Crusade – Chapter 80: Seeds of Hope

Aperio tilted her head at the scene in front of her. The grassy hill was now overgrown with a sea of flowers, spreading farther than it had any right to.

Amidst the colourful ocean of blossoms were Caethya, Laelia, and the newly-arrived Human. Her two followers immediately noticed her return, the conversation ceasing as both turned their heads to look at their Goddess.

A single step was all Aperio needed to close the distance between them, the threads of reality almost eagerly parting to allow her passing. Adam, the name her mind so helpfully volunteered for the low-level Human, just looked at her wide-eyed for a moment before he tried to jump up and, presumably, run away.

He had barely managed to take a step when Caethya's hand landed on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "Stop being so worried. She won't punish you."

"Why should I punish you?" Aperio asked, tilting her head as she looked at the Human. "Do you think what happened was your fault?"

His only response was a hesitant nod, his eyes shifting between Aperio and her daughter. I didn't even do anything evil… He saw me cry, and apparently create a hill of flowers. "It is not your fault. As far as I know, you have nothing to do with any of this. If anything, you are the victim here."

Adam did not respond, simply continuing to stare at the All-Mother. Ferio's hand brushed past her wings to reassuringly rest on her back, as it so often did of late, and the gentle reminder caused Aperio to avert her gaze from the mortal and take a deep breath.

The smell of the flowers was somehow familiar, even though she could not quite figure out why that was. ...Do I smell like anything? She had not exactly had a bath in quite a while, but neither had anyone said anything about her needing one. But they also think anything I say or do is the absolute truth…

With a slight shake of her head Aperio dismissed the thought. Considering how sensitive her sense of smell had become, she would probably be the first to notice if something was off. Why am I even thinking about this?

"You are free to go, Adam," Aperio said. "There is a city named Ebenlowe I would be willing to bring you to if you so choose. You can also stay here if you wish."

The Human looked at her for a few more moments before he finally spoke. "Can I go home?"

The All-Mother sighed at the question. She probably could send him back where he came from. Even though I would need a good while to even find the place. But it was a place with so little magic that the idea of putting him back there did not sit well with Aperio.

"No," she finally replied. "Your world has no magic. Sending you back now would not be a good idea."

"Why?"

Aperio rubbed the bridge of her nose at the question, her wings twitching ever-so-slightly in annoyance. The small motion was apparently enough to remove the small bit of courage that Adam had managed to scrounge up. Of course. When it would be nice if a mortal could just accept my word, they don't.

"I honestly do not know what might happen," Aperio said. "I can only tell that it would not be pleasant. Neither for you, nor the people of your world."

"My Goddess," Caethya began, her eyes flicking between the All-Mother and the cowering Human. "Perhaps it would be best if he could take some time to acclimate to this world. It has to be taxing to be taken from the life and world you know."

Aperio lowered her head at the words of her disciple. Caethya was right; her own reaction to dying and finding herself in a world she no longer knew was most likely not a normal one. The voice of her daughter also echoed through her mind, quietly reminding her that bending reality to her whim was very much not normal.

That it had become second nature to her gave Aperio pause, if only for a moment. She was the All-Mother, the Creator. I really need to watch what I am doing. ...After I have brought them to Ebenlowe. The thought was accompanied by reality splitting apart, revealing the house of healing that had seemingly become the home of her impromptu church. At least it is if I go by the fact that Laelia lives there.

"The people there can help you get used to this world," Aperio said, gesturing towards the portal. "If you wish to take the offer, that is." Should I start paying them as recompense for all the trouble I send their way? Probably.

That did raise the question of how exactly she would do that. She did not have any gold. I could probably make some, no? Aperio pushed the thought from her mind as she took a step to the side, distancing herself from the portal so Adam might be more inclined to go through it.

The Human did not oblige her, however, simply shifting his gaze between the portal and the floor. Only after Caethya offered him her hand did he stand up and move towards the rift in space.

The All-Mother extended a small mental thanks to her disciple that caused the young Elf to briefly stagger; just another reminder of the gulf between herself and the mortals. And I want to live amongst them…

A touch of her magic stabilised Caethya, another briefly flowing through her body to check if the woman was uninjured. Aperio was happy to find that besides the slightly faster beat of her heart and quicker breaths, the Elf was unharmed. That Caethya was reacting in that way still caused a tinge of worry to rise in Aperio. I hope it's not what I think it is.

Despite having taken a liking to her new life — even with the continued struggles of breaking things by applying a bit too much strength — Aperio did not like the possible direction Caethya's interest seemed to be taking. She does that whenever I touch her, be it physical or with magic…

Aperio rubbed the bridge of her nose again, a habit that she would have to get rid of before the mortals decided it was some form of symbolism. Can't they just treat me like one of their own?

"Are you sure it's safe?" Adam asked, taking Aperio out of her thoughts. He looked at the portal for a moment before his eyes wandered to the All-Mother. After a moment, he leaned closer to Caethya to whisper in her ear. "What if she wants to kill me? She seems to not like me…"

"Why would I want to kill you?" Aperio asked, the irritation clear in her voice. "And why do you think I have something against you? I barely know you."

"You should be thankful the All-Mother even graces you with her presence, mortal," Ferio said. "There was no need for her to return here to check up on you, and yet she did."

