He had a good life, an administrative job working for his town. He also worked for years to be allowed to wed one of his supervisor’s daughters, he had previously met them countless time, whenever he was invited to eat at his superior’s place. Finally, he succeeded. He was now engaged to his boss’ older daughter.

On his spare time, he would pray to the Light Gods, mainly Jezabel. Being such a strong follower of Her faith, he would not miss any serving at Her church, no matter what.

One day, on a coworkers’ drinking night he could not decline for the sake of his work. He always hated those kinds of gathering, but he had no choice but to participate from time to time. What he has taken to be his good luck, revealed itself to be bad in reality.

Exiting the pub early he crossed path with his fiancée. When he asked her what she was doing there so late in the night she told him she was visiting a friend and lost track of time. She also asked him to accompany her back to her home.

Somewhere on the road she claimed to know a shortcut and led him through a dark alley. There he was attacked and knocked out.

He didn’t know it, but if he had been a little less successful in his search for a fiancée and his work, he would have been engaged to the second daughter of his supervisor. Contrary to her older sister, this woman was also a fervent follower of Jezabel and knowing the faith of Bertrand, she would have been happy to be engaged to him. But he didn’t know that and never would.

When he awoke, he was shackled in the lower deck of a pirate ship. His new destiny was to become a slave of all things. For weeks he lamented his fate. Until one-day things changed. He ended up in a dungeon and the other people here were willing to sell their souls to the demon controlling it.

Suddenly, everything became clear. Jezabel had sent him there to bring Her judgment to these heretics and demon lovers. He would be doing Jezabel’s will, protecting the world from this demon. Unfortunately, he wasn’t ready to take on the worst of his opponents, so he would have to start with one of the most devious, but also weakest one.

But, once again, fate was not on his side. When he attacked the girl, he fell into a trap instead. She was merely baiting him, so that vile dungeon could attack him. If he knew more about dungeons, Bertrand would know it would have no need for such tactics and could have dealt with him far more easily, if it had wanted to.

Now he is in a dark room, hurt from the dungeon’s monsters’ bites and his fall through the hole leading there. He could wash his injuries in the stream of cold water he hears flowing in this completely dark place, but he fears another trap too much. He is in so much fright that he doesn't even notice the blackberry bush and its sharp thorns.

He is greatly afraid by the situation he is in, but he still has faith that Jezabel will send help to rescue him from this fiendish place. Afterall, he was right about the vile nature of the dungeon.

-

Most of the people in my Domain are sleeping more or less peacefully, but it is not what is on my mind right now. Tomorrow the Marms will arrive at the statue of their ‘Goddess’ and have their little celebration, I’m looking forward to it, but I’m beginning to wonder, how I’ll be able to factor them in my protection from the pirates. I have an idea, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to carry it out in the time I have.

Anyway, right now I’m focusing my attention on Bertrand. That pesky Human is currently shaking in fear in his cell. I can hear him muttering prayers again and again. It is of no use, his fate is mine now, no God or Goddess - if they are even real - will come and save him.

I start to gather mana around him, I know it won’t go like Franziska’s or even Maklin’s claiming, the Marm newborn, but I do it anyway, focusing on his head. His mana bubble is deforming itself like a normal bubble would when something presses against it. But there is no sign of weakening from within, in contrast to those who are actively trying to become my Citizens. And since it is far stronger than those of newborns and animals, I think it will take a lot more time to forcefully overcome his passive protection than theirs.

As I focus my attention on his bubble, I notice something. Around the part of Bertrand’s body that has been injured the bubble seems different. I shift my focus to his legs, as this is where he has the most bite marks. I slowly force a bit of mana against these part of his bubble and I’m pleased to see that the bubble is indeed thinner here, it even feels like I could force my way through there. Keeping up with the process, I gather mana all around the curled Human and apply force on the bubble’s section around his legs. I keep in mind not to put too much power into my attack, as I don’t want to kill him.

Three hours later, near midnight there is still no progress. The only change in the room is that Bertrand had started to swing back and forth while clenching his legs as he is still murmuring prayers. It seems I won’t be able to claim him just like that.

I have two other ideas of how I could force my way through. The first is to inflict an even bigger injury to my prisoner, weakening the bubble protecting him even further. But I’m reticent to go along that path, as there is a large risk of killing him before I am able to claim him. Of course, I could heal him as soon as I have claimed him, but if he is dead by that time, it would still be useless.

The second is to create a type of concentrated mana drill to break down the bubble. It is the same method I used a while back, when I broke through the barrier around the mana crystals. This method would certainly allow me to break through the mana bubble surrounding Bertrand, as it already did so with the mana shield at the top and bottom of my mountain awhile back. Unfortunately, at that time, it broke the crystals holding the enchantments enabling those shields to be raised. Based on my current knowledge that makes it likely that this method could kill Bertrand and once again that is not what I want. At least, for now.

There is always a third option. I can also wait for the bubble to thin itself as Bertrand’s health continues to diminish. But, even if I feel impatient, I force myself to wait. I do not know how long it will take to forcefully claim Bertrand, so I will wait a bit. Then I will attempt to mix the first two ideas, waiting a bit will hopefully ease the process.

