After traveling for three days, At last To Eremos parked thier carriage at a barn of an old woman, in Mullet city, the city of the Archdiocese of Falu.
The barn was no bigger than 20x30 feet. Yet it was managed well, for an old woman living there.
To Eremos entered through a tiny gate at the post and rail fence. Confused, they all walked slowly. Dressed lavishly, they looked like fashion models or nobels from an upper society.
"Is anyone here?"
Sandy called.
Yet no one came.
Left to the barn was a small pen, as Sandy entered that pen, he saw that is was full of sheep. Those sheep, as Sandy came inside, surrounded him. As if Sandy was their shepherd. They talked amongst themselves
"Baa"
"Baa"
They said to eachother.
It reminded Sandy of his past subtly. He used to visit their pen, back in Kingdom Marciella aswell.
At the back Stable, Horses were lined up. Riley Arkas and Eiser tied their own horse there aswell, thinking that the owner of the barn wasn't present there.
Yet suddenly they heard Anastasia's scream. The three of them geared up immediately.
"Where is she??"
Riley inquired.
"She was at the Barn!!"
Arkas replied. As the three reached there, along with Sandy they saw Anastasia down on the ground, scared. The barn from the inside looked spacious. Stacks of hey were lined one above eachother against the walls. At the back end of the barn, a giant Silver Crescent Diadem was drawn. It was obvious that Anastasia had fallen down and covering in fear after seeing that Diadem.
Riley comforted Anastasia. Held out a hand for her and helped her stand up.
"Are you Alright?"
He asked, yet Anastasia was still covering in fear. She couldn't even lift her gaze to see that Silver Crescent Diadem.
Suddenly from behind, they heard the door of the barn get closed thud.
An old slim woman, dressed in a white One Piece. On her head she wore a black beret and had tied her white hair in a bun at the back. She turned the golden lights on.
"Oh My, I have guests?"
She said in a cheerful manner.
"We are really sorry for the intruision."
Eiser said as he bowed down at her.
"Oh no need to bow, child, unstack the hey and have a seat."
She said.
After all of them were seated at blocks of hey, Riley and Ana seated at a single Hey block, as Anastasia was still covering in fear, The old woman served them hot tea.
Then the old woman came infront of Anastasia.
"Are you a water mage?"
She inquired.
"Yes.."
She replied, subtly.
"Wait, you are Eiser right?"
She said as she stared at Eiser.
Eiser became blashful or embarrassed for a moment. As he replied
"Yes".
A sudden smile appeared at the woman's face as she heard that.
"So you guys are huh!"
She said. Then she turned her attention towards Anastasia who was holding onto the arm ot Riley tightly.
"My name is Maria! I am a water mage aswell yknow. You dont have to afraid, child!"
She said as she gently placed her hand on Anastasia's palm.
That gentle smile of hers made Anastasia's fear go away abit. As she stepped down from the Hey.
"That's right! Slowly, Slowly!"
Maria said as she walked with Anastasia who had held her tightly, towards the back wall.
All four of the boys looked at Anastasia and Maria.
"Do you know what this is?"
Maria inquired in a gentle tone.
Anastasia's jaw was quivering constantly. Yet Maria waited patiently for her reply.
For some reason, Anastasia's throat had been blocked. Words couldn't come out of her mouth as if there were spikes in her throat that blocked her voice to come out.
She opened her mouth, trying to speak. Looked at that Crescent from her widely opened eyes as nothing but tears came out.
She began to gasp suddenly, yet all Maria did was wait. Then suddenly Eiser grabbed Maria's shoulder.
"I am sorry, Lady Maria, its not that i dont trust you but Anastasia is clearly in pain. I dont think its right for you to put her through something like that for some religion you follow."
Eiser said. He had a sharp look in his eyes. Maria smiled, and then let Anastasia go. Eiser got her and laid her down at her stack.
"This is a religious Diadem. It is called as the Moon Crown. I am really sorry. I just thought that she got scared by its appearance. So i thoight that a closer look might solve it"
Maria apologised.
"Oh its alright Lady Maria, Anastasia will be good after she rests a little."
Eiser replied.
"Then that's alright! I will stay here and make sure she gets up well."
"No its fine, I am sure you have your barn to manage aswell. Arkas will stay by her. Though we would ask to use your space!"
"Oh its no problem! You guys can use it as much as you want to!"
Maria said.
After leaving Anastasia and Arkas. Riley told them about their horse at the stable and then went ahead with Eiser and Sandy towards thier destination; The Archdiocese.
