Chapter 75: Entelechy of Light
The plan with the two secret societies following the Chalk Princess had been steadily in progress.
Like other churches, she had rented a plot of land in Lacrosa to be a community hub. For the city ruled by the God of Wealth and Commerce, and the Nation of the Forsaken, any chance to make money is a chance to make money.
So what if other religions rent land? They are not buying it unless they submit to the Steam Bat. The rent is 150,000 Cee a year, or 10,000 Cee a month. And for Dawn, it is quite literally chump change.
Currently, Lea was watching from the outside as a building came to life in front of her. Unlike the cathedrals around, the Church of Progress (name still pending) was made using steel and concrete, not stone that speaks of grandeur or holiness. Clean, practical, and a lot of metal pipes.
Creation Pathstriders, called Builder, can create anything at the Fourth Step as long as they have the material and a blueprint.
Seeing so many Builders working together is amazing in its own right. Most of them are from the Cult of Technology, while Dawn and those from MSSH help with coordination. Unlike what Lea expected, an all-out brawl between followers of the Chalk Princess; they actually spoke and traded insights about each other's way to fulfill their deity's faith.
"The Chalk Princess came to me while I was trying to solve a hard case—"
"The Lady in White gave me inspiration just with one glance—"
They spoke greatly of what the Chalk Princess did for the world, how her blessings improve humanity as a whole. Not knowing that their god is just an empty husk wandering about.
She sighed, looking at the Steam Bat perched on the tallest building in the center of the underground city. Still grand and majestic, fitting of a god.
It was then that someone in Lacrosa clothing, a local, a black suit with a white shirt underneath, a top hat tilted to one side, approached the construction site. She was two meters tall with fluttering golden hair and eyes, meeting Lea with a business-perfect smile.
"My, hello~", she greeted her, "It has been a while since a new religion popped up."
"Who... are you?", Lea turned cautious, gauging the woman carefully.
She tried to read her thoughts, but nothing came... this person was not simple...
"Just a local seeking a new business venture.", she shrugged, "My name is Qaeidat Habia, you can call me Qaeidat if you like."
There was something off about this woman, though Lea cannot put her mind to it... her look? It is certainly beautiful and gives a friendly vibe. Her smile? It seems completely natural.
"...if you want to talk about business, you should talk to her.", Lea has no footing in this field, so she pointed over to Dawn.
But Qaeidat shook her head, still smiling, "But I want you, specifically... demigod."
A chill ran down her spine staring into the eyes of the woman. They were clear, yet unreadable. This is someone not to be taken lightly...
"What do you want with me...", Lea asked, taking a step back.
She can't act against a local; violence isn't exactly forbidden, unless Qaeidat attacks first, she can't do anything at all.
"As I said, opening up another business venture~ I have goods that could benefit you greatly~!"
This sounds very much like a scam... she thought to herself. So she deploys the best tactic against scammers and persistent merchants.
"I'll think about it later.", she waved the woman away.
"If you need anything, just go to this location~", Qaeidat presented Lea with a business card.
Reluctantly, Lea accepted and looked at the card... Golden Emporium, the logo being the familiar bat symbol of the Steam Bat in front of a coin.
"I hope you visit soon~", she waved and walked away, not looking back at all.
Strange woman... Lea thought, pocketing the business card and turning back to the construction.
The Builders worked with synchronized precision, steel beams lifting into place, concrete flowing into forms, pipes connecting with mechanical clicks. The building rose before her eyes in real-time.
Then something shifted in the air. A presence descended, subtle, gentle, like chalk dust settling over the construction site. Not oppressive or overwhelming, but there. Undeniably present.
The workers stopped mid-motion, tools frozen in their hands. Heads turned upward instinctively, seeking the source.
"Do you feel that?", one of the Cult members whispered, his voice trembling with awe.
"The Lady in White..."
"She's here. The Chalk Princess is watching!"
A cheer erupted from the workers. Builders from both factions threw their hands in the air, voices rising in jubilation. Some fell to their knees in prayer. Others simply wept, overwhelmed by the sensation of divine acknowledgment.
"Our work is recognized!"
"The Goddess blesses our efforts!"
"Progress! Progress eternal!"
Lea watched from the sidelines, her golden eyes narrowed. She could feel it too, the wrongness-that-wasn't-quite-wrongness. The empty Divine Throne, wandering without purpose, was drawn to this concentration of technological innovation and devotion.
