Walker almost felt bad that he was the one tending to the fire while everyone else slept or struggled to sleep. As the night has grown silent in their impromptu camp, he couldn't help but hear a few things.
Apparently, when they had first entered, they had been welcod well enough. Their entire group had been brought to the main cathedral where they heard of history and how the expansion of the churches had been to spread the scriptures to all people.
So far, that had been a good thing. They had all thought that the cathedral as a whole would be very accepting of Genesis. That the people who had co to see their cathedral within genesis had just been a select few bad eggs.
That had happened in the human kingdom. A few churches becoming corrupt because of their prices or false thinking. It had been cleaned up as ti went on though. Especially with the influence of heroes.
This stopped going well when the group had begun to question the state of the city. The way it looked was very nice, however, the lack of variety in foods and in the shops was odd to them. The guards assigned to them did not feel this was important and were very staunch.
It only got worse when they began to question why other races were not here. It made more sense that all races hear the words of the scriptures so that they could learn how to live a bright life. Especially since Alice and her group believed that the scriptures were all lessons on how to live a better life. Not law or strict rules.
So of the nearby people had stopped walking around them entirely. Others were quick to move away from the foreign priests. They knew exactly what would happen. It was only a few monts before more guards ca to escort their group to the cathedral where the interrogations began.
Hours of individual questions with threats of imprisonnt. Larger forces of guards being placed around them as if they were captured monsters that might leap out and attack soone in a breath. The atmosphere had beco suffocating and toxic.
It was very quick that they realized that those within the city did not accept any other races. Did not accept teaching them. Did not even view them as races even though the system of existence did.
Even worse, when Alice was asked about her title as a saintess, things went downhill. They didn't believe that she could be allowed to be called such a title when she did not originate and practice the church's scriptures as they believed it should be. From that point on, it was a lot more reprimanding and threats of force before they said that reeducation was impossible.
She had been told that her ideals were the work of pure evil and that she had led many astray. That even if she believed her ideas correct, that it was worse that she supported so called heroes when it wasn't them that had done a single thing.
The grand priest had even said that all the heroics of Walker's party. That the races banding together to help the world. That every single thing done involving unity within genesis was all evils. All the good that had happened was the will of so unseen crater god that was changing the world to be easier for them to live in due to their devotion over the years.
Pure insanity.
That was how Alice's group had seen it. A madness that could easily be the cause of many people losing their lives. And they were not wrong.
When the rest of the group started to hear what the charges and the punishnts were, they understood it all. That those with the worst offenses in the eyes of the cathedral here weren't just executed, they were taunted and beaten. Then they would finally be cast out in to the oceans to perish.
It was also why no one could possibly bring ships or dock anything on the lower cliffs. They couldn't even fish nearby their city because the monsters had grown used to food dropping from the cliffside for them to eat. For people to be tossed down because they didn't practice a faith the way they were told.
Their faith was not sothing to free them and allow others to live a better life. Instead, it was a shackle on their leg. It was a cage to trap them. It was used to control them with fear. It wasn't even just that though, it was a way to manipulate one another with false reports while cutting off any other potential contact with kingdoms outside. The entire city had acted as if it was the only safe and pure place.
After that, they had all known what it was like to be locked up. All their items had been taken, luckily they had not brought much other than supplies. It had still been a shock. Never given proper rooms. Just thrown in to stone cold dungeons that were not the brilliant white paint as any other place where people could see.
They had all seen under the mask of the monster that had once been an uplifting and vibrant place. The faith that had beco stagnant and rotted over ti. The world changing had just been an excuse for them to use more control and power over their own people. A horrible thing.
The rest had all been seen by Walker himself. He expected that Alice would be a little more unhappy with it, but she had clearly still cared for the people there. Proving that she had the hopes that they would break free.
It was why he had said what he said. Making it impossible to be free unless they freed themselves and forsaken everything about what they had been controlled to do. They had still made the choices to stay there, but now, they would be able to find ways to make up for those events.
The worst of the worst would most likely be stricken down by those that had lost family. Those that hated them. While cruel, Walker knew he couldn't stay there. Not just because his own emotions might not allow him to remain steadfast in stopping cri. Instead, it was because he knew that if he had stayed there, he would have been the one halting those ready to make their move.
Those people had waited for a chance. There were always so that would let their revenge consu them. As such, Walker would have stopped them as a hero. It hurt him to know he had allowed them free reign. Yet, if he had stopped them, that desire for revenge would grow and stagnate within their hearts. Turning them in to worse people in the long run.
In the end, he was glad he had gone to find Alice. And as the sun rose in the distance, he was even happier to see that she was sleeping well. Even if she used him as a pillow while he sat to
keep watch.
"Yes yes, Erica, we will get up soon. I have so good food from ho in my high spatial storage." Walker noticed that Erica had been silently moving around them for a little bit. "Ah, sorry if I woke you up."
He also noticed that Alice started moving right then too. But she just shook her head. "I'll have us all ho sooner than later." Walker looked behind them and noticed the others cleaning up already. They had caught on that they would be ho sooner than later. Especially since Walker needed to let a few people know what happened.
There would be a little stricter requirents for the guards at the gates. Especially the guards on the outer edges of the dragon territories. The new walls were more imaginary than real, but they were still patrolled for monsters and general safety. As such, they would not be looking for people fleeing the city in chaos.
Having that in mind, Walker also ntally promised he would push for more equality. More acceptance. He already preached that in a way, but now, he would go out of his way to ensure that others saw it in his actions. Especially if he saw foolish people looking down on others. He should lead by example and teach them.
"You can ask her, she would definitely show you so of her light magic. Alice can sing very beautiful songs. They are almost as beautiful as she looks you know." Walkers' sudden complent made Alice go beet red. But Erica just understood that she could see light magic before they went flying again. Sothing she was very interested in.
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