【Divine Art Casting Grade: Excellent】
【Light Prayer EXP +16】
【Healing Art EXP +15】
【Light Prayer Lv2 (270/300) → Light Prayer Lv2 (286/300)】
【...】
Leaving the Hearthstone Tavern, Leon looked at the light flashing across his panel, once again feeling glad about his decision to promote 《Hearthstone Spire Slay》.
"Luckily, I built up my fame through 《Hearthstone Spire Slay》. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been this easy to harvest experience points when I really needed a sudden boost..."
However, he could only visit a single Hearthstone Tavern to reap rewards once in a while. The frequency couldn't be too high, or it would lose its sense of rarity.
By then, even if people recognized him, it would be difficult to create a significant shock, and the audience feedback from casting divine arts might not be strong enough.
Time flies when playing cards. Leon felt as though he had only played a few rounds, yet the sun that was previously overhead had somehow hidden behind the distant mountains on the horizon.
While the sun had not yet fully set, Leon gathered his group, who had already packed their belongings, and immediately set off for Eldenborg.
Stormveil City was about two and a half hours away from Eldenborg. With the speed of ox-horses, the journey could be shortened to just an hour and a half.
Just before they left, Bishop Miles personally came to see them off.
Behind Bishop Miles, Viscount Finn also arrived with the beaming Viscountess and his eldest son, Bruno, to offer Leon both apologies and gratitude.
Bruno sat in a wheelchair, his face now devoid of arrogance and defiance. For Leon, he felt nothing but fear and dread.
Viscount Finn had broken both of his legs and paraded him through the streets before finally calling a priest to treat him.
However, the Viscount had instructed the priest not to fully heal Bruno's legs. Instead, the Healing Art was to be applied slowly, forcing Bruno to remain in a wheelchair for three months to ensure the lesson stuck.
In response, though Bruno harbored resentment in his heart, he dared not show even a hint of it on his face.
Otherwise, his father—whose injuries were fully healed and who had returned to his peak condition—would show him exactly what a fist the size of a sandbag felt like against his face.
After bidding farewell to everyone, Leon and his guards departed from Stormveil City and headed toward Eldenborg.
...
Eldenborg.
The sky grew dark, and the stars were sparse around a bright moon.
Baron Pierce, the lord of Eldenborg, stood at the entrance of the fortress, frequently peering toward the end of the road with an anxious expression.
Behind him, his administrative assistants and the fortress guards mimicked his actions, looking toward the north.
However, compared to Baron Pierce's anxiety, the faces of the assistants and the warriors of the guard were filled with impatience.
They had been waiting at the fortress entrance for nearly seven hours, yet they still hadn't seen the arrival of this Priest Leon.
If it hadn't been for Baron Pierce's repeated and strict orders that they must stand at the entrance to welcome him and leave a good impression on Priest Leon, they would have dispersed long ago.
Who would stand from noon until night doing absolutely nothing just to wait for a priest coming to serve at the cathedral?
"Just what is this Priest Leon's background? Such a grand display, daring to make me wait here for so long!"
"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! Even Lord Pierce has waited for several hours without a single word of complaint. This Priest Leon must have an extraordinary background. Watch your mouth! If he hears you, you'll be in for it!"
"What's there to fear?! It's not like the old days. With His Majesty's 《Human Rights Bill》 in effect, as long as I don't insult him, does he really dare to lift a finger against me? If he does, I'll report him to the Tribunal and make him lose face!"
Hearing this, the one who had tried to advise him sighed, choosing not to speak with this fool any further.
A decree was a decree, but enforcement was another matter.
The Sage King's decree was undoubtedly well-intentioned, aimed at looking out for the common citizens of the Heron Empire.
But that was in the capital and the great city-states.
In a small place like Eldenborg, while the 《Human Rights Bill》 had improved the situation of commoners, its effect was limited.
Within the fortress, whether the 《Human Rights Bill》 could be enforced according to the law, and how strictly it was followed, left a lot of room for manipulation.
For one thing, only Baron Pierce within the fortress truly respected the 《Human Rights Bill》 from the bottom of his heart.
The wealthy merchants and minor nobles besides Pierce... though they had restrained themselves compared to before, they still didn't take the 《Human Rights Bill》 very seriously.
"He's here!"
As they were thinking, a shout came from the crowd behind.
Baron Pierce patted his cheeks to wake himself up and looked toward the end of the road leading to Eldenborg.
