"Her Highness the Little Princess" was naturally not Alice, but Veronica.
Old Father Larr was one of Veronica's teachers. Though he was not particularly strong and had only just touched the threshold of the pseudo-Saint realm, he was skilled in military strategy and immensely learned, proficient in astrology, geography, appraisal, herbalism, and all manner of "miscellaneous arts." He also possessed the treasure map to a secret vault once belonging to the royal family.
Although the Cloud Soaring Empire had been destroyed long ago, it had once been one of the Holy Empires. The Cloud Soaring royal bloodline had never been entirely extinguished, and it still had a group of fiercely loyal followers.
Unlike the Black Death Cultists who worshipped an evil god, these followers were true loyalists of the royal family. Most opposed the alliance between the royal family and the Mysterious Church. Regia—Old Father Larr—was one of them. At the time, Veronica had merely been a teenage little princess when the Mysterious Church selected her as a "God's Favored One." Regia and the others, who strongly opposed it, tried to flee with Veronica, but were ultimately captured after their plan failed. To preserve Regia and the others' lives, Veronica voluntarily agreed to participate in the divine favor ritual, while Regia and the rest were expelled.
On the way, Regia and his companions were hunted down by the Church of Light and grievously wounded. To safeguard the secret of the treasure map, Regia and two companions fled all the way to this frontier town, only to be caught up with by Church inquisitors.
Outnumbered, Regia and the other two were forced to flee deep into the desert. The inquisitors pursued relentlessly, and a final battle eventually broke out in the desert. At the critical moment, Dream Oasis suddenly appeared, and