Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 66 - 63 The Rash Paladin Karen

The main street of Cassandra was serene, with people crossing paths, shops beginning to open, and the rotating sounds of carriage wheels. Although everyone was in a hurry, the street was vibrant with life and bustling with variety.

But this was just one aspect of society, and the relatively better part at that.

Well-dressed gentlemen and ladies, beautiful crafts inside the shops, and clean streets, all looked like paintings displayed in a museum.

The bright facade.

This was the district of the affluent, and less than a hundred meters away lay the world’s hidden darkness. They hadn’t cleaned it up, just swept it out of sight.

If you walked there, you wouldn’t maintain such leisure. A moment of distraction could cost you your purse, and a moment of carelessness could cost you your life.

While Lyle strolled the bustling streets with the curious Karen, Ralph was dealing with the trash of these times in the shadows.

Being a sheriff was never an easy job.

But today, Lyle would be rather at ease.

Ralph had made a request, and Lyle’s task for the day was to enjoy life with Ms. Karen Pembai, taking a leisurely walk in the affluent district.

Karen was curious about everything around her, she would earnestly follow behind Lyle, mimicking every one of his movements, but her attention would be quickly drawn elsewhere.

"Karen."

"I’m here! Sir Lyle, I definitely wasn’t looking at the elaborately carved porcelain vase!"

"Karen, do young people from the church seldom come to the marketplace?"

"Unless it’s for a mission. We have older Monks to teach us about the basics of life, but we seldom experience them firsthand to avoid being tainted by the world’s original sin. Our time is usually fully scheduled."

"What kind of schedule, if you don’t mind telling me."

"To a Purifier like you, I have nothing to hide. Besides daily life necessities, we pray, recite scriptures, cultivate the Holy Light, practice using weapons for combat—usually things like Shackles, Warhammers, longswords, and Scepters—and we also attend the bishop’s missionary assemblies."

Hearing Karen rattle off a list of heavy weapons, Lyle swallowed hard.

It was as if he could see the day his Necromancy was exposed, Karen, dressed in her elegant Nun attire, smashing through the door of his house, dragging a Warhammer longer than herself, to physically exorcise him.

Is this the true nature of a Nun?

"Karen, do Nuns tend to favor using those heavy weapons? I mean, in my memory, Nuns are usually seen carrying some sort of ceremonial staves."

"Sir Lyle’s impression isn’t wrong. As messengers leading others towards goodness, most Nuns maintain their gentle image."

"So, you’re an exception, Karen?"

"What exception? I am not a Nun, I am a Paladin! Sir Lyle, there’s a difference between Paladins and Nuns!"

"But Karen, the first time you appeared, you were indeed dressed as a Nun. Do female Paladins also have a habit of wearing plain clothes?"

Karen paused, and it was clear to see her cheeks start to blush.

"That’s because... my armor was stolen, my Silver Knight armor."

"..." Lyle looked at the girl in front of him, who was muttering shyly with her head down—clearly, it was a matter of great embarrassment.

"When was it stolen?"

"While I was asleep, someone took it from beside my bed."

"You weren’t very careful!"

"I never thought it would be stolen! It even had the bishop’s given brand on it, a family heirloom that only my bloodline can use."

"And now your family heirloom has been stolen."

"Yes." Karen drooped like wilted vegetables, listless, "it’s like a stain on my life."

Seeming to feel partly at fault, Lyle patted Karen on the shoulder, "It’s okay, you’re working at Public Safety now, so you don’t need that armor for the time being."

"Hmm, I have brought shame upon the Holy Light, and this pilgrimage was something I actively sought out. However, to encounter the Purifier here, this must be a revelation given to me by the Light! Praise the Holy Light!"

"Praise the Holy Light!" If the Holy Light truly had a will, it would probably be frustrated to death by you. Losing your armor and working with a Spirit Summoning Apprentice.

"So, Karen, what do you mean by ’Purifier’? Is it some kind of title?"

"A legend from the doctrinal texts, possessing a body with a pure soul, purported to be descendants of angels. They have an unparalleled affinity for the Holy Light and are the natural leaders of the Church."

That’s quite a shame, indeed.

"Lyle, Sir, don’t you feel a stirring in your heart?" Karen’s big eyes gazed at him, "Have you never considered embracing the arms of the Holy Light?"

Your persuasion is laughable compared to your fighting prowess, Eliane’s verbal skills could outmatch ten of you.

"Unfortunately, I can’t be that selfless; the Holy Light asks us to dedicate ourselves, and I can’t forsake everything to serve it."

"Become a Paladin, Sir Lyle!"

"Hmm... What’s the difference?"

"Monks and Nuns are servants of the Lord, devoting everything to Him, but Paladins are not like that. We are soldiers of the Lord, praising Him only through force and glory. Therefore, we are much less constrained. Paladins can marry and have children. They can even have their own families."

Ralph would probably love to hear this, but Lyle had already joined Andrey. The world of magic was in no way inferior to the Holy Light.

Karen continued to discuss passionately, fantasizing about Lyle becoming the leader of the Crusaders and setting off on a second Eastern expedition. Lyle even suspected that her zeal in proselytizing was to wash away the shame of having her armor stolen.

"Karen, will losing your armor affect your combat capabilities?"

"Of course not, I am already a Silver Knight. Creating a phantasmal armor from Holy Light is one of my skills. I just feel regret, that set of armor, after all, was handed down by my father, and I had planned to pass it on to my children. Hehe, although I never really thought about that matter, I just thought of the children."

Karen’s gaze drifted into the distance, the hope in her eyes shone brilliantly like gems, filled with longing for a beautiful future, with innocence, very... beautiful.

"Lyle!" a voice called out to him.

It was a figure shrouded in a black robe.

Before Lyle could respond,

"Smite Evil!" Karen charged like lightning, her right arm swinging behind her as the light of a warhammer took shape.

"Spare me!" Beneath the black cloak, William’s disheveled figure appeared; he raised his hands in surrender, a tiny talisman wedged between his fingers.

"Karen, that’s my friend."

William quickly took refuge by Lyle’s side, silently tucking away the talisman in his hand, and whispered into Lyle’s ear.

"You’re really something, a Necromancer walking with the Holy Light."

"I have special techniques for concealing my presence. Who asked you to dress so strangely."

"Wasn’t it to avoid bumping into your uncle, that bane?"

Lycanthrope phobia.

"What do you want with me, William?"

"Of course, great news, my brother, Lyle. I’ve found a secret sanctuary, the entrance lies in Cassandra, and it may lead to the fabled Mage Holy Land, the City of Legends."

"What is that?"

"A Spellcasters’ city kept hidden; I’ve recently come upon some clues. How about joining forces again for an adventure?"

"Is it dangerous?"

"Uncertain, if there was no danger, why would I seek you out? To do charity?"

"Deal."