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Ogre healing was strange. Or was it Shamanic healing? I couldn’t be sure without meeting a Shaman of a different race. In Ceru’s case, it involved a lot of warpaint and tiny voodoo dolls made of straw of everyone in the group. She applied a healing salve that looked a lot like mud to the area that needed healing. When she did it to me, I felt the healing warmth spread to my bones. However, the healing aspect of her dolls only worked when she was in a group with us. Otherwise, her new ability could only be used to torture and maim the targets of her effigies.

Using her magic on monsters was complicated. To activate the voodoo doll, a bit of the target was required. The more personal the sample, the more powerful the connection. We experimented with all kinds of things like a trimming of hair, a drop of blood, and even more personal essences. We also discovered that when it came to healing, Ceru’s abilities were more powerful when she had a stronger connection with her target. That meant she healed me far more effectively than Jericho. It also helped that I gave her a special offering for my voodoo doll. It seemed fitting, and besides, Ceru liked to watch.

She managed to make a doll for Jericho, Khi, and even Porky. However, as a dungeon core was a magic gemstone imbued with a soul, her magic didn’t seem to have any effect on her. When I asked her why she didn’t make a doll for herself, she placed a hand over her arm and whispered an incantation. The skin began to glow and she explained. “I am my own effigy. For everyone else, I need a medium.”

We ran into traveling missionaries before we found the church. A few of the wagons gave us a wide berth when they saw Porky. I chuckled as I looked at the quilled dinosaur. What wasn’t to love? Eventually, one of the wagons rolled to a stop. This one was different. Several guards marched alongside the wagon on foot as well as a few that were riding Kronkeys.

The door to the carriage swung open and a robed man stepped out. His face was concealed by the robe but what caught my attention was a thick golden chain attached to a pendant of a gold-encrusted eye. It was only open a slit but the sliver of an eyeball that I could see underneath was blood red.

When the man reached us, he pulled back the hood of the cloak, revealing greying brown hair and a well-kept beard. He ignored me and extended a hand to Jericho. “Well met, Traveler. What brings you to these parts?”

Jericho looked at the man before pointing at me. “This is the man you need to speak to. He leads this group.”

“Ah, pardon me,” the man said, clearing his throat as he turned his attention to me. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Frer Raster. I represent The Church of the Eternal Green Flame.”

Frer is his title, not his first name. Similar to Friars on Earth, this man devotes himself to his faith while traveling the countryside.

“Ah,” I said, taking Frer Raster’s extended hand. “My name is Alexander Krup. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I believe I was looking for your order.”

Frer Raster paused for a moment mid-handshake. “You wish to join? Ah, I see you’ve heard of us before. I’d be more than happy to escort you to the holy city. Is this…beast yours?”

I looked back at Porky who was busy trying to scratch his head with one of the quills on his comically short arms. “Yeah, he’s with me. Is that a problem?”

“Is he domesticated?” Frer Raster asked doubtfully.

“Sure he is,” I replied, beckoning to Porky. “Hey, Porky, can you come say hi to the friendly Friar.”

Frer Raster frowned at me for pronouncing his title wrong but stiffened when Porky made his way over. The Procusaurus sniffed Frer Raster before roaring a greeting. I knew it was just a friendly hello but the Frer was petrified. “He says it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You understood this thing?” He asked, backing away.

I nodded. “Yep, and he wants to know if you have fish in the commune.”

“Commune?” Frer Raster balked. “I’ll have you know that the holy city is no mere commune. Three thousand of the faithful live and work there and hundreds of thousands make the pilgrimage annually. I thought you said you wanted to join us?”

“I do,” I replied, bowing my head in what I hoped was a respectful manner. “Sorry, I’m still getting used to all the labels.”

Frer Raster’s expression softened. “Worry not. I will help you all acclimate. Is this lovely thing your wife?”

Ceru nodded. “I’m his Chana, yes.”

“And is this your child?” He asked, nodding to Bori.

I smiled at her construct. “Yes, this is my daughter.”

“Excellent, we welcome families. What of the Bard? Is he your Uncle?”

“Traveling companion,” Jericho announced with a flourish. “It is my great honor to travel beside such a prestigious adventuring family.”

“Adventurers, you say?” Frer Raster said, appraising me with renewed interest. “The Church has a special place for adventurers. In what do you specialize?”

“Rocks,” I replied, holding up my stone arm.

The Frer gasped, only noticing my arm for the first time. “I see. I am so sorry for your loss. Perhaps the Great Lord Puranis can restore your flesh.”

“Can he do that?” I asked.

“With our Lord, anything is possible,” he replied.

