Adam Terra stepped out of the adventurers guild, clutching his newly acquired translation device. The cool metal of the gem felt foreign against his palm as he wondered how to activate it. He had no idea whether it required magic, a simple touch, or if it was telepathic and could sense his intentions.
"Right, so how do I use this thing?" Adam muttered to himself. "Do I need to put magic in it or maybe just touch it? Is it telepathic? Does it just know when I want to speak to people?"
His thoughts were interrupted by the familiar tolling of the church bell, its sound echoing throughout the town.
"Oh, it's the church bell... Should I go there? Yeah, I probably should, if only to say goodbye to it," Adam decided. He made his way toward the church, the bell's persistent ringing guiding him. Along the way, he noticed many townsfolk heading in the same direction.
As he walked, Adam realized this could be a perfect opportunity to test the translation gem. The church would be filled with people, and he could experiment with the device while learning about the local religions.
The church stood at the heart of the town, its tall spire reaching towards the sky. Adam entered through the large wooden doors, joining the gathering crowd. The interior was dimly lit, with sunlight streaming through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the stone floor. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the murmurs of the congregation filled the space.
Adam took a seat near the back, observing the ritual. The priest, an elderly man with a kind face, began to speak in a language Adam didn't understand. He felt the gem in his pocket and decided to give it a try.
Taking a deep breath, Adam touched the gem, focusing his thoughts on understanding the priest's words. At first, nothing happened. He tried concentrating harder, willing the gem to activate. Suddenly, he felt a slight warmth emanate from the gem, and the priest's words started to make sense.
"...and so we gather here today, not only to worship but to find solace in each other's company," the priest was saying. Adam marveled at the gem's effectiveness, its magic seamlessly translating the language.
The elderly priest seemed a bit flustered for some reason, but it didn't affect his sermon. As the ceremony went on, Adam struggled to keep focused, and despite the translation gem, he could only catch a few words here and there. The main words that stood out were "Her Radiance," "Goddess of the Crescent Moon," and "Fairest Judge," which Adam assumed were titles of the goddess they worshiped.
As the sermon neared its end, the churchgoers started praying, their hands together in an open palm gesture as if trying to hold water. Adam mimicked the gesture, though he didn't say anything, simply observing and absorbing the experience.
After the prayers concluded, the congregation began to disperse. Adam took this moment to approach the elderly priest, who was now speaking to a few of the parishioners. Waiting patiently for his turn, Adam eventually caught the priest's eye.
"Excuse me, Father," Adam began, "I'm new to this town and was curious about your sermon. Could you tell me more about the goddess you mentioned?"
The priest's face softened into a kind smile. "Ah, a seeker of knowledge. Her Radiance, the Goddess of the Crescent Moon and Fairest Judge, is our divine protector. She guides us through the darkness and ensures justice prevails."
Adam nodded, trying to commit the details to memory. The man continued to speak about the goddess with a surprising amount of zeal in his voice, a true believer, it seemed.
Finally, the man finished proselytizing and bid Adam farewell. Adam left the church, the air filled with the faint scent of incense lingering on his clothes. He made his way into the shopping district, where the majority of the stores, blacksmiths, and stalls were set up.
The district buzzed with activity, a stark contrast to the solemnity of the church. Merchants called out to passersby, advertising their wares, while blacksmiths hammered away at their forges, the rhythmic clanging adding a musical undertone to the lively atmosphere.
Adam wandered through the market, his eyes scanning the various goods on display. He passed stalls selling everything from fresh produce to intricate jewelry. The blacksmiths' shops, with their rows of gleaming weapons and armor, caught his attention. Remembering his need to prepare for the journey ahead, he decided to stop by one of the more reputable-looking forges.
The blacksmith, a burly man with a thick beard and powerful arms, looked up from his work as Adam approached. "Looking for something specific, lad?" he asked, wiping his hands on his apron.
"Oh, no, I'm just, uh, window shopping... actually, never mind. I have something that I wanted an expert's opinion on, and you seemed to fit the bill," Adam said.
The blacksmith stopped hammering away at the heated metal he was working on and raised an eyebrow. "Very well, what do you want? Make it quick, I'm quite busy." He shook his head and went back to hammering.
Adam removed a medium-sized rectangular box from his belt and fiddled with it until it opened up and transformed into a miniature crossbow. This caught the blacksmith's attention. "This is what I wanted you to look at. I've been using it for a while, but I feel it is inadequate for long-term use due to how complex its bits and pieces are. It might break at any moment, and I wanted to know whether to sell it or to find a way to make it more sturdy and reliable."
The blacksmith set his tools aside and took the miniature crossbow from Adam's hands, inspecting it closely. He turned it over, examining the mechanisms and joints with a practiced eye. "Interesting piece of work," he muttered, more to himself than to Adam.