After some time, the three had finally reached The Archdiocese. Sandy was in awe looking at it. Its giant white marbel pillars and minarets. That giant door with an Orb at the centre, still made Eiser's mood foul abit. Yet as he glanced at Riley, he smiled, since Riley himself had a nostalgic smile on his face. The three went inside the Archdiocese. From the right and left two staricases went upwards and an entryway that lead to the main nave.
Sandy and Riley went upwards from each of the staircases while Eiser headed inside the main Nave.
As he headed inside, Eiser saw a man dressed in completely white clothes with golden intrications. That old man greeted Eiser with a smile on his face.
Eiser shook that man's soft hand, and noticed a religious book in his hand with a similar Orb symbol at its back.
"Are you oerhaps concerned about this book, Son?"
That Old man said as he noticed Eiser glare holes down into the book.
"Oh yeahh.. Abit. Umm.... what book is this?"
Eiser replied in an uncoordinated manner.
"It is the Book of the First King Aether, My Son. Are you perhaps new to this religion?"
He inquired.
"Uhh.. Y-yes..."
He replied as he looked down.
The old man pat Eiser's head as he heard that. As Eiser looked up that man had a gentle smile on his face.
"Come sit right here"
The old man said as he sat down at one of the pews.
As Eiser followed him, he started.
"I am the Archbishop of this Grand Chruch. It seems you are new to this religion. If you have any questions, Please ask me!"
The Archbishop spoke in such a warm tone that it made Eiser open himself to him.
"Umm... How many religions are there?"
He inquired.
"Many. But their are five major reilgions that follow the Five First Kings!"
A gentle reply came.
"What religion are you interested in?"
Eiser suddenly got taken by a surprise at this question.
"Me... Uhhh i-i don't know!"
He uttered slowly.
"Its alright my son! What matters is that you are trying to find a religion. If you have time you could come tomorrow and i could tell you all there is to know about King Aether's Religion. Known as The Vanity".
After listening to that Archbishop Eiser stood up from the pews, and gently bowing down he got out of there.
——————
Meanwhile, both the staricases lead to the same upper hall. This nave was also embellished with the same luxury chandeliers and paintings as the main nave. The floor was covered with red Carpet. Yet their were no pews there. It almost seemed like it was a personel chamber. Across the hall was a door which was locked. As they saw the locked door. A sudden buzzer alarmed into their minds that thier must be something there that the Archbishop is hiding. Riley first knocked at the door. Yet as he did, came up the Archbishop from below.
"Children, Waht are you doing?"
He gently asked.
As he said that. A teenager, same age as Sandy, opened the door. As soon as Riley and Sandy saw that teenager. Thier expressions changed into contempt. The thing that they feared had appeared in front of them. Sandy quickly guarded that teenager as Riley equipped Air blades.
"DONT MOVE!!"
They shouted.
The Archbishop as well as The Teenager got scared as they said that.
"Kid you are safe! How many other children has thid bastard stored inside?"
Riley sid as he looked at the Archbishop in utter disgust.
The teenager was confused. Yet The Archbishop had slowly grasped the situations as he started to laugh. Riley and Sandy stayed on their toes, thinking that this was one of the cheap tricks of The Archbisbop.
Then Eiser also got upstairs, seeing the situation. He got confused aswell.
"EISER! THIS MAN HAS TAKEN HOSTAGES ASWELL!!"
Sandy shouted as soon as he saw Eiser.
"Hostages? No no... You guys are wrong. This is my son."
The Archbishop said as he stopped laughing.
Then came a woman from inside the door.
That woman was dressed in Nun's clothes and looked about the similar age as of the Archbisbop.
As Riley saw that woman, He grabbed the teenager and went to side.
"Sandy This woman might be his partner!"
He shouted to Sandy.
The whole time the Archbishop had a warm smile on his face.
"Peter, tell them!"
He said. As he walked towards Riley and Sandy.
Then the teenager spoke up that the Archbishop was his father and that the woman was his mother.
Riley and Sandy got immediately embarrassed as the the truth got revealed and bowed down on the ground to apologise.
The Archbishop took the three inside and all of them sat on the sofas around the centre table.
——————
Back at the Barn, when Anastasia woke up she saw Arkas sleeping with his back against a block of hey. She got up from the bed. As she did, Arkas also woke up. He got up yawning.
"Where is everyone else?"
She inquired.
"The Archdiocese."
He replied.
"Shouldn't we be there aswell?"
"Maria said we shouldn't worry too much."
"What about Maria, where is she?"
"Don't know. At the Pen maybe?"
"What are you talking to me so awkwardly?"
