>>5740738The Orthodox Church may have wanted you dead, but it was its leadership that had made that decree. As far as you saw it, these poor people had nothing to do with that decision and meant you no harm. And even if they did, it wasn’t as if they’d be able to act upon it. You flash the little girl a friendly smile, and she returns the gesture, showing you a row of bright teeth. The scout returns at that moment with the wheel you’d sent him to fetch and offers his assistance to the peasants in Lucas’ party.
“By the Goddess.” Lucas breathes a sigh of relief. “Thanks again, Blair. You have no idea how much this means to us. It’s important that we get to Zanado as quickly as we can. We’re the last ones from our village left. Everyone else has already gone on without us.”
>“I see. You’re expecting a big crowd there?”“Course.” Lucas nods. “Everyone who’s a believer in the Goddess and hasn’t been taken in by the heretic Rhea’s lies is going to be there. I know you mentioned you were heading south for work but…perhaps you should abandon that, friend. The end is nigh, as they say. Best to get right with your soul now before the Goddess returns to Fodlan.”
>“Ahh…perhaps I’ll stop by after my spot of work is done. Now then, I should probably get going. Safe travels.”“You as well, Blair. Go with her blessing.”
As you and your party make your way back to the main Sreng host, you can’t help but discuss the news Lucas just shared with you.
“Zanado, huh?” Corrine groans as she recollects the site of her first mission. “To think an entire host of pilgrims are on their way to that blasted shithole. Heh, if Archbishop Rhea were still around, she’d likely be beside herself with unbridled rage.”
>“No kidding. I always got the impression we were there to kill those bandits not because they were criminals, but because they were trespassing on sacred ground.”“Nothing sacred about that place.” Corrine huffs. “It’s an arid dump with nothing but ruins.”
>“Perhaps…but something about this seems definitely off.”“They’re to wait for the Patriarch’s arrival, are they? Well, they’ll be waiting for quite some time.” Leif says assuredly. “If he’s really at Garreg Mach assisting the siege, then there’s no way he’ll be leaving that place alive.”
