Dawn Pilgrimage to Sia Kalt and Cecilia's Naming
In the early morning at Sia Kalt, before the temple bells could ring, five shadows began to stir.
"Have you packed everything?" At Seraphina's question, Cloy—with her white fur and neat bob haircut—perked up her cat ears. Dressed lightly, she moved without making a sound.
"Yes! I picked only the essentials. But..." All eyes turned to Ronflow's room. Dressed in ornate elven traditional garb, he was bustling about with his green long hair swirling.
"This is a 300-year-old harp... and this is a 450-year-old magic score..." Ronflow muttered.
"Ah, and this legend written on parchment..."
"Now, for a true epic..."
"Quiet."
Gain opened Ronflow's door.
"Ack! Wait a second! This ancient elven secret tome..." Gain expressionlessly picked up Ronflow's bag. He pulled out only the harp and tossed it to the elf.
"Take just this."
"No! This is my soul's..." Ronflow's scream echoed.
"By the way," Cloy twitched her ears. "Breakfast is..."
"Here." Seraphina handed over a small pouch. "I prepared it in advance."
"As expected of the Saint!" Cloy's white tail wagged happily.
Beatrice stood at the temple entrance, gazing toward the eastern sky. Her silver armor gleamed in the dawn light, her long blonde hair fluttering in the wind. Beside her, Gain with his short brown hair stood silently. Dew clung to his light leather armor.
Beyond the distant horizon, the faint silhouette of the Sia Kalt mountains loomed. The eternal snow sparkling in the morning sun was mystical, but the distance felt endless.
"Bea." Seraphina approached. Her pink hair fluttered in the morning breeze against her pure white nun's habit.
"One last prayer to Michael..."
"Got it." The two knelt side by side before the altar.
"Prayer's done here." Beatrice stood. "Let's go. I'm worried about Geomun."
Sunlight filtered through the temple's stained glass, casting a rainbow of colors. The city was just beginning to wake. Merchants heading to the dawn market spotted the group and whispered.
"Over there, the Saint and the Silver Hero..."
"Sia Kalt? That untrodden snow mountain...?"
"No news since the last caravan vanished ten years ago..."
"Hurry." Cloy folded her ears. "Before the crowd gathers..."
"This path..." Ronflow picked up his harp. "200 years ago, the great bard Delphinius..."
"Quiet."
"But Gain! This sublime tale..." Ronflow shut his mouth under Gain's cold gaze.
"Ah..." Cloy giggled. "Now I get it. When Gain says 'quiet,' it's silent in 3 seconds, and when Bea calls your name, it's 5..."
"Cloy." Beatrice turned her head.
"Yes..." Cloy's ears drooped.
Cleaving the dawn air, the group set off. Morning sunlight poured behind them as they left the capital of the Heshet Empire.
…
"It's been a week already." Cloy said during a break. It was the nonstop journey from the Heshet Empire to the border of Jenes Kingdom.
"I've got a question. How did you and the Saint first meet, Beatrice? I joined three years ago, so I don't know."
Gain's eyebrow twitched slightly, and Ronflow paused his harp-strumming, showing interest. Even those who'd spent long years with Beatrice didn't know this story.
Seraphina glanced at Beatrice before speaking. "Back when we were knight trainees in the Heshet Empire. Bea was a baron's daughter but started with barracks cleaning like everyone else. I was a commoner, but we both trained diligently."
"So that's how you got close?"
"Yes. Bea was the only one I could talk to comfortably. But... I suddenly received Michael's blessing. I had to leave as the Saint without preparation."
Beatrice stood. "It's fine. Thanks to that, we're here."
"So Beatrice left the knights too...?" Cloy asked.
"Training got boring. I just left and became an adventurer. Then I found the holy sword."
"Ooh! This is fate's..." Ronflow reached for his harp.
"Quiet." Gain muttered indifferently, unfolding the map. "Next, we cross Set Hanryeong."
"Where ice golems appear most?" Ronflow stroked his harp. "My song will..."
Then, a monster's cry echoed from the forest. Gain's spear moved first, piercing the beast atop a tree in a flash of light.
