Chapter 22: Chapter 19 – Cat girl visits the cat girl goddess temple

And then, I turned and looked to my left, immediately struck by the sight of a city that was even bigger than Merton East.

"Lizz!" I exclaimed, pointing towards the massive city in the distance. "Is that Old Merton nya?"

"Yes..." Lizz replied, but with a hint of sadness in her voice.

She then told me about the city's rich history. In its glory days, Merton was a beacon of prosperity and commerce, a glittering jewel of the South. Merchants from all corners of the world flocked to its streets, drawn by its opulence and splendor. The Great Lake of Merton was like a blessing from the gods, bringing abundant resources and wealth.

But that was all a distant memory now. On one fateful night 53 years ago, a demon army poured through a dimensional gate and laid waste to the city. Despite successfully repelling the attack, Merton suffered severe losses and tragedy. Thousands of people perished and many of the valiant knights were killed. But that was not all. The Great Lake was badly contaminated with so much demon blood that it became toxic and muddy. This contamination rendered the lake practically unusable, leaving the once vibrant city in a state of despair.

Unable to live near the Great Lake anymore, the survivors of Old Merton had to relocate east and build a new city near a clean water supply. And that was how Merton East came to be. Now, despite 53 years having passed, the Great Lake still carried the remnants of demonic energy and required constant purification. Although the water was gradually becoming clearer with each passing day, it would take at least another 50 years to fully remove the contamination.

With a heavy heart, I grasped Lizz's hand and together we stood in silent tribute to the victims of the tragedy that befell Old Merton. After offering our prayers, we made our way towards a hill near Old Merton, where the temple of Aquilonyan stood.

And then, half an hour later, we finally arrived. Aquilonyan was a goddess of the North, so why would a goddess of the North have a temple in a faraway land to the South?

Many many years ago, after the event of the corrupted fire Dragon King unleashing its rampage, thousands of people from the North migrated to Old Merton. The citizens welcomed them into the city. This act of kindness would eventually lead to the foundation of a prosperous land and the blooming of new cultures. Afterward, the cat people wanted to practice their religion, so they built a small temple for their goddess.

The temple of Aquilonyan was vastly different from what I had envisioned. Unlike the grand and ornate church of Aurora, which was adorned with gold and precious gems, the temple of Aquilonyan was simple, consisting of a small, Greek-style building with white stone pillars.

However, its true beauty lay in the magnificent garden that surrounded the main building. A haven of peace and serenity, the garden was a breathtaking display of nature's splendor. The vibrant blooms of the flowers perfumed the air with their soothing scents, while the tall, regal trees provided dappled shade for the verdant lawns and pebbled paths. The garden teemed with life, from flitting butterflies to busy bees, filling the air with the gentle hum of their activity. A small pond with a bountiful number of fish and a tranquil fountain added to the idyllic atmosphere, creating a peaceful background noise.

"Wow!" I exclaimed. "The gardeners must have worked tirelessly here nya!"

But Lizz smiled and gently corrected me. "No gardeners are needed here," she said, making her way to the pond.

"What?" I asked, puzzled. "How can a garden thrive without anyone tending to it nya?"

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"Because this is the goddess' garden!" Lizz replied. Then, she stood in front of the pond, took out a handful of breadcrumbs from her bag and sprinkled them in the water. Immediately, hundreds of small red and blue fish swam up and flocked around her feet. They swarmed and splashed water vigorously. “Many people also find this strange," Lizz continued, "but this is just how her temples always are. If the goddess approves of the place, flowers will grow by themselves, birds will come naturally, and the beasts will keep away on their own.”

"But..." I pressed on with my confusion, "Even in the harsh climate of the Northern Lands? It's so cold there nya!"

"Of course!" Lizz answered. "Some species of flowers can withstand the frigid temperatures of the Northern Lands, so there's no issue there! Oh, and there's more! Snowstorms never occur near the goddess's temples, so they will be ideal places to rest when you are traveling!"

"That's truly amazing nya!" I said in wonder. "I never knew that the goddess's influence could be so powerful nya!"

And with that, everything became clear. The fact that I was allowed to sleep here, in Aquilonyan's sanctuary, was like receiving protection from the goddess herself. And that was why Cleo and Lizz trusted me so much. It was as simple as that, no further explanation needed.

And then, we entered the main building. It was just a simple hall with an altar to place offerings and a statue of the goddess.

"Now then, shall we pray?" Lizz asked.

The girl then stepped in front of the statue, placing some grilled chupal skewers that she prepared at home onto the altar. This made me nearly laugh. Turned out, the goddess was also a meat lover! Well, after all, she was the goddess and ruler of cat girls, so offering her vegetables would be blasphemy!  

Kneeling down, Lizz crossed both hands on her chest. I copied her and did the same. Looking up at the Aquilonyan statue, I felt as if the goddess was also gazing down on me with loving eyes. A sense of calm and serenity washed over me.

Somehow, this made my heart feel at peace.

And I closed my eyes, eavesdropping on Lizz's prayers. 

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