A Journey Unwanted

Chapter 522 - 510: Trust

[Realm: Uhorus]

[Location: Verdantis]

[Capital City]

Lucinda’s and Alyssia’s gazes immediately snapped toward the source of the voice; neither of them had sensed anyone approaching. Or perhaps they had simply become too absorbed in their conversation. Regardless, the interruption was enough to pull both of them from their thoughts.

Standing a short distance away was a figure Lucinda recognized immediately; the individual possessed an appearance that was difficult to place at first glance. Tall, graceful, and almost ethereal in a very odd sort of way.

Long gray hair spilled from beneath a hooded veil that obscured portions of their features. A silver cross rested at the center of the veil, simple in design yet difficult to overlook. White robes draped from their frame, embroidered with blue patterns that flowed across the fabric.

Nothing about the attire was ostentatious or screamed authority. Yet somehow the figure carried a presence that was too apparent.

Lucinda’s eyes widened.

"A-Archbishop Percival?" The words escaped before she could stop them. Of all the people she had expected to encounter today, the highest religious authority in Verdantis had certainly not been among them.

Much less casually strolling through a castle garden.

Percival’s smile softened slightly.

"Lucinda." His voice carried easily across the distance. "It is good to see you again after all this time." He began walking toward them in an unhurried manner.

He stopped, several paces remained between them, close enough to converse.

Lucinda barely noticed, because her attention immediately shifted elsewhere, toward Alyssia. A cold spike of alarm shot through her. She was someone who should not be seen by anyone, whose existence was important enough to hide from entire nations, yet Alyssia looked completely unbothered. She was not even mildly concerned.

If anything, her expression became noticeably drier, almost annoyed.

"You again." Alyssia folded her arms; the words emerged with all the enthusiasm of someone spotting an unwanted guest. "Come to bore me with more of your prattle?"

Lucinda blinked, then looked at Alyssia and then at Percival and then back at Alyssia. Her confusion deepened considerably. What truly caught her attention, however, was Percival’s reaction. Or rather his complete lack of one; there was no surprise on his face, no shock, or even confusion. There was no indication whatsoever that he had just encountered a supposedly impossible third spawn of Octavia.

The realization struck Lucinda immediately, and apparently, Percival noticed.

"At ease." The archbishop raised a hand gently. "I was long made aware of Alyssia’s existence."

His smile never wavered.

"O-oh." Lucinda’s response felt embarrassingly inadequate; she genuinely did not know what to say anymore. Every few hours another revelation seemed to appear. At this point she was beginning to wonder if surprises simply existed to torment her specifically.

Meanwhile, Alyssia looked no less irritated; if anything, she appeared more irritated. The white-haired girl gave an audible huff, and her arms tightened across her chest.

"And what business do you have here, Bishop?" Her tone carried absolutely none of the respect one would expect when addressing an archbishop, not even the bare minimum. "As you can see, Lucinda and I are busy partaking in conversation."

Lucinda winced slightly; that had been remarkably blunt.

Then again she wasn’t actually surprised. Alyssia’s personality was becoming easier to understand with every passing minute. She spoke exactly what she thought, especially when annoyed and uncomfortable.

And Percival’s sudden appearance had clearly achieved both.

Yet the archbishop remained entirely unaffected; his smile persisted.

"I merely sought to take a stroll through the castle after attending to my duties." He gestured lightly toward the surrounding courtyard. "I also serve as caretaker for many of the gardens." His gaze drifted briefly toward a nearby bed of flowers. "Though they are not my personal gardens, I still find myself enjoying their care."

His tone remained smooth throughout, as though speaking to a grumpy Alyssia was something he had done many times before.

Alyssia did not appear convinced at all; her eyes narrowed slightly. She continued staring at him.

"Right." The word dripped with skepticism. "I’m sure you weren’t snooping on anything."

Lucinda’s eyes widened.

"Alyssia—" She immediately turned toward her fellow spawn. "Uhm, Alyssia, I’m sure the Archbishop had no ill intention."

Alyssia didn’t even look at her. "You’re surprisingly innocent, Lucinda." There was no cruelty in the statement, but even that blunt honesty stung. "As a spawn of Octavia, I thought you’d know better."

Lucinda blinked; for a moment, she wasn’t even sure how to respond. Was that criticism, concern, or advice? Maybe all three?

Before she could decide, Percival spoke once more.

"It’s quite fine, Lucinda." His voice remained calm; he had a tone that somehow encouraged people to lower their guard. "Caution is advised when one occupies such a position."

His gaze shifted toward a patch of white roses nearby. The flowers swayed gently beneath the breeze produced from within.

"Alyssia’s caution is understandable." His expression softened further. "As is yours." A thoughtful emotion entered his voice. "It is no easy burden to bear after all."

Lucinda found herself strangely affected by them; unlike many others who spoke of spawns of Octavia, Percival didn’t sound impressed, fearful, or even fascinated. He merely sounded sympathetic, as though he genuinely understood what was involved.

