Scepter

Part 1

"This is the fifth one, right? I heard it's even worse in the capital..."

"Oh my, is this some sort of divine punishment!"

"I've heard people say it's the conspiracy of the mages..."

"Oh, spare me, dear. Ever since Hughes was executed, I don't believe in the propaganda of the church anymore!"

"Hush, lower your voice, dear. The matter of Hughes was indeed tragic, but Priest Hill is still a good man! Seeing him, I might feel that the church is still worth believing in!"

"Yes, I suppose he might be the only good person in the church..."

The young woman muttered, her dark face flushed with embarrassment at her previous indiscretion upon hearing the name Hill.

Another slightly older woman mocked, "Oh, look, our priest has gained another admirer!"

"Enough, Anna, you're not much better than me!" Jenny retorted defiantly.

Indeed, regardless of age, women seem to have little immunity when faced with a charming member of the opposite sex.

In the early morning of Jed Town, the first gentle rays of sunlight, warm and soft, spread across the small town, which, with a population not much larger than a village, seemed peaceful and tranquil.

The women gathered with their baskets, teasing each other, their conversation shifting from the recent outbreak of the Black Death in the nearby city of Tumaco to the newly arrived Priest Hill in the town, gradually becoming more suggestive, enough to make the unmarried girls blush.

In the baskets lay bunches of fresh, dew-kissed irises, just picked in the morning. These flowers easily evoked thoughts of the tranquil and peaceful nature of the town.

But soon, their conversation came to a sudden halt.

In the dawn, a white-robed priest approached from afar.

Even the boldest of women unconsciously lowered their voices as he drew nearer.

"Priest Hill, have you had breakfast? Why don't you come to my house and eat?" Anna extended the first invitation, while the others regretted their slow response.

"No, thank you, I've already eaten," the white-robed priest politely declined with a smile, removing his hood. His graceful demeanor exuded a gentle healing aura, and his lake-like blue eyes, when gazing at others, seemed to penetrate deep into their souls.

The priest undeniably possessed a striking beauty, but he seemed to prefer not drawing too much attention to it, often wearing a hooded cloak outside to avoid such troubles.

The sunlight cast a dazzling radiance on his silver hair, giving him an aura of sanctity that should not be profaned.

Then he asked, "Have there been any strangers in town recently?"

"No, you know, strangers rarely come to our little town," Anna replied.

"Yes, but you still need to be careful. Make sure to wash clothes and blankets with boiling water and sunbathe them frequently. If any strangers come, notify me immediately. A month ago, when I passed through Tumaco City, the situation there was already very serious," the white-robed priest earnestly cautioned.

Tumaco City was one of the three major cities of the Duchy of Mecklenburg, and the closest large city to Jed Town. However, what they called "closest" still required a journey of ten days to half a month by carriage from this small town. The town's residents were self-sufficient and rarely ventured outside, mostly learning about the outside world from traveling merchants.