Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 271 The Real Temple

"Is… this necessary?"

"Of course, otherwise people might think you're ownerless and try to snatch you. Someone already offered to buy you just a minute ago since you're not wearing one — I'm not going to take it off."

If there was one thing that the humans could learn from the gorgons, it was that they had no capability to lie — or perhaps they do actually do, Rhys just hasn't met one yet. It would seem that the gorgons always speak their minds, no matter what.

"Shoo! Go away! Your ugly face negates anything you offer and I think burning it would be an improvement!"

Or perhaps not.

And judging from the way Miquella was shooing away everyone that was curious about Rhys, she truly was not trying to be rude. She and Ayesha would probably go along with each other, and whether that was good or bad, Rhys doesn't really know whether he would find out.

The only thing Rhys could do right now was walk beside Miquella and let the chains dangling from his neck continue to dangle. Rhys is highly aware that he has the tendency to be dragged around by people most of the time and he just allows it, but this was the first time that there was an actual physical representation of that.

He keeps talking about resisting fate, when he actually gets dragged by people every single time.

And upon that revelation, the only thing that he could do was sigh.

"I'm sorry, Rhys. I should have covered your face," Miquella noticed him sighing and quickly walked closer to him, "I guess a part of me wanted to boast about you being my servant before it all goes away."

"It's… fine," Rhys just once again sighed, "Let's just get to our destination faster."

Rhys didn't really notice it before, but the city of the gorgons was bigger than he thought, and it was slightly crowded unlike with the cenleons. There were activities everywhere, even the narrower roads had people slithering around them. The houses were near to each other, some even practically sharing the same sand wall.

There were a lot of people selling things, perhaps too many and there wasn't really an order or a place where they specifically station themselves. And soon, Rhys and Miquella reached an area that had people selling random things in a line, several lines; all of them just placing their things on the ground with only carpets to protect their wares.

"Ah, Madam Miquella! Madam! I have a new fragrance here, very good for your—woah, who is that!? Is that a new servant!? I'll… I'll trade you everything here for 3 nights with him!"

"No."

"2 nights!"

"I said no."

"1 night and a half—no. 1 night and—"

"I already said no!"

"Madam, care to check on our new wares? This new type of oyster is said to make a servant's cock to be as stiff as a branch but as gentle as a whisper! You can buy one now and I will give you another one if you purchase—Is that your new servant!? How much for one night!?"

"No."

Rhys could really only hop even quicker as the vendors started mobbing them, with Miquella almost using her tail to just whip everyone's lustful gazes. Fortunately, it did not last long as everyone just stopped following them as soon as they stepped and slithered on a sand bridge.

"Oh…?" Rhys glanced back at the mob, only to see them just sighing and lamenting as they all slithered back to their places. They didn't stop voluntarily, but because there were actually 2 guards blocking their path to the bridge, "You really do know someone high up, Ma'am."

"Hmn. I just hope she welcomes us like they did."

The bridge was leading to some sort of building, the biggest one Rhys had seen so far in the city — and unlike the rest of the desert metropolis, the bridge had clear water running underneath it—no, the canal practically circled the large building.

It was also filled with life and fauna, with green scattered beautifully and neatly everywhere that it almost looked like it did not belong in the city at all.

"The Shrine of Medusa," Miquella's pace slightly slowed down as she looked at the shrine, "It is a place that welcomes even the most detestable of sinners, and they either come out as new people, or do not come out at all. It is the safest and most dangerous place at the same time depending on who enters it."

"...Interesting," Rhys let out a small hum as he stared at the shrine, "They kill sinners if they know they can't be reformed?"

"Of course," Miquella nodded, "That is the only way to ensure they will not sin again."

"And how many sinners usually come out?"

"I don't know of anyone who managed to come out since I was born," Miquella shrugged, "It's just—"

"Miquella of the House of Flesh, do not slither further if you wish to keep your limb."

And before Miquella could finish her explanation, the large doors of the shrine suddenly opened up; with a gorgon wearing an almost translucent white robe coming out while already gesturing to Miquella to turn back. Her face was also covered with a white cloth; her eyes, also silver and her braids perhaps the longest Rhys had seen from all the gorgons.

"You must not come out, Head Priestess!" Several more people slithered out of the shrine, blocking the Head Priestess' path and now allowing her to approach Rhys and Miquella, "You must not let men see you!"

"I will return inside once this flesh eater leaves!" The Head Priestess almost roared; her glare unwavering even as the other shrine maidens tried to forcefully push him back inside, "Leave, do not desecrate this sacred land with your wet scales!"

"Head Priestess, language!"

"H…hello, High Priestess." And while the Head Priestess was on the verge of exploding from anger, Miquella just smiled and waved her hand at her, "It's been a while since we last saw each other, I could see the glow of purity oozing out from you. It is such a blessing—"

"Gah!" The High Priestess screamed—no. The High Priestess let out an almost guttural shriek as she pushed all of her maidens to the side. And when they still tried to block her path, the Head Priestess' hair slightly but suddenly started to wave around even though there was no wind at all. It was then followed by her silver eyes turning completely white and the veins around them protruding.

And there, Rhys watched as her maidens gasped in shock and fear, but not for long, however, as their bodies almost instantly turned gray.

"Malenia, why would you do that!?" Miquella also raised her voice as soon as she saw that — but then, she proceeded to do the same thing as High Priestess Malenia; her eyes turning silver as she looked at the petrified maidens. And when she did so, color once again returned to them and they all fell down and longed for air.

"You do not get the right to raise your voice at me!" Malenia did not care, however, as she just rushed toward Miquella, "I told you the last time we saw each other, it better be the last since I will turn you into stone!"

"Can you calm down!?" Miquella did not back down; the two of them, just competing on whose eyes glowed brighter, but nothing really happened, "And you overreact, High Priestess. I visit you every time!"

"When!? When is that!? The last time I saw you was 30 sheddings ago, 30!" Malenia's face was now only inches away from Miquella's. Her maidens once again tried approaching her, but all they could really do was back away as soon as she glared at them again. She then glanced at Rhys, who instinctively and quickly leaped behind Miquella in fear of being turned into stone,

"And you… you even bring a servant here!? Have you no shame or respect for our guardian and protector, Medusa!?" High Priestess Malenia stuttered as she caught a glimpse of Rhys, "And… and you even dare to bring your most prized servant!? You think his otherworldly beauty would allow him to pass through these doors!?"

"Well, he passed through my doors, so—"

"Miquella!" Malenia's screams once again turned into shrieks as her braids almost danced in the air, "By the authority vested upon me by the Shrine of—Muaghkh!"

"Can you shut that mouth of yours for once and listen!?" And before High Priestess Malenia could finish her words, Miquella suddenly grabbed her hand fan and smacked Malenia on the cheek with it without any hesitation, "To think 30 sheddings wasn't enough to actually grant you the demeanor of a High Priestess!"

"Wha…" The glow in the High Priestess' eyes just instantly disappeared as she touched her swollen cheek. And soon, tears started swelling up from her eyes, "You… I hate you. I hate you and wish for you to be mangled by Cerberus, Sister."

"Wait…" Rhys then slightly leaned his head to look at the High Priestess. Silver eyes, slightly brown skin — how could he not even see the similarity between the two?

"The High Priestess is your sister? Wait…

…is that why your brothel is called 'The Temple'?"