He realised he was stalling, distracting himself with little details instead of following his actual purpose in coming to the temple district. Confronting a challenge to long-held beliefs wasn’t easy. His objective wasn’t the throngs of people in the square, but the temples around the outside. The buildings immediately abutting the square were the most prominent houses of worship in the city, and the effort put into their designs seemed to reflect it. They seemed to be competing in grandiosity, each an achievement in architecture and engineering.
There was a towering cathedral, a columned temple and other buildings, the likes of which Jason had never seen. Oddly, there was one building that forwent the ostentation of the buildings around it, looking more like a public school library. It was a square, grey block, with the only ornamentation a picture of a scroll over the double-doors.
“I wonder if that’s what I’m looking for.”
While each building competed to catch the eye, in Jason’s opinion there was a clear winner. It was a huge tower in the shape of an arm thrusting into the sky. Most buildings in the city topped out at five storeys, and while it was not the only temple to breach this limit, the giant arm more than doubled it. At the end of the arm was a fist clenching a giant, bearded head. The head gazed down on the square, fiercely glaring at any with the courage to meet its stare.
“Well, that’s only completely horrifying.”
With all the people around it was easy to ask a passer-by about the unusual temple. The man Jason talked to was short and stocky, with skin of such a deep blue it was almost black. He had no hair at all and was covered in what looked like tattoos of various colours, which glowed faintly. Jason knew the markings were actually natural, a feature of the race known as the runic. They were a rarity in Greenstone, and while Jason had seen them around, this was his first chance to speak with one. Going by his clothes, the man was more likely a local than a visitor.
“That’s the temple of Dominion,” he explained when Jason pointed out the strange temple.
“Dominion over what?”
The man looked at Jason curiously.
“Over everything,” the man said. “Dominion issues the divine right to kings and nobles. It is he who determines who rules, and who serves.”
“Oh. That explains the creepy, overbearing temple.”
“You seem very easy with blasphemy,” the man said warily.
“I am,” Jason said absently. “Mostly to annoy my Aunt Marjory, but also recreationally. Does this world have little cartoon booklets that explain you’re going to hell if you eat between-meal snacks or whatever?”
The man shook his head in wonderment.
“What do you get out of that?” he asked. “Does it make you feel better to disrespect things others find meaningful?”
“Sorry,” Jason said, feeling like an idiot. “Where I come from, the gods aren’t real.”
“The gods are everywhere in this world.”
“So I’ve heard,” Jason said. “I find that a bit disturbing, to be honest. I mean, look at Dominion. I don’t like the idea of an infinitely powerful being whose job is to make sure people know their place.”
“Then venerate a different god,” the man said. “No deity is absolute. If you dislike the message of Dominion, seek out Liberty. They don’t get along.”
The man flashed Jason a cheeky grin.
Jason held out his hand and the man shook it. “I’m Jason.”
“Arash,” the man said.
Jason was asking Arash if the plain-looking building was the Temple of Knowledge when a glorious light appeared in front of one of the temples. All through the square people fell to their knees, Jason’s new friend included. Looking over, Jason saw a towering figure that looked human, but stood twice as tall as Gary. He looked rather like an adventurer, clad in light armour with a sword at his side.
Up to that point, the strongest aura Jason had encountered was that of a silver-rank adventurer he had seen at the Adventure Society. He had sat next to the man on the loop line and found the presence of his aura overpowering. He had realised at the time why Farrah said that containing one’s aura was good manners.
The aura from the far side of the square made that experience inconsequential; it was comparing a candle to the blazing light of the sun. Jason had no doubt that if the aura of that towering figure were truly unleashed, everyone in the square would drop dead.
“So that’s a god,” Jason said. “Honestly, I was hoping to be less impressed, but that is something to see. So much for atheism, I guess.”
“Get down!” Arash hissed, kneeling next to Jason.
Looking around, Jason realised he stood out as the only person still standing. The god turned to Jason. Not knowing what else to do, Jason gave him a casual wave. It was hard to tell from across the square, but he thought he saw a smile tug at the god’s mouth.
“What’s he the god of?” Jason asked.
“That’s Hero,” Arash said. “Get down!”
“I think that ship has sailed my friend,” Jason said. “So, the god of heroes is called Hero. They really stick to that straightforwards naming convention, don’t they?”
“Such a shame,” a melodious voice came from behind Jason. “I was hoping to be your first.”
Jason looked around, but didn’t see where the voice came from. He caught a hint of perfume in the air, fresh and clean like a sea breeze. Within it he sensed a fleeting, but potent aura, every bit the equal of the god across the square.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jason muttered.
At this point, Arash was yanking on Jason’s sleeve, trying to get him to kneel. The other people around them looked at Jason with disdain.
“Calm down,” Jason said, tugging his shirt free of Arash’s grip. “Did you hear that woman?”
“What woman?” Arash said. “Get on your knees and show your respect for the god!”
“Just me, then. Kneeling isn’t how you show respect, Arash. That’s how you show obedience.”
“Obedience to a god is respect!”
“They say that where I come from, too,” Jason said. “Never really got onboard with the idea. I think I’m going to head off, Arash. All the people here are giving me the evil eye.”
“You are a fool!” Arash hissed after him.
“I can’t argue with that,” Jason said with a laugh. He started making his way across the square, but all the people who had dropped to their knees made for something of an obstacle course.
“Sorry. Pardon me. Excuse me.”
One of the people near Arash leaned over as he watched Jason wander off.
“Do you know that man?”
“Absolutely not,” Arash said.
As Jason had guessed, the Temple of Knowledge was the plain, blocky building.
“Is there actually a public library in there?” he wondered. “That would make sense.”
The double doors in front of him were pushed open from the inside as he approached, revealing a pretty young woman. It was the same acolyte who had tested his essences during his Adventure Society intake.
“Good day, Mr Asano.”
“Gabrielle, right?” Jason asked.
“That’s right,” she said. “It’s lovely to meet you again.”
“Likewise.”
Jason thought he should catch up with Humphrey, curious if the young man had made an overture since Jason gave him Gabrielle’s name. Then he remembered Humphrey was off with Rufus for the field assessment.
“Why does it feel like you were waiting for me?” Jason asked Gabrielle.
“My lady told me you were arriving and sent me to guide you.”