Chapter 127: A Mind in Turmoil

Chapter 127: A Mind in Turmoil

Xia Ya had been unconscious for several hours before finally waking. By the morning, Ruhl had already come to visit. Hearing that Xia Ya had passed out, the fat man was genuinely startled. After listening to his subordinates recount the events and seeing the collapsed house where Xia Ya had been staying with his own eyes, Ruhl’s expression grew peculiar. He squatted amidst the ruins, poking and prodding, and when he finally emerged, his face was quite strange. He casually ordered his men to clear the area, without even mentioning hiring craftsmen to rebuild the house, and immediately went to check on Xia Ya.

When Xia Ya woke, he saw the fat man sitting by his bedside. He had already been moved to the room shared by Dodoro and Soit. Reaching out to his side, he found the fire poker missing, and his heart gave a jolt as he bolted upright.

"Looking for this?" Ruhl smiled faintly, picking up the fire poker from the head of the bed and handing it to him. "Is this it?"

Xia Ya chuckled, took it, and gave it a quick look.

"What on earth happened to you?" Ruhl frowned. "I lent you a perfectly good house, and you tore it down."

"I'll pay for the damages," the bumpkin replied, rising from the bed. He still felt physically weak and was inwardly astonished: this hellish poker had practically drained all his energy; how could he still be so exhausted after resting for so long?

"Did you practice martial arts in your room last night?" Ruhl steadied Xia Ya, whispering, "I saw the ruins. It looked as if it had been smashed by some powerful battle qi."

Xia Ya brushed it off with a few vague remarks. Seeing that he wouldn't elaborate, Ruhl didn't press him. After a moment of rest, the fat man said, "I was worried about you, so I came to see. There’s still no word from the Ministry of War, which isn't surprising, but even the Emperor hasn't sent anyone to summon you for an audience. I’m afraid there might be trouble."

Xia Ya looked at the fat man. "If he doesn't want to see me, he doesn't see me. It's no big deal."

Ruhl frowned. "You don't understand! Kid, the Ministry of War has already been looking at you with disdain. The only reason they haven't given you a hard time yet is because the Emperor previously stated he wanted to see you. If the Emperor values you, the military doesn't dare touch you. But if the Emperor has forgotten you and left you aside, you’ll be completely helpless. Not only will the military act against you, but I fear even the Crown Prince won't tolerate you!"

Xia Ya remained indifferent. "Whether the Emperor sees me or not is his decision; I can't control it. What, you expect me to storm the palace to see him?"

"I feel like this whole thing is ominous," Ruhl shook his head. "Logically, the Emperor's summons should have arrived long ago, but... hmm? Could this have anything to do with Cavishir?"

Xia Ya just shook his head. The fat man speculated for a while but, finding no leads, stopped. After a pause, Xia Ya said, "I have another favor to ask of you... General Ruhl, I have brought back Kevin's widow. She is pregnant with his posthumous child, and no matter what, I must take care of her. If the Ministry of War could issue the orders for my military rank and commendations sooner, even if they send me to some remote backwater to sit idle, I wouldn't care. I’ll take my people and go live a carefree life."

"You... you aren't worried about your future at all?" The fat man frowned.

"Worried about what? Is there any place more remote than Wildfire Town?" Xia Ya laughed, then turned serious. "I just need you to help me inquire at the Ministry of War. I don't care about fame or fortune; I just want a result, and then I'll be happy to leave."

The fat man hesitated, as if he had something to say, but held back. He looked deeply at Xia Ya, sat for a while longer, and then rose to leave. However, he had sent people to deliver clothes and food supplies that day. It was said that while Xia Ya was unconscious, the fat man had already visited Yulia. As the General of the 13th Legion, he was technically her direct superior had Kevin been alive; he comforted her thoroughly and left behind a sum of money before departing.

After lunch, Xia Ya felt his strength returning slightly. Seeing Dodoro poking his head into the room several times, he knew what the mage was thinking. Xia Ya walked out and grabbed him. "What are you sneaking around for?"

Seeing the mage stammer, Xia Ya laughed. "Fine, I’ll go with you to that Mages' Guild. Let’s get this over with so you can stop fretting."

Dodoro was overjoyed, his sycophantic words pouring out like a torrential river. Xia Ya listened for a bit, initially feeling a dark sense of satisfaction, but after a while, hearing the same few phrases repeated, he grew impatient and gave him a kick. "Enough nonsense! Lead the way!"

This time, Xia Ya played it smart. He didn't want to bother the guards Ruhl had left behind, so he and Dodoro changed clothes, climbed over the wall into an alleyway, and slipped away.

Xia Ya wore a common linen robe and a cloak, his military boots replaced by simple cloth shoes. Even the ever-present fire poker was hidden within his wide robes; he looked just like an ordinary Osgiliath citizen. Dodoro, excited to be returning to the Mages' Guild, had managed to find a gray mage’s robe. His face was scrubbed clean, and despite lacking a mage’s badge on his chest, he looked exactly as he had when he first met Xia Ya in Wildfire Town.

