295 AC, Omburu…
Gerold was sitting on a table in a room in the temple with Xabo sitting opposite to him, "So you are saying that there has been no advancement for five years?"
"Unfortunately, after the events of Volantis there has been a small decline in our numbers. People of Isles are peaceful folk and they are not used to restrictions in their daily life. All they want is freedom to do everything they want and this freedom became their culture." Xabo answered with meekly, "As you know our rightful faith has some restrictions in regards to sexual life so they are a bit distant to our ideas."
Gerold shook his head with a disappointment in his eyes, "You have really disappointed me, Xabo. You claim to be Bishop of the Summer Isles but it is obvious you did not read the holy book properly."
Xabo's eyes darkened with confusion as Gerold continued, "Holy book explicitly describes that 'a life should be created with vows woven between husband and wife'. Do you see anything mentioning having sex without marriage is a sin?" Xabo shook his head with shining eyes.
"Next time I see you, I hope you will reorganize your teaching according to the wishes of God." Gerold talked with a smile on his face, but his eyes were slanted while looking at Xabo as he did not like the man's attitude.
Nevertheless, Gerold needed this man's influence as he was the only one with enough reputation and charisma to attract believers.
"Now, did you send word to the temple of love?" Gerold changed the topic as he was getting irritated because of Xabo.
Xabo nodded his head quickly and answered, "Yes, Your Holiness. The main temple in the Isle of Love will welcome your exalted self. However, there is a small problem."
"And what is that?"
"They want you to come alone…"
Gerold nodded thoughtfully as he scratched his non-existent beard, "That shall be no problem. I will be sailing by the morning, have a small boat prepared."
"It shall be done."
"If there is nothing else then I will be roaming the streets."
"Should I send some men to escort you?"
"There is no need, it would distance people seeing me protected but acting like a normal men would endear me. However, it would be good if you can send someone to show me the city."
"I will send Qalo as he is one of the locals."
Gerold nodded his head and stood up. Suddenly, a big shadowy figure tugged his robe and opened his palm towards him. Gerold smiled when he saw this and put his hand to his robe's pocket and took out a small treat and gave it to him, "Kobo, this is your last treat today. You are getting fat and need to eat less."
Kobo whined, hearing Gerold's words but still took the treat quickly and ate it. The weird thing was, after five years, he was able to reach adulthood and become two meters long when standing up, and he was also 250 kilograms. Even amongst his cousins, he was considered a giant by reaching this height at six.
"How about it, do you want to come with me, Kobo?" asked Gerold while patting his head.
Kobo's eyes glittered with excitement as he jumped up and down where he stood.
"Okay, okay but no fooling around." said Gerold like he was reprimanding a child.
Kobo tried to hide his head by using his hands but still looked to Gerold through his fingers. Last time he went out with Gerold, he stole candies from a store and crashed an inn's door as he was drunk because of all the alcohol he took.
…
Next day...
Gerold was paddling a little boat, but this was his lucky day as the weather was good, and the sun was shining in the seawater. The Isle of Love was already in his sight, and a woman with nothing but a red heart-shaped tattoo on her face was waiting for him on the shore. There was no port or city on the island. The only building that could be seen as a magnificent temple that looked like a rectangular palace.
Soon he reached the shore and let go of the paddles; his muscles were already sore because of all the paddling. He got out of the boat and stepped on the hot sands of the isle. The woman with a heart tattoo was still standing in the same spot and was doing nothing.
Gerold looked around, the only living thing around him was this woman, and there was nothing beside the trees and the temple. Then he looked towards the woman and walked to her.
The woman turned his eyes upon him and examined his assets, "Welcome, servant of the Forgotten One. The Evening Star awaiting you."
Gerold watched as the woman turned around and went towards the big temple without waiting for him, so he hurried behind her while wondering about the name she gave him, Evening Star.
In his old world, Evening Star was a name given to a planet and before that to a goddess, Astoreth.
Astoreth gained many names throughout the ages like Inanna, Ishtar, Turan, Aphrodite, and Venus. She was goddess of fertility, sex, love, war, and many other things. However, fertility, sex, and love were her primary features as a goddess. Gerold thought this as just a coincidence but nevertheless, prepared himself for the oncoming challenge.
It did not take long for them to reach the temple as it was relatively close to the shore. The giant gates of the temple opened themselves for them as Gerold and the woman went in.
The heavy scent of sex was invading the senses of people who went through the doors. Gerold saw men and women, women and women, men and men fornicating at every corner of the temple.
The woman did not give any reaction and continued to walk towards the temple's inner place, and Gerold followed her.
Soon they reached an isolated room with only an emperor-size bed. The bed was covered with a thin veil, so what was inside was only seen as blurred.
The woman waited for Gerold to get in, then bowed her head towards the bed and went out without saying anything and closed the door.
Gerold looked around the room. There were roses and common myrtles scattered on the floor. The room was smelling like a glass of aged wine.
Suddenly, a moaning sound came from the bed, and a shadowy figure rose behind the veil. A hand went throughout the veil and cast it aside.
Gerold opened his eyes widely and looked at the woman… no goddess in front of him.
Eyes as blue as the ocean was looking at him. Her black hair was wavy like the wildest sea in the storm. Her slender body and curvaceous waist were a feast to the eyes. Her perky mountains with round rock at the top were like a narrow vale displayed with glory. The fair glowing skin was creating a contrast with her black hair. Her rosy lips and small mouth were waiting to be claimed by her destined one.
Gerold was so stunned that he was not able to move, and something was poking his pants.
Goddess got out of the bed and looked at Gerold with a lusty smile on her face as she examined him.
A moment later, she nodded his head and spoke with a voice like the kindest bird in the world, "So you are the one who wants to take over my domain?"