Supreme Magus novel Chapter 2140

More people threw themselves on the ground, raising and lowering their arms toward Kamila while they chanted some kind of prayer.

"Oh, gods! This is even worse than the Desert." Kamila's head was spinning and she had now a splitting headache.

"Zekell, what's the meaning of this?" Lith asked as his confusion was quickly turning into annoyance.

Those who lived near the temple didn't even dare meet his gaze, just praying to him for a miracle or another. He was used to being feared or respected, being worshipped was beyond unsettling.

"Business." The blacksmith whispered in reply. "Also, it's a nice way to keep Lutia peaceful and friendly. Now follow my lead."

"As it was prophesized, the All-Father has returned among us. He's pleased with us and he needs to confer with his high cleric."

"My/his what now?" The entire family said in unison.

Zekell gestured them to shut up and follow him, keeping a perfect poker face while he ordered the believers to make way for them to the temple.

The inside of the shrine consisted of a single huge room, about 30 meters (100') long and 20 meters (66') wide. A central corridor separated two rows of wooden benches where people could sit, pray, or meditate.

At the farthest end of the north side, there was a small altar made of white stone. Behind it, there were two statues. One depicted Tiamat riding on Protector's Emperor Beast form and the other Friya.

On the east side, there was a space with candles of seven different colors that the worshippers could light according to what they were praying for.

On the west side, instead, there was the closest thing to a souvenir shop that Lith had ever seen since his time back on Earth. One of Zekell's clerks sold the Tiamat-themed accessories that they had seen outside, toys, statues, and tacky knick-knacks.

"Get out!" Zekell said but no one listened to him.

Seeing the object of their veneration walk among them made something like a cleric irrelevant. They surrounded Lith, praying for his blessings.

"I beg you, bring my daughter back as one of your Demons." A woman about his own age said while throwing herself at his feet. "All I want is to hold her one more time and tell her that I'm sorry.

"I promised her that I would move heaven and earth to make her get better, but I failed her."

The woman was holding a black candle and a poorly carved wooden figurine of a young girl.

"My son lost an arm during a hunting accident and now his life is destroyed. He worked for years to inherit the family business but a tailor without his dominant arm can show only half of his skill in double the time." A man clinging to Lith's leg said.

"My little sister is dying from the Strangler, but my family can't afford to travel to Distar, let alone the treatment. Please, I'll do anything you want if you save her life." A crying boy said, hitting more than one nerve.

Tista and Lith exchanged a quick glance before dismissing them all. Only once they were finally alone could Zekell drop the props and the act as high cleric.