The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 72 Letter
The two letters that arrived together were from Eric's two closest relatives.

Eric opened Irene's letter first.

The address for the letter was the Imperial Capital Magic Academy on the outskirts of Lutia.

A few months ago, Alan, who returned to Lutia from the Holy City, lived up to his expectations and brought his letter to the Moon Elf Archmage Agnes.

After several exchanges of letters, Irene soon went to Lutia under his arrangement and entered the Imperial Capital Magic Academy to study magic. The whole process went so smoothly as if Agnes was waiting for his contact.

At Eric's special request, Agnes did not leave Irene to the high priest Simmagu, but let her receive the unified teaching of the academy like ordinary students, and Agnes gave her special guidance when she was free.

After she began to learn magic and master her mental power, Irene's changes were significant. Just through her words, Eric could feel how happy she was that she could remain completely lucid.

The letter she sent was more than ten pages long, filled with things that Eric had long been accustomed to but were very new to her: Lutia was so big that the end was invisible, the college building located in the middle of the lake looked like a palace, the students in the college all wore the same robes but spoke with different accents, she also made friends in the college, and some nobles in Lutia sent her invitations to visit them... It turned out that a day was so short and so long.

Looking at the neat and clear lines of words on the letter, Eric's heart melted.

His sister can finally fully perceive this wonderful world.

"I'm going to Lutia."

"Your Highness?" Alena looked at him.

"I want to see Irene."

"Your Highness..."

What made Eric even happier was that after Irene came into contact with magic, she was not opposed to it but showed great interest in it.

With such interest as the driving force, and with the guidance of the great wizard Agnes, Eric believed that Irene's growth would definitely not be inferior to that of her previous life - even if she did not pursue any magical achievements, she would be able to protect herself in the coming chaotic world.

Eric wiped his eyes as he read the letter. When he reached the end of the letter, where Irene asked him when he could come to Lutia to see her, he wiped his eyes again.

Brother, I also want to know when I can leave...I haven't finished my homework yet.

After reading it, he read it again from the beginning. Then Eric put Irene's letter away and opened the letter from his uncle Edgar.

After staying in Lesire for more than half a year, he actually exchanged letters with his uncle quite frequently, basically at least one letter every month.

In addition to greetings, they also updated each other on their recent situations. His uncle seemed to have anticipated that he would not be able to leave the Holy City and never mentioned when he would return.

Thinking about his own and his sister's situation, Eric wondered if he should persuade his uncle, who was already quite old, to get married and have children sooner...

In this letter, Edgar also mentioned something that Eric had asked him to pay attention to when he first came to the Holy City.

[I have asked people to keep an eye on the two Arameans you mentioned, and we have recently received news about them.

The southern border with the Kingdom of Arsha and Castelfer has been quite chaotic in recent months, with frequent, inexplicable clashes, seemingly orchestrated by someone. I've had someone investigate, and they've found traces of Arameans behind several of the more significant incidents.

The actions of the Arameans are indeed suspicious.

I have written to Governors Dorne and Guradia, as well as the Grand Prince of the Kingdom of Arsha, asking them to pay attention.

Also, two months ago, Nightingale witnessed an Aramean being executed and burned in the wilderness. His appearance was quite similar to the Garcia you mentioned.]

Eric put down the letter in his hand and thought about it.

Judging from my uncle's letter, there seem to be quite a few Arameans active in the southern part of the continent.

Were they planning to provoke conflict and create chaos on the southern border to attract the empire's attention, and then restore their country in the north?
You are awesome, Aramean...

Eric shook his head, thinking it was unnecessary.

But on second thought, he was looking at this matter from the perspective of the result. If he knew nothing about the Arameans' purpose, it would be difficult to detect the origin of this chaos under normal circumstances.

When the news reaches Lutia, it will only make people think that there will be chaos on the border again. It will be difficult not to focus on that side, and the Arameans will have the opportunity to restore their country.

As for the deceased Alan who was suspected to be Garcia, Eric was sure it was him.

