Chapter 2 - I - How to deal with your bullies

 

 Chersea. The land of humans, beastfolk, dwarves, elves, and demons.  Where magic and swords collide.  Where mythical creatures like dragons, chimeras, and mandragoras either fly in the sky, swim in the waters, crawl or tread the land.  Yep, this was a typical fantasy world; though, in all honesty, I didn’t know such a place existed away from books until that saint, Maddie, summoned me.  

 

All because of her boredom.

 

“And there you have it!” Saint Maddie smiled as she finished my introduction to the servants, paladins, and nuns working at her palace, “If you got questions, just keep it to yourself.  I’m in no mood to answer it.”

 

“Yes, Your Holiness!” the battalions of maids, paladins, and nuns standing before her replied in unison.  Honestly, I got goosebumps as I watched them salute and give respect to their saint.  It’s as if I’m looking at a military parade.

 

“Alright, Kuro…” she then turned to me, “Same instructions as them.  If you got questions, don’t ask me; go to my servants.”

 

“Uh…yes, Your Holiness,” I bowed.  Though the Saint was the one who caused my predicament, I still wanted to show my respect to her; at least, I won’t be an ass around people I don’t know.

 

Hmm…based on her smiles and swift, almost-dancing moves, one could tell that the Saint was in a good mood.  I guess she’s feeling fine this time; not like when she summoned me.  I can feel the utter disappointment from her back then.  

 

Oh, and she began calling me ‘Kuro’, since I really couldn’t remember anything about my identity.  She said she got my name from the color of my hair, which was black.  Well, ‘kuro’ is the Japanese word for ‘black’; I wonder if Her Holiness knew about it.  It’d be interesting if she knew some ‘Earth’-stuff…

 

I also accepted that arrangement, at least temporarily.

 

“Okay, I guess that settles it.” Saint Maddie stood up from her seat and waved her hand.  I guess that’s the signal that she’s about to retire to her private study?

 

Two maidservants immediately followed her.

 

And so, normalcy returned to the Saint’s palace once again…and I hope.

 

“Why did Her Holiness allowed a boy to live here?”

 

“Ugh…boys are natural-born perverts.  Isn’t Her Holiness in danger with him around?”

 

“Of all that can be summoned, why is it a boy?”

 

Oi, I can hear you guys.  It won’t hurt if you try to keep your disapproval of me a little more discreet, you know?  

 

The maids went on grumbling, muttering, and backstabbing me.  Some even threw me sharp stares from head to toe.  The paladins, though officially neutral, glared as if they were memorizing my facial features.  It feels like I’m a criminal being taken in for mugshots; which made my desire to return to my world much stronger.  But the Saint had made it clear before that she couldn’t return me—

 

The way to do it simply doesn’t exist.

 

“Ah, Kuro!”  Someone tapped on my shoulder; it was the Head Maid who saved me before.  I think her name’s uh…err…

 

“Seems like your face is telling me you forgot my name.  I’m Lilyhaven Tamriel von Leese!”

 

“Ah, yes!” No wonder I forgot; it’s too long and complicated to say.

 

“Well, you can call me Lily.”

 

“Oh, Head Maid Lily, yes!”

 

“Anyway, are you okay, Kuro?” Lily asked.  I guess she’s concerned about the loud disapproval of the maids about me being allowed by the Saint to stay in this place.

 

“Yes, I’m fine.  I’ll just ignore the murmurs.”

 

“Will you?” her eyes pleaded with her voice, “Those girls are mischievous, but it’s only because they love and respect Her Holiness.”

 

“Yep, I understand their anger towards me.  Oh, and Head Maid, by the way…” I bowed before her, “I haven’t thanked you for saving me before.”

 

“Nah, don’t mention it.  Besides, you also saved me back then.  Remember when you pushed me away and almost got killed by the magic spells?” she smiled and shook her hands, “I think we’re now equal.”

 

“I see…” Well, if she puts it that way, I guess it’s all good.  But still…

 

“Ah, anyway Kuro, you have something you want to do?”

 

“Err…I don’t think I have anything in my mind.” I admitted, “Well, I’d like to explore around this place if that’s possible…”

 

“Oh, then let me be your guide then!” Lily slightly pulled my arm towards her as she pointed in the direction she wanted us to go.

