Chapter 143: The Long-Awaited Priest
A few days later, in the royal capital, was the funeral of the Holy King Norne.
The entire city had gathered, a sea of mourners that stretched from the palace to the royal cemetery. Everyone's face was etched with grief, and many were weeping softly.
Rhodes and Serie did not join the crowd. They stood on the highest tower of the city, looking down at the long funeral procession.
"So this is a human farewell," Serie murmured.
"Yes," he said finally, his gaze fixed on the distant casket. "This is what it is to be human. To honor a great life with a grand ceremony. He deserves all of this."
He watched until the coffin had disappeared from view, and then he turned away. "It's time for us to go, Serie." He looked to the north, towards the Demon King's castle, towards the next promise he had to keep. "Norne's journey has ended. But ours... is still long."
She gave the mourning city one last look and nodded. They turned and, with a spell of spatial magic, vanished from the tower.
In the northern wastelands, Kraft was walking alone on a rugged mountain path.
It had been several days since he had parted ways with them. To avoid monsters, he had taken a more secluded route. But the priest Rhodes had mentioned had still not appeared, and he was beginning to wonder. Had something happened to her?
He crested a snow-covered peak and was looking for a place to rest when he felt an unusual fluctuation of mana. It was not a demonic aura, but something... warm. It was coming from nearby. He drew his sword and silently crept towards its source.
In a small cave in the rock face, a small fire was burning. Beside it sat a young woman who looked human. She wore a simple white robe, and her black hair was tied back in a simple knot, revealing a clear forehead and a delicate face. And for some reason, he felt that he had seen her before, though he was sure they had never met. A book, from which a soft magical aura emanated, was open on her lap.
The moment he saw her, she looked up. There was no surprise in her eyes, as if she had been expecting him.
"Elven warrior, I have been waiting for you."
He was a little taken aback. She's not surprised to see me? Could she be the one? But his warrior instincts kept him on guard. "Who are you?"
"I am Alia, just a humble priest," she said, closing her book and standing. "And you, Kraft, the elf who has set foot on this land, the hero who will save the world... our paths are destined to converge."
"Who are you?" he asked again.
"I have already told you. I am Alia, a simple priest who has been waiting here for you," she said with a slight tilt of her head, as if she was confused by his question. It had been a long time since she had last spoken with someone, forty years, to be precise. Had that other one not told him about her?
"Are you the priest Rhodes spoke of?" he asked.
"Yes," she nodded. "He said you would need my strength. And I... I must fulfill my promise."
He looked her up and down. His warrior's intuition told him that she was powerful, far more powerful than any priest he had ever met, almost on par with Olivia, or the other members of the council, but... older.
He hadn't been lying. This seemingly frail woman was the mysterious and powerful priest. Though her origin and her true identity were still a mystery, she had been sent by him, and she was clearly strong. That was enough for him to set aside his doubts for now.
He took a deep, cold breath and slowly relaxed his grip on his sword. "Lady Alia," he said, using the respectful form of address, "I am Kraft. Rhodes did mention you."
"Good," she said with a nod. "I will go with you to the Demon King. All you have to do is make a name for yourself. Let the world know that it was you, Kraft, who defeated the Demon King and saved this world."
He was silent for a moment, then he nodded. Rhodes had not wanted to gain honor from the death of his old friend, and so he had given this cruel honor to him. He didn't know why, but he had made a promise, and he would keep it.
"Lady Alia, the path ahead... it will not be a peaceful one."
"I know," she said, and looked to the north, towards the distant Demon King's castle. A faint golden light flickered in her eyes, so quickly that he thought he had imagined it.
Her holy scripture dissolved into a stream of light and was absorbed into her robes. "Let us go," she said, and walked out of the cave. "Our journey is a long one."
He hesitated no longer, pulled his cloak tighter around him, and followed her.
Who was she, really? And where had she gotten such incredible power? These were questions that he could only find the answers to on the path ahead.
(End of chapter)
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