A few moments later
"Welcome," an old man greeted us as I stepped off the carriage.
"Greetings to the Holy Father," the commander said with a bow.
Holy Father, my ass, I thought to myself.
I glanced at the old man, eyeing him up and down. He was dressed entirely in white—it didn't suit him, honestly, but at least it matched his long white beard. How cute.
"Your Holiness, you should greet His Holiness as well," the commander whispered to me.
I sighed. I had no choice but to greet the wrinkled human man.
"Greetings," I said with a curtsy, watching him carefully through half-lidded eyes, curious but trying not to make it obvious. His smile hadn't faded since our arrival. How annoying.
"Shall we head inside, my lovely children?" the old man said gently, turning toward the church.
He walked slowly, and the commander and I followed behind.
The church was massive—its walls a blinding white. Off to the side was another building the old man called the Prayer Hall—our destination.
As we walked through long, endless-feeling corridors, the old man explained what we'd be doing once we arrived. The Prayer Hall sat right in front of a flower garden—lush and vibrant. Roses, sunflowers, even lavender bloomed there.
"How do the flowers not die in winter?" I asked, eyes focused on the roses. My voice was soft, almost serene.
Strangely, no one had asked me to hand over my weapons when I entered. I carried them with me still—and I was happy to do so.
"They are protected by the blessing of the gods," the old man replied. "They cannot die or change."
"Isn't that a curse rather than a blessing?"
At that, the old man stopped walking. The commander did as well. I didn't notice until I walked straight into the commander's back.
They both turned to look at me. I quickly stepped back, avoiding the discomfort of accidentally burying my face in the commander's chest. Gross.
"What an interesting mindset," the old man said, though the commander's expression was... cold. Or maybe just completely devoid of emotion.
I started walking again, leaving them behind.
One, two, and~ three.
After the third step, I turned back toward them.
Sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting shadows between us. A slow, wide smile spread across my lips as I felt their discomfort settle in.
Their once-neutral expressions shifted—confusion creeping in, along with the slightest flicker of anxiety.
"Shall we go?" I said, voice dripping with honey. "I'm sure the head priest is waiting."
The old man's eyes widened—as if I knew something I wasn't supposed to.
To be continued...