On the path through the Wolves Valley, the pair, Scott and the robed man warmed up to each other quite a bit.
The robed man even admitted that swinging a sword at Scott was quite over-the-top, and he was just excited to fight a demon, which Scott now didn't fall under the category of, in his eyes at least. He had even taken off the bandages over his eyes, as a sign of respect, before putting them back on.
As it had turned out, in a surprise twist, the robed man was no older than fifteen, a young lad who was even a bit naive, and as a disciple of Glamar's Cathedrals, he lived mostly with the animals and beasts according to "His" Creed. His name was Michael.
"So… this Saint Cerydias, she can use the power of her Arcane Mark to summon a thousand-beast army? And, you're telling me she can even summon artillery-like cannons from blood?" Scott asked, clearly intrigued.
"Yep!" Michael nodded, "Like most Saints, she's unlocked the full extent of Glamar's Arcane Mark, and, did I mention the fact that she fought a Black Tyrant before? They're the size of entire buildings, and can decimate entire cities!"
"…Huh. Then I guess meeting her would be quite a dream if you hold her in such high regard."
"Of course! But, aside from that, meeting someone like you is also something someone like a scholar would wish for."
"…Why?" Scott asked, raising his brow.
"Because you have the Arcane Mark of the special God, the Dreaming Gazeless God, Hisbiril!"
"I heard, that with that power, you can wield the power of alchemy and transmutation through the imagination of your mind! Only profound thinkers could receive that power from Hisbiril, and they are rare as is, so obviously, someone out there would like to meet you!"
Scott let out a small chuckle. The way Michael got excited about everything he talked about reminded him of something familiar, yet distant.
"But, if you don't mind me asking, I'm a bit confused about one thing about you… what possibly could be the reason why you have no recollection of anything at all?" Michael asked. Scott replied:
"I… have no clue in the world. Honestly speaking, I think it might have something to do with my cursed arm and maybe even my demon blood. From what you told me these past few minutes, I suppose these attributes are not commonly found in humans or animals, and especially not together."
Michael nodded, staring at the scar on his chest.
"Yeah, demons don't usually implant their demon blood in others, and my best guess for your cursed arm is probably from an abnormality infection, so perhaps, we could go to a nearby cathedral and see if they could cleanse you!"
Scott shrugged. "You sure they aren't gonna just mark me as a blasphemer or a heretic or something crazy and chain me up?"
"…I don't think so…? We've almost reached the advent of a new era within the lands of the Almighty Dream anyway, so the cathedrals should be more lenient, I'm guessing."
"Oh, and, the council of monarchs, the "Sovereignty of Six Crowns", instated a ban on the labelling of those who are rational as "blasphemers", so I don't think you have to worry."
"Alright, then let's head to the nearest cathedral, shall we?" Scott said, and coincidentally, at the same time they made it out of the Wolves Valley, stepping not on dirt ground, but now instead on a stone path, with many stone torches leading the path onwards.
"This is the path to Hanus Sols Castle, a royal stronghold belonging to Duke Estrau. The Great Vines Cathedral is also there, so let's go!" Michael yelled, pointing onwards.
Then, they walked, with Scott following Michael carefully. It doesn't hurt to be too careful, after all, as Michael still had a sword, and he was unarmed.
"Well, I was holding my own pretty well when I went crazy for a second. Maybe it was because of this." Scott mumbled quietly, looking down at the Arcane Mark on his chest.
"I do wonder how I received this mark in the first place…"
However, as he looked down, only then did he remember that he was still naked, and to make things worse, right now he was indeed strutting about, naked, following behind a kid with the sun completely out and about.
And yet, what was even weirder was the fact that Michael hadn't brought it up at all.
"Maybe he's used to seeing naked people," Scott murmured, "Who knows?"
"What was that?" Michael asked as he turned his head. Scott shook his head and said in reply:
"…Nothing."
"Huh. I thought I heard—Woah!" Michael yelped, as a wolf pounced on him from out of nowhere, while two other wolves followed its lead and leapt onto the stone road ahead.
