The Courtesan

Chapter 64

ELAYNE

“Raise it higher! Parry! Lower your stance! Use your size to your advantage! Good! You’re doing quite well!”

“T-Tha-ank… y-you…” I replied, breathless. I bent over, trying to catch my breath. Lion maintained a distance from me, waiting for me to do so.

I had been making progress in my sword training. This was mainly due to the fact that Lion had invented a way to train me without making too much contact. I had a nagging suspicion it wasn’t his idea but I didn’t question it since I was a lot more comfortable and I was getting better at it.

“I caught my breath. Please, let’s continue.”

“In all my years, I haven’t seen a better learner than you. You don’t have the stamina for it yet but you’re swallowing up all the technique I teach you at breakneck speed.”

“Heh. Thank you for the praise.”

I brandished my wooden sword again and went in for another bout. My eyes were focused entirely on the fighting field; his movement, his weapon and the environment we were fighting in. I wasn’t proficient yet but I was able to avoid tapping out fast as opposed to when I first began learning.

He taught me to focus on those three things and take the most important rule of fighting into consideration; felling the opponent at any cost. Unlike Casella, where the idea of noble and fair fights were instilled so deeply in knights and soldiers, the fighting style of the people of Zerramond cut to the chase. Disable your opponent as fast as possible.

The wooden sword was knocked out of my hands and another pointed at my throat. I raised my blistered hand in surrender. He smirked and lowered the sword.

“This is the longest you’ve lasted. If you keep training your stamina, you’ll get better quickly and you’ll be able to train with his highness.”

“I guess I have to work harder then.”

“Milady, if you don’t mind me asking, why would you want to train with his highness?”

“He’s strong, isn’t he? If I train with him, I’ll get stronger.”

“I’m not sure you understand just how strong he is.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you know of the Six War Generals of Uramuth?”

“I have heard about them. They are reputable for having great strength and resilience. They also possess special weapons said to be from the gods.”

“You know your stuff well, my lady.”

Of course I did. I learned of them as a princess. The library is saturated with legends and stories of many like them.

“I’m sure you can get a rough estimation of their strength.”

“And…”

“His Highness is a part of the select few who can challenge the war general and win.”

“... You’re joking?”

“I am not. There’s the beast of Casella, the warrior princess of the mountain tribe, the general of death in Perimas, the head knight of the church of light and the wandering doctor. They are the six irregulars who can stand up to the six war generals.”

“Beast of Casella? I haven’t heard of this person.”

“Hmm, really? Before King Mival married the princess of the mountain tribe and settled the long dispute, she spent her time on the battlefield driving them and the attacking forces of Uramuth back. She’s the youngest of the irregulars and has done a remarkable job at demolishing every obstacle in her path. Before the saintess was crowned, every woman in Zerramond wished to be like her.”

It sounded like he was talking about the person I had in mind. I had to confirm.

“Do you speak of the daughter of the general of the west?”

“Oh yes! Do you perhaps know her, milady? If so, I would like a letter of encouragement, no, just a signature or seal from her would do...”

Sure enough, it was Geraldine. Even when we were training, I could, for a brief moment, see the boundless strength she possessed. It scared me a lot.

However, something else caught my attention in what he said.

“... A signature, yes! A signature would do!”

“I’ll see what I can do. I have a question about this Saintess you speak of.”

“The saintess? What do you want to know about her?”

“Everything. Tell me everything you know.”

“O-Okay. The Saintess was just introduced two years ago. A special woman chosen from the population and a mouthpiece of Zerus himself. She is the purest and most precious maiden, heavily protected by the church. They say she possesses healing powers comparable to the wandering doctor. One touch of hers could heal any sickness and clear a gloomy countenance. Many people sell their belongings and dedicate their life to the church just to get a glimpse of the saintess and be touched by her.”

As expected, it sounded very suspicious, as did everything I heard about the church. Even if gods existed, miraculous powers did not. The only thing that had come close was Amaya bringing Prince Miyon from the brink of death over and over.

“Are there a lot of people who go to be healed by the priestess?”

“There are thousands of people who go to the cathedral every month just for that reason.”

“Why so many?”

“Well, an epidemic broke out three years ago. The source was unknown but anyone infected would die within three weeks. The church and the royal family scoured every inch of the kingdom for a solution and chanced upon the Saintess who carried the power of Zerus and was able to heal with just a touch of her hands.”

“This saintess wasn’t branded a witch and burned?”

“No, she was not. The pope himself confirmed she was a messenger from Zerus and bore a special mark. She is different from the others who manipulate and torment people.”

Now, isn’t that just convenient?

“Do you believe in the saintess, Lion?”

“I don’t really believe in Zerus to be honest so I believe in her even less. I can’t just say that in public or else, I might just get lynched.”

Just how deeply calculative was the church of light? I wouldn’t be surprised if the epidemic was of their own making too. If this was even the slightest bit true, then the church wasn’t too far from controlling Zerramond.

“What do you think I need to do to be able to see the saintess?”

“Well, if you are escorted by his highness, you might not need to follow the whole process. However, his highness loathes going to the cathedral. So, you can either pay 10,000 gold or serve the church faithfully for a year.”

“People who cannot pay… cannot see her?”

“So I’ve heard. The Saintess is only one person so she cannot attend to everyone at once. Many people still die from the epidemic but the numbers have decreased in the recent years.”

I held on to the possibility that they had something to do with it in my mind. I had to get to the root of all this and infiltrate the church.

“Thank you for answering my questions, Lion. I must’ve taken up a bit of your time already so you can leave.”

“Yes milady.”