Chapter 121: Star-Praying Day

October 18, 9722 of the Glorious Era, marked the official birth of the Star-Praying Territory. From this day forward, Vaelin would become the legitimate lord of the realm, holding rightful sovereignty over this region. To commemorate this special occasion, Vaelin named it "Star-Praying Day" and enacted the territory's first true piece of legislation: from this year on, every year would include a seven-day holiday. During these seven days, all people were to set aside their work and enjoy their well-deserved rest.

This decree was announced that very afternoon and took effect immediately. When the more than eighty thousand residents of Star-Praying Lake heard the news, they were initially bewildered, but soon joined in the jubilant celebration.

"Who would have thought that the first act I would pass as a Baron would be a holiday law?" Vaelin remarked with a smile to Kael as they stepped out of the Star-Praying Town administration office, looking at the celebrating crowds.

"My Lord is truly benevolent. Even the third-class slaves can enjoy a moment of peace during these seven days," Kael replied respectfully.

Vaelin shook his head and sighed, "For the nobility, every day can be considered a holiday. But for the commoners, they are always struggling and toiling; moments of leisure are an immense luxury for them." He added, "From today on, this is my territory. I hope that under my leadership, a unique culture will emerge—a culture belonging solely to Star-Praying Lake."

"I believe this will certainly come to pass," Kael said, nodding heavily to his liege.

For the next seven days, excluding the guards on duty at the borders, everyone in Star-Praying Lake joined the festivities, reveling in the holiday promised by their lord. For those who had suddenly broken free from their shackles, this abrupt festival brought feelings of confusion, curiosity, and even apprehension; they did not know how they should celebrate.

"How about we decorate our homes with flowers?"

Once this idea emerged, it was embraced by the majority and promptly put into action. Meanwhile, more imaginative ideas were proposed by the people to fill the seven-day holiday. Seeing this, Vaelin specifically tasked Baird with recording the ways in which various towns and villages celebrated, compiling them into a book and naming the seven days of the "Star-Praying Week."

When the seven days concluded, the people returned to their posts with renewed enthusiasm, their sense of belonging to this land significantly deepened. In the castle study, Vaelin looked at the freshly bound volume of customs Baird had compiled, naming the book *The Grace of Star-Praying Week*.

Opening to the first page, he read the names given to the seven days: "Following our inner thoughts, we celebrate these seven days of grace in simple ways. In our innocence, we have named the seven days of the Star-Praying Week to repay our lord for his benevolence."

Reading these words, Vaelin felt a faint blush, but he patiently turned to the second page, which recorded the naming of the days: Star-Praying, Flowers, Music, Life, Gratitude, Bathing, and Vaelin. Seeing his own name used to designate a day of the festival, he felt a strange sense of shame, which soon gave way to a calm acceptance.

The descriptions of how each subsequent day was spent were brief. Perhaps in a dozen years, these pages would be filled with text, and looking back then, he might have a different perspective. Closing the unfinished book, Vaelin placed it in the first slot of the third shelf.

He then left the study and wandered through the castle. Every servant he passed, regardless of gender, bowed to him from the heart. Previously, their attitude had been defined more by fear than reverence, but now it was the other way around.

Before he knew it, Vaelin arrived at the den of his two rock lizards. The two creatures were lounging in a pile of hay, enjoying the petting of the half-elf Eunice and letting out comfortable chirps from time to time. Suddenly, one of them snapped its eyes open, scrambled up from the hay, and ran out of the shed.

"Hiss..."

Vaelin stroked the head of Whitey, which had nudged against his feet. "You're growing so fast. Less than two years, and you're already this big."

"Hiss..." Whitey let out a satisfied sound, enjoying its master's touch.

Eunice, the half-elf who doubled as the rock lizard caretaker, saw Vaelin and bowed low. "Greetings, My Lord."

"How have things been lately?"

The other rock lizard also waddled over, gazing at Vaelin with eager eyes.

"It feels like home here; life is very comfortable."

"You certainly have a positive outlook."

"It is all thanks to the Lord's grace that I have such an opportunity," the half-elf answered, head bowed respectfully.

"Take good care of them. I will not break the promises I made to you."

"Yes, My Lord."

At that moment, Kael hurried over and bowed. "My Lord, Steward Baird has sent word that a priest has arrived in Star-Praying Town. It is a cleric dispatched by the Life Church of the Kadero Province."

"So soon? I hope this cleric isn't too difficult to get along with," Vaelin muttered to himself, rubbing his chin.

...

In the Star-Praying Town administration office, Baird stared at the priest, who looked more like a warrior than a man of the cloth. Though he was bewildered, he maintained a polite smile.

"Father Ravia, may I ask how such a... er, mighty and robust man came to be a priest?"

Ravia held his priestly staff in his left hand and rubbed his bald head with his right, answering with a hint of shyness, "How should I put it? Actually, I wanted to be a Paladin, but somehow or other, I ended up becoming a priest."

"Oh, does this perhaps involve some heart-stirring story?" Baird asked, filled with curiosity.

Ravia said awkwardly, "There is no story, but there was an accident."

"If Father Ravia has any personal difficulties, you don't have to share them. It won't affect your work."

"It's nothing like that. It's no trouble to speak of, and it's nothing to be ashamed of," Ravia said quite candidly. "When I was studying at the Paladin Academy, I beat up every single one of my classmates within a year of enrolling. I was forced to transfer to the Ritualist Academy, then to the Seminary, and finally, I became a priest."

"Soon after, I began my ten-year pilgrimage as a priest. When I saw that a priest was needed here a few days ago, I decided to come."

"Forgive my bluntness, Father Ravia, but what is your most proficient divine spell?" Baird asked, puzzled.

"Does beating people with a priestly staff count?"

"That does not count," Baird replied, speechless.

"Alright then," Ravia said with a dejected air, "then I suppose my specialty would be group life-restoration magic."