The scenery all around changed from barren to a green and then to grey. There was a tunnel in front, so i slowed down and allowed the wagons to go in front of me before driving in with them.
I poked my head out of the open window to look if i would fit, and i was lucky that i did, because i don't want to scratch Acat. The tunnel wasn't one of the longest. It lead to a bridge, which stood above a lake, and forward was Arcanletia. Quite the charming city when looked from here. It's nature was like none other that i have seen - interesting rock formations and many waterfalls. The building of the city were themed in such a way to match the nature - blue rooftiles, wood as a decorative part over a white or slightly browned wall. The architecture reminded me slightly of the architecture of the older houses in Bulgaria, but with far more complexities and the blue tiles.
As we finally reached solid ground, and a more crowded street, people looked in the direction of my car. After all - it was quite absurd to see a line of horse powered carriages and then just steam engine.
Eventually they came to a stop, and i with them, my friends got off and Kazuma waved as their carriage rode off. I came to them and got off. The parking would be weird and i knew that it would be difficult to transform the whole car, so i decided to do something else. I made artificial life - a piece of me - and placed it in the car. Acat is now alive and an extension of me. The feeling of connection with your own creations is such a great thing.
I ordered it to transform itself in information, and so it did, the whole thing.
"So, guys-" I turned to look at them, but they were surrounded by people, smiling like maniacs with wide eyes trying to convert them to their religion. I felt that this would be quite the bother. The moment my friends bowed (except Wiz, who was asleep was being carried by Kazuma), Kazuma tried to excuse them. "Thanks, but we already got a priest from the axis cult with us. See you around." And so they ran off.
"Farewell, good people! And have a blessed day in our blessed town." All the maniacs said in unison.
"They have definitely practiced that, wonder if Vanir can pull such performance."
They looked in my direction. "Yeah, i'm with them. Farewell." I quickly ran to catch up.
"These people are either too polite, or batshit insane." I whisper to Kazuma.
Everyone agreed, except Aqua, who was too oblivious to notice.
Luckily, we quickly found an inn, i bought myself a separate room, and prepared to take a walk. Aqua and Megumin headed out, so i'm simply waiting for Kazuma and Darkness. I got myself in only the white shirt with the pants. I unbuttoned by shirt, my cross hanging from my neck. I went to their room, after confirming i'm good looking and knocked on their door before entering. "Ey, i'm ready, is Wiz alright?"
"I am, thank you Svetislav." Wiz said with a warm smile painted on her face.
Finally they were ready, i looked like some pirate, Kazuma looked as basic as usual and Darkness got in her own casual clothes. We walked around for a bit, until we ended up at the city square, which had a fountain of their goddess.
"Their goddess is so beautiful."
I look down at my hand and think to myself, what exactly do these people take as faith?
In that moment a woman behind us would trip and fall, her basket of apples spreading it's contents out. Kazuma and Darkness quickly moved in to help it manually. But i did it another way - taking all the apples in my astral storage before materializing them back in the basket.
"Thank you so much... That was so kind of you." She then blushed and looked at me. "If you have some time, i'd like to thank you properly."
I did not like where this was going. She approached me and took my hands. "I know this fun little cafe up ahe-"
"I am taken, leave me alone." I looked at her with neutrality, but one could tell i wasn't having it.
"Hold on a moment, I am really good at telling fortune. Would you like to know your future?"
"No."
She didn't listen and proceed to tell my - in her opinion - future. "I have seen it, it's bad, misfortune, she will have an affair behind your back. Join us, it's the only way to prevent it."
I looked at her wide eyes, my jaw shaking in pure frustration. "You have five seconds to let go."
"No, your future depends on it."
I forced him hand open, counting seconds. She didn't let go, as it ticked down. And before she knew it, i have heated her skin so much, it would get damaged. "I don't need an insufficient version of God; nor do i need your stupid false prediction. Now get out of my sight."
She left, spitting on the ground as if her hands aren't burnt.
"Svet, you alright, you looked like you might kill her?" Kazuma asked.
"I might if they try pulling anything personal ever again." I said
I took a deep breath and prayed. I will forgive them...I hope there are others who aren't targeting my personal life as a manipulation tactic.