In the pitch-black night, a speck of warm light lit up at the end of the road.
It was like a point of starlight in a dim world, carrying a power that brought peace of mind.
Beneath the warm light, several warriors riding horned horses, clad in heavy armor and holding black spears, led the way. Their aura was imposing and their expressions cold. The murderous intent radiating from them caused the people of Eldenborg to shudder even from a distance.
Behind the heavy armored warriors was an ox-horse carriage so magnificent it could only be described as luxurious.
On the carriage, two violets crossed like swords were embossed, taking on a strange and mysterious hue under the warm light.
As the point of light gradually approached, a warm sensation enveloped the people of Eldenborg. They felt a warm current fill their limbs, making them involuntarily feel a sense of closeness toward that light.
Clop, clop.
The procession drew near the entrance of Eldenborg. The front-line Falcon warriors on their horned horses moved to the sides as guards, while the ox-horses slowed to a halt under the driver's command.
The curtain of the carriage was pulled open from within, and a young man with black hair, black eyes, a handsome face, and an otherworldly temperament stepped down.
As the youth stepped out, the Light Prayer orb hanging above the carriage followed his movement, slowly flying to hover behind his head.
It was as if the light itself was crowning the youth.
"Master Leon!"
Seeing this, Baron Pierce immediately realized this youth was the person he had been waiting for. He hurried forward respectfully and offered a greeting.
The people behind Pierce were stunned when they heard him address Leon as "Master."
They instantly understood that this youth wasn't just someone of decent status. To be called "Master" by a Baron, his background was more than just distinguished!
In an instant, the slightly restless crowd quieted down, each of them wearing a respectful expression.
"Baron Pierce."
Leon nodded slightly, greeting Pierce.
Pierce was immediately overwhelmed by the favor. Being greeted so calmly by the second son of the Prime Minister made his entire life feel worthwhile!
Not to mention, this second son was a super divine art genius who was deeply trusted and given heavy responsibilities by the Sage King!
Pierce bowed respectfully and said, "Master Leon, the welcoming banquet has been prepared. Please, allow me to lead the way."
Leon's gaze swept over the crowd behind Pierce. He noticed the varying sweat stains on their clothes, which had become stiff and wrinkled from waiting so long in the wind.
He understood immediately. It seemed Baron Pierce had not only prepared a welcoming banquet but had also gathered this entire crowd specifically as an honor guard to receive him.
"That won't be necessary." However, Leon did not like such displays. "Cancel the welcoming banquet and keep everything simple. I came to Eldenborg to watch over the cathedral, not for sightseeing."
Pierce panicked. He had learned his lesson from last time and specifically arranged the banquet and the honor guard.
But now it seemed Leon wasn't like the group from the capital who insisted on grand displays. He had accidentally blundered while trying to flatter him.
Fortunately, seeing that Leon had no intention of blaming him, Pierce quickly made amends.
"Yes, yes! I will immediately order the welcoming banquet to be canceled."
Leon nodded without saying a word.
After canceling the banquet, Pierce dismissed the crowd and said, "Master Leon, let me lead you to the cathedral where you will be serving."
Leon nodded, and the procession followed Pierce to the only cathedral in the fortress.
The cathedral was named "Rose Cathedral." Its exterior walls were old but not dilapidated, and the interior was quite clean.
Pierce must have sent people to clean and tidy it up in advance.
"Master Leon, the conditions are a bit simple. Please forgive us!" Upon arriving at the cathedral entrance, Pierce quickly apologized.
"It's fine." Leon waved his hand and then got straight to the point.
"I will be staying in the cathedral from now on. If anything happens in the fortress, you can come find me."
"Additionally, I need the documents regarding the southern Dusk Sea and all major matters within the fortress from the past two months. Have someone organize them and send them over."
"Yes." Receiving the order, Pierce immediately went to see to it.
After seeing Pierce off, Leon had the Falcon warriors move the luggage into the cathedral.
Then, he rubbed his hands together and looked at the divine art panel as if he were opening a prize.
【Divine Art Casting Grade: Excellent】
【Light Prayer EXP +15】
【Healing Art EXP +14】
【Light Prayer Lv2 (286/300) → Light Prayer Lv3 (1/1000)】
【...】
【You have leveled up Light Prayer. You may choose one of the following three traits for enhancement.】
Rate on N.U.
