Chapter 196: 193. Guardian

The Holy City was split into four religious beliefs. East, West, and South correspond to the three Goddesses, acting as the solace of each religion's Sectors.

These religious sectors reflected the beliefs they carry.

The West belonged to the believers of Goddess Light.

The South belonged to the believers of Goddess Darkness.

The East to the believer of the Goddess Root.

The Central and Northern parts of the Holy City belonged to the entirety of the Dracian Faith.

The entirety of the Northern Holy City was the entity of the Cathedral.

In the Cathedral, there were several giant constructs other than the Main Hall, where they conduct masses. Other Towers housed Nuns, Priests, and Pilgrims who often arrived to visit.

The Cathedral and its many facilities were accessible to all. But there were still places open to only the Bishops or even the Cardinals.

A good example would be the Saint's Courtyard at the heart of the Cathedral. But another would be the Courtyard at the Northeast corner of the Cathedral.

This mansion was isolated from most common facilities, even surrounded by trees. Many of the locals live and die, not knowing it exists. Even those who knew it believed it to be nothing more than hearsay.

This Courtyard was known as the Beast's Den. No one knew precisely why it was called this, but to those in the know, they would say it was because it was where the Monsters of the Cathedral were born.

It was where the Valkyries were created. One of the most Elite Troops of the Dracian Fate. Consisted only of those above the Ninth Rank, they were Masters of their crafts, and here they were made.

The Courtyard had many empty houses, and its center was a tree. Around the tree was perfectly maintained grass.

It was said that the one who nurtures the Valkyries lives at the central mansion. Rumors or not, she became an icon of fear.

However, this rumor was not without reason to exist. There were indeed Valkyries, they were indeed strong, and in the Beast's Den, there was indeed someone who nurtured them.

But, this person, no, this woman was on her knees before a young man.

Inside one of the biggest rooms of the Beast's Den, the Cardinal Mother apologized for what happened earlier.

Across the Cardinal Mother was Colt sitting comfortably on a throne with Fluff on his lap. Behind Colt were Lucille and Butler Go observing the situation.

"We apologize for what has happened. The Valkyries acted with arrogant disregard for the Young Master's Family resulting in a conflict leading to the injury of Miss Mina. We will take responsibility for the matter in the name of the Valkyries, the Saintess, and my own." spoke with sincerity. She was on her knees with Pel and Ravager, apologizing on behalf of Helvor and Gunnr, who injured Mina.

On their knees, Pel and Ravager were there apologizing on behalf of the Helovr and Gunnr who injured Mina.

They were on their knees but biting their lips in frustration.

'Gunnr and Helvor were also injured. They are in more critical conditions... and we're apologizing to them?' Pel was frustrated, to say the very least. She snuck a glance at Colt and bit the inside of her cheeks, 'I heard he's the Hero who saved the Continent with that Alchemist. There were rumors he was growing in strength but to think he's that strong... this man they call the Hero, just who is he to attract the attention of the Satiness and the Cardinal Mother? And that cat as well.'

Pel was so confused that she almost had a nosebleed.

'Sister Rava, you're a part of the intelligence agency. Just who are these people?' Pel whispered to Ravager.

'I also want to know what's going on. I work with the Intelligence Agency but don't collect or review the information. This past year I was North watching over the Hellbanes, so I know little about the South.' Ravager creased her brows, 'Almost all the bigshots of the Regulus are here, but that shouldn't have made Mother flinch or reconsider. The Cardinal Mother is ruthless and would kill anyone who dared antagonize the Faith. But the moment that cat appeared, she changed. It's a mystery. However, those two ought to know.'

"We failed to inform them of your significance to the Fate, Young Master; please, do not channel your rage to them!" added Fer.

"In consideration of our friendship, I ask the Young Master to forgive the Cardinal Mother and Valkyries who have wronged you and your family." Freyja, or rather Sister Mary, also asked for Colt's forgiveness.

Freyja and Fer, one was the previous Queen and the other the current stand-in for the Queen of Valkyries. They were strong, terrifyingly so, but they acted like neutered dogs before a single man.

'I don't know what happened when Sister Fer searched for Older Sisters Frey-that traitor, but it's clear that they are both worried about incurring the anger of that young man.' Ravager was an expert at reading people. She was an assassin and an interrogator, and she could tell that Fer and Freyja were not worried about themselves but about someone else.

Pel only felt a heavy sensation of dread fall on her chest hearing Ravager's words.

Colt looked at them, his sharp observing the situation. Before, he was unclear about what happened, but Lucille told him what happened, and now he understood what had transpired.

