”My name is Laurel Parishé, second prince of the Iteral Kingdom. I am on a diplomatic mission and wish to enter, to meet with your leaders.”

Laurel introduced himself to the guards which did not show any noticeable emotions. One of the guards gave me a glance of suspicion though. Guess my crescent moon on my forehead made him suspicious.

”I see.”

The guard he talked to said, then the guard knocked on the smaller door in the gate. In the door a smaller window opened and they talked for a while. During the conversation they threw glances at me and the prince. Then when they was done the window got shut and he waved at us to come.

”The elders has agreed to talk to you, prince. Also keep an eye on that enslaved child of Harjan of yours.”

We finally got to get in by that guard. His tone was hostile toward me the whole time. Such hostility against me just because of my race.

”Thank you mister.”

Laurel courtiously answered the guard as the door in the gate opened for us. The guard handed him a rope and pointed at me before he got let in. I guess he thought Laurel was my master. He tied the rope into my collar and then led me behind him as we entered the town. They clearly do not trust anyone with the mark of Harjan here.

I guess because of how much interest he has shown to me so far, he did not feel embarassed to lead me around like a dog. I do not know what to think of the prince anymore. When I looked at Izumi he just shrugged as if he would just have to deal with it for now.

Inside we got guided by another guard toward the temple looking building. Up close could we see that the shiny bronze object on top of it had the shape of a sun. How fitting. After what felt like ten minutes we finally arrived at the temple. Along the way people had either ignored us or given us suspicious looks.

”Step inside.”

Said our escort and pointed his tilted spear into the open temple gate which was at least five meters high. We obliged and walked into the temple which looked a lot inside a Hindu temple. Candles, incense, plates of offerings and talismans on the walls was everywhere.

As a Cleric I felt the presence of the divine in here. Unlike on Earth the rituals actually worked. Churches there had no presence felt at all. I felt faint whispers of ancestors and the recently dead which soon would pass on into their next life or into paradise. The whole atmosphere felt warm and I closed my eyes in joy.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. And I opened my eyes and saw the prince in front of me.

”You will have time for that later.”

Laurel calmed told me. Beside him I saw a elderly man with a funny looking hat.

”It has been a long time since a child of Harjan visited us. I personally got no ill will towards you unlike my elders.”

The elderly man said as he put his hands together.

”I will leave her in your care, meanwhile Izumi and me start our talks with the elders.”

The prince then smiled and handed my rope into the hands of the elderly man. Then left with Izumi and the girls toward a bigger room. As they got inside the doors closed shut.

Right now there was no guards inside the main temple area which me and the elderly man was in. Just me, the elderly man and various worshipers performing their duties. I then looked at the elderly man.

”I will be in your care.”

I bowed my head as I said to him. Then I sat down in order to make myself comfortable. I feel like we are going to have a long conversation now.

”Raise your head. We are all equal under god in here. Even child of Harjan. Please, do not think ill of my misled kin. Ever since our leader got that divine message from Horekesa our relations with our neighbours has suffered...”

Suddenly the elderly man got more loose lipped than before. Did he not trust the prince?

”Neighbours? Not just the Harjan faction town?”

I curiously asked him. Neighbours, must mean more than just one. He then faced the wall which was in front of us. The wall was full of talismans and candles attached to it. His back was shown to me.

”...I fear our dear leader. Ulfun, has grown ambitious. What started with just a Quest to take this holy land for Horekesa. Over time grew into ambitions to take over the neighbouring land as well.

As the head priest I have every day petitioned Horekesa, each time he confirmed me it was not his will. But Ulfun with his ambition threw me out of the meetings after he thought I became obstructive.”

The elderly man which is the head priest sounded saddened as he talked to me. He then relit candles which had fizzed out.

”Ambition is intoxicating. Ulfun became blinded by his ambition. The divine message only reinforced his ambition as the will of god. Anyone opposing his ambition is against the will of god. Even the head priest close to god, like me is an enemy if I oppose it.”

He finished his monologue as he relit all candles.

”Why has not Horekesa messaged him again?”

I quickly asked.

”Horekesa did. Ulfun ignored it.”

The head priest then looked back at me. He dropped the candle lighting tool onto the stone floor. The metal impact noise reverbed throughout the temple.

I think I get it now. What initially started as the start of a project to take over this holy land its machine, now is blowing out of proportion into a holy war. All thanks to the ambition of Ulfun which is the leader of this village. Big ambitions for a town. Only looks like the town have 1000 soldiers at most. He would need to take over the neighbours if he want his ambition to succeed at all... Make them his vassals.

Conclusion; religion mixed with politics fueled by ambition sucks.

”Somehow I feel making peace will be impossible with Ulfun in charge.”

I thought out loud. The head priest then looked back at me.

”Is there no way we can make him step down or be replaced?”

As he looked at me I asked him. He looked up and made a grimace.

”Get rid of the reason this all started; The divine machine in this holy land.”

I then scratched my head as he said that.

”Now we just have to find this divine machine. If only we knew where it was...”

He sure makes it sound easy. Just find the divine machine and be done with it.

The head priest then turned around and faced me. And he looked content. Then he leaned forward to me and touched my forehead.

”I believe Harjan knows.”

Then he took off his hand from my forehead.

”Horekesa only told Ulfun, and has not told me about it. I think this is a test of faith by him. Let us mortals deal with the problem.”

He now stood upright again. Good job breaking it Horekesa, at least take responsibility for your actions! At least Mistral do not start problems!

This diplomatic mission is now not as easy anymore. Ulfun won’t listen to reason, and I believe we must head to the Harjan town in order to find out where that damn machine lies. Nothing in life is easy, right?

After this little serious info dump of a chat, we then spent the rest of the time chit chatting about everyday stuff and drinking tea. After two hours or so later the prince got out of the meeting room with Izumi and the girls. All of them looked tired and Nyaya and Kim had a look of relief upon them. Must had been boring them to tears to be cooped up in there.

”How did the negotiations go?”

I asked Izumi and Laurel. They had a look of irritation upon them.

”Bad. Ulfun did not budge on any point.”

Laurel replied immediatly to me.

”As expected...”

With a sigh I replied to him. Then I touched my forehead.

”Let’s hope the Harjan faction is more helpful...”

I continued with and smiled. Everyone then looked at me.

Before we left the temple I helped to perform clerical duties as a sign of goodwill. I conversed with the spirits in here, healed people which yet had their time to come and replaced candles which had burnt out. I became friends with the head priest during this brief time. It seems like he is the only rational person in this town, how ironic.

We restocked up our rations in town before we headed out. Because the merchants saw me I suspect they tried ripping us off. The prejudice against Harjan worshipers and children of him here is really bad.

This mission seems more troublesome by the day.