Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

The city was filled with boisterous, ethereal music as the procession of the noon sermon began walking down the main street. Pale priestesses with their signature white hair and red eyes that followed the blessing of Senior White danced a complicated choreography, using artistic implements to make the ceremony look even more divine.

Among the priestesses were big snakes with silver scales doing their very own show, sometimes weaving and connecting with the women's dance. Figures were soaring, tumbling, swaying, and freewheeling all around.

Altogether it created a massive, otherworldly parade that slowly moved from a square. Unwittingly the viewers were following the parade, entranced by the performance. Starting in the south of the city they moved toward the central tree, where Senior White's temple was located.

Fin, Mina, Seth, and the rest of the crowd followed the parade in awe until the procession reached the square in front of the temple where the group of priests gathered for a great finale. Afterwar,d the crowd viewers dispersed, some visiting the temple like them, others returning to the city.

Although they had to run all the way, they were in time to watch the whole show and finally enter the temple complex. Although they came to meet with the presiding deity, they went along with the other tourists to explore the temple first.

Seth couldn't help but to think, that ultimately, deity business was also just business. There were many smaller and bigger attractions built for visitors where they could wish, pray, or pay for smaller blessings or miracles.

The temple also sold simple souvenirs, charms and, as far as Seth knew they also allowed their priests to be hired as part of Adventurer Parties. Although the Priests of the White Snake were not your typical clerics, they were very popular among parties across Minas Mar, or so it said on the brochure the blacksmith got at one of the booths.

Unlike normal priests, who usually acted as healers, or holy tanks and damage dealers, Senior White's disciples were a unique kind of mid-range casters. Like some witches, they used holy beasts, a white snake they personally raised and contracted with, as their familiar to cast spells and attack. They had the potential to be a tough support or train in the direction of a caster focused on damage.

The temple complex was not old, but it followed a slightly unique design of Senior White's world, which made it fun to explore the exotic structure. Ultimately they left behind the more common places meant for tourists and walked deeper into the domain of the priestesses and their deity.

“Please wait, Visitors are not allowed past this point,” a friendly priestess promptly appeared, asking them to return.

“We have an appointment,” Seth simply said and flashed his sigil ring in front of her. She seemed confused for a moment before her eyes widened. She had realized who they were and quickly bowed to them.

“I'm sorry. Please follow me. The goddess is already waiting for you,” she said with a genuine smile. It was smaller compared to the previous business smile, but much softer and more natural. The three followed the priestess past various gates and archways before they finally reached the very foot of the Guardian Tree sapling.

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“You are finally here, Seth, Mina, Fin,” the languidly, launching lady laughed as they climbed up the stairs to her lavish recliner. Senior white still looked like the first time he witnessed her take a human form. A woman covered in white scales, wearing a wide white robe. Her face was fair and androgynous, charming men and women alike. She had the same signature white hair as her priestesses, flowing all the way down to her hips.

“It has been a while, Senior White,” the bard greeted the deity friend. Priestesses quickly hurried over, setting up chairs and a table for the guests, the the white snake joined them. “How have you been?” Seth asked as the servers set up tea and snacks for the four of them.

“Thanks to your favor, I have been able to recover quite well,” she said with a calm smile. The blacksmith could see that she was not just talking about her powers as a god. The last time they met was when she came to Urth, following his invitation.

Her behavior had not changed from back then, but she had lost the hidden sadness that loomed over her. It seemed like she finally started to overcome the loss of her people, building a new family in this place.

“I'm glad to hear this,” the bard answered with a smile. Following the greeting, the group talked about Spring City and current news. Especially Fin and Mina were caught in an avid conversation about the previous procession with Senior white.

Inevitably, they also talked about the shop they had visited. But when Seth mentioned that there had been cultivators visiting that shop, Senior white was not surprised in the least.

“Although they are banned from using the System Church in Spring City, I do allow cultivators entrance to the town. As long as they commit no wrong, I don't mind them, ” the White Snake revealed. She smiled understandingly when she saw the gazes of doubt on the three faces.

Although they had some allies among cultivators and it was acknowledged that not all of them were scum, there was no guarantee that there was not scum among those that entered, Apart from that, the Pythian Village had shown that the cultural differences between them, general players and Urthans easily led to conflicts.

Before she spoke, White balled her fist and opened it again to show them her palm. On said palm, a tiny silver snake appeared. Although it moves like a living being, it looked like a silver ornament with ruby-red eyes.

“People like cultivators who have questionable origin or background are mandated to wear these snakelets upon entering. They observe and record all their action. Within my realm, these children will also be able to make their own judgments pertaining to the actions of their target.

If they come here to cause trouble, start fights, or are involved in other nefarious business they will be taken down and captured immediately,” as if on cue, the tiny snake brandished its poison fangs with a dangerous hissing, though it was incredibly cute because of the tiny size of the divine beast.

“Awww,” Mina reacted to the cute performance of the snakelet. Senior White placed the snake on the table, where it was exposed to Fin's and Mina's love. Whether it enjoyed or suffered this fate was unclear.

Seth didn't doubt her word. Senior White was a proper deity, not a freshly ascended guardian deity like Python, or a a god who technically died and was slowly coming back to life like Samhach. However, Senior White had not finished talking.

“It's a shame that I have little influence on what happens outside of my realm,” she added, looking fondly at the snake that was caressed by the two girls. Seth's doubts were back at peak and the two girls also looked up at the deity.

“Elaborate?” the blacksmith asked her. Senior White seemed a little uncomfortable talking about it, but she also didn't seem like she wanted to keep it a secret. After a moment of indecisiveness, she finally spoke up.

“My... negligence may have caused a problem. Lately, there have been more conflicts between players, and cultivators outside of the city. It's technically confirmed that some sects from the Voracious Cloud Continent have set up branches in the surrounding mountains. I can't help but think that it's because I allowed cultivators entry... ” Senior White said and blamed herself.

Seth pursed his lips. Cultivators that settled on Urth, it came as more of a surprise than it should have. The vicinity of Minas Mar was almost peaceful, with adventurers, golems, and trees managing dungeons and monster populations.

They had never expected for cultivators to settle on Urth since the no man's land was a terrifying place. Nobody thought they would be bold enough to not just come to Urth but settle on the territory of Minas Mar.

Not only that, but to also cause trouble in this place.

“Didn't you send anyone to get rid of them?”