Chương 36: Chapter 35 - Blasphemy

What should have taken 4 days to travel to the bottom of the mountain was cut down to a single day due to not needing to fend off monsters and constantly dodging holes on a dirt road. Bishop Owen had to pay a few more copper coins at another toll gate, but the price did not change, 40 copper for their whole carriage. Then there was another Star Cubs store at the convergence point which they promptly skipped as it did not have Fish-Fil-A, much to Owen's despair.

Looking outside, in front of them were giant wooden logged gates of the bandit camp. It had a placard that read 'The Path'. The side of the gate opened, and a bandit came out. He wore the usual bandit garments, with leather armour, a shoulder plate, and a sword on his hilt. In his hand was a piece of rectangular flat wood with what looked like a scroll sheet. Owen turned off the silencing gem and opened the curtain before the bandit came to the side of the carriage and knocked on the door.

"Greetings, envoys of Church of Frae. This humble one's name is Perry. We were not expecting any envoys until the 3rd moon. Please state your business and your reception will be forthcoming."

"We require an audience with your warlord, Perry. We're here to discuss the flock of dark birds that passed through these skies."

"I see. That is quite an odd request, bishops. We've told previous nobles that our camp has nothing to do with the dark birds," Perry said.

"If the camp has nothing to do with the dark birds, then we shall do our best to make this meeting end as quickly as possible," Owen said.

"This is no longer a 'bandit camp' as the bishops call it. It is called Path HQ. Please be respectful and call it as such." Perry frowned.

"I apologize, Perry. I shall call it as such. However, that does not distract from our mission. If not for the flock of dark birds, may we enter for the purposes of preaching and donations?"

"If your request is for such, then I shall call the Chief Product Officer to the reception room. In the meantime, please fill out this form." Perry handed over the rectangular flat wood. Afterwards, he disappeared back into the gate's side entrance. Along with Romano, Owen looked at the scroll, seeing: Name. Age. Gender. Prowess level. Purpose of Business. Kingdom Affiliation. Noble Affiliation. Net worth. Vendor or Customer. Duration of meeting. Time of day. Recurring or not. He took time to fill in each one.

The only thing he was confused about was the 'Vendor or Customer' form. They were neither, since they would be asking for donations if they found no signs of corruption or a demon. After completing the whole form, Owen nodded in satisfaction. The door of the side gate opened once again and Perry came out. He extended his hand and said, "Form please." Owen gave back the rectangular flat wood with the scroll. It seems the Path bandits called it 'form', a strange name as form meant the shape of a thing.

"There you go. May we enter, Perry?" Perry read the form line by line. He looked up and then waved to one of the men by the watch towers.

"Open the gates!" The wooden logged gates shuddered open, just enough for the carriage to pass through. Perry waved the coachman in and the carriage began moving once again. Upon entering, the first thing that Owen and Romano saw was the giant tower being built right in front of the camp's square. He had to peek his head out of the carriage's window to see the top. Barbarians worked non-stop as they built the tower piece by piece with Plaedis wood and what looked like... Adamantite metal?!

To extravagantly use such an expensive metal on a building, they must've had a whole territory's mine's worth of adamantite. Owen and Romano's mouths gaped. Both of them had no words to utter at seeing such a ridiculous sight. It must've been at least half as tall as Pandor's mage towers, and it looked set to surpass it once the barbarians were done building.

Once they arrived at the square, both bishops exited the carriage, and before they could move, a giant 3 eyed black furred howler, thrice the height of a human, moved forward alongside a woman dressed in all black.

"Monster!" Owen shouted. Romano took a fighting stance, not that he was of any use in combat. Even the coachman was shocked and jumped off his seat.

"Bishops, do not be afraid." Perry walked into the square from behind them. He then looked at the woman beside the giant howler.

"General Witch Raven, please be careful with your pet while there are guests, otherwise, it might break the rules of the OSHA scriptures."

"But how could he call my cute Snowy a monster?" the woman, presumably named Raven and the general of the camp, said.

"I understand your frustrations, General. But please also understand the perils of the guests at seeing such a large pet," Perry said.

"Whatever," Raven said as she walked to the gate along with the leashed giant howler.

"Come on, Snowy. Time for a quick potty break."

"What was that?" Romano asked.

"That was just our General. She's an... eccentric."`"Is she a ranker?" Owen asked. The 3 eyed howlers were usually around 220 prowess. To easily subdue it and make it a pet would mean she was one. Otherwise, she was a Golden Generation of the beast tamer types. Gritting his teeth, the Church of Light forbade to look into individuals' prowess to allow them to treat everyone equally, hence, he never carried a status glass. He couldn't check himself.

"She's our General," Perry said, then gestured them towards a tent at the opposite side of the currently being built tower.

