NOVEL SIMPLE Book 1 – Lesson 53: “Sometimes, there is no right answer.”
Head Priest Erden signed and placed his notes on the small table in front of him. The grandfatherly man then reached up and removed the thick-rimmed glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. Some days, Erden was jealous of Cultivators and their vitality. Mages felt the touch of time and exhaustion far easier than Cultivators. Not that a mortal could ever physically best a properly trained Mage, but even early [Eighth-Ring] Mages like himself, equal to a first-step [Earthly Trancendent] Cultivator, could not beat back time’s inevitable march.
Why, he had been a spry young man, just entering the priesthood when he’d first met junior (at the time) priestess Metis, a small pup cradled in her arms. Less than a century later, that same pup had grown into a fierce warrior all her own, with a strength greater than his own, yet appearing young enough to be his granddaughter. Part of that was Artemis’ sheer talent. The young woman was powerful, even by Akh’lut standards. Part of it was his own lack of progression and study. This place, coupled with his duties, offered few opportunities to further his magecraft.
Mostly, it was Artemis’s overwhelming energy, drive, and force of will that drove her endlessly onward. She was the type who would throw herself at every opportunity or fight tooth and nail (sometimes literally) for what she wanted. It had taken a lot of effort on Metis’ part to reign in and refine that fierce nature into something more… humble. Now that she was gone… he only hoped the young woman remembered the lessons her mother had imparted.
For all their sakes.
Head Priest Erden laid a gentle hand on the back of the woman sitting next to him. Artemis’ head snapped in his direction, her face warped and twisted into a vicious, beast-like visage as she growled at him. Erden stared back, gently stroking her back. The young woman’s face slowly twisted and returned to a more human appearance. Sharp fangs flattened and became human teeth. Slit, bloodshot eyes shrunk and regained their golden hue. The heavy [Spirit Pressure] he’d been fighting back diminished to a safe level for their guests. After a moment, the beast was gone, and a tired-looking Artemis returned his gaze.
Slowly, the young woman turned away and placed her face in her hands, refusing to look at anyone.
Again Erden sighed and turned to humans across the table from him. The group was still somewhat pale, but they were getting used to the Akh’lut warrior’s… temper at this point. This wasn’t the first time she’d lashed out during the story. Impressive for ones not accustomed to dealing with Akh’lut, especially one like Artemis.
He was especially struck by the young girl next to the Grassreader. Despite her shaking hands and pale, sweating face, her eyes held no threads of genuine fear. Instead, he could see deep pity and sadness, as if she knew exactly what the warrior across from her was going through.
Erden rifled through the notes on the table and spoke to the older Grassreader, Kallik. “This is quite the story, Grassreader. I must admit, if it weren’t for the current circumstances, I would hesitate to trust all of it.”
Kallik nodded and responded, “As would I. I’m aware of how outlandish it might all seem, but I am willing to take an [Oath of Truth] if I must. As things stand, we are already behind the enemy.”
Erden paused, his eyes widening slightly. An [Oath of Truth] wasn’t a small matter. Once taken, the oathtaker could never lie to the oathbinder under any circumstances. The oath was originally designed to keep slaves under control and prevent them from lying to their masters. Once slavery fell out of practice on the Skybreaker continent, it was mostly used on heinous criminals. Struggling against the oath could cause serious soul damage and gave the oathbinder vast power over the oathtaker, so it wasn’t something often considered under normal circumstances.
Erden paused and stared into Kallik’s eyes. She met his gaze, unwavering. After a moment, Erden shook his head, leaning back in his seat as he spoke. “That won’t be necessary.”
Kallik pulled back, her eyes wide as she asked, “You believe us?! Truly?”
“But Head Priest, surely you can’t—” one of the attending priests to the side spoke out. They’d been quiet for much of the meeting, taking notes and letting Erden ask the questions. The Head Priest cut the man off with a raised hand.
Erden shook his head and answered the unfinished question. “No. I’m not so much a fool to trust the words of strangers so easily. More so the intentions of those not hear to defend themselves, such as this mysterious ‘Lord Protector’ of yours.”
He turned and looked at the two young men in the corner, both of whom had just begun to stir. Erden’s next words were firm, “What I trust is the judgment of my patron.” He then turned back to Kallik and continued. “Despite what many feel or the fact we call ourselves ‘priests,’ the followers of the Prima are not a religion. We do not worship our patrons nor see them as infallible. They are teachers, guides, and examples. The Prima of Earth, our own patron, in particular, values steadfastness, resolve, and the unwavering desire to do what one must for those they love. “
“In some, this manifests in unbending and unmoving resolve and belief, like a solid stone that will not budge under even the greatest obstruction or assault. In others, it becomes a nurturing and caring nature, like the fertile soil on which all life depends. Some show boundless potential and endless possibilities, like raw metal, ready to be forged into countless shapes.”