It's not blessing them... Lea thought grimly... It's just... present.
Like a moth drawn to flame.
But the followers didn't know that. To them, this was divine confirmation. Their goddess acknowledged their faith through her mere presence.
Dawn stood at the center of the construction site, hands clasped before her, eyes closed. Unlike the others, she wasn't praying. She was listening.
The presence lingered for another moment, then faded like morning mist.
The workers' cheers intensified, "She approved! The Church of Progress has the Chalk Princess's blessing!"
Dawn's eyes opened. Her expression was controlled, calculated, but Lea could see the spark of triumph beneath.
The princess raised her hand, and the crowd quieted immediately. She stood on a raised platform, addressing the gathered faithful with the confidence of someone who'd just received divine validation.
"The Lady in White has witnessed our efforts!!", Dawn announced, her voice carrying across the site, "Our unity in Progress and Enlightenment has drawn her attention. This is only the beginning."
The crowd erupted in cheers again.
But Dawn wasn't finished. She closed her eyes again, feeling something deeper. The land telephone network was spreading across Ryteline. Production facilities in three cities. Installation teams are working around the clock. The system was operational.
The mass production of the land telephone was fully realized. In Ryteline and in the other nation of progress, Aipotu. Dawn felt the weight of that achievement settle into her bones.
She'd done it.
Created something that would change the world. Connected people across vast distances. Made communication instantaneous. And in that moment of triumph, with the Divine Throne's presence still lingering in the air, Dawn made her decision.
She began to chant, her voice clear and unwavering. Speaking as if receiving a divine revelation.
"Entelechy of Light;
Unfolding Law of Circuit and Mind;
The Architect who creates the Future."
The air cracked.
The Divine Throne's presence, which had been fading, snapped back with sudden intensity. The chalk scent intensified a thousandfold. Reality itself seemed to pause, holding its breath.
Every worker on the construction site felt it, the sensation of being seen. Not by a distant, wandering throne, but by something paying direct, undivided attention.
Dawn's body glowed faintly, circuits of light tracing patterns across her skin that matched the blueprints in her mind. The Honorific Title resonated with the empty throne, calling to it, claiming it.
"I am the Architect who creates the Future. I am Progress incarnate. I am Enlightenment manifest..."
The Divine Throne responded.
Lea's eyes widened in shock. She could see it, barely visible, like heat shimmer in summer - the outline of the Chalk Princess's throne beginning to materialize behind Dawn.
Dawn was attempting to claim it right here, right now.
In front of both factions, with the throne already drawn by their collective faith and achievement.
The workers didn't understand what they were witnessing. They just knew their goddess was present in a way she'd never been before.
And Dawn stood at the center, circuits of light burning brighter, her voice echoing with power that was no longer entirely mortal:
"I've been chosen by the Chalk Princess, the Architect of Tomorrow."
The throne pulsed once.
Accepting.
Considering.
Judging.
But to these people who did not know the bigger picture, her words were not false. They are Divine Oracles... To them, she had become the First Blessed of the Chalk Princess. From Erudite, she has become an Architect of the Fifth Step.
"For the Goddess of Technology!! For the Lady in White!! For the Chalk Princess!!"
The crowd roared even louder, making their presence known. Uncaring about the eyes observing them one bit, in fact, more eyes on them means the words about the Chalk Princess' church become more widespread.
"She had decreed to me, to finish Her first temple of knowledge!! And we shall spread her name far and wide!!"
The followers responded with zeal.
"For the Chalk Princess!!"
"For the Lady in White!!"
"For the Goddess of Technology!!"
=0=0=
In the monochrome library, someone else smiled brightly.
"Ah... finally.", Lady Keter let out a soft moan. In her hand was the book with a tree on it. Another circle had lit up, yet faintly, "Welcome back to the world, Goddess of Technology, Proto."
"Miss Mashhith" appeared once again, tendrils of non-existence grabbed her arms and legs, forcing her to sit in place.
"I know it's not the time yet, but it'll be soon... Ahahahahaha~", she chuckled, "I will once again walk in the world... hehahaha~"
Her laugh echoes through the library in the void, and her smile is full of joy.
"So to not disrupt the play of this world and have my own fun...", her smile grew larger, and she turned to the vast library around her, taking in its majesty.
"Let the show begin."