about it that way. It does make sense."
"Won't you introduce yourself young man?"
"Soler A. Barack, my lady. Son of Viscount Sharmon Barack. Baron in the service of lord Alzania."
"Ah, the rumored dragon apostle."
Dragon apostle?
Odd.
Seeing my somewhat confusion she started- "I am Countess Merylin Andecker; Regent of Disparisa. What are you doing here, young man?"
"Oh, just a stop in my pilgrimage. I'm currently traveling the world to familiarize myself with all that exists about the church, the Dragon God Askavan, and the other gods. I wish to purify the religion and make it great again."
She laughed; a bit louder than I imagined. I thought everyone had to be quiet here but she didn't get the memo. The few people that were still here more or less backtracked.
"Truly a blasphemous yet pure thing to say. Just what I'd expect from someone so young and full of vigor. What do you think is the current issue, or rather I should say corruption of the church that you wish to purify?"
I smiled. "That is quite the question my lady. And I would answer faithfully if we weren't in the midst of so many devoted gentlemen. My words may cause a fracture in their piety, or perhaps my words may leak. Therefore, I should remain quiet for now."
"Ah, truly a noble thing to say. Very well. I will allow that. Soler Barack?"
"Yes madam?"
"Why don't you join me for some tea this evening?"
"I would love to my lady but I leave early in the morning. I must prepare for said departure."
"Hmm… leave? You wish to- but the train… you wish to scale the mountains?"
"I have heard about dragon sightings in the mountains. And there is this rumor that once Lord Askavan had personally created the mountains to separate the Southern continent in two. I wish to verify that rumor."
"Ah, this is my first time hearing that rumor."
"Well, it was from a blasphemous book," I managed.
"Very well," she said. "Then one of these days perhaps. I will be visiting the great Church of Slunten next year for the Founder's Festival. Why don't you join me then? Of course, should you be done with your pilgrimage by that point."
"I most certainly will be. I'm at the final stretch my journey. I will see you again, my lady."
"And I'm sure then you will answer my question."
"I most certainly will."
"Very well."