Chapter 1000: Astorium - City Of Cloth

Note: Thank you for supporting me so far; we’re at the 1000th Chapter! I never thought I would get here and it wouldn’t have been possible without you guys!

Astorium was a city of faith and the house of Hamelth’s religion. Only the most pious were allowed entry, and with its roads set in white marble and markets full of silk and honey, Astorium remained the most desired place by the followers of Hamelth. Thousands of pilgrims lined up for days and weeks, even years, at the city’s golden walls. Producing paper signed by dukes, duchesses, and countless other royalty, only to be turned away by the overzealous priests and priestesses.

In their eyes, nobody was perfect but them, for they were already on the other side of that wall. Theirs was the privilege to judge, and everyone outside was at the mercy of their whims. And yet, what gave them this false sense of self-importance was also what made them vulnerable. A few good words, a pocket well-lined, and any promise or a sweet word by a handsome man or a beautiful woman melted through their stringent pretense.

Under the guidance of Asmodia, Erika had done just that. With a promise of grandly donating to the church as a false royal, she’d made herself comfortable inside the city and had been living under the same guise for a week already. The shepherds and numerous members of the holy order had accompanied her as well, although their disguises were far less flashy.

The same, however, could not be said for Erika’s strategy to contain the city itself. As a reclusive city, controlling the flow of information was the easiest trick to pull off. A well-timed rumor about the dark general’s spies hiding amongst the pilgrims forced the church to shut the city’s door entirely. All those who were still outside, and even some on the inside, were put under great scrutiny. None were allowed in or to leave the border of the city, nor were any allowed out without concrete proof of faith and innocence.

Unrest was roused amidst the streets while Erika simply continued to spend her days admiring the city from inside her carriage. She looked upon the many churches of the god of law, admired much history and religious relics hosted within the very same. Much like the coliseum in Aurum, Astorium had miracles of its own, but none capable of blowing her cover.

After a particularly long day, the priestess arrived back in her luxurious inn room. There, once she’d changed her clothes and discarded the symbols and necklaces that showed devotion to Hamelth, she slipped into her casual nightgown and sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the door. Asmodia sat beside her, legs crossed and her eyes buried in some book she’d picked up from one of the churches.

"That book isn’t one of their relics?" Erika exhaled, eyeing the devil from the edge of her eyes.

Turning a page, Asmodia ran her fingers through the arcane letters. Ignoring the priestess for a few seconds, she tore off a page.

"Absolute nonsense about how Hamleth saved law and kept order after the chaos of the holy war threatened to end the world." Closing the book, Asmodia leaned back with a light smile. "Seems like they at least know about the holy war; can’t say the same about every Athenian."

"And what good will knowing do if you’re helpless to do anything against the threat? Hamelth’s only using his serpentine tongue to control these people." With the click of her tongue, Erika brought her attention back to the door.

"All gods lie, but whatever."

A knock on the door cut their conversation short. Allowing the visitors in with a hum, the priestess took a deep breath and kept her eyes closed until the door was opened and then it was again shut.

"The runes now encompass the whole city. You can begin casting the spell, high priestess." Said the Shepherd of the thought, bowing to the high priestess along with the other Shepherds.

Resting her blade on the ground, the Shepherd of the sword raised her head with a smirk. Matching her gaze, Erika gave her permission to speak her mind.

"The heretics may not die today, but if any manage to break the spell’s hold, my apprentices will silence them at once!"

"No killing, Crimsica. Our deal with Aurum only stands if we convert the heretics, not kill them. Besides, we’ve had an influx of children under our care after the seizure of Alliance and those from Ostellio’s clan. We cannot afford to look after the orphans we continually create."

"If you would allow me, priestess." Rising from the ground, Harroth-the shield Shepherd-sharply stared at Erika’s face. "Once the ritual is over, I would like the majority workforce of this city to aid the order in dismantling the false god’s church. Not only will it lessen the fraud’s influence, but also elevate our radiant goddess’s sway over this land and its people."

"A wise suggestion," Erika replied, promptly nodding to relay her permission.

Waving the group in a sweep, she finally rose to her feet and clutched the ankh, swaying right above her apparently cleavaged. Gripping it tightly, Erika motioned the shepherds to get behind her before the spell began.

"Asmodia, I’m gonna need your help here."

Like a scarf, the devil appeared around Erika’s shoulder, hand dangling from her neck. Pressing her cheek against the priestess, she cackled.

"Oh~ To brainwash a whole city into mindless husks, too bad we’re only controlling them to be compliant. I would’ve loved to torture these followers of Hamelth."

"Do not get too excited; there’s still hope that some of these people will come to their senses and abandon the false god." Erika’s eyebrows furrowed deeply, and the very next moment, as Asmodia slipped back into the priestess’s body, burning red smoke rose from every corner of the city, forming a giant magic circle that had thus far remained invisible. "As recited, here goes."

Stilling her mind, Erika scanned the words described by her goddess from the insides of her eyelids. Reading from left to right, she drew one last breath and declared at last.

"O~ Spirit of the world! Atlaria and Atlaris! Your mistress’s servant commands you!" Conjuring her orbed staff, she stomped it against the ground. "Still the minds of the lost! Let me shepherd them through the darkness of their ignorance!"

As her staff stomped the ground once more, a wave of crimson clouds rippled from the strike. Passing through the surprised citizens, stilling their minds of all thoughts, all doubts. Not even the bird, nary a bug could move without Erika’s will–all thanks to her borrowed hold of the world from her goddess. A privilege she would enjoy less times than the number of fingers on one hand.

Even so, right now–the city of Astorium was hers to dismantle and hold for as long as it takes for Amedith and Liliyana to clear their end of the capital’s route.