Side Story: Lausanne and the Priest of Aiva

Side Story: Lausanne and the Priest of Aiva

Circa Year 125, immediately after the time the demon king died

The [Captain] said well reach Port Killos soon. One of Lausannes party-mates announced the news to the group of 10. They were adventurers, the Playing Swords, and theyve been sailing for a good 5 weeks from Port Anggar of the Southern Continent to Port Killos on the southernmost edge of the Eastern Continent.

The oceans are vast. It takes a month from one place to another, sometimes three months should the weather be exceptionally bad, or some of the large monster-fishes create hostile patches. Theres been times when a sea serpent made a whirlpool large enough that trade was disrupted for years across the straits.

Port Killos, the Southern Fortress. Home to one of the largest Aiva temples, and seat of Grandmaster Engka, one of Grand Triumvirs of Aiva. Its walls were made 830 years ago by the Summoned Hero, Don Mex, and one of the strongest hero-enchanted walls in the world. Still, on the southern part, there was a large hole, a crater from a demonic supercannon blast. A relic of the era of Demon King Sabnoc.

Theres also a memorial there, to remember the 17,000 who died from that explosion. The ship was finally ready to dock.

Alright. Lausanne nodded. She wore a deep green jacket, and she had three wooden spears on her back. So what in the world happened in a month?

The party, and many other passengers disembarked. The crew and the docksmen started underloading cargo too. But, they quickly picked up something that felt different. There were far more soldiers, and templars.

Aiva had templars, but the templars rarely left their training grounds except during the demon wars.

The Demon King had fallen! The three heroes died! They got the news, and Lausanne just nodded. Thats good, she thought. A templar approached them. Normally, it would just be a regular port official that did visitor screening. Name? Which party?

Im Ardi, of the Playing Swords. A man in his early 40s answered. He quickly showed his many adventurer guild badges. Lausannes husband. Its funny, because Lausanne is more of a spear-user. Swords are pretty low on her list of proficiencies, but the party had a lot of sword users. Each kingdom recognised their own adventurers differently, so most parties obtained multiple certifications.

Alright. The templar nodded. Cleared. The temples are off-limits, however.

Off-limits? One of the party members asked. She was the partys healer, and shes a priestess-warrior. That meant she actually has a holy-enchanted sword, albeit a lesser one. Is it open for the clergy?

The templar looked at the healer. Clergy may access the outer temples. Central temples off limits to everyone. The Triumvir is receiving a divine message.

The priestess-warriors jaw dropped. A divine message! The templar nodded and signalled them to move along.

Lausanne walked next to the priestess. Lexi, whats a divine message?

The gods, they sometimes send a divine message. Only those who have the right levels and skills can receive it. But the messages usually need a long time to be received, sometimes months, so the high priests would enter into solitary confinement, often with only a skeleton crew to support them.

Why do they want to receive it?

Usually it comes with some kind of divine blessings, and almost all priests level up quite a bit after receiving a divine message.

Really? Lausanne just nodded. Ardi patted his wife on the back. Alright, lets get to our inn. Well check out what quests we have tomorrow.

They woke up the next day to sounds of marching men. An army.

Whats happening? Ardi asked the innkeeper. It was about time for breakfast anyway.

Not sure. But the central temples have been closed for 3 weeks already. I dont recall something like this happening in a long time.

Lexi nibbled on a piece of meat. That usually means the divine message is quite long. Usually.

Have you ever received a divine message, Lexi? Lausanne asked, curious.

No. Its a gift for the select few, those chosen by the gods as their [voice]. For mere mortals like us, we never get a chance.

Lausanne nodded. Ardi came back with a few files. Alright, the guilds got some typical hunting missions, and some demon extermination missions. I think the jobs seem relatively easy, so we can split up into two groups. Lausanne will lead the demon-hunting mission. The usual split.

She nodded. That usual split meant Lausanne, two swordsmen and one mage. Their team is usually smaller, simply because Lausanne, at Level 80, due to her unique history, massively outleveled everyone else in the party. Everyone else was around level 40 to level 55. Ardi himself was only a Level 52 [Swordfighter].

They spent the whole morning going through the quest dossiers, but then, a group of templars marched into the inn. Heavily armed too, a group of 10 templars.

Were looking for the Playing Swords. One Templar Captain said, and Ardi nodded.

Yes. We are the Playing Swords.

Per our records, is Lausanne Searwind, the Greenspears present? The templar asked.

Lausanne stood. Yes. That would be me.

The templar nodded. Alright, Lady Lausanne, Im afraid we need you to come with us. The rest of you can stay here.

Ardi panicked. Wait. Shes my wife, is everything alright?

The templar paused, his brain was probably processing the information. Im afraid the Triumvir only ordered for her. The rest of you, please wait here.

Will she be alright? Ardi asked again, noticing that the templar didnt answer his question.

Lausanne smiled. Ill be fine. Honestly, what could they do? Lausanne had the best chance of escape, she did have her Warden. Vissit novelbin(.)c.om for updates

-

The templar escorted her to the Core Temples. They didnt attempt to restrain her, so Lausanne assumed it had not been a crime. At least, not yet. She did not take her woodspears along, her three woodspears were with her party, but still, if she needed a weapon, Warden was more than able to create a few.

Are you alright? Ardi came, the templars strangely allowed her husband to visit her and even gave him the option to stay with her during her house arrest. I heard the gist of it from the templars.

