Herald of Steel

Theocles’s thoughts about Ophenia were complicated.

At first, he thought the girl to be just a pretty face that managed to somehow win Alexander’s favor.

Of course, he didn’t think it was in any way inappropriate to do such, as being beautiful was perhaps the most criterion for a sacred priestess after piety.

But then his worldview was shattered, not once but consecutively twice.

First, he was surprised to know that they had a potential successor to the Temple of Shiva as a convert.

Although Alexander had made Ophenia’s escape seem trivial and easy, being an ex-priests he knew very well that it was anything but.

And though he was eager to know the details, he knew not to pry into such personal information.

But this first surprise seemed innocent and trivial compared to the second.

Even now, even with his utmost faith in Alexander, Theocles was having a hard time believing they had the formulae to the legendary Shiva drug.

Any decent Thesian knew of its fabled properties which went from near realistic ones like being able to let a man enjoy for a whole night without wilting, to fantastical claims that it could make any woman fall madly in love with any man using it.

And Theocles was certainly interested to know in what spectrum of truth did those claims lie.

But what he was more interested to know was how Ophenia had managed to get her hands on the stuff.

‘*Sigh*, beaten by a girl,’ Theocles lampooned in his heart, as he clearly knew the significance of the drug and its would-be effect on the new faith.

And this produced a bittersweet feeling inside him, happy that fellow followers will soon flock to the new belief and also bitter that he was not the one that bought Alexander the miracle drug.

‘I can’t lose to a junior, much less a girl.’ Theocles’w heart burned with a competitive zeal.

Alexander was not aware of the complex thoughts of Theocles, and neither would he care as he always believed a healthy bit of competition was always good.

Rather, Alexander raised another important factor, in fact, it was in many’s eyes the critical factor- Money!

“The operations of the temple will require a lot of money, so do my two spiritual leaders have any idea on how to collect it?” Alexander probingly asked.

Theocles was the first to give his answer, “My lord, temples usually gain money from donations, patronage from very wealthy devotees, and the land that it owns.”

“But for now we have nothing.” He said with a rueful smile.

Then he lowered his head and in a pleading voice asked, “So, we must shamelessly ask the pasha to pay patronage to us a bit longer.”

“Umm, my new business might be able to chip in a bit..oh.. but ….” Ophenia’s hopeful octave turned lower and lower as she said her answer, even she understanding mid-way her answer that the plan she was proposing was full of holes.

Her establishment alone will never be able to cover both its expenses and the temple.

‘That’s why I asked master to combine the two,’ Ophenia pouted a bit in her heart at Alexander’s refusal.

Seeing the man and woman stuck, Alexander then promised them a way out, “I will give two very lucrative businesses to you to handle. Something that will enable the temple to ride on a wave of gold till the next century.”

The bold words drew the interested stares of Theocles and Ophenia, who then heard Alexander say, “What they are you will know later, but know that you must guard their manufacturing secret with your life, at least for the next few years. And if they somehow get out too soon, then don’t bother coming to me to apologize. Just commit suicide!”

Alexander’s grave words and ultimate warning made the man and woman involuntarily sit up straight with a serious expressions and they both swore, “We will guard them even more closely than we guard our hearts.”

“Umm, good.” Alexander nodded pleased, and then proposed, “The profits from the two businesses will be divided into such- Twenty percent (20%) to me personally

Twenty percent (20%) to my house

Fifty percent (50%) to the temple

Five percent (5%) as taxes to the state

And the last five percent (5%) as dividends among all the priests and priestesses as year-end bonuses.”

“Are the dividends to your liking?” Alexander then asked mainly Theocles if there was anything he wanted to add.

“My lord, the temple and everything in it belongs to you and the goddess. We do not have any demands, and will feel blessed regardless of the way you proportion the money.” Theocles had a cordial smile as he said such, finding no faults or giving no additional advice to the distribution.

Ophenia too had no problem, though, unlike Theocle, she was brave enough to make an inquiry, “Master, what’s the difference between you and the house? Aren’t they the same?” She asked curiously to learn the subtle difference because to her they felt the same.

“Um, good,” Alexander liked being asked questions as it meant the opposite party was actively trying to engage with him, of course, providing they were relevant questions.

And he gave the answer, “‘I’ refers to me ‘Alexander’ personally,” He said this by pointing his right index to his chest, adding, “which in this context means the money is for my personal use and I can use it any way I want and after my death, I can will it to anyone I desire.”

Then he explained what the house meant, “And the house refers to my post as the Pasha of Zanzan. Hence this part of the money will belong not to me Alexander the man but to Alexander the pasha. And once my successor takes the fief it will belong to him and so on to every pasha of Zanzan afterward.”

The other three were self-explanatory.

Hearing Alexander’s detailed breakdown, Theocles could not help but let out a sigh of admiration, “My lord is far-sighted, too far-sighted.”

He was amazed that Alexander was already thinking about succession rules even though he had taken the fief literally two weeks ago.

And he was only eighteen!

‘Oh! What great deed did I do in my last life to get such a great master?’ Theocles exclaimed in glee in his heart.

Ophenia too shared such thoughts though she asked another question politely, “Master, why are you taxing yourself?”

She was of course referring to the five percent (5%) temple tax that Alexander had voluntarily imposed upon himself.

‘Nobles did not pay taxes’ was almost an ironclad maxim in not just Adhania but virtually all over the world and so not just Ophenia, even Theocles was interested to know the reason, though the latter didn’t think it was necessary to question the blessed.

Alexander gave a very simple answer, “Because a leader should lead by example. The shordars (barons) under me are paying taxes and so should the temple.”

This statement of self-sacrifice would eventually make its way all the way into the ears of all his advisors, who would remark sincerely and genuinely in their hearts, ‘Alexander isn’t a hypocrite. As long as I’m loyal to him, he will not leave me out to dry.’

Alexander felt he had addressed the money for now, and then promised them again that he will provide them with food for the opening of the soup kitchens and enough money to cover all initial start-up costs.

This was said to urge Theocle and Ophenia to hasten their recruitment drive so that they could have enough men to run these programs.

Afterward, remembering an important thing. Alexander asked Thecoles, “Oh, I have also shown Ophenia some ritual procedures about how to pray and do absolutions that you should collect.”

“Yes, my lord,” Theocles readily nodded.

“Mmm, and I have also told Tayin to help you write the book. She has read a lot of religious scripture and I believe she will be of great inspiration to you.” Alexander in addition ordered the collaboration.

This suited Theocles fine as he addressed Ophenia, “Your sacred holiness, this unlettered blind will be under your guide.”

Due to his lack of in-depth scriptural knowledge, Theocles humbly called himself blind and illiterate in this endeavor.

“Your eminence, this junior’s textual knowledge is simply pebbles compared to the knowledge you have gained throughout your life. It is I who must ask you to guide me,” Ophenia was not to be outdone in politeness.

‘I hope you two will actually write the book instead of engaging in such empty words when I’m not around,’ Alexander lampooned at the exchange.

And then to break this monotonous exchange up gave Theocles his last instruction of the day, “Also remember the marriage policy we decided on today, Theocles? Announce that anyone of our faith who gets married will get five hundred ropals as a gift from me.”

“As you command my lord. And I will write the marriage rituals and sayings as soon as possible,” Theocles promised.

“Excellent.” Alexander approved.

These were everything that Alexander felt he had to address the two about now and so after a few last small talks, concluded the meeting.