Special thanks to @dominick_Felix_5380 for generously providing the first two power stones for the book! I am thrilled to announce that I will be naming a character after you. Now, let us return to our Druid friend!
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After a brief stroll, Clay and Nirin arrived at one of the gatehouses, which marks the boundary between the outer and inner rings of the bustling city.
Approaching a line of approximately thirty individuals, Clay tapped the person ahead of him and asked, "Excuse me, sir, do you have any idea how long this wait will be?"
As the person turned around, Clay was greeted by a face of ethereal allure, graced with ebony dragon horns. The man extended his hand, inviting Clay for a handshake. "Greetings, I am Arius the ever dreaming."
Accepting the handshake with a hint of awkwardness, Clay repeated his question. "Hello, Arius. Can you provide an estimate of how long this usually takes?"
"Well, I haven't specifically been in this city before, but it varies across the worlds. In my hometown of Orario, for instance, it typically takes a minimum of two minutes per person," Arius explained, his words accompanied by a subconscious manipulation of the magical energy around him.
The water seemed to respond, a complex image using refractions showed a gatehouse surrounded by people, with the cityscape beyond adorned by a towering spire that seemingly reached the heavens.
Returning to reality, Arius pondered for a moment before responding, "Yes, I would say approximately five... give or take a few minutes."
"Sir Arius, how did you accomplish such a feat?" Clay unintentionally added an honorific to Arius's name, expressing both respect and awe for the displayed power.
Arius appeared momentarily perplexed. "Accomplish what?"
"Never mind," Clay quickly dismissed the topic. Waiting for their turn, Arius began engaging in a lively conversation with both Nirin and Clay. Thirty minutes passed before the line had finally inched its way back to them.
walking up to the entrance after Arius, a guard started his standard procedures. "Name, race, and reason for visiting please." Such questions were standard procedures in most cities, as the inner ring was where all the nobles and rich merchants lived.
"I am Clay, Human, and this is my companion Nirin, she is a Demi-human. I am here to help Nirin to undergo the bestowal Ritual at the church."
"Alright sir, your free to go in, after you pay the one silver fee." the guard said with a sly smile knowing that a duo such as a commoner boy and ragged-beggar-looking Demi-human could never afford such a fee.
Clay's face went ghastly. He didn't know that there was a fee to get into the inner circle! he had never tried! but before he needed to find a workaround, Arius came over and provided assistance. "sir guard, they are with me. let them through "
Hearing the voice of Arius once more the Guard quickly straightened his back and stepped out of the way, but not without replying. "Yes sir, Archon of Dreams"
Walking past the guards, Clay was about to thank Arius for the help and ask who he was, but Arius was nowhere to be found. Before Clay could look around for him he saw Nirin skipping off towards the church. Catching up to Nirin, it wasn't long before they arrived at the church of Aria.
Walking through the grand doors which framed the entrance to a hall of marble-made pews, Clay and Nirin only had to get into the ceremony now. Clay not knowing how this worked found an acolyte off by the side, to which he asked "hello there sir, umm… I'm new around here and was hoping for some information on how to get my friend here a bestowment ceremony."
"Ahh, Friend," the clerics started with a smile, as he put his arm around Clay. " the bestowment ceremony is free to any believers for the first time. Join us in our prayer to the almighty Aria, and we shall help your friend"
"Uh, thanks… man" Clay responded with dubitation due to the acolytes fanatical behavior.
Sitting within the Marble pews, Clay and Nirin awaited the start of the prayer. Not having to wait Long, it wasn't twenty minutes before the prayer started.
The bishop in charge of this particular church droned on about Aria, and her "Supreme Grace" that Clay couldn't believe in anymore after his talk with the almighty Tod.
In Clays Boredom he started to feel for the nature around him. Sadly only the wind was around. The inner ring. Felt like a desolate wasteland devoid of plant life. Not a single vine or moss patch was present within 20 meters of Clay, as if purposefully removed.
Coming out of his state, Clay tapped Nirins shoulder and whispered "Don't believe any of this… The almighty Tod is better".
Once such words to come from Clay, Nirin visibly relaxed. "Didn't expect you to not believe in Aria either. Not that I know who this Tod is."
After many more lines of reverence, requests of forgiveness, and admonishment of the unholy, the prayer session came to an end.
But before anyone could stand to leave or prayer before the statue, the Bishop started up once more. "Today we welcome a new member to our holy community, please welcome our Demi-Human friend in the back."
Many applauded Nirin and some even congratulated her on her enlightenment of the truth. The Bishop started once again, saving Nirin from having a panic attack due to her odd nature and lack of comfort.
"We welcome her today with a Grand ceremony of bestowment. For Aria welcomes all into her embrace." Said the archbishop before giving another prayer and beckoning Nirin to the altar.
As Nirin laid down upon the altar the Archbishop said a hymn before Nirin disappeared.
Waiting for Nirins safe passage through the ceremony, Clay thought about this past week and all the surprises he had along the way. How he had met the Almighty Tod, and when Tod had broken the lies of the church before him.
Giving a small prayer to Tod, Clay waited for Nirin.
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Thank you so much! the growth of this book has already passed what I exspected! in the time it took me to right this chapter we have hit 9 powerstones fom the initial 2! Now as promised I will have an upload sheduale. every wensday and all bonus chapters will comeout within 2 days of the reguler uploads.
Goals:
bonuschapter:20 (so an additional ten from last time)