Chapter 1442: Chapter 1442

"So, when do you plan to go to Bel Diran? You're right, this needs to be explained as soon as possible. If the Queen passes away, it will be too late for you to go... It would be best to leave tomorrow."

Hathaway, perched on the edge of her bed, gently urged Jenkins.

"If I'm to go to Bel Diran, I'll have to wait until the Church authorizes my return to Nolan. And I have no idea when that will be,"

replied Jenkins. Later that night, he received the latest update from Miss Bevanna:

"Pack your things. Tomorrow evening, a steam airship will land in the mountains south of Ruen. The Ruen diocese will arrange for you to board that airship and head to Bel Diran."

"Leaving tomorrow? Why so sudden?"

Jenkins, speaking with Miss Bevanna through the Scrying Basin, asked in astonishment.

"Whether or not you know what happened in Nolan on Wednesday, the diocese has decided it would be best for a Saint to be stationed there permanently. Besides, you belong to the Nolan diocese, so staying in Ruen for an extended period isn't standard procedure. Consider your holiday in Ruen over. The airship will take you to Bel Diran to report in first, after which we'll arrange for you to return by steam train."

Miss Bevanna explained, then added a few reminders:

He couldn't quite recall the rest of what Miss Bevanna said. The sudden order to leave Ruen had stunned him, and his heart ached at the thought of leaving Alexia and Dolores. Even though he knew he could return whenever he wished, the past month and a half had been enough for him to develop a deep affection for the city.

Upon returning to the manor, he broke the news of his impending departure to the ladies. They were surprised by his sudden transfer, but didn't show much sadness at the prospect.

"You can return whenever you like. What's the difference between being in Ruen and being in Nolan?"

That evening, in Jenkins's bedroom, the petite lady inquired from the bed.

"As long as you don't forget us. I know you have two other pretty girls waiting for you in Nolan."

She said it deliberately, watching as Jenkins awkwardly promised he would visit often.

The official orders from Bel Diran soon arrived in Ruen, and the Legacy Sage Church there learned of the Saint's impending departure. They even offered to host a private luncheon at the church as a farewell, but he declined.

Jenkins had little to pack. He had arrived in the Hamparvo Kingdom due to Chocolate's "accident" with nothing but his cat and the clothes on his back. For his departure, however, Dolores had prepared a wealth of local Ruen specialties and a full wardrobe for him.

On Friday evening, a long convoy of carriages carried Jenkins and his party deep into the southern mountains. They wound through a serpentine canyon before arriving at a man-made landing platform for the airship.

It was a sprawling complex, something akin to what Jenkins would call an airport, nestled among the snowy peaks. Funded by the local church and the Ruen royal family, it had taken three years to construct, designed specifically to allow airships to dock and depart with ease.

Part of the convoy consisted of carriages from the Legacy Sage Church—the Ruen diocese was treating Jenkins's departure with great importance, and the elderly local bishop had come personally to see him off. The rest of the carriages had been hired by Dolores to transport his luggage; she had prepared a great deal for him, part of it his own wardrobe and the rest gifts for his family and friends back in Nolan.

"An airship's cargo capacity must be limited, right? Can I really take all this with me?"

Jenkins was still mulling over this concern in his carriage when it came to a halt. After he met the middle-aged priest, Father Flett, who had come all the way from Bel Diran to escort him, the man told him to bring whatever he wished without worry:

"We came specifically for you. Aside from yourself, the only others on board are a few workers, servants, and guards. The airship is quite empty, so please don't worry."

Soon, Jenkins laid eyes upon a testament to the industry and ingenuity of the age. The airship was moored on a vast platform carved into the mountainside, enclosed by peaks on three sides and opening onto the vast, empty sky on the fourth.

As the sun sank toward the horizon, its waning golden light washed over the airship's surface, making the vessel seem to shimmer.

All who saw the airship for the first time were inevitably struck dumb with awe. It was the most magnificent creation of its time, the only way for mortals to ascend into the sky. Chapters fırst released on noveⅼfire.net

Alexia, who had come along, was fascinated by the airship. While Jenkins made his rounds saying goodbye, she discreetly summoned the blue cube that embodied her [Mathematical Principles], casting its light upon the vessel's hull.

Meanwhile, Jenkins said his farewells to the assembled party. When he shook hands with Count Bidden—who was there for reasons Jenkins couldn't fathom—the count repeatedly reminded him to seek an audience with Her Majesty the Queen during his stay in Bel Diran.

"Aren't you surprised I'm leaving by airship? It's not a form of transport one gets to use lightly,"

he inquired of Count Bidden.

"Surprised? Why should I be surprised? I've already heard about the situation in Nolan. The city council has decided to hold a joint blessing ceremony with the Church to pray for the innocent who have died in the various disasters over the past six months. The Church believes you have a great deal of influence among the youth, and the city council also thinks they should find a younger person of noble status to preside over the event. That's why they're urgently recalling you..."

The luggage was carried aboard, piece by piece, as the crew conducted their pre-flight checks in an orderly fashion. The passenger entrance on the airship's deck was quite high up, and the vessel itself lacked any sort of retractable ramp. Instead, a towering, solid wooden staircase on wheels had been rolled up beside it. Jenkins stood at the foot of the stairs, taking one last look at the brilliant sunset over the mountains.

Alexia, Dolores, and Julia stood together, alongside the other acquaintances Jenkins had made in Ruen. He gave his friends one last wave, then turned and started up the stairs with his cat in tow.

The wind pressure during takeoff would be immense, so passengers were not allowed on deck. Jenkins would have to enter the cabin soon. He stood on his tiptoes at the edge of the deck for one final look down, waving goodbye to the crowd below. He then heard Count Bidden shouting up at him, casting his decorum aside:

"Absolutely, do not forget! Do not forget!"