Elui

It was a couple hours after the creation of the new Ley Spring that Elui finally approached Ahsch, knocking on the distant door to the library and softly calling out, "M-My Lord Prophet?"

The hrafthi sighed loudly. "Please tell me my sister didn't tell you to call me that," he groaned as he turned to look at the rabbit-girl.

She blinked. "Sh-She didn't...?" Elui's expression was one of confusion. "That... it seemed appropriate... you are th... er... a Lord Odestag, and the Prophet of Enochiel..."

Ahsch laughed softly in defeat. "I'm doomed to hear that title forever, aren't I?"

Probably, Mahat giggled in his mind.

Shaking his head, the Dominant Mage turned to his guest. "What can I do for you, Elui?"

She looked to the side for a moment, hugging herself with one arm, which made her surprisingly large breasts stand out beneath the grey robe she wore. He tore his gaze away and up to her face, hopefully before she noticed. The last thing she needs is some pervy 'godling' leering at her, he chastised himself.

"I... wanted to talk," the rabbit-girl finally said. "About... well... me. What I'm doing here."

Ahsch nodded. "Of course," he replied, then gestured to a seat across from him. "Please, come sit. I doubt this will be a brief conversation."

She hesitated for a moment, but eventually came around and sat down, her gaze dropping to the books laid out on the table. "M-May I ask what you're researching?" She looked back up and blanched slightly. "I mean... My Lord..."

Ahsch waved away the title. "Please, 'Ahsch' is fine. I know I'll eventually need to accept the titles, but for now, especially with those I know, my name is enough," he gave her a reassuring smile, and she seemed to relax slightly, the color returning to her cheeks. "As for what I'm doing, I'm trying to learn those diagnostic spells I mentioned the other night. Once I have them all down, I'll work on extracting the parts that examine the body as well as the bits that compare and contrast, then combine just those to create the 'Checkup' spell. Once I have all of those pieces in place, I can pass on all of it to Enochiel's Priesthood, so that the Order can start working towards providing the healthcare that people deserve."

Elui's mouth opened, her expression questioning, but she closed her mouth and nodded. Ahsch watched her for a moment before prompting, "You wanted to ask about your... I suppose 'future' would be as good a word as any."

She nodded. "I still... you said I was special for being the first who invoked Enochiel's name, but you... are you not the first? The one closest to Him? Or... er... your sister, the Divine Submissive of Enochiel?"

Ahsch smiled. "It's true that we are both... blessed of Enochiel. His first agents. But what makes you special is different, and profound. While Ariin and I may hail from Sarvas, and be country bumpkins in actually, anyone who looks at us will see - as you did - Lord Ahsch Odestag, the Prophet of Enochiel; and his sister, Ariin, the Divine Submissive of Enochiel." He gave her a lopsided grin. "Not exactly approachable, or even relatable.

"But you, you are special to us because you are - and please understand that I mean no offense when I say this - nobody. Aside from those you already know, your name isn't familiar to random people throughout the Capital, nor the royals of R'sath. You are a common monster, someone who, while I recall your face, I didn't meet properly the night of the service. And yet you, a doubtful, questioning young woman, invoked Enochiel's name and received his gift - temporary thought it was - for a just reason." Ahsch stifled a laugh. "I honestly expected to learn that dozens of noble brats had invoked his name for the sole purpose of superior performance in bed, or something equally worthless."

Elui swallowed. "So... you want to keep me here as a... symbol?"

"If you're willing." She looked up sharply, and the hrafthi sighed. "Look, you know how new and small the Order of Enochiel is. Hells, you've met and spoken to all four - count 'em, four - of his priests. I can parade the angels in front of crowds, have them hand out pamphlets, or let Ariin loose to sing Enochiel's praises, but so far, all we have to show is questionable promises and the backing of a middling royal house."

"And now me."

Ahsch nodded. "And now you. A poor girl who nobody would claim is of interest to a religious order... who was the first to invoke Enochiel's name, receive his gift... and therefore, the first to prove that he has power. That his word is reliable." He sighed. "But I'm not unsympathetic to your position. It would not surprise me if you wanted nothing to do with the Order, or the royal houses - and believe me, some will most certainly be interested in you - and if you simply want a boon and to go about your life, then I will understand."

"A boon?" Elui frowned at him, and he laughed.

"You don't seriously expect me to offer what I'm offering, and if you refuse, simply kick you out, do you?" His chuckles died quickly when he saw that she did, in fact, expect that. "Ah, hells, I suppose the others do that, don't they?"

"Except for Utsus, but they... they can't afford to care for all the poor," the rabbit-girl said quietly.

"I can't claim to be otherwise - it's why I couldn't allow all of you to stay after the service."

