Byparison, those emerging city-states farther away seemed to receive no attention at all. No one knew exactly how many small cities less than 100 years old were scattered across the Eastern Lands, and quite a few didn''t even have a temple dedicated to the Deity, nor had any Divine Practitioner ever visited them.


    This was quite normal, after all, the church was developing rapidly, but Humans were evolving even faster. Those remote locations were thus naturally neglected. Eryxis was one such kingdom, established for only two generations.


    Its founder had passed away, not from old age, but from the pain brought about by constant fighting. As the son of City Founder Elyxinos, Clytius naturally seeded him as king, bing the ruler of a ce called a kingdom but in reality, it consisted of just one city and a few towns as his territory.


    In the first twenty years of his session, everything went smoothly, and the nation''s poption, initially only in the hundreds of thousands, grew stronger under Clytius''s rule. However, over the past year, the king had been constantly furrowed with worry.


    The climate change was too abrupt, including not just the drop in temperature, but even the crops stopped growing.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Thend became barren, the sources of food dwindled, and wild beasts began attacking Humans, heedless of danger. The kingdom of Eryxis, which had never encountered such a predicament, had no strategy to cope, and the little food reserves wouldn''tst for several years. A famine loomed on the horizon, but as the king, Clytius was helpless.


    Until this day, while the king, still pondering over solutions, received news that his daughters had brought him an unimaginably distinguished guest.


    ...


    "Ms. Moira, this is our home now, and it is the only pce in this city."


    Walking on thepacted dirt road, four girls of average appearance, but dressed in an umonly fine manner, were clustering around an elderly woman.


    They supported the olddy, introducing various aspects of the city to her, as well as their home—the Eryxis Pce at the end of the road.


    Of course, calling it a pce, it was just arger building with a wider area than the usual structures. The kingdom of Eryxis, having experienced only two generations of rulers, had no culture of indulgence. Both the king and the citizens were alike in this regard.


    They valued practical utilitarianism, and this simple style was distinctively reflected in many corners of the city.


    "Is that so, hehe, well, thank you very much."


    Looking towards the pce at the end of her vision, the old woman known as Moira chuckled and expressed her thanks. Yet in the depths of her eyes, a flicker of disdain passed by.


    But after all, it was a mortal''s pce, and she grudgingly epted it. The king of Humans was already the highest in status, so Moira tried to appear satisfied and grateful, unaware that her thoughts were seen clearly by the young women by her side.


    "Providing aid to our kin from afar is something our grandfather often taught us."


    The eldest among the four girls, supporting the old woman, casually asked:


    "The weather is getting colder... may I ask why you were Traveling alone in the wilderness?"


    "..."


    A silent pause, Moira''s expression shifted subtly. After a moment, just when the others thought she wouldn''t speak, the old woman softly began:


    "I am searching for my daughter. She was so naive and lively... but she was taken away, just as I was in the past."


    The atmosphere chilled slightly, and even though the young women tried to say things to lighten the mood, it did not change much. Until they entered the pce, the atmosphere remained subdued.


    "I am tired."


    Stepping into the pce, Moira casually stated her sentiments.


    She had no intention of acting as a guest should, or perhaps, this was as courteous as she got in her dealings with mortals.


    Consequently, the daughters of King Clytius exchanged nces, and their eldest sister stepped forward once again.


    "Please follow me, I will take you to my room to stay."


    "Then lead the way."


    Nodding, Moira epted the offer as if it were her due.


    Behind her, the other three girls did not follow but hurriedly left after watching their oldest sister and the elderly woman depart. They did not know who this old woman they had encountered outside the city was, appearing to be ''begging'' yet unable to conceal her arrogance; traveling alone across the vast wilderness was something even their father could not aplish.


    Inviting her into the pce, they tried to convey their goodwill as much as possible. As for the rest, it would be up to the king to decide.