The Cathedral of Manus Metyr is located northeast of Bonny Village, but a vast canyon separates the two.
To reach this cathedral, one must either fly directly across or take a detour through Ensis Castle to the north or the Lowlands to the south. Both routes are fraught with peril, including strange creatures unique to the Lands Between, as well as powerful warriors serving various outer deities. Even formidable figures like Aoko and Touko would need to expend considerable effort to traverse these paths. Naturally, trekking through the wilderness on foot was out of the question.
Of course, if Aoko and Touko had Torrent's Whistle, they might have considered roaming freely across the Lands Between.
Instead, they chose to use Soaring Wind Realm magic to fly directly from Bonny Village to the cathedral. This magic was exceptionally effective for both long-distance travel and carrying multiple passengers.
For someone like Aoko, the greatest advantage of Soaring Wind Realm was its adaptability—unlike Netweave Arcana, which was harder to enhance or modify. This foreign magic's duration and range could be expanded simply by pouring in massive amounts of mana. While others saw this as a drawback, for Aoko and Touko, who were essentially perpetual mana engines, it was a perfect fit.
Without worrying about mana consumption, the Aozaki sisters soared across the canyon and mountains at near-supersonic speeds. In less than an hour, they arrived above the Cathedral of Manus Metyr. Aoko circled in the air to slow down before making a grand landing right in front of the cathedral's main entrance.
The Aozaki sisters looked up at the towering, ornate, and mysterious cathedral. While the structure remained intact, its exterior was covered in thick vines resembling Parthenocissus, indicating that it had been abandoned for a long time.
The main entrance had once been fitted with wooden doors, but they were now rotted and broken. Through the gaps, they could see the remnants of the shattered doors inside.
"Doesn't look like anyone's living here," Touko muttered. "If someone is, they must be pretty indifferent to housekeeping."
"We'll find out once we go inside," Aoko shrugged. "After all, there are still plenty of candles burning inside."
However, these candles emitted a cold white flame—a color associated with spirit fire, which symbolized death and was widely used in the Shadowlands, as they had learned from their research in Ensis Castle's archives.
As they stepped into the cathedral, the first thing they noticed was the numerous iron cages hanging from the ceiling. These cages, rather than being instruments of confinement, resembled magnified birdcages, exquisitely crafted yet empty.
Aside from the birdcages, Aoko also saw many wooden benches, similar to those found in earthly churches for worshippers—though these lacked backrests.
Touko picked up an ancient book from one of the benches and began flipping through it, hoping to find valuable information.
"It seems to be a mix of mythology and history," Touko mused. "Many parts are vague, but one interesting detail stands out—the builders of this cathedral were a people called the Nox. Ring any bells?"
"Nox?" Aoko touched her chin in thought. "They were probably the ancestors of the Carians, right? But their city was long ago submerged beneath the Lands Between by the Greater Will."
"A lost ancient civilization, huh?" Touko's eyes lit up with excitement. She had a particular fondness for historical artifacts and immediately started scanning the surroundings for any hidden treasures.
"Tone it down a bit, Touko," Aoko sighed, pulling her sister back. "Rellana already told us her teacher still lives here!"
The two ventured further into the cathedral, passing through the narthex until they reached a large, ornate metal gate, crafted with masterful metallurgy.
Expecting to encounter the classic "Cannot be opened from this side" cliché, Aoko pushed the door—only to have it creak open easily. It wasn't even locked.
"Ah, a rare guest indeed."
A voice echoed from the far end of the cathedral.
Looking up, Aoko saw a man standing in the cathedral's center. He wore a dark, slightly feminine robe and a circular, hollowed-out crown, greeting them with a friendly smile.
"Hello," Aoko replied politely, noticing a black-armored swordsman leaning against a stone pillar in the shadows to her right, watching them closely—likely a bodyguard.
"We were introduced by Lady Rellana, the ruler of Ensis Castle. We are sorcerer scholars here to seek guidance from Professor Ymir on certain magical inquiries."
"Rellana sent you?" Ymir remarked with interest, scrutinizing the Aozaki sisters. "Sister Sorcerer... no wonder she would introduce you. She must be feeling nostalgic about her kin."
"Please, come in. Welcome to Manus Metyr..." Ymir said warmly. "It is an honor to meet you. I am High Priest Ymir, Rellana the Twin Moon's former mentor."
Aoko retrieved Rellana's letter of introduction from her imaginary pocket and handed it to the black-armored swordsman, who had silently moved to her side.
The swordsman scrutinized them cautiously before meticulously examining the letter. Once satisfied, he swiftly approached Ymir and respectfully presented it to him.
"...My student has grown up," Ymir murmured nostalgically as he read the letter. "I still remember when I first taught her Glintstone Magic—she was such a reckless little girl back then... Has it been so many years already?"
Aoko and Touko remained silent, maintaining a respectful and neutral stance while waiting for the High Priest's response.
"No issues here," Ymir smiled as he looked up. "Rellana has explained everything clearly in her letter. I will teach you both as much as I can about Glintstone Magic, but how much you can master depends entirely on your understanding."
Placing the letter aside, he sighed.
"To think that, even now, outsiders would come to this sealed land..." Ymir mused. "The Carians have always believed that fate is guided by the radiant stars. Perhaps your arrival is a sign that the celestial wheels are beginning to turn once more?"