Chapter 121: Meeting Sander

As much as I wanted to get going right away, there were still some things that I had to take care off. Even though it wasn't anything big, it was still a matter that had to be dealt with.

"I'm telling you, only for the first few days! Once people will accept your position, you will start dressing like everyone else! Heck, once we move out of the area, it would be actually great for you to take those robes down!"

To think that my very first argument with Ayda would be about such a silly topic. Holding a special robe that I prepared in one of my rare free moments, I was attempting with all my might to convince Ayda to wear it. Even though I was perfectly aware that my craft wasn't up to her standards, I at least made sure that all the materials the religious robe was made with were of top quality!

Yet, for some reason, Ayda continued to refuse to wear it! 

"I'm telling you. I dressed in those cute clothes and now I'm not going to hide them! And don't get me wrong."

Her shoulders sunk as she dropped her head down with a deep sigh. 

"Listen. Other girls would argue on this point because of their own pride. As silly as it might sound, you can take it that we, the females, are gathering energy by showing off how cute we are. But I'm not refusing those clothes because of my own vanity, that's a big no."

Raising her hand and swinging her forefinger to the sides, corners of Ayda's lips moved up as she graced me with yet another charmful, albeit smuggish, smile of hers.

"It's actually all about you. We are supposed to be partners, aren't we? Then only by appearing at my best could I give enough honours to someone of your status!"

Pushing the blame for her childish actions from herself onto me, Ayda suddenly took a step forward before wrapping her hands around my neck as she latched to me.

"Or are you going to tell me that you are too jealous to let any other man see how cute I am?"

Whispering those words right into my ear, Ayda ended up her sentence by nibbling on my earlobe a bit.

"Yeah, that would actually be about half the reasons why I want you to dress this robe. The other one is keeping the status of a high, religious leader. If you were to appear as just my girlfriend or even fiancee right away, people would be bound to start the rumours how your position was nothing more but me finding a cosy job for my girl."

Shaking my head, I placed my hands on Ayda's shoulders before pushing her just as gently as this move of mine was decisive. 

"But isn't that actually the case? Well, the truth is you are actually coming up with a brand new role just to let me fit in it, aren't you?" 

Leaning her head slightly to the side, Ayda looked at me with her eyes wide open. Her brows travelled so far on her face that it was no longer possible to see them under her hair. 

"Well, this is actually truth…" 

Turning my head to the side, I attempted to hide my slightly embarrassed face from the smug eyes of Ayda. From the looks of things, even though this entire thing started as a silly argument, this girl was rather enjoying this kind of gentle banter!

"Eh, just do whatever you want. Let's go."

Acknowledging my defeat in this bout, I could only shake the topic away. With brimming Ayda behind me, I finally closed the doors to the basement, closing the portal between the worlds only to open them again.

For me, the sight was already boring. A big, concrete dome surrounded the slightly unkempt staircase. But for Ayda, this was the first time she could see something that was absent in her world.

It's not like there was no mortar in her word. As if it was something basic, it seemed that any civilisation in any word that went beyond the tribal phase would obtain something similar. But for the entire construction to be built out of a mortar? That was definitely something unheard of in Ayda's parts.

But that was only the beginning of the tour. After leading the girl out of the concrete enclosure, I finally brought her to the more civilised part of the mansion. Feeling her amazement even when we were walking through what I could only consider as your extremely average corridor, I could hold myself back from looking back at her face only with the utmost effort of my ego.

"Oh, your excellency! How did the tests go?"

As if my luck couldn't get any worse, the first person to encounter the two of us was Sander. While I was absolutely certain about his loyalty, there wasn't even a slight doubt in me about him being intelligent enough to figure out the truth behind Ayda if he were to interact with her long enough.

"Good enough. Those stones that you told me to be wary about though… Well, they didn't work. I think they have some kind of energy-feed loop hidden somewhere due to imperfections of the craft… but don't take it personally, it's just my guess after all."

Instead of openly admitting to what happened in my dream or that meeting with that godlike being, I went with the story created on the basis of what I knew and what that strange, white being told me.

"No, I wouldn't dare. In fact, I was worried that it might actually be the sake… Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't notice your guest. I'm sorry for bothering you two!"

Whether Sander actually failed to notice Ayda before or if he put the topic of her appearance for later due to his interest in the results of the testing of his stones was up for a pretty serious debate. Personally speaking, I was inclined to believe that this craftsman actually couldn't be bothered with introductions in the face of new knowledge regarding his new job. And that guess of mine was the only reason why I lead the discussion in a way that would let Ayda regain her honour as the most important person in the room.

Or to be more precise, the most important person in the corridor the three of us were standing in the middle of.

"This is her excellency Ayda, a fellow bishop of our cult, sent here by the headquarters. While she used to manage one of the smaller and more remote branches, I would have to spend nearly the entire day just to list out her insane achievements. So for now, just take single advice from me."

Smiling gently, I looked directly into Sander's eyes.

"It's best not to anger her. And especially not to the point when she will speak out loud. Many scars on my backs only serve as a testimony to my words."

Leaning over the man's shoulder, I whispered those words right into his ear as if I was worried that Ayda would hear them. And while it was obvious that she was perfectly aware of what we were speaking about, this girl was just too talented when it came to acting.

Turning from the lovable girl that she usually was into a cold beauty in a matter of a single instant, Ayda proved that she was the best person to bring along, even if not for all the moments we shared between each other. Hearing what claims I made about her character, she slowly but steadily changed her aura to fit my description.

"Ah, please, forgive me my insolence. I wasn't aware that I had the honours of facing an esteemed bishop!"

Instantly falling on one knee, Sander bowed his head. But as aggravating this sight was for someone like me who believed this kind of honours was more than overrated, I had no other choice but to just stick with it. After all, who was I to change the customs that were already deeply ingrained in one's nature?

"Fear not. She's not as condescending to punish people just because they didn't know her in advance."

Shrugging the problem away, I sent a quick yet meaningful look to the girl before moving around the still kneeling Sander. As great of an actor, as she was, Ayda still followed right after me without even a shred of hesitation.

Thankfully, this unfortunate encounter with Sander turned out to be the last obstacle that stopped the two of us from randomly and cheerfully going out. 

Moving out of the mansion, we quickly arrived at the main road that connected the lands owned by my faction with the rest of the city. Even though the recovery efforts were rather weak, this one line of communication was treaded like a priority task for the entire city. After all, it connected all the major points within it!

And then, Ayda could finally see the beauty of the modern town in its full grace.