Ronflow's harp sounded softly. The group's movements lightened.
Cloy vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind another monster in an instant.
"Hya!" Beatrice's silver sword flashed. A monster arm flew through the air.
Gain's spear cleanly finished the last one.
"Ooh! This glorious victory in song..."
"Quiet."
Ronflow shut up, but his fingers still plucked the strings lightly. Only when Gain shot him a sharp look did he stop completely.
"Ah! Deblanc over there..." At Cloy's words, everyone turned.
In the distance, Jenes Kingdom's first city, Deblanc, came into view.
"Finally..." Ronflow's voice brimmed with excitement. "The great city Deblanc! Now our..."
"Ronflow." Beatrice and Gain said simultaneously.
"Enter normally. No fuss."
As they neared the city gates, guards spotted them. At first, they seemed like ordinary adventurers, but Beatrice's silver armor and holy sword gleaming in the sun changed their expressions instantly.
"Sil... Silver Hero!?"
"The Saint too..."
People gathered quickly.
"What brings you here...?"
"To Sia Kalt...?"
"Michael's revelation, they say..."
Seraphina smiled warmly. "Yes, on Michael's revelation to Sia Kalt."
No further explanation.
"This way." Deblanc's guildmaster appeared to guide them. He personally cleared the path to the inn called "Moonlit Haven."
"Saint, Silver Hero..." The innkeeper bowed deeply. "We've prepared the best suite. Free of charge."
Gain looked at Beatrice impassively, his gaze saying 'As expected.'
Even as they were shown to their rooms, eyes followed the group. But Gain's cold stare made them turn away.
"Alright." Beatrice spread the map. "Let's plan tomorrow's route. To Set Hanryeong..."
"Ooh! Set Hanryeong!" Ronflow jumped up. "In that harsh snow mountain, we'll write a new epic! This is..."
"Ronflow!" Everyone shouted at once.
Seraphina couldn't hide her smile. Even after five years, they hadn't changed.
"Rico, how about naming this child?"
'Huh? A name?'
Right. It's the kid I'm raising from now on—I should name it. Hmm... something fitting its traits...
<How about Hotpack?>
"Hotpack...? What does that mean?"
<Something that keeps you warm!>
The sound is cute, and it fits perfectly! What could be better!
"Hmm... good meaning, but hard to pronounce?"
'Is it?'
Maybe tough for isekai folks? But it's English? Hmm...
<How did you name yourself, Master?>
"Rico? It just came to mind when I saw you."
Uh... I thought of Hotpack, though...
"Oh right. I've been calling you Rico, but Ricoris is your full name."
Master smiled brightly. Ugh! Heart, don't act up! Don't say it's nothing! I definitely feel it!
I knew the full name from the status window, but hearing it straight from Master felt oddly nice. Should I give it a name with a nickname too? Hmm...
…
<Cecilia! How's that? Nicknames like Cecil or Lia!>
"Oh, so pretty. Like a flower's name."
<Yes! I imagined the prettiest flower. Pure yet warm!>
Master's eyes softened instantly. Yes!
<It's already shining like a ruby, right?>
<My daughter's name has to be shiny and pretty!>
Gazing at the rippling red light in the cocoon made me swell with pride for no reason.
"Huh? But is this one a girl?"
'Eh?'
Yeah? Why did I assume girl? Maybe because of faint memories of being a guy before—I wanted a daughter? If it's a boy, hoping to be a doting dad is natural!
<Did you know it's a girl, Master?>
"Yeah. Anyone can tell it's a girl."
'What!? Really!?'
Even as a flower!?
<How...?>
Master's eyes sparkled as she extended her hand toward my weak spot...
'Hngh!'
"See?" Master said with a small laugh.
Eh. She named me before rubbing, right...? Whatever. More importantly, is this a son?
<Then does it seem like a boy...?>
"Hmm... no. Can't tell at all."
Phew... daughter it is!
<Then Cecilia it is!>
"Hehe... yes, let's do that."
I vigorously named my daughter? Cecilia and gazed at the cocoon.
'Ooooh!' The status updated super fast. Once named, affection welled up instantly.
'Grow up warm and cozy.'