"Damn it… wolves," Scott whispered under his breath, "Should we deal with them or run away?"
Michael scoffed. "Deal with them!"
Then, he took out his sword and swung it at the closest wolf, slashing its flesh brutally.
One of the other wolves charged at Scott, but instinctively, he swung his left arm to stop its advance.
However, he was surprised and impressed to see that the wolf had partially impaled itself on the deformities of his arm, sending it sprawling away and bleeding a mess. Upon the sight of blood, his head began to ache once more, but that didn't stop him from finishing the beast off before quickly turning his head away.
"…That arm of yours is a brutal weapon. Are you sure you can't remember what happened to it?" Michael asked, while gently carving off the skin and fur of one of the wolves.
Scott shook his head. "No clue.—But, I believe we're close to the place you were talking about. I see some huge buildings up ahead."
"Hold on…" Michael muttered, before handing him the pelts of the wolves, "You have to cover up first. The inhabitants and residents of Hanus Sols Castle don't take kindly to those who they think are blatantly disrespectful. Especially since that place is where the "First Shrine of Aria" lies."
"First Shrine of Aria?" Scott said, before continuing on the stone road with Michael.
But, as they walked, something went unnoticed.
The blood spewed by the wolf Scott killed ignited into a black flame, consuming the carcass whole in a silent blaze, before extinguishing completely, leaving nothing behind.
***
"…Woah… this is Hanus Sols Castle, huh?" Scott said, staring at the great stone and marble walls and exquisite iron gates from afar in its massive courtyard of flowers and vines.
This made it exude the merit of a great city at first glance.
He walked alongside Michael, who was staring at the two intricately-carved female statues up ahead, both of them a few steps away from each other, though they were indeed many steps away from Hanus Sols Castle's gates.
"Aria, and Cerydias. I've already told you a bit about Cerydias, but not about Aria." Michael said, his tone more serious than before as he walked.
"She was a Transcended Saint, one step away from reaching "High Sovereignty" and becoming eligible to become a monarch, and two steps away from even becoming a "God Emperor", close to wielding the highest authority under the Old World Gods."
"Though, she "died" a long time ago."
"She died?" Scott questioned.
"Well, not a real death, since past a certain "stage" you can't die from ordinary means. But… all that I can tell you is that Aria is in a state of "non-existence", one that she can't truly come back from, so we can only honour her with shrines," Michael concluded, as they finally made it to the entrance, standing in front of the statues, "Especially since…"
"…Anyway, that's enough information for now."
"We shouldn't take the main entrance since you could get reported to the knights with the abnormality of your arm, so come this way," Michael said, leading Scott to an open side entrance, "This passage leads directly to the cathedral, where we'll meet the holy priest."
Scott nodded, following him further into the entrance and through a wide, grand passageway. A few minutes later, the two of them found their way up a great marble stairwell from the passageway, with decorated walls and candlelights illuminating every step of the way.
And then, they arrived, entering the grand cathedral hall through the leftmost wooden doors near the "Bloodsoaked Altar".
"Father Morn! I'm back!" Michael exclaimed, approaching the altar with Scott, who noticed a wise old man close by, adorned in the robes of a priest. This priest tended to a large tree that looked oddly like a branch, sprouting from the grounds of the cathedral.
"And, I brought a new visitor!—" Michael was interrupted with simply the raising of a hand.
"Black-haired youth… a disciple of our faith… you have brought into this sacred place, a cursed man. A man, with both the blood of a demon, and the devastation of "Rotting Death", eating away at his vigour and remaining life."
With these words, the priest, Father Morn, turned around, to reveal that, unexpectedly, he had no eyes, nor eye sockets at all.
And then, at that very instance, a shattered sword appeared in his hands, imbued with the power of crimson flames.
"As a holy priest, of course, I shall give you a chance to explain your circumstances. But, if you fail to give me an answer, you will burn instantaneously, in the fires of the Vanquisher's Fleshflame*!"
*Vanquisher's Fleshflame: the divine flames in which a "Saint of Glamar" is birthed.