Heart of Burning Steel

Chapter 46: The Era of Burning Flames Will Eventually Come

Chapter 46: The Era of Burning Flames Will Eventually Come

City Center, St. Laurent Cathedral.

The black circular sacred emblem hung at the top of the cathedral, unmoving even amidst the fierce wind and heavy snow, as stable as a rock.

Joshua carried Anrea, walking steadily and swiftly. This city guard in his hands was different from his officer and comrades; his internal organs were severely damaged, while his external injuries were minimal. If not treated immediately to stabilize his condition, he could very well die, or at best, suffer organ failure.

Joshua had business at the cathedral anyway, so he simply brought him along.

Crossing the steps, Joshua reached the stone-wood door and noticed that the white glow previously covering it was gone. The divine reinforcement and sealing formations had disappeared, so he pushed the door open himself.

"Creak."

The sound of ice and wood rubbing together echoed. The door opened, and without hesitation, the warrior stepped into the receiving hall. Two armored Templar Knights, sensing someone of immeasurable strength opening the church door, quickly stepped out from a resting room around the corner. However, when they saw it was Joshua who opened the door, they halted and saluted.

"Lord, what brings you here?"

One of them stepped forward, asking in confusion. It was indeed strange. In such cold weather, even ordinary people just wanted to stay at home rather than come to the cathedral to pray. Why would a noble count bother coming?

"I need someone treated. This guy's injuries are too severe."

Joshua handed the young city guard over to the two knights. Meanwhile, two students of Artanis, sensing the presence of a Golden-tier-tier powerhouse, rushed over. These two Silver-level priests were still apprentices under Pastor Artanis and, according to church tradition, would remain so until they gained an awakening of faith, took an oath, and acquired true holy light to independently lead a church.

But for now, they could only follow their mentor to heal and treat.

"Thank you, both of you. Treat his internal injuries briefly. And where is Pastor Artanis? I have urgent business with him."

Taking off his torn and claw-ripped clothes, Joshua bared his upper body and walked directly towards the hallway behind the cathedral hall. As he walked, he asked, "Is he in his room or the library?"

"The library, my lord."

The younger priest, named Vic, answered while tending to Anrea's wounds and using holy light to gauge his internal injuries. "Teacher has been looking for books about the Ancient Starfall Inland Sea and has been there for days."

"Good, thank you."

Now knowing where Artanis was, Joshua quickened his pace, passing through the winding corridors and heading straight to the back of the cathedral.

Library.

Artanis stood before a tall bookshelf, silently browsing through old books. He wore glasses with wooden frames, his expression serious. Beside the white-haired pastor were dozens of similar books, piled like a mountain, nearly engulfing him.

While he was deeply immersed in his reading and taking notes, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the library.

Moments later, the footsteps stopped outside the door. Accompanied by a deep scraping sound, the library door opened. Artanis just finished placing a bookmark, closed his book, and set it aside. The white-haired pastor curiously spoke to the warrior before him, "Look who we have here, our new lord. Why have you come... and without a shirt? What's the urgency?"