Chapter 47 To the Valethia
Chapter 47
The morning sun cast a warm, golden glow across the velvet curtains of our private quarters in Empyrium City. I sat near the window, the heavy weight of an ancient leather-bound tome resting on my lap. The yellowed pages were filled with intricate diagrams of heavenly arrays, divine circles, and archaic runes detailing the nature of celestial entities.
A few paces away, Vhal'zhar stood with his arms crossed over his chest. His towering frame cast a broad shadow across the room, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of contemplation and intense martial curiosity.
"Master," Vhal'zhar began, his deep voice vibrating through the floorboards. "I must confess... I am still deeply intrigued by the staggering magnitude of power Vels has acquired in this world. Even with my current strength, I find myself unable to fully measure the ceiling of her authority."
He paused, lowering his gaze as he recalled their brief skirmish. "Earlier, when I clashed with Saint Solenne while she possessed by vels, I was confident in my ability to secure a decisive victory. Yet, her defensive output delivered a massive blow to my momentum. It was far from a complete triumph on my end. And she mentioned that Saint Solenne is merely a fragile, mortal vessel... It makes me wonder. If her true divine form were to descend into this world in its full, unbridled glory... would my power even stand a chance?"
I flipped a crisp page of the divinity tome, scanning a passage on divine domains before looking up at my loyal general.
"Well, it's no wonder you feel that way, Vhal," I replied calmly, resting my elbow on the armrest. "Divinity in this world isn't just a simple stat multiplier, it bends the very laws of reality within its proximity. But you have to remember one thing entities like her are only truly mighty within their specific realm and domain. On this continent, her influence is tied directly to her believers and her sacred anchors. Outside of this continent, or away from her primary seats of power, I highly doubt she can act as freely or wield the same absolute omnipotence you're worrying about but this is just my theory"
I closed the heavy tome with a soft thud, setting it on the small wooden table beside my chair. I leaned back, resting my chin on my palm as I stared up at the painted ceiling.
In truth, my own mind was swirling with disbelief.
(Seriously... to think one of my former game summons actually became an honest-to-god divinity,) I pondered silently. (Back in Echoes of Eternity, Vels was just a high-tier Harpy-type summon. Sure, as she leveled up and evolved into her higher forms, her features became far more humanoid and majestic. But at the end of the day, she was a flying elemental unit under my command. Now? She has an entire empire bowing down to her, praying to her as a benevolent Goddess. A Harpy monster turned into the supreme deity of humans... it’s honestly laughable. Hearing that one of my old game minions is actively being worshipped by millions just feels completely absurd.)
I let out a soft sigh, pushing myself up from the armchair and straightening the cuffs of my coat.
"Well, dwelling on her divine status won't get us to our destination," I said, turning back to Vhal'zhar. "Come on, then. I think Saint Solenne should be finished packing by now. Let's head down to her carriage."
"Understood, Master," Vhal'zhar bowed respectfully, falling into step half a pace behind me as we exited the room.
We descended the wide stone staircase of the grand estate, making our way down to the sunlit courtyard where a luxurious carriage was parked. Standing beside the open carriage door were Saint Solenne and Vespara.
Their posture was unnervingly rigid. Saint Solenne stood perfectly upright, her hands delicately folded over her waist, her posture radiating an absolute, pristine elegance. Next to her, Vespara the normally playful, mischievous Queen of Succubi who never missed an opportunity to throw flirtatious winks or seductive comments my way was standing as stiff as a wooden plank, her eyes wide with a mixture of terror and forced politeness.
"Ah, Mister Rael. Mister Vhal'zhar," Saint Solenne greeted us, executing a deep, flawless curtsy that was far more formal than her usual respectful nods.
Beside her, Vespara twitched, bowing her head so fast her hair whipped across her face. "A-Ah... Gentlemen... the carriage has been fully prepared..."
Vhal'zhar’s eyes gleamed with immense satisfaction. A proud, triumphant grin spread across his face as he puffed out his chest. "Haha! Now this is the proper attitude and decorum fit for treating my Master!"
I rubbed my temples, letting out a long, weary sigh. "Solenne... Vespara... please, just treat us like you usually do. This sudden hyper-politeness is a massive hassle, and frankly, it's giving me the creeps. I'm much more comfortable with you guys acting normally, just like before."