"But you allowed some of us to," she said, giving him a searching look. "And you fed us the morning after, then gave us food to take with us when we left." She frowned. "Why?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," Ahsch explained. "I can't solve your problems for you, not without causing myself and those who rely on me even more problems. But I can help where I'm able. The Temple was empty, and you didn't take up much space, so we could afford to shelter you for the night. We often have leftovers for breakfast, and despite being tight, the Temple's purse can afford a few unexpected expenses, so we could make a little more and feed you the morning after. And the food from the night before likely would have made its way into the servants' stomachs as snacks, or been tossed out a week later, so we could afford to preserve what wouldn't spoil and give it to those who needed it."

Elui stared at him. "Was... was it a command from Enochiel? He speaks to you, doesn't He?"

Ahsch chuckled awkwardly. "In a way... and... well, the answer is both 'yes' and 'no.' Enochiel would command such, but didn't have to, because I made that call myself. There was nothing to gain by turning you and the others away, and nothing to lose by caring for you as fellow people."

"So you did it out of the goodness of your heart?" The rabbit-girl sounded skeptical, and Ahsch could hardly blame her, given what he knew of the other religions and what Elui's confusion of his kindness told him.

"Elui, I swear to you, as the Prophet of Enochiel, that even if you reject my request to join the Temple, I will provide you clothing, food, and some money, so that you can return to the Capital and make a life for yourself." He gave her another lopsided smile. "Though, I'd appreciate it if you didn't take that as an excuse to spit in my face or anything, and please understand I can't give you a hundred gold and a house of your own. But both as a token of my thanks for proving - even if only to us - that Enochiel's power is real, and as an apology for causing you grief during your stay with us, I can give you enough for a few nights at a modest inn, and even a word or two with some of the businesses my wife owns - what you do from there is your responsibility, just as what you did with Enochiel's gifted spell is yours. Like him, I can only offer you opportunity."

They were quiet for a minute, and Ahsch let the girl think. "I..." she eventually started, then hesitated. "I have... questions about what would be expected if I stay..."

"Of course. Please, ask anything." Ahsch leaned forward, catching her attention. "I mean it, Elui, anything. I don't want you to harbor false assumptions, which..." he chuckled. "Given how Enochiel is a god of sex and domination, and given how Ariin, the angels, and now Naemui... 'dress,'" he sighed, shaking his head with another laugh. "Please, ask, don't just assume. I assure you, significantly less of that was my idea than you'd think."

The rabbit-girl giggled softly, making Ahsch smile. "Then... let's start with that. Why do they...?"

Ahsch snorted. "Ariin to tease me... and out of devotion. It's... complicated, but all her idea. She surprised me with her outfit, so that was entirely not my idea. The angels... that was my idea, mainly to keep in theme with my sister during the service, and those three inexplicably decided that it was their new preferred outfit, which is just baffling given how little personality angles seem to have as a rule." He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "As far as Naemui... my understanding - and this is technically second-hand from Ariin and my familiar, Mahat - is that she has... er... interest in me. Though given how we've dressed up Ariin and the angels, I can't argue with her that it isn't suitable for the Temple or Priesthood."

Elui was clearly amused. "You seem rather upset about all that," she noted.

"Look, I'll admit I'm a bit of a lecherous pervert, but that doesn't mean everything has to be erotic all the time. And the irony of the Prophet of a sex god saying that isn't lost on me."

The rabbit-girl laughed a full laugh this time. "Very well, then... what would you expect of me if I stay?"

"Honestly, I'm not certain at this point," Ahsch admitted, smiling at her laugh. "I have ideas, possibly having you join the angels and Ariin in proselytizing, sharing your story. Or you could join the Order, become a priestess, maybe head some kind of outreach project to assist the poor - as much as I hate to say it, the visuals would help us, not to mention currying favor with anyone at this point is a win for us." He leaned forward, face serious. "But it all depends on you, really. I won't **** you down any one path."

"And as far as the... 'assumptions' I may have... beyond contributing to the Order in some way, what do you expect of me?"

Ahsch chuckled. "Dress however you want - if you join the Priesthood, there's literally no uniform, just the seals that mark you as a member of the Order. If you join the Temple's servants, you'd have to dress appropriately for the job, but that's up to the heads of the various groups, so whoever hired you would make that call. If you want to remain here but otherwise untethered to us, again, no uniform, so you could dress however you wanted. And as long as you contribute meaningfully in some way, I have no interest in kicking you out. Even if it's just sharing your story with the masses, I'm sure you'd give a better impression than the angels, seeing as they're basically automata at this point. With a few, key, and annoying exceptions."

Elui giggled at his long-suffering complaint, then thought for a moment. "May I have some time? To decide, I mean."

Ahsch nodded. Of course. I'm... well, in a sort of self-imposed exile for some complicated reasons, but suffice to say, I'll be here until the end of the week; I can give you until then, if that seems fair."