The Two Who Arrived
The massive border city of Fletur.
Near the outer edges of its imposing walls, a handful of men with shifty, unpleasant faces were killing time. Their eyes and overall vibe made them hard to like, even on a good day.
They ranked among the lower classes inside the city too, sometimes doubling as mercenaries while committing petty crimes or bending the rules just enough to scrape together some drinking money.
And then...
Clack, clack...
Their attention locked onto a single carriage that had just arrived at the outskirts.
The idle men’s eyes suddenly gleamed with dark intent.
What they saw wasn’t one of the shabby cargo wagons most travelers used, but a proper, well-maintained passenger carriage.
Of course, that alone wasn’t strange. It wasn’t particularly luxurious. After all, they had seen carriages ostentatiously decorated with Ether Crystals—purely for show, a blatant waste of money.
What drew their focus was the complete absence of any crest or emblem that might mark it as belonging to a noble house or prominent family.
“Look at that. A decent carriage with no escorts. Hey, you getting the same feeling I am?”
“Yeah. They’ve got money… but no real backing, it seems.”
Maybe someone from a mid-tier merchant caravan?
The odds looked good.
Or rather, they hoped the odds looked good.
They had done this before.
If they played their cards right and sweet-talked their way in, they could pocket a nice sum. And if the target stayed guarded, there was always the option of a quiet pickpocket from behind or a more direct threat. Either way, there was nothing to lose by waiting, so the men kept their eyes fixed on the carriage door.
With luck, they might earn enough for a few rounds of drinks.
“Hey, someone’s getting out.”
At the low murmur, all the men turned their gazes at once.
A moment later, the carriage door swung open.
The first thing to emerge was a pair of elegant black low-heeled shoes.
Then came long, smooth legs.
Next, a slender waist that perfectly fulfilled every expectation.
Through the side slit of the priestess robe, elastic thighs drew every eye without effort.
The sensual curve of black pantyhose that clung even to the lines of her undergarments.
The men’s breathing hitched.
A tall beauty in a white priestess robe patterned with blue slowly stepped into view.
Her breasts pressed softly yet firmly against the fabric, straining it with every breath.
Each step sent a heavy, mesmerizing sway through her generous curves—a striking contrast against the sacred clothing.
Beautiful light brown hair cascaded down to her waist, shimmering with every movement.
Her gently lowered eyelids gave her an air of pure gentleness, the kind that stirred a man’s protective instincts while making her seem even softer and more compassionate.
Yet in complete opposition to that innocent face,
she possessed a body so sensual it was hard to believe she served any god at all.
“...Fuck. Why the hell does a priestess have a body like that?”
“Goddamn… Face like a saintess, body like a succubus. Who is she?”
Vulgar words spilled out before they could stop themselves. All around, the sound of men swallowing hard mixed with lust-filled stares that poured over her without shame.
But soon their expressions froze solid.
2nd Boundary.
That woman stood at the 2nd Boundary.
She’s on a completely different level from scum like us.
The pure, powerful ether aura radiating from the priestess triggered raw instinctual alarm. The men instinctively shrank back, shoulders hunching. She was not someone they could carelessly approach or disrespect.
And now that they looked closer, the white robe with its gold embroidery was unmistakable.
It was the standard garb of the Asteros Order.
Whatever her exact role, she belonged to the kingdom’s most famous and orthodox religious order. Even if she had only been at the 1st Boundary, they still couldn’t lay a hand on her without consequences.
She lived in an entirely different world from lowly practitioners like them, the kind who festered in the city’s underbelly.
So why would someone of her caliber suddenly appear alone in a carriage like this?
“Ah, Priestess Isabel, please wait! I’ll settle the remaining fare…!”
While the men were still processing that thought, a flustered male voice called out from inside the carriage. Their faces twisted into frowns as their eyes flicked toward the newcomer.
There stood a handsome blond youth who looked nearly 180 centimeters tall.
With his clear blue eyes, he seemed to have only just come of age.
A buckler hung behind his left hip, and on the right, a gladius shorter than a standard one-handed sword.
He didn’t look like a mercenary… perhaps an attendant?
The priestess might be untouchable, but this boy seemed to be around the same level as them, didn’t he?
At the blatant stares, the youth appeared to sense their gazes. The pretty blond boy with blue eyes glanced around at the men and their surroundings, visibly tense.
.
.
.
I, having stepped down from the carriage, quickly handed the coachman a few gold coins on Priestess Isabel’s behalf and settled the remaining balance.
We’ve finally arrived. So this is the border city of Fletur…
The first thing that caught my eye was the endless, majestic wall, followed by the countless furtive glances from the men around us.
The faint traces of ether I sensed from them. Their weapons.
Above all, the sharp tension in the air.
I swallowed hard.
We hadn’t even entered the city yet, but the atmosphere already felt completely different from my quiet hometown.
Without realizing it, my right hand had begun to stroke the sheath of my gladius.
Just then, my eyes met Priestess Isabel’s.
She quietly looked back and forth between my waist and my face, then gently took my right arm and offered a soft smile. As she drew closer, the faint scent of lilies tickled my nose in the most pleasant way.
“Hehe, Rowen. It’s not good to be too nervous. From here on, you must follow me closely, all right?”
Her voice was as warm and gentle as ever.
“Ah, yes, Priestess!”
I answered quickly and fell into step behind her.
What are you doing, Rowen, showing such a pathetic, tense face like an idiot?
Priestess Isabel had stayed in my hometown for no less than five years—all because of me. When I thought of that priceless kindness, I knew I could no longer afford to look weak.
I pressed my lips together and straightened my shoulders.
It was already far too late to turn back toward home.
No—I wouldn’t turn back.
I have to become stronger… and repay Priestess Isabel properly for everything she’s given me.
With that vow burning in my chest, I walked toward the city gates. Yet the overwhelming pressure of the massive city continued to bear down on me.
Could I really make my way through a place like this?
Honestly, I still wasn’t sure.