 

“Uh…I don’t want to disturb you, though.”

 

“Nah, it’s fine!  I can leave my work to my subordinates, anyway.”

 

I don’t think that’s a good idea, Head Maid.

 

“So, shall we go on a tour then, Kuro?”

 

“Well, if you insist…”

 

“Alright!  But first…”  The Head Maid then stretched her arms wide, and said with a big smile on her face, “I welcome you to the Holy Palatial Gardens—the home of the Great Saint of Chersea!”

 

 

The Holy Palatial Gardens—according to what I’d gathered, it was the most sacred place in the continent of Chersea…well, at least for the humans.  The Saint’s official residence was here, something akin to the Pope’s Vatican City back on Earth.  However, if there were priests and nuns in the Vatican; here, they only allow females inside for long.

 

“Well, you’re an exception Kuro.” Lily explained as we walked along the pathways, “Her Holiness feels responsible for summoning you, so she’d like to see that you’re able to adapt to your new environment at least.”

 

I guess the Saint’s holy title isn’t just for a show.

 

“Just don’t tell everyone that she summoned you.  In this place, only Her Holiness and I knew about it.” she winked at me.

 

“O-Okay?”  To avoid questions and tons of explanations, the Saint introduced me as an ambassador from a far-away land to her servants.  Honestly, I don’t mind if others learned about my ‘otherworldly’ background.  But Her Holiness kept on insisting I hide it, ‘or there could be unnecessary complications’.

 

Well, I’ll just let it off my mind for now…as long as they are helping me, then I will have nothing to complain about.

 

With the misunderstanding about my sudden appearance cleared, I guess this was a good time to explore this world.  And for that, I’m glad that the Head Maid offered her expertise.

 

“This place is huge…”

 

“Yes, the Holy Palatial Gardens is small compared to other human kingdoms, but we’re still bigger than the greatest human city in Chersea.” the Head Maid narrated.

 

Well, that’s what she said.  If I may compare it to a place back on Earth, I’d say it’s almost the size of a small city.  Thick stone walls with moss surrounded the entire vicinity, interrupted by several great stone towers that were garrisoned by the well-equipped female guards, which they called ‘paladins’.

 

“Err…Head Maid, I’ve been wanting to ask about that colossal building over there.” I was referring to that huge domed structure that we could see a few kilometers away from the walls, “It looks like a church to me.”

 

“It is!” the Head Maid happily chirped, “It’s called the Saint’s Cathedral, and it is the largest and grandest human church in all of Chersea.  Want to come and check it out?”

 

“Yes, please.”

 

We immediately headed straight to the Saint’s Cathedral after touring the walls.  I was awestruck by the sheer size of the building, even from the inside.  

 

It’s like I’m in another world…

 

“This church can comfortably accommodate around 150,000 worshippers in one service!” the Head Maid proudly added that trivia.

 

Whoa!  Back on Earth, I know that the largest church—the Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican—could only accept 60,000 people.  But this Saint’s Cathedral was of another magnitude…

 

Impressive.

 

The walls, pillars, and ceilings of the Cathedral were richly ornamented with colored bas-reliefs, and paintings of…I guess those were scenes from their religion?  Figures of horned-men (I guess they’re demons) fighting against armored knights and men-at-arms dominated the artworks.  Bloody paintings, I’d say…both in quality and in appearance.  Some were about the daily life of Cherseans, like farming, fishing, and even feasting…

 

“…”

 

However, what caught my attention was that guy that was always appearing at the top of the murals.

 

“Ah…looks like the Almighty Lord Gaius caught your attention, Kuro?”

 

“Lord Gaius?”

 

“It is said that he’s the god of this land.” the Head Maid shared, “I know little about history, but when Lord Gaius abandoned his divinity, he passed his powers to the Saints.”

 

“Abandoned?  As in, he’s not god anymore?  Why?”  Hearing that from her made something within me turned on.  See, I love history, as well as the legends and myths surrounding it; so, I couldn’t help but be curious about what she said.

 

However, the Head Maid shrugged, “Well, the Lord Gaius can decide on whatever he wants.  Who knows what he was thinking when he stepped down from his divinity?  We don’t have the answers.”