"The Chief Product Officer is waiting for your arrival. Please, head over right away."

"A tent?" Owen asked.

"Yes. Our current city hall, as you can see, is being built."

"I see..." Owen gritted his teeth. He took a deep breath before repeating to himself, these are strange times. Both of them walked over to the tent and entered. There, they saw a woman in clothing marred by dirt. Her hair was straight, but became wavy as it went down below her waist. Her jawline was sharp and the features of her face were soft. The eyes she stared at them with were of a light brown that made her look even more surreal with her flawless complexion. She was a peerless beauty.

Could she be the Saintess that people spoke of that was the leader of the bandit camp?

"Greetings, Bishop of Frae's Church. My name is Aurora, and my title is Chief Product Officer. You may address me with whichever you deem fit. May I have the grace of knowing your names?" Owen snapped out of his trance. Though, her name sounded familiar.

"Greetings, Chief Product Officer. My name is simply Owen. I am a bishop of the Church of Light." Aurora nodded then turned to Romano.

"Greetings. This one's name is Romano. I am also a Bishop of the Church of Light." Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"How strange you refer to your church not as the Church of Frae but the Church of Light."

"It seems the Path is aware of the divide within the Church," Owen said.

"Unfortunately, we are not." Aurora smiled.

"Shall we have a seat?"

"Let us," Owen said. All three took a seat at the round table. In front of them on the round table was the map of the Continent of Mir. There were scribbles on it that had markings of what looked like the map of the roads the bandits were building. But before he could examine more, Aurora had folded it up and set it aside.

"Well then. Shall we have a chat?" Aurora asked. Owen and Romano nodded.

"I'm sure you've heard of the flock of dark birds--""The flock of dark birds is none of the Path's concern. Based on the form you've handed over to Perry, it seems the Church of Light demands donations?" Aurora's eyes narrowed, turning sharp at them.

"It is not a demand. We simply seek donations to help our cause of bettering Nulfrae." Romano shifted in his seat. Both of them felt as if a sword had been pressed on their necks.

"Is the Church not getting enough from their donations?" Aurora said with a smile.

"Travellers do talk after all. The church have started demanding silver coins for cures. Or am I wrong?" Owen gulped. Of course, rumours would already float throughout the continent of the Church's deeds. Yet even he was against throwing out the fact that the Church had been divided into two. How was he supposed to explain such a schism to an outsider? He asked, "If not for donations, may we settle on creating a place of worship in this HQ?" Aurora chuckled.

"Has the church accepted mere bandits to be of the same powers as kingdoms?" Romano's eyes could be seen staring at Owen from the corner of his vision. But the woman had just given them a chance.

"I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Chief Product Officer Aurora. The church does not recognize establishments merely for possessing power. Creating a place of worship is based off of merit towards the betterment of Nulfrae. I believe you have truly reformed the bandits and we would love to give your subjects a place to worship Frae herself."

"Let me ask you this, Bishop, if I may be rude," Aurora said.

"Please, go ahead," Owen said.

"Where was Frae when I was to be assaulted and humiliated at the pillory?" Aurora asked.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean...?"

"My full name is Aurora Sayon. Do you not know me, Bishop Owen Catus?" Aurora asked as the tone of her voice lowered. Owen's eyes widened. Sayon... the memories came back to him. She was the Dragus Royal Garden Keep, burned and exiled by the King. He knew not why, but he knew she was sent to the slums. Yet her face was flawless, unmarred by burns. So how?!

"It seems you've remembered." Aurora stared into his eye. The mention of a pillory and humiliation, it seems she's gone through tough times without the light of Frae. If he said that Frae works mysteriously and rewards those that were patient, he'd be in her trap. It would mean that Frae did not give her salvation. Any mention of the church not being there for her would just be a repetition of the first clause.

Dragus also had their own Church of Frae, a place of worship, yet they did not act to save her from disgrace. Even then, had she gone to any places of worship, the Theocracy would've asked her for coin or her body. Owen sighed.

"I understand your predicament, Aurora. However, do understand that is why the Church of Light seeks to swallow the underbelly of what the church is now."

"A better answer, Bishop." Aurora's smile softened.

"Yet Frae was not the one that saved me that day. Tell me, Bishop. Would your faith not wane if you were subjected to years of suffering? Where was Frae when you needed her the most?"

"Even now when the Church is at its lowest, I choose to serve Frae even as my faith wanes, Aurora." Owen cleared his throat.

"Suffering for her will to give kindness to the world is her true message. To protect her world, we seek the demons and corruption that looms. Do you not see we chase the flock of dark birds that came from Pandor's summoning?"

"Indeed that is your objective regardless of what has been said," Aurora said.

"Then who do you think allowed me to shine once more?"

"Are you not a Saintess, Aurora?" Romano asked.