After a few minutes, he nodded and handed it back. "You're right; it's finely made, but the complexity makes it prone to breaking under heavy use. I'd suggest reinforcing the joints and replacing some of the more delicate parts with sturdier materials. That should make it more reliable."
Adam nodded, absorbing the blacksmith's advice. "Do you think you could do the modifications for me?"
The blacksmith scratched his beard thoughtfully. "I could, but it'll take some time and won't be cheap. However, if you're planning on relying on this, it's worth the investment."
Adam considered his options. "Alright, let's do it. How long will it take?"
"A few days, at least. Leave it with me, and I'll get started as soon as I can," the blacksmith replied.
Adam handed over the crossbow and thanked the blacksmith before heading back into the bustling market.
"Hopefully, this is worth it. While I didn't really plan on staying in town much longer, it's not like I was in a rush to go to this so-called city. Still not sure why Dyrk called it a city instead of a kingdom or empire or whatever equivalent thing there is. Maybe it's just a translation thing that didn't quite make it through Ms. Eldez's spell?" Adam mused to himself as he wandered through the market.
He browsed the stalls, admiring the various goods on display. There were vibrant fabrics, exotic spices, handmade jewelry, and all sorts of trinkets. The smells of freshly baked bread and roasted meats wafted through the air, making his stomach growl.
As he meandered, Adam's mind kept returning to the translation gem and its potential uses. He hadn't tested it properly yet and felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension about its capabilities. With a determined nod, he decided to find someone to talk to and test the gem's functionality.
Spotting a vendor selling intricate wooden carvings, Adam approached with the gem in hand. The vendor, an elderly woman with a warm smile and twinkling eyes, greeted him cheerfully.
"Good day to you! Interested in some of my carvings?" she asked, her voice friendly and inviting.
Earlier that day, during the sermon.
I watch as many followers fill the church, all sitting down, ready for the head priest to give his sermon. Among these people, there is one in particular that I have been keeping watch over. This is not due to some sort of favoritism, as a deity would not fall so low as to choose favorites among their followers.
The reason I kept my eye on this person is due to many reasons, one being that his soul is not quite right. It's young and old, fresh and stale, all at the same time. Though this alone wouldn't cause HER to pay much attention to this ... creature, what truly caught HER eye was the remnant of something old! Something far too old to ever be human, something far older than even HER. This something seems to have been hiding somewhere inside the boy's soul, where even SHE struggled to notice it at first.
This caused HER to worry, as SHE does not know of any being that is this old and has the capabilities to hide from HER gaze. This boy could be a ticking time bomb, or he could be nothing special, but it's better to stick to the safe choice, which is to monitor this reincarnator and whatever it is that's hiding inside of him.
In truth, HER initial plan was to simply kill the boy, but this proved quite stupid and dangerous, as SHE didn't know if the being is imprisoned inside the boy or simply hitching a ride, and killing the host might cause untold calamity. So instead, SHE decided to simply remove a piece of HERself to monitor the boy but do so discreetly and separately from the main body so that this being does not track HER down. This so far has worked, and SHE has even used the boy to enact some judgment on evildoers and criminals by secretly taking hold of his mind and controlling his desires, emotions, and thoughts. As a gift, SHE made the boy's body stronger and sturdier, allowing him to enact swift justice at HER command.
-----
Later that day, Father Leonard was making his way towards his room, where he both slept and worked. (Why go home when I can complete my divine duty and take care of Her Radiance's church!) he thought to himself. As he passed the long corridor to his office, he heard the sound of laughter coming from the sleeping quarters of the sisters.
"What are they doing this late into the night?" Father Leonard thought to himself as he made a detour towards the sound of laughter and promptly opened the door, eliciting many sudden cries of surprise from the still-awake sisters.
Father Leonard smiled and said, "My, what might you be talking about this late into the night? It must be quite important for you to stay up this late!" His mock question dripped with sarcasm. The sisters all looked towards him, remaining silent until one of them burst out laughing, causing a chain reaction among them as they all began either laughing or giggling.
Father Leonard took in a breath and slowly released it. "I believe that's enough. If you aren't asleep by the time I come back from my study, then you'll all receive punishment," he threatened, though he wouldn't actually follow through with any severe punishment. He would most likely just give them double the chores to do for the next few weeks.
One of the sisters, still giggling, spoke up. "My father, what might you be studying? Perhaps you're studying our dear Sister Lilith's body?!" The mention of this caused Father Leonard to choke on his own spit, his face heating up at the mention of Lilith's name. Though this very quickly turned into irritation.
