As they made their way, Evie couldn't help but inquire of Ren, "How do we plan to access the Netherworld? Should we confront the princess directly and accuse Salister Kane of being a fiend?"
Evie might be paranoid, but she really couldn't shake off the bad feeling she was having at the mention of another princess NPC.
Ren shook his head and answered, "Directly accusing Salister without concrete evidence might make us seem like the fiends in her eyes."
In truth, Ren knew that he could access the Netherworld without Princess Lorelai's assistance.
However, if he aimed to open up the Heaven Realm as well, her cooperation would be essential. Besides, having the princess join their cause against Salister Kane would expedite their efforts.
"We're going to undertake a series of quests for Salister Kane to gain his trust and expose him," Ren explained.
"A series of quests?" Evie began to feel anxious. "Will these quests take a long time?"
Ren briefly glanced at her, and his worry mirrored hers. "No, why do you ask? Is there a time restriction on you using the pod?"
Evie sighed and reluctantly admitted, "Sort of. It's a condition for using it."
Ren didn't like the idea of Evie's freedom being controlled, but he understood that the game also imposed time constraints. "How much time are we talking about?"
Evie bit her lip and replied, "About two hours in the real world."
Ren calculated that this equated to two days in the game. He mulled this over silently.
He then gently squeezed her hand and smiled to reassure her. "Then we'll complete this quickly."
However, Evie's worries lingered as she gazed off to the side. "You'll be alone with Elena when I'm not around, won't you?"
Ren scratched his head, unsure of how to address her concerns without causing more worry.
Taking her by both shoulders, Ren locked eyes with Evie and spoke earnestly. "Elena is just an NPC, and you know me, Evie. I'm not that kind of man, so you have nothing to worry about."
"I trust you," she admitted, her pout softening, "but it's Elena I don't trust."
Suppressing a chuckle, Ren tousled her hair affectionately. "Elena will have a hard time finding the princess," I hope. "So, I'll mostly be on my own when you're not here."
He also didn't want the drama involving two women. He made it clear that Evie was his only woman, but how to make her see and feel it, Ren had no idea.
Evie, on the other hand, felt a bit reassured by his words. "I'm sorry for being like this . . ." She blushed, embarrassed that she was feeling jealous of an NPC.
But who could blame her? Elena was a beautiful, confident, and powerful woman. Many players would likely be drawn to her if given the chance.
Ren planted a tender kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry about it. I like that side of you, too."
Evie's face reddened further, and she held onto Ren a bit tighter. She didn't need to say anything more; Ren's reassurance was all she needed.
The two lovers continued their journey towards the chapel where Salister Kane had established his base.
This chapel was situated in the distant outskirts of the empire, necessitating the rental of yet another carriage to reach it.
Salister had constructed this chapel in honor of the Grand Benefaction, an ideal more than an actual deity.
The chapel preached values of kindness, generosity, and healing, emphasizing problem-solving over simple acts of charity. Resolving the threat of a goblin invasion or providing opportunities for the less fortunate to earn income and find shelter held greater importance than mere food distribution.
In essence, it served as a quest hub for players.
This place, often referred to as Refuge, had grown into a small village as Salister Kane's power and influence expanded.
However, this village never acquired additional services or points of interest; it was solely composed of residential houses.
As they arrived at the location, both of them couldn't help but marvel at the chapel.
The Chapel of the Grand Benefaction stood as a magnificent and ornate structure. Financed entirely by Salister Kane himself.
It exuded a grand gothic style that inspired both awe and a touch of trepidation. Gargoyles and other grotesque statues adorned its roof, while menacing figures encircled its front entrance, all designed to ward off malevolent spirits.
Both from the outside and within, the chapel gave the illusion of being a single-story building. Its windows stretched from the base of the chapel up to the peaks of its towering spires.
Those who gazed upward from inside would witness these spires soaring high above, leaving no room for even an attic.
Accessing the second story, ominously known as "The Dark Side," within Salister Kane's chapel demanded a combination of diligent investigation and a touch of magical assistance.
This upper level remained hidden behind a formidable array of illusion spells, particularly mirage arcane and programmed illusion effects.
Furthermore, there existed a specialized antimagic field crafted by Salister himself, specifically designed to thwart magical perception.
Any beings inside the chapel found themselves unable to benefit from true sight bestowed by items, spells, or other magical sources, except for those with innate true sight.
The illusion spells worked in tandem, ensuring that the false ceiling illusion responded convincingly to any tests. For instance, if a character hurled a rock upward, it would appear to continue until it collided with the illusory "ceiling" and then fall back down.
Mirage arcane effects extended tactile sensations, so anyone climbing upward would not only see but also feel as though they were ascending to the chapel's apex.
Additionally, these illusions muffled any sounds that might escape from the upper floor.
Physical access to the second story remained non-existent, but it could be reached via magical means without piercing the illusion.
Teleportation and the use of portals, even those summoned by gate spells, were futile attempts to enter the area. Planar travel into the region was also obstructed, whether it be through natural portals or plane shift spells.
Given these formidable enchantments, the sole viable method to access the second floor was through potent magic.
Ren contemplated the possibility that either Elena or Princess Lorelai could provide the necessary magical assistance to breach this mysterious barrier.
