Chapter 52: The Journey Home

The letter was short. Simple, even. Just a single line—but from the rushed, nearly illegible scrawl, Maria could see Lynn's urgency clearly. "Ruth's condition has worsened." Then came a scratched-out segment, though Maria could vaguely discern it as a plea—'Try to think of something.' "Come home quickly, Maria." It was the crossed-out part that made her deeply uneasy. Why? Why had her father Lynn written it only to strike it out? Did he think asking her for help was somehow improper? Or worse—did he believe her help would be utterly meaningless? Maria forced her trembling hands to calm down. At this moment, she had no time nor energy to maintain any facade of emotional control in front of the two beta testers. She reminded herself: Stay calm. She had to—because overly intense emotions might act as a catalyst for chaos, or worse, trigger the power of the higher beings. "Liwei... tell me, what happened? Wasn't my mother fine when I left?" The black-robed nun's voice rang coldly through the storm. There was something in it—a nameless chill, faintly sweet and metallic—that passed under everyone's nose like a spectral breeze. "P-Priest Lynn only told me Lady Ruth wasn't doing well..." "I understand. Thank you." Maria could tell Liwei likely knew nothing more. He was, after all, just the son of a wealthy merchant. As thunder rumbled violently above them, she didn't hesitate. Without pausing a single step, she turned and strode back into the Radiant Church. Whether or not Father Lynn truly needed her help—she would not return empty-handed. High-concentration Blessed Holy Water. High-tier divine scrolls. Even miracle-infused relics that could extend life. She needed them now. She went straight to Archbishop Mark. Without a shred of ceremony, Maria slapped her request onto the table—and included a demand for one of the parish's specially bred warhorses. These were no ordinary steeds: cultivated through divine enhancement, they boasted exceptional stamina, explosive strength, and gentle temperaments—ideal companions for long-distance travel. No haggling. The archbishop, who had originally been smiling and ready to politely discuss the exchange rate of miracles and goods, caught sight of the faint glint of frost in Maria's crimson eyes—and immediately changed his tone. Frowning, he ordered high-tier recovery scrolls and high-grade holy water to be brought. To be honest, Maria didn't resemble a gentle nun at all right now. She looked like a noble lady whose most treasured possession had just been wounded. Every inch of her presence radiated a chilling aura that brooked no defiance. "This is a miracle bestowed by the Princess of Sunlight: Sunlight Restoration. It rapidly heals both illness and injury. However, since you are not one of her Oathsworn, the effect will be significantly reduced." A radiant golden divine scroll—flawless in craftsmanship—was handed over by the archbishop. From the reluctance and subtle nostalgia in his expression, Maria could tell just how precious it was. But this wasn't the time for formalities. A debt incurred today—she would repay it in full when the opportunity came. As he watched Maria's figure disappear in haste, the archbishop sighed softly. What a pity... Such a talented would-be believer... yet she did not place her faith in the Sun Gods. Still, he was willing to try once more on behalf of the divine light—to offer Maria a major favor. Surely this would bring her closer to the light. She didn't need much to pack: weapons, scrolls, spare robes, and supplies for both herself and her steed. Once prepared, she donned a black traveling cloak and set off immediately. Even though the rain poured in torrents, thunder roared endlessly, and bolts of lightning licked at the earth like fangs from the sky—nothing could slow her urgent return. Of course, before leaving, Maria didn't forget to arrange for someone to look after Su. She tasked Captain Phoenix with keeping him in line. So long as he didn't somehow manage to get himself casually smitten by Sister Dolores the Steel Nun, it would be fine. Maria trusted that beta testers wouldn't be foolish enough to wander beneath Dolores' watchful gaze. Su, for his part, cooperated admirably—swearing he wouldn't loiter around, and vowing to reach a level of "piety" as soon as possible. About an hour later... A black-robed nun rode a divine white steed like a shadow cleaving through a storm. She thundered past the Radiant Church like a flash of light split in half. Her pace was blisteringly fast—before the echo of her galloping hooves had faded, she was already gone from the desolate street's far end. "...Such a pity." Tyr watched Maria's departure, exhaling a regretful sigh. He wasn't a fool. This was clearly a major special NPC story event, and all they beta testers could do was stand there and watch it pass them by. It wasn't that Tyr didn't want to accept this quest—it was that Maria hadn't given them the opportunity. Faced with offers of assistance, she had neither the time nor patience to entertain them—she simply sent them away. "Guess our affinity just wasn't high enough. Maybe if we'd started building rapport earlier, it'd be different now." Beside him, Ralph scuffed his boot against the floor, similarly regretful. The stubbled veteran had the nagging feeling they had just missed out on a major questline. Sister Maria, who wasn't truly a nun. Her poise, her speech, her bearing... all hinted at a noble lineage—an aristocratic storyline hidden in plain sight. "What, don't tell me you're thinking of romancing her, tough guy?" Tyr rolled his eyes. After all this time, the only affinity boost they'd received was that one +5 for leaking info once. Other than that? Almost nothing. Tyr was starting to believe Maria was the kind of NPC programmed to be un-romanceable. "Forget it. She's an unscalable mountain." Ralph wiped his palms and shrugged, expressing his helpless surrender. More than that, what truly interested him now were the rumors their fellow testers had compiled on the forums. "Let's go. Time to find Phylin. We need to discuss our next step." "The First Flame, right? Heh... I knew that thing felt off. When I first arrived, the system even warned me to pay attention to that mural." Tyr immediately thought of the huge stained glass mural inside the Radiant Church. The myth of the "Fractured" world was full of contradictions. What was the world like before the First Flame? Did the Sun Gods speak the truth—that all things were gray and lifeless, ruled by eternal dragons across a colorless fog? Tyr couldn't help recalling the mural again—the one where an armored figure stretched out his hand toward fire, willing to become kindling to keep it burning. Suddenly— A terrifying and bold thought took hold of him. "Old Ralph... do you really believe the First Flame is maintaining the world like the gods claim? Isn't it... a little too obsessive? Too rigid? Keeping it burning for nearly a thousand years?" Ralph blinked. Then he laughed lightly and replied. "If we didn't have the First Flame... there'd probably be more monsters like the Root of Man crawling out of the dark." ✦✧✦ ???? Support me on Patreon to access 25+ future chapters and exclusive content: /M0CLAW