"I see it seems you sisters have quite the dirty imagination. Very well, you'll all be working four times as much for the next year and no breaks for any holiday, and I'll have to reexamine your education as it is clearly not up to par!" Father Leonard said with a serious tone, which caused the sisters to go silent, all but one of them.
"My! Father, we are sorry. It's just so funny whenever you follow our dear older Sister Lilith around like a lost puppy."
This caused Leonard's eyes to twitch in irritation. "Sister, you'll be cleaning the bathrooms all by yourself for the next few years. I expect them to be spotless, understood?" As he said this, he closed the door and walked away towards his room/office, his face as red as a tomato.
As he was making his way over to the office, his thoughts were filled with images of Lilith, the new sister who had arrived the same day he did. Leonard had been offered the position of the father of this church after the last one had died in an accident, and on the same day he entered, he saw her! She was around thirty with long brown hair, hazel eyes, and an air of authority he had never seen in anyone. He had attempted to speak to her on many occasions, but they all ended in failure. Her responses were always short and to the point, though this didn't stop his feelings toward her.
Initially, he thought that she was perhaps just strict and cold, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The way she acted around the other sisters was like that of a mother with her children—kind, compassionate, and loving. This led the sisters to all think of her as some kind of surrogate mother, one that many of them either didn't have or had lost during some unfortunate situation.
Father Leonard finally reached his office and opened the door, only to see none other than Sister Lilith in the flesh.
"Sister Lilith," he stammered, caught off guard by her presence. "What are you doing here?"
She looked up from a stack of papers on his desk, her hazel eyes meeting his. "I apologize for intruding, Father Leonard. I needed to review some documents concerning the upcoming charity event. I hope you don't mind."
Leonard's heart raced as he struggled to maintain his composure. "Of course not, Sister. You're always welcome here." He moved to his desk, trying to focus on anything other than the woman standing before him.
Lilith continued to sort through the papers, her demeanor calm and focused. "The charity event is crucial for our community. I wanted to ensure everything is in order."
Leonard nodded, watching her graceful movements. "Yes, it's very important. Your dedication is... admirable."
She glanced at him briefly, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Thank you, Father. I believe we all have a role to play in serving Her Radiance and our community."
He felt a surge of warmth at her words, his admiration for her growing stronger. "Indeed, Sister. Your efforts do not go unnoticed."
Lilith's smile widened slightly before she returned to her work. Leonard sat down at his desk, attempting to focus on his own tasks. Yet, his thoughts kept drifting back to her presence, the way she seemed to embody the very spirit of the church.
As the evening wore on, they worked in companionable silence, the only sounds being the rustle of papers and the occasional sigh. Leonard found himself stealing glances at her, marveling at the serene determination in her expression.
Finally, Lilith gathered the documents and straightened up. "I believe I have everything I need, Father Leonard. Thank you for allowing me to use your office."
He stood up, offering her a warm smile. "Anytime, Sister Lilith. Your dedication is an inspiration to us all."
She gave a small nod, her hazel eyes holding his gaze for a moment longer than necessary.
"Father Leonard, there is something I wish to discuss with you," Lilith said, her voice calm and her gaze focused.
Leonard looked at her and asked, "Sure, is there anything I can help you with, Sister?"
"I've decided to leave the church. I'll be leaving the day after the charity event," Lilith said, her voice tinged with the slightest amount of sadness.
Father Leonard almost keeled over right then and there, but he managed to stay upright and ask, "And what brought this on, Sister? Is there something you're dissatisfied with?" His voice sounded like he was pleading.
Sister Lilith sighed. "No, Father, there is nothing wrong. I just need to leave... permanently."
Father Leonard, not one to give up easily, asked, "For what reason exactly? If you want, we can arrange a paid leave for you until you're finished with whatever business you have! No need to permanently leave the church!"
"Father, I cannot say, as it is quite private. Please understand," she said in a strained voice.
"But what about the sisters? Will you just leave them like this?" Leonard was getting desperate, not knowing what else to say he mentioned the other sisters.
The mentioning of them made her eyes soften, then quiver a little. "I apologize, but I can't change my choice. I must leave," her voice stayed the same, cold and calm.
"Can I ask for what reason? Please, at least give me something to tell the sisters!" Father Leonard pleaded.
Lilith sighed as she looked at Leonard, her eyes growing cold and sharp. "Father Leonard..." Before she continued what she was about to say, she sighed again, and she seemed to calm down.
"Fine, I'll tell you. Just know that this is your own fault for choosing this," as she said this she removed her head scarf, which caused Leonard to be confused. That was until Lilith started to grow bigger and taller, her form changing, her skin turning a shade of pink, and at the top of her head grew two long, razor-sharp horns.
"..." Father Leonard was speechless.
