In my time at the Temple of Bahamut, I didn't learn much about the deity himself, and that was a result of Elian Furtael's machinations: To artificially grow faith and then feed on the result. Because of this fixation on the growth of faith, nobody who had been there for less than five months felt any real connection with the place. Or the deity, for that matter.

Teleportation was magic under the purview of the Gods, and only Priests of sufficient power and faith could warp time and space for anyone. The process was heavily regulated, the caster of the spell had to be intimately knowledgeable of the destination, or at least be able to see it, and it cost ten Autros unless the traveler had a writ of transit or was a Priest traveling to a city for a purpose.

High ranking Priests had always visited nobility, I'd learned from Basha that it was to cater to a Noble's desire to have more even though they weren't really getting anything special. A Priest was a Priest, ranking was only determined by years served and healings performed, and even that was informal, but to nobility, it was a prestige.

So when Archdrake Basha stepped into the main hall of the manor, everyone was understandably surprised. He wore a much simpler version of an Archdrake's vestments, and when he gazed upon us, it was with a gentle smile. He made the gesture of prayer first, which surprised everyone, who returned it in kind.

I saw a few Initiates with him, and the difference now between back then was night and day, their eyes were focused and rather than a placid smile, there was a calm determination on their expressions.

"I understand, Lady Wyrashe, that you have a well-tended garden." Basha said.

"I do, Archdrake." She said, she was so surprised that she couldn't maintain her default 'Noblewoman' expression.

"Please, guide us to it."

Bemused, Lissana led everyone to the inner garden. Basha walked around the garden with a smile on his face, and when he stopped, he faced us. "For a long time, the Temple of Bahamut chose to pursue the accoutrements of power and prestige. Guided by an unholy hand, we lost sight of what was most important to us. To demand places of worship even grander than we truly deserved, losing sight of the one we professed to follow. It was in a garden much like this one that my eyes were opened to one of the true Temples of the Gods, and it was thanks to one among you." He looked at me and briefly bowed his head. "We have preached about how Bahamut cleanses evil, how he heals the sick, and how he has granted greatness to those who are worthy, and yet, for a time, few were worthy. The Temple has, at times, turned away those in need, and it is a tragedy that it took this long for us to notice."

The Initiates spread blankets across the grass as Basha sat in the grass. "Let us sit and enjoy the splendors of the world around us as we consider the nature of Bahamut."

Everyone sat, and for a short period of time, all was silent, except the wind through the trees.

"The first Archdrake was a man with little to his name. A farmer, he toiled in the fields, never resting until his work was done. He always rested one hour before he went to his neighbors to offer his assistance, and if their work was not finished, he helped them, and this was so until the end of his life. One day, Bahamut came to him and spoke, 'You of great faith, you must build me a Temple grander than any, by your own hands, it must be a testament to my glory.'"

A strong wind blew in from above, but by the time it reached us, its power had dwindled to a gentle breeze.

"And so, the farmer worked his fields, and he rested an hour, and when he was finished resting, he would assist the farmers who needed help, and when he had assisted those who needed help, it was then he worked on Bahamut's Temple. The other farmers saw his work and questioned, 'Why do you waste your time building? Do the fields not need tending?' And the farmer spoke, 'I have tended my fields, as I have helped you tend yours. There is yet time in the day, and it is this time I spend in service to Bahamut.'"

Basha paused a moment, as if considering a thought, and then he continued.

"And so this was, until the farmer had finished a small, humble place of worship. The walls were sturdy, even the strongest wind could not tear it down. The foundation was stable, not even the shifting of the soil would break it. And adorning the roof, the sigil of Bahamut. And so, it was in the latter hours of the day that the farmers gathered to hear the first sermons of the man who would become the first Archdrake. Word would spread, and the faithful would gather."

I saw among the Initiates an old Human, I hadn't noticed him before, but I recognized him as the man who spoke to me in the Focus Crystal room. He was smiling, as though pleased.

"And one day, a stranger approached him as he worked his field, and the stranger asked, 'Is this the Temple dedicated to Bahamut?' And the farmer answered, 'Yes, though the place we gather is over there.' The stranger asked, 'That building is the Temple?' and the farmer replied, 'That is merely the place of gathering. No, you stand in the Temple of Bahamut.' The stranger was not satisfied with this answer, and so he spoke. 'Is a Temple not a building? A place one gathers to worship a god?'"

Basha smirked, as if he found something funny. "And the farmer replied, 'The Temple is not a building, nor is a building a Temple. A Temple is where you do the work of the Gods, this farm is Bahamut's Temple, as I work the fields in His honor. The farms surrounding mine are His Temple, as my fellow farmers work their fields in His honor. And every day, after I finish working the fields, I rest one hour, in which I pray. And as I pray, I ask the Dragon God to watch over me, and I ask that I am healthy enough to do my work, and I ask that my fellows are healthy enough to do their work. And every day, after I have rested, I help my fellow farmers finish their work, should they need it, and in following the example I have shown, they too spend an hour praying, before they too help their fellow farmers finish their work. And it is in this grand working that we have made the land itself His Temple, for no building, no matter how small nor how grand, could adequately serve as such. And we who gather are not mere followers, but an extension of that. We are the living Temple, for our work and our worship is the body of the Temple.'"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Basha paused, letting the words sink in. "And it was then the stranger revealed himself to be Bahamut, and Bahamut in all of this glory said to the farmer, 'You have built a Temple worthy of me, and your faith is pleasing to me. All the world shall know of your devotion, and you shall lead my Temple as Archdrake.' And Bahamut's holy power filled the farmer, who shone from within with His holy flame. Unsala."