It is likely that Alan learned from him that Garcia's big mouth leaked the information, and then turned around and told his tribe members to silence him.

"Since Uncle has noticed it, even if I don't do anything about it, it shouldn't cause any big trouble..."

Eric was still debating whether or not to tell his uncle Aram's true intentions in his reply when the third letter of the day walked into his room on its own.

It is a message from the saint.

"Your Highness Eric, Her Highness the Saint invites you over." "I understand."

Eric responded and said he would be there soon.

He hasn't gone to greet the saint yet today.

Greeting the Saint every morning and evening was what the Saint had requested when he first arrived more than half a year ago. Later, it gradually became once every three days, and then once every five days. However, this frequency wasn't fixed. Occasionally, he would have something to ask the Saint, or the Saint would take the initiative to seek him out, like now.

The maid who announced the incident had already left. Eric glanced out the window, which had already darkened. "What could be happening at this hour?"

Alena didn't know either, she just took out her coat and put it on him.

When Eric walked over, the old saint, who was in her eighties, was sitting there, hunched over and looking very weak.

After winter came, the saint's health was not very good. She used to say things like "I'm going to die" and "I don't have many days left" to scare Eric, but now she never said them again. It was obvious that the old lady was not without fear of death.

According to Eric's memory, the old lady's time has not actually come yet, but he cannot be sure - what if the fact that he replaced Irene as the quasi-saint has affected the saint's lifespan in some way?

"You're here." The saint looked up, raised her hand weakly, and pointed to the side.

Eric sat over and said, "Your Highness."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to survive this winter," said the saint.

Eric was stunned and looked at her, but he thought that what she said meant that her health was getting better.

"How could that be? I'm not ready to take over the monastery yet. Please try to hold on for a few more years."

The Saint glared at him, then quickly smiled again, "Your Highness Eric, difficulties that arise only after you've made preparations are not difficulties at all."

After spending the past six months together, if nothing else, the relationship between the two generations of Saints had grown much closer. Eric didn't know if the Saint treated him as a grandson, but it was hard not to feel like he was facing an elderly family member when he treated this Saint, who was so kind most of the time.

"You're right. I still have a lot to learn," said Eric.

"Yeah, why else do you think I asked you to come here?"

The saint looked at him and said, "The New Year is coming soon. According to the tradition of the monastery, in these last few days, I should go to the holy mountain to thank God for his grace this year."

Eric understood now. "Your Highness's health might not be able to withstand such an ordeal. I will go in your place. However, I have no experience in how to do it."

"It's very simple. You just need to go to the church on the holy mountain and pray. Alena and I have been there twice to learn the specific procedures. Let her preside over it." said the saint.

Eric also breathed a sigh of relief, "Yes, Your Highness."

He quickly thought of another thing, "If this is the case, I won't have time to complete the task assigned by His Highness before the New Year."

The old man frowned, "What mission?"

When Eric mentioned the continental history class assignment, the saint thought for a while and looked enlightened.

"Oh, that was my arrangement. I would have forgotten it if you hadn't mentioned it. So, do you have the answer?"

"Still thinking about it," Eric replied.

"Then keep thinking."

The old man waved his hand and said, "This time when you go up the mountain, you will have plenty of time to think."

At this time, Eric did not understand the meaning of this sentence until he returned to the neighboring house and Alena told him that as a young and strong saint, he had to pray in the church on the holy mountain all night.

"...I remember the Saint told me to pray?"

"That is the privilege of Her Highness the Saint after she turns sixty," Alena replied.

Eric was speechless.

"Your Highness, please decide on a date to go up the mountain."

"Then do it as soon as possible. Is tomorrow too late... No time to prepare? Then do it the day after tomorrow."

Two days passed, and on the morning of the day they were going to the holy mountain, the wind was as sharp as a knife, and huge snowflakes rustled on Eric's face, and his heart almost froze.

"What do you mean by riding a carriage up the mountain is a privilege only for those over sixty?"

(End of this chapter)