Chapter 403 The Church of Anthony (1/2)

[What in the name of all that is good on Pangera, has infected your minds?] I said.

Enid could only grimace next to me before she tried to justify it, dropping her in my esteem a few points.

[People saw what you did during the battle. From our wall we were able to watch the whole fight. Not to mention the healers who appeared during the battle to cure our wounded. There isn't a single person in the village who could say they don't have at least one family member who was directly saved by them.]

[Grat.i.tude I understand. Grat.i.tude would be completely fine! This isn't grat.i.tude! What the heck is this?!]

Enid shrugged helplessly.

[With sentiment running high before the battle took place. It's obviously going to be overflowing now that it's done, considering what happened! These people have lost everything, Anthony, they need something to cling onto. Something to give them hope for the future.]

[I cannot believe you okayed this. Did you fall on your head or something? A monster clock you with a rock? It blows my mind that anyone at all thinks this is a good idea!]

My frustration is starting to bubble over and I can't help stabbing forward with my antennae toward the monstrosity that we are currently discussing.

Enid hesitates before she speaks again, but speak she does.

[You have to admit that you aren't much like a normal monster. Or... Anything like a normal monster. Are you sure there wasn't anything unusual about your creation?]

[Of course not,] I deadpan, [pure ant right down to my claws.]

I have no idea if the humans on the surface know about monsters inhabited by humans from Earth like the Sophos are, but I'm sure as h.e.l.l not going to be the one to tell them.

Enid frowns at me as she adjusts her shawl. I say nothing to appease her suspicions.

[Don't distract from the subject at hand, Enid! That ,] I stab one antenna toward the construction, [is going to cause a lot of problems.]

She could only shrug helplessly.

[I don't think even you could convince them to take it down. I'm not sure that I even want them to.]

[You've fallen to the dark side Enid.]

[The what?]

[Do not give up hope. There is always another chance to walk in the light.]

[I have no idea what you mean.]

I'm not happy about this situation, but I'm not sure what I can reasonably do about it.

Enid and I stand on a slight hill as we gaze at the feverish construction taking place not twenty metres away. Men and women sweat in the heat as they work, digging, flattening, squaring stones. The foundations are already starting to take place of what will certainly be a far too large a structure of imposing stone.

To one side, a worker is going to town on a granite boulder. Already the ant-like features are starting to take shape of what I'm told will eventually be a mighty statue of me. Ant observers are about the place as well, members of the colony who've snuck over for a sticky beak and see what the humans are up to. Turns out a couple of mages have even managed to unlock the mind magic skill. It's difficult for them to use it with any level of proficiency, or for very long, but already early communication attempts have been made.

For the most part, they've been asking the villagers how they do stuff. Tungstant is over at the forge right at this moment, along with a mind mage, ha.s.sling the smiths about their craft.. It started yesterday apparently, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it will continue for a long time to come.

Even Beyn is down there working! The priest is still wearing his now tatty robes and is working with his one remaining arm, clearing rock and jovially encouraging the people around him. Not that they seem to need a pick me up. Ever since I've arrived their faces have been lit with joy and they've been working at a furious pace.

It all leads me to one, sincere conclusion: these people are very sick.

[This is a literal temple to a monster, Enid.]

[To you, Anthony.]

[And what exactly do you think I am?!]