Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 76 - 3 The Church of the Earth Goddess_1
76: Chapter 3: The Church of the Earth Goddess_1
76 -3: The Church of the Earth Goddess_1
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“Wow, Pannis, I didn’t think you could cook breakfast.” Lina sat at the table, chin propped in hand, looking at Pannis’ four breakfasts with an exclamation of surprise.
“If breakfast is good then lunch and dinner won’t be a problem either.
It’s decided, you’ll be our team’s official chef from now on.”
“Why aren’t you eating?” Pannis asked, noticing that Lina and Catherine were watching him intently, their plates untouched.
“Is it not to your liking?”
“We’re waiting for you.” Lina, as if playing a role from some great novel, said with no regard for her appearance or manners, waving her knife and fork about.
“Food tastes better when everyone’s eating together.”
Pannis opened his mouth to respond but said nothing.
He looked around the room and asked, “What about Vivian?
Why isn’t she here for breakfast?”
“Don’t worry about her.” Lina cheered as Pannis finally sat down and picked up his utensils.
She impatiently attacked the food on her plate.
Her actions were crude, but they had a straightforwardness and innocence that made it hard for anyone to dislike her.
“So, Lina, who are you copying this time?” Pannis asked, watching her actions.
“I haven’t seen this one before.”
“Mmmph.” Lina responded unclearly, her mouth full of food.
“Alright, you don’t have to tell me.” Pannis shook his head and turned to Catherine.
“Really, I don’t need to go find Vivian?
Her breakfast is ready.”
Catherine ate her breakfast with elegance and grace.
After Pannis’s question, she carefully put down her utensils, swallowed her food, used a napkin to dab at the corner of her mouth, and slowly answered, “No need.
Her lifestyle at home is quite different from ours.
She gets up at different times each day sometimes sleeping for 13 or 14 hours at a time.
Like Lina said, there’s no need to concern ourselves.”
Pannis frowned, “Is that okay?
Her health…
it’s already not very good, right?”
“It’s fine.
As for her health…” Catherine paused, “Come to think of it, there’s something I forgot to tell you.”
“What is it?” Pannis asked, slightly startled.
“Something you’d probably like.” Catherine took a sip of milk from the glass beside the plate.
“It’s an unwritten rule in our adventure team to not pry into the pasts or secrets of others.
Put plainly, everyone in our team has a past and secrets they’d rather not discuss.
We only talk about them if we’re comfortable doing so.
If not, the main principle is not to ask.”
“Understood.” Pannis, looking at Catherine’s serious expression and Lina who had completely ignored their conversation, nodded.
“Sorry, I was just curious.”
“You’re just concerned about Vivian.” Catherine replied with a faint smile.
She stood up, picked up her empty plate, and headed to the kitchen.
She asked Lina as she walked, “What are your plans today?”
“I have to go back to the temple for a bit.
I’ve been so busy since I got home the day before yesterday that I haven’t had time to return.
Then, I’ll visit two little rascals in the north of the city.
I promised them before leaving that I’d visit when I got back.” Lina gathered her and Pannis’s plates and followed Catherine into the kitchen.
“Pannis, what about you?
Any plans for today?
And don’t even think of doing what you did yesterday.” Catherine’s threatening voice accompanied by the clatter of plates and the sound of running water came from the kitchen.
“Me?
Not really.” Pannis watched as the two girls effortlessly tidied up the dining area and kitchen, appearing slightly dazed.
He wasn’t accustomed to such casual home life.
“Then go with Lina.” Catherine suggested.
“Use the opportunity to familiarize yourself with our surroundings.
This is our adventure team’s main base after all.”
“Ah?
Oh!” Pannis didn’t object.
“Now?”
Lina looked outside through the window, grabbed her coat and said, “It’s almost seven.
Let’s go.”
As they stepped out from the metallic gates of the mansion, Fox Street appeared quiet and peaceful.
Tall Silver Scale trees lined up neatly on both sides of the four-meter-wide street.
Their yellow leaves fluttered to the ground, forming a golden coat on the paved road.
On both sides of the street were small shops, and people went in and out occasionally, adding a lively feel to the otherwise quiet street.
Occasionally, a clear sound of a whip and the shouts of coachmen echoed on the street as horse-drawn carriages drove by.
“It’s so quiet.” Pannis said, influenced by the peaceful environment, and yawning lazily.
“It makes me want to go back to sleep.”
“Don’t even think about it.
Big sis told me, you’re not allowed to sleep in other people’s trees.” Lina shot Pannis a glance, “It’s always like this in the morning, very quiet.
But it gets lively around noon.”
A buzzing sound rang out, quickly growing louder as it approached from the end of the large street.
A rider on a two-wheeled mechanical vehicle zoomed past them, the wind and machine’s buzz quickly disappearing into the distance.
Mr.
Pannis crinkled his brow and watching the disappearing vehicle commented, “There are people here who play with magic-powered motorbikes too.
No, wait, it’s not magic-powered, it’s actually powered by crystal energy.
How rich they must be.”
“Indeed, it’s a crystal energy motorbike.
Activating the Array for charging it once requires a crystal worth five thousand Tael, which is equivalent to a thousand gold coins.
After a full charge, it could only run for about five hundred kilometers.