"I have yet to see her go against anyone that did not deserve it." Laelia's added comment seemed to calm the Human a little, even if he still sent fearful glances towards the All-Mother and the Goddess of Life and Light. "And even if her presence and voice might be intimidating, Aperio is a kind woman at heart. I know that to be true."

Her Scion delivered her last words with a pointed stare at the All-Mother. The meaning of the words was not lost on Aperio; she had just assumed that her struggle would have been less apparent. Or did Ferio tell her?

"She is," Caethya agreed, gently nudging Adam through the portal. "Her followers are kind too."

Once her disciple and the otherworldly Human had fully passed through the tear in reality, Aperio erected a small barrier in front of it to keep sound from passing.

"Did you tell them anything, Ferio?"

"I did not, mother," her daughter replied with a sigh. "It isn't hard to figure out how you feel about things, however. You are very expressive."

"We just had to figure out if it was us or yourself you were unhappy with," Laelia said, her head slightly lowered. "After your… breakdown at the Terenyk estate, it became quite obvious that there are more things wrong than I had first thought."

Her Scion took a few steps towards the All-Mother before she spoke again. "I cannot claim to know what troubles you. But I have sworn myself to you. If there is something I can do for you, please, call on me."

Aperio shifted her gaze between her feet and her Scion a few times as the words of her daughter echoed through her mind. Ferio was right. She should make a proper church before the mortals decided to make one on their own.

The act of asking Laelia for help was still not something she felt comfortable with — even when the feeling of disgust was nowhere to be found. It simply felt like the wrong thing to do.

Nonetheless, Aperio knew she would need help. She had no idea how she should set up a church nor did she know what was expected of her when she did. The All-Mother had no desire to be swarmed with prayers that demanded her attention, no yearning to appear in a church to hold her own sermons.

"There is something I would like your help with," the All-Mother said. "Ferio has rightfully pointed out that I do not know how to start my own church. Originally, I did not want to have a following as, unlike the other deities, I do not depend on my followers."

"I don't think you have to found a religion, my Goddess. Most people in the house of healing have already taken you up as the patron Goddess of our home," Laelia explained, moving a little closer to Aperio yet again. "The [Guides], too, seem to be worshipping you already. The only difference is that they believe you to seek knowledge while we focus on helping one another."

Aperio tilted her head at the words. She did seek knowledge, and she also liked helping those she cared about. But I only care about a few people… I don't want to be responsible for everyone that just chooses to follow me. She had no doubts that there would be people who came to her church to take advantage of her or her eventual followers. No matter how she turned the matter over in her mind, she could see nothing that would result otherwise. The problem would, perhaps forever, persist.  I would just find out even later.

"I told you that the [Guides] are practically already your followers, mother," Ferio said. "The question now is if you want to allow them to actually follow you."

"I do not mind anyone following me as long as they understand that I will not come and fix every problem they have." There was of course the matter of slavery as well, something she should definitely address but did not truly want to yet. With an almost imperceptible shake of her head, Aperio pushed past the mental blockage and continued nonetheless. "I will also not tolerate slavery of any kind. Should I find someone partaking in such vile acts, I will kill them."

"Is that why you removed both Vigil and Inanis?" Laelia asked.

"Partly, yes," Aperio said, her wings flaring slightly at the memory of the traitors. "They had larger crimes to pay for, however. Ones I am starting to think death was too lenient a punishment for."

A small plea to calm from her daughter caused Aperio to notice that a few tiny arcs of her mana had singed some of the flowers around her. Her Scion hesitated for a moment before she had seemingly gathered enough courage to ask the All-Mother another question.

"May I know what they did, Lady Aperio?"

The All-Mother fixed her gaze on her Scion, the woman shrinking a little under her attention. "No. All you need to know is that they paid for a lifetime of terror and abuse and that I will never let such a thing happen again."

“Understood, my Goddess,” Laelia replied, quickly bowing her head. “May I know who you have in mind as leader of your church?”

“You, my Scion,” Aperio replied. “If you believe yourself able to, I would be delighted if you chose to fill that role.”

“Would the [Grandmaster] not be a better choice?” her Scion inquired. “She has centuries of experience leading a large group of people, and has many connections I do not.”

The All-Mother tilted her head at the words. “Perhaps, but I do not trust Miss Videns. She may be capable, but she is not my Scion. I also have reason to believe she is more a follower of Roots than myself.”

“What about Caethya?”

“As far as I know, she has not been part of a church and does not know how they are supposed to function. Neither do I think she would want to do it,” Aperio explained. “Ferio has recommended that I ask you and I believe her to be correct. Not only are you more capable of leading than Caethya, but I also think it would be something you might enjoy.” I just don’t know how I know that.

There was a small pause in the conversation where neither of them spoke. “If you need time to think about the offer, take as much as you need.”

“No,” Laelia said, “I will gladly accept your offer. I was simply not sure if you truly meant it.”

“I rarely say something I do not mean,” Aperio said, tilting her head at the slight pull on the mana in her well. “Our meeting may have been by chance, but I have come to trust you more than other mortals, Laelia. I hope my trust is not misplaced.”

“It is not, my Goddess.”

Laelia’s words ended the pull on her well, seemingly finalising a deal neither of them had truly known was taking place. A moment later, an all-too-familiar silver window materialized in front of Aperio, proclaiming to the world what she had just done. 

Rejoice!

The [Church of the All-Mother] has been reborn.

Those who dare challenge her righteous rule will be cleansed.

Why does it sound like I want to conquer the world?

GamingWolf

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