"You must've awakened as one to heal yourself of scars."

"An assumption is merely an assumption." Aurora giggled.

"My complexion was merely a small gift from the Lady. The day she saved me was the day she granted me my light back. Can Frae give me such a gift?" Neither Owen nor Romano answered. The answer was already too obvious. All of the Saints and Saintesses of the church were already overworked with patients, let alone venture out into the slums of Dragus.

"May we know of the Lady you speak of?" Owen asked.

"I'm glad you asked, Bishop Owen." Aurora clapped her hands twice. Soon enough, a young woman appeared from outside the tent. She held a white teapot covered in blue flowers. Walking towards the table, she set down the pot and then produced the same Plaedis wooden cups without a lid on the table, three of them.

"Thank you, Rumimi. Have a rest, it's almost break time."

"Yes, Chief Product Officer!" Rumimi bowed and then exited the tent.

"The Lady is a being from outside of Nulfrae's confines," Aurora said as she took the cups and poured in what looked like hot brown liquid.

"Do you mean a summoned hero?" Aurora shook her head.

"To compare her to summoned heroes would be foolish and an insult. She is a being that hails from the divine." Romano clenched his fist as it trembled on the table.

"Be careful with your words, Aurora, lest you incur the wrath of the church for your blasphemy."

"Hm... blasphemy? It is both of you that should tread your words lightly, for your presence has already been calculated by Her All-Seeing Plan." Owen loosened his collar as sweat started to pour down his neck. Has Aurora gone mad? She spoke as though this Lady was a goddess walking amongst mortals. Few recordings in the Church's history mentioned Frae's descent into their mortal realm. Mortals that looked into her being grew mad and spoke of incoherence. His eyes suddenly widened. The man, Kromer.

His mind was completely broken, and he came from this very mountain. Should a foreign goddess have descended onto the realm, then he must report to the cardinals right away. Regardless of whether this may be a baseless assumption or a mad woman's utterings, such an incident could not be ignored even by the top brass of the church.

"I see you are happy in her presence, Aurora. It seems you've found your place in this world," Owen said. Aurora smiled widely and another small laugh came out of her. Her eyes grew deranged as expected by both Owen and Romano.

"Why yes, I am very much in a happier place here in the Path." Aurora slid over the cups to Romano and Owen.

"Please have a drink. This drink is called Cafe Mocha."

"Thank you. I'll gladly have some." Owen took the cup and took a sip. Romano did as well. Both of them suppressed their expressions, but both knew this was a much more complex drink than the one they had called 'Arabelum Refresher'. One thing was for sure. It confirmed the Path was the one that owned the establishment down by the roadside.

"Thank you for the drink, Aurora. I believe our meeting can be concluded here," Owen said.

"It was a nice meeting. I hope it has granted you some knowledge which you seek," Aurora said.

"It has." Owen stood up.

"May we tour the HQ ourselves?"

"Do go right ahead, Bishops." Aurora smiled.

"But be careful around the construction zones. We take safety here seriously, as mandated by OSHA." Romano stood up as well.

"May Frae's Light give you order, Aurora."

"May Her Grace light your Path, bishops." Aurora said as she drank her cup without looking at them. Exiting the tent, Owen saw Romano had a clear scowl on his face. Of course he would. He wouldn't accept a different goddess that wasn't Frae herself. But was it worth telling the cardinals when this 'company' liberated and uplifted those around them? Be it a demon or a goddess, what this being did was clearly on the side of benevolence. Though, it was unfortunate. Owen could not help himself but do his role.

He must report regardless of his own feelings about the situation. Both of them walked through the paths of the HQ. They saw the smiles of each bandit. Each one had a job, as most were going in and out of large houses that looked to be storage facilities. In the windows of one of the facilities was something that had an orange colour. There were already too many strange things they'd seen throughout their adventure. An orange colour within a warehouse was the least of their concerns.

"Shall we head to the Barony?" Romano asked.

"We should..." Owen said.

"Do you believe a goddess has truly descended in this realm?"

"I do not. Such blasphemy shan't be treated lightly at the Church's court, even by the theocracy."

"You are correct, my friend. But I cannot turn a blind eye to what this being has done for the people."

"Don't tell me you refuse to report this?"

"I did not say that. But I believe this demon we are dealing with may be more cunning than anything that Nulfraeans had ever faced before."

"A demon disguised in benevolence." Romano scowled even more, clear anger on his face.

"I shan't accept this demon, even with my last breath."

"Let us depart. There is nothing else to see here." Owen said. Even if they did search this whole HQ for signs of the demon, none of the workers would cooperate. They'd all wilfully ignore the Church as they'd all been consumed by the demon disguised as a goddess's temptations. He could only pray for Frae to save them all.