Such a money consuming toy is only played by a few nouveau riche families in the Holy City such as the Hua Wen Family, Stone Family, Shilven Family, Larry Family, and Macken Family who are not professionals.” Lina sneered and disdainfully stated, “Even these families don’t dare to really take it out of the city.
After all, it’s enough for them to patrol around a few streets in the city to flaunt their wealth.
Even if they drive it continuously for a month, they might not end up driving five hundred kilometers.
If they really take it out of the city for transportation, these few families can’t bear the costs.”
The two strolled casually side by side on Fox Street in the morning light, stepping on the thin layer of fallen leaves on the ground.
Shopkeepers from stores on both sides continuously popped their heads out to greet them as they just opened for the day.
“Miss Lina, good morning.
Are you out for a walk?
Is this your new neighbour?”
“Good morning, Sister Lina.
Wahhh, ** you, move away.”
“Good morning Miss Lina.
Haha, don’t worry.
I’m not that old and can work for another few years.
Been busy for a lifetime, can’t afford to be idle.
Is this the rumored Mr.
Pannis?
Nice to meet you.
You should come and visit my shop often when you have time.”
While greeting people along the way, Lina secretly laughed here and there.
When she couldn’t resist, she said to Pannis, “You were rather impressive yesterday, Pannis.
More than half of the store owners on the street knew you just after one day.”
Instead of feeling embarrassed, Pannis boastfully stated, “You see, I am quite popular.”
“You better give up, stop consoling yourself.” Lina rolled her eyes and suddenly turned back to signal to the center of the road: “The ride is coming.”
A four-wheeled horse carriage with a compartment noticed Lina’s signal and slowly stopped beside her.
The spirited driver of the carriage, in his forties, greeted warmly, “Miss Lina, you’re back!
Are you heading to the church today?”
“Indeed, Uncle Harry, is there still a spot?” On hearing the affirmative answer from the driver, Lina pushed Mr.
Pannis towards the door of the compartment.
The carriage was fairly empty.
It could accommodate at least ten people, but currently only housed two.
Upon stepping on, Lina pulled Mr.
Pannis to one corner of the carriage, “You seem dazzled, haven’t you ridden a public horse carriage before?”
“No.
I’ve just heard about it but never taken one.” Pannis shook his head, “I usually rode a horse straightaway when I went out.”
“Alright then,” Lina patted her forehead: “That’s perfect, you get to ride it once.
This can save you some trouble when you are out by yourself in the future.”
“By the way, you all should have magic-powered motorbikes too?” Pannis opened the small window near his seat, allowing the morning wind to blow on his face, “Why didn’t I see you using them?”
“There’s no need.” Lina replied casually while watching the scenery outside, “Like going to the Crying Cave this time, the journey is too long.
Even if Vivian and I could charge the motorbike, it would be very exhausting.
Moreover, one magic-powered motorbike can only seat two people.
We had three previously, so one wasn’t sufficient and two were a waste.
Therefore, we just took the horse carriage, skyboat or boat.
Except for very urgent occasions, we generally won’t ride on the magic-powered motorbike.”
“Right,” Pannis nodded, suddenly pointing out of the window, “That’s the Knight Academy, right?
I think I recognize the logo.
When did the City of Knowledge get a Knight Academy?”
Lina gave Pannis a strange look, “Apparently, it’s been there for forty years.
This is just the most primary Knight Academy, prepared for nearby children with knight talent to study.
It only lays the foundation.
If you really want to become a knight, you ultimately have to go study in the headquarter in Falar.
How long has it been since you’ve visited the Holy City?
You didn’t know all this?”
“Well, I was in a rush last time and didn’t pay much attention.” Pannis casually shrugged off the question.
Fortunately, Lina didn’t intend to dig deeper, so the topic was smoothly dodged.
A whip sound ‘cracked’, and the voice of the driver Harry came, “Miss Lina, we have arrived at the Temple of the Earth Goddess.”
“Thank you, Uncle Harry.” Lina hopped off the carriage dragging Mr.
Pannis along, casually tossing a silver coin into the carriage driver’s hand and waving him goodbye.
The Temple of the Earth Goddess in the City of Knowledge is not the headquarters of the Church of the Earth Goddess.
As the Earth Goddess is the deity most commonly worshipped by farmers and travelers, there are not many believers in the City of Knowledge.
Therefore, the size of the church here is small.
However, despite being small, all the necessary facilities and buildings are in place.
Entering the church, you encounter a prayer hall prepared for the prayers and blessings of the believers.
A statue of five meters height representing the deity is placed in the centre of the hall.
Despite being a stone statue, it faintly radiates the majesty unique to deities.
This time, there weren’t many believers visiting the prayer hall.
Only an aged nun sat with her eyes closed at the back of the hall.
As Lina entered the prayer hall, she walked directly to the statue, knelt down solemnly, her forehead gently touched the foot of the statue, and she bowed down to kiss the tip of the statue’s foot with devout reverence.
With the devout kiss, a pale yellow sacred light appeared out of thin air, pouring down from Lina’s head, basking her entire being in the holy radiance.
“Oh, praised be Denia, a sacred blessing, who has invoked the divine grace?” The old nun felt the distinct divine power of the Earth Goddess, opened her dim old eyes, spent some effort trying to recognise who was the source and then appeared to understand, “So it’s you, Lina.
Welcome home, my child.”
