Herald of Steel

Alexander had always considered Ophenia to be the most beautiful woman in his harem and she had always proved such by looking breathe taking in whatever she wore.

But now that she had actually decided to doll herself up, Alexander understood to just what extent her beauty truly went when Ophenia put in some actual effort.

Looking at her perfect, heart-shaped face, with a tiara on her forehead, Alexander was taken back by the beauty that he had rarely ever come across in both his lifetimes as he was once again reminded why even one of the powerhouse of Theos wanted her badly and had schemed to lay their claws on her.

'I wonder how beautiful she would look if she wore the dress with her blonde hair,' Alexander pondered as he laid his eyes on the dyed black hair, realizing Ophenia could become even more beautiful.

And so, he tried to imagine just that, substituting the black dye with the same color he had once seen in that tent two months ago.

But he failed to do a good superimposition as he had seen the hair under candlelight and the colors were not so vivid then.

While Alexander was in his thoughts, Theocles too was in his, though he only commented, 'Only someone blessed like my lord deserves such a beautiful woman.'

"Good morning, master," Ophenia performed a perfect bow, letting Alexander have a good look at her luscious, milky flesh and the deep cleavage that held a tiny pendant snuggly housed between them.

Ophenia's melodious voice finally broke Alexander out of his stupor and he said with a wide grin, "Tayin! Were you waiting long?"

He had asked Ophenia to finish her breakfast and then wait for his call outside the hall room door.

"No, I just got here," Ophenia politely hid the innocent truth.

In fact. she had gotten here just after Alexander had started his meeting because she was mortified at the thought of Alexander calling her name and her not being present.

As a matter of fact, she was so early that Hemicus had gotten his mistress a chair to wait until Alexander finished his council meeting.

"Good, good." Alexander did not pry into such insignificant detail and gestured, "Please, sit, sit."

And once Ophenia took the sit right next to Alexander, even shuffling the chair to get a bit close to Alexander, he introduced the two.

"Tayin, this is Theocles, our archpriest and your senior," Alexander gestured with his palms, causing Ophenia to give a light smile and a tiny nod toward her fellow believer.

And then Alexander introduced Ophenia. "Theocles this is Tayin. The goddess has chosen her as the sacred priestess and designated her as my slave."

After ALexandaer finished his piece, it was Ophenai who initiated the conversation, "I will depend on your guidance, your eminence. Please correct any mistakes I might make," Ophenia politely addressed the as-yet-unfamiliar man.

"Hohoho, Your Sacred Holiness, is being too polite. I don't dare to dictate a favored chosen by the goddess herself and under the protection of the divine son himself," Theocles courteously returned Ophenia's greeting, adding, "But I will be available anytime for any advice if your holiness should ever wish to consult with me."

"Have to two ever met?" Alexander made general, small talk.

"I had seen the sacred priestess in the clinic at our old camp once or twice in passing before. But, we have never been officially introduced till now," Theocles answered with a light smile.

"I'm sorry for not remembering you, Your Eminence," Ophenia had not really paid attention to Theocles until today.

"Um, Tayin here is very special. And as my archpriest, I believe you should know about her," Alexander didn't think it would be wise to hide Ophenia's past from Theocles, both because he felt otherwise Theocles might underestimate the girl who was less than half his age but made almost equal to him and because if Theocles ever found out about Ophenia's past in the future, he might feel bitter about Alexander hiding it from him.

And thus he gave a short and very concise summary about the girl, leaving most of the personal details and only saying that she was taken into the Temple of Shiva to be their prioresses and taught all their scriptures but managed to escape with the marching Cantagenan army due to her father Agapios.

"*Sigh*, your father was a good man, my lady. He didn't deserve to go like that." Hearing she was Agapios's daughter, Theocles could not help but give a sigh and reminisce how the general had died, not on the battlefield fighting valiantly but by a freak accident.

For a warrior, this was such a tragedy.

"Thank you, your eminence," Ophenia lightly thanked, her voice calm and composed.

The death of her father was more of a boon than a curse for her.

Even in the alternate best-case scenario, Ophenia would not have the kind of freedom she was enjoying right now.

Theocels then exclaimed about the temple that Ophenia had 'graduated' from, "But still, the temple of Shiva is a huge organization. So to have one of their priests join us just goes to show how powerful our goddess Gaia is. She really is the strongest god in the pantheon."

Theocles looked admiringly at Ophenia, finding her to be competent enough to be his colleague.

'At first, I was surprised by her youth, but as expected, the goddess favors whom she chooses.' Theocles warned himself in his heart never to question Gaia's will or ever have similar blasphemous thoughts.

"I'm really not as great as you are making me out to be Eminence Theocels, I'm very young and I look forward to your guidance," Ophenia had certainly learned how to butter up her superior.

And although she could have been as bossy as she wanted with Alexander's support, the girl wanted a harmonious relationship with her counterpart.

After all, they were of the same mind, pursuing the same goal of propagating the faith of Gaia, so there was no need for internal division.

"Your Holiness flatters me. I was only once a small priest in the small Temple of Hellsfa, before I was excommunicated for marrying my wife." Since Ophenia had told her past, Theocles felt he needed to reveal some of his too.

Then humbly added, "So, in terms of theological knowledge, it is I who look forward to your guidance."

Alexander was pleased to see the two get along with such civility, at the very least on the surface for now.

Done with the pleasantries, Alexander then instructed Theocles, "Please show Tayin to our temple and help her recruit the priestesses."

"That goes without saying, my lord," Theocles quickly and eagerly replied.

"And also Tayin has the secret formulae of the famous medicine made by the Temple of Shiva." The moment Alexander said this, Theocles felt he had gone deaf as he was shocked to the point he questioned his hearing.

'Wha...what did I hear?' Theocles incoherently mumbled as he wondered if what Alexander was referring to was the same legendary medicine Theocles was thinking about.

The medicine made by the temple of Shiva was legendary across Thesos and Theocles couldn't believe that Alexander was claiming to have it in his possession, gifted by the young girl sitting next to him.

"Truly the sacred priestess is chosen by the goddess. This old man is humbled," Realizing the significance of the drug and what it would mean for Alexander's faith, Theocles then performed a perfect bow at Ophenia, his respect, and reverence for the girl genuine and palpable.

He didn't ask how Ophenia had gotten the formulae.

For Theocles, the explanation was simple, 'By the grace of god'.

Nor did wonder if it was real or not.

Because since Alexander had said such, then it must be true.

"Eminence Theocles is overreacting. It was all due to the guidance of the goddess and her son. All praise belongs to the goddess and her son." Seeing the bow, Ophenia heaped all her success on Alexander and his as-yet imaginary forces.

And Theocles too believed such, as he chanted, "All praise belongs to the goddess and her son."

'*Sigh*, Am I the leader of a cult?' Alexander wondered as he observed the convoluted reasoning of these two.

Then, because he didn't want to witness even more bizarre happenings he quickly inserted, "To hide the existence of the medicine for now, Tayin will run a brothel at night. I hope you can lend her any assistance she might require," Alexander left the actual details for Ophenia to delineate to Theocles later.

"Of course, of course. Anything and anytime," Theocles grinned the reply, not asking any further questions.

He had agreed to Alexander's request without thinking too deeply about things like how these two, seemingly opposite institutions were related, mostly because he didn't care.

'Since Lord Alexander has deemed such, then it must be for a reason.' Theocles reasoned with himself.

Such was the power to convince oneself, which was unique to a zealot.