Helen and he entered the temple. After all, it was a public place. They weren't doing anything wrong.

The difficult part would be what Helen had told him: Proving he was the champion of Ares. If Ares were more reasonable, he would simply appear. To prove it, as he had done. When he manifested, Helen had no doubt that he was always watching. After all, he had saved his life and brought him to this world to kill boredom. Watching him.

He had to be always attentive. But, in the end, it was like a television show for him. His wish was to be one of the viewers, not a character in the narrative. He had only appeared against Hades' golem. Because he had risked his favorite show being canceled. Before even finishing the first season.

He had no doubt that if he tried that, it would only make him look like an idiot. But he couldn't think of anything else.

Max sighed deeply. So far he had done everything on the fly and it hadn't gone so badly. He hoped it would stay that way.

He looked around. It was a beautiful temple. And the priestesses who inhabited it, working, were even more beautiful. Many young girls, from what he saw. Not just old women. All of them devout. In the same way as Silvana, the being he hated most in this world. More bronzeskinned. Well, this would be a temple to him when he became the new god of war.

They caught the attention of one of the priestesses, who approached them with her hands on her lap. More demure.

"May I help you with something?" she asked.

Max ran a hand over his forehead. It had been a long road. He was all sweaty. He felt disgusting. He had no interest in the priestess. She wasn't that pretty either, and he didn't even know her name. Still, it wasn't pleasant to feel like a beggar in front of a beautiful woman.

Don't be silly, he thought. As if you had come here to flirt.

"I would like to speak to whoever is in charge of this place," Max said.

The priestess nodded slowly.

"Devotees of Ares are always welcome in the temple. But, why?"

Max wondered how wise it would be to tell the truth right now. Probably as wise as on any other occasion. That is, not very.

"It matters. The point is that I need an audience with that person. Can you take my armor? And my weapon. I'm not here to cause trouble. I swear by..." Ares he was going to say, but he choked on the words. "I swear by my little sister," he said at last.

"That's very nice," the priestess replied slowly, and after a while, she added, "And I even believe you, sir. However, believing the word of a stranger... It's not reason enough. If you need to make a confession, or a donation, or have some kind of proposal... You can talk to me. I will pass it on to the right people. But if you wish to speak to the high priestess... Well, not just anyone deserves an audience with her. You understand."

He understood. He understood perfectly. But he wasn't going to back down now. They both needed help. If it were only for him, maybe he would go back to the streets. Maybe he would think about finding out how he would manage on his own. Which would be a stupid idea. So thank goodness he had found Helen.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Look," Max murmured, "I'm not a stranger. Not exactly. Nor just anyone."

The priestess, whose name he still didn't know, raised an eyebrow.

"I'm the champion of Ares. The new one."

"We haven't heard from Edward in a long time. It's conceivable. But... I'm afraid you're not the first to appear in one of Lord Ares' temples with such a story. Despite the blasphemy that means, and how extremely easy it is to discover such a lie. Please understand that your word is not enough. If you turn out to be the true champion of Ares, I will kneel and kiss your feet if you want, asking for forgiveness. But for the moment I need proof."

"I was hoping that would be on your account. I don't know, some test, some method to find out. As you will understand, I can't just snap my fingers and make him appear. Ares is Ares. He's like any god. They do what they please."

Would that count as blasphemy?

If it was, the priestess didn't seem disturbed at all.

"I don't know," the priestess admitted. "But now that you've said this... That... Don't worry. You will have your audience with the high priestess. Now you can't avoid it."

"I understand. You have no choice but to investigate any such case. Can I go inside and wait?"

The priestess shrugged.

"Go ahead. Tihs temple, nor any other, was created to shut its doors on anyone. As long as that someone has their heart open to faith, of course,"

Max and Helen went inside the temple. Helen had been very quiet. Silent. It wasn't unusual for a child to remain silent in the middle of a battle. In a boring conversation between adults. But he always thought too much about her. Well, and in general. Still, surely nothing was wrong. She had simply kept quiet so they could talk about their business. That was the safest bet. If she were his age, surely a place like this would be the last place she would want to be.

"Please take a seat," said the priestess, pointing.

The woman hadn't even had the good manners to introduce herself. He supposed he could chalk it up to the shock of possibly being in front of the champion of Ares. The new one. He wondered if Ares intended his stay to be long or short. He wondered what his former coworker had done for Ares to let him die. Maybe nothing, he thought. Maybe he just got bored of watching him like he watches me. Maybe, but that wasn't why he was going to stand still, trembling in his boots. He was a little uncomfortable following in the footsteps of his predecessor. But in reality that didn't mean anything, of course. There weren't that many places where the champion of Ares could seek help.

The wait felt very, very long. But, like everything in life, the good and the bad, it ended abruptly and violently.

The door opened.

"Come in."

They went in. The old women shut the door behind them.

"I suppose you've been told why I want to talk to you"

"Yes." The older woman sat, motioning with her hand for him to sit also; so he did.

Helen remained tense, on her feet, as if ready for things to go wrong. He was too, just in case. Even if they didn't believe him, even if he had no way to prove it, he seriously doubted they'd try to kill someone claiming to be Ares's champion. If he was crazy, fine, a devout lunatic. And if he wasn't, divine wrath would rain down on her. On all their fucking heads (or so they'd believe, at least, when in reality Ares would just replace him like a pair of used underwear). They had nothing to fear, Max was sure of it, but he couldn't communicate all that to Helen with a single look, so he didn't even attempt it. He simply took her hand, giving it a squeeze. So small, and entirely his responsibility.

"My name is Rachel. What are your names?"

"I am Max Miller, and this is..."

"Helen Miller," she immediately said, a little red on her cheeks.

"Okay, okay," said the old woman. "A proper introduction, as it should be. Now, getting down to business. Yes. I hear you claim to be Ares' champion. And that, just like all the rest, you conveniently claim you can't prove it. Well, that part is true enough. You can't prove it. We can."

"I'm listening."

——

I shouldn't have opened my damn mouth, he thought.

Max turned around.

"Look, this is crazy, I'm not that powerful. This is..."

They didn't give him a chance to change his mind. Hands shoved him towards the bonfire.