An Aura Farmer's Guide to Another World
Chapter 52 - 10 brides of the Bell Cathedral

Chapter 52: 10 brides of the Bell Cathedral

’Creakkkkk!’

Opening wide, the massive doors of the Bell Cathedral revealed the majestic Church of the Goddess of Inevitability.

’Ding-Dong!’

A bell rang from eighty meters high to signal the arrival of Her Grace, Lady Beatrice.

Clad in a royal gown woven from diamond threads, Lady Beatrice held my hand as we stepped into the cathedral.

Joséphine and Cupcake flanked us, dressed in rose-pink gowns with crowns made of cherry flowers resting on their heads.

Closely following us were Lucy and Evelyn, both in matching rose-pink gowns, with ten brides and grooms walking behind them.

"THUUUUMMM!"

"VOOOOOOOM!"

Walking on a red carpet that led to the Altar, the sound of a magnificent pipe organ resonated through the very stones of the cathedral.

Over a thousand guests rose from their seats on either side of the carpet and snapped their heads toward us, observing closely as we approached the altar.

My gaze went upward, past the organ’s heavy metal pipes, to a stone portrait of a lady. Her hands were clasped over her chest, and her eyes were unsettlingly blank, with no pupils.

Her hair fell over her shoulder as she stood on a desolate land, appearing to be the aftermath of a battle.

’Thud-thud.’

Lady Beatrice and I ascended the expansive surface of the altar, approached the podium, and inclined our heads in reverence.

The Bishop laid his hand gently upon our heads. "May the Goddess of Inevitability bless you," he said, his voice soft but unwavering.

Lady Beatrice stood and walked to the left, taking her place there, while I walked right and stood beside the Bishop.

Cupcake and Evelyn stood at my side, while Joséphine and Lucy took their positions beside Lady Beatrice, standing guard.

The first of the ten couples being wed today approached the altar, bowed their heads before the Bishop, and received his blessing before departing.

The groom approached and took his place at my side, while the bride positioned herself beside Lady Beatrice.

I observed ninth, eighth, and seventh couples ascend to the altar, continuing until all ten settled there.

A choir of women, clad in white gowns and stationed behind us in front of the pipe organ, began to sing a hymn praising the Goddess of Inevitability.

A wave of pure, high-pitched ’Oooooohhh’ washed over the congregation as the voices swelled to their zenith.

Oh, Goddess of the Unfolding Path,

Whose wisdom guides each moment’s breath,

We bow to fate, your gentle hand,

As destiny weaves across the land.

Through all that is, and all to be, we laud Thee.

Following the conclusion of the choir song, a profound silence enveloped the room. The guests closed their eyes and interlaced their fingers, offering solemn prayers to the goddess.

The cathedral’s high ceilings made it look as though it had been rented from giants to hold the weddings.

"Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Bishop Pierre of the Bell Cathedral. It is with immense gratitude that I welcome all of you who have graced us with your presence today, to witness the holy union of ten of my beloved daughters.

"On behalf of the entire sacred congregation, I extend our profound gratitude to Her Grace, Lady Beatrice. Her unparalleled generosity in undertaking the full cost of these weddings, and her unwavering commitment to supporting my ten daughters in their new journey, is a true blessing. Let us, then, offer Her Grace a most heartfelt round of applause."

"Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Ladies seated along one side of the red carpet rose to their feet, applauding enthusiastically.

They were elegantly dressed in high-necked gowns and adorned with long gloves. Simultaneously, gentlemen on the side also stood joined in the applause, attired in formal tailcoats.

The Bishop, positioned behind the podium beside me, addressed the congregation through a microphone. "Annelise and Laurent, the first couple, you may now step forward and declare your wedding vows."

Gracefully, like a fairy sparkling with gold dust, Annelise left Lady Beatrice’s side and moved in her wedding gown.

Clad in a sharply tailored dark suit, Laurent left my side and approached Annelise. He tenderly reached out and took her hand.

As they stood on a platform before the podium, the Bishop produced a marriage contract, a blank white page, which he carefully placed on a small ornate altar table.

"As you stand on the altar in the presence of the Goddess of Inevitability, she will witness your oath as you say your wedding vows and bless you with eternal happiness," the Bishop said.

He brought out a small knife with a gold handle and, with deliberate care, placed it next to the contract paper on the extension.

"Speak your wedding vows," the Bishop instructed, his voice firm, "then drip your blood upon this paper. That act will seal your fate and officially bind you to one another."

Laurent took the knife and turned to face his bride. Gently, he brushed her silver hair aside and gazed into her red eyes. "I am hers and she is mine. From this day, until the end of my days," he said.

She ran her hand through his deep brown hair, her eyes never leaving his. "I am his and he is mine. From this day, until the end of my days," she said.

Laurent took the knife and sliced his palm, letting blood drip onto the contract scroll. Moments later, he passed the knife to his bride, who took the knife and attempted to slice her palm.

"Stop!"

A voice called out from the cathedral entrance, drawing all eyes to a man clad in a tuxedo.

Lady Beatrice’s guards block the man’s entry, crossing their tall spears to form an ’X’ around him.

The man seized the two spears and thrust his head forward, forcing it into the cathedral. He lifted his chin and directed a sharp glare at the bishop.

"Father, you can’t do this to me! You know how much I love Beatrice, and on our wedding day, you’re refusing to let me inside."