n

n

n

"Have you heard about the floating rumors?

"

nOh, she changed the topic. Fufufu~

nCute~

n

"What rumors?

" I cooperated,

"I have not been to the capital lately because as you know, I am banned…

"

nUgh, I hate being reminded of this heartbreak. How can I, as someone who loves visiting the capital, be happy? I can't go to my favorite shops anymore and walk around, enjoying things. I have not been to the bookshop for a long time either.

nI wonder how Nine and Estelle? Nine was planning on leaving the last time we saw each other. Did she already go on her way?

n

"Well, according to the things I have heard. A saint had appeared,

" she disclosed.

n

"A what? Saint?

" I parroted.

nBea nodded,

"Yes. No one knows where this rumor originated but my maids heard them from the merchants. Apparently, it's a popular topic among the common people,

" she continued.

nI paused for a considerable amount of time to process the bomb she just dropped.

n

"There really is a saint?

" I was still in disbelief, as you can see.

nI mean, who was the first one to be regarded as a saint but failed to commit to it? Me.

nSo of course, hearing a piece of news about saints would pique my interest.

n

"It's just a rumor…

" Bea murmured while drinking.

nI know! A controversial one!

n

"Does it also say where this rumored saint hailed from?

" I pressed on.

n

"That, I do not know.

"

nA saint…

n

"Hey, ladies!

" A cheerful voice that could disturb the dead resonated behind me.

nI don't have to look to know who it is…

n

"Eon,

" Bea squinted.

nYep. I knew it.

n

"'Sup!

" He then unceremoniously occupied the empty seat beside me and pouted cheekily,

"Nads… Didn't I tell you to wait for me? You really don't stick to your promise,

" he accused.

nOne of my brows raised,

"Wasn't my promise not to tell my brother that you're slacking off?

"

n

"What do you mean by slacking off? I'm on break,

" he immediately defended himself.

nHe saw the pastries on the table and popped one in his mouth, and not long after, started wolfing them down. I have forgotten that this guy is a glutton.

nErin took the initiative and poured the newcomer a cup of tea before retreating to the side again.

n

"Oh, really,

" I replied in a bland tone.

nOn-break, my toes… Who would believe such a bald-faced lie? I'm sure he left his job to one of his subordinates and boldly fluttered here because Nathan is not around to monitor his movements.

n

"So what were you two gossiping about?

" He looked at us interchangeably with a blinding question mark atop his head.

nI snorted,

"We're not gossiping— Yeah, we are.

"

n

"Heh. I knew it,

" Eon beamed.

nBea stared at him squarely in the eyes.

n

"Have you also heard about the saint?

"

nEon swallowed the food in his mouth first and muttered.

n

"Ohh, that. Have you heard of it too? It's rumored that a saint had appeared from the kingdom outside the empire.

"

n

"So it's true?

" I reconfirmed.

nThere truly is a saint?!

nEon neither confirmed nor denied it.

n

"Eh, Who knows? It's a rumor.

"

n

"But if that's true, isn't that a big event? Saints only appear once every thousand of years, after all. And from the record, it will be the first saint to appear in Terra,

" I recounted what I read from the history of magic.

n

"We won't know until the holy church validates that news themselves,

" Eon replied.

nOh, right. The holy church. Honestly, this is the first time I heard about the existence of the Holy Church. I didn't know something like that existed.

nBut I guess it should be obvious. I mean, there are Gods and Goddesses, there is also the magic tower that is dedicated to magic.

n

"So far, even the Arcane Tower has not released a statement yet so we should not take this rumor seriously,

" Eon added.

nHmm…

n

"But what do you two think about it?

"

nI want to hear their opinion on this matter.

nEon looked at me and scratched his head.

n

"I just know that the topic regarding the saint is a serious offense so either these people are lying or…

" he trailed off.

n

"It's real…

" Bea finished it on his behalf.

nEon shrugged his shoulders and did not make comments.

n

"There could be a saint…

" I marveled.

nBea played with her teacup and murmured silently.

n

"The church is not getting mad about it, even though they are the devout believers of Gods and all that is holy.

"

n

"Oh my…

" I then hid my mouth behind my fan, gasping in awe of this discovery.

n

"You still should not say anything about it, though. Not until it is confirmed,

" Eon reminded us before stuffing another scone in his mouth.

nA tacit understanding passed between the three of us.

nThere was a short moment of silence, and then Bea broke it herself.

n

"A lot of rumors had been circulating lately including the church. Do you know that, Eon?

"

nEon's eyes narrowed suspiciously in her direction.

n

"Hey, Bea. I am starting to doubt whether you are still the same person we know. When have you started being this nosy?

" He snickered.

n

"Just answer my question,

" she deadpanned.

nEon glanced at me in shock, like an aggrieved child that got scolded.

n

"See that, Nads? This must be a fake!

" and pointed his index finger to Bea.

nA smile bloomed on my lips,

"I am also curious about it. What about the church?

"

nEon let out a snort through his nose and shook his head.

n

"... women…

"

n

"Eon.

" Bea's firm voice pressed him.

n

"Alright. Alright. Geez…

" The former raised both his hands in an act of surrender and started grumbling to himself.

n

"I don't know much about that but I heard something about an illegal organization disguised as a church. I believe it involved a cult or something,

" he divulged.

nMy eyes widened.

n

"Truly? A cult?

"

n

"That's what I heard. It was a ridiculous rumor but it did tie to the topic of the saint. They said that the saint exposed this cult and got rid of it,

" he added.

n

"Ohh… Interesting,

" I commented.

nMy thoughts are then filled with my own understanding of cults. In my head, it involved a lot of voodoo **, some demonic chanting, a sacrificial ritual, and some more macabre stuff I could think of.

nThe only thing now is whether my assumptions are correct or not.. Although, I do know that a cult getting destroyed by the saint means it's an evil one so yeah, I might not be far off the mark.

n