After leaving the magic shop, Erza continued to lecture Darwin.
"In the future, this is how you should gather information. It's simple, direct, and efficient. Don't mess around with pointless fluff, and definitely don't spend money—that's just a huge waste!"
Her stern and serious demeanor reminded Darwin of the peculiar expression Irene would make in class when introducing students to "a hundred types of torture." For some reason, whenever he saw Irene make that face, Darwin felt a prickling sense of panic.
It was a strange fear, much like the atmosphere back when his mom, Mavis, would tell him ghost stories as a child while secretly using the Arc of Embodiment to create "little things" to jump-scare him.
As his thoughts sank into the mire of associated memories, Darwin's heart tightened for no reason. Despite the blazing sun overhead, a chill ran down his spine, leaving his hands and feet cold.
"I completely understand!"
"I shall engrave Lady Erza's words into my heart from now on!"
Erza blinked her bright, large eyes in surprise before nodding with a smile. "As long as you understand!"
Though she didn't get why Darwin was suddenly so intense, she was satisfied with his reaction. Watching from the side, Chris sighed inwardly.
Sigh... my poor big brother. It looks like he's destined to be under Erza's thumb for the rest of his life!
"Then, Lady Erza, how should we proceed?"
"Let's go to the Water Dragon God Cult first and find that Saintess named Mikala. We need to confirm if the Aquarius key is actually with her."
The trio knew the plan perfectly well. First, confirm the truth of the key's existence, then find a way to get it from her. Their approach was to be polite before turning to force—attempting peaceful means first. Their priority order was: trade, theft, and finally, robbery.
If you wondered why they had such a silent understanding, it was because that was exactly how the Fairy Tail work manual was written.
The Water Dragon God Cult's base was located on the south side of Ermina. It was a small palace, decorated decently on the outside and fully equipped on the inside. The most important feature was the statue of the Water Dragon God towering in the center of the palace.
Today wasn't a festival day in Ermina, nor were any locals setting out on long voyages, so there weren't many worshippers. Without the noisy crowds, the vast palace felt significantly more solemn and dignified.
Darwin and the others had visited the Kardia Cathedral in Magnolia before. Being in a similar place now, they instinctively compared the two. Deciding that the architecture of their hometown was slightly more high-end, a sense of pride welled up within them.
Just then, a voice rang out from nearby.
"Are you tourists from abroad?"
The three turned toward the sound and saw a young girl dressed as a nun.
Darwin stepped forward. "We are indeed tourists. We happened to hear the legends of the Water Dragon God in town and heard about this place from a passerby, so we came specifically to have a look. Is it convenient to visit?"
"Of course it's convenient!"
The girl smiled. "The Water Dragon God Cult does not forbid outsiders. As long as you don't come with ill intent, anyone is allowed to visit. And if you are willing to pay your respects, even outsiders like yourselves can receive the blessing of the Water Dragon God!"
It seemed this so-called "Cult" wasn't as closed-off or rigid as they had imagined?
But it made sense. The shopkeeper had mentioned that the Cult was founded by a former mayor and the town elders specifically to manage sea rituals. Therefore, despite being called a "Cult," it was fundamentally different from traditional religious organizations.
At least in the eyes of Darwin's group, this wasn't like those "Black Magic Cults" that worshiped Zeref, which they often heard about in Ishgar.
Erza asked, "Are you the Saintess of the Water Dragon God Cult that the residents mentioned?"
The girl nodded. "Yes, my name is Mikala. I am the Saintess of this generation. Currently, I handle all matters of the Water Dragon God Cult."
Chris was slightly surprised. "Just you alone?"
"There isn't much to handle in the Order. One person is quite enough."
As Mikala led them inside, she explained the inner workings of the Cult and her duties as Saintess.
"The most important event of the year for the Order is the 'Water Dragon God Festival.' It's a seven-day ritual hosted by the Saintess that involves the entire population of Ermina."
"However, the festival only happens once a year. It isn't time yet."
Darwin and the others immediately thought of Magnolia's "Harvest Festival." Though the timing, methods, and meanings were different, both were major local events.
"On ordinary days, my job consists of only two things. First, cleaning the palace. Second, praying to the Water Dragon God on behalf of the residents, asking Him to protect those at sea and ensure their safe return."
Hearing this, Darwin grew curious. "How does one become the 'Saintess'?"
Mikala answered, "When the girls in town turn six, they are sent here for a 'Water Dragon God Affinity' test. Once they pass, they qualify to succeed the Saintess. When the previous Saintess retires, the next one takes over."
"Of course, since the Cult was founded, there have been 'generational gaps' or 'multiple candidates at once.' In those cases, there are other solutions. But for this generation, I was the only candidate."
As they spoke, the four arrived in front of the Water Dragon God statue.
Seeing it up close, they realized the sculpture was far more detailed than expected—not just the eyes, but the horns on its head, the scales on its back, the fins on its sides, and the shape of its wings were all carved lifelike.
If it were based purely on imagination, a Artisan likely wouldn't have carved the "god" they worshiped this way. Did the founders of the Cult see the Water Dragon God's original form with their own eyes?
While Darwin examined the statue, Chris asked another question: "What is that 'Water Dragon God Affinity' test like? Is it a contest to see who can hold their breath underwater the longest?"
Mikala shook her head with a smile. "No! The test is simple. If you can use the Holy Relic, you succeed."
"Holy Relic?"
"This. It is the heirloom passed down through generations of Saintesses!"
As Mikala spoke, she pulled a shimmering golden key from her waist!