"Mina was hurt in a fight. One could say it was her stubbornness and desire to get me back that started it, but the Saintess acted out of turn. Even if you take into consideration the misunderstanding with your Knights -which I would not get into for the sake of this conversation - there was no relation to her actions. Oh yeah, what happened to the Saintess?"

"She is in her quarters, Young Master." The Cardinal Mother answered, "She cannot leave it until further notice."

"I see, so the punishment for almost starting a war is a timeout."

"Tha-that is...."The Cardinal Mother almost choked hearing what Colt had said.

“We cannot do anything much about the Saintess. She is the icon of the Dracian Faith, the only one who can communicate with the Goddesses. She is the one with the highest compatibility with Divinity in this world. She is the first person to be given the title of Saintess after 247 years. To make her stay in a room against her will is already an act of blasphemy. To punish her further is akin to punishing a King." Pel interrupted and gave an explanation.

"So you're telling me a King who moves an entire Country - or a place akin to a Country, whatever it is called - is punished by timeout. I see, if she starts a war that results in the death of thousands of soldiers, smearing shit all over the Goddesses' will, put her in a room and tell her, "no, bad Saintess, but you're special." that would be good." Colt sneered, "Don

"Then what do you want us to do, Young Master Colt?" Pel nodded.

"Dunno, stop treating the kid like she's made of glass and for who she really is... a kid. Tell her what to do and what not to do without strangling her?"

"Aren't your words conflicting, Young Master?" Pel argued.

"That's the point of being a parent; it's not exactly easy."

"Heh, big words from who made his daughter believe she was abandoned for almost four years?" Ravager sneered.

Fwu!

"What did you just say?" In such an enclosed room, the wind violently raged. It was not Colt who responded with anger. No, it was Sister Mary surrounded by an evergreen gale of sharp wind. She looked behind at Ravager with a nasty glare, "Colt's sacrifices, the trials, and tribulations he faced, the torture he put himself into. Yes, he's a pain in the ass. An asshole? Yes. But don't you dare disregard his efforts when you don't know what happened."

"Heh, of course, the traitor who abandoned those who followed her will defend her kind."

"Traitor? I never abandoned anyone. I just left and decided to lead a different life."

Ravager and Sister Mary both fought with their words. Their aura violently rose together with their anger.

Ravager's hand moved towards her weapon, and Sister Mary was the same. A fight would erupt at any given moment.

"You two, stop it."

An aura filled with the energy of rampageous violence crept up on both Ravager and Sister Mary. For a moment, they felt hands of ice squeezing their necks.

Certain death was upon them.

The Cardinal Mother looked at them from her kneeling position. Though they had seen her get angry so many times before, to see her so angry, oozing with killing intent that drowned them.

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"Stop showing such disrespect to the

"I agree with the Cardinal Mother; that's enough. Sister Mary, that's enough; thank you for defending me but what she said was true. I abandoned Filla; what right do I have to say about parenting?" Colt smiled as he shrugged his shoulders, "Let's just end the discussion here. The crux of this little meeting is to determine what to do. Punishment or not, this all began because the Saintess tackled me out of nowhere, and I fell horribly. There was a fight that resulted in Mina's injuries...."

Colt paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "But, all of this could've been avoided if one person stepped in."

Colt looked at Lucille. She waved at him like she did nothing wrong.

Lucille knew of her mistakes, but she didn't care. In her eyes, she just used the Dracian Fate to train Mina, the genius who had been wasting her time stagnating without reason. Earlier, Colt asked her why she did what she did, and Lucille actually laughed:

'Mina's genius could have realized this level when she was 16, but no, she got tired of being alone, and stagnation resulted from that. A few months ago, she asked me how to become a Sorceress and more about magic. Mina wanted to learn more, not just for teaching, but to protect you - though I believe that is a useless thought - and the others. I'm just doing what she wants, and I only want the best for her as a teacher. If I had to use the Dracian Fate for that, I would not hesitate. I'll even raze this place to the ground if it's for Mina.'

Lucille had lived for a long time… not once did she emphasize with someone, and she had never found anything other than magic interesting. Time flowed, and before she knew it, she was already at the top of her Tower, watching the clouds pass by, waiting for her eventual death.

Colt no longer holds anything from the book; he knew not who Lucille was and what kind of person she was. He only knows that she's the one who acted as Mina's mother all these times.

With his scant knowledge of the future left, Colt could only speculate. But from what he could see, Lucille had the making of a villain.

If Mina had died like the original story, Colt was sure she would seek revenge, 'She's obsessed with Mina... no, it's more like Mina's her world.'

Lucille had not once empathized with anyone, but Mina touched her heart to the point of obsession, 'I suppose Mina picked up from her a little bit.'

