Chapter Twenty #4
Each of the Temple Knights was a paladin knighted by the pope himself, as well as an expert swordsman and hierarch who had undergone rigorous training since the age of twelve.
It was understandable that the devotees were excited at the prospect of holding worship alongside such a distinguished group of men.
The Livadonian noblewoman who had answered Maxi blushed with unconcealed admiration. “With the Temple Knights here to help us, the situation in Louivell is sure to improve.”
“Indeed! Three of Rosem Wigrew’s incarnations have gathered!
” a friendly-looking girl sitting next to the noblewoman chimed in enthusiastically.
“With Sir Kuahel Leon of Osiriya joining Sir Sejuleu Aren and Sir Riftan Calypse, the monsters will flee as fast as their grubby legs will take them! Those vile trolls will all look like crushed frogs once the knights are done with them.”
The girl’s aggressive attitude flustered Maxi, and the noblewoman chided her.
“Idsilla, a lady must not speak so morbidly.”
The girl named Idsilla pouted and grumbled, “What’s wrong with that? When the brave knights cut off the monsters’ heads and chop them into bits—”
“Idsilla!” The noblewoman shot her a stern glare.
“All right, all right. I shall speak with decorum for my lofty cousin,” the girl said primly. She then turned to Maxi with a sweet smile. “My name is Idsilla Calima. We’ve crossed paths in the basilica, have we not? It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Heavens, where are my manners? I have yet to introduce myself. I am Alyssa Salmon,” said the noblewoman beside her.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Maxi introduced herself, enunciating each word the best she could. “N-Nice to meet you. I am…Maximilian Calypse.”
The two women grew wide-eyed.
“Calypse? Are you perhaps the wife of Sir Riftan Calypse?” Idsilla asked eagerly.
Maxi’s expression grew troubled at their reaction. Were they surprised that a plain woman such as herself was Riftan’s wife?
Gaping, the women looked Maxi up and down before quickly casting their eyes down as though realizing the impropriety of their actions.
“Forgive us, Lady Calypse,” Alyssa said. “We have heard that you were staying in the monastery, but we thought that was just a rumor.”
Maxi tried to look unperturbed. “I-It is all right. I understand…why you would be so surprised.”
An awkward silence fell over them. After studying Maxi’s face, Alyssa, evidently unable to suppress her curiosity, ventured, “If you do not mind my asking, why have you come to Livadon? I have heard that Sir Riftan’s fief is at the southern end of Wedon….”
“Must you ask such a thing, cousin? She obviously must have accompanied him here because she was worried about him,” Idsilla cried out, her eyes bright. “Following your husband to such a distant kingdom—how brave of you. I also came to stay at the monastery to pray for my second eldest brother.”
The girl’s face grew dark.
“My brother has been trapped inside Louivell Castle for two months now. If the coalition army does not drive out the trolls soon, it could be the end for the people there.”
Thinking of Ruth and the Remdragon Knights who were also trapped, Maxi slipped her hand into her pocket and clutched the shekel coin.
“I also have acquaintances…at L-Louivell Castle,” she murmured.
“It is a tragedy.” Idsilla sighed. “I wonder why the heavens have allowed the monsters to run amok like this.”
Alyssa’s face hardened at Idsilla’s resentful words. “You mustn’t say such things, Idsilla. Monsters were created by the devil to torment mankind. It is not God’s will that we suffer so.”
“Then why—”
The moment Idsilla opened her mouth to retort, the high priest entered the prayer hall with slow, measured steps. The women quickly fell silent and sat up straighter.
A heavy bell rang out across the basilica, and the morning prayer was held in solemn silence. Maxi sat with her head bowed and her mind mired in thoughts. As Idsilla had said, with the Temple Knights joining the fray, the situation in Louivell would undoubtedly improve.
Still, it also meant more risk. With both sides having similar numbers of troops, the coalition army and the monster army were currently at a standstill.
However, with the Temple Knights breaking this precarious balance, it could quickly lead to an all-out battle.
If that were to happen, Riftan and the Remdragon Knights would certainly fight in the front lines.
They were not ones to hide in the back when their comrades were in danger.
There was no doubt that they were talented knights, but anything could happen on a battlefield. In the past, Maxi had seen well-respected knights of House Croyso returning as corpses numerous times.
