Chapter 715: Aid And Comfort
Upon the shepard’s return, Erika who’d been healing Riyanzah and Seraphim left the djinn for a while as they cursed the man who’d defeated them not too long ago. The priestess was informed of everything that had taken place with the giants as well as the demolishing of the temple of Asmareth. To which, Erika responded with a rather unexpected response.
"Leave the temple ground be. We’ll rebuild once the demon general is dead." Waving a hand to one of the many soldiers of the holy order, she beckoned him closer. "But our work isn’t done yet. While the rest of the soldiers rest, I want you three to take the order in three groups, each spreading her gospel and curing the young of their blindness."
Turning her attention from the shepherd to the man that she’d beckoned, Erika looked him in the eye and ordered.
"I want you to separate families from lone soldiers in the order. Anyone with children back home will be dealing with the cure and the rest will preach the goddess’s words and try to win hearts over." Lifting a hand to her side, she quickly dismissed the nodding man and focused on the shepherds again. "I doubt I need to tell you why we’re only curing children, do I?"
"They’ll accept Athenia easily while the parents might resist due to societal pressure?" Asked the jester, and he was right–however, only half right.
"We want to draw out their emotions, capitalize on it so that we can lead them to the light," the Sword added, completing the reasoning behind Erika’s idea.
Nodding back at them, the priestess held her hand forward with her fingers clenched tight. Glancing at the shield, she gave him a moment to step forward and place his hand right under hers.
"The last of the life giving necklace. A piece of our goddess’s body..." Opening her fingers, Erika let the shattered crumbs of the necklace fall on the shield’s hand. "The witch Linkle had it for the longest time, but I convinced her to give it to me. You should use it well to heal those children as the only other necklace left is meant for spreading plagues, not curing any disease."
"Goddess’s nails?! Are you sure you want me to handle this, high priestess?!" The giant of a man was absolutely shaken as the crumbs fell onto his gloves. His body grew tense and his heart began pumping as if he’d been running all day without stopping for a second.
"I-it’s an honor, high priestess!" The sword on the other hand, dropped to her knees.
The jester felt the same way, but having better command of his mind, the man simply joined the sword in doing as she did. Looking back at his comrades, the shepherd of shield huffed a heavy sigh and lowered himself on his knees as well.
"W-we’ll get it done, priestess." Finally accepting the command, he kept his lowered to the ground as Erika returned to address something else.