"You're kidding me..."
The view I'm seeing outside my window is the capital—the architecture stands out for its timeless sense of divine proportions of old buildings and refined touches of stone and hard timber from a dead ancient being. Each infrastructure balances the symmetry and humanistic warmth on each corner.
'What stands out the most is...'
I turned at the other window to see the monument at the capital's heart. It's something that could be seen even miles away from the capital—a titan made of iron and bronze of the empire's national hero—Saint Minerva Crescentia.
"The brave hero that reconquered many parts of the human territories and united the three kingdoms of Drostern Alliance." Dominic noticed my admiration for the statue and decided to speak.
"Which is now the Drostern Empire." I replied.
"Correct. If it wasn't for Saint Minerva's successful campaign against the invading corrupted, we wouldn't even exist." Dominic added.
The statue of Minerva, who was pointing her blade towards east—to the lands which is where the corrupted came from and once invaded a third of the continent long ago. The traces of her greatness could be felt even by me, this empire and the Crescentia Merchant Guild were direct results of Minerva's battles 700 years ago.
"Damn, It was.... bigger than I imagined." I was still perplexed by the scale of the monument even after I first saw it with my naked eyes.
Seems that even me who created this world was awed by this wonder. This world was beyond what I've written in my small apartment.
My destination, however, wasn't into the statue but another place near it, the building behind it; the Imperial Hall, where the banquet Simon was invited to will be held tonight.
But before going there, I was supposed to stop somewhere nearby.
"Young master, we're here."
"Okay."
In front of me was the Temple of Wisdom, Acrilla's temple. Some nobles decided to stop here and worship the empire's patron goddess. That includes me.
Outside of the temple was another noble who was about to enter. He saw me and walked towards me, we seemed to be the same age.
"Hello there," He spoke to me first in a casual manner.
"I know you," I replied in the same tone.
'Of course I know who you are, damn psychopath.'
He's Harith Borsova, second son of the Borsova Family. His appearance stands out compared to the citizens walking near us—his tall figure and blue eyes common to the people living in the island of Crescentia. Damn genetics, no one could achieve that height just by eating cakes and potatoes.
"Haha, I know we met but it's been 12 years!" They were both five years old when they last met. The Hannes County and Borsova County are almost polar opposites in many aspects and really far away from each other to really interact.
"Where is everyone else?" He seems to be here for a while, perhaps he's waiting for somebody else.
"Many are inside Acrilla's Temple including the first daughter of the Acanthia Family." Harith pointed at the entrance of the temple.
After a few seconds we both agreed to part ways.
The entrance was just as grandiose as the temple itself. No matter how many sieges and wars the city has faced, the place that always survives without a scratch is this temple—even Dominic, who was beside me, was still astonished even after seeing this place for a good amount of time now.
The guards of the door saw me approaching the entrance, they opened one door and gestured for me to enter.
I saw the intricate indoor design of its hallway. Although I have no time to admire it as something caught my interest more than the building itself.
"Haha..." I was perplexed by the amount of not so familiar faces present in the hallway. Each of them being unique on how they present themselves, it's the other nobles.
'Who should I greet first...' I thought.
Children of renowned military generals, prominent young masters with connections to Crescentia Merchant Guild, people favored by the emperor, and so on. I was nervous yet excited at the same time, many pieces that will play a significant part throughout the future events that will occur.
"Ah, Mr. Hannes? Welcome to Acrilla's Temple!"
Many approached me once they noticed my presence. Smiles suddenly appeared on their faces and greeted me like I'm the most important person in the room. They're giving me attention yet it feels that I'm being ignored.
"How's your territory doing?"
"Is Sir Silvan doing well?"
"Are your parents busy?"
Questions about my family were asked but nothing about Simon.
'Ah, I get it.'
The one standing in front of them was not Simon Hannes but a mere tool to get them closer to the family; Silvan Hannes, specifically. This is what surrounds Simon's life, how odd...
'I'm starting to understand now.'
I finally responded.
"Sorry, but I have no time for chit chat as of now." I reached for the Altar of Acrilla while ignoring the people trying to interact with me.
My gaze was focused on the monument in front of me—a star made of pure Acrillium with lights around it embedded with essence—it stood ever since the dawn of humanity.
"O wise one, please guide this soul to its pursuit, while reaching greatness, may this soul never burn..."
After paying respects to the patron goddess of the empire, I immediately got out of the temple; there was nothing to do there anyway.
Before I even got near my carriage another person exited the temple, immediately after going outside she stared at my back—a pair of eyes that reached my soul, I flinched for a moment and then looked back at her, she was already approaching me.
I braced myself for another sycophant flattery.
"Hey there, you're the same age as me!" She spoke enthusiastically.
The girl in question had short hair and was wearing a rather casual outfit, compared to the nobles inside the temple, at least. You could already tell she's not from this region, that's because she's a...
"I'm a war maiden, Evanthia. You know Miss Fevrinoia? She's my older sister!" She slightly bowed a while offering a handshake.
Ah... I know this girl. Her height might fool a lot of people but she's the person that can take hits from a literal demigod, why did I design her like this...
"Simon Hannes. It's nice to meet you, Evanthia." I shook her hand.
I wondered why she would approach me, perhaps it is my connection with Silvan- wait no, there's no way she would be the same as those people inside the temple, right?
"Your brother is Silvan Hannes right?"
'Eh... I was right!'
As much as I wanted to laugh at myself, I couldn't. Simon Hannes wouldn't do that! Stay calm, stay calm.
"Uhh I just wanna ask if you'd like to visit the Crescentia Guild's base here near the harbor of the capital." She pointed east where the harbor is located.
"Pardon?"
"I figured they would let you in because your older brother is a part of the Irregulars."
"What will you even do there?" I asked
"I want to see how the Regulars and Irregulars train, I heard many of them are here to help in the banquet's security."
"But, you can get there by yourself. Miss Fevrinoia is your sister after all."
"That's the problem!"
I was confused until I remembered how I described her sister in the novel—for a moment, I am glad that I wasn't a relative of hers.
"She would definitely beat me up if I visited there alone!"
"I don't wanna get beaten up too..." I whispered to myself.
"You saying something?"
"N-no, not that important." I replied after slipping up my thoughts.
Thinking about it, seeing how skilled people of the guild fight in person would benefit me a lot. If it wasn't for luck and deception, I would've died in Rucefina. I realized that training my body and learning techniques are necessary; in fact, I had some training sessions with Dominic while traveling to the capital.
"So, would you come with me?"
"Just make sure you'll die first before me."
Her laugh felt like it could be heard throughout the capital, I just laughed alongside her.
I stared at Dominic for a moment. He didn't speak but it seems that he has no objections to me coming with her.
'He probably wants to meet some old friends too.' my inner self smirked at him.
Thus, we all agreed to visit Crescentia Merchant Guild before the night of the banquet. I need every bit of knowledge I can get for I could live another day in this world.