And so we walked to a less crowded street.
"The followers of Axis can be quite pushy." Darkness commented.
"This part of town seems dead." Kazuma replied.
I didn't say anything, because i secretly hoped for a reason to redeem the Axis followers.
Is this how you feel Father?
My friends' hopes were quickly shattered.
"Help me! Please, good people, i need your help!" A girl screamed as she ran from a man slowly run, clearly staged. "This violent looking brute is probably in the Eris cult, what if he snatches me and drags me in an alley."
They stopped and the big man took on his role. "What are you looking at?! You are not with the Axis church, are you? If so - I'd have to run away, cuz the disciples of Axis are tough. If not - I have nothing to worry about. I have the blessing of the dark goddess Eris, don't you know. And if you get in my way, you'd be sorry."
"Ohhh What shall i do?" The woman said, pulling three application papers out of her ass or something. "Thankfully, i have this application to join the Axis church. If i could only get someone to sign up - this sinister Eris follower would flee in terror."
Kazuma and Darkness weren't having any of it so they continued forward, I went with them. "Hey wait! Don't abandon me!"
At that last sentence i snorted, because her tone was quite amusing.
The two actors followed us.
"It's easy, all you have to do is sign right here and you will receive holy powers from the goddess Aqua."
"Guys, can y'all stop?" I look at them. "Good acting and all," I said at the two.
"Why, thank you-" The man said with a smile.
"For a parody." I added.
They were stunned, perfect time to slip out of that situation. I pushed my friends to move faster. "Just move while they are still in shock."
And so there were a few more techniques, like a man trying to give us a price for being the millionth person to cross this street, but of course it's blocked behind the need to sign this paper. "Reminds me of early internet spam."
"You don't say." Kazuma replied.
The next was some girl, pretending to know us from school. I just gave her a weird look. "We were single people on a desk, what are you yapping about?" I played along, making up shit on the go.
"Uh, yeah, i was between you two."
"I'm demented in just that part of my life."
"What?..." She looked at me weirdly.
"Top five."
She just turned around and left.
"What, didn't you know me? Oh yeah, you knew that false version of me." I added some salt on the metaphorical wound as i stared her down.
As we walked on i commented. "I don't necessarily hate them. Some of their methods are just... Unneeded. Why should you be trying to alter someone's decision? It is their will."
"That is quite wise of you."
"I do get wise when i have what to think about or... If i'm going through a phase of completion."
In that moment an old woman came up to us. "What do we have here? Why bless my soul, you must be newly weds. Might i interest you in this lovely detergent?"
Weds? I looked at the lady as she shoved glass bottles of some liquid in Kazuma's hands. She must have mistaken them for weds...
"Can i have some too?"
"Why, of course dear." The woman said, turning to me and giving me the rest of the detergent.
"Could i also ask how it's made? I'm an aspiring business man and i plan to honor the traditions of the world, the Axis included."
"And the Eris cult?"
"No, i don't know what their traditions are."
"Then don't waste your time with them, we have many traditions to show you." She said, before telling me how it's made. I grabbed my notebook and wrote in it the ingredients.
"Wow, such a simple pattern and such efficiency in cleaning. Thank you."
"Would you like to join us?"
"No thank you, i have my own way with connecting with your goddess."
I did not lie, it's true, if Aqua is who she presents herself to be then I am not lying.
"Well, that's wonderful, dear, but that way you won't learn the full extent our traditions." The old woman said with a worried tone.
"Yeah, you are right... Hey, can you tell me a story? I might not be able to learn all of the traditions, but i might hear enough from you to understand them."
Kazuma looked at me and did a gesture for me to cut that out, I shook my head and gestured back that i'm too deep in this and for them to continue walking.
And so i sat there... For hours listening about her experience, and i also learnt how soap is made. "That's legit pretty useful. Cleanliness is important. This city... It's clean, no wonder people can walk barefoot."
"Truly, our city is one of a kind."
"Thank you very much for your time."
"It's my pleasure, have a blessed day."
"You too." Finally free... Now i need to find Kazuma and Darkness.
