The main temple of Silver Sword Order was deep within the city and when we reached the gates leading deeper, I was actually hoping we would be denied the access, but it seems that Silver Sword Order has thought of everything. While none of their people were following us, a few priests were waiting for us at the gates and lead us in personally.

By the way, other than Miriel, only Derea and Jack were following us.

*

The view that greeted us on another side of the wall was even more majestic. Buildings, trees, various statues... everything on its own was a work of art, but when put together it was a sight to behold. I have never seen anything like this in my old world and I have visited quite a few places famous for their beauty.

Reikurius, the oldest and most beautiful city in the world. Well, probably...

As we were traveling to the temple, Seven white towers drew my attention far in the distance. Hall of the Council. Without lifting into the air, I couldn't see the main building the towers were sprouting from, but the distance between them gave me an idea about its size. Must be way larger than the temple.

The records say that at the end of Dark Ages, our empire was plagued by wars. With the emperor dead, everyone saw this as an opportunity to rise above their station and a war for succession has started. It took years, but with the help of Silver Sword Order, an agreement was made and a ruling council of seven was established.

Despite that even today Lodelia is considered an Empire.

After a while, we finally reached our destination. While the temple wasn't even close to the size of the Hall of the Council, it was still very large. The main building was rectangular in shape with many massive columns at the side. As we got closer, the streets have turned into a spacious park-like square with many statues to our left and right.

I realized those were Champions from the past. But even those ten meters tall statues were tiny insects when compared to the one in front of the temple. 

Goddess of Light. Evelyn.

The moment we stepped inside, green barrier flared up around me and then shattered like a glass. This was 'Arcana Defense' I used at the end of the sacred battle and all this time it was in a dormant state. Unless destroyed, it should have been active for at least a year... 

I frowned while looking around.

"Most of the magic is restricted there." explained the priest. 

I looked to the side where a few priests were offering their healing services to some nobles. I guess Light Magic wasn't among those restrictions... 

As we walked through the halls of the temple, I saw a few groups of people heading the same way. They were neither priests nor templars. 

"...Listen, Nick." said a dryad from one of such groups, she was clad in leather armor and was probably a warrior, adventurer maybe? "I will tell it so even you can understand. Even if you were the last man in the world I would rather date a monkey."

When she used the word monkey, I realized it was in english, there was no such animal in this world and neither a word for it. Don't tell me she is a Champion... 

"Oh, cmon, Rose, we both know you don't mean this," said the man with a big smile.

He was a human and judging from his robe some sort of mage.

He reached with his hand to hug her but the dryad had other plans. She slightly lifted her leg and then stomped with a lot of force aiming at his feet. The man managed to avoid by moving his leg to the side but with all his attention on her leg, was late to dodge her elbow aimed at his face.

"You... you broke my nose!" he shouted while holding a hand over his nose, blood dripping through the gaps of his fingers. 

"And I will do more than that if you don't stop bothering me." hissed the dryad and then walked forward without looking back. Two women following behind the man barely managed to suppress their giggle. One was cat beastkin while another fox, both of them had collars on their neck... slaves.

Wait, slaves? In the main Temple? Isn't Silver Sword Order against slavery? When I saw the expression of the priest leading us, I realized he wasn't happy. 

"Didn't go as planned eh, Nick?" teased a minotaur walking by the side of the man.

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"Shut up, Bull. As if you would do any better," growled he and then picked a potion from his bag and swallowed its contents, probably a healing potion.

"Sorry, but I am not into salads." laughed the minotaur, "If I was you, I would ditch your companions when I try to woo someone. Maybe some braindead chicks are fine to be a part of a harem..." he then quickly looked at women behind the man, "No offense ladies, I am well aware neither of you had a choice..." 

"They are only my servants..." started to defend himself the man.

"Please," laughed minotaur. "my room is next to yours..."

I stopped paying them attention when heard someone shouting our name.

When I saw who it was, I was a bit surprised. He has changed from the last time I saw him, but there was no mistake. Adam, I guess that considering where we are, there was a high possibility to meet him.

Those others then must be Champions as well. I wonder if... I quickly closed my eyes and checked the location of a certain dwarf through metal manipulation. I have left just a few specks of orichalchum in his body. You know, just in case. But it seems he wasn't in the temple.

"It's really you!" shouted Adam and a moment later looked at his group, "You guys go ahead, I will catch up in a moment."

