Chapter 86: The Holy Nation’s Letter

Ryo had just returned from his classes when he noticed an envelope on his desk. It bore the official seal of the Holy Nation. He opened it, reading through the letter carefully. The contents stated that a representative from the Holy Nation's temple would be visiting Eldoria in a month. However, there was no clear reason for their visit.

Curious, Ryo decided to ask his fiancées about it. When he brought it up during their evening discussion, Selena was the first to respond.

"They probably want to establish a temple here in Eldoria," she said, folding her arms. "But I don't think you should agree to it. If they do, they'll likely demand that you remove all non-human species from the country."

Ryo frowned. "Why would they ask for something like that?"

Seyra sighed and explained, "A few years ago, a new Pope was elected in the Holy Nation. Unlike his predecessors, he's far more extreme. He has imprisoned anyone who refuses to follow his teachings. He also claims that the gods didn't seal the other races for their protection but that it was the work of an evil god instead."

Ryo leaned back in thought. "Is there any truth to his claims?"

"No one knows," Selena replied. "Before him, all the previous Popes stated that the gods sealed certain races to keep them safe. But now, with this new Pope, the narrative has completely changed."

"Then why does he want all non-human races removed from Eldoria?" Ryo asked.

Seyra shook her head. "That's something no one understands. It could be religious fanaticism, or maybe he has another agenda."

As Ryo listened, a distant memory resurfaced. In the first memory fragment he had witnessed, someone had been shouting about not killing other races. He couldn't recall the details clearly, but it felt oddly connected to the current situation. However, he decided to set those thoughts aside for now.

Later, Ryo headed to the workshop where the dwarves and elves were working on the automated carriages. The progress was impressive. The structure was stable, and the mana circuits were properly aligned, but Ryo saw room for improvement. He adjusted some parts of the design, reinforcing the wheels and adding an extra ether energy container to increase efficiency. Once satisfied, he left the workshop and continued with his routine checks.

His next stop was the Hunters' and Adventurers' Guilds. He spoke briefly with the guild leaders, ensuring that all operations were running smoothly. Then, he visited various establishments, including inns, the café, and the book café, making sure everything was in order. His country was growing steadily, and he needed to keep an eye on every aspect of its development.

After completing his inspections, he went to pick up Nova, his infant dragon, from his little sister. Although Nova was still young, he needed training. Dragons were powerful beings, and it was crucial for Nova to learn how to control his abilities early on.

With Nova in tow, Ryo headed to the nearby forest where he usually tested his abilities. Once they reached a clearing, he turned to Nova. "Alright, let's start with your elemental forms. Show me your fire form first."

Nova's body shimmered before his scales took on a bright red hue. He inhaled deeply and exhaled a controlled stream of fire. The flames roared before dissipating into the air.

"Good," Ryo nodded. "Now, switch to wind."

Nova's color shifted to a light green. His wings flapped, generating strong gusts of wind that sent leaves and dust flying. Ryo watched carefully, making sure Nova's control was improving.

"Next, water," Ryo instructed.

Nova's body turned a deep blue. He opened his mouth, and a high-pressure stream of water shot out, cutting through a small rock nearby.

"Finally, earth."

Nova's scales darkened to a brownish hue. He stomped on the ground, causing small tremors to ripple outward. Ryo could feel the raw power behind each of Nova's elemental transitions.

Just as Ryo was about to continue with the training, the system suddenly made an announcement:

[System Alert: Condition Met. New Ability Unlocked.]

Ryo's eyes widened. "A new ability?" he muttered under his breath.

He glanced at Nova, who looked just as confused. Was this connected to the dragon's training, or had something else triggered it?

With curiosity and anticipation, Ryo prepared to check the system's notification, knowing that whatever came next could change everything.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! If you like my work, please leave a review!