The two walked through the streets, heading north. Osgiliath was vast. Passing through the central square and several bustling districts, Xia Ya, unburdened by guards and unbothered by others, finally settled down to admire the city’s scenery. This famous miracle city of the continent was truly extraordinary. Along the way, he saw majestic historical monuments, imposing towers, sculptures, and stone tablets that bore the marks of history. Even the canal running north-to-south and the bridges spanning it seemed hundreds of years old.

As they reached the northern part of the city, pedestrians grew scarce. The occasional rider slowed their pace, not daring to gallop here. The carriages passing by were luxurious and exquisitely decorated, accompanied by mounted guards, with even the coachmen dressed in clean, fine attire—clearly, these were people of status.

In the distance, they saw the top of a tower with a giant bell hanging from its peak. A wide, straight road led to its base. Walking along, they heard the deep, resonant toll of the bell, an ancient sound that seemed to cleanse the soul. Xia Ya couldn't help but solemnize his expression.

Beneath that bell tower lay the headquarters of the Byzantine Empire's Church, the largest church building on the continent: the Cathedral of Saint Sophia!

At the end of the road, up a flight of stairs, was a vast square. The road split at the base, wrapping around the square. The square itself was hundreds of paces wide, paved with blue-gray marble and surrounded by a ring of Doric columns, each so thick that three or four men would be needed to encircle them. The columns were covered in relief carvings by ancient masters, some worn, yet still radiating the weight of history.

The massive square was nearly empty, save for a few black-robed clerics walking with heads bowed. Pigeons hopped and flew about, indifferent to the presence of people, adding to the sacred atmosphere under the solemn tolling of the bells.

The Cathedral of Saint Sophia stood at the far end of the square. Its facade featured a tiered arrangement, with the central tower being the tallest. The oval roof and pointed spires were lined with massive windows made of rare colored glass, which shone in kaleidoscopic hues under the sunlight.

The central tower stood perhaps a hundred meters tall. Standing before the main entrance and looking up, one felt an imposing sense of majesty. The doors were over ten meters high, flanked by rows of Temple Guards in archaic armor—styles vastly different from the Byzantine soldiers Xia Ya had seen. Their circular breastplates were inlaid with gold, and they held long, circular axes that looked solemn and formidable.

The guards stood against the wall, eyes fixed forward, ignoring Xia Ya entirely. They held their axes crossed in front of the door, forming a barrier that one would have to pass under to enter.

The cathedral had three doors. Aside from the main entrance, the side doors lacked these axe-wielding guards, though they were much smaller and left slightly ajar.

As Xia Ya moved toward the main entrance, Dodoro grabbed him. "Wait! You can't enter through the main door! It’s only opened on New Year’s and major holidays. Ordinarily, only the Pope and the Emperor himself are permitted to pass through."

Xia Ya grumbled, glancing at the golden-armored guards in the distance, and frowned. "Building a big door just to keep people out—isn't that redundant?"

He said it loudly enough to make Dodoro pale with fear, the mage quickly dragging him toward the side door.

Though not as grand as the main gate, the side door was several meters high, the massive panels plated with iron and carved with a relief of angels descending to the mortal realm. Two black-robed clerics stood guard; they glanced casually at Xia Ya and Dodoro before looking away, letting them pass.

"The cathedral hall is generally open to the public; theoretically, nobles and commoners alike can come to pray. Nobles can come and go as they please, but commoners are only allowed in on two specific days each month. For daily prayers, there are other smaller churches in Osgiliath for the poor," Dodoro whispered.

Walking into the grand hall, Xia Ya caught his breath.

The interior was over ten meters high, dozens of meters wide, and at least a hundred meters deep!

It was the largest hall Xia Ya had ever seen. To support the ceiling, two rows of square stone pillars lined the hall. The walls were covered in the works of generations of masters—religious reliefs, murals, and sculptures. Near the ceiling, carvings of flowers and clouds suggested the phrase "Above is Heaven."

In many places, the walls were decorated with colorful glass forming strange murals—angels saving humanity, gods bestowing miracles, or direct statues of deities.

The hall was unlit, yet bathed in sufficient light. Following Dodoro’s hint, Xia Ya looked up and saw that the entire ceiling was one massive, integrated mural!

The mural was dozens of meters wide and a hundred meters deep, depicting a scene of peaceful clouds under a radiant sun, with countless winged angels soaring through the sky. Beneath the sun, a vague, golden figure—the deity—was visible. The craftsmanship was exquisite and solemn. Most astonishingly, it appeared to be some kind of magic circle! The clouds seemed to flow, the angels seemed to flap their wings, and the golden sun emitted a faint, warm, holy light that illuminated the entire hall. Xia Ya felt the warmth on his skin, a sense of sacred majesty.

This magic circle not only provided light but also radiated a holy aura to create an atmosphere of awe!

No wonder he felt an omnipresent sacredness upon entering. Even the wall reliefs seemed worthy of reverence because of the magic circle above.

The hall was quiet and solemn. Nobles stood silently before the murals, while devout believers knelt before statues, hands clasped in prayer. Noblewomen, regardless of age or status, wore cloaks and veils. As they passed Xia Ya and Dodoro, they kept their gazes calm and serious, exchanging no words.

