Chapter 20: Delegation
The sound of boots echoed over the white flagstones as the cult’s delegation entered through Eldranor’s ancient gate. Ethan, Aeris, and Sylfie waited for them at the foot of the main staircase, from where the entire inner courtyard could be seen.
Ethan had sensed them approaching and had opened a passage through the barrier before they arrived.
It was an elite group: four high-ranking priests, three knights in light armor, and a bishop leading them all, a man with graying hair and a calm expression. They all wore the robes of Aurelia’s church. They had been chosen for their strength, but they had crossed the entire ravine without encountering a single monster, which left some of them clearly puzzled since it was well known that this place used to be dangerous.
Ethan had disabled monster generation and, with the help of Aeris and Sylfie, had defeated those that were still alive. While he was here, he wouldn’t need their protection, and if he did, he could activate it again. Besides, it wasn’t as if any intruder could cross the barrier without his permission.
The bishop was the first to speak.
"Herald..." He gave a brief bow, as did everyone behind him. "It is an honor to see you in person."
Ethan responded with a simple nod. "Thank you for coming. I imagine the journey wasn’t easy, even without monsters."
"We were surprised, indeed. But... we came because we answered your call," replied the bishop, his voice calm but full of curiosity. "Eldranor... just being here, we feel something different."
Aeris, standing beside Ethan, kept an impeccable posture, as befitted a priestess. Sylfie stood a few steps behind, watching everything closely.
Ethan looked around, feeling the cold breeze sweeping through the ruins. "I wanted you to see it with your own eyes. Eldranor wasn’t part of the cult before, but now it will be our new pillar."
The priests exchanged glances, surprised, but there were no questions. They were too faithful to the Herald’s will to doubt. Even without knowing him personally, he was the embodiment of their Goddess’s will.