Maxi suddenly felt dizzy and sick. Pale as a ghost, she barely managed to sit through the torturous morning prayer and fled the basilica as soon as it was over.
It was highly likely that the Temple Knights would be resting in the same place the Remdragon Knights had stayed until the afternoon service.
Maxi thought of going there but realized she would not be able to learn anything even if she were to meet the Temple Knights.
They had only just arrived in Levan. It was unlikely they would know much more than she did about Louivell or the state of the coalition army.
After pondering for a while, Maxi returned to her room and began writing a letter to Riftan. There was no guarantee that it would reach him, but she wanted to send him word as soon as possible.
Dipping her quill in ink, Maxi scribbled down the details of how she had been spending her days since Riftan’s departure.
Wanting to ease his worry as much as possible, she depicted her life at the monastery to sound as peaceful as she could.
She finished the letter with a plea for him not to do anything reckless, along with a prayer wishing him victory.
When she was done, she blew on the parchment to help the ink dry.
The letter was not long, but she had rewritten it so many times that quite some time had passed when she finished. After thoroughly checking for any spelling errors, she folded the parchment several times and shoved it inside the pocket of her robe.
Outside the monastery, Maxi saw a group of noblewomen heading toward the basilica.
She followed them downstairs and entered the prayer hall after them.
The pews for the laity were already full.
Maxi managed to squeeze herself into the last one and took a deep breath as she clutched her pounding chest.
With so many gathered to catch a glimpse of the Temple Knights, would she be able to find an opportunity to entrust the letter to one of them? She pursed her lips, which were parched from anxiety.
Soon knights in hooded black robes filed into the basilica in an orderly procession. Maxi anxiously peered through the crowd.
The Osiriyan Temple Knights wore jet-black surcoats over their rustic silver-gray armor. It was a stark contrast from the bright metal with dazzling golden scapulars that Maxi had imagined. Her breath hitched in her throat when she saw the solemnity of the procession.
The knights’ faces were void of all expression, as though they were wearing iron masks. Their gazes were fixed straight ahead. A shiver ran down Maxi’s spine when she saw that even their steps seemed to be precisely measured.
I doubt they would grant a personal request….
It seemed highly unlikely that she would even be able to speak to them, let alone ask them for a favor. Throughout the ceremony, Maxi nervously fiddled with the parchment inside her pocket.
When the knights knelt in front of the altar and lowered their hoods, the clerics stepped forward for the laying of hands.
The worshippers clasped their hands together and murmured a prayer in the Roemian tongue along with the clerics.
Feeling that they were being given preferential treatment, Maxi was slightly offended.
The Remdragon Knights had not been honored with such a ceremony.
However, thinking back, she realized that might have been because Riftan had not wanted to waste time and had departed without delay.
Whatever the case, Maxi offered a short prayer for the Temple Knights and a more earnest prayer for the Remdragon Knights.
As the ceremony came to a close, the high priest stepped into the pulpit to say the benediction before ringing the bell that signaled the end of the service.
One by one, the knights rose from the pews. Maxi squinted ahead and assessed each of them as they filed out of the basilica. Her gaze stopped at an exquisite young knight who practically shone among his aloof and gloomy comrades.
He was a young man of delicate beauty more suitable for a bard than a swordsman. He was at least six kevettes tall, with a lithe figure of graceful proportions. His face was framed with soft, light brown curls that lent him a gentle air.
Maxi felt slightly relieved. It appeared that not all of the Temple Knights were intimidating.
As the last of the procession left the basilica, Maxi wiped her sweaty palms on her dress and followed.
Outside, the soldiers were already in formation.
A queue of warhorses was lined up next to seven wagons laden with baggage.
Maxi paused at the top of the stairs to observe them. They were so preoccupied with their departure that it did not seem like she could approach. She hovered nearby, unsure of what to do, when she spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
“Y-Your Grace!”
At her call, Duke Aren turned his head. Maxi rushed down the stairs and made her way toward him, but stopped short a few steps away. Standing in front of the duke was the young knight she had observed inside the basilica.
The knight’s icy yellow-green eyes slowly swept over her. Petrified by his piercing gaze, Maxi stood frozen like a mouse before a snake.