After what seemed a long, perilous, and hasty journey, Raiyan, along with the two others, reached the outer gates of the city — Xorkhor, the capital of the Holy Moulmian Empire.
Raiyan noticed the massive stone walls that stretched wide and far, rising high like a fortress shielding an empire. They loomed over the landscape, seemingly endless, standing guard against the dangers beyond.
I wonder how long these walls stretch... It's a capital, of course it would be massive.
There was a colossal main gate in the center, clearly meant for bringing in caravans, trade goods, and other items that couldn't fit through the narrower entrances. On each side of the massive gate, there was a smaller one meant for pedestrian entry.
Edward and Constance dismounted their horses with calm familiarity. Raiyan followed suit, though a bit clumsily, his legs still sore from travel. Constance brushed horse hair from her clothes and took the nosebands of the three horses in hand, walking toward a nearby stable.
Raiyan stared at her for a second too long, still a bit in awe until Edward snapped his fingers in front of him, wearing a calm but faintly amused expression.
"Let's get going. She'll catch up shortly," Edward said, already walking toward one of the smaller gates.
Raiyan followed, entering through the silver-reinforced gate and stepping into the quiet city streets. The buildings were made of stone and timber, clean and organized, with narrow alleyways weaving between them. Most structures were closed at this late hour, their windows dim under the moonlit sky.
This place feels like those medieval cities from the light novels I read.
The resemblance was uncanny, yet different. Though the architecture echoed old-world Europe, magic crystals lit many of the buildings faintly from within, revealing an advancement that came not from technology but from arcane ingenuity. Magic in this world had filled the role of science.
Edward moved swiftly and without hesitation, clearly familiar with this area. He stopped in front of a tall stone building that Raiyan immediately recognized as a church but not one from Earth.
It resembled a European-style cathedral, with arched windows and a high spire that stretched into the night. There was no cross atop the tower, but instead a symbol of two full moons: one purple, one orange. Cradled together.
The two moons... The Brother and the Sister... Raiyan remembered. Back at the inn with Ezel, he had heard local talk about the major religion here.
Most people in the continent of Wena worshipped the two celestial bodies — Zoozve, the Brother Moon, and Neith, the Sister Moon — as deities. This was the Church of the Siblings, the official church of the Holy Moulmian Empire.
Although, there were other 'churches' dedicated to different deities; they weren't officially recognized by the Empire.
Edward pushed open the silver gates, intricately carved with symbols of the two moons. The interior was dim, lit only by a few flickering candles. Rows of chairs stretched out before a raised platform where a priest would likely address worshippers.
Raiyan followed Edward up a narrow staircase covered with pink carpeting. They reached a hallway on the upper floor lined with several rooms, each marked with the twin moon insignia.
Edward stopped at the last door and gently opened it. Inside, a girl knelt in prayer, her cloak draped around her like a blanket.
"O, Our Lord Master, grant us thy protection and thy blessings. Rain down for us thy Heavenly Promise, O our master Zoozve. Thy Promise is the greatest of all.
"O, Our Lady Mistress, grant us thy love and thy ecstasy. Rain down for us thy Heavenly Promise, O our mistress Neith. Thy Promise is the most blessed of all.
"O, blessed siblings who art in the Blessed Land, show mercy to all."
She sighed and turned, her hazel eyes glinting in the candlelight as a warm smile spread across her lips.
"Edward! R-Raiyan!" she exclaimed, running toward them and clasping her hands. "I'm so glad you're safe, Raiyan. Oh, I'm so, so sorry.."
Huh? Why? Raiyan blinked.
"Uhmm... Lera. Why are you apologizing? Your friends saved me," Raiyan said softly, confused.
Lera looked him straight in the eyes. Concern and guilt swirled in her kind expression. "Yeah! But—"
Edward coughed loudly, interrupting her. "We'll discuss the details later. For now, let's eat. I'm starving."
He walked out without waiting for a response. As if on cue, Constance appeared, brushing past him into the room.
"Connie..." Lera murmured, her hands still clasped and her expression still troubled.
Connie?! Huh... I wanna call her that too. Cute nickname. Raiyan blinked again, almost shaking his head.
But he couldn't ignore Lera's sadness
Why is she upset? Didn't she help me? Why did Edward stop her from talking?
Constance's silver eyes darted between Lera and Raiyan. When her gaze met his, he quickly looked away, blushing.
"Well, let's head downstairs. We can talk," Constance said before turning on her heel and leaving.
The kitchen was small and dusty, with a round table and five chairs. Lera wiped it clean before everyone sat down. Soon, Constance returned with simple fare: bread and red bean soup.
Raiyan stared at the food like he hadn't eaten in days. Constance giggled at his expression, and Lera smiled faintly.
As they ate, Lera explained that she could see the lives of certain special people in dreams but only those in serious trouble, who had no one else to help them.
She did not however stress who exactly the certain people were. Raiyan did not push.
Raiyan listened intently.
When Max was corrupted by the Shadow, I had the system. Maybe that's why she couldn't see me then. But when that blonde bastard attacked me.
Lera continued. She volunteered at the Church and knew many powerful people. She asked one for help, and that person sent Edward and Constance.
So they weren't directly sent by her then who?
He had a suspicion.
"So, uhmm... when are we meeting Lord Fulgur?" Raiyan asked.
They exchanged looks again. Edward sighed. Constance and Lera tried to force a smile.
"We hope he comes back today," Constance said.
"He's not here?"
Edward spoke calmly. "Lord Verrader Artorius Fulgur is a member of the royal family of the Holy Moulmian Empire. But he's not active in politics... prefers to work from the shadows."
"He left when we went to find you," Constance added. "But he might return by tomorrow."
After dinner, Lera invited Raiyan to stay at the church until Lord Fulgur returned so his questions could be answered.
Constance and Edward left, apparently heading to the royal palace.
Raiyan walked toward the room Lera had shown him.
Raiyan thought.
Edward is part of the Theodore clan — a noble. Constance must be a noble too. Vidgal... yeah.
He shook off the thought and entered the room.
His first gaze fell onto a framed painting. It did not look well drawn, so much so that Raiyan thought it was painted by a child. A white slender man with blank open eyes, grinning in a black background.
"What's this? It's hilarious."
The room itself was ordinary. Wooden floors creaked softly beneath his feet. A single bed stood by the wall, beside an oil lamp. He walked to the window and stared out at the sky.
The two moons glowed — Zoozve, the purple moon, and Neith, the orange — watching him silently.
Raiyan collapsed onto the bed.
"Damn, I'm tired."
His mind drifted to Lera again.
She knew about his system but said nothing. When they first met, she acted like it wasn't a big deal.
But it was.
No one I've met knows what a system is. In fact, they get suspicious... Lera acted like it was normal.
Who is she really? What are the Old-Willed people she mentioned? Why did she feel guilty?
He had no idea.
But for now, he rested. Because his instincts told him tomorrow was going to be a long day.