Chapter 221

After exploring Mantle for a bit and relaxing from the high tensions of the unexpected—or unexpectedly quick—meeting with Enzo, Zoey and her team returned to the estate at the top of the mountain.

Of the necessary meetings she had to attend to, there was one she shouldn’t put off more than the others. After tracking down the portion of the d’Celestin guest rooms where Aria, Adrienne, and Sabina had been luxuriously stashed away, Zoey visited the most immediately important of her three peripheral allies. Aria. She’d promised her a thorough talk on what their future would look like, and seeing how the young priestess had uprooted her life at a moment’s notice upon a deity’s calling, she definitely deserved that talk as soon as possible.

Aria opened the door only seconds after Zoey knocked. The priestess had one thing to loudly proclaim, the second she saw Zoey.

“You didn’t tell me you were bringing me to the d’Celestins.”

Zoey paused, then asked, “Would you believe me if I said I didn’t know either?” She laughed, stepping into the priestess’s room. Aria closed the door behind her. “Recent development. Rosalie was keeping it on the down-low.”

“For good reason! A d’Celestin, relaxing inside one of the capital cities of the Striders. Insanity. That had to be so dangerous for her.” She shook her head. “Anyway, that was a shock. I knew a literal call to action by a goddess was going to come with some surprising turns, but wow. A girl could’ve used a warning.”

“It was a surprise to all of us.”

Aria shook her head again. She walked over to one of the plush chairs in the corner of the room. She was wearing a nightgown, having settled down for the night. Zoey couldn’t help but steal a glance at her ass, which was rather generously hugged in by the silk outfit.

“At least the accommodations are nice. To put it very lightly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a room this ... ornate.” Aria gestured at the other chair. “Join me? We’ve got some stuff to talk about, right?”

“We do.” Zoey walked over and sat. The two of them were quiet for a second, Aria considering her with a curious look.

“So, answers?” she eventually prompted, lips quirking. “I’ve got some news of my own, you know.”

“You do?”

“I moved up in advancement, rather randomly, last night. Advancement two. And the skill I got from my Rune of Worship is ... interesting.”

Oh? Rune of Worship? And it had advanced? Zoey’s assumptions might turn out to be correct, from how this conversation was starting.

A Rune of Worship was interesting by its own merit, too. She wondered what Aria’s first ability had been. She’d just been a simple temple priestess, so Zoey assumed nothing crazy.

“Can I take a guess what is?” Zoey asked.

“Sure?”

“Does it have something to do with ‘Holy Energy’?”

Aria jolted. “Hey! How could you know that?”

“I also got something related to it.”

“You did?” She paused. “I guess that makes sense, considering what mine is. And that I’m supposed to be your high priestess.” She pouted, crossing her arms. “You still could’ve let me surprise you, though. I was excited.”

“Right, sorry,” Zoey laughed. “I should’ve.” She tilted her head. “But my skill is just a way to use that energy, though. Yours?”

“A way to gather it.”

Suspicious confirmed, then.

“I figured I was gonna have to discover its usage, or something,” Aria continued. “That there were hidden extra abilities, something I would be able to do with that energy.” Her pout deepened. “But I guess I’m just toiling away for my Goddess’s benefit.” She let out a dramatic sigh. “It’s hard being High Priestess to a nascent deity.”

Aria’s ... Goddess?

As in, her?

Zoey shifted uncomfortably at that. Sheesh. That really was what was going on, wasn’t it? At least, those lofty heights were Ephy’s end goal.

Aria noticed her reaction. “Ah,” she said. “I guess you still haven’t adjusted to all of that, have you? That’s fair. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it either. Honestly, even being High Priestess, or involved at all, is blowing my mind.”

“It’s not where I expected my life to go,” Zoey agreed. She shrugged. “But I’m adapting. You’re just the first person to ... call me Goddess.” A weird feeling went through her at that. And a shiver. Not bad, necessarily? A very strange mix of emotions, which would take a while to unpack. “Anyway,” she said. “You’ve been treated well, right? While we were gone? Sorry to run off. We had ... business to take care of.”