Chapter 24

Idsilla came to see Maxi off.

"I had thought you'd at least stay for the banquet," she muttered sadly.

Maxi paused from securing her bags to Rem's saddle to give her friend a rueful smile. Most of the basilica's pilgrims seemed to believe the mages had come to keep the Orthodox faction in check. Having expected a dramatic clash, they were clearly disappointed when the mages made preparations to depart so soon after arriving. Meanwhile, the Orthodox clerics watched them with a mixture of distrust and relief.

The reason Calto gave for their visit to Osiriya was that the mages were there to help the church investigate the recent proliferation of monsters. Of course, no one believed this. Even Maxi did not consider it a credible explanation as to why they were traveling north in the middle of winter.

"Why not wait until Aquarias (the season of water, equivalent to spring)? Don't you know the cold snap will start in a few weeks?"