When confronted with this situation, Lucian's hidden mischievous streak nearly flared up — he almost blurted out "Serve the people!" in response. Fortunately, he restrained himself in time, bending slightly to help Bock to his feet and saying gently, "This is what any person of conscience should do."
A carriage driver in the Holm Kingdom actually going to such dramatic lengths — was this because opera was so popular here?
Bock didn't have a poet's vocabulary. He kept repeating words like "gratitude," "thank you," "hope," "survival," "farmer," and "harvest." After muttering these several times, he finally snapped back to reality and hastily said, "Mr. Evans, please get in the carriage. I'm terribly sorry for taking up your time."
"It's no trouble. As you can see, we're in no rush." Lucian casually glanced around and noticed that many passengers boarding and disembarking from the train were curiously watching their side, wondering why Bock would perform a gesture resembling church attendance, confession, or a formal audience with the pope or king. Could some country's king be secretly visiting by magical steam train?
Under Bock's guidance, Lucian and Arthur boarded the carriage bearing the royal purple emblem, while Arthur's guards scattered and followed at a distance.
"Country bumpkin doesn't know the first thing about the world — performing such rites for someone who doesn't even qualify just because of one good harvest, completely disregarding etiquette and making a mockery of the royal family!" Arthur thought with some irritation, then put on a smile and took the opportunity to quietly compliment Lucian: "It's a good thing we're inside the Hexagram Platform, where few ordinary people dare approach. If anyone saw him performing that kind of ceremony for you, Evans, he'd be thrown in prison. A bountiful harvest truly is every farmer's greatest hope — you bringing them that harvest means you've become the Harvest Angel in their hearts."
Lucian seemed to gaze right through the wooden partition separating the carriage from the driver's seat and smiled: "According to some historical records, after the Church of Truth was founded, the deities that immediately emerged among humanity included those of Death, the Sun, the Moon, Life, and Harvest — or Hunting — and from there gradually evolved an increasingly rich and diverse pantheon. But to this day, only about a dozen nations northwest of the Dark Mountains remain."
Human worship of deities originated in the age of ignorance, but long before mages rose to dominance, it had been nearly wiped out by the harsh environment filled with terrifying creatures. Aside from legends, only a handful of mural-style records survived. At the same time, humanity occupied a low-to-mid position in the food chain — until certain individuals born with powerful spiritual strength gradually figured out how to replicate the patterned structures of magical creatures in order to cast spells. Only then did humanity begin its ascent.
For many years afterward, there was absolutely no trace of deities or churches within the Magic Empire. If one wished to conduct similar research, one had to attack other intelligent races or explore other dimensions.
When the Church of Truth finally emerged on the stage of history, it brought along other churches worshipping different deities. Together, they toppled the Magic Empire — only to be annihilated in turn by the growing Church of Truth. Only a handful of nations northwest of the Dark Mountains escaped the purge, coexisting in a delicate balance with states of other races.
When Lucian discussed these matters and described the gods as "rich and diverse," Arthur didn't dare interject at all. Although he openly associated with mages and, after the Theory of Divine Life Gifts was revised, had developed deep skepticism toward the Church — his faith shaken once more — he still retained considerable reverence for the God of Truth, instilled in him since childhood.
Lucian noticed his expression and casually shifted the topic to the Minerals and Harvest Company, immediately easing the atmosphere. Their conversation flowed pleasantly…
The venue for the evening banquet was a private villa along the Verosa River in Lontard, facing a river dusted with flecks of gold like a ribbon of light, backed by a garden bursting with flowers. The scenery was breathtaking.
Inside the villa, Lucian once again met Natasha's uncle, Prince Patrick. He looked even older and thinner than a year ago — not like a man in his prime, but rather someone well into his declining years.
"Welcome back, Evans. You've returned much sooner than I expected." Patrick held a glass of red wine, sheltered by several attendants on the balcony as he enjoyed the cool breeze drifting in from the river. "I've always wanted to travel across the continent like you, visiting different places, experiencing different customs — but unfortunately my health won't allow it. By the way, how is my dear niece doing? Is she happy? Has she grown any taller?"
Lucian answered with a smile: "Your Highness, Natasha has long passed the age of growing taller, but she's slowly emerging from the shadow of her past."
After a relaxed chat about Natasha, about Altor, and about travel experiences, Patrick patted Lucian on the shoulder: "Evans, come — before the banquet begins, let me introduce you to a few friends."
His mental state today seemed quite good, without the frequent coughing of the past.
Leading Lucian through the grand banquet hall, Prince Patrick quietly nodded to several nobles, then entered a lounge. Following them were three impeccably dressed nobles and a middle-aged man in a black arcane robe.
"This is Count Haisong, the Kingdom's Chancellor of the Exchequer." Patrick gestured without condescension toward an elderly man wearing a white wig, who had a pair of piercing blue eyes.
"And this is Duke Russell of Wolfburg, and this is Duke James of Pefforth. Both are influential members of the Noble Assembly."
Wolfburg County and Pefforth County were both relatively prosperous regions in the Holm Kingdom. The two dukes, each governing their own territory, looked to be in their prime — one with shoulder-length golden hair, handsome and dashing; the other with fierce features and a shaved head. But as far as Lucian knew, neither was actually young; they maintained their youthful appearances thanks to their Sky Knight strength.
Finally, Patrick pointed with a faint smile at the black-haired, black-eyed mage: "This is Viscount Harrison of the Holm Royal Arcane Academy, also a member of the Wizard's House and the Noble Assembly. He's a well-known illusionist and alchemist — you've surely heard of him, Evans?"
Lucian gave a slight nod to confirm that he had indeed heard of him. According to the private agreement between the Church and the nobility, when another heir existed, a mage could not inherit a title — at most, they could become a member of various councils. And because "another heir" was defined so broadly, even distant relatives with only thin blood ties qualified. So practically no mage could inherit their family's title; the most they could do was become nobles first and then study magic. Only a handful of lucky few managed to inherit titles in their capacity as mages — such as the Viscount Harrison sitting before him.
What made other mages even more envious was that at the time of his inheritance, he had been only a fifth-circle mage. Yet with the considerable wealth of his viscount family and his own abilities, he had advanced to high rank in just fifteen years.