Legacy of the Betelgeuse

I nod and smile.

"I'm glad that you're alright, Saintess Aria."

Aria is shaking her head.

"I'm not the Saintess, or not yet. Since the spiritual event is still ongoing when the monster started to appear in the building. Everyone still needs to redo the spiritual event and then they can choose who is the best and the most fitting to be the next Saintess."

I'm blocking her view, so she doesn't know what is happening to the rest of the candidates and the people from the temple. I'm slowly backing away and let her see the ugly truth about what's going on right now. Aria starts looking at all the dead bodies of the other candidates and the people of the temple scattered around the hall. She's covering her mouth and starts crying while shaking her head with disbelief.

I sigh and look at her.

"Saintess Aria. You're the only survivor from this. There are no longer people from the temple other than yourself. Either you want it or not, you're the one who is befitting to be the next Saintess since nobody else is alive."

Aria is sobbing and falls to the ground. I sit next to her and comforting her by rubbing her back. Then she starts hugging me so tightly while sobbing loudly. I feel blessed right now because back then, Aria was forbidden to touch any other human being since she was the Saintess. I can feel every part of her body now and my curiosity is now fulfilled.

I gently push her back and look at her.

"We need to leave this temple now. I can't guarantee your safety in here. But before that, can you show me where the archive room is at? There's something that I need to take from there."

Aria wipes her eyes and nods weakly.

"I understand. Please follow me."

I walk beside her and she keeps holding my hand so tightly as if she doesn't want me to leave her side no matter what happens. Azrael then jumps back onto my shoulder and he looks at Aria. Aria is surprised and then opens her hand so Azrael can stand in her hand.

Azrael looks at me.

"Master, tell her that I'm sorry that I startled her back then and stepped on her leg on accident."

Aria starts smiling and rubs Azrael's back using her index finger. I scoff and nod.

"Saintess Aria, he said that he wants to apologize for startling you back there and for stepping on your leg."

Aria is awwing and smiling at Azrael.

"It's okay. I forgive you."

We are standing in front of a huge door and Aria is looking at me.

"This is the archive room."

I'm humming with understanding and grab the key and put it in the keyhole.

*Clack!*

We enter the archive room and there are thousands of books, papers, and other things in here. I also see so many unique rarity types of equipment in here. I can grab them and sell them if I want to, but those are too precious to give to players and I don't need them as well, so I will let them stay here until I need them.

I walk around the room and I see an interesting document. I grab it and read the title.

"The Three Fragments."

I look at Aria while showing her the document.

"What this is about, Saintess Aria?"

Aria walks towards me and looks at the document.

"That is old research about the three stones or gemstones that are believed to be originated from Betelgeuse. There is no further research about them, unfortunately. You can take it if you want to."

I'm humming with understanding and then shake my head.

"No, I don't think I'm allowed to take anything from this room. I want to respect the privacy of the holy temple, and since you will be the future Saintess, I need to be respectful toward you, the Saintess, and the holy temple."

Aria is smiling happily.

"How noble of you, Mister Trevor. It's okay. No matter what I will become, you will always be the one who saves my life. I will always be in your debt and I will never forget it."

Nice, this is what I needed. I need to maintain this relationship with her so I can gain favor from her. From now on, I should be able to go in and out of the holy temple without having to ask anyone's permission, and I can enter the archive room since Saintess Aria is the one who will be the master of the holy temple.

I nod.

"Thank you, Saintess Aria."

I look around and then look at Aria.

"Where can I find the map of the secret tunnels of the Alliance Kingdoms? Right now, the monsters are lurking inside the secret tunnels and using them as a path to enter all the kingdoms. We are going to kill them all so we can protect all the people of the Alliance Kingdoms."

Aria nods with understanding, then she's pointing at the bookshelf behind a huge table.

"I understand. The blueprint of the secret tunnels is over there."

I nod and hurriedly go to the bookshelf and grab a huge paper and spread it open.

I look at the whole map very carefully while taking a screenshot on each side of the map so everyone can see the detailed image that I'm taking. After I check the screenshots and make sure everything is visible and nothing is covered, I put the map back to where it belongs.

I message Ivonna and send the screenshots of the map of the secret tunnels.

[Ivonna, you might need these. I'm currently at the Holy Temple and I know you're trying to go to this place to get the map. I have to tell inform you that everyone in the Holy Temple is dead. The Arch Bishop is dead as well, but I retrieved the archive room's key from his body. I took so many screenshots of the map for you. Here.

[Image]

[Image]

[Image]

[Image]

I checked everything is there. I hope this helps and share these images with the others.]

-

[Trevor! Thank you very much! I'm trying to go there, but it seems the teleportation device over there is unavailable for some reason. I owe you for this one, Trev. I will use these and share them with others.]

[You're a lifesaver, Trev! Thank you!]

-

[What is the situation over there? Is everyone doing fine?]

-

[Everything is still not under control. It's so chaotic even where I'm at right now. The monsters appear out of nowhere, they have become stronger and harder to kill. Kingstar and his clan members are fighting Shazjae right now. They're buying us time to make everything under control. Everyone is trying their best and we have been fighting restlessly and relentlessly.]

-

[That sounds awful...]

[I will be there in 12 hours since I have to walk to the Yureon Kingdom. Please hold the front line and wait for me until then. I'm also bringing precious cargo with me. The next Saintess is with me right now. I need one of you to protect her no matter what it cost because she can help us in this situation.]

-

[I understand. I will tell Francesca to take care of her.]

[Please hurry, Trev. We need you...]

-

[Roger that.]

Aria is looking at me while raising her eyebrows.

"You're not going to take the map with you? You can take it if you have to."

I shake my head and tapping my head.

"It's okay, Saintess Aria. I have memorized everything in here."

Aria is smiling and nodding with understanding. I grab my chained sickles and look at Aria.

"Let's leave the holy temple, for now, Saintess. We are going to the Eynhildr Kingdom because right now, that's the safest place. My friend can also protect you over there."

Aria nods.

"Yes, please take care of me until then, Mister Trevor."

I nod, but then I look at her dress. It's dirty and some of the parts of the dress are ripped.

"I think, Saintess Aria needs to change your clothing first. That looks uncomfortable to wear."

Aria looks down and checks the dress.

"You are right. But, my clothes are in my room, and it's far away from here. Is it okay if we go to my room first?"

I nod.

"Of course. We are going to protect you, so please be at ease, Saintess Aria."

Aria smiles and nods.

We are walking around the holy temple and as I expected, there are no survivors from the monsters' attack. This place is like a ghost temple or something like that. Ironically, this place is the purest and holiest place in the Orion, and yet right now it's filled with dead bodies and covered with blood.

After Aria is done changing her clothes, we are leaving the holy temple, and as soon as we are outside the temple, Aria suddenly stops and covering her mouth with her hand while pointing at Shazjae that is visible even from here.

"What is that thing..."

I look at Aria.

"That, Saintess... is what we are dealing with. Everyone is fighting with their lives on the line. We can't waste any time since every second is so precious."

Aria nods and then she takes a deep breath and looks down.

"May the Betelgeuse bless all of us..."