"Unsala." Everyone echoed.

"We sit within the Temple of Bahamut." Basha stated. "And we are, ourselves, the Temple of Bahamut, and though we may build grand buildings and call it the Temple, and though we may craft immaculate shrines, these are nothing more than small gestures we can make to show our devotion to Bahamut, as it is our living in His gaze and doing His work that we truly please Him."

He stood up and everyone else did as well.

It was at lunch that Lissana said to Basha, "You have changed greatly since you last visited." She smiled. "I am glad you have grown in faith since then."

"When all you have is a spark, there is only ever to be growth." Basha said. "It is thanks to Bahrot that I was reminded of the truth of Bahamut's word." He looked at me. "And though his path does not lie with the Temple specifically, I am certain that he will in his own way serve the will of the Dragon God."

"There is no time like the present, then." Cier stated. "Archdrake, we found a Holy Fiend crystal, and wish to give it to you so that it may be used properly."

Basha looked surprised. "Those are rare, how did you come to acquire it?"

There was a distant roar, and only I was able to understand it. "Human! I know there is a Priest of Bahamut, I want to speak with him!"

I conveyed this to Basha, who looked surprised. "You can speak the Dragon tongue?" He asked.

"Yeah. Draxkatar wants to speak with you."

Basha nodded. "I could hardly deny such a request."

We went to the treasure vault, where Draxkatar was waiting. He took one look at Basha and said, "I said 'Priest', not- Nevermind, they have come regardless."

Basha and I turned around to see the old man, who smiled. "It is an honest mistake, young flame."

"Who are you?" Basha asked. "I did not bring you with me, nor do I recognize you."

The man, in front of our very eyes, turned into a Bahrati, and then into an Elf, the only constant was his ice blue eyes.

"The Avatar of Bahamut." I said.

Bahamut smiled as he resumed the shape of a Human. "This shape you see is but the form of the Fourth Archdrake, the first Human Archdrake. Though history has forgotten their face, I wear them from time to time in remembrance of their deeds. This is the face I wore when I first met you, Rex Bahrot Rotenkaiser..." He changed into the form of a Lacertian. "...and this is the face I wore when I first met you, Basha."

Basha prostrated himself and started babbling about how he was not worthy. I nudged him in the side with my boot. "Hey, c'mon, get up. He didn't come all of this way just for you to prostrate yourself. If he wanted that, he'd have told us to do so by now."

Shakily, Basha stood up.

"To you, Basha, I chose you to be the next Archdrake, and you answered with such fervor, I feared I may have chosen a zealot. I am glad that you grew out of blind faith, and instead attained faith that is both discerning and genuine. To question the nature of a deity, some may see it as the greatest blasphemy, but how else would you know of my full splendor?" He hugged Basha, who looked like he didn't know how to react.

"Try hugging him back." I said.

He did so, and Bahamut pulled away. "I prefer to reserve these small moments for more private instances, yet, even I cannot choose when I must beg."

"I do not feel as though I am worthy." Basha said.

"Then in your life, show that you are." Bahamut stated. "I must say, though, applying the origin of my Temple in such a manner was inspired."

"Am I to become a farmer, then?" Basha asked.

"Is that what calls to you?"

Basha shook his head. "Though I hesitate to admit it, there are flaws in the way things are run that must be fixed, I could not do so as a farmer."

"Then you have already chosen a worthy path." Bahamut stated. He turned to face me, changing into a Human shape. "This face was worn by the seventh Archdrake, who by miracles fed the Empire during famine. I prefer this form in this land, as most look down upon Humans. How often the masses look me over, because I am not only so unassuming, but also beneath their notice."

He clapped his hand on my shoulder and shook it slightly. "And you, you have not wasted any opportunity to use the power I have given to you. Using a Lesser Sanctuary to subdue a hostile assassin without bloodshed, simply inspired!"

"It would not have been right to kill someone I incapacitated with Divine magic." I said.

"You would have lost that power immediately." Bahamut stated. "While that which is good is not always nice, to use a power meant to promote peace and safety to kill another is displeasing to me. I am glad that you are as well discerning."

"Thank you." I said.

Bahamut then looked at Draxkatar and walked past us. "And you, how dare you demand me?"

"My apologies, my Lord." Draxkatar said, bowing his head. "In my desperation to behold you, I did not take into consideration-"

"It is forgiven." Bahamut said. "But I won't forgive a third time." He approached the Dragon and rested his hand on its claw. Draxkatar closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of contentment. Bahamut let go and faced us again.

"Basha, Rex, I will speak plainly. There are dark forces stirring in the land, and though I am not certain, as they have hidden from my sight, I am certain they seek to target you, Rex, as well as the royal blood that flows through your veins."

"You didn't warn me before." I said.

"I did not notice before." Bahamut stated. "One cannot know what they do not know, one cannot see what they cannot see, but once they notice a lack, they can see the edges of that lack. As far as I know, Lodran Wyrashe obtained that Conceit Fiend crystal from nowhere, and last night, he passed away in his cell, apparently suffocating to death despite any signs of anything blocking his throat."

He reached out and touched my forehead. "I shall give unto you but a fragment of power, use it wisely."

It felt like I was burning up inside, and then suddenly the heat vanished. My Appraisal ring indicated that my 'Champion of Bahamut' had risen to Rank 2.While I didn't gain any new spells to cast, I did gain another spell slot.

"I grant this to you for your own safety, not because you have earned it. I will not tolerate its abuse."

I nodded, and with that, Bahamut left by being wreathed in flame and vanishing.

"Show off." I said...