Alyssia seemed less moved. "Yes." Her voice became flatter. "A burden." She folded her arms tighter. "A personal one." Then her eyes narrowed slightly. "Now if that was all..."

Lucinda found herself expecting tension, perhaps even irritation, from the archbishop.

Instead, nothing changed, not even slightly. Percival simply continued looking composed.

"I merely wish to converse, is all." He stepped away from them, then surprisingly knelt beside one of the flowerbeds. Slender fingers brushed gently across a white petal. The motion seemed careful and almost reverent.

Lucinda found herself watching.

("Converse?") Her gaze followed his movements; even she found herself becoming suspicious. Not because Percival seemed threatening, quite the opposite. Everything about him seemed sincere, which somehow made it more confusing. ("If he already knows about Alyssia, then Lady Lyra must have informed him.") The conclusion felt obvious. ("But then that means she trusts him.") Her brows furrowed. ("A great deal, apparently.") Another question followed immediately. ("And if that’s the case... why show himself now?")

Besides her, Alyssia apparently shared similar doubts.

"Talk?" She sounded almost offended by the idea. "There is not much to talk about." She still seemed defensive.

The posture hadn’t changed once since Percival arrived.

"Unless this is merely another attempt to convince me to join those barbarian Inheritors in their pointless battles."

Lucinda could almost hear the disdain; Percival chuckled softly.

"Tedious battles, perhaps." He slowly rose back to his feet. "But not pointless ones." The response seemed vague, intentionally so. His eyes drifted between both girls, those eyes observant. Then, after a brief pause, he spoke again. "Would you like to join me in my personal garden?"

His gaze moved toward a distant section of the courtyard beyond several hedges and stone archways, a place hidden from immediate view.

"It is a much more comforting space."

"And why, pray tell, would we accompany you?" Alyssia’s voice carried across the garden with skepticism, one pale eyebrow rose. The white-haired spawn still stared directly at Percival, openly scrutinizing him without even attempting to hide it. "What you wish to converse about can be done here." Her tone was firm on that.

Lucinda found herself glancing between the two; neither appeared hostile. Yet there was tension in the exchange. It was not anger or even dislike, something less obvious. Alyssia spoke to Percival with the irritation one reserved for someone they had encountered many times before.

Percival, meanwhile, appeared completely accustomed to it; the archbishop’s expression did not change. His smile remained soft and impossibly patient.

"Perhaps." His answer came without hesitation and offense and without even the slightest indication that Alyssia’s suspicion bothered him. "But I would prefer to do so away from possible prying eyes." His gaze drifted briefly across the courtyard, toward the distant walls and the nearby windows.

Even here, privacy was never guaranteed.

Lucinda found herself instinctively following his gaze; the old castle was vast. Most likely filled with servants. And some officials, the Inheritors, and maybe soldiers. People are constantly moving from one place to another.

Even still, Alyssia looked unconvinced; Percival seemed to notice, or perhaps he simply expected it.

"However." His voice softened slightly. "It is quite fine if you do not wish to come." There was no pressure behind the statement or an attempt at persuasion. "Trust is earned, after all."

Lucinda noticed Alyssia’s expression shift ever so slightly; the girl did not seem surprised by the statement. If anything, she almost looked annoyed by how reasonable it sounded.

Percival offered no further explanation; instead, he simply turned. His robes shifted gently with the movement as he began walking away without another word.

Lucinda blinked; she had expected more. At least a counterargument, something. Yet Percival simply left, as though entirely content to let them make their own decision.

The silence that followed felt oddly noticeable; Lucinda’s eyes remained fixed on the retreating archbishop.

Her brows slowly furrowed.

("That was unexpected.") She found herself staring after him, trying to make sense of the interaction and to determine what exactly he wanted. ("I don’t know the Archbishop very well...")

Her thoughts wandered; she had met him before; he possessed a reputation few could question. A wise and patient man. Someone trusted by countless people, yet that did little to explain this situation.

("But what could he possibly want to talk about?") Her gaze drifted toward Alyssia; the girl remained standing where she was. Watching Percival’s retreating figure, her expression difficult to read. Annoyance remained, certainly. But there was something else beneath it, curiosity and perhaps even hesitation.

Then Alyssia sighed.

"Irksome as he is..." The white-haired spawn shook her head. "...I am sufficiently curious."

Lucinda couldn’t help the small blink that followed. Alyssia sounded almost offended by her own curiosity. As though being interested somehow meant losing, her fellow spawn huffed.

"Let us go." The decision was swiftly made; without waiting for agreement, Alyssia immediately began walking.

Lucinda watched her for a moment; a small smile threatened to appear.

Only for a second.

Because despite Alyssia’s constant attempts to appear aloof, she was beginning to understand something. The other girl was not nearly as indifferent as she pretended.

She was quite curious.