“Where did they say that they’re gonna land, your Majesty?” said Aila, talking against the strong wind, as we walked on top of a hill.

“Wherever that is a flat ground. Preferably, a flat grassland” I answered loudly as I could in the strong wind.

I am with my entourage today, scouting for suitable ground for the void Human’s void ark.

We are currently in a naturally flat grassland, not far away from the Royal Palace. The winds are unusually strong today, as I could see leaves being flown around, and trees almost being blown away, losing most of their leaves.

My entourage consists of around 30 knights, the Minister of construction, Mineo, and ofcourse, Aila.

We stopped walking.

We’ve arrived on top of a hill, overlooking the flat grassland before me. Currently there is a new city being constructed here, already having 300 residents despite construction being half-way completed. However, the construction of the city is postponed until the void Humans arrival.

“Minister Mineo!” I called the minister of construction.

“Yes, your majesty!” he replied as he made his way to my side.

He took a paper from his robe and opened it, revealing the construction plans for the redesigned city, which includes a wide area that will be the void Human’s landing area.

“What’s this? This isn’t the design we planned a couple days ago!” I said angrily after I saw the construction plan.

“W-well, after I discussed this with my colleagues,” the minister coughed, “the idea of postponing the construction of the city is met with negative reactions. They argued that construction had already reached the next phase, and that the constructed roads and buildings, which had people living in them, would need to be destroyed to make room for the landing field” he explained.

He then put a finger on the city square.

“After much discussion with my colleagues, the city square would be improvised and used as a landing field until further notice” continued the Minister.

‘Hmm.. very well. But the construction of the city square is still unfinished right? Quickly finish it”

“By you will, your majesty” Mineo bowed and stepped back.

The city square isn’t finished right now, I could see it still being covered in grass, with patches of stone slabs in some places. There are buildings surrounding the unfinished town square, presumably, where the 300 residents lived.

Although being a city under construction, it appears to be lively. There is a market already established in the roads in front of the houses. And well known merchant shops building their own shops some distance away from the general market.

“Well, I suppose in the near future, this could be a historic city and a popular tourist destination, and thus making income” I mumbled under my breath.

Of course, that would only happen if things went smoothly.

“What did you say, Your Majesty?” Aila, who stood beside me, asked as if she heard something.

“Nothing” i answered, “well then, let’s go to the city to inspect things”

“As you wish, your Majesty”

We started going down the hill, heading for the city. Because the sun is already setting, I will stay in the local fort, and return to the Palace the next morning.

As we made our way downhill, I saw a group of people wearing white robes…. The Holy Church? What are they doing here?

“HALT! Identify yourselves!” shouted Aila as she drew her sword at the group, with the knights following suit.

“Wait… Aila, it’s the Church..” I said to Aila as I grabbed her left shoulder.

The Church… an institution with a complicated history. And a mish-mash of differing ideologies, faith, race, and interests.

The Church was created by the gods several millions of years ago to represent all gods equally, and to administer each of their authority to their followers. An institution to solve issues, and help the mortals if the need might arise, regardless of faith.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

This worked…not…

Stronger gods began to gather power to themselves, and usually, the opinions of the stronger Gods are worth more, than some minor God. The Church began to treat other followers differently, based on their faith.

Issues tend to be overlooked, particularly, the issues of a minor God’s followers, and corruption in the current Church. It has been thousands of years since the Church resolved any issues, or passed a resolution to do something.

The Realms and Church are separated, with the both of them doing their own things. However, both the government and the Church have equal power, and thus, no one can massively interfere with each other.

Mortals are represented in the Church too of course, in the form of Apostles. All Gods have to have an Apostle, and they were chosen every few thousand years. They travel the realms of the holy realm, and help anyone that requires help.

Surprisingly, the Apostles are more helpful than the Church, who had only been preaching things this whole time. But there are of course, some radical Apostles who would follow and listen to their God, regardless if it’s right or wrong.

And the Apostle I didn't want to meet, at least, right now, came to meet me.

The Apostle of the mother Goddess Terra, Ira.

“Apologies for the sudden visit, your Majesty!” Ira said as she walked over to me.