Anastasia said in annoyance.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
He argued.
"Do you just have to answer in as much less words as possible?".
She said.
"Huh? I am answering you properly!"
He shouted with red cheeks and ears.
"Whatever, I have to go to the Post office, So cone with me!"
She said as she started to walk towards the gate.
"Go by yourself i dont want to!"
He said as he layed back down yawning.
Anastasia got anniyed by this reply as she said
"Gaint Water Blob"
And a giant blob of water exploded on top of Arkas.
The entire area got wet with water as she did.
"Now come along if you dont want me telling Maria that you wet your pants sleeping!".
She said in a demanding way.
Arkas tho frustrated, had no choice but to go along with her. Which he did after drying that place with his fire.
After asking Maria about the Post office the two set off from the Barn.
The Mullet City was usually cold. Though it was rather a town of beautiful gardens and sceneries. It was a beautiful place, abit elevated from the rest of Falu. Due to this elevation, the Archdiocese was built in this city although it was at the corner of Falu.
As the two sat inside a horse pulled cart, wearing fashionable clothes, enjoying the beautiful sceneries and the mountains of the Area.
"Are you guys out here for the first time?"
The man pulling the cart, after looking at thier clothes, said.
"Yes, we are"
Arkas replied.
"Oh That's great, alot of people come here for its views. Families stay in these beautiful gardens and while young men go out to the mountains to hike."
The driver said.
"Uhh... Yess we are here for similar pruposes!"
Arkas replied, a bit hesistant.
"Oh that's great then!"
"Hey, Mister! Do these Mountains like lead to the next country?"
"Oh! Yess! They do. But traversing them is very difficult, There are wild ferocious creatures up top. These men call themselves The Dark Triad."
The driver explained.
"What? Do those triad members invade this city aswell?"
Arkas asked in a ravage tone this time.
"Yes they do! But eachtime they do, they are beaten down by The Archbishop of here. So there's no need for you young people to worry alright. You guys enjoy these hieghts and beauty."
He said as he finally stopped the cart infront of a box type building.
Arkas and Ana got out of the cart, paid the fair and went inside.
"Take Care and enjoy!"
The driver said as he pulled his cart backwards and left.
Arkas waved to him as he left and then he joined Anastasia to go inside the Post Office.
As the two went inside, they went straight to the reception table. A mild mannered old woman there, sent them towards the continental letters office — which was a walk towards the left of the reception.
The two knocked at the door, which said "International Continental Letters and Posts". Yet nobody came outside. So Arkas opened the door to see a giant hall busy with people at desks and guiding clients. At each desk, name of the country was written. Anastasia went to the Fosch Bevite Desk and asked the worker there, for a letter to name Ana Ersa.
That worker took them to another room. The label on that room read as "Undelivered Posts". Anastasia and Arkas followed that worker as he went inside that room and searched for the letter.
He checked the drawers with date. When he checked the drawer with label "Ereyesterday". He finally found the letter. Then he gave Anastasia a pen and a sheet of paper, which was a record sheet, and asked her to sign it.
After getting the letter and fulfilling the formalities, Anastasia and Arkas went outisde the Post Office. As Arkas stopped a cart and this time told him to take them towards the Archdiocese.
Both of them got on the cart. Anastasia's face had cheered up after recieveing that letter. It had been over a month since she had heard from The Phantom Troop. Back in the Cabin at Signet Manor, Althoughshe did try to call Steve through her telecommunication device, yet nobody answered then. Nevertheless after finally receiving a letter, Anastasia was over the moon.
Meanwhile, Sandy, Eiser and Riley, after calmingthier nerves and assuring themsleves, Walked out of the Archdiocese. After some walking, they found themsleves surrounded by a group of six people.
"Riley Lamar! Bounty of 45 Million Orbs. The other two, Dont matter. Capture all three!!"
One of the members said as all six of them charged at the three.
As Anastasia opened the envelope, She first checked the address. Despite her expectations, the letter was sent by Jessica rather then Steve.
" 248-Brandon Inn, Market Street, Durdenhiem, Fosch Bevite."
She read the address.
Yet as she opened the letter, Her expression of delight suddenly changed. Arkas sitting beside him watched her and got surprised aswell.
Those eyes, that were twinkling just a minute ago, were frightened. Her chubby cheeks went pale as she read that.
The letter was rather short — Only three words.
"Help me Anastasia!"
It read and had rolled the rug from beneath the feet of Anastasia.
*************
Tips:
What will Anastasia do? Will she abandon Jessica or will she abandon Eiser?