Clearly, everyone in this hall was extremely restrained. When Xia Ya’s footsteps were a bit too heavy, others cast dissatisfied glares. Someone frowned at him before looking away, ignoring them thereafter.

A bumpkin like Xia Ya had no appreciation for the priceless art on the walls. He was merely curious: were those golden reliefs made of pure gold? If so, leaving them on the wall without guards—weren't they afraid of theft?

As for the "Gospel of Holy Light," he possessed not a shred of aptitude for it.

They quickly reached the end of the hall, where two heavy wooden doors stood. Above them, an arch of colorful glass sat, and the corners of the doors were reinforced with gold-plated iron. From behind the doors, faint, indistinct chanting could be heard. Xia Ya listened for a moment, couldn't make head or tail of it, and followed Dodoro toward the side door.

Once outside, Dodoro explained that the main chamber behind those doors housed statues and altars said to be a thousand years old. It could hold three thousand people, and ten archbishops took turns presiding over rituals each month. The Pope only presided on New Year’s.

Passing through the side door, they reached the inner square, surrounded by the cathedral’s main buildings. This inner square was even larger than the outer one, ringed by twelve towers, each said to belong to an archbishop, with the tallest in the center belonging to the Pope.

"The northern building belongs to the high clergy, with prayer rooms, relics, and the meeting rooms for the Council of Elders.

"The southern building houses the Inquisition... stay away from there if you can. The Inquisition is the most terrifying entity in the Church, responsible for hunting heretics and patrolling the continent. Once they find dissenters or those violating doctrine, the Inquisition punishes them... Hmph, you saw those columns in the outer square, but everyone in the Church knows the most famous 'columns' aren't those—they’re the stakes! Over the centuries, who knows how many have been burned there.

"The west is the library, housing ancient texts, decrees, and the Academy for training clergy.

"And the east... that’s the Mages' Guild."

Dodoro introduced everything rapidly. "The Guild is under the direct leadership of the Church, responsible for auditing the identity and rank of all mages in the Empire, managing the industry, and setting rules. There’s also a magic academy here, but it only trains low-level apprentices in basic theory and alchemy. To become a true mage, you have to find a mentor."

Dodoro sighed, clearly still wounded by the memory of being abandoned by his teacher due to his lack of talent.

"Magic Academy, magic apprentices..." Xia Ya rubbed his chin, curious. "Do they all become apprentices upon graduation? What do they do afterward if no mage takes them as a disciple? Do they change careers?"

Dodoro smiled. "Master, that rarely happens. The Guild needs people to maintain operations, and commoners aren't allowed to work here—it would be a disgrace. Graduates who aren't taken on as disciples can work here as assistants. Plus, some nobles who fancy themselves patrons of the arts and yearn for magic but can't hire a true mage will hire these apprentices. At the very least, they know theory and alchemy, which is useful for being a doctor or serving mercenary groups."

As they spoke, they reached the building to the east of the square, where a six-pointed star relief—the symbol of magic—was suspended on the wall. Xia Ya looked up, and at Dodoro’s urging, stepped inside.

What Xia Ya didn't know was that his and Dodoro’s backs, as they walked into the Mages' Guild, were being watched from afar.

On the other side of the square, a tall, slender figure hid behind a pillar. One hand pressed tightly against her chest, her eyes wide, she stared fixedly at the entrance of the Mages' Guild!

Only after Xia Ya and Dodoro had entered did the slender figure cautiously emerge. Behind her, from the library, walked a handsome man in black robes with fine gold trim, wearing soft armor underneath. He smiled. "Adeline, what are you looking at?"

Adeline, the 'poor thing,' was startled and nearly cried out. Seeing who it was, she smoothed her chest and let out a breath. "Uncle Kip, you scared me."

The man was Kip, the knight who had taken the 'poor thing' away from the Wildfire Plains. As a trusted knight of the Crown Prince, Kip had been ordered to protect Princess Adeline during her visit to the Church. The princess, kept in a secluded villa, had been desperate to leave, and today she had finally been granted permission to pray at the Church, with strict instructions for Kip to ensure she spoke to no one.

Adeline, like a bird let out of its cage, found even this dull trip to the Church a great pleasure. But after reading in the library and coming out to catch some sun, she had seen the figure she could never forget!!!

Adeline forced a smile to answer Kip’s question, but her mind was spinning:

How is it him?

How could it be him?

Why is this bumpkin in the capital?

Is he... is he here for me?

A blush rose to her pale, delicate face. Her eyes grew hazy as she couldn't help but glance toward the Mages' Guild.

Ah... that's right! He’s with that mage, Dodoro... Maybe Dodoro told him who I am, and he... did he really come to the capital to find me?

He... he came to find me?

She struggled with her thoughts, uncertain if she felt joy or anxiety, but she couldn't help but ask herself: If... if I really could see him, could I run away with him? He... he... sigh, even just seeing him and saying a few words would be enough...

The 'poor thing' was in total turmoil, her heart hammering against her ribs.