“What is the Apostle of Her Holiness Lady Terra doing here, might I ask?”I questioned the Apostle. Who by now, have stood in front of me.

“Her Holiness… heard interesting rumours.. One about the Elven queen letting the exiled Humans return to this sacred Holy realm..” said the Apostle as she looked over to the construction Minister.

“You know that Her Holiness thinks of Humans right? Your Majesty” she continued.

“I understand, but we should change location first. You wouldn’t want to stand in the open for too long right?” I asked the Apostle.

“Very well, we should go to the fort at once!” she exclaimed.

The Apostle turned to her group and began to walk to the fort in front of us.

I calmed Aila down for the Apostles' disrespectful behaviour, and we followed Ira’s group behind, though at some distance away.

After some time, we arrived at the fort. I headed to the fort’s office immediately, I invited Ira too, and ushered her to the chair in front of the office desk and facing me.

“Alright, what does the Goddess of creation want to do with us Elves?”I asked as I stared at her eyes.

“That’s not the way you should be addressing Her Holiness, but I’ll overlook it…” she said while smiling, staring back at me.

“Anyways, as I’ve said before, Her Holiness has grown suspicious about the recent events regarding the Elven realm. First, banning slavery, now.. I dont know how you’re gonna build things without slaves, but when i saw the construction of that city over there” she stood up, and pointed to the city through the window, “I’ve concluded that you’ve managed to make things work…”

She then put her finger down, and sat back down.

“Secondly, this relates to the abolition of slavery.. Your Majesty does know about the majority slave population, right?” the apostle asked me as she crossed her arms.

“Of course, the majority of them are races who have lost their place in the Holy realm. The fallen races, as they called“ I answered.

“Correct, and you must know that Humans have the most population within the fallen races”

“Of course”

“These newly freed Humans…. I…know that your Majesty is sending them to… Humanopolis? I recall that’s the world’s name” she paused, “That world…. It’s becoming a base for Human extremists. No, not just Humanopolis, the entire Elven realm is a base for those Extremists! Rumours about the soft Elven queen are circulated among Human populations, and they’ve been migrating and escaping to Humanopolis and the Elven realm these past months, causing serious damages” she continued.

Ira coughs, “I'm sorry your Majesty… but, do you have a drink here?” she asked.

“Well, i have this glass of water just sitting here since this morning, here ya go”

“Thank you” said Ira as she took the glass and gulped it in one go.

“Right… where was it?” said Ira as she put down the now empty glass onto the desk.

“..right, the Human mass migration….”she said, “

“This relates to the third problem, the void Humans….” she pauses as she looks at the papers on the desk, “how would they react to their own kind being treated like this? Her Holiness wants to keep things in the Holy realm as is. There’s also the Human extremists.. Still believing that their great king is alive and well outside the realm… they would no doubt contact the void dwellers” she continued.

“I’ll ask you, the honorable Apostle of the Goddess of creation, lady Terra. What does the Goddess want with us Elves?”I asked the Apostle.

The Apostle stood up, and bowed slightly.

“Her Holiness’s request is simple. I want you majesty, Queen Merula Zenith, to allow me to attend the contact with the void dwellers”

“...”

I carefully thought about it for a while.

“..sure, why not?” I accepted her request.

“Really? Thank you, your majesty! I will follow you to the Palace and stay there for the duration of the void Humans stay!” the Apostle said as her head, revealing a cheerful face, looked up at me.

She then excused herself and went to the fort’s guestroom. Leaving me alone in the office.

“Aaaahhhhhh”

I laid my back against the soft chair.

That’s her request? I thought it would be more troublesome! Like ‘reinstate slavery back!’,’destroy Humanopolis!’, or ‘cease contact with the void dwellers! Or else you’re going to be branded as a heretic!’ Aahhh.

I closed my eyes.

Well.. at least the first contact will be more interesting…or not… really…why did my focus change from social reforms to contact with void dwellers?

Doesn’t matter, either way…my name is going to go down in history…at least, hopefully, the right history.

My thoughts dissipated as I drifted away in drowsiness.