Vhal'zhar’s proud grin instantly collapsed into a pout of utter disappointment.
"Vhal, don't give me that disappointed face," I warned, shooting him a dry look. "I mean it. Constant bows and exaggerated formal protocols just make traveling exhausting. Just act natural, both of you."
Vespara nervously twitched her fingers, her eyes darting frantically toward Saint Solenne before landing back on me.
"M-Mister Rael... it's not that I want to be so stiff," Vespara stammered softly, her voice trembling. "But Vel... I mean, Saint Solenne told me directly that if I don't act with absolute politeness toward you... she will reduce my soul to ash..."
I immediately caught the slip of the tongue. Vel...
(Aha... so Vels possessed Saint Solenne again just to threaten her, huh? Sigh...)
I turned my head toward Saint Solenne, looking directly into her eyes or rather, addressing the divine entity lingering just beneath her mortal surface.
"Vels," I spoke aloud, my tone firm yet exasperated. "If you can hear me right now, please stop threatening her. Look at how terrified she is. And Solenne, don't force yourself or her into this rigid act either. It really gives me chills seeing everyone walk on eggshells."
Saint Solenne stood silent for a brief second. Then, her eyelids fluttered slightly as a soft, helpless sigh echoed deep within her mind the distinct sound of a stubborn child being scolded by her parent.
Inside Solenne's consciousness, Vels muttered with a pouting tone: [Hmph... Fine, Master. Tell him I won't extinguish the existence of your little succubus, child.]
Saint Solenne blinked, her expression softening as she turned her head to look at Vespara. "It is alright, Ves. My Goddess has agreed... you will still have a chance to breathe."
Vespara let out a massive, shuddering gasp of relief, slumping her shoulders as if a mountain had just been lifted off her chest. "O-Okay... Thank you so much, Mister Rael!"
I smiled warmly at both of them, shaking my head at the bizarre dynamic. "Then, let's depart, shall we? To Valethia."
We stepped toward the spacious, enchanted carriage. But as I reached for the doorframe, Vespara gently plucked at the sleeve of my coat, her pale face still lingering with a hint of anxiety.
"U-Um... Mister Rael?" Vespara whispered, her fiery eyes pleading. "Can I... can I please sit right next to you? Sitting directly beside Saint Solenne makes my entire body scream in terror..."
(Well, that makes sense,) I reasoned internally. (Even if Vels isn't actively controlling Solenne right now, the lingering divine aura residing within the Saint's body naturally repels demonic entities. Vespara is the Queen of Succubi, so being in close quarters with pure holy divinity is probably torture for her instincts. Besides... even in her toned-down human disguise, Vespara is undeniably attractive. But thankfully, my mental stats and status resistance are far too high for her natural succubus charm to affect me.)
"Sure," I nodded with a small smile. "You can sit next to me."
"Thank you!" Vespara beamed, practically diving into the carriage to secure the seat on my left, while Vhal'zhar took the seat across from us, and Saint Solenne sat gracefully by the opposite window.
With a soft driver's whistle and the clatter of polished hooves, the grand carriage pulled out of the courtyard, its enchanted wooden wheels gliding smoothly over the cobblestone streets of Empyrium City. We were finally en route to Valethia the legendary Holy City located deep within one of the heart of the Valerium Empire.
However, our smooth departure from the city was short-lived.
As our carriage navigated through the bustling central thoroughfare heading toward the massive southern gates, the vehicle suddenly ground to a sharp, unexpected halt. Outside, the loud blasts of brass trumpets and the stern shouts of armored guards cut through the ambient noise of the market crowd.
"Make way! Clear the main boulevard immediately!" a knight's booming voice commanded. "Yield the road for the Royal Procession!"
Blocking the entire intersection directly ahead of us was an extraordinarily opulent, gold-embossed royal carriage pulled by six pure white stallions. Surrounding the vehicle was an elite escort of a dozen knights clad in gleaming golden plate armor, bearing the crest of the imperial family.
Riding within the extravagant transport, visible through the tinted glass, was none other than Prince Damien himself.
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