Frer Raster made room for all of us in his carriage. He was interested in our classes until he found out about Ceru. His demeanor changed almost immediately. “Under no means are you to practice Shamanism within the confines of the holy city. It would also be wise to tell no one of this class.”

Ceru nodded, giving me an uneasy look in the process. Bori chose that moment to make an announcement. “This is boring. I’m going to take a nap.”

Her construct vanished in a puff of smoke as the light in her core dimmed a bit. Frer Raster gaped at me. “Where did she go?”

I sighed. “She can become invisible.”

“And shapeshift,” Jericho supplied helpfully.

“Peculiar,” Frer Raster said. “And at such a young age. Perhaps she is a prodigy. I am sure she will find a prestigious place in our youth academy.”

“I never let her out of my sight,” I said before hastily adding. “She’s my baby after all.”

Frer Raster sighed. “I know you may have some reservations still, but I assure you, ours is the better way of life. You will see in due time.”

We saw the holy city a long time before we arrived. A blood-red eye shone like a beacon above the valley, erected on a stilt atop the highest tower of a tall building that looked like a castle. Guards draped in red capes stood guard along the road leading in. We rolled slowly up the road, flanked on both sides by Frer Raster’s guards. He insisted that Porky be tied to the back of the carriage for safety reasons. I only got him to agree by offering him food. We also joined him behind the carriage, walking slowly as it wheeled its way through the gates.

The guards looked at us suspiciously. We made our first stop at a stable where Frer Raster assured us that Porky would be well taken care of.

“Please tell them he prefers to eat fish,” I translated for Porky as he roared at a nervous stable boy who led him to one of the stalls. “And he likes to be walked daily.”

“Are you sure he’s tame?” The boy asked, trying to stay a good ten feet away from Porky while still holding the lead.

I tried to give the kid a reassuring nod. “He’s very intelligent. He understands what you’re saying. He doesn’t eat people. Just feed him fish.”

From there, Frer Raster decided to walk with us the rest of the way to the church. From what I could see, the people who lived in the church town lived fairly well. The homes were at least as nice as they were in Yew and quite a bit bigger than the basic model that Isa lived in. I wondered if there was a vacant house where I could discreetly place my mark and buy while I visited.

Several men in red robes emerged from the church to greet us as we drew near. I was mesmerized by the front of the tall building. It was the building that looked like a castle from a distance with the red eye on a pole. The front of the building sparkled in the green moonlight, its entire front a three-story mosaic window. The multi-colored glass depicted a demon with crimson eyes, jagged teeth, and pitch-black wings. The creature had red skin and the same blood-red eyes from Frer Raster’s pendant and the eye above the castle. Behind it, and wrapped around its leg was a forked tail. It stood proudly on the front of the church, glaring off into the distance at anyone who entered town.

One of the men in the red robes stood beside me. “It is truly awe-inspiring, is it not?”

“Who is that?” I asked, turning to look at the man.

The man gaped at me. “You’ve come to this place not knowing at least that much, my son? That is our guardian and savior, Lord Puranis.”

I laughed. “I thought he’d be green.”

The man’s expression darkened before quickly composing himself. “Ah, ignorance is only to be expected of new disciples. We will start your purification soon. For now, let’s get you and your family settled. Lodging will be provided and you will be assigned a job. I am told you are an adventurer. Is that correct?”

I nodded and he flashed me a toothy smile. “Excellent. It is unfortunate but we have very few adventurers at the moment. Our lord sent them to quell a dungeon and I fear none have returned. I’d hate to think they absconded.”

“They didn’t,” I replied. “They died.”

His eyes narrowed. “That is rather…unfortunate. I must insist you report this to the Cardinal as soon as possible. Do you have proof of their demise?”

“You sent them to the Necromantic dungeon, right?” I asked. “If so, they were all killed.”

I wasn’t sure why this was news to the church, considering they were working in league with the dungeon. There was no way I planned on telling them I’d killed the thing. They could figure that out on their own.

In the end, we weren’t led into the church. Instead, the men in the red robes called out a page who was instructed to take us to our housing. It turned out, the holy city did have entry-level housing similar to Yew. We were summarily deposited outside the door of a small cottage. The doors had no locks and the building had only a single room. I was too tired to complain or try to modify the house except for the privy. A foul-smelling bucket rested in the corner of the room, which I quickly tossed outside. Instead, I walked around the back of the house and created an outhouse made of stone. It contained vents at the top and a comfortable stone throne. Beneath the chair, I parted the ground below to create a rather deep pit. After breaking it in, I headed back to the house. Jericho sat on the floor with his hat pulled down over his head, while Ceru stretched out on the bed with Khi snuggled up to her head.

She reached for me and yawned. “Come to bed, Chonu.”