Im perfectly fine. Lausanne nodded. Well just have to stay here for quite a while. The team can go on with their missions. In fact, you can join them if you want to. Lausanne winked. Being confined for a few years, whats new? She was confined in a valley for 20 years before and had to fight hybrid demons every other day, this wasnt a big deal. In fact, this was pretty much a staycation.

Do I need to warn anyone?

Nope. Lausanne shook her head. I dont want my mother to know.

Her husband sat next to her and gave her a hug. Alright.

Go with the team. Pretty sure they need you. More than me. Im just going to be trapped in this building for a while, nothing particularly dangerous, really.

He paused, and he looked rather conflicted. Eventually he nodded. Well probably drop the demon-hunting missions without you around.

Lausanne shrugged. Give yourself some credit, dear. Im sure you can handle them. Go, dont waste your time trapped here with me.

Ardi gave her another hug. She gave him a knowing look. The I-can-break-out-anytime look. He smiled. Alright.

Good.

He left later that day, and Lausanne spent some time exploring her new prison. It was a simple bedroom and she looked into the mirror. Her hair was short, now. She had it cut a few years ago after she found it rather annoying during combat. Short hair didnt get tangled so often, especially when they were in close-combat situations. A templar came in.

Milady. Your presence is requested by the Grandmaster.

Oh? Grandmaster Engka. Now thats a person she never met yet. He was famously reclusive, and refused to meet. And now she had the chance to meet him.

-

They met in a small cozy tea room. There were four sofa chairs with plush cushions, and the Grandmaster was known to be an old man, and has maintained control over the Aiva temples for almost half a century. His hair entirely white, yet his body was in no way frail. In fact, his body looked as fit and muscular as any of the templars. From a distance, one may think he is no older than 40.

He gestured to the sofa opposite his, and Lausanne sat. A few servants served them tea and cookies. I was told ladies like tea and cookies. Have some. They are the best in the region.

Lausanne smiled and took a tea. She sipped it. It was a kind of flower tea, a rose and chrysanthemum mixture. It had good balance and a bit of light, fluffy sweetness. The aftertaste was very gentle, and didnt stay long on the tongue. It is a good tea.

Grandmaster Engka nodded. Good. You must be surprised by these sudden developments, but Ill direct. Ive received a divine message from our patron god, and well, it certainly is complicated.

Lausanne just smiled. She vaguely sensed a skill, again, and she pushed back at it. It wasnt a problem to push it back. She was, for all that its worth, an [Aeonic Weaponmaster] with a total level of 80. She was originally a swordswoman, but after she increased her use of spears and bows, her class fused together. The Grandmaster was perhaps of a similar level.

The Grandmaster chased everyone out of the room with a wave, and he activated another kind of skill. What I say here is for your ears only. We dont want war with Aeon, but we must be seen as doing war with Aeon. Grandmaster Engka said. The other three temples do want war, but Aivas more interested in just being seen as participating.

Lausanne frowned. Why was he telling her this? Whats the point? Theres nothing she can do.

Are you able to communicate with Aeon? My scouts and past reports claimed that communicating with Aeon is a perilous affair, many suffer nightmares from being around him.

Lausanne wondered again. She had to ask, that statement was borderline absurd Why? Theres no such thing as a pretend-war. The worlds certainly not a safe playground where people can play-fight. Anyone else will tell you that you are bullshitting and trying to lie to me.

Indeed. Thats my dilemma. Its a difficult message, one that I had not told anyone yet. How do I tell otheres that my God wants me to send these men to their deaths, with no actual intention of victory. For what?

Then? Lausanne didnt get it. Why am I here?

Can you communicate with Aeon?

...Yes. But not here. Only back in the valley.

My informants told me that you have an extensive history with Aeon. So, can we find a way to communicate with him? Any... how should I say this, pointers?

Lausanne frowned. Be frank and honest. Tell him what your god said, word-for-word if possible. I believe Aeon may understand your gods intentions far better than we do. In my experience, we cannot understand the thoughts of a tree spirit, so the best tip I know is you can only say what you want, and see how he responds.

Grandmaster Engka nodded and visibly relaxed. "Indeed. Us mere mortals cannot truly fathom the thoughts of greater beings. In honesty, this... war is a futile endeavour. If Aeon is really a semi-divine being, we mortals have no way of truly harming such a being. Perhaps, only heroes and ancient monsters stand a chance.

Lausanne leaned forward. That was an upsetting thing to hear. Then why?

The Gods have a wish. We, their humble servants, must try our best to fulfill it, lest we lose our classes and suffer a divine retribution. A curse. The closer one steps to the gods, the more we are bound by their whims. Engka said. Even if it seems as if the task is futile, we must believe in the gods that they will bless us, and that we play our supposed role in their larger, unfathomable plans.

So even if it seems like suicide or stupid, you will do it because its part of the Gods plan? Lausanne asked. She couldnt help it.

Yes. We must put aside our disagreements and carry out our Gods will.

Lausanne felt tormented, and she stared at the Grandmaster. He seemed every bit the wise and smart man, and yet something like this came from him. Were the gods all like this?

Now she felt like she should send a [message] home and ask Aeon to be merciful. She thought of the heroes again, and she remembered how they too, seemed like they were pawns of their gods, despite their incredible power. How they were constantly, subtly influenced by the gods.

She sighed. And because of this foolish endeavour, Ill remain under house arrest?

Im afraid, yes, milady. Though I can tell our walls honestly cannot hold you back should you ever wish to escape.

Their eyes met and she felt it was they who were imprisoned.