223 Paladins of Serra - Catavan

"Yeah, let's quickly head to the Church of Serra and get some shelter," Daisy said leading the way.

Looking around, it was the first time I've ever seen the effects of a city ravaged by conflict. "I hope the Church is safe, the lower district was hit the worst right?" I asked.

"I think so, it was on the other side of most the conflict," Daisy answered and began leading the way.

As we made our way to church, the general townsfolk gave us a mixture of looks ranging from anger to admiration. "Why do I feel we're not so liked here," I asked Daisy and Grace.

"No idea, but we can ask once we get to the Church," Daisy answered as we made our way through the city, despite being on the other side of the conflict it still showed small signs of battle.

"Please Please, can you spare some silver?" I lost my house and husband in the attack." A begged walking up to use with gathered up rags to shield her from the cold.

"Here take this," I instinctively handed her five gold and took off the school badge taking off my winter robe to give to her. My body instantly began shiver not realizing how cold it actually was here.

"Thank you, Thank you." She bowed repeatedly as we carried on making our way to the church.

A few more beggars bravely approached us asking for help. "Take this, I'm sorry but it will only last for three hours," Grace said performing some form of magic on a rock making it heat up magically, as well as giving them rations of food.

"The people here are living in absolute poverty," I said in shock.

"Sadly and the harsh climate conditions don't help either." Grace nodded.

"Please anyone else that needs help please make your way to the Church of Serra, regardless of your faith or beliefs, we will help anyone," Daisy called out to everyone.

As the church emerged there was an absolutely overwhelming amount of citizens that needed help and lots of Priests of Serra helping hand out food and blankets, "My lord," I instinctively uttered lost for words.

We began slowly making our way through the crowd to the closest priest. "Excuses me brother," Daisy said to a teen boy wearing a very bland thin robe that did little to keep him warm.

"One second." He said finishing up helping a small family. "Yes?" He questioned looking at the three of us for a second and suddenly his expression changed to shock.

"Hi, we came from Atlantis to help with the processions today." Daisy smiled.

"Oh my... yes, yes come this way." He said leading us into the church explaining who we were to some other priests stopping the general public entering the church.

"Hello brother Reece, I'm Daisy and these are my two friends Emilia and Grace." She answered him with a smile.

"Sister Daisy, Sister Emilia, Sister Grace." He smiled bowing his head in respect.

"Oh.. We're not." Grace and I instinctively began to explain.

"It's okay, we're all children of Serra." Daisy explained to us with a smile.

"So right now most of us are out helping the sick and homeless while the Head Priestess Verena and Arch Bishop Francis are with the City councils and Royals in a meeting." He explained to us.

"Oh, what is the meeting for?" I questioned trying to find out more on what Paul is up to.

"It's a meeting to determine how much Black Dragon Slayer compensates the city for damages, He answered.

"Damages?" I questioned surprised how he answered.

"Of course, he practically decimated almost half the lower district into dust, it was due to him we have such a large homeless population now, not including all the damages and lost livelihoods as well. He explained to us.

"Yeah, but he saved the city," I argued back finding the whole thing preposterous.

"Is that why some of the citizens have been giving us dirty looks?" Grace questioned.

"Yes, he's made many families homeless, jobless literally erasing everything they had." He carried on explaining his position.

"Brother Reece that will be all for now, I'll look after our guests." A maturer female voice joined the conversation.

"Sister Seraphine." Reece turned to nod to her and made his leave, as a young human woman appeared donning a full set of chain-mail armour similar to Daisy's but not as bulky.

"Sister Daisy, I presume?" She asked looking at Daisy.

"Yes that would be me," Daisy bowed to her with respect.

"I'm Sister Seraphine, Daughter of High Priestess Verena. Odd mother told me to expect only one visitor today." She said looking at Grace and me.

"They are my friends Grace and Emilia." She said pointing to us, making me give a very awkward wave while Grace bowed her head in respect.

"Greetings," Giving us a nod of acknowledgement. "I am told you bravely fought in defense of the city." She said looking at Daisy.

"Yes we all did, most of Atlantis was deployed that day." She answered.

"Thank you for your assistance, we would most likely have lost the city have you not accepted our request for aid." She smiled.

"I was told that my presence was requested to assist in the ceremony today," Daisy answered.

"Yes, the city will be holding a special day in remembrance for all tho passed in defense of the city. As you probably already know, all bodies here need to be cremated and properly and buried in hallowed ground." Seraphine answered.

"Yes, I assumed I'd be helping in prayers today." She answered.

"Sadly we have more of a hands-on task today." She answered issuing us to follow her.

"Really?" Daisy questioned.

"Yes, we're gonna meet up with the rest of my squad. Our task today is to sanctify the land where the cremation and burials will take place." She explained.

"Ohh, it's not being done in the church?" Daisy questioned.

"Sadly there are too many bodies to hold individual ceremonies," She explained walking up to a large set of double doors and pushing them aside revealing a very large prayer room.

"You found our guest." An older man with a set of thick white hair and white stubble wearing plate armour similar to Daisy's smiled at us as we entered.

"The famed Paladin that enrolled in Atlantis." A younger girl, maybe a little older then Daisy with golden yellow locks grinned as if she ready to compare herself to Daisy.

"We weren't expecting extra visitors," A young adult male with dark black hair and a clean shave smiled towards Grace and I.

"You all know Atlantis students are never alone," Seraphine joked walking towards them.

"Welcome, I'm Paladin Pichard." The older gentleman smiled holding out a hand to greet us.

"I'm Daisy, and these are my friends Emilia and Grace." Dasiy smiled shaking his hand.

"Hi." Grace and I waved back.

"Thank you for your help in defending our city, I'm Brother Ezechiel and the other young one is Sister Laila don't pay any mind to her rudeness." He smiled shaking our hands.

"Who are you calling rude!" Laila objected.

"Settle down, judging by the look of you two, we have a ranger and a caster," Seraphine questioned.

"Yes, Emilia is a sorceress," Grace added.

"Well, it might be a little boring for the both of you today," Pichard apologized.

"I'm actually rather interested." I smiled.

"Well it is kinda a spectacle but there won't be much action," Laila explained.

"So you all were also defending the town?" I asked politely.

"Yes, we were deployed to defend the inner city districts." They answered.

"We were pretty lucky that day that the Black Dragon Slayer and Scarlet were deployed, I heard they alone decimated the entire Dark Elf army and the nearby reinforcements." Seraphine nodded.

"Why does the general public dislike his actions then?" I questioned curiously how they saw him in a different light.

"You know politicians, they are the best when it comes to passing blame." Seraphine smiled.

"He did it to himself, not only did he not speak up to defend his actions. He openly attended this meeting to finalise the costs. He practically made himself look guilty." Laila laughed.

"You should be more grateful that he actually came and defended the city, I was told he wasn't even on the initial roster of Atlantis students sent to help us," Pichard warned Laila.

"Yeah he wasn't initially meant to come that day, but he did once he heard the city was under attack, he also almost sacrificed himself to save the refugees outside the city gates," I answered.

"Oh, that's why the council are so out to get him" Seraphine chuckled.

"Right, let's make a move on, everyone ready?" Pichard asked arming himself with a sword.

"Yeah, I don't want to get scolded again." Laila sighed picking up one-handed flail from a nearby table.

"Are we expecting trouble?" I noticed Seraphine equipping herself with a short spear and a large shield.

"Nothing should happen, maybe a few vengeful spirits and things but nothing too dangerous," Seraphine answered.