To Lucille, Mina was her daughter. She would destroy the world for Mina. Rising a war just to help her improve? Lucille found their lives inconsequential.

Colt looked to the side and saw Lucille chatting with Butler Go, smiling.

Lucille leaned over to Butler Go, "Hey, do you think Shickly will believe me if I tell him the entire Dracian Fate bowed before his son?"

"Believable… but please make sure that it doesn't reach the ears of the Nobles. They are already worried about the Young Master's position; though the thing about him wanting to be King had been resolved, they now might think he's aiming for the Grand Duke position by enlisting the Dracian Fate in his ranks."

"Surely, they can't be that stupid, right?"

"Do you really think so?"

"Fair enough." Lucille chuckled.

Colt knew not what they were talking about, but he was still somewhat irritated that the cause of all this was being so carefree.

A heavy sigh escaped Colt, "Both sides have made mistakes. If the Dracian Faith can promise to accommodate us until Mina recovers and the diffusion of the situation on the Holy City, I will not pursue any reparation. As for the children, I will tell them what happened, and Butler Go will relay my excuses so we can have our stories straight. These are my demands. Will it be any trouble?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Colt." The Cardinal Mother responded.

"Oh, please add that you will allow my family to look around Holy City. They have long awaited a time to stretch their limbs, and I have heard the Holy City is a place where one can unwind."

"It will be done." The Cardinal Mother quickly answered.

"Thank you." Colt clapped loudly, surprising everyone in the room, "The citizens should be worried about what's happening. The night's about to arrive, else they might think a rift has come between our forces. The other Empires should react tomorrow. With that settled, let's just move on. Can anyone direct me to the place where my wife is resting?"

"Please let me, Young Master Colt." Sister Mary presented herself to lead Colt.

Colt did not argue; he had many questions about Sister Mary, but they should be left alone for a different time.

Standing up, Colt held onto Fluff, who escaped his grasp to stay on the comfortable throne.

"NYA!" It spoke loudly as it yawned. It waved its paws as if to send Colt away.

"Is this allowed? If not, I can take care of this disrespectful cat."

The Cardinal Mother laughed as she stood up, "Your cat saved us from a perilous situation earlier; please let it stay. With that said, I will be taking care of the public. Please go on with what you are going to do."

"If you say so." Colt was reluctant, but he didn't want to argue. He had enough headaches for the night.

"Nya nya meow (just get out of her, and take a bath already, you stink)"

Fluff sent a jab at Colt as he watched everyone empty the room.

Colt left, and Lucille followed closely behind. She, too, wanted to check on Mina.

The two Valkyries were dismissed soon after.

After giving the Cardinal Mother a deep bow, they too stepped outside of the room together with Fer. They both glanced over Colt's direction.

"Sister Fer, you've been to the Edgeworth's territory for a while, correct? So, what's the deal with him? That strength when we fought, the way Argo reacted... just who is he?" Pel could still remember the vibration she felt penetration in her body.

"Yeah, I've read up on him since he's the one who invested in Alchemist Jin. I thought he just got lucky and found him by chance. After all, he's famous for being a wastrel. But more and more bards are singing the tune that was just a front to protect his daughter. Frejya also reacted like so... is the story about him being a Hero true?" having heard of the many ludicrous stories about Colt, Ravager wanted to confirm her suspicions.

Fer showed them a weak smile, "I will tell you and the others what I know about the Young Master when we are with the others. If he's going to stay here in the Cathedral for just tonight or even a day, you all need to be properly informed. There is much to be said about the Young Master, but the one thing you must know about him is that there's a reason why Sister Freyja respects and fears that man."

Pel and Ravager's confused faces were the last things seen as two heavy doors closed.

Inside the room, there were still who remained.

A cat and a demon.

The Cardinal Mother. Finally, she had the chance to get up again but fell to her knees again.

Now, only the cat and the old woman remained in the room. Fluff sighed, seeing her actions, [I was hoping you wouldn't notice, but that was wishful thinking, huh.]

As those words left Fluff's mouth, the Cardinal Mother's heart and body trembled.

She had never met him and only heard stories from her Elders.

At some point, she began doubting their words.

But as the words left the cat's mouth, it felt like thick clouds parted in her aged heart. Her body started shaking as tears finally escaped her eyes that had long dried.

She had been holding it back but it was no longer possible after hearing his words of confirmation. The Cardinal Mother cried tears of joy as she bore witness to the fat cat's glory, "For me to be in the [Great Guardian God: Behemoth's] presence, my life is complete."

[Don't go kicking the bucket now.]

Fluff jest as he rested his head on his paw.