"Thanks again for your help back then," he said when approached us, "I hate to admit it, but I wouldn't be there if not for you."

"Who is he?" whispered Miriel.

"A Champion," answered Phoenix, "We saved him some time ago from an assassin..."

"Hey, it was a long time ago," Adam quickly looked at him while frowning, "I was still not used to... the rules. Now I am much stronger. I bet that even if you all teamed up against me, I would still hold an upper hand."

Just as he said this I slightly smiled. Jack wasn't so kind though and started to laugh hard and loud. When he finally stopped, he had to brush tears from his eyes.

Before meeting us, he probably would agree with that statement, even if Adam was the weakest among Champions, but now... He was there when I killed two Harbingers and with the help of Phoenix, even captured one alive. To say he could deal with all of us alone was... amusing.

"Anyway, I don't forget favors," continued Adam while trying to pretend nothing has happened, "If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to ask... By the way, what are you guys doing there? None of you look sick or injured..."

"We are here to meet with the head of Silver Sword Order," answered him Phoenix.

"You too?" he looked surprised, "I am afraid you might have to wait then, she summoned all Champions to a meeting. Must be something important so I doubt you will be allowed."

I looked at Phoenix and saw him looking at me as well. I could tell he was thinking the same. This was either one hell of a coincidence... or this meeting will be more unpleasant than I thought.

*

"...and then I sliced it in half in one hit." Adam continued his tale with fever, "You should have seen their face..."

From his stories, I learned that Silver Sword Order organizes many expeditions to the dungeons and it was not limited to the one at the capital. With the network of their portals spread all over the empire any of them could be visited at the moments notice. It wasn't a big of a surprise when I discovered that his level was even higher than mine.

As a Champion, he gains twice as much experience and with each level up his stats grow further than those of the others. While stats alone will never win a fight, it helps. Thanks to my body manipulation, I was probably not that far behind in this regard... or at least until I was turned into a demon. Now... now I can't wait to see what will happen when I level up... 

For a while, we were waiting with the others in a large hall. By now there were nearly twenty Champions with us. Humans, elves, dryads, minotaurs... one of them was even a pixie.

"Damn, but I need to piss," whispered Jack causing a wave of laughter from people around us.

"Look who we have there..." suddenly a loud voice echoed through the hall, and when I looked saw an elf dressed lightly in green clothes, "Took your sweet time getting there, eh? I told you it was a mistake to choose the race of a dwarf. Short legs, short arms. You are not even a mage. Even Isaac is there, and I heard he was in the dungeon when the seal was activated. What took you so long?"  

"Shut up, Lego, I was busy. So what is this all bullshit abou..." the dwarf stopped in mid-sentence when saw me with Phoenix.

"Dammit Michael! It's Legolas! I am not fucking lego! Haven't you seen the movie?!" started to complain the elf but dwarf interrupted him with his hand.

"What are they doing there?" he whispered to his friend.

The elf followed his gaze and shook his head, "No idea. Probably acquaintances of Adam. Do you know them?"

"You could say that..." he replied while looking at us and after a moment started to approach us.

"Sorry, Red, but I am still not done with that thing," he said when reached us.

Red? An image of a certain minotaur from Endorod City flashed in my mind and I was a bit annoyed.

"But don't worry, it will be ready by the evening just like we..." 

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice." suddenly the voice of a woman interrupted him, and I could see an elf in the middle of the hall.

Just a moment ago she wasn't there. Space Time Magic?

Unlike priestess I have seen in the temple, she looked almost like a bride in her white dress. It wasn't visible with mana perception or even enhanced sight, but when I looked at her through the eyes of my soul, a blinding light was radiating from her heart...

Lariel Lightheart. There was something familiar about her...

"The reason I have called for you is our guest," she looked me right into the eyes and when others followed her gaze looked at our group as well. "She is..."

"A demon." I interrupted her and stepped forward.

She was a bit surprised by my actions, but I had no illusions at keeping this as a secret. Maybe she didn't mean to reveal it right away, but it was only a matter of time.

A loud clamor permeated the hall as everyone started to speak all at once. Some were even drawing their weapons with warry eyes directed at me. Only Adam was standing frozen with his mouth wide open, Michael on another hand looked only slightly annoyed as if some of his plans were just ruined.

"Long time no see..." I smiled at her while no longer paying attention to the others, "...Evelyn."