In a few hours, the Marms will reach the Goddess’ statue.

Before their arrival, I check the rooms a final time. The first room is still as I left it, grass growing on the ground, trees bearing fruits for the comfort of the Marms and a fake sun and numerous stars on the roof to light their path. The water inside the pool laying in front of the statue is as calm as possible, reflecting the peaceful image of the sitting Goddess.

The bas-reliefs I created for this room are still in good condition. They are depicting the Goddess while she is sowing seeds, harvesting crops, taking care of animals and looking at a small village with a loving expression. I add some glowing stones to the sculptures to highlight some of the parts the of the scenes and emphasize the love aspect of the Goddess.

Right behind the Goddess’ statue, there is still the door leading to the stairs. On the walls of this stairs, I highlight the bas-reliefs showing the love relationship between the Goddess and her male counterpart. I also make it so that the light in the stairs are slowly turning red as you go up.

At the top of this passage is the door leading to the room of the God I created out of nowhere. It is a room lit by dim red crystals and decorated by bas-reliefs showing the God destroying his enemies. Some of those are showing pirates attacking the same village that the Goddess looks at with love, the bas-reliefs then show the God destroying and burning the pirates' ships. My hope is that it will make the Marms relate to this, increasing their faith in the God and that it will help me have them fight off the real pirates when they’ll ultimately come back.

Other bas-reliefs are showing the God in different postures, and other people mimicking him in a series of a few katas. Hopefully, some of the Marms will learn them, so they’ll be better at handling weapons and defending themselves.

The statue of the God is still there too, with his sword, his shield, his kilt and his angry glare. The middle eye is made of a bright red glowing stone while the two others are made out of mirrors, as to give the impression that they are looking at an eventual person. The Goddess ones are made in the same manner but in a blue shade of light.

In front of each of the statues are installed pedestals. On those are locked the mana crystals I acquired some time ago. I hope that when the Marms will pray to the statues, they will help me gather more of the extra mana. I don’t really need the additional mana, as I have plenty of it in reserve, but more mana is always welcome.

When the last additions are finished, I look at the fifty-something Marms. They are in the tunnel leading to the Goddess room. At the moment they enter the room, I can see the look on their faces.

Those who hadn’t come here the first time are mesmerized by the sight of it. The others are greatly surprised by the apparition of the bas-reliefs. I can hear them discussing it as they read them.

Of course, it doesn't take long for the Marms to notice the new door, and as curious and excited as the children are to explore the other side of it, they are stopped by the much more careful adults.

After a bit of time exploring the main room, the Marms gather in front of the Goddess statue. The priestess stands in front of them and starts what I can only call a religious serving. She preaches for half an hour on how caring, loving, forgiving and all that the Goddess - therefore I - is. At the end, she incites her flock to pray.

During the mass prayer, I am receiving a greater amount of mana than I am used to. I can handle it, but it still surprises me how non-claimed sapient can willingly send me their mana when they choose to do so. I also notice that the Marms’ bubbles are a bit fainter than usual.

Maybe I should ask the former slaves to do so, it would greatly improve my mana generation, but prayer does not weaken the bubble as much as active meditation. Or, instead of real prayer, I could put in place some sort of trade. If they give me enough mana, I could reward them with objects needing less mana to create. That would allow those not willing to become Citizens to participate more actively in my mana regeneration.

After the mass prayer session, the priestess talks to several Marms. Then, with some of them, she walks up to the door and carefully opens it. What she sees on the other side seems to mesmerize her as her eyes are fully open. Slowly she walks up the stairs, examining the murals I put there.

“What is that. I’ve never heard of this. There is another God?” She mutters low as she’s continuing to read the bas-reliefs. “They’re in love? Is the other God up the stairs? I don’t understand why I had never heard of this before.”

One hour of slow stair climbings later the first Marms reach the top of the passage and open the door. Once again they are taken aback by what stands in front of them.

Very slowly and carefully they step into the God room, the priestess first. Once again they examine the inscriptions on the walls, but this time I can see that they are not as confident as before. In fact, they are feeling a bit of fear. It is understandable as this is something they believed didn’t exist and that it is designed to impress people.

“So that’s Him? Is He the one the Goddess chose to mary? A warrior? Someone who brings death upon others? Why? Why choose an incarnation of violence? She’s the incarnation of love. Is Her love so strong that it reached Him? I have to study the scriptures more, the answer must be there somewhere.”

When they find the red door behind the God statue, they obviously try to open it. With even more care than for the previous ones. But this door is closed, no Marms can open it for now. In time, it will lead to the Maze and what’s beyond, but only the claimed Marms will be allowed to pass it.

While the priestess and her acolytes study the bas-reliefs in the three rooms, I focus my attention on the other Marms in the room. Most of those who are muttering their prayers ask for the Goddess to grant peace for their dead loved ones’ souls or to help them in a way or another.

As if I could really do anything. Well, there is one thing I’m already doing, and one I can try. I’m already providing them with better crops and stuff like that, my very presence on the island do it alone by improving the quality and quantity of the ambient mana. The other is to protect them against anything bad that could happen to them. At this point, I intend to protect them as a people, as potential resources, not as individuals.