The older man smiled, nodded to the unconscious young men, and continued. “I can not speak of what your young friend here might one day become, but I trust my Foundation and what she represents. If she has seen fit to bless him as she has, I will trust it is for the right reasons.”
Kallik stared wide eyes at the old priest for a long moment before bowing her head. “Thank you,” she said.
After a heartbeat, the rest of the Slatewalkers followed suit.
Erden clapped his hands and spoke once more, “That being said… I’m afraid there’s an issue. Had this been brought to my attention when it was supposed to have been—” the old priest glared at several of the attending priests before continuing, “We might have already been on our way. As it stands now…”
He let the statement hang in the air. Even now, the sound of fighting could be heard in the background. Periodic reports suggested the lines were holding, for now, but the undead knew no rest or peace.
Artemis pulled her head from her hands and glared at the Head Priest as she spoke, “So what?! Do you suggest we stay here?! That we abandon my little sister to… whatever the hell these bloody cultists have planned?!”
Ulagan was the one to respond to her question. “We didn’t abandon her. The Lord Protector should be on the outskirts of the Earth Temple as we speak. He—”
Ulagan jumped and turned slightly paler as the much stronger Cultivator turned her attention, and wrath, to him, cutting him off. “And why should I trust this ‘Lord Protector’ of yours?! Erden might regard the patron’s decisions highly, but that does not mean this stranger is not a wildcard. How do we not know this Spirit Beast is not working with the cultists? Or that it does not have some other nefarious motives?! I will not leave my sister’s fate in the hands of an unknown!”
Zolzaya answered back, though her voice slightly shook. “Because your sister trusted him.”
Artemis’ sharp gaze snapped to the younger woman. “Explain.”
Zolzaya took a deep breath and continued. “You might think your sister is just a child, and you’re not wrong. She is young and naïve about many things. Yet, in many ways, she is wiser than her age makes her seem. During the time we traveled together, I watched the child carefully. I admit, I had similar suspicions as you.”
“Maybe the Spirit Beast was coercing the child or taking advantage of their inexperience. But in all that time, I never once saw any evidence of that. In fact, the child seemed to have free rein in all her actions. Several times she had vanished, and I thought she’d taken the chance to escape, only for her to return some time later with some new prize. At every opportunity, the child returned. While I can not fully vouch for the Lord Protector’s motives or thought process, I can say without any doubt that your sister trusted him.”
Artemis glared at Zolzaya, her eyes boring into her soul, trying to rip away any falsehood in the young woman’s words.
After a moment, Artemis spoke, “Even if that was true, you can’t expect me to trust her fate to a single Spirit Beast. What can one person do against an entire army?”
Kallik coughed, breaking the awkward tension. Kallik turned back to Artemis and Erden, then spoke. “I believe there’s one more piece of relevant information that might help shed light on that matter.”
Erden raised an eyebrow and asked, “Oh? How so?”
Kallik looked over at Ulagan and locked eyes with him. The young Guardian frowned, but nodded, and Kallik continued. “While it has yet to be confirmed as an absolute, we believe that the Lord Protector… may be a newborn Progenitor.”
The room froze. Even Juatan snapped his head to stare at the Grassreader, eyes wide. This was the first time he was hearing about this! Then again, it would make some sense. Suddenly, pieces started to fall into place for the older Guardian. Not just regarding the survivor’s odd behavior toward the Lord Protector, but also the elder council’s. Of course, Kallik had already told those old fogies her suspicions. Why else would they have been so… understanding about some of the Lord Protector’s more eccentric behavior during his stay in the village?
Erden’s already squinting eyes narrowed even further as he stroked his long beard. “A Progenitor… I see… That might explain some things, indeed. More so, the creature’s seeming ignorance and rather bold nature. However, I must warn you that this makes things far more complicated. Cultists are one problem, but a rogue Progenitor may become just as much of a disaster if not properly handled. Are you willing to stand fully by those words, regardless of the consequences?”
Kallik paused, then nodded her head. “I am, and so is the Slatewalker village.”
Erden leaned back and nodded as well before speaking. “I see. That changes some things. Unfortunately, not enough. The current situation doesn’t exactly lend itself to offering the Lord Protector much aid.”
Artemis turned to the old man, her eyes burning as she spoke. “Excuse after excuse! Since when did you turn into a coward, Erden?!“
Erden frowned and turned to stare at the younger woman, his eyes opening slightly, flashing a pair of black and white ringed eyes. His voice was hard as he spoke. “What would you have me do, young lady? Charge over the walls and cut our way through the army of the undead?!”
Artemis stared back, her voice soft by firm, “If we must…”
Erden returned the gaze, his voice just as firm. “And leave the city undefended? Abandon the common people and those seeking our protection to fates worse than death?!”
Artemis frowned but didn’t answer. She only stared unblinking into those powerful eyes. A new voice cut through the silence as she opened her mouth to say something.
As one, every eye turned to stare at Yutu as the young man pushed himself to a sitting position on shaking arms as he spoke. “I… I might have a solution to that problem…”