I didn't know where they are, maybe i will try to rejoin the other group - Aqua and Megumin... Where did she say that they are going... The church?
Yeah... So i walked for quite i while until i reached them, there they weren't. While walking i overhear some dude screaming: "ERIS PADS HER CHEST!"
This town never seems to stop amuse me.
"Hello, good sir, what brings you here today?" A girl in an Axis
"I'm searching for a blue haired lady, a girl this tall with a mage hat and a black cat. Have you seen them?"
"The mage left with two others, but the archpriest is in the confession booth."
I looked to the wooden box with the doors on both halves. "That?"
"Yes, just that."
I shrugged it off, thanked the priestess and went to the confession booth. "Ey, Aqua, how's it going?"
From behind the curtain came a clearly disguised voice - overly sweet, pitched higher than her usual.
"Ohhh, dear follower, this is not Aqua. This is... ehm... A loyal servant of our goddess. Please, confess your sins and worries, and know that the great and merciful Aqua will hear them and forgive you."
I pitched the bridge of my nose. She is really doing this...
"You sound awfully familiar for a servant."
"Ehh? No, no, you're mistaken," the silhouette fidgeted behind the curtain. "The great Aqua would never be in here herself. She's far too busy, uh... blessing water, yes! That's right. But if you pray with sincerity, Aqua will forgive all."
I leaned forward, looking through the faint outline of blue hair behind the fabric. "All, huh? So i can confess anything?"
"Yes, yes, anything!" she said smugly. "No matter how grave your sins, Aqua forgives you if you truly repent!"
I stayed quiet for a moment, then let out a tired laugh. "If you're truly a goddess... why do you lack faith in yourself?"
She froze.
"My Father," I continued, voice heavy now, "has faith in all of us. No matter how foolish, no matter how small. He doesn't need us to sing his praises every second, or trick people into bowing. He believes in us... as we are - that we can change and continue moving."
I let my hand rest against the wood of the booth. "But you... you don't even believe in yourself. How can you forgive others if you don't understand forgiveness for yourself?"
On the other side, her posture wilted. For once, no dramatic wailing, no snapping back with insults. Just silence, broken only by the sound of our breaths.
"..."
When she finally spoke, her voice was smaller. "You don't... get it. Nobody takes me seriously. Not the gods, not the people, not even my own party. If i don't... keep pushing, keep shouting... then i'll be nothing."
Her silhouette slumped further. "If I stop... I'm scared everyone will just forget me."
"You don't need people to worship you to be real," I said softly. "If you want faith, Aqua... earn it. Have faith in yourself first, so others have a reason to follow."
The silence stretched again. Then, faintly, a sniffle.
"...You sound just like him."
"Who?"
"N-nevermind!" She burst out, suddenly flustered, and scrambled out of the other side of the booth.
I stayed seated, eyes on the curtain where she'd been. "...Guess the goddess doesn't do well with confessions of her own."
After a few seconds a knock came at the door. The voice of the same priestess asked: "Is everything alright in there?"
"It's all fine. Simply helping."
"Ok."
I waited for her footsteps to fade before leaving the booth. Aqua had already run off somewhere. I let out a quiet breath, thinking to myself: The gods of this world are more human than godly... they are godly only in title.
I walked slowly towards the inn, mulling over the day. To not lie to the old woman, I'll have to make a soap and detergent factory. I don't mind... I haven't used proper soap in a while... And with the recipes...
My thoughts drifted as i looked around, the sunset was lovely. I kind of like it here. I've grown to be more empathetic... Is this the lesson I was meant to learn today, Father?
By the time i was at the inn my friends have already started dinner. "Good evening." I said as i made my way to take a seat with them. I occasionally glanced at Aqua, who, for once, wasn't drinking.
After we were done and heading towards out rooms, i took a step next to her and encouraged her. "I believe you will figure it out... Just keep moving forward... You will find what you seek."
And with that we departed.
I decided to take a bath later that night when i made sure there were no people. I went in the mixed, because i believed that it would bring the odds of having the hot spring all to myself, which was true. I managed to get all wobbly from so much sitting in the hot water. After this i went to sleep.