Golden Apple Town

"Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed." The innkeeper spread his hands. "It seems to be Archbishop Terrence. Have you heard that name before? Why don't I remember him at all?"

"Terrence? I've never heard of him either. Is he a newly appointed cardinal?" another person joined the discussion.

When Eugene heard Terrence's name, his eyes filled with gravity. Terrence was one of the top three divine casters on the list of Holy See personnel every mage needed to watch closely, and one of the heads of the Heresy Inquisition. Under normal circumstances, an Inquisition divine caster would not be needed for a sermon. So the Holy See's actions this time had already exposed something.

"Put away that surprise and tension." Odovish's cool voice sounded beside Eugene's ear. He lifted a somewhat cheap cup of black tea toward his mouth, but perhaps its aroma was truly unappealing, because he ultimately chose not to drink it.

"Has our apple pie arrived?" Elufiel skipped to the table. Once she took off her cloak, her fully revealed beauty left the innkeeper and the chatting townsfolk utterly astonished.

"Hey, Old Pan, did I just see an angel in your inn?"

"Uh, I think that's the girl who checked in today. They're a small mercenary group." The chubby old man stammered. "Oh, apple pie. The apple pie should be ready. I'll bring it out for them."

Elufiel still could not remain entirely at ease beneath people's gazes. Although it was much safer here, the way humans stared at her still gave her the illusion that she was about to be focused down.

"Relax." Odovish was clearly much gentler when speaking to Elufiel. "They're merely admiring a face more beautiful than stardust."

"Thanks for the compliment, but..." Elufiel shrugged. "Fine. Maybe the apple pie will help me relax."

Chapter 23: Golden Apple Town

On the day Archbishop Terrence arrived, the entire town was as lively as a New Year festival—usually held during the last week of Frostmoon and the first week of Rain Moon. There were not only the native residents of Golden Apple Town, but also many mercenaries passing through on their way to the north bank of the Innomar River, along with people who had come from nearby towns and even farther away.

The archbishop's carriage procession traveled from outside the town all the way to the central square. The crowd surged forward to welcome it from both sides of the road. The town's original manpower could not possibly handle such a scene, so the Templar Order dispatched in advance and soldiers sent by a duke of the Alanka Duchy came in handy.

Elufiel was not particularly interested in this archbishop, especially after the mage had dragged her out of her warm bed so early in the morning.

"You really didn't have to bring me along." The elf said listlessly, ending with a rather ungraceful yawn.

Odovish looked at her. "If you remember, my dear student, you said you would learn about this world with me and understand the fundamental conflict between the two casting systems. Besides, I thought you'd want to see the divine casters of this continent."

"I suddenly don't want to anymore. Is that okay?" Elufiel said with a long face. "And I really have no interest in a big-bearded man. He's not pleasant to look at at all."

Indeed, Bishop Terrence looked like a white-bearded old man through and through. Of course, by ordinary human standards, he was an old man as well. But for a caster who had entered the Saint tier, his full head of white hair and thick white beard made him appear far too aged. He was also over a hundred and twenty years old, yet the mage looked much younger—after learning Terrence's age, Elufiel's first reaction had been to compare him to the mage, and she had concluded that the mage won completely.

"Look at the people's reactions. Clearly, the image of a white-bearded old man earns him more respect." Odovish explained to Elufiel. "In fact, within the Holy See, most clergy choose an appearance that makes them seem more dignified and benevolent."

"Like making themselves look very old?" Elufiel could not understand such a bizarre idea.

Listening to their conversation, Eugene glanced at Terrence. Aside from his white hair and beard, there were hardly any wrinkles on his face. His eyes were instead exceptionally bright, utterly unconnected to frailty. But after the elf described him that way, Eugene felt that his fear of Terrence had somehow diminished.

A sudden commotion rose from the crowd. Archbishop Terrence had stepped onto the platform, preparing to begin his first sermon. Elufiel lost her balance as the crowd abruptly pressed forward, but Odovish quickly grabbed her and pulled her steady. Once she regained her footing, the elf let out a heavy breath. "This is why I hate dense crowds. Did they really come here just to hear this sermon? If so, all I can say is that they're fanatical believers."

Elufiel voiced that complaint in Elvish. Hearing it, Odovish replied in Elvish as well, "Of course not. People are so eager to hear a bishop's sermon mostly because of the divine prayer afterward. Several divine casters cast together at once, covering a certain area. You know that some divine caster buffs can make any living creature feel thoroughly comfortable. People believe that bathing in divine light can bring good luck or drive away illness."

"Oh, so that's how it is." The elf glanced at Bishop Terrence onstage as he opened with "God loves all people," then turned to Odovish. "Then they might as well give me a few gold coins. I can put on a luxurious private performance for them. I'm serious, just a few gold coins. Please, Od, my dear guide, don't look at me like that. A buff spell doesn't cost anything."

The two spoke rapidly in low voices until Odovish noticed several transparent crystal spheres arranged by the other divine casters beside Terrence.

"I think we may have a problem." Odovish narrowed his eyes, with not the slightest hint of urgency in his voice.

"What?" Elufiel asked in confusion.

Odovish said, "Do you see those crystal spheres? They're tools used to detect Arcane casters. They can test the magical fluctuations around an Arcane caster. The magic around Arcane casters is always more active than it is around other people."