Chapter 45: Chapter 45: trouble on the streets
Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'Sample'
Techniques [sample]
Author notes -sample-
Chapter 45
Trouble on the streets
"I thought the only religion here was the "Worship of the Seven", do you know about this?" Siegfried asked Edward.
"The religion of the Seven Gods is pretty much extinct at this point. After their last failed coup attempt, most of their temples were demolished and their acolytes were either imprison or killed. There are still a few small groups here and there. I know of one here in the capital. They have a small temple in the slums area." Explained Edward.
"And the authorities allow this?" Siegfried found it extrange. He has read about all of the atrocities committed and attempts of rebellion they have caused over the last few millennia, once they lost control of the State.
Edward shrugged.
"They probably don't want to bother with them. There are only a handful of them left. I doubt the Great General will see them as a threat. He might be expecting them to disappear any time now. As for this new 'True God'…I honestly have no idea. I have never heard of it before."
"Is it common for new religions to appear in the capital?" Asked Siegfried.
Edward shook his head. "Not at all. The time for people to worship Gods has long passed. We live in an era of technological advancements. We can rely on our own power and intellect to progress, we have no more need for Gods."
The priest on top of the wooden stand must have heard Edward because he immediately turned to face him and pointed his finger.
"You! You blasphemer! When the one True God descends upon this world to inflict his judgment, the ones like will you be punished with eternal suffering! Beware of those with no faith!"
Edward did not seem bothered at all.
"Yeah…I can wait for that. Let's go, Sieg."
The two of them turned around to leave and the priest did not seem interested in continuing to berate them, instead, he went back to his speech for the dozen or so people who were listening.
Siegfried took a good look at the man and did not like what he saw.
'Those eyes…I have seen them before. Those are the eyes of
a zealot.'
He has seen them many times before. People with those fanatic eyes were always dangerous.
As they were back on track to their destination, Siegfried decided to ask.
"Edward, do me a favor. Try to find some information on this 'True God' religion."
"Why? they are just a few weirdos. I bet they will disappear in a few months if people don't pay them enough attention."
"Maybe" Admited Siegfried. "You can say that is just a hunch. Will you do it?"
"mmm," Edward thought for a moment. "Sure, I'll send a message to my informants when we get back. They should have something in around a week."
They kept their pace as they walked through the golden road and soon arrived at their destination, the Alquemy Emporium.
The building looked very peculiar. It was round, very wide at the bottom and it got a bit thinner as it went up. The shape reminded Siegfried of a butternut squash.
"Are you sure that we are at the right place?" Asked Siegfried. Could the famous Emporium that Edward liked so much be this strange building?
"Of course we are!" Edward exclaimed. "Look at the sign and the incredible shape of the building!" He said with absolute worship.
"Ok…" He read the sign, and it did indeed say "Alquemy Emporium of Aglioso".
"Wait until you see the inside!, it's even more amazing!...eh?, is that who I think it is?" Edward pointed at a group of people near the entrance door.
Siegfried looked in the direction pointed out by Edward and saw four young persons arguing, one girl and three boys. It only took him a second to recognize the girl, even though she was wearing casual clothes. He could recognize that silver hair miles away.
"Astoria."
"It seems like she is having a disagreement with those guys. Should we do something about it?" Asked Edward.
Siegfried gave the boy a closer look. They wore vermillion robes with one black band on their left sleeve.
'Second-year students. And their cultivation is very low. They are still near the beginning of the mana-gathering stage. Astoria on the other hand…'
He could feel her mana moving around very quickly.
'She has already started to open her mana veins, which is quite impressive, and by her posture and mana circulation, I can tell that she is ready for a fight.'
"Leave her." Siegfried concluded.
"That's cold…she is our classmate." Commented Edward.
"Is not about not wanting to help her. But because I don't think she will need any help at all."
Edward looked surprised. "Those three are second-year students. And Astoria has never performed that well during combat class."
"True, she has always performed average, not only in combat class but in every single class. Always an average score. You could say she is the most average student from the elite class." Said Siegfried with a smile.
Edward rose an eyebrow. "Are you implying that she has been hiding her true talent?."
"I'm just saying that you shouldn't be that quick to judge someone. Always look beneath the surface."
"You know…sometimes you talk like an old man…"
Siegfried chuckled. "I have been told that before."
As they got close to the entrance of the building, they were able to hear their conversation. Although it was more like the three boys talking to her and her ignoring them.
"You won't receive a better offer than this one!" The one in the middle said.
"Yeah, you should listen to him. Becoming the first concubine to a mid-tier noble is already too good for you. You should show some gratitude." The boy on the left said.
The one on the right laughed. "I bet she was hoping to get married to a noble."
They all laughed. "She may be pretty, but no noble would marry a commoner." One of them said.
Astoria did not react to their comments and instead tried to leave but one of the boys stood in her way.
"My answer is still no," Said said coldly.
"Tsk, you think you are too good because you made it into the elite class and have decent looks. But trash will always be trash!" The one in the middle shouted, getting the attention of many bystanders.
"Yeah, I bet her mother was just a common whore. Maybe we should have started by giving her some coins!" One of them said and they chuckled at the jest.
Astoria's face changed from her usual impassive mask to one that showed a lot of emotion.
"You are going to pay for that comment!"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone