Chapter 2: A Backward World
969 Words
The wheels of the carriage creaked as they turned; the streets of Blackwater City were paved with irregular bluestone, making the ride quite bumpy.
Merlin sat beside Meixue, and the faint scent drifting from her body made him feel at ease, but the carriage was so bumpy that he soon leaned to the side, legs slightly bent, settling into a more comfortable position.
But Meixue was clearly displeased; she glanced at Merlin’s outstretched legs and frowned slightly, saying, “Merlin, can’t you sit properly? You’re a noble, show some decorum.”
“I’m just lying down for a bit—I didn’t sleep well last night,” Merlin replied offhandedly, sticking with the position he found most comfortable.
Surprisingly, Meixue didn’t argue with him this time. She bit her lip slightly, worry surfacing on her face, and cautiously asked, “Is it because of Avril?”
Merlin didn’t respond, but Meixue kept speaking anyway: “You really don’t have to worry so much. Avril is already officially engaged to you. This engagement is the result of decades of friendship between the Baman family and ours. She will marry you eventually.”
“But you really should stop fooling around and put more effort into her. Maybe then she’ll start to like you.”
Though Merlin kept his eyes shut, he wasn’t actually asleep. Every word Meixue said was etched into his memory.
“Avril is my fiancée? But from Meixue’s tone, it sounds like she doesn’t even like me… Why don’t I have any memory of her?”
Merlin had only retained part of his memories; some were gone forever. To avoid arousing suspicion, he had to analyze every word people around him said.
Meixue’s mention of Avril was clearly important, so he mentally took note.
After a while, Merlin started to feel bored and lifted the curtain of the carriage. A cold wind rushed in, making him shiver.
“Winter’s almost here…” Merlin murmured. It was already September—the last month of autumn—but the cold seemed to have arrived early.
“Yes, winter is near. I don’t know why, but it’s been getting colder earlier this year.”
Meixue wrapped her clothes tightly around herself and curled up in a corner of the carriage.
Outside, a fine gray drizzle was falling. There weren’t many people on the streets—just some ragged beggars kneeling and begging from well-dressed passersby.
These beggars wore coarse linen from who-knows-where, thin as rope, their eyes full of longing. Some were even young children.
Others looked at them with disgust, some covering their noses and walking away quickly.
Merlin cast a casual glance at the vagrants, then turned his gaze toward a group of young knights on horseback.
These knights were all clad in silver light armor that covered their torsos. Each held a wooden shield and carried a greatsword nearly as tall as half a man on their back. They looked imposing.
The people on the street seemed to fear these knights, while some children looked at them with envy on their faces.
Merlin frowned slightly; he didn’t recognize these knights but didn’t dare ask Meixue about them.
Meixue also saw the knights from inside the carriage and sneered coldly, “Those guys again—city guard knights. All show and no substance.”
“With so many of them heading out of the city, it must be another village hit by bandits. Things are getting more and more chaotic lately.”
Merlin said nothing, quietly memorizing all this information. He had just arrived in this world, and his mind was still disoriented—speaking less was safer.
He observed the knights carefully. Though only a little over a hundred of them, they were well-equipped and exuded a lethal aura—not as useless as Meixue claimed.
The knights soon left the city and disappeared from Merlin’s view. As the cold wind became unbearable, he lowered the curtain and stayed in the warm carriage.
He didn’t know how long had passed when the carriage finally stopped. The driver, Moss, called out gently, “Young Master Merlin, Miss Meixue, we’ve arrived at the church.”
“We’re here! Time to get off—the church is right ahead!”
Meixue looked energetic as she hopped off the carriage. Merlin followed, stretching a bit and loosening his stiff neck before looking up at the church ahead.
The church covered a vast area, nearly the size of four or five football fields. People of all kinds, from commoners to nobles, came to pray.
The Kingdom of Light worshiped the God of Light, and the church held enormous influence, with chapels in every city. Morning prayer gatherings like this were a daily occurrence.
Merlin followed the crowd into the church hall. The walls, painted snow-white, displayed huge murals—bright and vivid, obviously religious depictions honoring the God of Light.
The central mural showed a tall, indistinct deity bathed in gentle holy light, blessing people from all walks of life—young and old, noble and criminal alike—with peace.
The mural’s title was “God Loves All People,” written in the sacred script of the Light. Merlin could read it thanks to the memory fragments he inherited.
Other murals included themes like “God Dispels Darkness,” “God Brings Light,” “God Punishes Demons,” “God Performs Miracles,” and “God Blesses the Faithful.”
Though their stories differed, their message was the same—glorifying the great deeds of the God of Light.
Pious believers bowed their heads, pressed their hands to their chests, and followed priests in prayer. The vast church echoed with countless murmured prayers.
Recalling the emaciated beggars he had just seen, Merlin realized clearly: this world was still deeply backward.
- Writer