The transformation completed, and where Lilith had stood moments before was now a towering, demonic figure, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. She looked down at Leonard, whose face had turned as pale as the moonlight filtering through the window.
Father Leonard was still too stunned to speak, his mind racing with the revelation of who Sister Lilith truly was—or rather, Lilithia. She continued, her voice carrying the weight of centuries-old secrets.
"I am a succubus," Lilithia repeated, her tone both matter-of-fact and tinged with a hint of sorrow. "I was summoned by the previous father before his demise. Before you ask, no, I didn't do it. He was already dead when I arrived."
Father Leonard's eyes widened in shock, his thoughts racing to comprehend the implications of her words.
"As you may know," Lilithia continued, "succubi cannot survive without life essence. The only way to obtain it is through unholy acts. However, due to the circumstances of my summoning circle being here within the church, I cannot leave its grounds. This means I cannot obtain life essence, neither from outside nor from within. I don't wish to be smote, Father Leonard."
Leonard finally found his voice, though it trembled slightly with a mix of fear and empathy. "You've been here all this time... hiding, pretending to be one of us."
Lilithia nodded solemnly. "Yes, I have. The church has been my sanctuary, and the sisters, unwittingly, my family. I have done my best to live a virtuous life, to help where I could, without causing harm."
Father Leonard took a step closer, his initial shock giving way to a deep, thoughtful concern. "And now you intend to leave?"
Lilithia's gaze softened, her eyes betraying a hint of regret. "Yes. Forces from my past are closing in. I cannot risk bringing danger to this place, to the sisters whom I've come to care for deeply."
Leonard sighed heavily, grappling with conflicting emotions. "I... I understand why you must go. But what will become of you?"
"I have plans," Lilithia replied, her voice steady. "There are places where I might find a new sanctuary, where I can live without endangering others. But I needed to tell you the truth, Father Leonard. I owe you that much."
Leonard nodded slowly, his mind swirling with the weight of the revelations. "Thank you... for trusting me with this. I will do what I can to protect the church, to keep your secret safe."
Lilithia's expression softened into a small, sad smile. "Thank you, Father Leonard. You have shown me kindness beyond what I dared hope for."
Lilith looked at Father Leonard, utterly taken aback by his sudden proposal. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of his unexpected offer amidst the revelations they had just shared. After a moment of silence, she replied cautiously, her voice tinged with both confusion and a hint of amusement.
"Father Leonard, I... I don't think that would be appropriate," Lilith said softly, her hazel eyes searching his face for any sign of jest or misunderstanding.
Leonard felt a flush of embarrassment and regret, realizing the audacity of his request given their circumstances. He shifted uncomfortably, the weight of Lilith's gaze adding to his unease. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... It's just that... I care about you, Lilith. As Sister Lilith... and as... well, as you are."
Lilith regarded him with a mix of sympathy and resignation. She knew his feelings were sincere, but the complexities of her own existence weighed heavily on her response. "Father Leonard, I appreciate your kindness and concern. But I cannot stay. My nature, my past... they're not something that can be easily set aside."
Father Leonard nodded slowly, accepting her words with a heavy heart. "I understand. I just... had to ask." His voice was filled with a mix of disappointment and a lingering hope.
Lilith's expression softened, a rare smile playing at her lips despite the gravity of the situation. "Thank you, Father. For everything." Her voice held genuine warmth, appreciating his unwavering support even in the face of her secrets.
With that, she turned away once more, her steps measured and deliberate, ready to leave the room and return to her duties. But before she could take another step, Father Leonard's voice broke the silence.
"So, I'll be seeing you tomorrow night for our date, correct?" he asked tentatively, his words hanging in the air with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
Lilith turned around sharply, surprise and irritation flashing in her eyes. Before she could respond, Father Leonard pressed on, his eagerness almost palpable. "Please, just one date. I promise not to bore you. And... well, if I do, you can take my soul as compensation," he added, half-jokingly but with a sincerity that caught Lilith off guard.
She hesitated, unsure of how to respond to his persistence. After a moment, her irritation softened into resignation. "Oh, what the hell. Sure, Father Leonard," Lilith sighed, her voice now tinged with a mix of amusement and resignation. "Just make sure not to bore me," she teased lightly, her tone a stark contrast to her usual serious demeanor.
Father Leonard's face lit up with a mixture of relief and joy, a wide grin spreading across his features. "Thank you, Lilith. I won't let you down," he promised earnestly, feeling a rush of excitement and nervousness about what the future might hold.
As Lilith turned to leave once more, Father Leonard watched her go, his heart lighter yet filled with a newfound sense of anticipation. This unexpected turn of events had brought them closer in a way he hadn't imagined, even if it was fraught with uncertainties and potential consequences.